Module Terminal With Insulative Interference Preventive Member

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In secondary battery modules for electric vehicles, the screwing of male screws into terminal female screw portions can cause interference with the main body or terminals of laminated battery cells, potentially leading to damage or short circuits.

Innovation Solution

A module terminal design featuring a metallic terminal main body with a female screw portion and an insulative interference preventive member that interposes between the male screw and the battery pack, preventing interference through a sliding and biased configuration, and reducing the risk of damage or short circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a male screw is screwed into a terminal to fix electric wiring, then the electric wiring can be securely fixed, but the tip of the male screw may hit the main body portion of the battery cell or abut the terminal or electrode to cause damage or short circuit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing of electric wiringVSAvoiddamage or short circuit to battery cell
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An insulative interference preventive member is introduced as an intermediary component between the male screw and the battery cell. This member includes a wall portion that physically blocks the male screw from contacting the battery cell main body or terminal, while allowing the male screw to be screwed into the terminal for secure wiring fixation. The intermediary member thus enables the beneficial effect of secure wiring fixation while preventing the harmful effect of damage or short circuit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulative interference preventive member is pre-installed on the terminal before the male screw is screwed in. This preliminary action creates a protective barrier that prevents potential interference or damage before it can occur. The wall portion of the preventive member is positioned to anticipate and block any potential contact between the male screw tip and the battery cell, thereby preventing damage before it happens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If an insulative interference preventive member is added to prevent male screw interference, then damage and short circuits are prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of damage and short circuitsVSAvoidstructure of terminal assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the terminal body, the insulative interference preventive member, and the male screw. The preventive member is further divided into a mounting portion that attaches to the terminal and a wall portion that provides the protective barrier. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and simplifies the overall design by clearly defining the role of each part.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insulative interference preventive member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical insulation between the male screw and battery cell, physically blocks interference through its wall portion, and can be detachably mounted for ease of assembly and maintenance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If the interference preventive member is detachably mounted on the terminal main body, then assembly and maintenance are facilitated, but the connection stability may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly and maintenance of terminalVSAvoidconnection stability of interference preventive member
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting connection between the interference preventive member and terminal main body is designed to be detachable rather than permanent. This dynamic connection allows the preventive member to be easily assembled and disassembled for manufacturing and maintenance purposes. The mounting portion can be attached and removed as needed, providing flexibility in assembly operations while maintaining stability during normal operation through proper mounting design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2538468B1Terminal for module
Publication Date: 2016.06.22 PIOLAX INC
  • EP2538468B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2538468B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2538468B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A module terminal 1 includes a terminal main body 10 which is made of a metal plate and an insulative interference preventive member 20 which is mounted on the terminal main body 10. In the terminal main body 10, one end portion 11 is connected electrically to an electrode of a battery pack 3, and a female screw portion 15 is formed integrally on a terminal portion 12 to penetrate therethrough. A distal end of a male screw 5 that is screwed into the female screw portion 15 to penetrate the terminal portion 12 of the terminal main body 10 faces an end face of the battery pack 3. The interference preventive member 20 is disposed between the distal end of the male screw 5 and the end face of the battery pack 3, thereby avoiding the interference of the male screw 5 with a main body or a terminal of a laminated battery cell 2.