Non-sealed apparatus for batteries with a containment structure for gasses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12080911-B2
Application number	US-202117483090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2021
Priority date	Nov 26, 2018
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A non-sealed apparatus for batteries with a containment structure for gasses that includes a battery enclosure with an upper portion and a lower portion. The apparatus further includes a plurality of batteries disposed in a lower portion of the battery enclosure. The apparatus has at least one battery containment structure disposed in an upper portion of the battery enclosure, which is configured to move downward thereby sealing the plurality of batteries upon a condition. Further, a transfer channel assembly is provided within the battery enclosure and configured to transfer and/or contain gases emitted by the plurality of batteries upon the condition. The apparatus also has at least one fan configured to circulate the air in and out of the battery enclosure through the first perforated opening and the second perforated opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-sealed apparatus for batteries, the apparatus comprising:
a battery enclosure with an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the battery enclosure has a first perforated opening and a second perforated opening;
a plurality of batteries disposed in the lower portion of the battery enclosure;
a battery containment structure disposed in the upper portion of the battery enclosure positioned vertically over a portion of the plurality of batteries, the battery containment structure comprising an activator and two or more separators, the battery containment structure further comprising a sealing surface configured to seal the portion of the plurality of batteries by the application of a pressing force from the activator in a direction perpendicular to a bottom surface of the battery enclosure;
a transfer channel assembly disposed within the battery enclosure and configured to transfer and/or contain gases emitted by the plurality of batteries upon a condition resulting in the application of the pressing force from the activator; and
at least one fan configured to circulate air in and out of the battery enclosure through the first perforated opening and the second perforated opening.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the battery containment structure comprises a plurality of the battery containment structures.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of batteries comprises lithium-ion batteries.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the condition is a temperature increase of at least one of the plurality of batteries.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the condition is a voltage drop of at least one of the plurality of batteries.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer channel assembly further comprises an overflow containment vat.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first perforated opening is positioned opposite to the second perforated opening.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the activator is composed of a memory shape alloy.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the activator is composed of an intumescent material.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fan comprises a plurality of fans positioned adjacent to the first perforated opening.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Torok John
• Singer Noah
• Werner John S
• Notohardjono Budy
• Tsfasman Arkadiy O

Classifications

• H01M50/213

  adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/24

  adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion (thermal insulation H01M10/658) · CPC title

• H01M10/613

  Cooling or keeping cold · CPC title

• H01M10/4235

  Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte (H01M10/4242 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M10/0525 Primary

  Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries · CPC title