Curable Tape Battery Cell Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery arrays in electrified vehicles require metal plates and tensioning rods to compress battery cells, which can lead to expansion issues over time and increased size due to the need for bracing features.
Innovation Solution
A curable material, such as a fiber-reinforced polymer-based tape, is wound around battery cells to compress and hold them in place, eliminating the need for metal plates and tensioning rods by curing to maintain compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal plates and tensioning rods are used to compress battery cells, then structural support is provided, but device complexity and size increase due to bracing features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes metal plates and tensioning rods from the battery assembly, retaining only the essential compression function through wound bands. This extraction of unnecessary components directly reduces device complexity while maintaining structural support through the elastic deformation of the wound bands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the rigid mechanical system of metal plates and tensioning rods with a flexible wound band system that uses elastic deformation to provide compression. This substitution eliminates complex bracing features while maintaining the necessary structural support through the elastic properties of the wound bands.
2Stress or pressure
If metal plates and tensioning rods are used to compress battery cells, then compression is maintained, but the overall size of the battery array increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing metal plates and tensioning rods, the patent eliminates the space these components would occupy, directly reducing the overall battery array size while maintaining compression through the more space-efficient wound band configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The wound bands are wrapped in curved configurations around the battery cells, allowing them to provide compression force in a compact, space-efficient manner compared to rigid linear bracing structures. This curved geometry enables maintenance of compression force with reduced overall array dimensions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If battery cells are compressed to prevent expansion, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to compression mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex compression mechanisms (metal plates and tensioning rods) and replaces them with simple wound bands that provide compression through their elastic properties, thereby maintaining battery cell stability while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the compression element from rigid metal components to elastic wound bands. This parameter change allows the compression mechanism to adapt to battery cell expansion through elastic deformation, maintaining stability with simpler construction.
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
The curable material effectively compresses and stabilizes battery cells, reducing the size of the battery array and eliminating the need for bracing features, while providing structural support and protection.
Implementation Method 1
winding a curable material at least partially about a plurality of battery cells that are compressed by a fixture
Implementation Method 2
battery cells, which can expand over time. The plates are typically metal
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary method includes, among other things, winding a curable material at least partially about a plurality of battery cells that are compressed by a fixture. An exemplary assembly includes, among other things, a plurality of battery cells compressed by a fixture, and a curable material wound around the plurality of battery cells.