Energy storage device and related methods

• US 10,446,817 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arconic Technologies LLC (Arconic Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Arconic Inc. (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jarvis, Glenn W., Dick, Robert E., Weiland, Hasso, Fridy, Joseph M., McNeish, David J., Cobes, John W., Bhattacharyya, Rabindra K., Krish, John M., Ference, David M., Watters, Brock, Catrambone, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Barcena, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US15/283,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20170170439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/20 Pressure-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/30 Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/3425 in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/578 in response to pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to energy storage devices having: a sealed container configured to house a plurality of energy storage devices and enable electrical communication via terminals of the sealed container and a vent located on a periphery of the sealed container. The vent generally comprises a vent panel; a countersink located adjacent the vent panel; at least one score located in the countersink; a buckling initiator at least partially located on the countersink, where the buckling initiator is configured to intersect with the at least one score; and a hinge portion attached to the vent panel, where the hinge portion is positioned opposite the buckling initiator.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a sealed container configured to house a plurality of energy storage devices and enable electrical communication via terminals of the sealed container; and

(b) a vent located on a periphery of the sealed container, the vent comprising;

(i) a vent panel;

(ii) a countersink located adjacent the vent panel;

(iii) at least one score located in the countersink;

(iv) a buckling initiator at least partially located on the countersink;

wherein the buckling initiator is configured to intersect with the at least one score; and

(v) a hinge portion attached to the vent panel;

wherein the hinge portion is positioned opposite the buckling initiator;

wherein the vent panel is configured to move via the hinge.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vent is integral with the sealed container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the countersink comprises at least one unscored portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a support matrix configured to house at least some of the plurality of electrical storage devices.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the support matrix comprises an energy absorbing material, or a flame arresting material, or both an energy absorbing material and a flame arresting material.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the support matrix is configured to maintain at least some of the plurality of electrical storage devices in spaced relation from each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrical storage devices comprises a Li-ion battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buckling initiator is configured as a score set in a perpendicular direction to the at least one score.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hinge portion is an unscored hinge portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the countersink is a circumferential countersink and wherein the at least one score is a circumferential score.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the circumferential score has a score length;

the hinge portion has a hinge length; and

a ratio of the hinge length to score length is from 0.2 to 0.65.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises:

(iv) a current interrupt device comprising a dome actuator.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vent panel is configured to move outwardly relative to the periphery of the sealed container, via the hinge.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the vent panel is a solid geometric shape.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the vent panel is in the form of a circle.