Shielded End Cover Assembly for Battery Vent Pressure Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Energy storage apparatuses, such as secondary batteries, face issues with explosion-proof valves triggering errors during falls or impacts, affecting their service life due to direct electrolyte impacts on the explosion-proof sheet, which can lead to premature triggering or explosion.

Innovation Solution

An end cover assembly with a top cover, explosion-proof sheet, and shielding member featuring air vents and a lower plastic member, designed to buffer electrolyte impacts, reduce direct airflow pressure on the sheet, and ensure even pressure distribution, allowing gas to enter the chamber smoothly without affecting the explosion-proof sheet's function.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the explosion-proof sheet is directly exposed to electrolyte impacts during falls or impacts, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the service life and reliability deteriorate due to premature triggering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a shielding member as an intermediary component between the electrolyte and the explosion-proof sheet. This shielding member buffers direct electrolyte impacts during falls or impacts, preventing premature triggering of the explosion-proof valve while maintaining the overall structural simplicity of the end cover assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If direct airflow pressure acts on the explosion-proof sheet, then the pressure release function is simple, but the pressure distribution becomes uneven causing inaccurate explosion pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure distribution accuracyVSAvoidchamber structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the pressure distribution by introducing a chamber structure with multiple air vents around the explosion-proof sheet. This segmentation allows pressure to be distributed evenly through multiple pathways, ensuring accurate explosion pressure and preventing localized stress concentration that would occur with direct airflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the explosion-proof valve triggers during transportation or use, then the safety function is activated, but the service life is reduced due to error triggering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoiderror triggering
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by positioning the shielding member in advance to protect the explosion-proof sheet from direct electrolyte impacts during normal operation and transportation. This pre-established protection prevents error triggering while allowing the safety function to activate when truly needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4415121B1End cover assembly, energy storage apparatus, and electric device
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 HITHIUM TECH HK LTD
  • EP4415121B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4415121B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4415121B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an end cover assembly, an energy storage apparatus, and an electric device. The end cover assembly includes a top cover, an explosion-proof sheet, and a shielding member. The top cover has a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The top cover further has an explosion-proof hole through the first surface and the second surface. The explosion-proof sheet is configured to seal the explosion-proof hole and is connected to the top cover. The shielding member is located at a side of the explosion-proof sheet close to the second surface and is connected to the top cover. The top cover, the explosion-proof sheet, and the shielding member form a chamber. The shielding member has a first air vent in communication with the chamber. When the end cover assembly is applied in the energy storage apparatus, the first air vent is also in communication with a space where the electrode assembly is located. When the end cover assembly of the present disclosure is applied in the energy storage apparatus and the energy storage apparatus is impacted or drops, an electrolyte can be prevented from directly impacting the explosion-proof sheet, thereby preventing the explosion-proof sheet from being accidentally triggered in advance and preventing explosion.