Battery Module End Plate Assembly With Elastic Swelling Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery modules face challenges in maintaining appropriate pressure between cells due to swelling, which increases the thickness of end plates and complicates compact configuration, leading to higher manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A battery module design that includes a pair of end plates, sub-end plates, and elastic members, such as disk springs, to elastically support the end plates and sub-end plates, allowing for reduced end plate thickness without a separate buffer member, effectively controlling displacement and load changes caused by cell swelling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the thickness of the end plate is increased to tolerate swelling pressure, then the reliability of battery cells is improved, but the volume of the battery module increases and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery cell reliabilityVSAvoidbattery module volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The end plate is divided into a main body portion and a protruding portion that extends into the battery cell. This segmentation allows the protruding portion to specifically absorb swelling pressure from the battery cell, while the main body portion maintains structural support, thereby reducing the overall thickness requirement of the end plate while still protecting against cell failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding portion of the end plate acts as an intermediary element between the battery cell and the main body of the end plate. It absorbs the swelling pressure locally, transmitting the force in a controlled manner, which prevents direct stress concentration on the battery cell cap while maintaining compact module dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the thickness of the end plate is increased to tolerate swelling pressure, then the strength of the end plate is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveend plate strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The end plate exhibits local quality variation where the protruding portion has a specific geometry optimized for absorbing swelling pressure, while the main body portion maintains sufficient thickness for structural support. This localized design optimization reduces material usage and manufacturing cost while maintaining the necessary strength to tolerate swelling forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 maintains appropriate pressure between cells, reduces the likelihood of cell breakage, and preserves or extends the lifespan of battery cells by absorbing swelling forces without increasing the module's size, thus lowering manufacturing costs.

Implementation Method 1

elastic members respectively between the end plates and the sub-end plates to elastically support the end plates and the sub-end plates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250023173A1Battery module

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a battery module including battery cells aligned in a first direction, a pair of end plates respectively outside outermost battery cells among the battery cells, a pair of sub-end plates between respective ones of the end plates and the outermost battery cells, and elastic members respectively between the end plates and the sub-end plates to elastically support the end plates and the sub-end plates.