Battery Cooling Plate Fixing Strap Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery assembly processes are complicated by the need to attach screw connections from the underside of a cooling plate, making it difficult to achieve a defined contact pressure between battery modules and the cooling plate, leading to inefficient thermal transfer.

Innovation Solution

A fastening system using fixing straps that penetrate through recesses in the cooling plate, allowing battery modules to be attached from the top without rotating the cooling plate, ensuring direct contact and efficient heat dissipation with minimal pressure on the battery cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If screw connections are used to attach battery modules to the cooling plate from the underside, then the battery modules can be securely fixed, but the assembly process becomes complicated and requires accessing the underside of the cooling plate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidfastening system configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional fastening approach by moving the fastening mechanism from the underside of the cooling plate to the upper side. Instead of attaching screws from below, the fastening elements are now accessible from above, allowing assembly without rotating or accessing the underside of the cooling plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new spatial dimension for fastening by using fastening elements that extend vertically through the cooling plate structure. The fastening mechanism operates in a different dimensional plane, allowing attachment from the upper side while maintaining secure connection to the cooling plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Temperature

If high contact pressure is applied to ensure low thermal transfer resistance, then heat dissipation improves, but the assembly process requires determining resistance torque with great effort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal transfer resistanceVSAvoidcontact pressure adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter control mechanism from torque-based screw fastening to a direct pressure-based fastening system. The fastening elements are designed to automatically provide the required contact pressure through their mechanical structure, eliminating the need for precise torque control and resistance torque determination during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening system is designed to self-regulate the contact pressure between battery modules and the cooling plate. The mechanical structure of the fastening elements inherently provides the necessary pressure to ensure low thermal transfer resistance without requiring external measurement or adjustment during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If individual battery cells are pressed against the cooling plate using clamping elements, then the cells are fixed in position, but the heat dissipation becomes uneven with end cells being pressed more strongly than middle cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell positioningVSAvoidheat dissipation uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual cell fastening operations into a single module-level fastening operation. By attaching the entire battery module as one unit to the cooling plate, the system ensures uniform contact pressure across all cells in the module, eliminating the uneven pressure distribution that occurs when individual cells are clamped separately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it secures the entire battery module in position while also ensuring uniform thermal contact across all cells. The single fastening mechanism provides both mechanical positioning and thermal coupling benefits for all cells in the module evenly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Simplifies the assembly process, achieves a defined contact pressure for low thermal transfer resistance, and enhances cooling efficiency by allowing direct heat conduction between the battery module and cooling plate.

Implementation Method 1

the direct contact between the underside of the battery module and the upper side of the cooling plate is heat-conducting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the at least one battery module is attached to the cooling plate by means of the at least one fixing strap

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP2564462B1Battery with cooling plate and vehicle with such a battery
Publication Date: 2018.02.14 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP2564462B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a battery which has at least one battery module (16) having a lower face, a cooling plate (10) having an upper face (20) and a fixing system for the at least one battery module (16), which is arranged on the upper face (20) of the cooling plate (10) and connected to the cooling plate (10). The fixing system has at least one fixing strap (12, 12'). By means of the at least one fixing strap (12, 12'), the at least one battery module (16) is fixed on the cooling plate (10) in such a way that the lower face of the battery module (16) is in direct contact with the upper face (20) of the cooling plate (10). The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having said battery.