Battery Cell Connection Member Outer Pack Case Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery packs require sophisticated techniques and additional auxiliary members for connecting electrode terminals, leading to increased manufacturing costs and safety risks due to potential electric short circuits and physical impacts.

Innovation Solution

A connection member with terminal contact parts and a connection part that can be mounted on the outer surface of a pack case, eliminating the need for auxiliary members and allowing for simple assembly, using a metal plate with coupling grooves and protruding terminal and voltage-detection connections to interconnect battery cells in various configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If welding or soldering is used to connect electrode terminals, then electrical connection between battery cells is achieved, but the process requires sophisticated techniques, skilled technicians, and large work space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the welding/soldering process (thermal/mechanical system) with a mechanical pressing system. The connection member includes a pressing part that mechanically presses the electrode terminals together, eliminating the need for sophisticated welding equipment and skilled technicians while achieving reliable electrical connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a connection member as an intermediary component between battery cells. This connection member includes terminal contact parts that contact the electrode terminals and a pressing part that applies pressing force, serving as a mediator that achieves electrical connection without direct welding between terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If welding or soldering is used to connect electrode terminals, then electrical connection is achieved, but safety is compromised due to potential electric short circuits and physical impacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidelectric short circuit risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection member serves as a safety intermediary between electrode terminals. It includes insulating parts that electrically isolate adjacent terminals, preventing short circuits. The pressing part applies controlled force to ensure good contact without causing physical damage to the terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the harmful thermal and electrical effects of welding/soldering by replacing them with a mechanical pressing system. The connection member transfers only the necessary mechanical contact force while isolating the terminals from harmful thermal fields and electrical interference through insulating materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If auxiliary members such as jigs are used to fix plates to electrode terminals, then stable connection is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of the connection member and the fixing mechanism into a single integrated component. The connection member includes pressing parts that simultaneously provide both the electrical connection function and the stable fixing function, eliminating the need for separate auxiliary jigs and reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection member is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple tasks: electrical connection through terminal contact parts, mechanical fixing through pressing parts, and positioning through integrated structural features. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple separate auxiliary members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9017855B2Connection-member for electrical connection of battery cells

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein are a connection member for electrically interconnecting a plurality of battery cells in a battery pack in which the battery cells are mounted, wherein the connection member includes at least two terminal contact parts, which are connected to electrode terminals of neighboring battery cells, and a connection part for interconnecting the terminal contact parts, and wherein the terminal contact parts are lower in height, by a size corresponding to the thickness of a pack case, than the connection part such that the connection member connects the electrode terminals of the battery cells while the connection member is mounted on the outer surface of the pack case, and a battery pack including the same. Consequently, the connection member according to the present invention has the effect of effectively interconnecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells through a simple assembly process. Also, the connection member according to the present invention can be directly mounted on the pack case without using an additional auxiliary member.