Active pressure control wedge mechanism for improved liquid metal battery performance

A method for controlling a pressure within a battery, comprising:

• disposing the battery between a support plate at a first side of the battery and a pressure plate disposed at a second side of the battery opposite the first side, the pressure plate movable with respect to the support plate to control the pressure of the battery and including a first plate wedge;
• moving a first actuator wedge parallel to the pressure plate, the first actuator wedge in contact with the first plate wedge, to control a force applied by the first actuator wedge to the first plate wedge to move the pressure plate with respect to the support plate;
• and
• controlling the pressure within the battery by moving the pressure plate.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a battery;
• a support plate at a first side of the battery;
• a pressure plate disposed at a second side of the battery opposite the first side, the pressure plate movable with respect to the support plate to control a pressure of the battery;
• a first plate wedge coupled to the pressure plate;
• and
• a first actuator wedge in contact with the first plate wedge, the first actuator wedge configured to move parallel to the pressure plate to control a force applied by the first actuator wedge to the first plate wedge to move the pressure plate with respect to the support plate, wherein moving the pressure plate controls the pressure within the battery.