Battery Cell Cover With Integrated Terminals and Venting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery cell assembly methods require additional interconnection elements, leading to increased production time, limited spatial integration, and potential damage to current collectors due to stress, which complicates integration in vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A battery cell cover design with integrated terminal accommodations and ventilation vents, allowing for simplified assembly and reduced spatial footprint without additional interconnection elements, using covers with through-holes for terminal fixation and ventilation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If interconnection elements are used to connect cell terminals, then electrical connection between cells is achieved, but production time increases and assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of the end wall, terminal mounting, and interconnection into a single integrated cover structure. The cover directly receives cell terminals through integrated through-holes and provides electrical connection without requiring separate interconnection elements, thereby reducing assembly steps and production time while maintaining reliable electrical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If interconnection elements are used to connect cell terminals, then electrical connection between cells is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover integrates multiple functions: it serves as the end wall closure, provides terminal mounting through built-in through-holes, and establishes electrical connections directly. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate interconnection elements and reduces the number of assembly operations required, thereby simplifying the overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Volume of moving object

If current collectors are folded to fit in the cell, then spatial integration is improved, but the current collectors become damaged or torn

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial integrationVSAvoidcurrent collector integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the current collectors from the folded configuration and positions them to extend directly from the electrode stacks to the terminals through the cover's through-holes. This eliminates the need for folding, thereby maintaining the full strength and integrity of the current collectors while achieving efficient spatial integration within the cell structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of manufacture

If additional volume is provided for current collectors, then current collector integration is achieved, but the spatial footprint of the cell increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent collector integrationVSAvoidspatial footprint
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cover structure merges the functions of end wall closure and current collector routing. The through-holes in the cover provide direct pathways for current collectors to reach the terminals, eliminating the need for additional internal volume dedicated to current collector accommodation. This maintains a compact spatial footprint while facilitating easy current collector integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4604248A1Cell housing cover, associated housing, battery cell comprising such a housing and assembly of such a cell
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 AUTOMOTIVE CELLS CO SE
  • EP4604248A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4604248A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4604248A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cover (21) for a battery cell (10) of the type comprising a cup (20) closed by at least one cover (21), the cover (21) being characterized in that it comprises: an end wall (211); and at least two side walls (213A, 213B) extending parallel to each other and parallel to a reference axis (X1) of the cover (21) from the end wall (211) to a connecting rim (212) having a closed contour and delimiting an opening (212') intended to be connected to the cup (20) of the cell (10), the cover (21) being characterized in that the end wall (211) and the side walls (213A, 213B) together delimit an interior space (321), a first (213A) of the two side walls (213A, 213B) of the cover (21) comprising a main through-orifice (111) configured to accommodate a terminal (11) of the cell (10).