Integrated Upper Spacer and Inner Gasket for Battery Case
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy storage devices face challenges in efficiently connecting and securing an upper spacer and inner gasket without wasting space, requiring additional components and manufacturing steps.
Innovation Solution
The energy storage device incorporates an upper spacer with breakthroughs and an inner gasket with protruding parts, allowing for a simple, cost-effective connection where the gasket is insertable into the spacer or formed as a single component, eliminating the need for additional attachment compounds and reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional attachment compounds (clips, attachment portions) are used to connect the upper spacer and inner gasket, then the connection is secure, but additional space and weight are required for these attachment components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the upper spacer and inner gasket into a single integrated component. The inner gasket is formed as one piece with the upper spacer, eliminating the need for separate attachment compounds like clips or attachment portions. This integration maintains connection security while removing the additional space required for separate fastening components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated upper spacer-inner gasket component performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides sealing (gasket function), structural support (spacer function), and self-attachment through the integrated design. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated attachment components, reducing overall space usage while maintaining reliable connection.
2Reliability
If conventional attachment compounds (clips, attachment portions) are used to connect the upper spacer and inner gasket, then the connection is secure, but additional weight is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the upper spacer and inner gasket into a single integrated component, the patent eliminates the weight of separate attachment compounds. The integrated design uses the material of the spacer and gasket themselves to provide the attachment function, rather than adding separate fastening components, thus reducing overall device weight while maintaining connection security.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components (upper spacer and inner gasket) are used, then flexibility in design is improved, but manufacturing complexity and assembly steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the upper spacer and inner gasket into a single component, reducing the total number of parts. This simplifies manufacturing to a single molding process and eliminates separate assembly steps for attaching the gasket to the spacer. The integrated design maintains design flexibility through features like breakthroughs and protruding parts that provide functional differentiation within the single component.
Solution Approach 2:
Within the integrated component, the design incorporates functional segmentation through breakthroughs in the upper spacer and corresponding protruding parts on the inner gasket. This segmentation provides distinct functional zones (sealing areas, support areas, attachment areas) within the single component, maintaining design versatility while simplifying the overall structure to one piece.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components (upper spacer and inner gasket) are used, then design adaptability is improved, but manufacturing time and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated upper spacer-inner gasket component can be manufactured in a single molding operation, significantly reducing manufacturing time compared to producing separate components that require multiple molding cycles and subsequent assembly. The design maintains adaptability through integrated features like breakthroughs and protruding parts that provide functional differentiation without requiring separate parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated component design incorporates all necessary functional features (sealing surfaces, support structures, attachment mechanisms) during the initial molding process. This preliminary incorporation of all functions eliminates subsequent assembly steps, improving manufacturing speed while maintaining design flexibility through the built-in functional features.
Data Source
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AI summary
An energy storage device (10) comprising an electrode assembly (400), a case (100) configured to store the electrode assembly (400), at least one upper spacer (500) and at least one inner gasket (120, 130), is provided whereat the upper spacer (500) comprises at least one breakthrough (50) and the inner gasket comprises at least one protruding part (101) and the at least one protruding part (101) of the inner gasket is insertable into the at least one breakthrough (50) of the upper spacer (500) in a way that the inner gasket (120, 130) and the upper spacer (500) are connected tight, or whereat the upper spacer (500) and the inner gasket (120, 130) are formed as one single component (750).