Rechargeable Battery Terminal Sealing Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable batteries face terminal erosion and short-circuit issues due to electrolyte solution permeation, which is exacerbated by material differences between gaskets and insulating members, leading to increased manufacturing costs when attempting to integrate these components.
Innovation Solution
The battery design incorporates a terminal with sealing protrusions and a gasket featuring compression protrusions, made of different materials such as perfluoroalkoxy and polypropylene, to prevent electrolyte solution permeation and reduce manufacturing costs by avoiding integral formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the gasket and lower insulating member are made of different materials, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the risk of electrolyte solution permeation and terminal erosion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is divided into two distinct components: a gasket made of elastic material (e.g., perfluoroalkoxy) and a lower insulating member made of rigid material (e.g., polypropylene). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while using cost-effective materials, eliminating the need for expensive integral formation
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket acts as an intermediary component between the terminal and the lower insulating member. It provides the necessary sealing function through its elasticity while allowing the lower insulating member to provide structural support and insulation. This intermediary structure prevents electrolyte solution permeation without requiring the components to be integrally formed
2Reliability
If the gasket is made with high elasticity and rigidity, then sealing performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the sealing structure have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The gasket is made of elastic material to provide sealing compliance, while the lower insulating member is made of rigid material to provide structural support. This local differentiation of material properties achieves optimal sealing performance without requiring expensive materials throughout the entire structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters (elasticity, rigidity) of different components to match their functional requirements. The gasket uses materials with high elasticity (e.g., perfluoroalkoxy) for sealing, while the lower insulating member uses materials with appropriate rigidity (e.g., polypropylene) for structural support, optimizing both performance and cost
3Reliability
If integral formation of gasket and lower insulating member is implemented, then terminal protection is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex integral formation structure, the patent segments the sealing components into a gasket and a lower insulating member. This segmentation simplifies the design of each individual component while maintaining the protective function, avoiding the complexity of integral formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sealing function (gasket) and the insulation function (lower insulating member) into a coordinated assembly that works together to protect the terminal. This merging of functions through separate components achieves the same protective effect as integral formation but with simpler manufacturing
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively prevents electrolyte solution permeation and subsequent short circuits, maintaining battery performance while reducing manufacturing expenses by allowing the use of less expensive materials for the insulating member.
Implementation Method 1
The gasket is to be compressed between the terminal and cap plate
Implementation Method 2
a gasket between the terminal and cap plate and contacting the plurality of sealing protrusions
Implementation Method 3
The lower insulating member is provided between the cap plate and a current collector
Implementation Method 4
Each of the sealing protrusions has a closed-curved line shape, and the closed-curved line shape is around an external circumferential surface of the pillar terminal
Data Source
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AI summary
A rechargeable battery (100) includes an electrode assembly (10) and a cap plate (20). The electrode assembly (10) is located in a case (26) of the battery (100), and the cap plate (20) is over an opening of the case (26). The battery (100) also includes a terminal (31, 331) and a gasket (34, 234, 334). The terminal (31, 331) includes a plurality (31d, 331d) of sealing protrusions (31d1, 31d2, 331d1, 331d2, 331d3). The gasket (34, 234, 334) is located between the terminal (31, 331) and cap the plate (20) and contacts the plurality (31d, 331d) of sealing protrusions (31d1, 31d2, 331d1, 331d2, 331d3). Together, the sealing protrusions (31d1, 31d2, 331d1, 331d2, 331d3 and gasket (34, 234, 334) establish a barrier which prevents electrolyte solution in the case (26) from reaching and eroding the terminal (31, 331).