Battery Gap Filler Film Rolls for Thermal Bridging and Tolerance Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery systems for motor vehicles are large, heavy, and difficult to assemble, with limited suitability as gap fillers for thermal bridging in motor vehicle batteries due to their complex structure and small volume design.

Innovation Solution

A battery system utilizing film rolls made of heat-conducting materials, arranged between cell module housings and cooling systems, serving as gap fillers, which provide effective thermal conductivity and tolerance compensation with easy handling and low pressing forces, using elastic roll fillings and film coverings for efficient heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If traditional cooling plates and heat-conducting elements are used in battery systems, then thermal management is achieved, but the system becomes complex and difficult to assemble

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal managementVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated gap filler component that simultaneously provides thermal conduction, gap filling, and tolerance compensation. This eliminates the need for separate cooling plates and heat-conducting elements, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining effective thermal management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gap filler is designed as a multi-functional element that performs thermal conduction, gap filling, and tolerance compensation all in one component. This universal approach simplifies the overall battery system structure and reduces the number of parts that need to be assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Power

If battery systems are designed for motor vehicles with high power requirements, then power output is improved, but weight increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower outputVSAvoidbattery system weight
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs thin-film heat-conducting elements and flexible gap fillers that provide effective thermal management with minimal mass. These thin-film structures achieve the required thermal conductivity without the weight penalty of traditional bulky cooling plates, enabling high-power battery systems to remain lightweight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If battery systems accommodate variable filling and thermal bridging in free spaces, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegap filling adaptabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses elastic and compressible gap filler materials that can dynamically adapt to varying free spaces and tolerances. These materials automatically adjust their shape and volume to fill gaps effectively without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms or multiple specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The gap filler employs materials with variable physical properties, including compressible foam structures and elastic elements, that change their density and shape in response to applied pressure. This allows the same component to effectively fill various gap sizes and maintain thermal contact under different assembly conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 results in a lightweight battery system with enhanced thermal management and simplified assembly, capable of handling varying volume changes in free spaces, while maintaining effective heat transfer independent of compression.

Implementation Method 1

each comprising at least one elastic roll filling (42) and a film wrapping (44) enveloping the at least one roll filling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

film rolls made of heat-conducting materials, arranged between cell module housings and cooling systems

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3611779B1Battery system for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3611779B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3611779B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3611779B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A battery system according to the invention for a motor vehicle is arranged in a battery system housing, in which at least one cell module (16) with a cell module housing and at least one cooling system (22) for the cell module (16) are further arranged. The battery system housing also contains at least one arrangement (38) serving as a gap filler (12) made up of a plurality of film rolls (40), which comprises at least one elastic roll filling (42) and a film covering (44) enclosing the at least one roll filling (42).