AGM Battery Stacking Aid Structure to Prevent Bulging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stacking aids for AGM batteries are material-intensive, complex, and costly, complicating assembly and handling, while also failing to prevent internal pressure-induced bulging that reduces battery lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A stacking aid design featuring a U-shaped base body with a support element and orthogonal cheeks, using minimal components, including a plastic positioning aid with projections and spacers, to align and protect AGM batteries, allowing them to support each other against bulging without additional load-bearing elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional stacking aids with multiple support elements and force-transmitting structures are used, then AGM batteries are protected from bulging, but the device becomes material-intensive, complex, and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from bulgingVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes intermediate support elements and force-transmitting structures from the stacking aid, leaving only the base element and cover element. This extraction of unnecessary components simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the essential function of preventing battery bulging through direct compression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stacking aid utilizes the weight of the batteries themselves and the direct compression force from the base and cover elements to prevent bulging, without requiring additional active support mechanisms. The structure serves itself by using the batteries' own mass and the simple compression framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If traditional stacking aids with multiple components are used, then AGM batteries are supported, but assembly and handling become complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery supportVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stacking aid is divided into three distinct segments: the base element, the batteries themselves, and the cover element. This segmentation allows for simple assembly by stacking components vertically without complex interconnections, while each segment performs its specific function of support and compression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the support and compression functions into a single integrated structure where the base element and cover element work together to both support the batteries and prevent bulging, eliminating the need for separate support elements and force-transmitting structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If traditional stacking aids with extensive materials are used, then structural strength is sufficient, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes unnecessary material components such as intermediate support elements, insert shelves, and force-transmitting structures, retaining only the essential base and cover elements. This reduction in material usage directly lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining sufficient structural strength for the application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4340110B1System consisting of a stacking aid and a plurality of agm batteries
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 HOPPECKE BATTERIEN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4340110B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4340110B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4340110B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a system comprising a stacking aid (1) and a plurality of AGM batteries arranged in the stacking aid (1), wherein an AGM battery has a housing with first side walls and electrode plates arranged in the housing, wherein the first side walls and the electrode plates are aligned parallel, wherein the stacking aid (1) has a U-shaped base body (2) which has exclusively a support element (3) for receiving the AGM batteries and two cheeks (4, 5) aligned orthogonally to the support element (3), wherein the cheeks (4, 5) are arranged on one end and the other end of the support element (3), wherein the support element (3) receives a plurality of AGM batteries arranged in rows one above the other, wherein both the support element (3) and the first side walls of the AGM battery housings are aligned horizontally, wherein the cheeks (4, 5) are configured toto serve exclusively as lateral protection for the AGM batteries received by the support element (3), wherein a positioning aid (29) is arranged between two successive rows of AGM batteries in the vertical direction (34).