Battery Protective Device Impact Force Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicles, the compact engine compartment poses a risk of battery damage or ejection during accidents due to confined mounting spaces, which can disrupt essential electrical functions like emergency systems, and existing solutions are either costly or inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A battery protective device with a slide surface interacting with vehicle beams and bearing surfaces to distribute impact forces, preventing point loads and potential short circuits, while being attached to the battery with a strap and made from rigid materials like extruded aluminum or composite plastic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the battery is placed in the front engine compartment, then the cable length to power components is reduced, but the battery is at risk of damage or ejection during accidents due to confined mounting space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable lengthVSAvoidbattery protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A protective device is introduced as an intermediary element between the battery and the external environment. This device includes a bearing surface that directly interacts with impacting vehicle structures (beams, cross members) to absorb and redirect impact forces, preventing direct damage to the battery while maintaining front-mounted positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective function is extracted from the battery itself and implemented as a separate, dedicated protective device. This allows the battery to maintain its primary function while the protective device handles impact management, enabling reliable front-mounted installation without compromising battery safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the battery is placed in the rear of the vehicle, then the battery is well protected during accidents, but long and heavy cables are required to connect the battery with power components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery protectionVSAvoidcable weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device serves as an intermediary that enables front-mounted battery installation by providing the necessary protection function. This eliminates the need for rear battery placement and the associated heavy cable runs, while maintaining adequate battery protection through the bearing surface mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a protection box is used to protect the battery, then the battery is protected during accidents, but the protection box occupies large volume in the engine compartment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery protectionVSAvoidprotection volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The protection function is extracted from a bulky enclosure structure and implemented through a compact bearing surface mechanism. This extracted approach provides effective protection while occupying minimal space, allowing the protective device to be integrated into the existing battery mounting area without requiring additional volume in the engine compartment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective device utilizes a thin-walled structure with optimized geometry that provides sufficient protection through strategic force distribution rather than through massive enclosure. The bearing surface acts as a thin but effective barrier that redirects impacts away from the battery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Effectively protects the battery from damage and ejection during crashes, ensuring continued functionality of electrical systems by distributing impact forces and maintaining the battery's position within the engine compartment.

Implementation Method 1

a first slide surface (3) adapted to slide against a transverse beam (34) of the vehicle (30)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a first bearing surface (4) adapted to bear on an upper surface (21) of the battery (20) and a second bearing surface (5) adapted to bear on a side surface (22) of the battery (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce distribution: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3424783B1Battery protective device for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 VOLVO CAR CORP
  • EP3424783B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3424783B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery protective device (1) for a vehicle, wherein the battery protective device comprises a body, a first slide surface (3, 6), a first bearing surface, a second bearing surface and an attachment bracket adapted for attaching the battery protective device to a battery (2). The battery protective device is adapted to protect the battery from damage during a crash, and to prevent the battery from escaping the engine compartment during a crash.