Rechargeable Battery Terminal With Threaded Coupling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Rechargeable batteries face challenges in reducing the number of parts required for connection and simplifying the manufacturing process, while also enhancing the coupling force between terminals and improving electrical reliability.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates first and second coupling terminals with threads and rotation-preventing features, allowing for connection using nuts, which reduces the number of parts and simplifies manufacturing, and secures a wide contact area to enhance coupling force and electrical reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional connection methods are used for rechargeable batteries, then the connection structure is simple, but the number of parts increases and the manufacturing process becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidnumber of connection parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling terminal integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides both electrical connection (through the collecting terminal hole) and mechanical fastening (through the integrated thread). This merging eliminates the need for separate connecting parts, reducing the total number of components while simplifying the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling terminal serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as an electrical conductor, a mechanical fastener, and a structural support element. The thread portion enables both electrical connection and secure mechanical attachment, making the component universal and reducing the need for specialized parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Strength

If high coupling force is required between terminals and bus bar, then connection strength increases, but the risk of affecting collecting terminals and electrical reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling force between terminal and bus barVSAvoidelectrical reliability between batteries
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling terminal is divided into distinct functional portions: the thread portion for mechanical fastening and the collecting terminal hole for electrical connection. This segmentation allows high torque to be applied to the thread portion without transmitting stress to the collecting terminal, maintaining both mechanical strength and electrical reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The thread portion acts as an intermediary element between the bus bar connection and the collecting terminal. It absorbs the mechanical stress and torque from the bus bar fastening, preventing these forces from being transmitted to the collecting terminal and thus protecting the electrical connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2490283B1Rechargeable battery
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP2490283B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2490283B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2490283B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A rechargeable battery (100) with a battery terminal (120,130), which can reduce the number of parts necessary for connecting rechargeable batteries to each other while simplifying a manufacturing process thereof, increase a coupling force between coupling terminals and a bus bar, and enhance electrical reliability between rechargeable batteries or between a rechargeable battery and an external device. The battery terminal includes a collecting terminal (122,132) having a body (122a,132a), and a coupling terminal (123,133) for electrically and mechanically coupling to the body. The collecting terminal is for electrically coupling to an electrode assembly inside a case of the rechargeable battery. The coupling terminal has a body hole for passing the body therethrough, a thread (123c,133c) for electrically coupling the coupling terminal to another rechargeable battery or an external device, and a rotation-preventing member.