Battery Submodule Holding-Down Means with Guide Elements
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery submodule designs lack effective means to prevent battery cell movement during transport, which can lead to cell connector detachment and increased risk of short circuits due to condensation or water accumulation between terminals.
Innovation Solution
A holding-down means with positioning elements, guide elements, gas-venting openings, and sealing elements that allow for tolerance compensation and cable guidance, featuring steps in guide openings to enlarge creepage distances and prevent connector detachment, while allowing gas discharge and preventing the casting compound from wetting bursting openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery cells are fixed in a submodule without guide elements, then the structure is simpler, but cell connectors can detach due to cell movement during transport
Solution Approach 1:
Guide elements are introduced as intermediary components between the holding-down means and cell connectors. These guide elements restrict the movement of cell connectors along the cell sides, preventing detachment while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The guide elements act as mediators that translate the holding-down force into controlled positioning without requiring complex constraint mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If gas-venting openings are provided in the holding-down means, then gas can discharge during casting, but the casting compound may wet the bursting openings of battery cells
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-venting openings are extracted and concentrated in a central region of the holding-down means, separate from the bursting openings of the battery cells. This spatial separation allows gas to discharge through dedicated openings in the holding-down means during the casting process, preventing the casting compound from needing to access the bursting openings while maintaining manufacturing ease.
3Reliability
If sealing elements are added to seal gas-venting openings, then casting compound is prevented from wetting bursting openings, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing elements are merged with the existing structure of the holding-down means, integrating the sealing function into the gas-venting openings without adding separate, complex sealing mechanisms. The sealing elements are positioned to seal the gas-venting openings laterally, preventing casting compound infiltration while maintaining structural simplicity through functional integration.
4Stability of the object's composition
If tolerance compensation elements are provided on the top side, then tolerance compensation between battery cells and upper submodule is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Tolerance compensation elements are provided on the top side of the holding-down means to accommodate dimensional variations in battery cell heights. These elements allow for parameter changes in the assembly position of the upper submodule, ensuring stable electrical connections despite manufacturing tolerances. The compensation mechanism uses simple geometric adjustments rather than complex active control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a holding-down means (100) for fixing battery cells (2) in a battery submodule (70), comprising positioning elements for positioning the holding-down means (100) relative to the battery cells (2), and comprising guide elements for guiding cell connectors (80) which connect the battery cells (2), wherein gas-venting openings which pass through from a top side to a bottom side are provided in a central region of the holding-down means (100), and wherein the sealing elements which surround the gas-venting openings are provided on the bottom side of the holding-down means (100). The invention also relates to a battery submodule (70) which comprises a plurality of battery cells (2) and cell connectors (80) which connect the battery cells (2), and also at least one holding-down means (100) for fixing the battery cells (2).