This application relates to an apparatus for assembly of a press-fit work piece, such as a battery cell assembly.
In response to the demand for high-output battery applications such as for electric vehicles, modular battery cell stack assemblies have been developed. These stack assemblies may comprise multiple repeating units of a module that has generally planar battery cell members and other planar components such as gaskets, heat exchangers, and the like sandwiched between generally planar frame members. The planar frame members have retaining features thereon that are disposed perpendicular to the plane of the planar frame, which are adapted to engage retaining features on adjacent frame members in the stack when pressed together. The engagement of these retaining features holds the stack together and retains the sandwiched members securely between the frame members.
One way to assemble battery cell assemblies such as those described above has been to align the components and press them together in a manual operation, which required repeated manual applications of force to secure one frame to the next. In addition to being highly inefficient, such manual assembly can cause operator fatigue.
Accordingly, the inventors herein have recognized a need for an apparatus for assembling a modular work piece such as a modular battery cell stack assembly that mitigates the above deficiency.