Battery Spacer Layout for Compact Insulation Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy storage apparatuses with spacers fail to achieve downsizing due to the spacer's side wall portions increasing the width of the device, preventing effective insulation and compact design.
Innovation Solution
The energy storage apparatus incorporates a spacer with concave-convex portions that are disposed inward of the energy storage device, preventing the spacer from protruding and increasing the creepage distance, thereby allowing for downsizing while maintaining insulation at the end portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the spacer has side wall portions facing both side surfaces of the energy storage device, then insulation is improved, but the width of the energy storage apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer transitions from a conventional design with side wall portions extending in the width direction to a plate-shaped structure disposed in the length direction. By changing the primary orientation and dimensional emphasis of the spacer, insulation is maintained through the plate's area and positioning rather than through side wall extensions, thereby reducing the apparatus width.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall portions that previously extended in the width direction are removed or reduced. The essential insulation function is extracted and maintained through the plate-shaped spacer's positioning and orientation in the length direction, eliminating the need for width-extending side walls while preserving insulation performance.
2Length of stationary object
If the spacer is made compact by removing side wall portions, then downsizing is achieved, but insulation capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is reoriented from a width-direction structure to a length-direction structure. The plate-shaped spacer extends primarily in the length direction, maintaining insulation through its area and strategic positioning rather than through width-extending side walls, thus achieving downsizing without compromising insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer's insulation capability is concentrated in the region where it contacts or approaches the energy storage device. The plate-shaped structure provides sufficient insulation at the critical interface between the spacer and energy storage device, eliminating the need for extensive side wall portions while maintaining effective insulation where it is most needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage apparatus includes an energy storage device and a spacer disposed adjacent to the energy storage device in a first direction, in which the spacer is disposed inward of the energy storage device in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction when viewed from the first direction, and has a concave-convex portion having at least one of a concave portion and a convex portion formed at an end portion in the second direction, and the concave-convex portion is disposed separated from the energy storage device.