Battery Outer Case Reinforcement Against Internal Pressure Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy storage apparatuses face safety issues due to deformation and cracking of the outer case caused by internal pressure rise from gas discharge, leading to potential leaks and unsafe conditions.
Innovation Solution
The energy storage apparatus incorporates a reinforcing member with a pair of reinforcing walls and a connecting portion, where the walls have higher rigidity than the connecting portion, sandwiching the outer case from the outside to suppress expansion and prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reinforcing structure is mounted on the body portion to prevent deformation from external impacts, then the safety against external forces is improved, but the outer case may still deform and crack due to internal pressure rise from gas discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing member is designed with non-uniform thickness: the first and second wall portions have a first thickness, while the connecting portion has a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness. This local quality differentiation allows the walls to resist internal pressure effectively while reducing overall weight and material usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing member is formed from a single piece of resin material, creating a composite structure where the varying thickness regions work together as an integrated unit to resist both external impacts and internal pressure forces.
2Reliability
If the thickness of the reinforcing member is increased to suppress outer case expansion, then the safety is improved, but the weight and size of the reinforcing structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing member employs local quality by having different thicknesses in different regions: thicker wall portions (first thickness) where structural support is needed, and thinner connecting portions (second thickness) where less support is required. This optimizes the weight-strength ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the geometric parameter of thickness strategically: the wall portions have a greater thickness to resist internal pressure, while the connecting portions have a reduced thickness to minimize weight. This parameter variation achieves safety requirements without excessive weight.
3Ease of manufacture
If a uniform thickness reinforcing member is used, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the structural efficiency is reduced as weight cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing member is formed as a single piece with varying thickness, combining manufacturing simplicity with structural optimization. The single-piece construction maintains ease of manufacture while the variable thickness profile reduces weight compared to a uniformly thick design.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage apparatus includes an outer case that accommodates an energy storage device and a reinforcing member. The reinforcing member includes the pair of reinforcing walls disposed so as to sandwich the two wall portions of the outer case from an outside of the outer case, the two wall portions opposedly facing each other, and the connecting portion connecting the pair of reinforcing walls to each other.