Abstract: A method for manufacturing a battery cell having electrode foils protruding from a cell pouch includes positioning the cell pouch in a fixture such that distal end sections of the foils extend outward from the fixture. The method includes clamping the distal end sections in a curvilinear guide clamp to cause the distal end sections to taper into an electrode foil stack, and then translating the clamp a predetermined distance toward the fixture to displace the distal end sections by the predetermined distance. The method also includes trimming the distal end sections using a trim tool, positioning a sonotrode and an anvil adjacent opposite surfaces of the stack, and ultrasonically welding the stack to a conductive lead tab using the sonotrode to thereby form a welded joint within the battery cell. The sonotrode may be multi-sided with different knurl patterns for performing different welding processes.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a battery cell having electrode foils protruding from a cell pouch includes positioning the cell pouch in a fixture such that distal end sections of the foils extend outward from the fixture. The method includes clamping the distal end sections in a curvilinear guide clamp to cause the distal end sections to taper into an electrode foil stack, and then translating the clamp a predetermined distance toward the fixture to displace the distal end sections by the predetermined distance. The method also includes trimming the distal end sections using a trim tool, positioning a sonotrode and an anvil adjacent opposite surfaces of the stack, and ultrasonically welding the stack to a conductive lead tab using the sonotrode to thereby form a welded joint within the battery cell. The sonotrode may be multi-sided with different knurl patterns for performing different welding processes.

Abstract: A workpiece is described, and includes a substrate, a cable, and a cover piece. A portion of the cable is joined to the substrate employing a vibration welding tool, and the cover piece is interposed between the portion of the cable and the vibration welding tool during the joining.

Abstract: A method and a test fixture for evaluating a battery cell are described, wherein the battery cell is composed of a cell body having a plurality of electrode foils that are joined to both a positive terminal and a negative terminal at weld junctions. The method includes retaining the cell body of the battery cell in a first clamping device and gripping one of the positive and negative terminals in a terminal gripper. A dynamic stress end effector coupled to the terminal gripper is employed to apply a vibrational excitation load to the one of the positive and negative terminals. Impedance between the positive terminal and the negative terminal is monitored via a controller, and integrity of the weld junction of the one of the positive and negative terminals is evaluated based upon the impedance.

Abstract: According to aspects of the present disclosure, a method includes selecting a faying surface of a first metal substrate, placing a reaction material on the faying surface, and attaching, prior to a second metal substrate being adjacent the first metal substrate, the reaction material to the faying surface via ultrasonic welding. The reaction material is configured to form a metallurgical joint between the faying surface and the second metal substrate adjacent the first metal substrate.

Abstract: A workpiece is described, and includes a substrate, a cable, and a cover piece. A portion of the cable is joined to the substrate employing a vibration welding tool, and the cover piece is interposed between the portion of the cable and the vibration welding tool during the joining.

Abstract: A battery module includes a battery cell, a bus bar, and a multilayered cell sense flex circuit having a senseline tab containing a portion of a senseline. The flex circuit determines a battery cell voltage. The bus bar has surface projections, possibly with a variable height and/or width, such that the bus bar penetrates into the tab at least as far as the senseline. Adhesive material may be used on the welded joint. A method of manufacturing the battery module includes forming, in the bus bar, one or more surface projections, e.g., multiple projections having the variable height and/or width, positioning a senseline tab of the flex circuit adjacent to such projections, and joining the tab to the surface projections such that the projections penetrate at least partially into the flex circuit at least as far as the senseline.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes electrode tabs and a multi-piece bus bar cap assembly. A first cap member of the cap assembly has side walls forming a U-shaped cross-section, and radial projections at distal ends. The second cap member has side walls with an M-shaped cross-section at distal ends of the second member, and a U-shaped cross-section extending between the M-shaped distal ends. In a method of making the battery assembly, tab channels receive the electrode tabs. The second cap member defines radial recesses that receive the radial projections to secure the first cap member to the second cap member, and to secure electrode tabs within the tab channels, in conjunction with contact between the cap members, when the first cap member is moved toward the floor of the second cap member.

Abstract: A method and a test fixture for evaluating a battery cell are described, wherein the battery cell is composed of a cell body having a plurality of electrode foils that are joined to both a positive terminal and a negative terminal at weld junctions. The method includes retaining the cell body of the battery cell in a first clamping device and gripping one of the positive and negative terminals in a terminal gripper. A dynamic stress end effector coupled to the terminal gripper is employed to apply a vibrational excitation load to the one of the positive and negative terminals. Impedance between the positive terminal and the negative terminal is monitored via a controller, and integrity of the weld junction of the one of the positive and negative terminals is evaluated based upon the impedance.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery cells each including a cell tab and a bus bar connected to the cell tabs of adjacent battery cells. The bus bar including a pair of 180 degree bend regions that each define a channel for receiving a respective cell tab and a cut-out region defining an opening having opposing edge portions that allows direct access to the cell tab within the cut-out region. A weld line connects the cell tab to at least one of the opposing edge portions within the cut-out region.

