Terminal Protection Cover for Battery Module Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery modules are prone to short circuits and operator electric shock during transportation due to open connection ports, which are not adequately protected in existing designs.

Innovation Solution

A terminal protection cover with a base portion and side wall featuring strategically placed openings and snap components that can be removed to expose the output terminal, providing insulation and secure snap-fit attachment to prevent accidents while allowing for easy connection between modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the connection port is left open to facilitate module connection, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to risk of short circuit and electric shock during transportation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of module connectionVSAvoidsafety during transportation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection port is segmented into two functional states: a closed protected state during transportation and an open accessible state during connection. The cover portion can be removed to expose the connection terminal, allowing the system to switch between safety and operability modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection port is pre-protected by the cover portion before connection operations are needed. This preliminary protective action prevents short circuits and electric shocks during transportation, and the cover is designed to be easily removed when connection is required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the connection port is covered to prevent short circuit and electric shock, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety during transportationVSAvoidaccessibility of connection terminal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover portion transitions from a fixed closed state to a removable open state. This dynamic design allows the connection terminal to be accessible when needed while maintaining protection during transportation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cover portion is designed as a separate extractable component that can be removed to expose the connection terminal. This extraction mechanism maintains the protective function during transportation while enabling easy access during connection operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a protective cover is added to the connection port, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against short circuit and electric shockVSAvoidstructure of connection port
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover portion is designed as a simple shell structure that provides protection without adding significant complexity. The base portion with its opening and the cover portion form a minimalistic protective assembly that maintains structural simplicity while ensuring safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP3629395B1Terminal protection cover and battery module
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP3629395B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3629395B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3629395B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a terminal protection cover and a battery module, the terminal protection cover (500) includes a base portion (510), including a peripheral region (511) and provided with base openings (512) at the peripheral region (511); and a side wall (520), connected to the peripheral region (511) and extending in a first direction (Z), wherein the side wall (520) is provided with two or more groups of side openings (521) spaced apart from each other and extending in the first direction (Z), and at least one base opening (512) is located between adjacent two groups of side openings (521) such that a portion of the side wall (520) can be removed by means of the at least one base opening (512) and the adjacent two groups of side openings (521). The present disclosure can prevent accidents such as short circuit of the modules or electric shock of an operator during transportation of the battery modules, without affecting the connection between the battery modules.