Battery Fuse Link Assembly That Prevents Re-Contact After Rupture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing secondary batteries face issues with thermal runaway due to the separation of connecting pieces during external impacts, leading to re-establishment of electrical connections and potential explosions, which existing safety fusing mechanisms fail to prevent effectively.

Innovation Solution

A secondary battery design incorporating a first connecting piece with a fusing portion between the electrode tab and terminal, and an insulating holding block to maintain the connecting pieces in position, preventing re-contact and ensuring safety by using through fixing holes and secure connection methods like hot melting or riveting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fusing portion is used to cut off electrical connection during high current, then thermal runaway prevention is improved, but the connecting pieces separate and may re-contact during external impact causing safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal runaway preventionVSAvoidre-contact during external impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An insulating holding block is introduced as an intermediary component between the first electrode terminal connecting portion and the first electrode tab connecting portion. This holding block maintains the spatial separation of the two connecting portions even after the fusing portion is fused, preventing harmful re-contact during external impacts while allowing the fusing mechanism to function for thermal runaway prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting structure is segmented into distinct components: the first electrode terminal connecting portion, the fusing portion, the first electrode tab connecting portion, and the insulating holding block. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the fusing portion provides safety cutoff while the holding block maintains structural separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of time

If the connecting piece is designed to fuse quickly during high current, then safety response time is improved, but the structural integrity is compromised causing separation into independent parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety response timeVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating holding block serves as a mediator that preserves structural integrity after the fusing portion sacrifices itself. The holding block maintains the spatial relationship between connecting portions, ensuring that the quick-fusing safety mechanism does not compromise the overall structural stability of the battery assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the first electrode tab connecting portion is allowed to move during external impact, then vibration absorption is improved, but electrical re-connection occurs causing thermal runaway

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration absorptionVSAvoidelectrical connection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating holding block acts as a mediator that allows controlled movement for vibration absorption while preventing harmful electrical re-connection. By maintaining spatial separation between the connecting portions, the holding block enables the system to absorb external impacts without compromising electrical connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating holding block extracts the function of maintaining spatial separation from the fusing portion itself. This allows the fusing portion to focus solely on the safety cutoff function while the holding block handles the structural separation and prevention of re-contact during external impacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution effectively prevents thermal runaway by ensuring the fusing portion disconnects the electrical connection quickly and maintains the pieces in position, enhancing the safety performance of the battery by preventing re-contact during external impacts.

Implementation Method 1

When a high current flows through the first connecting piece 3, the first fusing portion 33 can be fused in time so as to quickly cut off the electrical connection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

an insulating holding block, two ends of the insulating holding block are connected with the first electrode terminal connecting portion and the first electrode tab connecting portion respectively, and the insulating holding block is configured to maintain the first electrode terminal connecting portion and the first electrode tab connecting portion in position relative to each other when the first fusing portion is fused

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 3

the second holding portion (52) is connected with the fixing posts (511) of the first holding portion (51) by means of hot melting, interference fit, riveting, latching, adhering, inserting or the like

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHot melting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP3872922B1Secondary battery and assembly therefor
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
  • EP3872922B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3872922B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3872922B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a secondary battery and an assembly therefor. The secondary battery comprises: a cap plate (1) provided with a first electrode terminal (11) and a second electrode terminal (12); an electrode assembly (2) comprising a first electrode tab (21) and a second electrode tab (22); a first connecting piece (3) connected between the first electrode tab (21) and the first electrode terminal. The first connecting piece (3) includes a first electrode terminal connecting portion (31), a first electrode tab connecting portion (32) and a first fusing portion (33). The secondary battery further comprises an insulating holding block (5), two ends of which are connected with the first electrode terminal connecting portion (31) and the first electrode tab connecting portion (32) respectively, and the insulating holding block (5) is configured to maintain the first electrode terminal connecting portion (31) and the first electrode tab connecting portion (32) in position relative to each other when the first fusing portion (33) is fused.