CN218300052U - Lower box structure, power battery and electric vehicle - Google Patents

Lower box structure, power battery and electric vehicle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN218300052U
CN218300052U CN202221950632.0U CN202221950632U CN218300052U CN 218300052 U CN218300052 U CN 218300052U CN 202221950632 U CN202221950632 U CN 202221950632U CN 218300052 U CN218300052 U CN 218300052U
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
cross beam
lower box
water
edge
box structure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
CN202221950632.0U
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Inventor
许炳
柯华波
吴启泉
许俊海
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co Ltd
Original Assignee
GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co Ltd filed Critical GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co Ltd
Priority to CN202221950632.0U priority Critical patent/CN218300052U/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN218300052U publication Critical patent/CN218300052U/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10Energy storage using batteries

Landscapes

  • Secondary Cells (AREA)

Abstract

The application relates to a lower box body structure, a power battery and an electric vehicle, wherein the lower box body structure comprises a first cross beam, a second cross beam, a third cross beam, a first edge beam, a second edge beam and a water cooling plate, wherein the first edge beam is fixedly connected with the second edge beam through the first cross beam, the second cross beam and the third cross beam; the water cooling plate is fixedly connected with the first cross beam, the second cross beam, the third cross beam, the first edge beam and the second edge beam, and forms a sealed installation space with the first cross beam, the second cross beam, the third cross beam, the first edge beam and the second edge beam, wherein the installation space is used for installing the battery cell and filling dielectric fluid, and the filling dielectric fluid is used for immersing the battery cell; the water cooling plate is a bottom plate of a lower box body structure. This application has bigger heat transfer area to have higher heat transfer efficiency. In addition, this application still has advantages such as the security is higher, the difference in temperature is lower.

