Battery Connection Device With Elastic Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery module connection methods, such as welding, make it difficult to quickly and safely extract or recycle accumulators for maintenance or recycling, and are prone to short-circuiting due to vibration sensitivity and unremovable connections, posing risks during assembly and disassembly, especially under voltage conditions.

Innovation Solution

A battery module with an electrical connection device featuring an electrically conductive element, an elastically deformable element, and a guide element made of insulating material, allowing for secure and easy mounting and dismounting of accumulators by compressing the deformable element to maintain contact without fixed attachments, ensuring homogeneous current distribution and safety during operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If welding or non-removable connections are used to secure electrical cables to battery modules, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but the ability to quickly remove batteries for maintenance or recycling deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidbattery removal ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connection system is segmented into separable components: the rigid electrical cable, the flexible connector with elastic elements, and the battery terminals. This segmentation allows the connection to be divided into removable and fixed parts, enabling easy battery removal while maintaining reliable electrical contact during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connector incorporates elastic deformable elements that provide dynamic, compliant contact with battery terminals. This dynamic connection maintains reliable electrical contact through elastic force while allowing the entire connector assembly to be easily removed from batteries when needed for maintenance or recycling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If electrical cables are used for battery connections, then flexibility and ease of assembly are improved, but sensitivity to vibrations causing short circuits deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidprotection against vibration-induced short circuits
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid insulating guide element acts as an intermediary structure that holds the flexible electrical connector in proper position while providing mechanical stability. This intermediary component protects against vibration-induced short circuits by maintaining fixed spacing between cables and preventing cable movement, while still allowing easy assembly through the flexible connector design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If rigid fixed connections are used for battery modules, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to perform maintenance operations safely deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodule structural stabilityVSAvoidmaintenance safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connection function is extracted from the mechanical structural function. The rigid guide element provides structural stability and positioning, while the separate flexible connector provides electrical connection that can be easily removed for maintenance. This extraction allows maintenance operations to be performed safely by simply disconnecting the flexible electrical connector without affecting the stable mechanical structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If complex fixed connection systems are used, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidconnection device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functions are merged into a single integrated connector assembly: the flexible electrical conductor, the elastic deformable elements for contact pressure, and the rigid insulating guide structure are combined into one component. This merging achieves reliable electrical connection through the elastic-rigid combination while simplifying the overall device by eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets, fasteners, and alignment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution enables simple, fast, and secure assembly and disassembly of battery modules, ensuring operator safety and reducing the risk of short-circuiting, while maintaining consistent electrical resistance between terminals, thus addressing the challenges of existing connection methods.

Implementation Method 1

an elastically deformable element integrated into or in contact with the electrically conductive element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3176852B1Battery connection device
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP3176852B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3176852B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP3176852B1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

The invention relates to a battery module (20) comprising at least first and second groups of accumulators (10) each comprising at least two accumulators, each accumulator comprising a first terminal (12) and a second terminal (14), and at least one electrical connection device (30) from all the first terminals of the accumulators of the first group to all the second terminals of the accumulators of the second group, the connection device comprising: an electrically conductive element (40), monobloc or comprising several parts, in contact with all the first terminals of the accumulators of the first group and all the second terminals of the accumulators of the second group and not fixed to the accumulators; an elastically deformable element (44) integrated into the electrically conductive element or in contact with the electrically conductive element;and a guiding element (32) made of an electrically insulating material adapted to compress the elastically deformable element against the accumulators.