Battery Module Electrode Lead Damping Structure

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Battery modules face damage and safety risks due to external forces and vibrations during assembly or welding, particularly at the coupled portions between electrode tabs and leads, leading to potential breakage or short circuits.

Innovation Solution

A battery module design incorporating a damping structure at the electrode leads to absorb or disperse external forces and vibrations, preventing damage to coupled portions through the use of concavo-convex structures or through holes, which are strategically positioned to absorb impact and vibration, thereby enhancing safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If ultrasonic welding is performed using high energy to couple electrode leads, then welding strength is improved, but vibration generated during welding reduces the strength of welded portions and may cause breakage or short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding strengthVSAvoidelectrode lead integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A damping structure is provided on the electrode lead before welding to absorb vibrations generated during ultrasonic welding. This cushioning structure prevents vibration-induced damage to the welded portions and electrode tabs, allowing high-energy welding to be performed without compromising electrode lead integrity.

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

2Volume of moving object

If the battery module is compactly designed with small size and weight, then integration efficiency is improved, but the coupled portions between electrode tabs and leads become more vulnerable to external force damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery module sizeVSAvoidcoupled portion durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The damping structure is positioned on the electrode lead near the coupled portion to provide advance protection against external forces. This allows the battery module to maintain a compact design while the damping structure absorbs impact and vibration, preventing damage to the vulnerable coupled portions between electrode tabs and leads.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If the battery module undergoes assembly or mounting processes, then device integration is improved, but external forces applied during these processes may damage coupled portions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice integration capabilityVSAvoidcoupled portion integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The damping structure is integrated onto the electrode lead before the battery module undergoes assembly or mounting. This pre-installed cushioning structure absorbs external forces applied during handling, assembly, and mounting processes, protecting the coupled portions from damage while allowing the battery module to be integrated into various devices.

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

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 damping structure effectively prevents breakage, short circuits, and damage to coupled portions, improving the overall safety and reliability of the battery module by mitigating the effects of external forces and vibrations during assembly and operation.

Implementation Method 1

a damping structure for absorbing or buffering external force applied to the battery module or vibration generated during welding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3032613B1Battery module provided with damping structure and comprising electrode lead
Publication Date: 2021.10.27 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3032613B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3032613B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3032613B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a battery module including two or more battery cells, which can be charged and discharged, stacked in a state of being adjacent to each other in a vertical direction or in a horizontal direction, and sheathing members for respectively fixing the battery cells to form a battery cell stack, wherein each of the battery cells has electrode leads electrically connected to an electrode assembly, which is mounted in a battery cell case of each of the battery cells, in a state of protruding outward from the battery cell case, the electrode leads of the battery cells of the battery cell stack are coupled to each other by welding to form a coupled portion of the electrode leads, and the coupled portion of the electrode leads or the remaining portion of the electrode leads excluding the coupled portion of the electrode leads is provided with a damping structure for absorbing or buffering external force applied to the battery module or vibration generated during welding.