Description

Lower box structure, power battery and electric vehicle
Technical Field
The application relates to a power battery mounting structure, in particular to a lower box body structure, a power battery and an electric vehicle.
Background
At present, on the basis of consideration of technology, process maturity and processing cost, a scheme of stamping type liquid cooling plates based on a CTP structure of a power battery pack is selected for domestic and overseas mainstream new energy automobiles, and the scheme of stamping type liquid cooling plates has the advantages of high structural strength, high thermal management efficiency and the like, and specifically comprises the following steps: (1) In the aspect of structural strength, a stamped aluminum plate is adopted, so that the flatness can be better controlled, the contact area with the surface of a module is large, the thermal resistance is small, and the thermal management efficiency is improved; (2) In the aspect of heat management efficiency, the contact area of the flow channel is large, the temperature difference between the upper part and the lower part inside the single battery can be effectively reduced, and the battery is well protected during rapid charging and discharging and low-temperature preheating. In addition, the punching press formula liquid cold plate is integrated to outside at power battery package as an solitary part, saves occupation space, reduce cost, but also can accomplish dry wet separation, and its coolant liquid if reveal, can not form the short circuit with high-pressure spare parts contact such as module, busbar, can not lead to the incident such as battery package short circuit fire, from the long-term, is favorable to new energy automobile's development requirement very much.
However, at present, most liquid-cooled plates only contact one surface of a battery cell, the battery cell is composed of multiple layers of materials (positive electrode, negative electrode, diaphragm and electrolyte), resistance exists in the layers, contact resistance exists between the layers, and the battery internal resistance is formed by the resistance. Due to the inconsistency between layers, the passing current and the SOC of each layer are inconsistent, so that the aging lithium precipitation and the life decay of the battery cell are caused, and a thermal runaway event is caused if the battery cell is serious; on the other hand, the convenience of charging at the present stage is one of the main subjects restricting the development of new energy vehicles, the traditional liquid cooling plate has limited heat exchange capability due to limited contact area, and if the traditional liquid cooling plate meets the superposition conditions of high-speed climbing, high-power quick charging and the like, the temperature difference is very large, so that the dynamic property and the endurance mileage of the whole vehicle are influenced, and the requirements of charging high-rate battery cells of 4C and above cannot be met, so that the competitiveness of products is reduced.
SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL
The utility model aims at providing a lower box structure, power battery and electric motor car, this lower box structure, power battery and electric motor car have bigger heat transfer area.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a lower box structure, which includes a first beam, a second beam, a third beam, a first edge beam, a second edge beam, and a water-cooling plate;
the first edge beam is fixedly connected with the second edge beam through the first cross beam, the second cross beam and the third cross beam;
the water cooling plate is fixedly connected with the first cross beam, the second cross beam, the third cross beam, the first edge beam and the second edge beam, and forms a sealed installation space with the first cross beam, the second cross beam, the third cross beam, the first edge beam and the second edge beam, wherein the installation space is used for installing the battery cell and filling dielectric fluid, and the filling dielectric fluid is used for immersing the battery cell;
the water cooling plate is a bottom plate of a lower box body structure.
In this application first aspect, the water-cooling board can with a crossbeam, the second crossbeam, the third crossbeam, first boundary beam with second boundary beam fixed connection, and with a crossbeam, the second crossbeam, the third crossbeam, first boundary beam with the second boundary beam forms sealed installation space, so, just can be through installation space installation electric core and filling dielectric fluid, wherein, fill dielectric fluid can submerge electric core.
Compared with the prior art, because the installation space can be filled with dielectric fluid, and then the dielectric fluid can submerge the battery core, the dielectric fluid can contact with the front side, the rear side, the left side and the right side of the battery core, the heat exchange area of the battery core is increased, the heat exchange efficiency of the battery is finally increased, and the service life of the battery is prolonged.
On the other hand, the water cooling plate is used as a bottom plate of the lower box body structure and can be contacted with the bottom surface of the battery cell, so that heat exchange can be carried out on the bottom surface of the battery cell, and the heat exchange area of the battery cell is further improved. Meanwhile, since the water-cooling plate serves as a bottom plate of the lower case structure, the water-cooling plate can also cool the dielectric fluid filled in the installation space.
In an optional embodiment, the installation space includes a plurality of battery cell limiting grooves, and the battery cell is installed in the battery cell limiting grooves, where the number of the battery cell limiting grooves matches with the size of the battery cell and the layout manner of the battery cell.
In the optional embodiment, the battery cell can be installed and fixed and limited by the plurality of battery cell limiting grooves, wherein the number of the battery cell limiting grooves is matched with the size of the battery cell and the layout mode of the battery cell.
In an alternative embodiment, the mounting space comprises a first mounting region, a second mounting region, the first mounting region and the second mounting region being separated by the second cross member.
In this alternative embodiment, the second crosspiece mounting space is divided into the first mounting region and the second mounting region, so that the fluidity of the dielectric fluid can be reduced.
In an alternative embodiment, the lower box structure comprises a baffle plate, which is located above the installation space and is fixedly connected to the first cross member and the second cross member.
In this alternative embodiment, the dielectric fluid can be prevented from splashing by the baffle.
In an alternative embodiment, the water-cooled panels are extruded from an aluminum profile.
This optional embodiment forms the water-cooling board through aluminium alloy extrusion mode, can utilize the heat conductivity of aluminium to improve the heat conductivity of water-cooling board to and utilize the lighter advantage of aluminium, reduce the weight of water-cooling board.
In an optional embodiment, the water-cooling plate is coated with a heat-conducting structural adhesive, and the water-cooling plate is in contact with the battery cell through the heat-conducting structural adhesive.
This optional embodiment is glued through heat conduction structure, can improve the heat exchange efficiency of water-cooling board and electric core.
In an optional embodiment, the lower box structure further includes a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe, wherein the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe are communicated with the water-cooling plate.
This optional embodiment, through water inlet pipe mouth and water outlet pipe mouth, can make cooling water circulate in the water-cooling board.
In an optional embodiment, the lower box structure further includes a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is fixedly connected to the first edge beam and the second edge beam, and the mounting bracket is used for mounting a battery management system and a battery pack cutting unit.
The battery management system and the battery pack cutting unit may be mounted through the mounting bracket in this alternative embodiment.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a power battery comprising a lower case structure according to any one of the preceding embodiments.
The power battery of this application second aspect has bigger heat transfer area, and its heat exchange efficiency is higher, and on the other hand, it has the advantage such as the difference in temperature is low.
In a third aspect, the invention provides an electric vehicle comprising a power battery as described in the previous embodiments.
Since the electric vehicle of the third aspect of the present application has the power battery of the second aspect of the present application, it has all the advantages of the power battery of the second aspect of the present application.
Additional features and advantages of the present application will be described in detail in the detailed description which follows.
Drawings
In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings that are required to be used in the embodiments will be briefly described below, it should be understood that the following drawings only illustrate some embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope, and for those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from the drawings without inventive effort.
FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a lower box structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of another lower box structure disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;
FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a re-seeding lower box structure disclosed in the embodiments of the present application
Icon: 1-a first beam; 2-a second cross beam; 3-third horizontal; 4-a first edge beam; 5-a second edge beam; 6-water cooling board.
Detailed Description
In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. It is to be understood that the embodiments described are only a few embodiments of the present application and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present application, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.
In the description of the present application, it should be noted that the terms "inside", "outside", and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings or orientations or positional relationships that the products of the application usually place when using, and are only used for convenience in describing the present application and simplifying the description, but do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements that are referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed in a specific orientation, and operate, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the present application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
