Battery Fastener Cleansing for Easier EV Battery Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

In battery electric vehicles, foreign matter adhesion to fastening portions can prevent tools from fitting, making it difficult to remove batteries from the vehicle body.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle equipped with a cleansing unit that includes a spray unit and a supply unit to clean the fastening members, allowing tools to effectively fit and remove the battery by spraying a cleansing fluid and using a pump to move the spray unit between spraying and stored positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If fastening members are used to secure the battery to the vehicle body, then the battery is firmly fixed, but foreign matter adhesion prevents tools from fitting to the fastening members

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening strengthVSAvoidtool accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleansing unit performs preliminary cleaning of the fastening members before battery removal operations. The spray nozzle sprays cleansing fluid onto the fastening members to remove foreign matter such as ice or snow, ensuring that tools can subsequently fit properly to the fastening members for battery removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the vehicle operates in cold environments, then the battery must remain secured, but foreign matter accumulates on fastening portions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery securing reliabilityVSAvoidforeign matter adhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cleansing unit acts as an intermediary between the fastening members and foreign matter. It includes a spray nozzle that sprays cleansing fluid onto the fastening members and a collection tray that collects the sprayed fluid and removed foreign matter, preventing foreign matter accumulation while maintaining battery securing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a cleansing unit is added to remove foreign matter, then tool accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool fit capabilityVSAvoidvehicle system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleansing unit is designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall system complexity. The spray nozzle serves both to clean the fastening members and to suppress ice formation. The collection tray both collects spent fluid and prevents ice accumulation on vehicle components, achieving multiple functions with a relatively simple structure.

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

Enables the removal of foreign matter from fastening members, ensuring tools can fit and batteries can be replaced efficiently, addressing the issue of adhesion that previously hindered removal.

Implementation Method 1

a spray unit configured to spray the fastening member with a cleansing fluid for cleansing the fastening member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid spray cleaning: Fluid Spray

Implementation Method 2

a supply unit configured to supply the cleansing fluid to the spray unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPump fluid transport: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP4382352A1vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4382352A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4382352A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4382352A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A vehicle that is an electric vehicle, includes a battery (201), a vehicle body (200a), a fastening member (205), and a cleansing unit (200d). The vehicle body (200a) includes a mounting portion (200c). The mounting portion (200c) is configured to mount the battery (201). The fastening member (205) fastens the battery (201) to the mounting portion (200c). The cleansing unit (200d) cleanses the fastening member (205).