Battery Cap With Multi-Orientation Openings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery assemblies have limited flexibility in arranging electric cells due to the need for redesigning the cover or case when the orientation of conductive members changes, restricting the arrangement of electric cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery assembly design featuring caps with multiple openings at different orientations allows conductive members to be inserted in various directions, enabling flexible arrangement without requiring multiple cap designs or redesigns, as the orientation of the conductive members can be adjusted by selecting the appropriate opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional cover or case is used to cover the external terminal of the electric cell, then the external terminal is protected, but the arrangement flexibility of electric cells is limited when the orientation of conductive members needs to change
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed with multiple openings (first, second, third, and fourth openings) that can accommodate conductive members in various orientations. This universal design allows a single cap type to serve multiple functions - protecting the external terminal while supporting different conductive member orientations (90°, 180°, 270°), thereby increasing arrangement flexibility without requiring multiple specialized cap designs
Solution Approach 2:
The cap structure incorporates multiple openings at different orientations rather than a fixed single opening. This dynamic design allows the system to adapt to different conductive member orientations as needed, enabling flexible arrangement of electric cells without requiring redesign of the cap structure
2Adaptability or versatility
If the orientation of the conductive member is changed to accommodate different electric cell arrangements, then the arrangement flexibility increases, but the cover or case must be redesigned accordingly
Solution Approach 1:
A single cap design with multiple openings serves all orientation requirements. The cap includes openings at 90°, 180°, and 270° orientations, allowing it to universally accommodate any conductive member orientation without requiring redesign. This multi-functional design eliminates the need to create different cap versions for different arrangements
3Reliability
If multiple kinds of caps are prepared according to conductive member direction, then each cap orientation is optimized, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of preparing multiple specialized cap types, a single universal cap design is used that incorporates all necessary openings (first, second, third, fourth openings) to accommodate any conductive member orientation. This reduces the number of cap types from multiple to one, while maintaining reliable connections through appropriately selected openings
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple opening functions that would traditionally require separate cap designs are merged into a single cap structure. The cap integrates openings at various orientations (90°, 180°, 270°) and the external terminal is protected within this unified structure, reducing part variety and simplifying the overall assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Each of electric cells constituting a battery assembly is provided with external terminals. The upper end of the electric cell is covered with an upper cap surrounding the external terminals whereas the lower end of the electric cell is covered with a lower cap. The electric cell is held between an upper holder and a lower holder via the upper cap and the lower cap. A plurality of bus bar openings for allowing a bus bar extending from the external terminals to be inserted therethrough are formed in the upper cap in such a manner as to penetrate in a thickness direction. Thus, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of the arrangement of the electric cells in the battery assembly.