Secondary Battery Retainer Protrusion Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary batteries face challenges in preventing deformation and separation of electrode assemblies and current collectors, which can compromise user safety and efficiency as the battery capacity increases.
Innovation Solution
The use of retainers with protrusion portions and elastic elements coupled to current collectors ensures stable fixation of electrode assemblies and current collectors, reducing weight and material usage while maintaining a stable coupled state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fixation methods are used for electrode assemblies and current collectors, then structural stability may be maintained, but the battery weight and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is constructed as a thin-walled structure with integrated protrusion portions that extend between coupling portions. This thin-film approach provides the necessary mechanical support and fixation functionality while minimizing material usage and overall weight compared to traditional bulky fixation components.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is divided into multiple functional segments including a body portion and multiple protrusion portions. Each protrusion portion is further divided into elastic portions and central portions. This segmentation allows the structure to provide targeted support at specific locations while using minimal material overall, reducing weight while maintaining structural stability.
2Reliability
If traditional retainers are used to fix electrode assemblies, then separation is prevented, but the retainer requires more material and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion portions extend in a direction perpendicular to the main body of the retainer, utilizing the third dimension to provide fixation functionality. By extending protrusions between coupling portions in this additional dimension, the design achieves effective separation prevention without requiring increased material quantity in the planar direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion portions act as intermediary elements that mediate between the retainer body and the electrode assemblies/current collectors. These protrusions provide the necessary mechanical intervention to prevent separation while using minimal material, as they only occupy the space required for fixation rather than requiring a solid throughout structure.
3Reliability
If a stable coupled state is achieved through robust fixation, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer design merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure. The body portion and protrusion portions form one unified component that simultaneously provides support, fixation, and alignment functions. This merging reduces device complexity compared to using separate components for each function while maintaining safety through the stable coupled state.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer structure serves multiple purposes: the body portion provides overall support, while the protrusion portions provide localized fixation between coupling portions. The elastic portions provide both structural support and flexible accommodation of manufacturing tolerances. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, simplifying the overall device while ensuring safety.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in the present invention is a secondary battery in which retainers are coupled between a case and the uncoated portions of electrode assemblies so that the electrode assemblies and current collectors can be fixed and prevented from being separated. Disclosed in one embodiment is a secondary battery comprising: a plurality of electrode assemblies of which each has a cathode plate and an anode plate arranged with a separator therebetween, and which includes the uncoated portions of the cathode plate and the anode plate; a case in which the electrode assemblies are embedded; a cap plate coupled to the case; current collectors respectively coupled to the uncoated portions of the plurality of electrode assemblies through a plurality of coupling portions; and retainers inserted and coupled to on one side of the current collectors, wherein the retainers are coupled to the current collectors through protrusion portions having a width greater than that between the coupling portions of the current collectors.