Cylindrical Battery Assembly Fixing Plate Groove Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery configurations with cylindrical cells face issues of displacement due to vibrations and poor connections between terminal electrodes and bus bars, leading to inefficient energy storage and potential operational failures.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves a cylindrical battery design with groove portions on the cells and an elastically deformable hook engagement system on a fixing plate, which secures cells in place and connects terminal electrodes to a flat bus bar with weld portions, preventing displacement and ensuring stable connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If cells are arranged in a plane with diameter direction, then energy storage capacity is improved, but cell displacement occurs due to vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidcell position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing plate is divided into multiple fixing plate opening portions, each accommodating a specific cell. This segmentation allows independent positioning of each cell while maintaining overall structural integrity, preventing displacement during vehicle operation vibrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cells are inserted into the fixing plate opening portions, creating a nested structure where cells are housed within designated spaces in the fixing plate. This nesting arrangement secures cells in place while maintaining the planar configuration for optimal energy storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If multiple separate bus bars are used for adjacent terminal electrodes, then electrical connection is achieved, but assembly complexity increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate bus bars are merged into a single flat plate-shaped bus bar with multiple weld portions. This consolidation reduces the number of components from multiple separate bus bars to one integrated piece, significantly simplifying the assembly process while maintaining reliable electrical connections to all terminal electrodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flat plate-shaped bus bar serves multiple functions simultaneously: it connects to multiple terminal electrodes through different weld portions, provides structural support, and ensures electrical continuity. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate bus bars, reducing assembly complexity.

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

This configuration effectively suppresses cell displacement during vehicle operation, enhances electrical connections, and simplifies the assembly process, leading to improved energy storage capacity and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

the engagement portion is an elastically deformable hook portion protruding from a face of the fixing plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a friction force can act between the hook portion and the groove portion to suppress the rotation of the cell around its axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

each of the terminal electrodes of the plurality of cells being welded to a different one of the weld portions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentEP2704230B1Battery assembly, and vehicle
Publication Date: 2017.12.06 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP2704230B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2704230B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2704230B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

[PROBLEM] To suppress the displacement of a plurality of cells of cylindrical shape constituting an assembled battery. [SOLVING MEANS] An assembled battery including a plurality of cells of cylindrical shape arranged in a plane including a diameter direction, each of the cells including a groove portion extending in a circumferential direction, and a fixing plate including an engagement portion engaging with each of the groove portions of the cells to fix the plurality of cells. A bus bar electrically connecting terminal electrodes of adjacent two of the cells may be fixed to the fixing plate.