Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has developed configurable connector seals designed to simplify cell contacting and sealing in modern battery packs.
The concept uses multifunctional cell connector plates for cylindrical, prismatic, or pouch cells. The connectors are made from nickel-plated or tin-plated copper and overmolded with elastomer to provide electrical insulation and sealing.
Different seal geometries can be integrated directly into the component, including housing and cell seals. This allows functions that would typically require separate components to be combined into a single cell connector, helping reduce interfaces and simplify battery-pack assembly.
The connector seals are designed to support different cell chemistries and pack architectures. For electric-vehicle battery developers, the approach can provide more flexibility in packaging while reducing the number of components within the battery pack.
Freudenberg Adhesive Clean Technology is also used to bond the elastomer to the cell connector surfaces without conventional wet-chemical pretreatment. According to the company, this can simplify manufacturing while supporting different connector geometries and battery-specific requirements.
“With the connector seals, our goal is to rethink battery systems as an architectural whole,” said Martin Knoll, Head of R&D Integrated Molding Components at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies.
Filed Under: Battery Pack, Technology News