Battery Pack End Plate Recesses for Cell Swelling Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in maintaining their overall outline dimensions when battery cells swell during assembly or usage, particularly in high-capacity applications like electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The battery pack design incorporates a cell frame with end plates that include protrusions and recesses, allowing for extra space for swelling without altering the pack's outline dimensions. The end plates have protrusions that extend outward and recesses that provide additional volume to accommodate swollen cells, while cylindrical supports are used for secure fixation to external devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery cells are assembled into a high-capacity battery pack, then the output and capacity of the battery pack are increased, but the battery pack may swell during assembly or usage, affecting the overall outline dimension
Solution Approach 1:
The end plate is segmented into multiple functional regions: a flat portion for maintaining external dimensions, and a recessed portion for absorbing cell swelling. This segmentation allows the end plate to simultaneously preserve the battery pack's outline dimension while accommodating volume changes from cell swelling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a depth dimension to the end plate by creating a recess, transforming it from a flat two-dimensional surface to a three-dimensional structure with varying depth. This dimensional change provides internal volume for swelling while maintaining the external footprint.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the end plate is designed with a recess to accommodate swelling, then the swelling space is provided, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The end plate performs multiple functions: it maintains structural support, provides electrical connection, and accommodates cell swelling through its recessed design. By integrating these functions into a single component, the invention avoids the need for additional separate structures to handle swelling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the swelling accommodation function with the existing end plate structure rather than adding a separate swelling compensation mechanism. The recess is formed as an integral part of the end plate, combining structural and adaptive functions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a battery pack comprising: a plurality of battery cells, each including an upper surface through which a pair of electrode terminals are protruded, a lower surface facing the upper surface, and a pair of long side surfaces and a pair of short side surfaces among surfaces connecting the upper surface and the lower surface, the long side surfaces having a relatively large area, and the short side surfaces having a relatively small area; and a cell frame that receives the battery cells, exposes the upper surfaces of the battery cells, and includes side plates for supporting the short side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells and end plates positioned at opposite ends to support the long side surfaces of the battery cells, wherein the end plates include protrusions protruding in a direction opposite to a direction in which the end plates faces long side surfaces of the battery cells at the opposite ends; and a recess located between the protrusions, depressed in a direction of long side surfaces of the battery cells, and providing an extra space for swelling.