Battery Pack Terminal Connector Mechanism for Quick Cell Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery pack designs require the removal of all nuts along the bus bar module to access individual battery cells, making it cumbersome to gain quick access while maintaining voltage and current supply to vehicle components.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack assembly with a terminal connector mechanism featuring a retention member that moves between engaged and disengaged positions, allowing for easy access to battery cells by disengaging from terminal engagement portions, facilitated by a biasing member that biases the retention member towards the engaged position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If all nuts along the bus bar module are removed to access individual battery cells, then access to battery cells is achieved, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal connector is divided into separate modular components: terminal plates connected to bus bars, and cell terminals with engagement portions. This segmentation allows the terminal connector to be detached as a unit or in parts without removing all fastening elements from the entire bus bar module, enabling selective access to individual cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention feature is extracted as a distinct functional element that can be independently engaged or disengaged. By providing dedicated retention portions on terminal plates and corresponding engagement portions on cell terminals, the connection can be quickly released without affecting the entire bus bar assembly, allowing rapid access to specific battery cells.
2Ease of operation
If a retention member is introduced to enable quick access, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention and engagement functions are merged into the basic terminal connector structure itself. The retention portions on terminal plates and engagement portions on cell terminals are integrated features of the existing connector components, not separate added mechanisms. This combining approach provides quick-release functionality without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal plates serve multiple functions: electrical connection through bus bar attachment, mechanical retention through engagement portions, and structural support. The cell terminals similarly provide both electrical connection and retention functionality. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated retention mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while enabling quick access.
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
Enables quick removal and access to individual battery cells while maintaining electrical connectivity, improving maintenance efficiency and reducing the complexity of accessing each cell within the battery pack.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing member is positioned between the housing and the retention member to bias the retention member towards the engaged position
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack assembly includes at least one battery cell and a terminal connector mechanism. The at least one battery cell has at least one terminal which includes a terminal engagement portion. The terminal connector mechanism has a retention member and a biasing member. The retention member has retention portion and is configured to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The biasing member is positioned between the housing and the retention member to bias the retention member towards the engaged position. In the engaged position, the retention portion of the retention member engages with the terminal engagement portion to inhibit movement of the terminal connector mechanism. In the disengaged position, the retention portion of the retention member is disengaged from the terminal engagement portion to permit movement of the terminal connector mechanism.