Variable Rigidity Binding Member for Battery Module Stress Management

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional binding members for battery modules lack stability, leading to uneven binding and stress concentration due to rigidity imbalances, which affects the secure holding and expansion management of battery stacks.

Innovation Solution

A binding member design with a body part divided into regions of varying rigidity, where the supporting part side has lower rigidity and the pressing part side has higher rigidity, achieved by unevenly distributing vulnerable parts to balance the structural rigidity and support the battery stack effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the binding member has uniform rigidity throughout the body part, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the binding is uneven and stress concentration occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidbinding stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The binding member applies local quality by creating regions with different rigidity characteristics. The body part is divided into a first region with higher rigidity and a second region with lower rigidity, allowing each region to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall structural integrity and preventing stress concentration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the supporting part side has high rigidity, then the structural strength is improved, but the expansion management of battery stack becomes poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidexpansion management

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The binding member applies local quality by creating regions with different rigidity characteristics. The body part is divided into a first region with higher rigidity and a second region with lower rigidity, allowing each region to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall structural integrity and preventing stress concentration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Force

If the pressing parts are arranged close to the supporting part, then the binding force is improved, but the stability of holding battery stack decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinding forceVSAvoidholding stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The binding member applies local quality by creating regions with different rigidity characteristics. The body part is divided into a first region with higher rigidity and a second region with lower rigidity, allowing each region to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall structural integrity and preventing stress concentration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11171380B2Binding member, and battery module

Publication Date: 2021.11.09 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A binding member includes a body part extending in stacking direction X of batteries, a supporting part extending in stacking direction X and projecting from the body part, the supporting part supporting a battery stack, and a plurality of pressing parts arranged to have a predetermined interval from the supporting part, the plurality of pressing parts being arranged in the stacking direction and projected from the body part to press the battery stack toward the supporting part. When the body part is divided into two regions that are a supporting part side region and a pressing part side region, a rigidity in the supporting part side region is smaller than a rigidity in the pressing part side region.