Battery End Cover Alignment for Electrolyte-Safe Vent Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage apparatuses face challenges in achieving precise alignment of the current-collector disk and end cover, leading to potential electrolyte impact on the explosion-proof valve, which can cause false triggering and affect safety and service life.
Innovation Solution
An end cover assembly with a liquid-injection hole and visual identification portion facilitates precise alignment of the current-collector disk and end cover, positioning the explosion-proof valve opposite a groove on the disk to deflect electrolyte flow and reduce impact pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional assembly methods are used without alignment features, then the assembly process is simpler, but the alignment precision between current-collector disk and end cover deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The current-collector disk is equipped with a visual identification portion that enables self-alignment with the end cover during assembly. The groove on the current-collector disk and the liquid-injection hole on the end cover form self-aligning features that guide precise positioning without requiring external alignment tools or complex fixtures, thus improving manufacturing precision while maintaining assembly simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The visual identification portion on the current-collector disk uses color or visual contrast differences to indicate alignment status. This visual cue system allows operators to quickly identify when the current-collector disk is properly aligned with the end cover, ensuring precise positioning without adding mechanical complexity to the assembly structure
2Reliability
If the explosion-proof valve is positioned without precise alignment, then the assembly process is faster, but the safety performance deteriorates due to electrolyte impact
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is pre-formed on the current-collector disk during manufacturing, and the liquid-injection hole is pre-positioned on the end cover. These preliminary features are designed to automatically guide the explosion-proof valve into the correct position opposite the groove, ensuring safety performance is achieved without requiring time-consuming post-assembly adjustments or complex alignment procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment features (groove and liquid-injection hole) enable the assembly process to self-correct and self-align during assembly. The visual identification portion guides the operator to position the components correctly, and the groove structure ensures the explosion-proof valve automatically aligns opposite to it, maintaining both safety and assembly efficiency
3Measurement precision
If no alignment features are provided, then the device structure is simpler, but the positioning accuracy of the explosion-proof valve deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment system is segmented into distinct functional elements: the groove on the current-collector disk, the liquid-injection hole on the end cover, and the visual identification portion. Each element performs a specific function in the alignment process, and together they achieve high positioning accuracy without requiring a single complex alignment mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The visual identification portion uses visual contrast or color differentiation to provide immediate feedback on alignment status. This simple visual cue system achieves high positioning accuracy without adding mechanical complexity, as it relies on optical properties rather than complex mechanical alignment features
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
An end cover assembly, an energy storage apparatus (100), and method for mounting and positioning an end cover assembly are provided. The end cover assembly includes an end cover (1) and a current-collector disk (2). The end cover (1) is provided with an explosion-proof valve (11) and defines a liquid-injection hole (12). The liquid-injection hole (12) is spaced apart from the explosion-proof valve (11). The current-collector disk (2) is coaxial with the end cover (1). The current-collector disk (2) includes a main body portion (21). The main body portion (21) defines a groove (22) on a surface of the main body portion (21) positioned facing towards the end cover (1). The groove (22) extends from a center of the main body portion (21) to an edge of the main body portion (21) in a radial direction of the main body portion (21). The main body portion (21) is provided with a visual identification portion (25). The visual identification portion (25) has a visual identification characteristic different from a region of the main body portion (21) other than the visual identification portion (25). The liquid-injection hole (12) is configured for alignment of the end cover (1) and the current-collector disk (2) through the visual identification portion (25).