Abstract: A method and a test fixture for evaluating a battery cell composed of a cell body having a plurality of electrode foils, a positive terminal and a negative terminal, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal are each joined to the cell body at weld junctions. This includes retaining the cell body of the battery cell in a first clamping device. The terminal is grasped in a terminal gripper. A dynamic stress end effector coupled to the terminal gripper applies a vibrational excitation load to the terminal. A static stress end effector applies a static load to the terminal. Integrity of the weld junction is evaluated based upon the applied static load.

Abstract: A method and a test fixture for evaluating a battery cell are described, wherein the battery cell is composed of a cell body having a plurality of electrode foils that are joined to both a positive terminal and a negative terminal at weld junctions. The method includes retaining the cell body of the battery cell in a first clamping device and gripping one of the positive and negative terminals in a terminal gripper. A dynamic stress end effector coupled to the terminal gripper is employed to apply a vibrational excitation load to the one of the positive and negative terminals. Impedance between the positive terminal and the negative terminal is monitored via a controller, and integrity of the weld junction of the one of the positive and negative terminals is evaluated based upon the impedance.

Abstract: A vibration welding system includes vibration welding equipment having a welding horn and anvil, a host machine, a check station, and a welding robot. At least one displacement sensor is positioned with respect to one of the welding equipment and the check station. The robot moves the horn and anvil via an arm to the check station, when a threshold condition is met, i.e., a predetermined amount of time has elapsed or a predetermined number of welds have been completed. The robot moves the horn and anvil to the check station, activates the at least one displacement sensor, at the check station, and determines a status condition of the welding equipment by processing the received signals. The status condition may be one of the alignment of the vibration welding equipment and the wear or degradation of the vibration welding equipment.

Abstract: According to aspects of the present disclosure, a method includes selecting a faying surface of a first metal substrate, placing a reaction material on the faying surface, and attaching, prior to a second metal substrate being adjacent the first metal substrate, the reaction material to the faying surface via ultrasonic welding. The reaction material is configured to form a metallurgical joint between the faying surface and the second metal substrate adjacent the first metal substrate.

Abstract: A technique for welding two dissimilar metal panels or structures together, such as vehicle structures, by providing a sandwich structure between the dissimilar metal structures that includes one skin being made of the same metal as one of the metal structures and an opposing skin being made of the same metal as the other metal structure, and including an electrically non-conducting core between the skins.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery cells each including a cell tab and a bus bar connected to the cell tabs of adjacent battery cells. The bus bar including a pair of 180 degree bend regions that each define a channel for receiving a respective cell tab and a cut-out region defining an opening having opposing edge portions that allows direct access to the cell tab within the cut-out region. A weld line connects the cell tab to at least one of the opposing edge portions within the cut-out region.

Abstract: A battery module includes a battery cell, a bus bar, and a multilayered cell sense flex circuit having a senseline tab containing a portion of a senseline. The flex circuit determines a battery cell voltage. The bus bar has surface projections, possibly with a variable height and/or width, such that the bus bar penetrates into the tab at least as far as the senseline. Adhesive material may be used on the welded joint. A method of manufacturing the battery module includes forming, in the bus bar, one or more surface projections, e.g., multiple projections having the variable height and/or width, positioning a senseline tab of the flex circuit adjacent to such projections, and joining the tab to the surface projections such that the projections penetrate at least partially into the flex circuit at least as far as the senseline.

Abstract: A vibration welding system for joining a wire to a substrate includes a welding pad attached to a sonotrode and an anvil. The welding pad includes first energy directors that are disposed in a first region and second energy directors that are disposed in a second region. A channel is formed between the substrate and the first energy directors when the second energy directors are in contact with the substrate. The channel is configured to accommodate a portion of the wire, and has a depth that is less than a cross-sectional diameter of the wire. The wire and the substrate are clamped between the welding pad and the anvil during operation of the sonotrode. The first energy directors urge the wire towards the substrate during the operation of the sonotrode to effect joining of the wire to the substrate.

Abstract: A method and a test fixture for evaluating a battery cell are described, wherein the battery cell is composed of a cell body having a plurality of electrode foils that are joined to both a positive terminal and a negative terminal at weld junctions. The method includes retaining the cell body of the battery cell in a first clamping device and gripping one of the positive and negative terminals in a terminal gripper. A dynamic stress end effector coupled to the terminal gripper is employed to apply a vibrational excitation load to the one of the positive and negative terminals. Impedance between the positive terminal and the negative terminal is monitored via a controller, and integrity of the weld junction of the one of the positive and negative terminals is evaluated based upon the impedance.

Abstract: A workpiece is described, and includes a substrate, a cable, and a cover piece. A portion of the cable is joined to the substrate employing a vibration welding tool, and the cover piece is interposed between the portion of the cable and the vibration welding tool during the joining.