Pouch Battery Module End Plates With Expandable Sensing Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery modules face issues with uniform pressure distribution on battery cells to prevent swelling and require redesign of the sensing housing structure when the number of cells changes, leading to instability and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring end plates with buffer pads and a modular sensing housing structure that allows for uniform pressure distribution and easy extension, using clinching and fitting mechanisms to secure the side plates and buffer pads, and a detachable sensing housing with block coupling for adaptable capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a strap is wound around the end plates to press the battery module, then the battery cells are pressed to prevent swelling, but only the portion wrapped with the strap is mainly pressed while other portions are relatively not pressed
Solution Approach 1:
The end plate is divided into multiple pressing portions (first pressing portion and second pressing portion) that can independently apply pressure to different regions of the battery cell. This segmentation allows each portion to target specific areas, ensuring uniform pressure distribution across the entire cell surface and preventing the swelling issue that occurs with single-point pressing.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the end plate are designed with different pressing characteristics. The first pressing portion and second pressing portion have different positions, shapes, and pressing forces tailored to the specific needs of different battery cell regions. This local quality approach ensures that each area receives appropriate pressure to prevent swelling while maintaining overall uniformity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of battery cells is increased or decreased to vary capacity, then the battery module capacity is adjusted, but the housing structure should be redesigned suitable for the changed size
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing housing is designed as a modular structure consisting of multiple housing parts that can be dynamically assembled or disassembled. When the number of battery cells changes, the housing parts can be reconfigured by adding or removing modules, allowing the housing to adapt to different cell counts without requiring complete redesign. This dynamic modularity enables flexible capacity adjustment while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized housing parts are designed to be universally applicable across different battery module configurations. Each housing module can accommodate varying numbers of battery cells through standardized connection interfaces, allowing the same basic housing components to serve multiple functions and configurations without requiring custom redesign for each capacity variation.
3Device complexity
If a single housing structure is used for the sensing assembly, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate varying numbers of battery cells without redesign
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing housing is segmented into multiple standardized housing parts that can be independently assembled. Each housing part maintains a simple, standardized design, but when combined in different quantities, they accommodate varying numbers of battery cells. This segmentation preserves the simplicity of individual components while achieving adaptability through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing parts are designed with nested or stacked configurations where standardized modules can be arranged in series or parallel depending on the required capacity. This nesting approach allows the same simple housing design to be replicated and combined in various configurations, maintaining structural simplicity while providing versatility for different cell counts.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a battery module, which includes a cell assembly comprising a plurality of pouch-type battery cells whose wide surfaces stand to be stacked in one direction, the battery module comprising: a pair of buffer pads disposed at both side surfaces of the cell assembly; a top plate and a bottom plate configured to cover a top portion and a bottom portion of the cell assembly, respectively; and a pair of side plates coupled to both ends of the top plate and the bottom plate by clinching or fitting so that the pair of buffer pads and the cell assembly are interposed therebetween.