Sliding Current Collector Battery Cell for Thermal Load Adaptation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery cell manufacturing processes are resource-intensive and complex, requiring labor-intensive welding and hemming to ensure electrical connections, which increases costs and complicates assembly.
Innovation Solution
A battery cell design featuring a second current collector that slides relative to the housing, allowing it to adjust its height based on thermal and mechanical loads, eliminating the need for welding or hemming by maintaining electrical contact through a compressive force and sliding contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If welding and hemming are used to ensure electrical connections in battery cell manufacturing, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the welding and hemming processes with a mechanical compression system. A compressive force is applied to the current collector to maintain electrical contact, eliminating the need for thermal welding processes and complex hemming operations. This substitution simplifies manufacturing while maintaining connection reliability through continuous mechanical pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a compressive force mechanism as an intermediary between the current collector and the battery cell components. This intermediary element (the compression system) ensures reliable electrical connection without requiring direct welding or hemming, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining connection integrity.
2Manufacturing precision
If welding processes are used for assembly, then electrical connection quality is improved, but production time and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming welding processes with a rapid mechanical compression system. The compressive force can be applied quickly during assembly without requiring the dial-in trials, quality controls, and maintenance adjustments needed for welding processes, thereby improving production speed while maintaining electrical connection quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression system is designed to automatically maintain electrical connection quality through continuous compressive force, eliminating the need for post-assembly quality controls and adjustments that are required for welded connections. This self-adjusting mechanism ensures consistent connection quality without additional time investment.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the current collector is fixed in position, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to thermal and mechanical loads decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static, fixed current collector design to a dynamic system where the current collector can move under compressive force. This dynamic design allows the current collector to adapt its position in response to thermal expansion and mechanical loads while maintaining stable electrical connection through the continuous compressive force applied by the compression system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the current collector from fixed to variable. The compressive force system allows the current collector to change its position dynamically in response to thermal and mechanical conditions, enabling adaptation to varying operating conditions while maintaining structural stability through controlled compression.
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
This design simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and enhances durability and performance by accommodating thermal and mechanical stresses, improving the battery cell's adaptability and lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
the second current collector being configured with a variable height along an extension axis of the housing, the variable height varying based on a thermal load of the electrode assembly
Implementation Method 2
maintaining electrical contact through a compressive force and sliding contact
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a battery cell (10) comprising a housing (20) having an inner wall (21), a first battery terminal (30) and a second battery terminal (40), the battery cell (10) further comprising an electrode assembly (11) with a first electrode (13) having a first current collector (14) being electrically connected to the first terminal (30) and a second electrode (15) having a second current collector (16) being electrically connected to the second terminal (40), the second current collector (16) being configured with a variable height along an extension axis (h) of the housing (20), the variable height varying based on a temperature of the electrode assembly (11), and the second current collector (16) being able to slide along the extension axis (h) the relative to the housing (20).