Battery Cell Guard Structure for Connecting Portion Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing batteries suffer from poor safety due to liquid leakage at the connecting portion between the case and the end lid, which can lead to short-circuit fires or ignitions, especially when used upside down.
Innovation Solution
A guard is arranged on the outer surface of the can to cover at least part of the connecting portion, featuring a top wall with a liquid outlet hole and a peripheral wall to contain and guide liquid leakage, reducing the speed and spread of liquid, and incorporating a convex portion to further slow down the flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a guard is added to cover the connecting portion, then safety is improved by preventing liquid leakage, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guard is divided into multiple functional segments: a top wall portion that covers the connecting portion, a peripheral wall portion that extends downward to contain liquid, and a bottom wall portion that provides structural support. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall structure manageable and not excessively complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The guard acts as an intermediary protective structure between the connecting portion (where liquid leakage occurs) and the external environment. It includes a liquid outlet hole that mediates controlled liquid discharge, and a convex portion that serves as an intermediary element to slow down liquid flow before it exits, preventing uncontrolled spreading while maintaining safety.
2Reliability
If the guard structure is made larger to better contain liquid, then safety is improved, but energy density decreases due to increased space occupation
Solution Approach 1:
The guard is designed with local quality variations: the top wall is positioned to specifically cover the connecting portion where liquid leakage originates, the peripheral wall height is optimized to contain liquid without excessive volume, and the convex portion is strategically placed around the liquid outlet hole to slow liquid flow only where needed. This localized approach ensures safety functionality is concentrated where most needed, minimizing overall space occupation and preserving energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The guard provides partial containment rather than complete enclosure of the connecting portion. The peripheral wall extends downward only to a degree sufficient to contain and guide liquid flow, and the convex portion protrudes only enough (0.1-0.5mm) to slow liquid flow. This partial action approach achieves the necessary safety function without the excessive space occupation that would result from a fully enclosed structure, thereby maintaining energy density.
3Reliability
If the convex portion protrudes more to slow liquid flow, then safety is improved by preventing liquid spread, but device complexity and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The convex portion's protrusion height is optimized within a specific parameter range (0.1-0.5mm). This parameter change is sufficient to slow down liquid flow and prevent uncontrolled spreading, yet small enough to avoid significant increases in device complexity and space occupation. The convex portion creates a flow resistance that modifies liquid velocity without requiring large dimensional changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A cell, a battery, and an electric device are described. The cell includes a can and a guard. The can includes a case and an end lid. The case has an opening. The end lid is connected to the case and closes the opening. The end lid is connected to the case to form a connecting portion. The guard is arranged on an outer surface of the can and covers at least a part of the connecting portion. The cell has the guard arranged thereon, where the guard covers at least a part of the connecting portion. The guard can prevent liquid from leaking from the connecting portion to some extent, and lower a liquid leakage speed, thereby improving safety of the cell to some extent.