Battery Module Damping Element With Sliding Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery modules for electric vehicles face challenges in effectively damping mechanical vibrations and thermal expansions due to rigid fixation, leading to potential damage and reduced service life of damping elements, which are also difficult to assemble.

Innovation Solution

A battery module with an elastically mounted housing and a damping element featuring a spring-elastic area and a sliding layer, along with a stiffening area, to absorb mechanical forces and thermal expansions, preventing shearing stress and facilitating assembly by allowing the damping element to be easily inserted between the battery module housing and the outer housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If rigid fixation is used to secure the battery module housing, then mechanical stability is improved, but mechanical vibrations and thermal expansions are transmitted to the battery cells, reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidbattery cell protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the connection between outer housing and battery module housing from rigid to elastic by introducing a spring element. This allows the system to maintain stability while absorbing mechanical vibrations and thermal expansions, thereby protecting the battery cells without sacrificing structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element is pre-installed between the outer housing and battery module housing to provide beforehand cushioning against mechanical shocks and vibrations. This cushioning mechanism is in place before any external forces are applied, preventing direct transmission of harmful mechanical energy to the battery cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Ease of manufacture

If simple damping elements are used to reduce mechanical vibrations, then ease of manufacture is improved, but long-term stability deteriorates under sustained stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping element installationVSAvoiddamping element stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The damping element is constructed as a composite structure combining a spring-elastic material (for vibration damping) with a sliding layer of low-friction material (for stability under sustained stress). This composite design maintains ease of manufacture while significantly improving long-term reliability by preventing the damping element from degrading under continuous load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The damping element features local quality differentiation with a spring-elastic section for shock absorption and a sliding layer section for friction reduction. Each section is optimized for its specific function, allowing the damping element to maintain both ease of manufacture and long-term stability under sustained stress conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If damping elements are inserted retroactively between battery cell holder and outer casing, then adaptability is improved, but assembly difficulty increases due to limited space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretroactive installation capabilityVSAvoidassembly difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The damping element is segmented into distinct functional sections: a spring-elastic section for vibration damping and a sliding layer for friction reduction. This segmentation allows the damping element to be designed in a compact form that can be easily inserted into the limited space between the battery module housing and outer housing during assembly, while maintaining both adaptability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If the damping element is made flexible for effective damping, then vibration absorption is improved, but handling during manufacturing and assembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration damping effectivenessVSAvoidhandling during assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The damping element features local quality differentiation with a spring-elastic section for vibration damping and a sliding layer for friction reduction. Each section is optimized for its specific function, allowing the damping element to maintain both adaptability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The damping element is segmented into distinct functional sections: a spring-elastic section for vibration damping and a sliding layer for friction reduction. This segmentation allows the damping element to be designed in a compact form that can be easily inserted into the limited space between the battery module housing and outer housing during assembly, while maintaining both adaptability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 effectively reduces mechanical impacts on battery cells and electronics, enhances the service life of the damping element, and simplifies assembly by providing improved handling and stability, while preventing damage from excessive movement or compression.

Implementation Method 1

The damping element has a spring-elastic area, by means of which mechanical movements and/or vibrations of the outer housing can be damped towards the battery module housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The damping element also comprises at least one sliding layer. This prevents the damping element from being subjected to shear stress

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3316343B1Battery module
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3316343B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3316343B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~1d
  • EP3316343B1 patent drawingFigure 1e~1f

AI summary

The battery module comprises an outer casing and a battery module housing. The battery module housing is arranged inside the outer casing and is configured to accommodate at least one battery cell. The battery module also has at least one damping element, the damping element being arranged between the battery module housing and the outer casing. The damping element also comprises at least one sliding layer.