Electrode Terminal Sealing Structure for Vibration-Resistant Battery Cases
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibrations in portable electric storage devices can cause stress on electrode terminals, leading to potential breakage of the sealing material and detachment of the electrode terminal.
Innovation Solution
The electric storage device incorporates a sealing material that is integrated with the case and electrode terminal, featuring a base part covering the back surface, a side surface protecting part, and a locking part covering the peripheral edge of the connection surface to prevent the electrode terminal from rising and detaching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a through hole is formed in the cover main body and a terminal part is arranged to penetrate it with a resin member for sealing, then the electrode terminal can be electrically connected to external conductive parts, but vibration stress can cause breakage of the sealing material and detachment of the electrode terminal
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing material is divided into three functional parts: a base part covering the back surface of the plate part, a side surface protecting part covering the side surface, and a locking part covering the connection surface. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the locking part prevents detachment while the side surface protecting part prevents breakage, resolving the contradiction between electrical connection and sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing material extends from the inside of the case (base part) through the side surface (side surface protecting part) to the connection surface (locking part). This three-dimensional configuration provides multi-directional protection: internal support from the base part, lateral protection from the side surface protecting part, and top-down locking from the locking part, preventing both detachment and breakage while maintaining electrical connection.
2Reliability
If the sealing material covers the entire electrode terminal including the connection surface, then the electrode terminal is securely fixed and cannot detach, but the connection surface cannot be exposed for electrical connection
Solution Approach 1:
The locking part of the sealing material is designed to cover only the peripheral edge part of the connection surface, not the central part. This local coverage provides fixation at the periphery while leaving the central connection surface exposed for electrical connection, resolving the contradiction between secure fixation and electrical connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing material's locking part is segmented to cover only the peripheral edge region of the connection surface, allowing the central region to remain exposed. This selective coverage ensures that the electrode terminal is securely fixed at the periphery while maintaining electrical connection capability at the center, addressing both fixation and connectivity requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If a resin member is used to seal the gap between the terminal part and cover main body, then the terminal part is fixed to the cover, but the resin member can break under vibration stress causing terminal detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing material is configured as a composite structure with a base part, side surface protecting part, and locking part that work together. The base part provides internal support, the side surface protecting part provides lateral reinforcement, and the locking part provides peripheral fixation. This composite configuration enhances overall strength and vibration resistance compared to a simple resin member, while maintaining ease of manufacture through integrated molding.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing material transitions from a two-dimensional seal (covering only the gap) to a three-dimensional structure extending from the case interior through the side surface to the connection surface. This dimensional expansion provides multi-directional support and stress distribution, significantly improving vibration resistance while maintaining the terminal fixation function.
Data Source
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AI summary
A case 10 of the herein disclosed electric storage device 100 includes an electrode terminal 20, and a sealing material 30. The electrode terminal 20 includes a shaft part 22 and a plate part 24. Then, the sealing material 30 includes a side surface protecting part 36 configured to cover the side surface 24c of the plate part 24, and a locking part 39 configured to continue to a top end of the side surface protecting part 36 and configured to cover a peripheral edge part 24a1 of the connection surface 24a. According to the electric storage device 100 including the above described configuration, it is possible by the locking part 39 of the sealing material 30 to regulate a rise of the electrode terminal 20, and thus it is possible to inhibit a breakage of the sealing material 30 and a detachment of the electrode terminal 20.