Top Pressing Plate Structure for Vibration-Stable Battery Tabs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary batteries experience electrode tab breakage due to vibration-induced movement within the battery case, leading to potential safety hazards and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A top pressing plate is introduced between the insulating separator and the main body portion of the electrode assembly, featuring accommodating grooves to house the welding end portions of the electrode tabs, which limits movement and prevents bending or breakage, while also isolating the welding region from the main body to prevent scratching or abrasion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrode assembly is housed in the case without additional restraining structures, then the device complexity is reduced, but the electrode tabs are susceptible to breakage due to repeated bending from vibration-induced movement
Solution Approach 1:
A top pressing plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the electrode assembly and the case. This pressing plate includes a pressing portion that contacts the electrode assembly and a slag receiving portion that collects welding slag. The intermediary structure restrains the electrode assembly to prevent vibration-induced movement and electrode tab breakage, while also providing a function for slag collection, thus improving reliability without excessive complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The top pressing plate is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: (1) restraining the electrode assembly to prevent movement and electrode tab breakage, (2) receiving and collecting welding slag through the slag receiving portion, and (3) maintaining structural simplicity. This multi-functional design improves reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the welding end portion of the electrode tabs is left exposed, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the welding region may scratch or abrade the main body portion during battery operation
Solution Approach 1:
The top pressing plate serves as a protective intermediary between the welding end portion and the main body portion. The pressing portion contacts and restrains the electrode assembly, preventing the welding end portion from moving and scratching or abrading the main body portion during battery operation. This intermediary structure eliminates the harmful effect while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The top pressing plate is positioned and fixed before the battery undergoes vibration or operation. It provides beforehand protection by restraining the electrode assembly in place, preventing any potential scratching or abrasion of the main body portion by the welding end portion during subsequent use. This prior cushioning approach prevents harmful effects before they can occur.
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to a top pressing plate, a secondary battery, and a method for manufacturing a secondary battery. The top pressing plate is used for a secondary battery, the secondary battery including a top cover sheet, an insulating separator and an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a main body portion and electrode tabs connected to the main body portion, the electrode tabs each including a welding end portion, the top pressing plate includes: a first surface and a second surface provided oppositely in a thickness direction of the top pressing plate and an accommodating groove recessed from the second surface toward the first surface, the top pressing plate can be provided between the insulating separator and the main body portion, the first surface faces the main body portion, the second surface faces the insulating separator, and the accommodating groove is disposed to accommodate the welding end portion.