In the description of the present application, it should also be noted that, unless expressly stated or limited otherwise, the terms "disposed" and "connected" are to be construed broadly, and may for example be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected; they may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, or they may be interconnected between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in this application will be understood to be a specific case for those of ordinary skill in the art.
Referring to fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 3, fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a lower box structure disclosed in an embodiment of the present application, fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of another lower box structure disclosed in the embodiment of the present application, and fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of another lower box structure disclosed in the embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, 2, and 3, the lower tank structure of the embodiment of the present application includes a first beam 1, a second beam 2, a third beam 3, a first edge beam 4, a second edge beam 5, and a water-cooling plate 6, where the first edge beam 4 is fixedly connected to the second edge beam 5 through the first beam 1, the second beam 2, and the third beam 3, and forms a sealed installation space with the first beam, the second beam 2, the third beam 3, the first edge beam 4, and the second edge beam 5, where the installation space is used to install a cell and is filled with a dielectric fluid, and the dielectric fluid is used to immerse the cell.
In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 1, the water-cooled plate 6 is a bottom plate of the lower tank structure.
In the embodiment of the present application, the first beam 1, the second beam 2, and the third beam 3 are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the power battery, for example, the first beam 1, the second beam 2, and the third beam 3 are arranged at equal intervals along the length direction of the power battery.
In the embodiment of the present application, specifically, the first side beam 4 and the second side beam 5 each include a side plate, and accordingly, the first cross beam 1, the second cross beam 2, and the third cross beam 3 also include side plates, so that the side plate of the first side beam 4, the side plate of the second side beam 5, the side plate of the first cross beam 1, and the side plate of the third cross beam 3 can be used as a box side plate of the box structure, thereby forming an installation space.
In the embodiment of the present application, specifically, the first cross member 1, the second cross member 2, and the third cross member 3 are all welded to the first side member 4 and the second side member 5 by friction stir welding.
In the first aspect of the present application, the water-cooling plate 6 can be fixedly connected to the first cross beam, the second cross beam 2, the third cross beam 3, the first side beam 4 and the second side beam 5, and form a sealed installation space with the first cross beam, the second cross beam 2, the third cross beam 3, the first side beam 4 and the second side beam 5, so that the cell and the dielectric fluid can be installed in the installation space, wherein the dielectric fluid can submerge the cell.
Compared with the prior art, because installation space can fill dielectric fluid, and then dielectric fluid can submergence electric core for dielectric fluid can contact with electric core leading flank, trailing flank, left surface and right flank, thereby improves electric core heat transfer area, finally improves the heat exchange efficiency of battery, improves the life of battery.
On the other hand, the water cooling plate 6 is used as a bottom plate of the lower box structure and can be contacted with the bottom surface of the battery cell, so that heat exchange can be carried out on the bottom surface of the battery cell, and the heat exchange area of the battery cell is further improved. Meanwhile, since the water-cooling plate 6 serves as a bottom plate of the lower case structure, the water-cooling plate 6 can also cool the dielectric fluid filled in the installation space.
On the other hand, because the battery core is immersed in the dielectric fluid, the dielectric fluid can directly contact the battery core, a uniform heat transfer path with high heat capacity is provided for the battery core, the heat contact resistance in an indirect cooling system is reduced, and the temperature uniformity is greatly ensured, for example, the temperature difference of a battery pack can be accurately controlled to 5 ℃ from the original 15 ℃.
In another aspect, the immersed dielectric fluid is a good thermal runaway monitoring medium, so that the temperature of the battery cell can be monitored in real time through embedding NTC and other sensors, a data basis is provided for the pre-judgment of the thermal runaway of the battery cell, and further, the immersed dielectric fluid is also a flame retardant and can be used as a fire extinguishing agent to inhibit the occurrence of the thermal runaway, so that the safety of the battery pack is improved.
In an embodiment of the present application, the dielectric fluid may be one of hydrocarbon oil, silicone oil, and fluorinated hydrocarbon.
In the embodiment of the present application, the immersion depth of the dielectric fluid may be adaptively determined by combining the size of the cell, the layout manner, and the thermal management simulation result, for example, a semi-immersion type immersion depth, a 2/3 immersion depth, and the like may be adopted.
In an embodiment of the application, the lower tank structure further comprises a high pressure pump, wherein the high pressure pump is adapted to circulate the dielectric fluid for heat exchange.
In the embodiment of the application, the width, the depth and the water channel direction of the water cooling plate 6 can be adaptively optimized by combining the heat management simulation and the experimental result.
In an optional embodiment, the installation space includes a plurality of battery cell limiting grooves, and the battery cells are installed in the battery cell limiting grooves, wherein the number of the battery cell limiting grooves matches with the size of the battery cells and the layout mode of the battery cells. This optional implementation mode can install and fix the electric core and limit the electric core through a plurality of electric core limiting grooves, wherein the number of the electric core limiting grooves matches with the size of the electric core and the layout mode of the electric core, for example, when the size of the electric core is a, the number of the electric core limiting grooves may be 6.
In an alternative embodiment, the mounting space comprises a first mounting area, a second mounting area, which are separated by the second cross member 2. In the alternative embodiment, the mounting space of the second beam 2 is divided into the first mounting region and the second mounting region, so that the fluidity of the dielectric fluid can be reduced.
In an alternative embodiment, the lower box structure comprises a baffle, which is located above the installation space and is fixedly connected to the first cross beam 1 and the second cross beam 2. In this alternative embodiment, the dielectric fluid can be prevented from splashing by the baffle.
In an alternative embodiment, the water-cooled panels 6 are extruded from an aluminium profile. This optional embodiment forms water-cooling panel 6 through aluminium alloy extrusion mode, can utilize the heat conductivity of aluminium to improve water-cooling panel 6's heat conductivity, and utilize the lighter advantage of aluminium, reduce water-cooling panel 6's weight.
In an alternative embodiment, the water-cooling plate 6 is coated with a heat-conducting structural adhesive, and the water-cooling plate 6 is in contact with the battery cell through the heat-conducting structural adhesive. This optional embodiment is glued through heat conduction structure, can improve the heat exchange efficiency of water-cooling board 6 and electric core.
In an alternative embodiment, the lower box structure further comprises a water inlet nozzle and a water outlet nozzle, wherein the water inlet nozzle and the water outlet nozzle are communicated with the water-cooled plate 6. In this alternative embodiment, the cooling water can be circulated through the water-cooled panels 6 by means of water inlet and outlet nozzles.
In this continuous embodiment, the water inlet and outlet both have a normal open mode and a Plus mode, wherein when the vehicle is in working conditions such as high speed climbing, high power quick charging, etc., the water inlet and outlet are in the Plus mode to improve the water circulation of the water cooling plate 6, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.
In an alternative embodiment, the lower box structure further comprises a high pressure cooling pump, wherein the high pressure cooling pump is used for circulating the dielectric fluid.
In an alternative embodiment, the lower box structure further comprises a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is fixedly connected with the first edge beam 4 and the second edge beam 5, and the mounting bracket is used for mounting the battery management system and the battery pack cutting unit.
The battery management system and the battery pack cutting unit may be mounted through the mounting bracket in this alternative embodiment.
In addition, the embodiment of the application also provides a power battery, and the power battery comprises the lower box body structure according to any one of the previous embodiments.
The power battery of this application embodiment has bigger heat transfer area, and its heat exchange efficiency is higher, and on the other hand, it has the advantage such as the difference in temperature is low.
Further, the embodiment of the application also provides an electric vehicle, and the electric vehicle comprises the power battery of the previous embodiment.
Because the electric vehicle of the embodiment of the application has the power battery of the embodiment of the application, the electric vehicle has all the advantages of the power battery of the embodiment of the application.
It should be noted that the features of the embodiments in the present application may be combined with each other without conflict.
The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement and the like made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims (10)

