Electric storage device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10714715-B2
Application number	US-201615231912-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2016
Priority date	Jan 20, 2011
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

Abstract

An electric storage device includes an electrode assembly, a case that includes a defining wall and houses the electrode assembly, a sealing member that is arranged on the defining wall, and a conductive member that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly, the conductive member being supported by the sealing member. At least a portion of the defining wall where the sealing member is arranged includes an aluminum-based metallic material. The sealing member includes a material that is softer than the material for the at least a portion of the defining wall where the sealing member is arranged. The sealing member includes polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin and an elastomer. The elastomer is contained in an amount of 2% to 20% by weight. The conductive member is crimped in such a manner that the sealing member is pressed against the defining wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric storage device, comprising:
an electrode assembly;
a case that includes a defining wall and houses the electrode assembly;
a sealing member that is arranged on the defining wall;
a conductive member that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly, the conductive member being supported by the sealing member, the conductive member including a body arranged on the sealing member, a first crimping part projecting downward from a lower surface of the body of the conductive member, and a second crimping part projecting upward from an upper surface of the body of the conduct member; and
a connecting plate interposed between the body of the conductive member and the second crimping part in a direction perpendicular to the defining wall,
wherein the sealing member includes:
an outer wall part which supports the conductive member; and
a projection portion which extends, from a bottom surface of the sealing member, below the outer wall part,

wherein the defining wall includes:
a recess which receives the bottom surface of the sealing member; and
a through-hole which is formed in the recess and through which the projection portion of the sealing member is inserted,

wherein at least a portion of the recess where the sealing member is arranged comprises an aluminum-based metallic material,
wherein the sealing member includes a material that is softer than the material for the at least a portion of the defining wall where the sealing member is arranged,
wherein the sealing member comprises polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin and an elastomer,
wherein the elastomer is contained in an amount of 2% to 20% by weight,
wherein the conductive member is crimped in such a manner that the sealing member is pressed against the defining wall,
wherein the first crimping part includes a hollow portion, a top surface of the hollow portion extending below a bottom surface of the defining wall,
wherein the body of the conductive member is thicker than the recess, and
wherein, when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the defining wall, an outer diameter of the body of the conductive member is larger than an inner diameter of the through-hole.

2. The electric storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises an engineering plastic and is in direct contact with the lower surface of the body of the conductive member in the direction perpendicular to the defining wall.

3. The electric storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member has a Rockwell hardness (R scale) of 55 to 120.

4. The electric storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is arranged on an outer surface of the defining wall, the electric storage device further comprising:
a terminal retainer arranged on the outer surface of the defining wall; and
an external terminal that is supported by the terminal retainer,
wherein the conductive member includes an auxiliary terminal that passes through the defining wall and is electrically connected to the external terminal.

5. The electric storage device according to claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary terminal includes a body and an insertion part that is formed continuously with the body of the auxiliary terminal,
wherein another recess is located inside the outer wall part, and
wherein the outer wall part is formed to be high enough for the another recess to entirely receive the body of the auxiliary terminal.

6. The electric storage device according to claim 5 , wherein a space is provided between the outer wall part of the sealing member and the body of the auxiliary terminal.

7. The electric storage device according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a current collector that electrically connects the electrode assembly to the auxiliary terminal, the current collector including a through-hole and being housed in the case together with the electrode assembly,
wherein the sealing member includes a through-hole formed in a bottom surface of the recess, and the projection portion projects around the through-hole of the sealing member to be inserted through the through-hole of the defining wall,
wherein the insertion part of the auxiliary terminal includes the first crimping part that is crimped in a state where the first crimping part has been inserted through the through-hole of the sealing member and the through-hole of the current collector
wherein the hollow portion of the first crimping part has a length that does not reach a position of an inner surface of the case, and
wherein a tip end of the projection portion is in direct contact with the current collector in the direction perpendicular to the defining wall.

8. The electric storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is arranged on an outer surface of the defining wall, the electric storage device further comprising:
a terminal retainer arranged on the outer surface of the defining wall;
an external terminal that is supported by the terminal retainer;
a current collector that electrically connects the electrode assembly to an auxiliary terminal of the conductive member; and
a plastic plate disposed between the current collector and a cover plate of the case.

9. The electric storage device according to claim 8 , wherein the terminal retainer comprises a filler that causes the terminal retainer having a hardness higher than a hardness of the plastic plate.

10. The electric storage device according to claim 9 , wherein the filler causes the terminal retainer having a hardness higher than a hardness of the sealing member.

11. The electric storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising an external terminal,
wherein the conductive member comprises an auxiliary terminal that passes through the defining wall and is electrically connected to the external terminal.

12. The electric storage device according to claim 11 , further comprising a flat connecting conductor that electrically connects the external terminal and the auxiliary terminal, the flat connecting conductor being spaced apart from and extending substantially parallel to an outer surface of the defining wall.

13. A method of manufacturing an electric storage device, the electric storage device comprising:
an electrode assembly;
a case that includes a defining wall and houses the electrode assembly; a sealing member that is arranged on the defining wall;
a conductive member that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly, the conductive member being supported by the sealing member, the conductive member including a body arranged on the sealing member, a first crimping part projecting downward from a lower surface of the body of the conductive member, and a second crimping part projecting upward from an upper surface of the body of the conductive member; and
a connecting plate interposed between the body of the conductive member and the second crimping part in a direction perpendicular to the defining wall,
wherein the sealing member includes:
an outer wall part which supports the conductive member; and
a projection portion which extends, from a bottom surface of the sealing member, below the outer wall part,

wherein the defining wall includes:
a recess which receives the bottom surface of the sealing member; and
a through-hole which is formed in the recess and through which the projection portion of the sealing member is inserted,

wherein at least a portion of the recess where the sealing member is arranged comprises an aluminum-based metallic material,
wherein the sealing member includes a material that is softer than the material for the at least a portion of the de

Assignees

• Gs Yuasa Int Ltd

Inventors

• Tsutsumi Masakazu
• Kawamoto Hajime
• Okamoto Katsuhiko
• Yoshitake Shinsuke
• Tonari Takuma
• Nakamura Jun
• Kouno Kenji

Classifications

• H01G11/74 Primary

  Terminals, e.g. extensions of current collectors · CPC title

• H01M50/159

  Metals · CPC title

• H01M50/567

  by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts · CPC title

• H01M50/176

  for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/181 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/562

  characterised by the material · CPC title