Secondary Battery Case Stepped Support for Cap Plate Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing secondary battery designs, particularly side terminal types, face challenges in maintaining structural integrity and stability under varying loads and vibrations due to inadequate support mechanisms for the cap plate, which can lead to potential breakage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of stepped portions and sub-stepped portions along the inner surfaces of the battery case, combined with protrusions on the cap plate, provides stable support for the cap plate, enhancing durability and preventing breakage under external stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap plate is joined to the opening without stepped portions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to inadequate support under loads and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The inner surface of the case is segmented into multiple stepped portions at different heights along the opening, creating a tiered support structure. This segmentation allows the cap plate to be supported at multiple discrete locations, distributing mechanical stresses and improving reliability without requiring a completely redesigned case structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure transitions from a single-plane support to a multi-level stepped configuration along the inner surface of the case. By utilizing the vertical dimension within the opening, the design creates multiple support levels that enhance structural integrity while maintaining a compact form factor.
2Reliability
If stepped portions are formed along the inner surface of the case, then the cap plate support is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stepped portions are strategically positioned at specific locations along the opening where support is most needed, rather than uniformly distributing complexity throughout the entire case structure. This localized approach concentrates manufacturing precision requirements on specific critical areas while keeping other regions simpler.
3Reliability
If multiple sub-stepped portions are spaced apart along the opening, then the cap plate support distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple sub-stepped portions spaced at intervals along the opening, creating a segmented support system. This segmentation distributes the cap plate's weight and external loads across multiple discrete support points, improving load distribution and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than providing continuous support along the entire opening, the design uses discrete sub-stepped portions at strategically spaced intervals. This partial support approach is sufficient to maintain structural integrity while avoiding the excessive complexity of continuous reinforcement.
Data Source
AI summary
A secondary battery includes a case with at least one opening, the at least one opening having a long side portion and a short side portion, a stepped portion at the short side portion and the long side portion of the opening along an inner surface of the case, an electrode assembly accommodated in the case, and at least one cap plate joined to the at least one opening, the at least one cap plate being positioned on the stepped portion.