Rechargeable Battery Fuse Arc Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rechargeable batteries face safety issues due to the risk of fire or explosion when a fuse melts and generates arcs, particularly in high-capacity batteries, as adjacent components can melt and ignite due to heat and secondary arcs.

Innovation Solution

The rechargeable battery design incorporates a current collecting member with a fuse portion, a supporting member, and a lower insulating member, where the fuse hole is sealed by the supporting member and spacer, preventing arc residues from contacting the electrolyte and blocking air inflow, thus reducing the risk of fire and explosion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fuse portion is provided in the current collecting member to protect against overcurrent, then battery safety is improved, but the fuse portion generates arcs and heat that can melt adjacent components and cause fire or explosion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery safetyVSAvoidfire and explosion risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The battery internal structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the fuse portion is isolated from the electrolyte by the supporting member and lower insulating member, creating separate compartments that prevent harmful interactions between the arc generation zone and the electrolyte, thereby reducing fire risk while maintaining fuse protection function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lower insulating member acts as an intermediary barrier between the fuse portion and the electrolyte. This intermediate component prevents direct contact between arc residues and the electrolyte, blocking the harmful effect transmission that would otherwise lead to fire or explosion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the lower insulating member is placed close to the fuse portion for compact design, then battery size is reduced, but heat from the fuse can melt the insulating member

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery sizeVSAvoidinsulating member temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer is positioned in advance between the lower insulating member and the fuse portion to establish a thermal buffer zone before excessive heat can accumulate. This preliminary spacing arrangement prevents heat-induced melting of the insulating member while maintaining compact overall battery dimensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The design effectively prevents the rechargeable battery from catching fire or exploding by isolating arc residues and blocking air inflow, enhancing safety and stability by maintaining the integrity of the insulating member and preventing heat-induced melting.

Implementation Method 1

the risk of fire or explosion when a fuse melts and generates arcs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

when a fuse melts and generates arcs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric arc: Electric Arc

Implementation Method 3

the fuse hole is sealed by the supporting member and spacer, preventing arc residues from contacting the electrolyte

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP2846378B1Rechargeable battery having a fuse
Publication Date: 2017.05.10 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP2846378B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2846378B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2846378B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A rechargeable battery (101) includes an electrode assembly (10) including a first electrode (12) and a second electrode (11), a case (27) configured to store the electrode assembly (10), a cap plate (31) attached to the case (27), a terminal (22) electrically connected to the first electrode (12) and protruding out of the cap plate (31), a current collecting member (42) connecting the first electrode (12) with the terminal (22), the current collecting member (42) including a fuse portion (42c), a lower insulating member (45, 75, 76) between the cap plate (31) and the current collecting member (42), and a spacer (45e, 72b, 78) between the lower insulating member (45, 75, 76)and the fuse portion (42c).