Battery Module End Plate Locking for Higher Energy Density

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery modules require cell cartridges to increase capacity, which increases weight and reduces energy density, and the assembly of end plates and insulation sheets is not easily fixed.

Innovation Solution

The battery module design incorporates protuberances and receiving portions on end plates and insulation sheets to facilitate direct stacking of battery cells without cartridges, allowing for secure fixation and improved assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If cell cartridges are added to increase battery capacity, then the battery module can accommodate more battery cells, but the weight of the battery module increases and energy density is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery cell capacityVSAvoidbattery module weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the cell cartridge component from the battery module structure. By removing this unnecessary intermediate component, the patent directly places battery cells between the end plate and insulation sheet, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining the ability to accommodate multiple battery cells for increased capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the functions of the end plate and insulation sheet by providing receiving portions directly on the insulation sheet that can hold battery cells. This integration eliminates the need for separate cell cartridges, combining the structural support and cell-holding functions into a more streamlined design that reduces weight while preserving capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If end plate and insulation sheet are simply placed in surface contact without fixation, then assembly is simpler, but the battery module structure is not securely fixed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidstructural fixation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines the end plate and insulation sheet into a more integrated structure by providing receiving portions on the insulation sheet that directly engage with the end plate. This merging approach maintains assembly simplicity while achieving secure structural fixation through the interlocking receiving portions and protuberances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving portions on the insulation sheet act as intermediaries that facilitate secure connection between the end plate and battery cells. These receiving portions provide a mediating structure that enables simple assembly while ensuring stable structural fixation without requiring complex external fastening mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4068479B1Battery module having improved energy density and battery pack including the same
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4068479B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4068479B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4068479B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a battery module having improved energy density and a battery pack including the same, and more particularly to a battery module including a unit module stack, in which unit modules, each of which includes one or more battery cells (700) and a cell cartridge (600) configured to receive the battery cells (700) therein, are horizontally or vertically stacked on the basis of the ground; a pair of insulation sheets (500) located at outermost sides of the unit module stack; and a pair of end plates (400) located outside the pair of insulation sheets (500), wherein each of the pair of end plates (400) is provided with a first protuberance (410) protruding in a direction in which the unit module stack is located, and each of the pair of insulation sheets (500) is provided with a first receiving portion (510) configured to receive the first protuberance (410) of a corresponding one of the end plates (400), the first receiving portion having an identical shape to the first protuberance, and a battery pack including the same.