Battery Module Side Plate Flanges for Cell Expansion Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery module designs face challenges in reserving space for expansion, simplifying the assembly process, and reducing manufacturing costs due to the use of cushions, which increase complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a first side plate with notches and flanges that separate adjacent batteries, allowing for more expansion space, simplified assembly, and reduced costs, where the flanges bend into the gaps between batteries to maintain separation and position each battery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If cushions are used to separate batteries and reserve expansion space, then battery expansion space is reserved, but the cushion thickness itself reduces the available expansion space and increases manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of battery separation and expansion space reservation into the side plate structure itself through notches and flanges, eliminating the need for separate cushion components. The flanges extend into the gaps between batteries to provide separation while the notched design creates expansion space without requiring additional materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cushion component from the battery module design and replaces its functions with structural features of the side plate. The notches and flanges take over the separation and expansion space functions that were previously performed by cushions, eliminating the need for separate cushion materials.
2Ease of manufacture
If cushions are used for battery separation and expansion space, then battery assembly is enabled, but the assembly process becomes more difficult due to gluing and positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The notched side plate structure provides self-positioning and self-separation functions. The flanges automatically extend into the gaps between batteries during assembly, providing mechanical separation and positioning without requiring additional gluing or complex positioning operations. The structure serves itself to maintain battery spacing and enable assembly.
3Volume of moving object
If cushions are added to the battery module, then battery expansion is accommodated, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the expansion space function with the structural side plate, eliminating the need for separate cushion materials. The notched design and flange extensions create expansion space using the existing side plate material, reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining the required expansion volume.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a battery module. The battery module includes: a plurality of batteries, arranged sequentially along a thickness direction of the battery module, where a gap exists between every two adjacent batteries; and a first side plate, disposed on one side of the plurality of batteries in a width direction of the battery module. A plurality of notches and a plurality of flanges are formed on the first side plate. Each notch corresponds to a location of the gap between every two adjacent batteries. Each flange bends from one side of a corresponding notch and extends into the corresponding gap between the two adjacent batteries to separate the two adjacent batteries.