Battery Cell Insulating Plate Against Particle-Induced Shell Shorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery cells face safety risks due to the potential for short circuits caused by particles piercing the separator and conducting between electrode plates, leading to safety concerns that existing technologies have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a first insulating member with a plate attached to the electrode unit's main body portion, which isolates it from the shell and prevents particle conduction, reducing the risk of short circuits and enhancing safety performance by blocking particles and improving assembly protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If particles remain in the shell during assembly, then the assembly process becomes simpler, but particles may pierce the separator and cause short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly process simplicityVSAvoidshort circuit risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an insulating member as an intermediary component between the electrode assembly and the shell. This insulating member blocks particles from contacting the electrode assembly, thereby preventing short circuits while allowing the assembly process to remain simple without requiring extensive particle removal procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating member is installed on the electrode assembly before it is placed in the shell. This preliminary action ensures that particles present during assembly cannot cause short circuits, as the insulating member is already in position to block any particle contact with the electrode assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the electrode assembly is directly placed in the shell, then the device complexity is reduced, but the safety performance deteriorates due to particle contamination risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidparticle contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating member serves as a mediator that blocks particles from reaching the electrode assembly. It is positioned between the shell and the electrode assembly, creating a protective barrier that prevents particle contamination without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating member is implemented as a thin film or sheet that can be easily conform ed to the electrode assembly. This thin film structure provides effective particle blocking while adding minimal complexity to the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If insulation measures are added to prevent short circuits, then safety performance improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety performanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating member is designed as a thin film that can be easily wrapped around or attached to the electrode assembly. This thin film approach provides effective insulation and safety protection while adding minimal structural complexity to the battery design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical insulation to prevent short circuits, acts as a particle barrier, and can also serve as a protective layer during assembly and operation. This multi-functionality improves safety without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4120465B1Battery cell, battery, and electrical consuming device
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
  • EP4120465B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4120465B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4120465B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present application relates to a battery cell, a battery and an electrical consuming device. The battery cell of the embodiments of the present application includes a shell, including an opening; an electrode unit, accommodated in the shell, the electrode unit including a main body portion and a tab portion protruding from the main body portion; a cap assembly, for connecting with the shell, and covering and closing the opening; and a first insulating member, accommodated in the shell and adapted to isolate at least part of the main body portion from the shell, the first insulating member including a first insulating plate, and the first insulating plate being disposed on a side of the main body portion facing the cap assembly and being attached to the main body portion. The first insulating member can insulate at least part of the main body portion from the shell, and even if the particles remaining in the shell pierce the separator of the main body portion, the first insulating member can prevent the electrode plates in the main body portion from being conducted with the shell, thereby reducing the risk of short circuit. The first insulating plate can further block particles, thereby reducing the particles falling into the main body portion.