Current Collector Plate Structure for Weld Distortion Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production process for power storage devices can lead to distortion and heat transfer during welding, causing degradation in the connection between the current collector plate and the power storage element, which affects the quality and characteristics of the device.
Innovation Solution
A current collector plate design with a center region, outer peripheral region, and bridge portions, featuring first and second weld portions, and first through holes in a slit shape to structurally and thermally separate the welding areas, preventing distortion and heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the second weld portion is welded to connect the current collector plate and case, then the structural integrity is improved, but distortion occurs in the current collector plate which degrades the connection quality at the first weld portions
Solution Approach 1:
The current collector plate is segmented into a center region, outer peripheral region, and bridge portions. The bridge portions are designed with reduced cross-sectional areas to act as distortion isolation structures, separating the center region (with second weld portion) from the outer peripheral region (with first weld portions). This segmentation prevents distortion at the second weld portion from being transmitted to the first weld portions, thus maintaining connection quality while ensuring structural integrity.
2Reliability
If the second weld portion is welded to connect the current collector plate and case, then the electrical connection is improved, but heat is generated and transferred to the power storage element which degrades its characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge portions with reduced cross-sectional areas segment the current collector plate into thermal zones. This segmentation creates thermal isolation between the second weld portion (heat source) and the power storage element, preventing excessive heat transfer while maintaining electrical connectivity through the bridge portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge portions act as intermediary structures between the center region and outer peripheral region. Their reduced cross-sectional areas make them thermal mediators that control heat flow, allowing electrical connection while limiting heat transfer to protect the power storage element characteristics.
3Ease of manufacture
If the current collector plate is designed as a single rigid structure, then the manufacturing process is simple, but distortion cannot be isolated between different weld portions
Solution Approach 1:
The current collector plate is segmented into center region, outer peripheral region, and bridge portions with varying cross-sectional areas. This segmentation is achieved through conventional manufacturing processes like laser cutting or punching, maintaining ease of manufacture while creating the necessary structural variations for distortion isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the current collector plate are designed with different local qualities: the center region and outer peripheral region have larger cross-sectional areas for structural strength, while the bridge portions have reduced cross-sectional areas for distortion isolation. This local quality variation is achieved through standard manufacturing techniques and maintains manufacturing simplicity while providing distortion isolation functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A current collector plate for a power storage device welded to an end face of a power storage element included in a power storage device. The current collector plate includes a center region, an outer peripheral region, and a bridge portion that connects the center and outer peripheral regions. The outer peripheral region includes a plurality of first weld portions arranged along a radial direction of the end face and welded to the end face. The center region includes a second weld portion that is welded to a conductive member different from the power storage element. A plurality of first through holes in a slit shape are formed to surround the center region such that each of the plurality of first through holes is located between a corresponding one of the plurality of first weld portions and the second weld portion.