Battery Cell Seal Arrangement With Centering Bead and Free Sealing Lip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing arrangements for battery cells are prone to seal breakage due to fluctuations in cell geometry caused by manufacturing tolerances and electrical operating states, leading to material fatigue and loss of sealing effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A sealing arrangement featuring a centering bead that supports the sealing element on a frame part, with a sealing lip projecting freely over the centering bead, allowing the centering bead to absorb forces and compensate for geometry changes, while the sealing lip remains free of direct force flows, and a starting slope on the centering bead facilitates damage-free insertion of battery cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing element directly contacts the battery cell to provide sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the sealing element is subjected to damaging load cycles due to cell geometry fluctuations, leading to material fatigue and seal failure
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is divided into two distinct functional parts: a centering bead for positioning and force absorption, and a sealing lip for actual sealing contact. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering bead acts as an intermediary between the frame part and the sealing lip. It absorbs the positioning forces and geometry fluctuations, preventing these damaging forces from being transmitted to the sealing lip that performs the actual sealing function.
2Reliability
If the sealing element is designed to compensate for cell geometry fluctuations, then sealing reliability is improved, but the sealing element structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The centering bead performs multiple functions simultaneously: it centers the battery cell, absorbs positioning forces, compensates for geometry fluctuations, and protects the sealing lip from damaging loads. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional complex components.
3Strength
If the sealing element is made robust to withstand load cycles, then material fatigue resistance is improved, but the sealing element cannot adequately follow cell geometry changes, reducing sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the sealing element have different mechanical properties optimized for their specific functions. The centering bead is designed to be robust and elastic for force absorption, while the sealing lip is designed to be compliant for following cell geometry changes and maintaining sealing contact.
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
This design ensures a reliable sealing effect regardless of manufacturing tolerances and electrical states, preventing material fatigue and enabling a quick, damage-free joining process by distributing forces through the centering bead and maintaining a buffer zone for fluid sealing.
Implementation Method 1
the centering bead primarily performs a positioning function, for which a high surface pressure is achieved due to the direct support of the centering bead on a support surface of the frame part... Changes in the geometry of the battery cell are primarily compensated for by the centering bead, whereby the resulting forces acting on the centering bead are absorbed by it and transmitted into the frame part
Implementation Method 2
The actual sealing is achieved by the sealing lip, which rests with sufficient preload against the battery cell aligned by the centering bead
Implementation Method 3
the centering bead bevel be provided with a starting bevel for damage-free insertion of the battery cell. As a result of these measures, the peripheral edge of the cell base that meets the starting bevel of the centering bead is guided accordingly during the joining process
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The invention relates to a seal arrangement for sealing a frame part (1) against a battery cell (3) inserted in a recess (2) in the frame part (1), having a sealing element (4) supported against the frame part (1). According to the invention, in order to design a seal arrangement of this kind such that, independently of the production tolerances and the electrical operating state of the cells, a reliable sealing effect is achieved, the sealing element (4) has a centring bead (5), in the region of which the sealing element (4) bears on a supporting surface (7) of the frame part (1), and comprises a sealing lip (6) freely protruding over the centring bead (5) into the recess (2).