Secondary Cell End Plate Assembly for Stable Electrode Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rechargeable battery technologies face challenges in electrical performance, reliability, and manufacturability, particularly in scaling and design optimization for various applications.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a secondary cell with a casing and end plates that include a contacting tab and spacer arrangement to secure the electrode assembly, reducing sliding movement and enhancing electrical contact, while allowing for horizontal assembly and sealing without dedicated seats, thus improving mechanical support and electrical efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrode assembly is not mechanically supported, then the cell structure is simpler, but the electrode assembly slides within the casing reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer arrangement is pre-installed on the end plate before the electrode assembly is inserted into the casing. This preliminary positioning ensures that the electrode assembly is immediately supported and prevented from sliding, without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer arrangement acts as an intermediary component between the end plate and the electrode assembly. It provides mechanical support and electrical insulation, preventing direct contact while ensuring stable positioning of the electrode assembly within the casing.
2Reliability
If the contacting tab is not provided, then the end plate structure is simpler, but electrical contact between electrode and terminal is poor increasing electrical resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The contacting tab integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides electrical connection between the electrode and terminal, acts as a mechanical support element, and serves as a positioning feature during assembly. This merging reduces the need for separate components while improving electrical contact reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If dedicated seats are required for assembly, then assembly precision is higher, but assembly process complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer arrangement and contacting tab are designed to self-align and self-position during the assembly process. The electrode assembly automatically finds its correct position against the spacer, eliminating the need for dedicated seats or complex alignment mechanisms in the casing structure.
4Reliability
If the contacting tab cross-sectional area is small, then the end plate structure is simpler, but electrical resistance increases reducing electrical performance
Solution Approach 1:
The contacting tab is designed with an optimized cross-sectional area that balances electrical performance and structural simplicity. By adjusting the tab's dimensions, the design achieves low electrical resistance without requiring complex geometries or additional components, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving electrical performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A secondary cell is disclosed, comprising a first end plate and a second end plate. The first end plate comprises a contacting tab configured to provide an electrical contact between a first electrode of an electrode assembly and a first terminal, as well as a first spacer arrangement arranged between the first end plate and the electrode assembly and configured to secure the electrode assembly in a length direction. The second end plate comprises a current collector and a second spacer arrangement, wherein the second spacer arrangement is arranged to secure the electrode assembly in the length direction and the current collector to secure the electrode assembly in a direction orthogonal to the length direction. A method for assembling such a cell is also disclosed.