Rechargeable battery having short circuit member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016293930-A1
Application number	US-201514919670-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 21, 2015
Priority date	Apr 6, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A rechargeable battery has a short circuit member that improves safety. The rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode; a case having an opening and housing the electrode assembly; a first terminal electrically connected to the first electrode; a second terminal electrically connected to the second electrode; a cap plate coupled to the case at the opening, the cap plate having a short circuit opening and being electrically connected to the first electrode; a short circuit member inserted into the short circuit opening and electrically connecting the cap plate to the second terminal when the short circuit member is modified due to a change in pressure; an upper cover covering the short circuit opening and having an air opening; and a plug inserted into the air opening and being movable by the short circuit member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A rechargeable battery comprising:
an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode and a second electrode; a case having an opening and housing the electrode assembly; a first terminal electrically connected to the first electrode; a second terminal electrically connected to the second electrode; a cap plate coupled to the case at the opening, the cap plate having a short circuit opening and being electrically connected to the first electrode; a short circuit member inserted into the short circuit opening and electrically connecting the cap plate to the second terminal when the short circuit member is modified; an upper cover covering the short circuit opening and having an air opening; and a plug inserted into the air opening and being movable by the short circuit member.

2 . The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises a shaft and a flange protruding in a lateral direction from an end of a length direction of the shaft.

3 . The rechargeable battery of claim 2 , wherein the plug comprises a separation prevention protrusion protruding to an outer side of the shaft.

4 . The rechargeable battery of claim 2 , wherein the upper cover comprises a positioning groove into which the flange is inserted, and the positioning groove is connected to a top end of the air opening.

5 . The rechargeable battery of claim 2 , wherein a short circuit plate is under the second terminal, and the short circuit plate comprises a connection opening above an upper portion of the short circuit member.

6 . The rechargeable battery of claim 5 , wherein an upper insulator is between the short circuit plate and the cap plate.

7 . The rechargeable battery of claim 6 , wherein the upper cover comprises an upper plate and a lateral plate protruding toward the cap plate from a lateral end of the upper plate, the lateral plate inserted into the upper insulator.

8 . The rechargeable battery of claim 7 , wherein the upper cover further comprises a blocking wall at an inner side of a sidewall of the upper insulator, and the blocking wall comprises a ring shaped transverse section and surrounds the protrusion.

9 . The rechargeable battery of claim 5 , wherein the short circuit plate comprises a short circuit protrusion, and the short circuit protrusion surrounds the connection opening.

10 . The rechargeable battery of claim 5 , wherein a bottom end of the plug protrudes in a direction of the short circuit member as compared with a bottom end of the short circuit protrusion, and is spaced apart from a top end of the short circuit protrusion.

11 . The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the upper cover comprises a protrusion defining a circumference around the air opening, and a bottom surface of the protrusion comprises a curved groove having an arc-shaped longitudinal section.

12 . The rechargeable battery of claim 11 , wherein, in a height direction of the air opening, an inner side of the air opening comprises an exhaust groove.

13 . The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the plug is curved to have an arc shape.

14 . The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the short circuit member comprises an edge and a curved part which is convexly curved downward from the edge.

15 . The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the first terminal protrudes to an outer side of the cap plate and is electrically connected to the cap plate through a connection plate.

Assignees

• Samsung Sdi Co Ltd

Inventors

• Guen Min-Hyung

Classifications

• H01M2200/20

  Pressure-sensitive devices · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M2/1223

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M2/345 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• Y02P70/50

  Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product · CPC title