Monoblock battery

• US 20020012833A1
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chevron Texaco Corporation (Chevron Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Chevron Texaco Corporation (Chevron Corp.)
• Inventors: Ovshinsky, Stanford R., Corrigan, Dennis A., Gow, Philippe, Osgood, Anthony, Dhar, Subhash K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,264,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/24 Alkaline accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6561 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6568 characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/114 specially adapted for lead-acid cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/394 Gas-pervious parts or elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/528 Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/529 Intercell connections through partitions, e.g. in a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/566 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A monoblock battery case and a monobock battery. The monoblock battery case comprises a first and a second container each having partitions that divide the containers into cell compartments. The first container is attached to and co-operates with the second container to form one or more coolant channels disposed between the first and second containers.

Claims

1. A monoblock battery case, comprising:

a first container having at least one partition dividing the interior of said first container into a plurality of cell compartments; and

a second container having at least one partition dividing the interior of said second container into a plurality of cell compartments,

said first container attached to and co-operating with said second container to form a coolant channel disposed between said first container and said second container.

2. The battery case of claim 1, wherein said first container is integrally attached to said second container.

3. The battery case of claim 1, wherein said coolant channel is fluid-tight.

4. The battery case of claim 1, wherein a wall of said first container is attached to and co-operating with a wall of said second container to form said coolant channel.

5. The battery case of claim 4, wherein said wall of said first container is integrally attached to said wall of said second container.

6. The battery case of claim 1, wherein said first container and said second container comprise a plastic.

7. The battery case of claim 1, wherein said first container and said second container are identical.

8. The battery case of claim 1, wherein said coolant channel houses a liquid coolant.

9. The battery case of claim 1, further including an outer coolant channel integrally formed on an outer wall of said case.

10. The battery case of claim 1, wherein said case includes both gaseous cooling and liquid cooling.

11. A monoblock battery, comprising:

a battery case comprising;

a first container having at least one partition dividing the interior of said first container into a plurality of cell compartments, and

a second container having at least one partition dividing the interior of said second container into a plurality of cell compartments,

said first container attached to and co-operating with said second container to form a coolant channel disposed between said first container and said second container; and

a plurality of electrochemical cells disposed within said battery case.

12. The battery case of claim 11, wherein said first container is integrally attached to said second container.

13. The battery case of claim 11, wherein said coolant channel is fluid-tight.

14. The battery case of claim 11, wherein a wall of said first container is attached to and co-operating with a wall of said second container to form said coolant channel.

15. The battery case of claim 14, wherein said wall of said first container is integrally attached to said wall of said second container.

16. The battery case of claim 11, wherein said battery case comprises a plastic.

17. The battery case of claim 11, wherein said first container and said second container are identical.

18. The battery case of claim 11, wherein said coolant channel houses a liquid coolant.

19. The battery case of claim 11, further including an outer coolant channel integrally formed on an outer wall of said case.

20. The battery case of claim 11, wherein said battery case includes both gaseous cooling and liquid cooling.

21. The battery of claim 11, wherein said coolant channel houses a liquid coolant.

22. The battery of claim 11, wherein said battery case further includes an outer coolant channel integrally formed on an outer wall of said case.

23. The battery of claim 11, wherein said battery case is includes both liquid cooling and gaseous cooling.

24. The battery of claim 11, wherein said battery case is a common pressure vessel for said electrochemical cells.

25. The battery of claim 11, wherein said electrochemical cells are nickel-metal hydride cells.

26. The battery of claim 11, wherein said electrochemical cells include an alkaline electrolyte.