Battery Module Insulating Spacer Buffering Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing battery module design is prone to deformation and failure due to swelling of individual batteries during charging and discharging, requiring high bonding strength and structural strength, which is unsuitable for severe conditions like impact loads or long-term vibrations, and lacks equipotential design for metal components.

Innovation Solution

A battery module design featuring insulating spacers to space apart adjacent batteries and end plates, reducing the load on the frame and bonding strength requirements, with insulating bonding materials and a bottom plate securely connected to end and side plates to maintain stability and equipotentiality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If mono-batteries are arranged closely adjacent to each other to maximize bonding area, then bonding area is increased, but frame deformation and failure occurs due to swelling load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding areaVSAvoidframe strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces buffering components (insulating spacers and bonding materials with buffering capability) as intermediaries between adjacent mono-batteries. These buffering components absorb and distribute the swelling forces, preventing direct transmission of load to the frame. The insulating spacers maintain fixed spacing while the bonding materials provide both adhesion and swelling accommodation, thus protecting the frame from deformation while maintaining bonding functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-installs buffering components between adjacent mono-batteries before swelling occurs. These components (particularly the bonding materials with elastic or viscoelastic properties) are designed to anticipate and accommodate future swelling forces. By having the buffering mechanism in place beforehand, the system can absorb swelling loads without causing frame deformation, rather than reacting to swelling after it occurs.

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

2Reliability

If high bonding strength is used to maintain secure bonding under swelling load, then bonding reliability is improved, but requirement on adhesive strength becomes very high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding reliabilityVSAvoidadhesive strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses insulating spacers and buffering bonding materials as intermediaries between mono-batteries and end plates. These intermediaries decouple the direct bonding interface from the swelling forces. The buffering bonding materials have lower strength requirements because they don't need to resist the full swelling force - instead, they work in conjunction with the rigid insulating spacers to distribute and buffer the forces, thereby maintaining bonding reliability with lower adhesive strength requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the bonding system by introducing components with different stiffness and elasticity characteristics. The buffering bonding materials have specific elastic moduli and thicknesses designed to accommodate swelling, while insulating spacers provide rigid spacing. This parameter optimization allows the bonding system to maintain reliability under swelling conditions without requiring excessively high adhesive strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If frame structure is strengthened to resist swelling load and impact, then structure stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and material requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure stabilityVSAvoidframe structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces buffering components and insulating spacers as intermediaries between the mono-batteries and the frame structure. These intermediaries absorb and distribute swelling forces before they reach the frame, significantly reducing the load on the frame structure. This allows the frame to maintain stability without requiring excessive strengthening, thereby avoiding increased manufacturing complexity and material requirements while still providing adequate structural support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-installs buffering components that anticipate and absorb swelling forces before they can deform the frame. By having this cushioning mechanism in place beforehand, the frame structure doesn't need to be over-designed to handle swelling loads. The buffering components take up the mechanical stress, allowing for a simpler, more manufacturable frame design while maintaining structural stability under both swelling and external impact conditions.

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

Data Source

PatentUS10050244B2Battery module
Publication Date: 2018.08.14 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
  • US10050244B2 patent drawing
  • US10050244B2 patent drawing
  • US10050244B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a battery module comprising a plurality of mono-batteries arranged side by side; two end plates positioned at two opposite ends respectively; two side plates positioned at a front side and a rear side respectively and securely connected to the two end plates; a bottom plate positioned under the plurality of mono-batteries and securely connected to the two end plates and the two side plates; a plurality of insulating spacers provided on each side plate, each insulating spacer extends in an up-down direction, and the two adjacent insulating spacers on each side plate receive one side of one corresponding mono-battery in a front-rear direction; a plurality of insulating bonding materials, each insulating bonding material is provided between the two adjacent insulating spacers on each side plate, so as to bond one side surface of one corresponding mono-battery in the front-rear direction.