Replaceable Working Electrode Cup for Rapid Lead-Acid Material Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery testing is an expensive and time-consuming process to determine which materials improve battery design, particularly for lead-acid batteries, requiring the assembly and testing of large numbers of batteries over months.

Innovation Solution

A rapid testing system for lead-acid battery materials using a working electrode with a replaceable cup that holds active material, allowing quick testing of multiple materials and conditions, utilizing a three-electrode system with a conductive rod, insulating body, and removable caps to maintain contact and seal, facilitating faster and more detailed analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional battery testing methods are used to determine which materials improve battery design, then comprehensive testing of multiple factors can be performed, but the process becomes expensive and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive testing capabilityVSAvoidtesting duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is segmented into modular components (body, caps, rod, cup with active material) that can be independently assembled and tested. This allows individual material components to be tested separately and rapidly combined, enabling comprehensive material evaluation without requiring complete battery assembly for each test variant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The testing apparatus uses universal components (standardized body, caps, rod structure) that can accommodate multiple different active materials in the cup. This multi-functional design allows the same apparatus to test various materials systematically, reducing the need for specialized equipment for each material and accelerating the testing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If traditional battery testing methods are used to determine which materials improve battery design, then comprehensive testing of multiple factors can be performed, but the process becomes expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive testing capabilityVSAvoidtesting cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is segmented into modular components (body, caps, rod, cup with active material) that can be independently assembled and tested. This allows individual material components to be tested separately and rapidly combined, enabling comprehensive material evaluation without requiring complete battery assembly for each test variant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cup containing the active material can be easily removed, discarded, and replaced with a new cup containing a different material. This disposable cup approach eliminates the need for complex disassembly and cleaning procedures, reducing labor costs and allowing rapid iteration through multiple material tests with the same apparatus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If a replaceable cup design is used to hold active material, then quick testing of multiple materials is enabled, but additional components (caps, rod, spring) are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting speedVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is segmented into modular components (body, caps, rod, cup with active material) that can be independently assembled and tested. This allows individual material components to be tested separately and rapidly combined, enabling comprehensive material evaluation without requiring complete battery assembly for each test variant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cup with active material is nested within the body structure, which itself is contained within the caps. The rod extends through the body and contacts the cup from the interior. This nested arrangement allows compact integration of multiple functional components while maintaining easy access to the replaceable cup, balancing complexity with productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 faster, more cost-effective, and detailed testing of lead-acid battery materials with reduced resource and time requirements, providing a more accurate understanding of electrochemical performance and enabling larger testing arrays with less expensive equipment.

Implementation Method 1

a spring, wherein the spring exerts a force on a flange of the rod and the first cap to maintain contact between the rod and the cup when the first cap is coupled to the body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the second cap exerting a force on the cup to press the cup against the gasket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

The gasket creates a seal between the cup and the body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentEP4293348B1Systems for rapid testing of a working electrode
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 TROJAN BATTERY COMPANY
  • EP4293348B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4293348B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4293348B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A system includes a body, a rod extending beyond a length of the body, a first cap at a first end of the body, and a second cap at a second end of the body. The first cap and the second cap are removably connected to the body. The system also includes a cup including an active material. The cup is located in the second cap. The system further includes a gasket between the cup and the body. The second cap exerting a force on the cup to press the cup against the gasket.