Clamped Battery Module Outer Cover Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery modules face damage and safety risks during the welding process due to sparks and missiles, leading to potential explosions and increased manufacturing time and costs, as they lack an additional protection mechanism between the battery cell assembly and outer cover members.

Innovation Solution

The battery module employs first and second outer cover members coupled by a fastening member in a clamping manner, with slit-shaped fastening grooves, to prevent damage from sparks and missiles, enhancing safety and simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for welding and minimizing coupled portions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If outer cover members are coupled through welding, then structural stability is improved, but the battery cell assembly may be damaged by spark or missiles generated in the welding process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoiddamage from spark or missiles
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An additional cover member is introduced as an intermediary protective layer between the battery cell assembly and the outer cover members. This additional cover prevents spark or missiles generated during welding from directly contacting and damaging the battery cell assembly, while still allowing the outer cover members to be securely coupled through welding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If outer cover members are coupled through welding, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The additional cover member is pre-installed on the battery cell assembly before the outer cover members are attached. This preliminary action protects the battery cell assembly during subsequent welding operations, eliminating the need for additional protective measures or post-welding repairs, thereby reducing overall manufacturing time and costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If outer cover members directly surround the battery cell assembly, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the battery cell assembly is vulnerable to welding damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing complexityVSAvoidprotection against welding damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The additional cover member is nested between the battery cell assembly and the outer cover members, creating a layered protective structure. This nested configuration provides enhanced protection against welding damage while maintaining a compact and relatively simple overall structure that does not significantly increase manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 design effectively prevents damage to the battery cell assembly, enhances safety, reduces manufacturing time and costs, and maintains structural stability while minimizing external protrusions and moisture ingress.

Implementation Method 1

first and second outer cover members are coupled by a fastening member in a clamping manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectClamping: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3340339B1Battery module comprising external members coupled by means of clamping-type coupling members
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3340339B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3340339B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3340339B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a battery module including: a battery cell assembly in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged while being electrically connected; and first and second outer cover members each having a plate-type structure surrounding an outer surface of the battery cell assembly and coupled to each other by a fastening member in a state in which corners corresponding to each other are in contact with each other. Here, each of the first and second outer cover members includes at least one fastening groove having a slit shape, and the fastening grooves of the first and second outer cover members are perforated at positions corresponding to each other of corners contacting each other, and the first and second outer cover members are coupled to each other in such a manner that both side ends, which face each other, of the fastening member are respectively inserted into the fastening grooves in a clamping manner.