Battery array rail assembly with tie bracket

Abstract

A battery array according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a rail that supports a battery cell and a tie bracket connected to the rail and configured to limit travel of the rail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery array, comprising:
 a rail that supports a battery cell; and   a tie bracket connected to said rail and configured to limit travel of said rail, said tie bracket including a first face, a second face transverse to said first face, and a stiffener wall that connects diagonally between said first face and said second face.   
     
     
         2 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said tie bracket is welded to said rail. 
     
     
         3 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said tie bracket resists deflection between transverse portions of said rail. 
     
     
         4 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said tie bracket resists deflection of a lower flange toward an upper flange of said rail. 
     
     
         5 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said tie bracket resists rotation of said rail. 
     
     
         6 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said tie bracket resists deformation of said rail. 
     
     
         7 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of tie brackets mounted to said rail. 
     
     
         8 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a flange connected to at least one of said first face and said second face. 
     
     
         9 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said tie bracket includes a flange having a mounting portion that mounts to said rail. 
     
     
         10 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said rail includes a first wall and a second wall that extends transversely from said first wall. 
     
     
         11 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said rail includes a C-shaped body having an upper flange connected to a lower flange by at least one wall. 
     
     
         12 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a second rail spaced from said rail and a second tie bracket mounted to said second rail, wherein a column extends between said rail and said second rail. 
     
     
         13 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said tie bracket is L-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said stiffener wall is triangular shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said stiffener wall diagonally extends diagonally from a first edge of said first face to a second edge of said second face. 
     
     
         16 . The battery array as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a flange connected to said tie bracket on an open side opposite from said stiffener wall. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 mounting a tie bracket to a rail of a battery array such that a first face of the tie bracket is secured to a first portion of the rail and a second face of the tie bracket is secured to a second, different portion of the rail; and   limiting travel of the rail with the tie bracket.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the step of limiting travel includes resisting deflection of a lower flange of the rail toward an upper flange of the rail. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the step of limiting travel includes resisting rotation or deformation of the rail. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , comprising mounting the tie bracket between walls or flanges of the rail.