Inner Terminal Spacer for Energy Storage Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high capacitance storage devices face challenges in automation processes due to tightly coupled inner terminals, surface damage, and reduced productivity, along with issues in pressure resistance and electrolyte impregnation, especially with miniaturization.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a spacer on the inner terminal to maintain distance between terminals, enhancing durability and allowing easier separation during automation, while also increasing the internal space and electrolyte passage, thereby improving pressure resistance and electrolyte impregnation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If inner terminals are stacked and transferred in an overlapped state during automation process, then production efficiency can be improved, but the terminals may be tightly coupled and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidterminal integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inner terminal is divided into a terminal body and a flange portion, where the flange acts as a separation feature that prevents tight coupling between stacked terminals during automation handling, while the terminal body maintains electrical function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A gap is introduced between stacked terminals through the flange structure, acting as an intermediary space that prevents direct contact and tight coupling between terminal surfaces during overlapped storage and transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the metal case is miniaturized, then device size is reduced, but pressure resistance and electrolyte impregnation are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidpressure resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The flange extends in a direction perpendicular to the terminal body plane, utilizing the vertical dimension to provide structural support and pressure distribution without increasing the horizontal footprint of the device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If the flange height is increased, then pressure resistance is improved, but the terminal volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure resistanceVSAvoidterminal volume

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The flange is positioned locally at the periphery of the terminal body where pressure distribution is most needed, providing structural support exactly where required without adding volume to the entire terminal structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3246930B1Electric energy storage device having improved terminal structure

Publication Date: 2022.04.20 LS MATERIALS CO LTD

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AI summary

Disclosed is an electric energy storage device having an inner terminal disposed in a cylindrical metal case and connected to an electrode of a bare cell, wherein the inner terminal includes a plate-shaped terminal body having a circular outer circumference; at least one electrolyte impregnation hole formed through the terminal body in a thickness direction; a flange located at the outer circumference of the terminal body and extending perpendicular to a plane of the terminal body; and a spacer formed to protrude at a periphery of at least one impregnation hole among the impregnation holes or formed by protruding a part of the plane of the terminal body.