Integrated Battery Holding Element for Secure Cell Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery pack designs for electric vehicles and other applications face challenges in securely holding and clamping battery cells together, which can lead to incorrect installation and increased weight and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design that uses a holding element, such as a strap, with complementary fixing elements and openings to securely hold and clamp battery cells together, preventing incorrect installation and reducing weight and space by allowing multiple functions in a single element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate holding elements and fixing elements are used for battery cells and battery modules, then secure holding and fixing is achieved, but device complexity and number of parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the holding element for battery cells and the fixing element for battery modules into a single integrated holding element. This holding element has a first region that holds battery cells and a second region that fixes battery modules, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining secure holding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding element is designed with multi-functionality, serving dual purposes: holding battery cells in the first region and fixing battery modules in the second region. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions that previously required separate elements, thereby reducing the number of parts without compromising reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for holding and fixing, then secure arrangement is achieved, but weight and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the holding and fixing functions into a single holding element with two functional regions, the patent reduces the total weight of stationary components. Instead of having separate holding elements and fixing elements that would each add to the overall weight, the integrated design consolidates material usage while maintaining secure arrangement.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for holding and fixing, then secure arrangement is achieved, but volume and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of holding and fixing functions into a single element with two regions reduces the volume occupied by components. The holding element's first region and second region are spatially arranged to hold cells and fix modules respectively, eliminating the need for additional separate components that would increase overall volume.
4Device complexity
If simple holding elements are used, then device complexity is reduced, but risk of incorrect installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element incorporates asymmetric coding features: a coding element on the holding element corresponds to a complementary coding element on the battery module. This asymmetric design ensures that the module can only be installed in the correct orientation, preventing incorrect installation while keeping the overall device complexity low through the use of simple coding geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The coding elements provide self-checking functionality during installation. The complementary coding between the holding element and battery module automatically prevents incorrect installation attempts, as the asymmetric features will not align properly unless the module is positioned correctly. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for complex installation procedures or additional verification steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack (50) comprising at least one battery module (10) with a plurality of battery cells (2) which are held together by at least one holding element (31, 32). The at least one battery module (10) is arranged in a housing (70), wherein the at least one holding element (31, 32) is attached to the housing (70) by fixing elements (41, 42, 43, 44).