Battery Top Cover Assembly With Tapered Pole Sealing Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing top cover assembly for secondary batteries faces inconvenience in mounting the sealing ring due to its L-shaped cross-section, which occupies space and reduces energy density.

Innovation Solution

A top cover assembly with a sealing hole section and sealing shaft section tilted with respect to the axis of the mounting hole, forming a structure that is small on top and large on bottom, allowing the sealing ring to be compressed and securely seated, along with insulating members to prevent short circuits and ensure reliable sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the sealing ring is mounted in a traditional L-shaped configuration, then the sealing performance is maintained, but the top cover plate thickness increases and energy density decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidtop cover plate thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the mounting hole and sealing shaft section by introducing tilted side walls that converge toward the bottom. This creates a tapered configuration where the opening at the top is larger than the bottom, allowing the sealing ring to be compressed effectively while reducing the overall thickness requirement of the top cover plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies asymmetry by making the side walls of the mounting hole and sealing shaft section non-parallel, instead tilting them to converge. This asymmetric tapered structure enables the sealing ring to be securely mounted with reduced thickness, as the convergence creates natural compression without requiring additional space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of manufacture

If the sealing ring is mounted using a traditional parallel-sided structure, then the mounting process is simple, but the sealing ring may displace or become damaged during assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting simplicityVSAvoidsealing ring positioning stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the tilted side walls to preemptively prevent displacement and damage of the sealing ring during assembly. The converging geometry creates natural guidance and compression that counteracts any lateral forces or misalignment that might occur during the mounting process, securing the sealing ring in place before final assembly is complete.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Quantity of substance

If the top cover plate thickness is reduced to increase energy density, then the energy density improves, but the sealing ring cannot be properly compressed and mounted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidsealing ring mounting feasibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent solves the thickness constraint by transitioning from a two-dimensional parallel-sided approach to a three-dimensional tapered structure. The tilted side walls create a dimensional change that allows the sealing ring to be compressed and secured within a reduced thickness envelope, enabling both thin design and proper sealing ring mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3944405B1Top cover assembly, secondary battery and electric device
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP3944405B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3944405B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3944405B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present application provides a top cover assembly, a secondary battery and a power consumption apparatus. The top cover assembly includes a top cover plate, a pole, and a sealing ring. The top cover plate is provided with a mounting hole, and the mounting hole includes a sealing hole section. The pole is inserted into the mounting hole, the pole includes a sealing shaft section, the sealing shaft section is inserted into the sealing hole section, and a side wall of the sealing hole section and a side wall of the sealing shaft section are both tilted with respect to an axis of the mounting hole. And the sealing ring is disposed between the side wall of the sealing hole section and the side wall of the sealing shaft section.