Battery Retaining Element with Protective Cap for Impact and Corrosion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery fixing and protection systems in motor vehicles are not robust enough to retain batteries during rear impacts, and lead-acid batteries can leak acid, causing corrosion of fixing screws, especially for small batteries.

Innovation Solution

A battery fixing and protection device with a retaining element that contacts the battery and support tray, preventing displacement during impacts and protecting screws from acid corrosion, featuring a removable design, anti-recoil mechanisms, and easy adaptability to existing support trays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a battery fixing clamp and support tray are used to secure the battery, then the battery is retained in position, but the fixing system is not robust enough to retain the battery during rear impacts at 50 km/h

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery retention during impactVSAvoidrobustness of fixing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining element is divided into two functional parts: a first part that contacts the battery to prevent displacement, and a protective cap that covers the wells. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while working together to solve the overall retention problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the battery retention function and the screw protection function into a single integrated retaining element. This combining of functions achieves robust impact retention while protecting against acid corrosion, resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural strength requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If lead-acid batteries are used, then power storage is achieved, but acid leaks can occur causing corrosion of the fixing screws

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidacid corrosion of screws
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cap acts as an intermediary element between the battery (source of harmful acid) and the fixing screws (vulnerable component). By positioning the cap to cover the wells, it mediates the interaction and prevents direct contact between acid and screws, thus protecting against corrosion while maintaining battery functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the support tray structure is modified to improve battery retention during impact, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery retention during impactVSAvoidstructure modification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the retention and protection functions from the main support tray structure and implements them through a separate, removable retaining element. This extraction allows the support tray to remain simple and unchanged, while the added element provides the necessary reliability without increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If a robust and rigid rear wall is added to the support box to absorb impact energy, then battery retention during impact is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery retention during impactVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining element is designed to be removable and adaptable, allowing dynamic configuration based on battery size and vehicle requirements. This flexibility maintains reliability across different scenarios without requiring a permanently complex structure, thus easing manufacturing while ensuring adequate impact retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3284125B1Device for mounting and protecting a battery, and corresponding vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 RENAULT SA
  • EP3284125B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6
  • EP3284125B1 patent drawingFigure 7~12

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for mounting and protecting a battery (100; 110) for a motor vehicle, the device (1) comprising a battery-holding tray (2) comprising a rear wall (4a) and a bottom (3) provided with pits (5) for receiving means for mounting the holding tray on a bodywork structure of the vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises at least one battery-retaining element (12) positioned in the battery-holding tray (2) and designed to be arranged such that it is in contact with one of the faces (101) of the battery, the retaining element (12) comprising a first part and at least one protecting stopper (17) covering the pits (5) of the holding tray (2).