Dual-Hardness Buffer Member for Battery Expansion and Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power storage modules face challenges in simultaneously absorbing the expansion of power storage devices and maintaining accurate positioning, especially as the capacity of power storage devices increases, leading to potential damage from excessive loads and performance deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A buffer member with a hard part and a soft part, where the hard part changes its shape under load to transfer the load to the soft part, allowing for dual-state operation to absorb expansion and maintain positioning effectively, thereby enhancing the reliability of the power storage module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single material is used for the elastic member, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult to achieve both absorbing expansion and positioning of the power storage device
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer member is divided into a hard part and a soft part, each with different hardness values. The hard part (first hardness) provides positioning function while the soft part (second hardness) provides expansion absorption function. This segmentation allows the single buffer member to achieve both positioning and expansion absorption functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the buffer member have different local properties (hardness values). The hard part has higher hardness for positioning, while the soft part has lower hardness for expansion absorption. This local quality differentiation enables the buffer member to perform multiple functions within a single component.
2Quantity of substance
If the capacity of power storage devices is increased, then the energy storage capability is improved, but the amount of expansion increases leading to excessive loads
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer member utilizes changes in hardness parameter across different parts to handle expansion loads. The soft part with lower hardness can elastically deform to absorb expansion forces, while the hard part maintains structural integrity. This parameter differentiation allows the system to accommodate larger expansion forces from high-capacity devices without damage.
3Measurement precision
If the buffer member must fix the power storage device with high accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but the ability to absorb large expansion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer member is segmented into hard and soft parts that perform different functions. The hard part provides rigid support for accurate positioning, while the soft part provides elastic deformation capability for expansion absorption. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between positioning precision and expansion absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer member functions as a composite structure with parts of different hardness values (different material properties). This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of rigid positioning (hard part) and flexible expansion absorption (soft part) within a single component.
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 configuration enables the power storage module to absorb the necessary expansion amount while maintaining accurate positioning across the life stages of the power storage devices, reducing the risk of damage and performance degradation, and avoiding the need for increased strength and size of the binding members.
Implementation Method 1
The hard part changes its shape by receiving a load of a predetermined magnitude or more, and the buffer member changes its state, by the hard part changing its shape, from a first state in which the hard part receives the load to a second state in which the soft part receives the load
Data Source
AI summary
A power storage module includes at least one power storage device, and a buffer member arranged with the power storage device in a first direction X. The buffer member includes a hard part having a predetermined hardness and a soft part softer than the hard part, the hard part and the soft part receiving a load in first direction X from the power storage device. The hard part changes its shape by receiving a load of a predetermined magnitude or more. The buffer member changes its state, by the hard part changing its shape, from a first state in which the load is received by the hard part to a second state in which the load is received by the soft part.