Battery Module Guide Mechanism for Vibration Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power storage devices face challenges in achieving both replaceability and vibration/impact resistance for lithium ion battery modules, as these requirements are often contradictory.

Innovation Solution

A power storage device design featuring a bottom plate with lower guide members, a top plate with upper guide members, side plates, a back surface plate with connectors, and a pressing plate made of stainless steel that does not contact the bottom or top plates, allowing for guided attachment and detachment of battery modules while ensuring vibration and impact resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the battery module is designed to be easily replaceable with guide members and connectors, then the ease of operation is improved, but the vibration resistance and impact resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of replacementVSAvoidvibration resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery module is segmented into separable components (battery pack, connectors, guide members) that can be independently replaced. The housing is divided into a case and a cover that can be detached, allowing the battery module to be removed and replaced without replacing the entire assembly, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining structural integrity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Guide members are pre-installed on both the case and the battery module to establish alignment paths before actual attachment or detachment occurs. This preliminary positioning action enables smooth insertion and removal operations while ensuring proper alignment, improving ease of replacement without compromising the structural strength needed for vibration resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the battery module is designed to be easily replaceable with guide members and connectors, then the ease of operation is improved, but the impact resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of replacementVSAvoidimpact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing plate is positioned to apply predetermined pressing force to the battery module, cushioning it against impact forces from external shocks or vibrations. This pre-applied force secures the battery module firmly in place, preventing loose connections or displacement during operation, thus improving impact resistance while maintaining replaceability through the same guide member and connector system

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

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is constructed using composite material structures (case and cover made from durable materials) that provide high impact resistance. The combination of the robust case, cover, and pressing plate creates a composite protective system that absorbs and distributes impact forces, protecting the battery module during replacement operations and normal use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If the pressing plate is positioned to press the battery module for vibration resistance, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of replacement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration resistanceVSAvoidease of replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing function is segmented from the replacement mechanism. The pressing plate applies continuous pressure for vibration resistance, while the guide members and connectors enable discrete replacement actions. This segmentation allows the pressing force to be maintained during operation but released during replacement, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide members are pre-positioned to align the battery module before the pressing plate engages. During replacement, the guide members first guide the module into place, then the pressing plate engages to secure it. This sequential preliminary action ensures that the pressing force is applied at the appropriate moment, maintaining vibration resistance without permanently blocking replacement operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2889932B1Power storage device
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 NEC ENERGY DEVICES LTD
  • EP2889932B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(C)
  • EP2889932B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2889932B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To provide a power storage device having both replaceability of a battery module and excellent vibration resistance/impact resistance. A power storage device 1300 according to the present invention includes: a bottom plate 1210 having a plurality of lower guide members; a top plate 1220 provided above the bottom plate 1210 and having a plurality of upper guide members facing the lower guide members; a first side plate 1230 and a second side plate 1240 provided between the bottom plate 1210 and the top plate 1220 so as to face each other; a back surface plate provided between the first and second side plates 1230 and 1240 and having a plurality of connectors; a battery module 1000 inserted between the lower and upper guide members and having connectors to be fitted to the connectors of the back surface plate; and a pressing plate 1260 provided between and fixed to the first and second side plates 1230 and 1240 so as to press the battery module 1000.