Elastic Battery Casing Plates for Internal Pressure Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery assemblies fail to control internal pressures within battery cells, leading to premature degradation due to excessive pressure when materials expand during charging and discharging, which affects battery life.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating elastic portions or plates in the battery assembly casing and cell structure to allow controlled expansion, maintaining internal pressures within a desired range by using elastic materials with specific spring constants and cutout designs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional rigid plates are used in battery assembly, then structural stability is maintained, but excessive internal pressure builds up causing premature battery degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidinternal pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional rigid plates with elastic plates that have flexible properties. These elastic plates can deform under internal pressure from expanding battery materials during charging/discharging, thereby regulating pressure and preventing excessive stress on battery components while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of the plates from rigid to elastic by selecting materials with appropriate elastic moduli and designing specific geometric structures (such as incorporating cutout portions). This parameter change allows the plates to dynamically adjust to internal pressure variations, extending battery life by preventing pressure-related degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If elastic portions are added to regulate internal pressure, then battery life is extended, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidcasing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic plates serve as both structural support elements and pressure-regulating components in a single integrated design. By making the plates themselves elastic rather than adding separate pressure-regulating mechanisms, the patent extends battery life without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Stress or pressure

If elastic plates with cutout portions are used to control pressure, then internal pressure is regulated, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinternal pressure controlVSAvoidplate fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cutout portions are directly formed in the elastic plates during the plate fabrication process itself, rather than being added as separate components. This integrated approach allows the plates to provide pressure regulation through their geometric design while maintaining ease of manufacture through conventional forming processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Weight of stationary object

If conventional rigid structures are used, then manufacturing is simple, but weight of assembly is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly weightVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic plates can be designed with optimized thickness and geometric features (such as cutout portions) that reduce material usage and overall weight compared to rigid plates. The flexible nature of the material allows for thinner designs that still provide adequate structural support and pressure regulation, thereby reducing assembly weight while maintaining manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Extends battery life by regulating internal pressures, preventing excessive stress on battery components, and reducing the overall weight of the assembly.

Implementation Method 1

At least one of the plates of the casing that extends along the third axis comprises an elastic portion and provides a tension force on the plurality of battery cells to compress the plurality of battery cells together

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the elastic portion comprises a spring structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS20250343257A1Battery with elastic portion

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A battery assembly defines a first axis, a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis. The battery assembly includes a casing having a plurality of plates, and a plurality of battery cells stacked along the third axis disposed within the casing. At least one of the plates of the casing that extends along the third axis includes an elastic portion and provides a tension force on the plurality of battery cells to compress the plurality of battery cells together.