Battery Pack Retaining Structure With Spring Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power supplies, such as battery packs in electric or hybrid electric vehicles, face challenges in retaining and distributing loads effectively across multiple linear directions while maintaining ease of assembly and high load-carrying capability.
Innovation Solution
A retaining structure comprising top and bottom rails connected by columns, with end plates to inhibit movement, and cross-sectional configurations that act as springs to deflect loads and transfer them to columnar members, effectively retaining battery cells in an array and handling high loading conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid retaining structure is used to hold battery cells, then retention strength is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and harder to assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining structure incorporates flexible rails that can deflect under load rather than maintaining a completely rigid configuration. This dynamic flexibility allows the structure to adapt to assembly variations and loading conditions, maintaining retention strength while reducing structural complexity and easing assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The rail flexibility parameter is specifically engineered to provide the right balance between retention strength and assembly ease. By controlling the flexural properties of the rails, the structure achieves adequate retention without requiring complex rigid support systems
2Force
If load-carrying capability is increased to handle high loading conditions, then the structure becomes more complex, but simplicity of assembly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible rails act as load-distributing elements that can bend and deflect under high loads. This flexibility allows the structure to handle high loading conditions while maintaining a simple, easy-to-assemble configuration without requiring complex rigid load-bearing components
Solution Approach 2:
The structure divides load-bearing functions across multiple flexible rail segments rather than requiring a single complex rigid structure. Each rail segment independently handles local loads, and the collective system achieves high overall load-carrying capability while remaining simple to assemble
3Stability of the object's composition
If the structure retains battery cells in six linear directions, then retention completeness is improved, but the load on individual cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible rails serve as intermediary elements between the retaining structure and the battery cells. These rails absorb and distribute loads through their flexural deformation, reducing the direct force transmitted to the cells while maintaining six-directional retention completeness
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 structure securely retains battery cells in multiple directions, absorbs and distributes load energy, reducing the force on individual cells and enhancing the load-carrying capacity of the battery pack, thus addressing the retention and load-carrying requirements of HEV battery packs.
Implementation Method 1
columns, which carry vertical loads that would otherwise be applied to the battery cells
Implementation Method 2
at least a portion of the cross section may be configured with a shape that acts as a spring and deflects upon loading
Implementation Method 3
the rails may have a cross section configured to carry at least some of the loads applied to the battery pack
Implementation Method 4
End plates may be attached to the rails to inhibit movement of the cells in directions parallel to the top and bottom rails
Data Source
AI summary
A retaining structure for a power supply may include top and bottom rails connected by columns, which carry loads that would otherwise be applied to the power supply. End plates may be attached to the rails to inhibit movement of the cells in directions parallel to the top and bottom rails. The rails may have a cross section configured to carry at least some of the loads applied to the battery pack. For example, at least a portion of the cross section may be configured in a shape that acts as a spring and deflects upon loading.