Sliding End Cap Battery Pack for Short-Circuit-Free Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol generating apparatuses face a risk of short circuiting during battery removal or disposal due to the potential for electrical connections to be inadvertently maintained when the battery is removed.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring an end cap with axially slidable electrical contacts and a locking mechanism that transitions from an operation to a removal configuration, ensuring the electrical contacts are spaced apart and locked in the removal configuration, thereby disconnecting them from the battery and other electrical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the battery is made removable for recycling purposes, then battery recyclability is improved, but the risk of short circuiting during removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The end cap is designed to automatically disconnect electrical contacts from the battery before the battery is fully removed from the housing. This preliminary disconnection action prevents short circuiting during the battery removal and recycling process while maintaining ease of battery replacement.
2Reliability
If electrical contacts are maintained connected during battery removal, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but short circuiting risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contact system transitions from a static connected state to a dynamic state where contacts can be automatically disconnected. The end cap mechanism dynamically adjusts the electrical connection status based on battery position, maintaining reliability during operation while preventing short circuits during removal.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the end cap is made axially slidable to disconnect contacts, then short circuit prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The axially slidable end cap mechanism is designed to automatically disconnect electrical contacts through the natural axial movement of the end cap itself, without requiring additional separate disconnection mechanisms. The end cap performs the dual function of closing the housing opening and controlling electrical connection status.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
There is provided a battery pack for an aerosol generating apparatus. The battery pack comprises a housing having an open end for insertion of a battery into the housing, and an end cap mountable to the housing so as to close the open end of the housing. The the end cap comprises at least one electrical contact provided on an inner surface of the end cap. The end cap is axially slidable relative to the housing from an operation configuration to a removal configuration in which the at least one electrical contact is spaced from the open end of the housing by a greater distance than in the operation configuration. The battery pack further comprises a locking arrangement configured to lock the end cap to the housing in the removal configuration such that the end cap is axially fixed relative to the housing. There is also provided an aerosol generaint apparatus comprising the battery pack, and a method of removing a battery from the aerosol generating apparatus.