Snap-Fit Pouch Cell Electrode Structure for Stable Jack Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pouch-type battery cells have a soft shell, leading to unstable connections between electrodes and external devices due to insufficient rigidity, causing bending and difficulty in mechanical fixation during charging operations.
Innovation Solution
The electrochemical device incorporates a housing with snap-fitted electrode assemblies featuring plug-in portions and elastic bulges, which increase gripping force and bonding strength by compressing elastic bulges when inserted into jacks, ensuring stable connections and supporting the battery cell's weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a pouch-type cell with a soft shell is used to achieve high capacity and light weight, then the battery cell can be made compact and efficient, but the electrode cannot support the weight of the entire battery cell, resulting in unstable connection and bending during use
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is segmented into a body portion and a plug-in portion with different functional characteristics. The plug-in portion has increased thickness and rigidity compared to the body portion, allowing it to support mechanical loads while the main battery cell maintains its lightweight pouch structure. This segmentation enables the electrode to simultaneously achieve light weight and sufficient mechanical strength for stable connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug-in portion of the electrode is designed with locally enhanced properties (increased thickness and rigidity) specifically at the connection region where mechanical support is needed. The rest of the electrode body maintains its original thin and lightweight characteristics. This local quality enhancement resolves the contradiction by providing structural strength only where required without compromising the overall light weight of the battery cell.
2Productivity
If the electrode is made thinner and lighter to reduce overall battery weight, then energy density improves, but the electrode becomes too flexible to maintain stable mechanical connection with external devices
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is divided into a thin body portion for high energy density and a thicker plug-in portion for mechanical strength. This segmentation allows the majority of the electrode to remain thin and lightweight while the connection portion provides the necessary structural support for stable mechanical connection with external devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug-in portion has locally enhanced thickness and rigidity properties compared to the electrode body. This local quality change enables the electrode to maintain high overall energy density while providing sufficient mechanical strength at the connection point to prevent bending and ensure stable connection during charging operations.
3Strength
If a rigid housing is used to support the electrode and improve connection stability, then mechanical strength increases, but the overall device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical support function is extracted from the housing structure and transferred to the electrode's own plug-in portion. The plug-in portion is designed with sufficient rigidity to support the electrode and maintain stable connection without requiring a complex rigid housing. This extraction simplifies the housing structure while maintaining the necessary structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode's plug-in portion serves dual functions: electrical conduction and mechanical support. By designing the plug-in portion with self-supporting capabilities through increased thickness and rigidity, the electrode structure itself provides the necessary mechanical strength without relying on a complex external housing structure, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
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 solution enhances the stability and rigidity of the electrode connections, preventing bending and ensuring reliable mechanical fixation, thereby improving the overall connection stability between the electrochemical device and external devices.
Implementation Method 1
a first groove is made on an outer surface of the first plug-in portion, and the first groove is configured to be snap-fitted to a first elastic bulge disposed protrusively on an inner wall of the first jack; or, the first elastic bulge is disposed protrusively on the outer surface of the first plug-in portion. The first elastic bulge is configured to be snap-fitted to the first groove made on the inner wall of the first jack.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrochemical device includes a housing, an electrode assembly, and a first electrode. The electrode assembly is accommodated in an accommodation cavity of the housing. The first electrode includes a first plug-in portion. The first plug-in portion extends away from the accommodation cavity and protrudes beyond an outer surface of the housing. The first plug-in portion is configured to be snap fitted to a first jack of an external device. The first plug-in portion is provided with a groove or an elastic bulge. The groove or the elastic bulge of the first plug-in portion is configured to be snap-fitted to a first elastic bulge disposed protrusively on an outer wall of the first jack or the first groove provided on an inner wall of the jack respectively.