Equalizing Tank With Flexible Casing for Battery Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure equalizing tanks for battery coolant systems require an environmental opening, allowing moisture and dirt to enter, despite complex designs that cannot completely prevent contamination.
Innovation Solution
A dimensionally stable plastic housing with a flexible fluid-tight casing that allows pressure and temperature equalization without external openings, using textured inner walls and a check valve to prevent contamination, ensuring a closed system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If an opening to the environment is provided for pressure equalizing, then pressure equalizing function is achieved, but moisture and dirt can enter the system causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible diaphragm that expands and contracts with pressure changes to equalize pressure without requiring an opening to the environment. The diaphragm is sealed within the housing, maintaining system closure while accommodating pressure variations through elastic deformation of the membrane material.
Solution Approach 2:
The diaphragm acts as an intermediary element that mediates pressure equalization internally within the closed system. Instead of directly opening to the environment, the pressure changes are transmitted and balanced through the flexible membrane, which transfers mechanical stress without requiring external communication.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a diaphragm and drying device are added to prevent contamination, then protection against moisture and dirt is improved, but the structure becomes elaborate and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the contamination prevention function from complex mechanical barriers (drying devices, filters) and replaces it with a simple sealed diaphragm design. By removing the need for environmental openings entirely, the system achieves protection against moisture and dirt through the basic principle of sealing, eliminating elaborate preventive mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible diaphragm serves as both the pressure equalizing mechanism and the contamination barrier in a single integrated component. This thin film solution replaces multiple separate elements (diaphragm plus drying device plus seals) with one simple flexible membrane that performs both functions simultaneously.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the housing is made rigid to maintain shape under pressure, then structural stability is improved, but the housing cannot accommodate pressure and temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flexible diaphragm within the rigid housing to provide adaptability. The housing itself remains rigid and dimensionally stable, while the internal flexible membrane accommodates pressure and temperature changes by expanding and contracting, allowing the system to handle variable conditions without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into two functional parts: the rigid housing that provides structural stability and dimensional integrity, and the flexible diaphragm that provides adaptability to pressure and temperature changes. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromise.
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 solution provides a contamination-free, closed cooling system with reduced pressure fluctuations, maintaining system integrity and preventing damage from moisture and dirt.
Implementation Method 1
A flexible fluid-tight casing is arranged inside the housing... which, depending on the degree of filling, changes in such a way that it at least rests against a housing enclosing the casing or the casing at least partially collapses on itself
Implementation Method 2
The inner wall is textured, which prevents the flexible casing from sticking or adhering to the inner wall of the housing at higher temperatures and/or high pressures. Dimples have proven to be the preferred version of texturing.
Data Source
AI summary
An equalizing tank for a cooling system of an electric battery for an electric drive train is disclosed. The equalizing tank includes a dimensionally stable housing having at least one opening that is connected to the cooling system of the battery. A flexible fluid-tight casing is arranged inside the housing and connected in a fluid-tight manner to the at least one opening such that a fluid can flow at least one of into and out of the flexible fluid-tight casing. The flexible fluid-tight casing being structured and arranged such that, depending on a degree to which the equalizing tank is filled with the fluid, the flexible fluid-tight casing rests against an inner wall of the housing.