Storage Cell Connecting Unit With Breakaway Contacts for Refurbishment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage units with defective cells face performance reduction due to wear and tear, necessitating costly and complex removal of connecting units, making them uneconomical for second life cycles.
Innovation Solution
A connecting unit with predetermined breaking points and opening sections allows partial attachment to storage cells, enabling easy detachment and reconnection without significant manufacturing effort, using conductive materials and welding for electrical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the connecting unit is completely removed from storage cells during refurbishment, then the storage cells can be reused in a second life cycle, but the removal process causes damage to the storage cells and requires considerable technical effort
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting unit is segmented into a connecting body and contact sections, with predetermined breaking points designed to allow clean separation. During refurbishment, the connecting unit can be removed by breaking at these predetermined points, leaving the contact sections intact on the storage cells, thus avoiding damage to the storage cells while enabling refurbishment
Solution Approach 2:
The contact sections act as intermediaries that remain attached to the storage cells after the connecting body is removed. These remaining contact sections serve as connection points for new connecting units in the second life cycle, eliminating the need to completely remove and reattach contact sections, thereby reducing technical effort and avoiding damage
2Adaptability or versatility
If the connecting unit is completely removed from storage cells, then storage cells can be reconnected in a second life cycle, but the process requires considerable technical effort and is not economically viable
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting unit is pre-designed with predetermined breaking points and opening sections that facilitate easy removal and reconnection. The breaking points are positioned and dimensioned in advance to allow clean separation, and the opening sections are prepared to receive remaining contact sections, simplifying the refurbishment process and making second life cycle reuse economically viable
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting body is designed to be discarded (removed by breaking at predetermined points) while the contact sections are recovered and remain attached to the storage cells. This selective discarding and recovering approach reduces refurbishment complexity by eliminating the need to handle and reattach contact sections, making the process economically viable
3Productivity
If storage units with defective storage cells are used for a second life cycle, then economic use is possible, but the performance is low because the number of defective storage cells increases over service life
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting unit design enables efficient refurbishment by allowing easy removal and reconnection, which facilitates the replacement of defective storage cells. This parameter change in the connecting unit structure (with predetermined breaking points and opening sections) makes cell replacement economically viable, improving the ability to maintain high performance in second life cycle storage units
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
Facilitates efficient refurbishment and reuse of storage units by allowing easy removal and reconnection of connecting units, enhancing performance and reducing manufacturing complexity in second life cycles.
Implementation Method 1
The connecting unit comprises, in particular, an electrically conductive material. For this purpose, the connecting unit comprises, in particular, an electrically conductive material.
Implementation Method 2
a contact section of a connecting unit can be welded to the remaining contact section in the second life cycle
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a connection unit (10, 10', 20, 20', 30, 30') for electrically contacting at least two storage cells (42-50') for storing electric energy, to a first storage unit, and to a second storage unit for storing electric energy, and to a method for producing a first storage unit and a second storage unit. In particular, the invention relates to a connection unit (10, 10', 20, 20', 30, 30') for electrically contacting at least two storage cells (42-50') for storing electric energy, comprising a current-conducting connection body (12, 22, 32) and at least two contact sections (14, 24, 34) which are designed to connect to the storage cells (42-50'), wherein at least one of the two contact sections (14, 24, 34) has a predetermined breaking point (16, 26, 36) and/or the connection unit (10, 10', 20, 20', 30, 30') comprises at least one opening section (28, 38, 39) which is arranged and designed such that at least a part of a contact section remaining on a storage cell (42-50') can protrude into the opening section (28, 38, 39).