Battery Adjacent Member Cavity Design for Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery systems for vehicles are heavy due to the inclusion of intermediate reinforcing plates, which increases weight and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An energy storage apparatus with an adjacent member having a body portion with cavity portions that increase space occupation, allowing for reduced weight while maintaining structural rigidity and fluid flow management, and a method for manufacturing this apparatus using resin molding to enhance positioning and reduce weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an intermediate reinforcing plate is included in the battery system to fix the stacked flat secondary batteries, then the structural rigidity and positioning are improved, but the weight of the battery system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate reinforcing plate from the battery system structure. Instead of using a separate reinforcing plate to fix the stacked flat secondary batteries, the end plates are designed with through-holes that allow bind bars to pass through and directly secure the batteries, eliminating the need for the intermediate plate and reducing overall weight while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of the intermediate reinforcing plate and the bind bars into a single integrated structure. The bind bars are designed to extend through the end plates and directly secure the stacked batteries, merging the positioning function (previously performed by the intermediate plate) with the fastening function (performed by the bind bars), thereby eliminating redundant components and reducing weight
2Manufacturing precision
If an intermediate reinforcing plate is used to position the energy storage devices, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the intermediate reinforcing plate from the structure. The positioning function previously performed by the intermediate plate is transferred to the end plates with through-holes and the bind bars, simplifying the overall structure by eliminating a redundant component while maintaining positioning accuracy through the direct securing mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The end plates with through-holes and the bind bars are designed to perform multiple functions: they provide structural support, enable positioning of the stacked flat secondary batteries, and secure the assembly together. This multi-functionality replaces the specialized intermediate reinforcing plate, reducing device complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an energy storage apparatus including an energy storage device, an opposedly facing member which opposedly faces the energy storage device in a first direction, and an adjacent member which includes a body portion disposed adjacently to the energy storage device in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and containing a connection portion partially connected to the opposedly facing member at an end portion of the body portion in the first direction. The body portion of the adjacent member contains a cavity portion which opens at an end portion of the body portion in a direction orthogonal to the second direction and extends in the direction orthogonal to the second direction.