Cylindrical Battery Sealing Plate Structure for Crimping Rigidity

Solution Overview

Problem

Cylindrical batteries face challenges in maintaining airtightness and assemblability due to low rigidity of the sealing plate, which increases material costs and reduces battery capacity when attempting to enhance rigidity by increasing the thickness of the sealing plate.

Innovation Solution

A cylindrical battery design featuring a sealing plate with alternating thick and thin portions radially arranged, providing improved radial load bearing capacity while maintaining a reduced material cost and preventing deformation during crimping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the thickness of the sealing plate is increased to improve rigidity and prevent deformation, then the sealing performance and assemblability are improved, but the material cost increases and the battery capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverigidity of sealing plateVSAvoidmaterial cost and battery capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing plate employs varying thickness across different regions: thicker at the center and outer diameter portions where structural strength is needed, and thinner at intermediate portions where material reduction benefits capacity without compromising overall rigidity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing strength only where necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing plate is segmented into multiple thickness zones rather than being uniformly thick. This segmentation allows optimization of material distribution, reducing total material usage while maintaining structural integrity through strategically placed thick sections that bear the primary mechanical loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the thickness of the sealing plate is increased to prevent deformation during crimping, then the airtightness is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveairtightnessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing plate employs varying thickness across different regions: thicker at the center and outer diameter portions where structural strength is needed, and thinner at intermediate portions where material reduction benefits capacity without compromising overall rigidity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing strength only where necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing plate is segmented into multiple thickness zones rather than being uniformly thick. This segmentation allows optimization of material distribution, reducing total material usage while maintaining structural integrity through strategically placed thick sections that bear the primary mechanical loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20230387523A1Cylindrical battery

Publication Date: 2023.11.30 PANASONIC ENERGY CO LTD

AI summary

This cylindrical battery comprises a cylindrical outer can having a closed end, and a sealing body that closes an opening of the outer can. The sealing body has a sealing plate including a plurality of thick portions that extend radially in the radial direction, and a plurality of thin portions that extend radially in the radial direction and are thinner than the thick portions. The plurality of thick portions and the plurality of thin portions are arranged alternating in the circumferential direction. In this way, the sealing plate becomes less susceptible to deformation and increased capacity becomes easier to realize, while material costs of the sealing plate are suppressed.