1. A lower box body structure is characterized by comprising a first cross beam, a second cross beam, a third cross beam, a first edge beam, a second edge beam and a water cooling plate;
the first edge beam is fixedly connected with the second edge beam through the first cross beam, the second cross beam and the third cross beam;
the water cooling plate is fixedly connected with the first cross beam, the second cross beam, the third cross beam, the first edge beam and the second edge beam, and forms a sealed installation space with the first cross beam, the second cross beam, the third cross beam, the first edge beam and the second edge beam, wherein the installation space is used for installing the battery core and filling dielectric fluid, and the filling dielectric fluid is used for immersing the battery core;
the water cooling plate is a bottom plate of a lower box body structure.
2. The lower case structure of claim 1, wherein the installation space comprises a plurality of cell limiting grooves, and the cells are installed in the cell limiting grooves, wherein the number of the cell limiting grooves matches with the size of the cells and the layout manner of the cells.
3. The lower box structure of claim 1 wherein the mounting space includes a first mounting area, a second mounting area, the first mounting area and the second mounting area separated by the second cross member.
4. The lower box structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower box structure comprises a baffle plate positioned above the installation space and fixedly connected to the first cross member and the second cross member.
5. The lower box structure of claim 1, wherein the water-cooled panel is extruded from an aluminum profile.
6. The lower box structure of claim 1, wherein the water-cooled plate is coated with a thermally conductive structural adhesive, and the water-cooled plate is in contact with the cell through the thermally conductive structural adhesive.
7. The lower box structure of claim 1, further comprising a water inlet nozzle and a water outlet nozzle, wherein the water inlet nozzle and the water outlet nozzle are in communication with the water cooled panel.
8. The lower box structure of claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is fixedly connected to the first and second edge beams, and the mounting bracket is used for mounting a battery management system and a battery pack cutting unit.
9. A power cell, characterized in that it comprises a lower case structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. An electric vehicle characterized by comprising the power battery according to claim 9.
CN202221950632.0U 2022-07-26 2022-07-26 Lower box structure, power battery and electric vehicle Active CN218300052U (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN202221950632.0U CN218300052U (en) 2022-07-26 2022-07-26 Lower box structure, power battery and electric vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN202221950632.0U CN218300052U (en) 2022-07-26 2022-07-26 Lower box structure, power battery and electric vehicle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN218300052U true CN218300052U (en) 2023-01-13

