Battery Module End Plate Structure for Rigid Lifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules face challenges in maintaining rigidity and space efficiency due to the need for thick end plates to support heavy loads, which reduces the volume density by limiting the space available for battery cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a lifting support portion with a wide contact area and a thin end plate, incorporating a central reinforcing rib and an open structure to accommodate a lifting device, ensuring sufficient rigidity while minimizing thickness and maximizing space for battery cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the end plate is increased to provide rigidity for lifting, then the lifting rigidity is improved, but the volume density is reduced due to less space for battery cells
Solution Approach 1:
The end plate incorporates a thickened portion at the lifting support position with a thickness of 5mm or more, while other portions maintain a thinner design. This local thickening provides the necessary rigidity for lifting operations without increasing the overall end plate thickness, thereby preserving space for battery cells and maintaining volume density.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting support portion features an open structure extending in the thickness direction with a depth of 3mm or more, creating a three-dimensional support configuration. This vertical dimensionality provides enhanced rigidity and contact area for lifting without requiring increased horizontal dimensions, thus preserving volume for battery cells.
2Reliability
If the contact area between the lifting mechanism and end plate is increased, then the lifting stability is improved, but the end plate thickness must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting support portion creates a three-dimensional contact interface by forming an open structure with depth in the thickness direction. This vertical extension provides increased contact area and improved lifting stability without requiring the end plate to be uniformly thicker, as the contact area is achieved through vertical rather than horizontal expansion.
3Reliability
If the number of lifting grooves is increased to distribute the weight, then the lifting reliability is improved, but the end plate complexity and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding multiple lifting grooves across the end plate, the invention concentrates the lifting function at a specific location with a locally thickened portion and open structure. This localized design provides sufficient lifting reliability through enhanced structural support at the contact point without the complexity of multiple distributed features.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a battery module, in which a relatively wide contact area between an end plate and a lifting device may be secured when the battery module is elevated, the rigidity of the end plate may be sufficiently secured when the battery module is elevated, while forming a relatively thin end plate. The battery module includes a cell stack provided by stacking a plurality of battery cells, a module case accommodating the cell stack, an end plate disposed on front side and rear side of the module case, and a lifting support portion disposed on the end plate and having a support surface in surface contact with a lifting device.