Battery Pack Structural Rigidity via Side Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs experience bending phenomena due to load, leading to potential power supply failure, electrical short circuits, and structural damage, especially when used in vehicles that are prone to vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring side surface coupling units and a fixing member with interposing portions and insert grooves that couple and fix adjacent battery modules, increasing the geometrical moment of inertia and flexural rigidity to prevent bending and structural deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If battery modules are arranged on a lower plate with only partial support, then the battery pack structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the lower plate bends under load causing structural instability and potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack structure is segmented into multiple support points distributed across the lower plate, with each support point independently bearing load. This segmentation prevents bending by distributing stress while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that is easier to manufacture than a fully rigid framework.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the lower plate is made wider and harder to prevent bending, then structural stability improves, but the weight of the battery pack increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple distributed support points act as counterbalancing elements that collectively prevent the bending moment caused by battery module loads. Instead of using a single heavy rigid plate, the counterweight principle is applied through multiple lighter support points that together provide sufficient structural stability, reducing overall weight.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the battery pack is exposed to vibrations during vehicle operation, then the battery pack can be used in more applications, but the bending phenomenon occurs more seriously and quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The battery modules are pre-positioned and secured at multiple support points before vehicle operation begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the structural configuration is optimized to resist vibrations and bending forces from the outset, maintaining stability during vehicle operation without requiring additional stabilization mechanisms.
4Strength
If the lower plate bends under concentrated load, then the structure deforms, but preventing this requires additional structural elements that increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The load bearing function is segmented across multiple support points rather than relying on a single continuous rigid structure. Each support point handles a portion of the concentrated load, preventing bending through distributed load bearing while maintaining structural simplicity and avoiding the need for complex reinforcement elements.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a battery pack, which may effectively prevent a bending phenomenon caused by a load while ensuring excellent assembling and compatibility and light weight, and a vehicle including the battery pack. The battery pack includes: a plurality of battery modules including at least one secondary battery accommodated in a module case and a side surface coupling unit provided at an outer side portion of the module case, the plurality of battery modules being arranged in a lateral direction so that side surfaces thereof face each other with intervals therebetween; and a fixing member having an interposing portion interposed between side surfaces of two adjacent battery modules and coupled to the side surface coupling units of the two adjacent battery modules so that two or more battery modules are coupled and fixed.