Battery Gasket Rib Insulation Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional batteries lack effective insulation between current collectors and the battery package, leading to inadequate electrical insulation and potential mechanical issues during assembly.

Innovation Solution

A gasket with a rib along its outer peripheral edge, positioned between the current collector base and the package, provides enhanced insulation by increasing the height of the rib beyond the current collector's thickness, and is contained within a recess in the package to minimize projection and prevent rotation, thus ensuring secure electrical insulation and reducing material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional gasket is used between the current collector base and the package, then the assembly is simple, but the insulation distance between the current collector and the package is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation distanceVSAvoidgasket structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is segmented into a body portion and a rib portion, where the rib is disposed at the outer peripheral edge of the body. This segmentation allows the rib to extend toward the electrode assembly and provide additional insulation distance without requiring the entire gasket to be thicker, thus resolving the contradiction between sufficient insulation and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rib extends in the thickness direction of the gasket, adding a vertical dimension to the insulation structure. This dimensional extension increases the insulation distance between the current collector base and the electrode assembly without increasing the planar footprint, effectively resolving the contradiction between insulation requirements and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the gasket projection from the package inner surface is large, then insulation is improved, but the electrode assembly cannot be positioned close to the package inner surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation distanceVSAvoidelectrode assembly occupancy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The rib provides localized insulation at the outer peripheral edge of the gasket where it is most needed for electrical isolation, while the body of the gasket maintains a compact profile. This local quality approach ensures sufficient insulation distance without requiring the entire gasket to project significantly from the package inner surface, allowing the electrode assembly to be positioned close to the package.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the gasket is made thicker to improve insulation, then insulation distance is increased, but the gasket weight and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation distanceVSAvoidgasket weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is divided into a body portion with standard thickness and a rib portion that extends only where needed for insulation. This segmentation allows the insulation distance to be increased locally at the rib without increasing the thickness of the entire gasket, thus reducing the overall weight and material usage while maintaining sufficient insulation performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rib provides enhanced insulation locally at the outer peripheral edge where it is most critical for electrical isolation, while the rest of the gasket body maintains a thinner, lighter profile. This local quality approach ensures that insulation distance is increased only where necessary, minimizing the overall gasket weight and material consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2482360B1Battery
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 GS YUASA INT LTD
  • EP2482360B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2482360B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2482360B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A negative lower gasket (17) has a rib (17h) disposed along the outer periphery of a flat portion (17b) having a base of a negative current collector (12) disposed thereat. The height of the rib (H) is set to be more than a thickness of the negative lower gasket (17). The rib may be disposed only at a portion corresponding to a position where legs project from the base of the negative current collector (12) at the outer periphery of the flat portion (17b).