Rechargeable battery with cap plate having a protrusion and terminal plate having a longitudinal compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable batteries face the risk of thermal runaway due to remaining currents when subjected to longitudinal compression, leading to heat generation and potential secondary impacts.
Innovation Solution
A rechargeable battery design featuring a cap plate with a protrusion and an extended unit on a terminal plate that short-circuits the battery under longitudinal compression, discharging the remaining current and preventing thermal runaway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery is designed with conventional cap plate and terminal plate structure, then the manufacturing is simple, but thermal runaway occurs under longitudinal compression due to remaining currents
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal plate is segmented into multiple functional parts: an extended unit with first and second extended portions that protrude toward the cap plate, and a main body portion. This segmentation allows different parts to perform different functions - the extended portions create short-circuit paths under compression while the main body maintains electrical connection, thereby preventing thermal runaway without requiring complete structural redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The extended unit is pre-positioned to protrude toward the cap plate before any compression occurs. The first extended portion is positioned to contact the cap plate first, and the second extended portion is positioned to contact next, creating a predetermined short-circuit path. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when longitudinal compression occurs, the short-circuit activates immediately without requiring complex real-time control mechanisms
2Temperature
If the battery uses standard terminal plate design, then the device complexity is low, but heat generation occurs under longitudinal compression
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of longitudinal compression (which normally causes thermal runaway by maintaining remaining currents) into a beneficial short-circuit activation. The extended unit is specifically designed to contact the cap plate under compression conditions, transforming the compression force into a mechanism that activates the short-circuit path and dissipates remaining currents safely, thereby converting heat-generating compression into a protective action
3Speed
If the protrusion and extended unit are positioned close together, then the short-circuit activation is faster under compression, but the risk of accidental contact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extended unit features asymmetric positioning of its first and second extended portions relative to the cap plate. The first extended portion is positioned closer to the cap plate and is designed to contact first, while the second extended portion is positioned farther away and contacts next. This asymmetric arrangement ensures controlled sequential contact that activates the short-circuit reliably under compression while preventing accidental contact during normal operation, as the compression force is required to bridge the specific distance gaps designed into the asymmetric structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively prevents thermal runaway by discharging the current through external short-circuiting, ensuring the battery does not generate excessive heat even under significant longitudinal compression.
Implementation Method 1
the terminal plate includes an extended unit extended to an external part of the protrusion with respect to the terminal hole and separated from the protrusion, the protrusion and the extended unit are provided on a plane in parallel with the opening
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a rechargeable battery include: an electrode assembly including first and second leads; a case for receiving the electrode assembly; a cap plate covering an opening of the case, connected to the first lead, and including a terminal hole; and an insulating terminal plate provided between the cap plate and the electrode assembly, connected to the second lead, and an electrode end installed in the terminal hole. The cap plate may include a protrusion oriented toward the electrode assembly. The terminal plate may include an extended unit extended to an external part of the protrusion with respect to the terminal hole and separated from the protrusion. The protrusion and the extended unit may be provided on a plane in parallel with the opening. A first distance between the terminal hole and the protrusion may be shorter than a second distance between the terminal hole and the extended unit.