Integrated Battery Module Combining Electronics Housing and Vent Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs for electrified vehicles face challenges in space efficiency due to the need for separate components for electronics housing, bus bar connections, and venting, which occupy valuable space and increase part-to-part clearances.
Innovation Solution
An integrated module that combines electronics housing and a vent chamber within a single unit, attached to the battery cells, housing bus bar modules and electronic components, and utilizing seals to establish a vent chamber for efficient battery venting and reduced volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate components are used for electronics housing, bus bar connections, and venting, then each component can be optimized independently, but the overall space efficiency deteriorates due to increased volume occupancy and part-to-part clearances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electronics housing, bus bar connections, and vent chamber into a single integrated module that attaches to the battery cells. This merging eliminates the need for separate components and reduces part-to-part clearances, directly resolving the contradiction by improving space efficiency while maintaining independent optimization of each functional element within the integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated module serves multiple functions simultaneously: it houses electronics components, provides bus bar connections for electrical connectivity, and incorporates a vent chamber for safety venting. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace multiple separate components, reducing overall volume occupancy while maintaining the ability to optimize each function independently within the unified structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used, then functional specialization is improved, but device complexity increases due to more parts and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electronics housing, bus bar module, and vent chamber into a single integrated module, reducing the number of discrete components from three separate parts to one unified structure. This directly addresses the complexity issue by eliminating multiple assembly steps and reducing the total number of parts, while each functional element within the integrated module maintains its specialized design.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated module is designed to perform multiple specialized functions simultaneously: housing electronics, providing electrical connections via bus bars, and enabling safety venting. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate specialized components, while maintaining the functional specialization needed for each operation.
3Reliability
If separate components are used for electronics housing and vent chamber, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but space efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electronics housing and vent chamber into a single integrated module that attaches directly to the battery cells. This merging eliminates the space wasted by part-to-part clearances and mounting structures that would be required if these components were separate, directly resolving the contradiction by improving space efficiency while maintaining the ability to optimize each function's design within the integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated module simultaneously provides specialized housing for electronics components and a dedicated vent chamber, optimizing both functions within a unified structure. The module's design allows each function to be optimized for its specific requirements while sharing the same physical space, eliminating the need for additional clearance space that would be required between separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a battery assembly including a grouping of battery cells and an integrated module attached to the grouping of battery cells. The integrated module includes an upper section housing at least one electronics component and a lower section establishing a vent chamber.