Battery Module Hold-Down Strip Structure for Cell Expansion Constraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules suffer from insufficient structural strength and stability due to inadequate constraint on cells, leading to irreversible expansion and deformation, affecting their cycle life.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring end plates and hold-down strips with movable connecting components that form a cell frame, providing enhanced constraint and adjustable preload force to improve structural stability and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thick and heavy end-side plates are used to constrain cells, then structural strength is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the constraint system into multiple components: end plates, hold-down strips, and connecting components. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, reducing the need for overly thick and heavy end plates while maintaining overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting component enables dynamic adjustment of the hold-down strip position, allowing the battery module to adapt to cell expansion during cycling. This dynamic constraint mechanism provides effective structural support without requiring excessive material thickness, thereby reducing weight and complexity.
2Device complexity
If lightweight design is adopted for end-side plates, then device complexity is reduced, but constraint effect on cells becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple constraint functions into an integrated system: the hold-down strip provides lateral constraint, the connecting component enables positional adjustment, and the end plates provide boundary support. This merging of functions achieves effective cell constraint with lighter components compared to using thick end plates alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The hold-down strip acts as an intermediary component between the end plates and cells, providing flexible constraint. The connecting component serves as a mediator that allows the hold-down strip to adapt to cell dimensional changes, maintaining effective constraint without requiring heavy end plates.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed constraint structure is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to cell expansion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting component introduces dynamic capability to the constraint system, allowing the hold-down strip to move and adapt to cell expansion during battery cycling. This dynamic design maintains manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving adaptability to dimensional changes.
4Adaptability or versatility
If movable connecting component is added to enable adjustment, then adaptability to cell expansion is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The constraint system is segmented into modular components (end plates, hold-down strips, connecting components), allowing the movable connecting component to be added as a discrete element with a specific function. This modular approach improves adaptability while managing device complexity through functional decomposition.
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 design enhances anti-expansion performance and structural stability, ensuring reliable operation throughout the battery module's life cycle.
Implementation Method 1
the connecting component movably abuts against a side of one of the two end plates away from the cell group
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure provides a battery module (10) and a battery pack (100). The battery module (10) includes a plurality of cells (3), two end plates (1), and at least one hold-down strip (2); the plurality of cells (3) are arranged sequentially in a first direction to form a cell group (4); the two end plates (1) abut against two ends of the cell group (4), respectively; and the hold-down strip (2) abuts against the cell group (4), the hold-down strip (2) includes a hold-down strip body (21) and a connecting component (22), the hold-down strip body (21) extends in the first direction, the connecting component (22) is connected to an end of the hold-down strip body (21) in the first direction, and the connecting component (22) movably abuts against a side of one of the two end plates (1) away from the cell group (4).