Layer cell, assembled battery including layer cell, and method for assembling layer cell

• US 10,381,676 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2017
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exergy Power Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exergy Power Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Tsutsumi, Kaduo, Nakoji, Masateru
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley, Helen Oi K
• Application Number:
  US15/835,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20180102566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/02 Hydrogen or oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/04 Construction or manufacture in general H01M10/058, H01M10/12, H01M10/28, H01M10/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0422 Cells or battery with cylindrical casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/383 Hydrogen absorbing alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/50 of manganese
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/75 Wires, rods or strips
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing

Abstract

A layer cell includes an outer casing, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an electrically conductive current collector passing through the positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator in an axial direction of the outer casing. The positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator are stacked in the axial direction of the outer casing. A first electrode which is one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is in contact with an inner surface of the outer casing, but is not in contact with the current collector. A second electrode which is the other electrode is not in contact with the outer casing, but is in contact with the current collector. An outer edge of the second electrode is covered with the separator. A peripheral edge of a hole, through which the current collector passes, in the first electrode is covered with the separator.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a layer cell, comprising:

a first step of previously preparing a current collector having a side surface on which a screw groove is formed, and a round rod having the same outer diameter as a diameter of a root of the screw groove on the current collector;

a second step of assembling an electrode group in such a manner as to sequentially insert a positive electrode and a negative electrode into the round rod with a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and stack the electrodes;

a third step, to be carried out subsequent to the second step, of disposing presser plates on two ends of the electrode group to hold the electrode group and applying pressure to the presser plates to compress the electrode group;

a fourth step of pulling out the round rod while maintaining the compressed state;

a fifth step of pushing the current collector instead of the round rod into the electrode group while rotating the current collector, and then screwing the current collector into a screw hole formed on the center of the presser plate to assemble an electrode assembly while maintaining the compressed state of the electrode group;

a sixth step of putting the electrode assembly into the outer casing under pressure;

a seventh step of deaerating the outer casing;

an eighth step of injecting an electrolyte into the outer casing; and

a ninth step, to be carried out subsequent to the eighth step, of attaching a lid to the outer casing to seal the outer casing.