Onboard Power Supply Bracket Insertion for Bus Bar Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing onboard power supply apparatuses face challenges in efficiently utilizing vehicle space and securely fixing vertically stacked power storage modules while maintaining the integrity and safety of electrical connections.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes vertically stacked power storage modules with bus bars connecting power storage devices, terminal portions at the ends of each module, and a pair of brackets that contact the modules to secure them to the vehicle, with an insertion portion between the brackets and the modules to house the connecting member, preventing exposure and enhancing structural strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bus bar is vertically disposed at the longitudinal ends of the battery modules to connect upper and lower modules, then electrical connection between modules is achieved, but the fixing structure using brackets and the connecting structure using bus bar interfere with each other
Solution Approach 1:
The bus bar is extended in the horizontal direction (another dimension) to bypass the bracket contact point, allowing the electrical connection to be made without interfering with the vertical fixing structure. This dimensional change resolves the spatial conflict between the bracket and bus bar.
Solution Approach 2:
A hole is introduced as an intermediary element in the bracket to allow the bus bar to pass through. This intermediary structure enables both the fixing function (bracket contact) and electrical connection function (bus bar passage) to coexist without direct interference.
2Device complexity
If the bus bar is led outward of the bracket to bypass the contact point, then interference with the bracket is avoided, but the through-hole in the bracket deteriorates bracket strength and energizing region is exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is segmented into regions: the contact region for fixing the battery module and the insertion portion for receiving the bus bar. This segmentation allows the bracket to maintain strength at the contact point while providing a dedicated pathway for the bus bar that minimizes structural compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus bar is nested within the insertion portion of the bracket, allowing the energizing region to be contained within the bracket structure rather than exposed outward. This nesting maintains bracket strength while accommodating the electrical connection.
3Volume of moving object
If vertically stacked battery modules are mounted on a vehicle to promote effective space use, then space utilization is improved, but the fixing structure and connecting structure interfere with each other
Solution Approach 1:
The bus bar routing is changed to extend in the horizontal dimension rather than vertically, allowing it to bypass the bracket contact point. This enables vertical stacking for space efficiency while avoiding structural interference through horizontal routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion portion in the bracket serves as an intermediary structure that facilitates both the vertical fixing function and the horizontal bus bar routing, resolving the conflict between space-efficient vertical stacking and structural interference.
Data Source
AI summary
An onboard power supply apparatus includes: power storage modules each including power storage devices; a pair of brackets configured to come into contact with respective ends of the power storage modules vertically stacked so as to fix at least an upper power storage module to a vehicle; and an insertion portion that is disposed between at least one of the pair of brackets and an end of one of the power storage modules located between terminal portions of the vertically stacked power storage modules, a connecting member used for connecting the terminal portions of the vertically stacked power storage modules being inserted in the insertion portion.