Flexible Spacer for Electric Storage Device Current Collectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric storage devices used in vibrating environments, such as hybrid electric vehicles and aircraft, face breakage of current collectors and electrode assemblies due to vibrations, leading to potential fatigue and rupture.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a spacer with flexible couplers and a bridge portion that extends by bending or expansion to maintain constant distance between current collectors, preventing inward displacement and twisting, thus securing the electrode assembly and reducing the risk of breakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the electrode assembly is held suspended from the current collectors, then the current collectors can be fixed to the case and support the electrode assembly, but the electrode assembly sways due to vibrations causing bending stress and fatigue breakdown

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport structureVSAvoidcurrent collector durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A spacer is introduced as an intermediary component between the current collectors to maintain a constant distance between them. This spacer prevents the current collectors from swaying and twisting during vibrations, thereby eliminating bending stress and fatigue breakdown while maintaining the suspended support structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The distance between current collectors is changed from a variable parameter (that fluctuates during vibration) to a constant parameter (maintained by the spacer). This parameter change stabilizes the structure and prevents fatigue breakdown caused by repeated bending stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the electrode assembly is held suspended from the current collectors, then the current collectors can be fixed to the case, but the disposition between the electrode assembly and current collector connecting portions varies causing twisting and breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly configurationVSAvoidconnecting portion strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer acts as a mediator that maintains the proper disposition between the electrode assembly and current collector connecting portions. By keeping the current collectors at a constant distance, the spacer prevents twisting of the connecting portions and eliminates the risk of breakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid spacer is used to maintain distance between current collectors, then positioning stability is improved, but the structure cannot accommodate vibrations without transmitting stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance maintenanceVSAvoidvibration stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer is designed with flexible characteristics that allow it to maintain a constant distance between current collectors while accommodating vibrations. This flexibility enables the spacer to absorb vibrational energy without transmitting excessive stress to the current collectors and electrode assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer transitions from a static, rigid component to a dynamic component that can adapt to vibrational movements. This dynamic characteristic allows the spacer to maintain positioning stability while responding to vibrations, preventing stress concentration and fatigue breakdown.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 spacer effectively prevents breakage of current collectors and electrode assemblies by maintaining relative positioning and reducing vibrations, ensuring stable operation in vibrating environments.

Implementation Method 1

a bridge portion connecting the pair of couplers, wherein the bridge portion is flexible so that a total length of the bridge portion extends by bending

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

at least one of the pair of couplers includes a deformable portion that expands by cooperation with the current collector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExpansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS10971713B2Electric storage device and spacer

Publication Date: 2021.04.06 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An electric storage device includes: an electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate that are insulated from each other; a pair of current collectors each of which includes a connecting portion and is connected to a corresponding one of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate at the connecting portion; a case that houses the electrode assembly and the pair of current collectors, the electrode assembly being supported by the pair of current collectors in the case; and a distance retaining member that retains a distance between portions more distal than the respective connecting portions of the pair of current collectors.