Battery Module Fastening with Perpendicular Fasteners for Tolerance Fit

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery pack fastening systems introduce momentum along fasteners, leading to thread wear and unfastening, and are complicated to assemble and remove.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device with a fixating member received within a battery module recess, fastened to both the module and pack cover using perpendicular threaded fasteners, allowing tolerance compensation without momentum-induced unfastening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a tolerance compensating fastener is arranged on the opposite side of the battery pack cover, then tolerance differences can be compensated, but momentum is introduced along the fastener axis causing thread wear and unfastening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetolerance compensationVSAvoidfastener security
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a single-axis fastening system to a two-dimensional fastening system by introducing a fixating member with two fasteners arranged perpendicular to each other. This dimensional change allows tolerance compensation in one direction while the perpendicular fastener prevents momentum-induced unfastening, resolving the contradiction between tolerance compensation and fastener security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixating member serves as an intermediary component between the battery pack cover and the battery module. It receives and distributes fastening forces from two perpendicular fasteners, enabling tolerance compensation while preventing the momentum-induced thread wear that occurs with single-axis fastening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If a tolerance compensating screw is used on the opposite side of the battery pack cover, then tolerance differences can be accommodated, but assembly and removal of the battery module becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetolerance compensationVSAvoidassembly and removal
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By arranging fasteners in perpendicular directions rather than along a single axis, the invention simplifies the assembly process. The fixating member with its recess structure guides the battery module into place, and the perpendicular fasteners can be easily accessed and operated, improving ease of assembly and removal while maintaining tolerance compensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4372876B1Fastening device for a battery pack, battery pack and method
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 VOLVO TRUCK CORP
  • EP4372876B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4372876B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4372876B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The inventive concept relates to a fastening device configured to fasten a battery module to a battery pack cover, the fastening device comprising a fixating member adapted to be received within, and protrude from, a recess of the battery module, a first fastener adapted to fasten the fixating member to the battery pack cover and a second fastener adapted to fasten the fixating member to the battery module, for securement within the recess of the battery module. A fastening direction of the first fastener is perpendicular to a fastening direction of the second fastener, and the first fastener is configured to move the fixating member into contact with the battery pack cover.