Rechargeable Battery Vent Module Impact Buffering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rechargeable batteries often experience abnormal vent hole opening due to external impacts, which can lead to unintended pressure release and potential damage, despite internal pressure being within safe limits.

Innovation Solution

A rechargeable battery design featuring a vent module with alternating fracture and buffer portions, where the fracture portion is configured to open under internal pressure and the buffer portion absorbs external impacts, preventing abnormal vent hole opening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a vent hole is provided in the cap plate to discharge internal pressure, then the battery can release excessive pressure safely, but the vent hole may abnormally open when external impact is applied even when internal pressure is within safe limits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafe pressure dischargeVSAvoidabnormal opening from external impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vent module is divided into distinct functional segments: the fracture portion (with through-hole) and the buffer portion (with recess). This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the fracture portion opens under pressure while the buffer portion absorbs external impacts, preventing abnormal opening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The buffer portion with its recess structure is designed in advance to absorb and cushion external impacts before they can reach the fracture portion. This beforehand cushioning prevents the vent hole from opening abnormally due to external impacts while allowing the fracture portion to function properly when internal pressure exceeds the threshold

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

The design effectively stabilizes the release of internal pressure and enhances the battery's durability by preventing abnormal vent hole opening from external impacts, ensuring safe and controlled pressure discharge.

Implementation Method 1

a buffer portion that buffers an impact that is transferred to the vent hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact buffering: Damping

Implementation Method 2

a fracture portion that closes and seals the vent hole, wherein the fracture portion is configured to be fractured by the internal pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-induced fracture: Fracture Mechanics

Data Source

PatentEP3062367B1Rechargeable battery
Publication Date: 2018.02.07 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP3062367B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3062367B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3062367B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly having a first electrode and a second electrode; an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly; a case that receives the electrode assembly; a cap plate at an opening of the case, the cap plate closing and sealing the case and having a vent hole configured to discharge an internal pressure of the case; and a vent module including a vent portion, the vent portion including a buffer portion configured to buffer an impact that is transferred to the vent hole, and a fracture portion that closes and seals the vent hole, wherein the fracture portion is configured to be fractured by the internal pressure.