Battery Cell Feed-Through Rivet Sealing Without Weld Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
The thermal effect of welding the feed-through assembly to the housing assembly in battery cells causes significant stress changes at a local position, deteriorating the sealing performance.
Innovation Solution
A battery cell design that uses a first gasket, a second gasket, a conductive terminal, and a rivet, where the rivet passes through these components to form a seal without welding, utilizing clamping forces and interaction forces to secure the assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the feed-through assembly is welded to the housing assembly, then the connection strength is improved, but the sealing performance deteriorates due to thermal stress changes
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into multiple functional components: the rivet provides mechanical connection strength, while the first gasket and second gasket separately provide sealing functions at different locations (outer surface and inner surface respectively). This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The gaskets act as intermediary elements between the rivet connection system and the housing assembly. The first gasket is disposed on the outer surface and the second gasket on the inner surface, mediating the stress transmission and providing a compliant sealing interface that accommodates thermal effects while maintaining both connection strength and sealing performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If welding is used to fix the feed-through assembly, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but significant stress changes occur at the local position due to thermal effect
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal-based welding process is replaced with a mechanical riveting system. The rivet passes through the feed-through assembly and housing assembly, creating a mechanical connection through deformation and friction, thereby eliminating the thermal field and associated stress changes while maintaining connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection method transitions from thermal parameters (welding temperature, heat input) to mechanical parameters (rivet deformation force, insertion force). This parameter change fundamentally eliminates the thermal stress problem while achieving reliable mechanical attachment.
3Reliability
If a rivet system with gaskets is used instead of welding, then the sealing performance is improved by preventing stress changes, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rivet serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical connection strength, positions the gaskets correctly, and creates compression forces for sealing. The gaskets also serve dual purposes of sealing and stress distribution. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection and sealing functions are merged into a single integrated riveting system. The rivet and gaskets work together as a unified assembly that simultaneously achieves both mechanical attachment and sealing, eliminating the need for separate welding and sealing operations.
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
This design enhances the sealing performance of the battery cell by preventing stress changes due to thermal effects, improving the integrity of the assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The end portion and the limiting portion squeeze the first gasket and the second gasket to seal the aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A battery cell includes a housing assembly provided with an aperture, an electrode assembly, a conductive strip, and a feed-through assembly including a first gasket, a second gasket, a conductive terminal, and a rivet. The first gasket is disposed on an outer surface of the housing assembly. The second gasket includes an integrally formed second gasket body disposed on an inner surface of the housing assembly and an annular sleeve at least partly located in the aperture. The conductive terminal is disposed on a side of the second gasket facing back from the first gasket. The rivet passes through the first gasket, the aperture, the annular sleeve, the second gasket body, and the conductive terminal, and is electrically connected to the conductive terminal. The rivet abuts against the first gasket and the second gasket to form a seal at the aperture.