Plastic End-Plate Battery Pack for Cell Expansion and Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Newly designed hybrid vehicles require a DC power source that can provide higher driving current, improved anti-overheat performance, and reduced fuel consumption and emissions, while maintaining a compact size, which existing battery packs struggle to meet.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring two end plates made of plastic to absorb expansion deformations, supporting and fixing battery cells, with a circuit board and electronic components mounted on the plates, and a gas discharging system integrated into the pack's structure to manage pressure and heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the battery pack uses traditional rigid end plates to fix battery cells, then the structural stability is improved, but the expansion deformation of battery cells cannot be absorbed, leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The end plate material transitions from rigid to semi-rigid plastic, changing the mechanical parameters to allow controlled deformation. This enables the end plate to absorb battery cell expansion while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between stability and expansion management.
Solution Approach 2:
The end plate is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to deform elastically under battery expansion forces. This dynamic behavior enables the structure to adapt to battery cell changes while maintaining overall stability, solving the contradiction between rigid fixation and expansion absorption.
2Power
If the battery pack increases the number of battery cells to meet higher current demands, then the power output is improved, but the volume and size increase, failing to meet compact design requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The end plate serves multiple functions: mechanical fixation of battery cells, absorption of expansion forces, mounting platform for electronic components, and structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, allowing higher power output without proportional increase in volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Electronic components are mounted on the end plates, utilizing the lateral dimension rather than increasing the battery pack's length or height. This spatial optimization allows integration of additional functionality without expanding the main battery cell array volume.
3Power
If the battery pack uses more battery cells to provide higher driving current, then the power output is improved, but the heat generation increases, reducing anti-overheat performance
Solution Approach 1:
The semi-rigid plastic end plate acts as a thermal intermediary between the battery cells and the external environment. It provides thermal management functionality while maintaining mechanical support, helping to dissipate heat generated by high current operation without compromising structural integrity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the battery pack integrates electronic components separately from the end plates, then the circuit assembly flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases and space is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The end plate integrates multiple functions: mechanical support for battery cells, structural fixation element, and mounting platform for electronic components. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining assembly flexibility.
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 design enhances the battery pack's ability to handle increased current demands, maintains compact size, improves anti-overheat performance, and prolongs battery life by managing expansion and pressure, while reducing emissions and fuel consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the first end plate and the second end plate are made of plastic materials to absorb expansion deformations of the multiple battery cells while expanding and deforming
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a battery pack including a housing, wherein the housing has a bottom portion and side walls extending upward around a periphery of the bottom portion; an upper portion opening is formed at top ends of the side walls extending upward; an upper cover is mounted on the upper portion opening of the housing; and the battery pack comprises: multiple flat battery cells; and a first end plate and a second end plate, wherein when the multiple battery cells are sequentially arranged and mounted into the housing from the upper portion opening, the first end plate and the second end plate are located at two end sides of the sequentially arranged multiple battery cells to laterally fix the sequentially arranged multiple battery cells. The two end plates may absorb deformation of the battery cell while expanding.