Inline Battery Cell Degassing With Hemispherical Suction Covers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for degassing battery cells are inefficient, leading to low productivity in the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus for degassing battery cells that includes a gas suction portion, a first tubular member with suction ports, a second tubular member, and hemispherical covers that block the gas chamber from external space, allowing for effective gas removal without the need for a separate chamber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If gas is removed after disposing a battery cell in a separately manufactured chamber, then gas removal can be performed, but productivity becomes significantly low

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidseparately manufactured chamber
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the gas removal function with the battery cell manufacturing process by integrating a gas suction portion directly into the manufacturing apparatus. The suction ports are formed within the manufacturing equipment itself, allowing gas removal to occur concurrently with manufacturing operations, thereby eliminating the need for separate degassing chambers and significantly improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the gas removal function from the separate chamber approach and integrates it directly into the manufacturing process through suction ports positioned within the manufacturing apparatus. This extraction of the gas removal step from a separate process allows it to be performed inline during manufacturing, improving efficiency without requiring additional standalone equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a separate chamber is used for gas removal, then gas can be removed from battery cells, but facility size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas removalVSAvoidfacility size
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the gas removal function with the existing manufacturing facility by integrating suction ports into the manufacturing apparatus. This merging eliminates the need for separate degassing chambers, thereby removing the harmful gas accumulation issue while avoiding any increase in facility size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a separate chamber is used for gas removal, then gas removal can be performed, but process time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas removalVSAvoidprocess time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary gas removal action by positioning suction ports within the manufacturing apparatus to extract gas during the manufacturing process itself, before the battery cells would otherwise require separate post-processing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent dedicated degassing steps, significantly reducing total process time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables continuous gas removal during the manufacturing process through integrated suction ports, maintaining continuous useful action throughout production. Gas is removed continuously as cells are manufactured rather than requiring interruption for separate batch processing, thereby minimizing loss of time and improving overall process efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 apparatus significantly improves productivity by allowing for efficient gas removal directly within the battery cell manufacturing process, minimizing facility size and reducing process time.

Implementation Method 1

a gas suction portion providing negative pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3866253B1Apparatus for degassing battery cell
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 SK ON CO LTD
  • EP3866253B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3866253B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3866253B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for degassing a battery cell includes: a gas suction portion providing negative pressure; a first tubular member connected to the gas suction portion, and having at least one suction port formed in a radial direction; a second tubular member connected to the gas suction portion, and provided to be coupled to the first tubular member; and a hemispherical cover coupled to the first tubular member and the second tubular member, respectively, wherein the hemispherical cover includes a first cover coupled to the first tubular member and a second cover coupled to the second tubular member, when the first tubular member and the second tubular member are coupled, the first cover and the second cover may be disposed such that openings face each other, and the suction port may be disposed between the first cover and the second cover.