Rack Busbar Groove Interface for Low-Resistance ESS Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dust generated during land and sea evaluation of mobile uninterruptable power supply (UPS) of an energy storage system (ESS) is introduced between the rack busbar and terminal portion, leading to increased contact resistance and reduced stability.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a rack busbar with protruding portions that are inserted into grooves of a terminal portion, preventing the formation of spaces where dust can accumulate and causing increased contact resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the rack busbar and terminal portion are connected using a conventional flat contact structure, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but dust accumulates in the contact space causing increased contact resistance and reduced reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact resistanceVSAvoidconnection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contact structure is segmented into a protruding portion on the rack busbar and a corresponding groove on the terminal portion. This segmentation creates multiple discrete contact points rather than a single flat contact surface, preventing dust accumulation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having a flat busbar contact a flat terminal surface, the design inverts the conventional approach by creating a protruding portion that fits into a groove. This inversion eliminates the dust-trapping flat contact space while maintaining ease of assembly and manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Device complexity

If a flat contact structure is used between rack busbar and terminal portion, then the device complexity is reduced, but foreign substances can enter the contact space causing increased contact resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection structureVSAvoiddust accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The contact interface is divided into a protruding portion and a groove structure, creating a segmented design that prevents dust accumulation. This segmentation maintains simple manufacturing while effectively eliminating the harmful flat contact space where dust would accumulate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The groove structure, which initially appears to create additional complexity, actually converts the potential harm of dust accumulation into a benefit by providing a dust-exclusion mechanism. The groove design naturally prevents dust entry while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Stability of the object's composition

If vibration occurs during mobile UPS operation, then dust is generated and introduced into the contact space, but a properly designed connection structure can prevent dust entry and maintain stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection stabilityVSAvoidvibration-induced dust
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conventional flat contact structure is inverted into a protruding-groove configuration. This inversion creates a dust-exclusion mechanism that prevents vibration-generated dust from entering the contact space, thereby maintaining electrical connection stability during mobile UPS operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove structure converts the harmful effect of vibration-induced dust into a beneficial dust-trapping mechanism. The groove design ensures that even when vibration occurs, dust cannot enter the contact interface, maintaining stable electrical connections throughout operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS20250329886A1Energy storage system
Publication Date: 2025.10.23 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • US20250329886A1 patent drawing
  • US20250329886A1 patent drawing
  • US20250329886A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An energy storage system is disclosed includes a cell assembly that includes a plurality of battery cells. A rack case accommodates the cell assembly. A terminal portion is electrically connected to the battery cells and includes an insertion portion formed in an outer surface of the terminal portion. A rack busbar is fastened to the terminal portion and includes a protruding portion inserted into the insertion portion of the terminal portion, with the protruding portion being formed on a side surface of the rack busbar.