Battery Pack Housing Joint Structure for Fire-Inhibiting Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery pack housings suffer from incomplete airtight sealing at the joint of the upper and lower covers, allowing external oxygen introduction during a fire, which can spread flames and increase the risk of explosion.

Innovation Solution

The battery pack housing features a bent portion at the upper cover fastening portion and an extension portion at the lower case fastening portion, coupled with a fastener, to prevent oxygen introduction and inhibit fire spread, enhancing hermeticity without additional sealing processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the upper cover and lower case are coupled using conventional fastening portions, then the battery pack housing can be assembled, but airtight hermetic sealing is not completely achieved at the joint

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairtight sealingVSAvoidjoint structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening portions are bent into curved shapes (first bent portion at the upper cover fastening portion and second bent portion at the lower case fastening portion) to create an interference fit that provides both mechanical coupling and airtight sealing. The curvature allows the fastening portions to deform and seal against each other without requiring additional sealing members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If a sealing member is used to seal the joint, then airtight hermetic sealing is achieved, but an additional process is necessary and cost is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairtight sealingVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is merged with the fastening function by integrating the bent fastening portions directly into the coupling structure. The same fastening portions that mechanically connect the upper cover and lower case also provide airtight sealing through their curved geometry, eliminating the need for separate sealing members and additional sealing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening portions themselves perform the sealing function through their bent geometry. When the fastening portions are inserted and coupled, they automatically create the seal through their curved shapes and interference fit, without requiring external sealing components or additional sealing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If a sealing member is used to seal the joint, then airtight hermetic sealing is achieved, but it is difficult to separate the lower case and upper cover from each other after sealing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairtight sealingVSAvoiddisassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bent fastening portions can be elastically deformed to allow for easy assembly and disassembly. The curved geometry provides mechanical flexibility that enables the fastening portions to be pushed together for assembly and pulled apart for disassembly, while maintaining the seal during normal operation. This eliminates the permanent bonding issue associated with sealing members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Device complexity

If conventional fastening is performed, then the upper cover and lower case are coupled, but microscopic gaps allow oxygen introduction during fire

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling structureVSAvoidoxygen introduction

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bent fastening portions create an interference fit that eliminates microscopic gaps between the upper cover and lower case. The curved geometry allows the fastening portions to deform and press against each other, creating a tight seal that prevents oxygen from penetrating through the joint, even under the pressure differential caused by fire.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12573704B2Battery pack housing having fire inhibition structure

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

A battery pack housing includes a lower case configured to receive a plurality of battery cells and an upper cover located on the lower case so as to be coupled to the lower case in order to inhibit fire spread when fire breaks out in a battery pack, wherein the lower case includes a lower case fastening portion formed at the edge of the lower case so as to protrude and extend outwards, the upper cover includes an upper cover fastening portion formed at the edge of the upper cover so as to protrude and extend outwards, the upper cover fastening portion being coupled to the lower case fastening portion, and the upper cover fastening portion includes a first bent portion formed as the result of the end of the upper cover fastening portion being bent downwards.