Battery Terminal Assembly With Insulator Bonding and Dual Inlets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional secondary battery manufacturing faces issues with defective weld quality due to improper close contact between current collectors and terminal plates, and the injection of electrolyte through limited inlets leads to decreased productivity.
Innovation Solution
The battery design includes a terminal assembly with a terminal insulator and cap insulator that are bonded together, eliminating the need for metal-to-metal welding and allowing for a simpler bonding process outside the cell, while incorporating a hollow space in the terminal block to reduce weight and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct connection welding is used to connect current collector and terminal plate, then electrical connection is achieved, but weld quality becomes defective due to improper close contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a terminal block as an intermediary component between the current collector and terminal plate. This terminal block includes a through-hole that receives the current collector, ensuring proper alignment and close contact. The intermediary structure eliminates the direct welding complexity by providing a standardized interface that guarantees reliable electrical connection without alignment issues.
2Productivity
If limited number of electrolyte inlets are used in conventional prismatic cells, then cell structure is simplified, but manufacturing productivity decreases due to increased electrolyte injection time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrolyte injection system by providing multiple inlets (first inlet and second inlet) in the cap plate. This segmentation allows parallel injection of electrolyte into different regions of the cell, significantly reducing the total injection time. The multiple inlets are positioned to optimize electrolyte distribution throughout the cell, maintaining simplified structure while enhancing productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery includes an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, a terminal assembly including a subplate electrically connected to the electrode assembly, a terminal block protruding from the subplate, and a terminal insulator positioned around side surfaces of the terminal block, and a cap plate coupled to the case, with a through-hole being formed in the cap plate. A cap insulator is disposed around the through-hole. The terminal block is inserted into the through-hole such that the terminal insulator and the cap insulator are in contact with each other.