Family

ID=84791348

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN202221950632.0U Active CN218300052U (en) 2022-07-26 2022-07-26 Lower box structure, power battery and electric vehicle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CN (1) CN218300052U (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN213026305U (en) Power battery package and vehicle
CN110518309B (en) Multi-cooling-mode power battery heat dissipation device
CN213692186U (en) Crossbeam formula battery module, power battery and vehicle
CN112582703B (en) Novel battery cooling structure based on coupling of heat pipe and liquid cooling plate
CN214043778U (en) Immersion type liquid cooling battery module with integrated liquid cooling board
CN218300052U (en) Lower box structure, power battery and electric vehicle
CN210142702U (en) Battery module heat exchange structure, battery module, battery pack and automobile
CN107958976A (en) A kind of cold battery system of liquid
CN219476785U (en) Battery module, battery system and electric automobile
CN208157468U (en) Liquid cooling battery system
CN115036636A (en) Lower box structure, power battery and electric vehicle
CN113410538B (en) Liquid cooling battery package structure of trompil foamed aluminum heat dissipation runner
CN113410540B (en) Power battery module cooling system
CN113948808A (en) Power battery system
CN115189064A (en) Energy storage battery module, battery pack and energy storage system
CN210110999U (en) Power battery heat radiation structure
CN219457938U (en) High-voltage distribution box and battery pack
CN218334048U (en) Lower box body device and battery box body
CN218334008U (en) Heat dissipation casing and battery module
CN112117398A (en) Vehicle with a steering wheel
CN218334195U (en) Battery module, battery package and consumer
CN218299915U (en) Liquid cooling type BMS structure, battery package and electric installation
CN219086107U (en) Battery pack
CN216580144U (en) Electric automobile charging device and electric automobile
CN218867241U (en) Compound mass flow body laminate polymer battery casing, laminate polymer battery and laminate polymer battery module

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
GR01 Patent grant
GR01 Patent grant