Battery Pack Air Cooling via Flexible Membrane and Segmented Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air-cooled battery packs face issues with metallic dust and water ingress through ventilation openings, leading to short circuits and corrosion, while sealed packs overheat due to lack of air cooling, and existing connections are costly and prone to defects.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack design featuring a housing with detachable components, using connecting screws for conductor plates and a cell carrier that maintains pole separation, along with an air-guiding structure and elastic sealing elements to prevent contamination and allow air cooling, and an integrated fuse area for cost-effectiveness and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If ventilation openings are provided for air cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but dust and water ingress occurs leading to short circuits and corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoiddust and water ingress
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible membrane is integrated into the ventilation opening to allow air passage while blocking metallic dust and water particles. The membrane selectively permits gas molecules to pass while filtering out larger particulate contaminants, resolving the contradiction between cooling needs and contamination prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If battery cells are arranged at a distance from one another, then short circuit risk is reduced, but housing volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort circuit preventionVSAvoidhousing volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing interior is segmented into isolated compartments using partition walls and insulating structures. Each battery cell or cell block is placed in its own compartment, preventing direct contact between cells while maintaining compact overall dimensions. This segmentation approach reduces short circuit risk without requiring excessive spacing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If conductor plates are used for series connection, then electrical connection is achieved, but connection cost and defect risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidconnection cost and assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor plate is integrated directly into the housing structure as a built-in component rather than being a separate attached element. The housing and conductor plate form a unified structure that is manufactured as one piece or pre-assembled unit, eliminating separate connection steps and reducing assembly costs while maintaining reliable electrical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If housing is sealed off from outside, then protection from dust and water is improved, but air cooling capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust and water protectionVSAvoidheat dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible membrane is installed in the ventilation opening to create a selective barrier. The membrane allows air molecules to pass through for cooling purposes while blocking larger particulate matter such as metallic dust and water droplets, thus maintaining both protection and cooling functions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

5Ease of repair

If detachable housing components are used, then assembly and maintenance is simplified, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent accessibilityVSAvoidhousing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into modular segments (first housing part, second housing part, cell carrier) that can be independently assembled and disassembled. Each segment serves a specific function and can be accessed separately for maintenance or replacement, simplifying repair operations while the modular design keeps the overall structure manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 air cooling, prevents short circuits and corrosion, simplifies assembly, and extends battery life while reducing costs by using a non-destructive connection method and integrated components.

Implementation Method 1

a flow of cooling air that can flow around the battery cells accommodated in the interior of the housing, at least in the region of their lateral surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

an elastic sealing element that is able to seal the housing in the area of the charge level indicator from the environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3531473B1Battery pack and hand-held power tool and method of manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2023.06.28 METABOWERKE
  • EP3531473B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3531473B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3531473B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

The invention relates to a battery pack (10), in particular for an electric hand tool, comprising: at least two battery cells (20) and/or battery cell blocks connected in series or parallel, a housing for receiving the battery cells (20) and/or battery cell blocks, and a circuit board (24) comprising electronic components, wherein the battery cells (20) are connected to each other via at least one first conductor sheet (22) and to the circuit board (24) via at least two second conductor sheets, and wherein the first and second conductor sheets (22) are connected to the circuit board (24) via first and second connecting screws (90, 92, 94, 98 and 62, 96).