Battery Support Vent Insulation Against Welding Slag Intrusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current energy storage apparatuses, such as lithium batteries, are prone to safety hazards due to the intrusion of foreign matter during assembly, leading to short circuits and potential explosions.

Innovation Solution

The energy storage apparatus incorporates a support with a vent hole partially covered by an insulation member, allowing air circulation while blocking welding slag from falling onto stimulus-response members, thereby preventing short circuits and ensuring safe operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the support structure is designed with open vent holes for ventilation and inspection purposes, then the ventilation efficiency and inspectability are improved, but welding slag can enter the cover plate assembly or electrode assembly through the vent holes

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidwelding slag entry
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an insulation member as an intermediary component that covers the vent hole. This insulation member allows ventilation and inspection functions to be maintained while preventing welding slag from entering the internal assemblies. The insulation member acts as a mediator between the need for open vent holes and the need to prevent harmful substance entry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the vent hole is completely covered to prevent welding slag entry, then safety is improved, but ventilation and inspection functions are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding slag preventionVSAvoidventilation function
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insulation member is designed with local quality variations - it covers the vent hole to prevent slag entry while maintaining openings or permeable characteristics that allow ventilation. This local differentiation of properties (covered vs. open areas) resolves the contradiction between prevention and ventilation functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If insulation members are added to cover vent holes and prevent welding slag entry, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding slag entry preventionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin film insulation member to cover the vent hole. This thin film approach provides effective protection against welding slag entry while adding minimal structural complexity. The flexible thin film design is simpler than rigid covering structures and integrates easily into the existing support structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP4415109B1Energy storage apparatus and electric device
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 HITHIUM TECH HK LTD
  • EP4415109B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4415109B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4415109B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are an energy storage apparatus and an electric device. The energy storage apparatus includes a support, a pole, a stimulus-response member, a connector, and a first insulation member. The support has a first side and a second side opposite to each other. The support has a mounting hole and a vent hole spaced apart from each other. The connector is located at the first side and includes first and second connection portions connected to each other. The first and second connection portions face towards each other after being folded. The first connection portion is connected to the pole, and the second connection portion is configured to be connected to a tab. The first insulation member is attached to the first connection portion and extends towards the vent hole. The vent hole is partially covered with the first insulation member in a thickness direction of the support, and at least partially uncovered with the first insulation member. Through the above arrangement, welding slag is prevented from entering a cover plate assembly or an electrode assembly, which improves safety and lowers safety hazards.