Tapered Cylindrical Cell Can for Safe Jellyroll Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cylindrical secondary cell cans face issues with material inefficiency and mechanical strength, leading to potential damage to the jellyroll during insertion and inferior properties affecting the battery's performance.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical can design with a top portion featuring a proximal zone, distal zone, and intermediate zone, where the inner circumference varies to facilitate safe jellyroll insertion and enhance mechanical strength through a crimp seal, and beading/crimping for manufacturing ease.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a uniform cylindrical can design is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but the jellyroll may be damaged during insertion and mechanical strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The can features a tapered top portion where the inner diameter transitions from a larger proximal zone to a smaller distal zone. This local variation in geometry provides a gradual insertion path for the jellyroll while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between jellyroll protection and structural simplicity.
2Strength
If the proximal zone is made thicker to enhance crimp seal strength, then mechanical strength improves, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The can wall thickness is varied locally, with the proximal zone having greater thickness than the distal zone. This concentrates material where it is most needed for crimp seal strength while minimizing overall material usage, resolving the contradiction between strength and material efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The can is divided into distinct zones (proximal, intermediate, distal) with different thickness characteristics. This segmentation allows optimized material distribution, providing enhanced strength at the crimp seal location while reducing material in less critical areas.
3Ease of operation
If the opening at the proximal end is made wider for easier jellyroll insertion, then ease of operation improves, but the overall can dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire can larger to accommodate easier insertion, the design inverts the approach by creating a tapered transition zone that guides the jellyroll inward. The opening appears wide for easy insertion, but the gradual taper allows the can to maintain a smaller overall cross-sectional area at the distal end.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure presents a cylindrical can for a cylindrical secondary cell. The cylindrical can extends along a longitudinal axis (LA) and comprises an opening at a proximal end of the cylindrical can for jellyroll insertion, and a top portion (10) comprising a cylindrical proximal zone (11), a cylindrical distal zone (12) and an intermediate zone (13) arranged and extending between the cylindrical proximal zone (11) and the cylindrical distal zone (12). Each one of the cylindrical proximal zone (11) and the cylindrical distal zone (12) has an inner circumference and an outer circumference, respectively, where a first distance (r1), from the inner circumference of the cylindrical proximal zone (11) to the longitudinal axis (LA) in a transverse direction, is greater than a second distance (r2), from the inner circumference of the cylindrical distal zone (12) to the longitudinal axis (LA) in the transverse direction. The intermediate zone (13) has an inner circumference and an outer circumference tapering between the respective inner and outer circumferences of the proximal zone (11) and the distal zone (12).