Sealed cell and cell pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10804508-B2
Application number	US-201815869370-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2018
Priority date	Feb 6, 2017
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

A sealed cell according to the present invention includes an angular case 50 that accommodates an electrode body. The angular case 50 includes a concave case main body 52, having an opening, and a sealing member 54. The case main body 52 has a flat surface 52a opposed to the sealing member 54, with the electrode body interposed therebetween, and a side wall 52b rising from the flat surface 52a. The peripheral edge portion of the opening provided in the case main body 52 and the sealing member 54 are joined to each other by seal welding. Concave and convex portions including concave portions 56a, 156a recessed toward the inside of the case and convex portions 56b flush with the flat surface 52a are formed on at least one side 58a portion of end sides of the flat surface 52a. Electrode terminals 80, 82 are disposed on bottom surfaces of the concave portions 56a, 156a.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sealed cell comprising:
an electrode body that includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode;
an angular case that accommodates the electrode body and an electrolytic solution; and
electrode terminals that are electrically connected to the electrode body and drawn to an outside of the angular case, wherein
the angular case includes a concave case main body having an opening and a sealing member attached so as to cover the opening of the concave case main body;
the concave case main body has a flat surface opposed to the sealing member, with the electrode body interposed therebetween, and a side wall rising from the flat surface so as to surround the electrode body;
a peripheral edge portion of the opening provided in the concave case main body and the sealing member are joined to each other by seal welding;
a portion of the side wall includes at least two concave portions, which are recessed toward an inside of the angular case, and a convex portion, which is not recessed toward the inside of the angular case and is flush with the flat surface; and
each of the electrode terminals is respectively disposed on a bottom surface of each of the at least two concave portions, wherein
each of the at least two concave portions has three inner walls rising from the bottom surface so as to surround three sides of the electrode terminal disposed on the bottom surface, and an opening in which an inner wall is not formed and which opens to the outside of the angular case.

2. The sealed cell according to claim 1 , wherein
an additional concave portion other than the at least two concave portions is formed on the side wall, and
a gas discharge valve for discharging gas generated in the angular case is disposed on a bottom surface of the additional concave portion, and
the additional concave portion has three inner walls rising from the bottom surface so as to surround three sides of the gas discharge valve disposed on the bottom surface, and an opening in which an inner wall is not formed and which opens to the outside of the angular case.

3. The sealed cell according to claim 1 , wherein
an additional concave portion other than the at least two concave portions is formed on the side wall,
a liquid injection plug for closing a liquid injection hole for the electrolytic solution is disposed in a bottom surface of the additional concave portion, and
the additional concave portion has three inner walls rising from the bottom surface so as to surround three sides of the plug disposed on the bottom surface, and an opening in which an inner wall is not formed and which opens to the outside of the angular case.

4. A cell pack in which a plurality of chargeable/dischargeable cells are connected in series, the cell pack comprising:
a plurality of sealed unit cells each including: an electrode body that includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode;
an angular case that accommodates the electrode body and an electrolytic solution; and
electrode terminals that are electrically connected to the electrode body and drawn to an outside of the angular case, wherein
in each of the plurality of unit cells, the angular case comprises a concave case main body having an opening and a sealing member attached so as to cover the opening of the concave case main body; and
the plurality of unit cells are arranged in a direction in which the concave case main body and the sealing member are overlapped in the angular case provided in each of the plurality of unit cells, and are restrained in a state in which a load is applied in the direction,
wherein
in each of the plurality of unit cells, the concave case main body has a flat surface, which is mutually opposing a surface of the angular case of the adjacent unit cell case and which receive the load applied in the direction, and a side wall rising from the flat surface so as to surround the electrode body;
in each of the plurality of unit cells, a peripheral edge portion of the opening provided in the concave case main body and the sealing member are joined to each other by seal welding;
a convex portion, which is pressed against the angular case of the adjacent unit cell, and at least two concave portions, which are not in contact with the angular case of the adjacent unit cell, are formed on a portion of the side wall;
each of the electrode terminals is respectively disposed on a bottom surface of each of the at least two concave portions; and
each of the at least two concave portions has three inner walls rising from the bottom surface so as to surround three sides of the electrode terminal disposed on the bottom surface, and an opening in which an inner wall is not formed and which opens to the outside of the angular case.

5. The cell pack according to claim 4 , wherein
in each of the plurality of unit cells, an additional concave portion other than the at least two concave portions is formed on the portion of the side wall,
a gas discharge valve for discharging gas generated in the case is disposed on a bottom surface of the additional concave portion, and
the additional concave portion has three inner walls rising from the bottom surface so as to surround three sides of the gas discharge valve disposed on the bottom surface, and an opening in which an inner wall is not formed and which opens to the outside of the angular case.

6. The cell pack according to claim 4 , wherein
in each of the plurality of unit cells, an additional concave portion other than the at least two concave portions is formed on the portion of the side wall,
a liquid injection plug for closing a liquid injection hole for the electrolytic solution is disposed in a bottom surface of the additional concave portion, and
the additional concave portion has three inner walls rising from the bottom surface so as to surround three sides of the liquid injection plug disposed on the bottom surface, and an opening in which an inner wall is not formed and which opens to the outside of the angular case.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Matsumoto Mizuho
• Matsuura Tomohiro
• Yamamoto Satomi
• Yamasaki Yuki

Classifications

• H01G11/80 Primary

  Gaskets; Sealings · CPC title

• H01M50/557

  Plate-shaped terminals · CPC title

• H01M50/645

  Plugs · CPC title

• H01M50/209

  adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/176 Primary

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