Battery Pack Reinforcing Member for Strength and Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in mechanical strength, particularly with plastic cases being prone to penetration and metal cases increasing weight and complexity, while there is a need for a slim, high-capacity battery pack with enhanced safety features.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a pouch-shaped battery cell array with a plate-shaped reinforcing member made of stainless steel or thin metal between the pack case and the battery cell array, along with a protection circuit module, to increase mechanical strength and prevent penetration, while using a plastic case to minimize weight and allow for complex shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a plastic case is used to encase battery cells, then the battery pack can be made lightweight and suitable for external use, but the mechanical strength and resistance to penetration by needle type objects is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a plastic case with a metal reinforcing member to create a composite structure. The plastic case provides lightweight properties while the metal reinforcing member embedded within it provides enhanced mechanical strength and penetration resistance, resolving the contradiction between weight and strength requirements.
2Strength
If a metal case is used to encase battery cells, then the mechanical strength and penetration resistance is improved, but the weight of the battery pack increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complete metal case, the patent applies metal reinforcing members only at specific critical locations within the plastic case where strength is most needed. This localized approach provides necessary mechanical strength and penetration resistance while minimizing the weight increase and manufacturing complexity associated with full metal construction.
3Strength
If a metal case is used to encase battery cells, then the mechanical strength and penetration resistance is improved, but the number of assembly processes and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the metal reinforcing member into the plastic case structure, combining two separate components into a unified assembly. This merging reduces the number of discrete parts and simplifies the assembly process compared to traditional metal case construction that requires separate upper and lower cases assembled with bolts.
4Quantity of substance
If pouch-shaped battery cells are used to manufacture a slim type battery pack, then the capacity and power can be increased, but the mechanical strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure consisting of a plastic case with embedded metal reinforcing members to provide the necessary mechanical strength for pouch-shaped battery cells. This composite construction enables the use of high-capacity pouch cells while maintaining structural integrity and resistance to external forces.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a battery pack including a battery cell array including two or more battery cells, each of which has an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure disposed in a battery case together with an electrolyte in a sealed state, arranged in a lateral direction, a protection circuit module (PCM) connected to an upper end of the battery cell array to control an operation of the battery pack, a pack case in which the battery cell array and the protection circuit module are disposed, and a plate-shaped reinforcing member mounted between the pack case and the battery cell array to increase mechanical strength of the pack case.