Secondary Battery Short-Circuit Member Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional secondary batteries face challenges in maintaining a stable short-circuited state during overcharge, leading to potential malfunctions due to the thin inversion plate being easily melted by heat generated from short-circuiting, which disrupts the fuse's ability to disconnect the circuit effectively.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a short-circuit member with a greater thickness than the inversion plate, which indirectly causes a short-circuit with the cap plate, allowing for a more stable short-circuited state and sufficient time for the fuse to melt and disconnect the circuit, preventing malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a thin inversion plate is used to enable inversion operation, then the device can be inverted, but the plate is easily melted by heat generated from short-circuiting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a short-circuit member as an intermediary component between the inversion plate and the cap plate. This member has high thermal mass and remains in stable contact with the cap plate during inversion, serving as a reliable short-circuit path that does not melt easily. The thin inversion plate can still invert freely while the robust short-circuit member handles the thermal stress of short-circuiting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the short-circuiting function into two separate components: the inversion plate (thin, flexible, enables inversion) and the short-circuit member (thick, stable, handles thermal stress). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
2Ease of operation
If the inversion plate is made thinner to facilitate inversion, then inversion is easier, but the plate melts more easily due to heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The short-circuit member acts as an intermediary that assumes the heat resistance function, allowing the inversion plate to be thin and easy to invert without compromising heat resistance. The short-circuit member with greater thickness and higher thermal mass absorbs and withstands the heat generated during short-circuiting.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the system have different properties optimized for their specific roles: the inversion plate is thin and flexible for ease of inversion, while the short-circuit member is thick and heat-resistant for thermal stability. Each component's local quality matches its functional requirements.
3Reliability
If a thick short-circuit member is used to prevent melting, then thermal stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The short-circuit member serves multiple functions: it provides a stable short-circuit path, withstands thermal stress, and maintains contact during inversion operations. By consolidating these functions into a single component, the design achieves high reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the short-circuiting function with the cap plate assembly by having the short-circuit member make direct contact with the cap plate. This integration reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining thermal stability.
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
This configuration ensures a stable short-circuited state during overcharge, allowing for effective disconnection of the circuit and preventing battery malfunctions by maintaining electrical contact long enough for the fuse to melt and cut off the current.
Implementation Method 1
a short-circuit member electrically connected to the fastening part and making contact with a top portion of the insulation plate with an elastic force applied toward the cap plate
Implementation Method 2
an inversion plate formed in the cap plate and inverted when the internal pressure of the case is greater than or equal to a critical level
Implementation Method 3
allowing for sufficient time for the fuse to melt and disconnect the circuit
Implementation Method 4
the fuse to melt and disconnect the circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A secondary battery is provided, including an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap assembly, and an electrode terminal portion. The cap assembly includes a cap plate covering the case, an inversion plate formed in the cap plate, and an insulation plate having a first side connected to the inversion plate and a second side positioned on the cap plate. The inversion plate is configured to be inverted when the internal pressure of the case is greater than or equal to a critical level. The electrode terminal portion includes a fastening part electrically connected to the electrode assembly and a short-circuit member electrically connected to the fastening part. The short-circuit member is configured to make contact with a top portion of the insulation plate when an elastic force is applied on the short-circuit member toward the cap plate.