Secondary Battery Retainer Structure for Electrode Assembly Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The electrode assembly in secondary batteries can move within the case due to gaps, leading to potential damage and instability.
Innovation Solution
An elastically recoverable retainer, such as a leaf spring, is interposed between the electrode assembly and the case to prevent movement, featuring convex and concave structures alternately arranged to secure the assembly in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a gap is left between the case and the electrode assembly to facilitate insertion, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the electrode assembly can move inside the case leading to instability
Solution Approach 1:
A retainer is introduced as an intermediary component between the electrode assembly and the case. The retainer fills the gap space, providing both insertion facilitation and movement prevention. It acts as a mediator that resolves the contradiction by enabling easy insertion while maintaining stability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is designed with elastic properties, allowing it to deform during insertion and then recover to maintain constant contact with the electrode assembly. This flexibility enables the retainer to accommodate the electrode assembly during insertion while subsequently preventing movement through elastic recovery.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the electrode assembly is tightly fixed in the case, then the stability is improved, but the ease of insertion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic elastic structure that changes state during the assembly process. During insertion, the retainer deforms to accommodate the electrode assembly, and after insertion, it recovers to provide stable fixation. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between ease of insertion and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic retainer provides beforehand cushioning by deforming during insertion to absorb insertion forces, and then recovering to provide pre-established protection against movement. This prior cushioning mechanism enables easy insertion while ensuring subsequent stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid fixed structure is used to prevent electrode assembly movement, then the stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing function is extracted from a complex rigid structure and embodied in a simple elastic retainer component. By taking out the essential function of preventing movement and implementing it through a simple elastic element rather than a complex rigid mechanism, the device complexity is reduced while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer changes its physical parameters (shape, position) through elastic deformation rather than requiring complex mechanical adjustments. This parameter change approach simplifies the structure by using material elasticity instead of complex mechanisms to achieve the same stabilizing effect.
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
The retainer effectively prevents the electrode assembly from moving, reducing the risk of damage during insertion and enhancing the stability of the battery.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically recoverable retainer is interposed between an electrode assembly and a case to prevent (prevent or substantially prevent) the electrode assembly from moving inside the case
Data Source
AI summary
A secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly including a negative electrode tab at a first end and a positive electrode tab at a second end; a case including a pair of first side portions facing each of a pair of long side portions of the electrode assembly, and a pair of second side portions facing each of a pair of short side portions of the electrode assembly, the case being open in directions of the negative electrode tab and the positive electrode tab; and a retainer between at least one of the second side portions and the electrode assembly and including a concave-convex structure.