Battery Module End Plate Grappling Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery modules face challenges in restraining battery cell groups due to excessive bending stress on restraint members, leading to potential damage and increased costs, as they are required to handle pulling stress caused by cell expansion.

Innovation Solution

The battery module employs grappling structures on end plates and restraint members, aligning pulling forces with the length direction of the restraint members, eliminating bending stress and allowing for the use of inexpensive materials, and configuring restraint members as sheet metal or wire springs for easy formation and weight reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If restraint members are bent at a substantially right angle to connect end plates, then the battery cell group can be restrained between end plates, but excessive bending stress acts on the restraint members causing damage risk and requiring expensive high-strength spring steel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestraint of battery cell groupVSAvoidbending stress on restraint members

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of bending the restraint members at right angles to connect end plates, the invention inverts the connection method by having the end plates bent at right angles to couple with the restraint members. This transfers the bending stress from the restraint members to the end plates, allowing the restraint members to withstand pulling stress without excessive bending stress

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the connection structure. The end plates are bent at right angles at their end portions to form coupling structures, while the restraint members maintain a substantially straight configuration. This parameter change eliminates bending stress on the restraint members while maintaining effective connection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high-strength spring steel is used for restraint members to handle pulling stress, then the battery cell group can be reliably restrained, but the cost of the battery module increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestraint of battery cell groupVSAvoidcost of battery module

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the geometric configuration of the connection structure (end plates bent at right angles instead of restraint members bent), the invention allows the use of ordinary inexpensive steel plates for restraint members while maintaining reliable restraint function, thereby reducing manufacturing cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces expensive high-strength spring steel with ordinary inexpensive steel plates for the restraint members, achieving cost reduction while maintaining sufficient functionality through the inverted connection design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Stability of the object's composition

If restraint members are configured to withstand pulling stress from cell expansion, then the battery module can maintain structural integrity, but the device complexity and material cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrity of battery moduleVSAvoidconfiguration of restraint members

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the traditional design by making the end plates the bent coupling elements rather than the restraint members. This simplifies the restraint member configuration to substantially straight members while maintaining structural integrity through the bent end plate coupling structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

This configuration effectively restrains battery cell groups without generating bending stress in the restraint members, reducing costs and enabling a simple, lightweight, and miniaturized battery module design.

Implementation Method 1

pulling forces toward opposite directions act on the two end portions of the restraint members by a restoration force when the battery cell group restores from the compression state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic recovery: Elastic Recovery

Data Source

PatentUS11289763B2Battery module and manufacturing method of battery module

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A battery and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The battery module includes: a battery cell group, in which a plurality of battery cells is laminated; a pair of end plates, which is arranged on two end portions of the battery cell group; and restraint members, which are disposed over the pair of end plates and restrain the battery cell group between the pair of end plates. The restraint members are coupled by grappling structures to the pair of end plates on two end portions along the lamination direction the battery cells, and the pair of end plates clamps the battery cell group in a state that the battery cell group is compressed and pulling forces toward opposite directions act on the two end portions of the restraint members by a restoration force when the battery cell group restores from the compression state.