Supercapacitor Sealing Lid With Elastomer Insert for Leak Tightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supercapacitor sealing lids face issues with leakage of electrolytic material and gases, poor service life, and complex assembly, particularly due to welded metal couplings and flexible gaskets that are difficult to manipulate.
Innovation Solution
A supercapacitor sealing lid featuring an elastomeric element with an internal through-hole and peripheral wall, integrated with a metal insert, provides a single-component solution for both sealing and pressure-tightness, ensuring fluid-tight contact with terminals and the casing, simplifying assembly and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a welded metal coupling is used between the lid and terminal, then electrical connection is achieved, but leakage susceptibility increases over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an elastomeric element as an intermediary component between the metal lid and terminal. This elastomeric material provides both electrical conductivity and sealing capability, eliminating the need for welded metal couplings that are prone to leakage over time. The elastomeric element deforms to maintain contact pressure, ensuring long-term sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining metal (lid) with elastomeric material (sealing element). This composite approach leverages the advantages of both materials: the structural strength of metal and the flexibility, compliance, and sealing properties of elastomeric materials, resulting in a more reliable and durable connection.
2Reliability
If a flexible gasket is used for sealing between the lid and casing, then fluid-tight sealing is achieved, but manipulation difficulty increases during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing gasket function with the lid structure itself by integrating an elastomeric element that is directly attached to or formed as part of the lid. This eliminates the need for separate flexible gaskets that are difficult to manipulate during assembly. The elastomeric sealing element is positioned and compressed in a controlled manner during the lid installation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from traditional flexible rubber gaskets to elastomeric material with specific viscoelastic properties. This allows the sealing element to deform controllably during assembly and maintain sealing pressure during operation, improving both assembly ease and sealing effectiveness.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for sealing and electrical connection, then functional requirements are met, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (sealing, electrical connection, and mechanical attachment) into a single integrated elastomeric element that is part of the lid assembly. This eliminates the need for separate gaskets, washers, and electrical connectors, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining all required functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides fluid-tight sealing, electrical conductivity for terminal connection, and mechanical compliance for pressure equalization. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of components needed in the supercapacitor assembly.
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 elastomeric element with a metal insert ensures efficient sealing against electrolyte leakage and pressure changes, improving service life and ease of assembly, while reducing the complexity and cost of manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing lid for a supercapacitor, in particular an elastomeric element with an internal through-hole and peripheral wall
Implementation Method 2
The two terminals, conveniently made of conductive metal material, such as aluminium
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing lid for sealing a compartment of a supercapacitor housing electrodes and electrolytic material is described, the supercapacitor comprises: a casing internally defining the compartment and having a longitudinal axis, a side wall extending around the longitudinal axis, an axial bottom wall and an axial opening for accessing to the compartment arranged on an axially opposite side of the side wall with respect to the end wall; and at least one terminal electrically connected to one of the electrodes and protruding outside the compartment through the axial opening; the lid is adapted to close the axial opening and comprises an elastomeric element having: an internal through-hole adapted to receive the terminal and delimited by an internal wall adapted to cooperate in fluid-tight contact with the terminal; and a peripheral wall adapted to cooperate in fluid-tight contact with the side wall.