Electrolyte detection device and secondary battery transfer facility comprising the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11830987-B2
Application number	US-202017634807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2020
Priority date	Aug 26, 2019
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrolyte detection device. The electrolyte detection device comprises: a contamination detection plate configured to contact any one surface of a secondary battery, in which an opening is provided; first and second conductors provided to be spaced apart from each other so that current does not flow on a surface of the contamination detection plate, the first and second conductors being electrically connected to each other by an electrolyte leaking from the opening of the secondary battery; a power member comprising a positive electrode connected to the first conductor and a negative electrode connected to the second conductor; and a contamination detection member configured to detect whether the electrolyte leaks through the current generated when the first conductor and the second conductor are electrically connected to each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrolyte detection device comprising:
a contamination detection plate configured to physically contact a first surface of a secondary battery, the secondary battery having an opening provided therein;
first and second conductors provided on the contamination detection plate and spaced apart from each other along a surface of the contamination detection plate, the first and second conductors configured to be electrically connected to each other by an electrolyte leaking from the opening of the secondary battery,
the first conductor having a plurality of first conductor portions and the second conductor having a plurality of second conductor portions, the plurality of first conductor portions and the plurality of second conductor portions being alternately arranged and spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction of the contamination connection plate,
first and second opposite ends of each of the first conductor portions and each of the second conductor portions are adjacent to respective first and second opposite ends of the contamination detection plate,
the first conductor portions are each spaced apart from adjacent ones of the second conductor portions in the vertical direction by an interval of 2 mm to 5 mm;

a power member comprising a positive electrode connected to the first conductor and a negative electrode connected to the second conductor; and
a contamination detection member configured to detect whether the electrolyte leaks onto the first surface of the secondary battery by detecting a current generated when the first conductor and the second conductor are electrically connected to each other by the electrolyte.

2. The electrolyte detection device of claim 1 , wherein the contamination detection plate is made of a material having no liquid absorption capability and having electrical non-conductivity.

3. The electrolyte detection device of claim 1 , wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are inserted into respective ones of a plurality of insertion grooves extending into the surface of the contamination detection plate.

4. The electrolyte detection device of claim 3 , wherein outward facing surfaces of the first conductor and the second conductor are coplanar with the surface of the contamination detection plate.

5. The electrolyte detection device of claim 1 , wherein the contamination detection member comprises a lamp configured to generate light using the current generated when the first conductor and the second conductor are electrically connected to each other.

6. An electrolyte detection device, comprising:
a contamination detection plate configured to physically contact a first surface of a secondary battery, the secondary battery having an opening provided therein;
first and second conductors provided on the contamination detection plate spaced apart from each other so that current does not flow on a surface of the contamination detection plate, the first and second conductors configured to be electrically connected to each other by an electrolyte leaking from the opening of the secondary battery;
a power member comprising a positive electrode connected to the first conductor and a negative electrode connected to the second conductor;
a contamination detection member configured to detect whether the electrolyte leaks onto the first surface of the secondary battery by detecting a current generated when the first conductor and the second conductor are electrically connected to each other by the electrolyte; and
an adjustment member configured to move the first conductor and the second conductor toward or away from the opening.

7. The electrolyte detection device of claim 6 , wherein the adjustment member comprises first and second adjustment members disposed on each of the first conductor and the second conductor, respectively, the first and second adjustment members being disposed on a side surface of the contamination detection plate so as to be movable toward or away from the opening, thereby moving the first conductor and the second conductor toward or away from the opening, respectively.

8. The electrolyte detection device of claim 1 , further comprising an absorption member configured to absorb the electrolyte at a lower end of the surface of the contamination detection plate.

9. A secondary battery transfer facility comprising:
a gripper comprising a gripping part configured to grip first and second opposite surfaces of a secondary battery having an opening in an upper portion thereof and a moving part configured to move the gripping part to a predetermined position; and
an electrolyte detection device installed on the moving part adjacent to an upper portion of the secondary battery, the electrolyte detection device being configured to detect an electrolyte leaking from the opening of the secondary battery,
wherein the electrolyte detection device comprises:
a contamination detection plate installed on the moving part and configured to physically contact a first surface of a secondary battery, the secondary battery having an opening provided therein;
first and second conductors provided on the contamination detection plate spaced apart from each other so that current does not flow on a surface of the contamination detection plate, the first and second conductors configured to be electrically connected to each other by the electrolyte leaking from the opening of the secondary battery;
a power member comprising a positive electrode connected to the first conductor and a negative electrode connected to the second conductor; and
a contamination detection member configured to detect whether the electrolyte leaks onto the first surface of the secondary battery by detecting a current generated when the first conductor and the second conductor are electrically connected to each other by the electrolyte.

10. The secondary battery transfer facility of claim 9 , wherein the moving part is adjustable in position, thereby permitting the electrolyte detection device to be moved in a direction toward or away from the opening of the moving part.

11. The secondary battery transfer facility of claim 9 , further comprising an elastic member having an elastic restoring force and being disposed between the moving part and the contamination detection plate, so that the contamination detection plate is configured to elastically contact the secondary battery.

12. The secondary battery transfer facility of claim 11 , wherein the elastic member comprises a spring.

Assignees

• Lg Energy Solution Ltd

Inventors

• Moon Tae Young
• Huh Jun Hyeak

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M10/4228 Primary

  Leak testing of cells or batteries · CPC title

• H01M10/484

  for measuring electrolyte level, electrolyte density or electrolyte conductivity · CPC title

• H01M10/0404

  Machines for assembling batteries · CPC title

• H01M50/105

  Pouches or flexible bags · CPC title