Rechargeable Battery Retainer With Varying Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable batteries face issues with non-uniform pressure on the electrode assembly due to the concave deformation of the case's wide side wall during vacuum sealing, leading to uneven charging and discharging.
Innovation Solution
A retainer system with varying thickness is introduced between the electrode assembly and the case's side wall, featuring a first retainer member with maximum thickness at the cap plate, a second retainer member with maximum thickness at the bottom, and a connection portion, which gradually decreases in thickness toward the center, ensuring uniform pressure and adherence to the case's wide wall during vacuum sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vacuum sealing is performed during electrolyte injection, then the battery achieves proper sealing and electrolyte distribution, but the center portion of the wide side wall deforms to be more concave, causing non-uniform pressure on the electrode assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, being thicker at the outer edge of the wide side wall and thinner at the center portion. This local variation in thickness compensates for the concave deformation that occurs during vacuum sealing, ensuring that the retainer maintains uniform contact pressure with the electrode assembly across its entire surface area.
2Strength
If the case side wall is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the case provides adequate support, but the side wall cannot accommodate the concave deformation during vacuum sealing, potentially causing assembly failures
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer acts as an intermediary component between the case side wall and the electrode assembly. It absorbs and accommodates the concave deformation that occurs during vacuum sealing through its own elastic deformation, particularly at its thinner center portion. This protects the rigid case structure from damage while ensuring proper sealing and electrode assembly positioning.
3Ease of manufacture
If the retainer thickness is uniform across the wide side wall, then the retainer structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot compensate for the concave deformation, resulting in non-uniform pressure distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, being thicker at the outer edge of the wide side wall and thinner at the center portion. This local variation in thickness compensates for the concave deformation that occurs during vacuum sealing, ensuring that the retainer maintains uniform contact pressure with the electrode assembly across its entire surface area.
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 system ensures uniform pressure on the electrode assembly, enhancing the fixing force and allowing for consistent charging and discharging across the electrode assembly's area, thereby improving the battery's performance and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
an inner space of the rechargeable battery is set to be vacuumed through an electrolyte injection opening formed in the cap plate during which a center portion of a wide side wall of the case may be deformed to be more concave compared to outer edge portions thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate coupled to an opening of the case; an electrode terminal connected to the electrode assembly and extending through a terminal hole of the cap plate; and a retainer having first ends contacting the case and located between the electrode assembly and the side wall to support the electrode assembly and the side wall, wherein a thickness of the retainer gradually decreases away from the first ends of the retainer.