Variable-Modulus Pressing Pad for Battery Cell Degassing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pressing jigs with flat plate shapes fail to evenly apply force, making it difficult to discharge gas effectively from battery cells during the formation process, which can lead to defects.

Innovation Solution

A pressing jig with a pressing pad having regions with varying moduli and hardnesses, where the central region has higher modulus and hardness than the peripheral region, allowing for differential pressure application to facilitate gas discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a battery cell is charged at high current to improve charging speed, then productivity increases, but gas generation inside the cell increases causing swelling and safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging speedVSAvoidgas generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by converting the harmful gas generated during high-current charging into a beneficial process. The pressurization jig intentionally pressurizes the battery cell to force gas out through designated paths, transforming the harmful gas accumulation into a controlled de-gassing operation that prevents swelling while maintaining high charging speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If gas is removed from the battery cell to prevent swelling, then safety improves, but the de-gassing process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidde-gassing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressurization jig divides the de-gassing process into distinct segments: the pressurization unit applies controlled pressure, the support structure positions the cell, and the pressing unit applies localized force. This segmentation simplifies the overall de-gassing operation while ensuring safety through controlled, stepwise gas removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the battery cell is pressurized to remove gas, then de-gassing efficiency improves, but the structure required to apply uniform pressure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvede-gassing efficiencyVSAvoidpressurization structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing unit employs a pressing member with a surface that contacts only specific local regions of the battery cell rather than requiring uniform pressure across the entire cell surface. This local quality approach achieves effective de-gassing through targeted pressure application, significantly simplifying the pressurization structure while maintaining high de-gassing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 jig efficiently removes gas during the formation process by applying higher pressure to the central region, reducing electrolyte solution discharge and enhancing battery cell stability.

Implementation Method 1

a pressurization unit that presses the battery cell

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

an elastic member, and a pressing unit that presses the battery cell using the elastic member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4071870B1Pressing jig of battery cell including pressing pad and degassing method of battery cell using the same
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4071870B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4071870B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4071870B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present technology relates to a pressing jig of a battery cell including a pressing pad, in which the modulus of the central region is different from the modulus of the peripheral region, and a method of degassing a battery cell using the same, and the pressing pad can easily discharge gas in the battery cell during the formation process of a battery cell by allowing higher pressure to be applied to the central region than the peripheral region.