Battery Cell Support Piece to Prevent Tab-Induced Short Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery cells face safety issues due to the risk of short circuits caused by tabs inserting into the main body, leading to potential contact between positive and negative electrodes, which compromises the safety and reliability of the battery.
Innovation Solution
A support piece is strategically located between the main body and the end cover assembly, with tabs bent around it to prevent the main body from moving and reduce the likelihood of short circuits, enhancing safety by restricting the tabs' insertion into the main body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tabs are extended from the main body for electrical connection, then electrical connectivity is improved, but the risk of tabs inserting into the main body and causing short circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating support piece is introduced as an intermediary component between the tabs and the main body. The tabs are bent around this support piece, which prevents direct contact between the tabs and the main body, thereby eliminating the short circuit risk while maintaining electrical connectivity through the connecting sheet to the electrode terminal.
Solution Approach 2:
The support piece is designed with distinct functional segments: an insulating portion that prevents short circuits, a support portion that provides mechanical stability, and optionally a reinforcement portion. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between connectivity and safety.
2Ease of manufacture
If the main body is allowed to move freely in the housing, then assembly ease is improved, but the stability and position control of the electrode assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support piece is pre-installed in the housing before the main body is placed. This preliminary action creates a predetermined support structure that automatically limits the movement range of the main body when it is installed, ensuring position stability without complicating the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The support piece with its insulating portion, support portion, and reinforcement portion is designed to automatically perform multiple functions: providing mechanical support, limiting movement, and preventing short circuits. This self-service design maintains assembly simplicity while achieving stability.
3Device complexity
If no support structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the safety and reliability of the battery cell deteriorates due to tab insertion risk
Solution Approach 1:
The support piece is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides insulation, mechanical support, movement limitation, and short circuit prevention. By consolidating multiple functions into a single component, the design achieves high reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support piece with its nested structure of insulating portion, support portion, and reinforcement portion creates a compact design. The nested arrangement allows the component to perform multiple functions while occupying minimal space, thereby improving safety without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The embodiments of this application provide a battery cell, a battery, an electrical device, and a battery cell manufacturing method and device, which pertains to the technical field of batteries. The battery cell includes an electrode assembly, a housing, an end cover assembly, and a support piece. The electrode assembly includes a main body and tabs. The housing has an opening and is used to accommodate the electrode assembly. The end cover assembly is used to cover the opening. The support piece is located between the main body and the end cover assembly, the tabs are bent around the support piece, and the support piece is configured to prevent the main body from moving along a direction facing the end cover assembly, which effectively reduces a risk of short circuit between a positive electrode and a negative electrode caused by the tabs inserted into the main body due to the main body moving up and down in the housing, thereby improving safety of the battery cell.