Washer Detecting Electrolyte Leakage via Color Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing secondary battery washers obscure the electrolyte injection hole and make it difficult to detect trace electrolyte leakage, which can go unnoticed visually.
Innovation Solution
A washer with a polymer film layer and an adhesion layer containing an adhesive and indicator component that changes color upon contact with the electrolyte, allowing easy visual detection of leakage through a transparent or semitransparent material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the washer is made opaque to ensure structural integrity and sealing, then the washer provides reliable sealing, but the electrolyte leakage cannot be visually detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color change principle by incorporating an indicator component in the adhesion layer that changes color when it comes into contact with the electrolyte. This allows the leakage detection function while maintaining the washer's sealing integrity, as the color change occurs chemically rather than through physical transparency changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the adhesion layer as an intermediary between the sealing function and the detection function. The adhesion layer contains both the adhesive component for sealing and the indicator component for detection, allowing the washer to perform both functions simultaneously without compromising either.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the washer is made transparent to enable visual detection of leakage, then the leakage can be detected, but the sealing performance and structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for transparency by using color change indicators. The adhesion layer remains opaque for sealing integrity while the indicator component provides visual feedback through color change when electrolyte leakage occurs, thus maintaining both sealing reliability and detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator component acts as an intermediary that translates the invisible electrolyte leakage into a visible color change signal, allowing detection without requiring the washer material itself to be transparent.
3Ease of manufacture
If the washer structure is simplified to reduce manufacturing complexity, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the leakage detection function is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function and the detection function into a single integrated washer structure. The adhesion layer simultaneously provides adhesive properties for sealing and contains the indicator component for leakage detection, eliminating the need for separate detection mechanisms and simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The washer is designed with multi-functionality, where the adhesion layer performs both sealing and detection functions. This universal design allows a single component to fulfill multiple roles, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the leakage detection capability.
4Measurement precision
If a separate leakage detection device is added to the battery, then the detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the leakage detection function with the existing washer component, eliminating the need for separate detection devices. The indicator component in the adhesion layer provides accurate leakage detection while being integrated into the battery's existing structure, thus maintaining detection accuracy without increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick and easy visual detection of electrolyte leakage in secondary batteries, preventing unnoticed leaks and potential corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
an indicator component which experiences color change upon contact with an electrolyte
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a~5a
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a case for a secondary battery and a secondary battery having the same. More specifically, it relates to a case for a secondary battery having a washer for detecting leakage with a structure improved so as to check leakage of an electrolyte and a secondary battery having the same. A lithium ion secondary battery according to the present disclosure provides an effect of easily checking the leakage of an electrolyte with naked eyes through the color change of a washer when a trace amount of the electrolyte leaks.