Construction of electrochemical storage cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9741996-B2
Application number	US-34172008-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2008
Priority date	Dec 25, 2007
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

An electrochemical storage cell is disclosed that comprises a core and a rectangular shell that receives the core snugly therein. The rectangular shell has first and second open ends. A first end cap is used to close the first open end. An anode terminal extends through the first end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof. A first gasket is secured within the rectangular shell between the first end cap and the core to resiliently hold the core away from the first end cap. A second end cap is used to close the second open end. A cathode terminal extends through the second end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof. A second gasket is secured within the rectangular shell between the second end cap and the core to resiliently hold the core away from the second end cap.

First claim

We claim:

1. An electrochemical storage cell comprising:
a core comprising a cathode sheet, an anode sheet, and a separator sheet;
a rectangular shell with a first and a second open end, the shell being dimensioned to receive the core snugly therein;
a first end cap configured to close the first open end;
an anode terminal extending through the first end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof;
a first gasket secured within the rectangular shell across the central portion of the first open end and between the first end cap and the core, the first gasket thereby resiliently separating the core from the first end cap;
a second end cap configured to close the second open end;
a cathode terminal extending through the second end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof;
a second gasket secured within the rectangular shell across the central portion of the second open end and between the second end cap and the core, the second gasket thereby resiliently separating the core from the second end cap; and
the first and second gaskets each including at least one opening, each opening defined by two contoured elements of the gasket disposed on each side of the opening, and each contoured element having a rounded surface facing the core, and a planar surface opposite the rounded surface, at least one contoured element disposed between the core and the corresponding anode and cathode terminals, thereby preventing the corresponding anode and cathode terminals from contacting the core, wherein the openings are configured to receive corresponding anode and cathode current collectors therethrough.

2. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the shell and corresponding end caps comprise metal, the end caps configured to facilitate protection of the core and heat transfer in and out of the cell.

3. The cell of claim 1 , wherein each gasket is formed of a thermoplastic material which is thermally fused to facilitate sealing a corresponding end cap.

4. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the end cap and the first gasket define a connection chamber therebetween in which the core is connected to the anode terminal.

5. The cell of claim 4 , wherein the connection between the core and the anode terminal comprises a flexible conductor.

6. The cell of claim 5 , wherein the flexible conductor is dimensioned for contact with insulated sidewalls of the connection chamber to inhibit movement of the flexible conductor within the connection chamber.

7. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the end cap and the second gasket define a connection chamber therebetween in which the core is connected to the cathode terminal.

8. The cell of claim 7 , wherein the connection between the core and the cathode terminal comprises a flexible conductor.

9. The cell of claim 8 , wherein the flexible conductor is dimensioned for contact with insulated sidewalls of the connection chamber to inhibit movement of the flexible conductor within the connection chamber.

10. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a coil core.

11. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a planar core.

12. An electrochemical storage cell comprising:
a core comprising a cathode sheet, an anode sheet, and a separator sheet;
a shell with a first and a second open end, the shell being dimensioned to receive the core snugly therein;
a first end cap configured to close the first open end;
an anode terminal extending through the first end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof;
a first gasket secured within the shell across the central portion of the first open end and between the first end cap and the core, the first gasket thereby resiliently separating the core from the first end cap, wherein the first gasket includes a protection member aligned with the anode terminal to prevent the anode terminal from being forced into contact with the core;
a second end cap configured to close the second open end;
a cathode terminal extending through the second end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof;
a second gasket secured within the shell across the central portion of the second open end and between the second end cap and the core, the second gasket thereby resiliently separating the core from the second end cap, wherein the second gasket includes a protection member aligned with the cathode terminal to prevent the cathode terminal from being forced into contact with the core; and
the first and second gaskets each including at least one opening, each opening defined by two contoured elements of the gasket disposed on each side of the opening, and each contoured element having a rounded surface facing the core, and a planar surface opposite the rounded surface, at least one contoured element disposed between the core and the corresponding anode and cathode terminals, thereby preventing the corresponding anode and cathode terminals from contacting the core, wherein the openings are configured to receive corresponding anode and cathode current collectors therethrough.

13. The electrochemical storage cell of claim 12 , wherein the anode terminal extends through the first end at a position that is offset from a centerline of the shell, where the centerline extends between the first and second open ends.

14. The electrochemical storage cell of claim 12 , wherein the cathode terminal extends through the second end at a position that is offset from a centerline of the shell, where the centerline extends between the first and second open ends.

15. The electrochemical storage cell of claim 13 , wherein the first end cap and first gasket define an anode connection chamber, wherein the anode terminal terminates at a position within the anode connection chamber that is offset from the centerline of the shell, and wherein the protection member of the first gasket comprises a wall that is aligned between the termination position of the anode terminal and the core.

16. The electrochemical storage cell of claim 14 , wherein the second end cap and second gasket define a cathode connection chamber, wherein the cathode terminal terminates at a position within the cathode connection chamber that is offset from the centerline of the shell, and wherein the protection member of the second gasket comprises a wall that is aligned between the termination position of the anode terminal and the core.

17. A battery system for an electric powered vehicle comprising:
a plurality of battery packs electrically connected in series with one another, wherein each battery pack comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells electrically connected in series with one another and disposed in a side-by-side relationship, wherein each electrochemical cell further comprises:
a core comprising a cathode sheet, an anode sheet, and a separator sheet;
a rectangular shell with a first and a second open end, the shell being dimensioned to receive the core snugly therein;
a first end cap configured to close the first open end;
an anode terminal extending through the first end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof;
a first gasket secured within the rectangular shell across the central portion of the first open end and between the first end cap and the core, the first gasket thereby resiliently separating the core from the first end cap;
a second end cap configured to close the second open end;
a cathode terminal extending thr

Assignees

• Zheng Weixin
• Jiang Luxia
• Zhu Jianhua
• Shen Xi
• Byd Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zheng Weixin
• Jiang Luxia
• Zhu Jianhua
• Shen Xi

Classifications

• H01M50/591

  Covers · CPC title

• H01M50/516

  by welding, soldering or brazing · CPC title

• H01M50/552

  characterised by their shape · CPC title

• H01M50/522

  Inorganic material · CPC title

• H01M50/503

  characterised by the shape of the interconnectors · CPC title