Cylindrical Battery Cell Current Routing Without a Conductive Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cylindrical battery cells, the routing of current through the housing poses risks of voltage establishment with external components and complicates the design, as the housing can act as a current path.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical battery cell design featuring a hollow cylinder with an electrically conductive closure plate and an electrically conductive rod that allows current paths to run within the cell housing without using the housing as a current path, with electrodes of different polarities separated by a separator and connected to the rod and closure plate in a way that prevents the housing from being a current path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current is routed via the housing, then electrical connection is achieved, but the risk of voltage establishment with external components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection system is segmented into separate components: an internal conductive structure (rod and closure plate) for current routing, and the housing purely for mechanical containment. This segmentation isolates the current path from the housing, eliminating the risk of voltage establishment with external components while maintaining reliable electrical connection between electrodes and terminals.
2Reliability
If the housing serves as a current path, then electrical conductivity is achieved, but material selection is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical conduction function is extracted from the housing and assigned to dedicated internal components (conductive rod and closure plate). This allows the housing to be made from any mechanically suitable material without electrical conductivity requirements, while the extracted conduction components can be made from optimally conductive materials like copper or aluminum, independently of housing material constraints.
3Ease of operation
If current paths run via the housing, then external connection is simplified, but the housing design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Electrical conductivity is applied locally only where needed (at the closure plate and rod components that contact electrodes and terminals), rather than requiring the entire housing to be conductive. This localized approach simplifies housing design while maintaining effective electrical connection paths through the strategically placed conductive elements.
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 reduces the risk of voltage establishment with external components and simplifies the cell housing's functionality by allowing current paths to run internally, enabling the use of non-conductive materials for the housing and improving manufacturing flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conductive rod, which extends along a longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder, between the end faces of the hollow cylinder, as far as the first opening such that, at a first end of the rod, the rod is electrically contactable from the exterior of the cell housing, through the first opening
Implementation Method 2
the electrically conductive rod is electrically insulated from the electrically conductive closure plate
Data Source
AI summary
A battery cell includes: (i) a cylindrical cell housing having a hollow cylinder; (ii) an electrically conductive closure plate closing the hollow cylinder at an end face and having an opening; (iii) an electrode of a first electrical polarity and an electrode of a second electrical polarity opposite to the first polarity, the electrodes being separated by a separator; (iv) an electrically conductive rod, which extends along a longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder as far as the opening, so that, at a first end of the rod, the rod is electrically contactable through the opening. The electrode of the first polarity is electrically connected to the closure plate. The electrode of the second polarity is electrically connected to the electrically conductive rod at a second end of the rod different from the first end, the electrically conductive rod being electrically isolated from the electrically conductive closure plate.