Elastomeric Laminar Elements for Battery Plate Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing container designs for electric battery plates require multiple molds and large stock holdings due to varying laminar projection heights, which complicate production and lead to deformation and loss of elasticity over time, causing plates to become dislodged when the battery is moved.
Innovation Solution
A container with elastically deformable laminar elements made of materials like polypropylene, featuring a central slit for homogeneous deformation and T-shaped protruding portions for secure plate retention, allowing adaptation to different plate quantities without the need for multiple molds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid laminar projections are used to maintain plate compaction, then plates remain stationary in position, but multiple molds are required for different plate quantities and production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the laminar projections flexible rather than rigid. The projections are made of elastomeric material that can dynamically adapt its shape and height to accommodate different numbers of plates. This flexible design eliminates the need for multiple rigid molds while maintaining reliable plate positioning through elastic deformation and recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the laminar projections from rigid fixed-height structures to flexible variable-height structures. The elastomeric material allows the projections to change their effective height and shape based on the number of plates inserted, providing a single mold solution that adapts to different plate quantities while maintaining stable plate retention.
2Device complexity
If flexible laminar projections are used to eliminate multiple molds, then production complexity is reduced, but the projections lose elasticity over time and plates become dislodged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material principles by using elastomeric material for the laminar projections that combines flexibility with elastic memory. The material properties are selected to provide both the flexibility needed for adapting to different plate quantities and the elastic recovery capability to maintain long-term reliability. The elastomeric nature ensures that even after repeated deformations, the projections return to their original shape and continue to hold plates securely.
3Manufacturing precision
If laminar projection height is varied for different plate quantities, then plate compaction is optimized, but manufacturer must produce and stock multiple mold types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single elastomeric mold that performs multiple functions: it can accommodate different numbers of plates (varying from few to many), provide appropriate compaction force for each scenario, and maintain reliable plate positioning. The flexible laminar projections automatically adjust their effective height and deformation characteristics based on the plate quantity, making one mold universally applicable to all plate configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic flexibility of the elastomeric projections allows a single mold design to adapt to different plate quantities. The projections deform to different extents based on the number of plates inserted, providing optimized compaction for each scenario without requiring separate rigid molds. This dynamic adaptation simplifies manufacturing while maintaining precise plate compaction.
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 container maintains compacted plates in place across various positions, reducing production complexity and eliminating the need for multiple molds, while ensuring long-term stability and adaptability to varying plate counts.
Implementation Method 1
at least one laminar element (4) made of an elastically deformable material, which deforms laterally to a higher or lower extent depending on the number of plates (P) inserted in the container cell (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) with which it comes into contact
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is a container (1) for the plates (P) of an electric battery, the container (1) being provided with a plurality of walls (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g) intersecting each other so as to define one or more adjacent cells (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) suited to contain the plates (P). Each one of the cells (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) is internally provided with one or more laminar elements (4) made of an elastically deformable material, provided with a first surface (5) resting on a wall of the cell and with a second surface (7) opposite the first surface (5) and placed in contact with the most external plate. The laminar element (4) is shaped so that it is provided with a plurality of convex portions (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) on the second surface (7) and is constrained to the wall (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g) of the cell (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) through connection means. Said connection means are removable and are of the type coupled through a sliding movement. The laminar element (4) may have an undulating cross section . The protruding portion (12) may have a "T" shaped cross section.