Lightweight prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices and assembly method of the same

• US 20040018425A1
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Chua, Hsiu-Ping Lin, Joseph B. Kejha
• Original Assignee: David Chua, Hsiu-Ping Lin, Joseph B. Kejha
• Inventors: Chua, David, Kejha, Joseph B., Lin, Hsiu-Ping
• Granted Patent: US 7,141,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/176
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/10 Sealing, e.g. of lead-in wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0481 Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/103 prismatic or rectangular H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/176 for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/181 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/186 characterised by the disposition of the sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/193 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/562 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49114 including adhesively bonding

Abstract

The present invention pertains to lightweight, hard and leakproof prismatic packaging structures for electrochemical devices and economical method of assembly and hermetic sealing of said structures by plastic layers attached to their metal walls. Metal welding is avoided and superior protection of lithium polymer cells and other cells is thus provided at lesser cost.

Claims

1. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices which comprises

a rectangular cross section metal tubing having inside and outside surfaces, and front and back ends, having at least on said inside surface of said tubing a heat sealable plastic layer,

a rectangular metal back end plug having inside and outside surfaces, and having at least, on said outside surface of said back end plug a heat sealable plastic layer,

a rectangular heat sealable plastic front end plug having embedded and sealed metal terminals therein, and having front surface, said front surface of said front end plug having attached a metal layer,

said metal terminals passing through said front end plug and without contact with said metal layer,

an electrochemical device inserted into said tubing and electroconductively connected to said terminals,

said plugs inserted into said tubing'"'"'s front and back ends,

said heat sealable plastic layer on said tubing is in contact with said heat sealable plastic layer on said back end plug and with said heat sealable plastic front end plug, whereby said plastic layers and said plug can be heat sealed and bonded together to enclose and contain said electrochemical device.

11. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 6, or 7, 8, or 9, or 10, in which said tubing is constructed from two sheet metal channels,

said channels having flanges and inside and outside surfaces,

said channels having on at least said inside surfaces heat sealable plastic layers,

said channels are assembled together with said flanges in overlying relation,

said heat sealable plastic layers are in contact with said flanges,

whereby said plastic layers and said flanges can be heat sealed and bonded together to form said tubing.

12. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4 or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, in which said tubing is a seamless extrusion.

13. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, in which said tubing is a tubing with a seam.

14. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, or 11, in which said heat sealable, plastic layers and heat sealable plastic plugs are made of materials selected from the group comprising:

Surlyn plastic, polyethylene, polypropylene, vinylacetate, and polyvinylidene fluoride polymers, their alloys, copolymers and derivatives with acid salt groups.

15. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, or 11, in which said metal tubing, metal layers, metal vessel, metal plugs, and metal channels are made of metals selected from the group comprising:

aluminum, magnesium titanium, and stainless steel.

16. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, in which said heat sealable plastic layer on said tubing and said vessel is omitted.

17. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 3, or 6, or 8, or 28, in which said heat sealable plastic layer on said metal end plugs is omitted.

18. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, in which said electrochemical device is a prismatic electrochemical device.

19. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, in which said electrochemical device is a battery.

20. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, in which said electrochemical device is a capacitor.

21. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, in which said electrochemical device is a lithium based cell.

22. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, in which said electrochemical device is a metal hydride based cell.

23. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, in which said electrochemical device is an ultracapacitor.

24. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or, 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, in which said electrochemical device is activated by a liquid electrolyte.

25. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, in which said electrochemical device is shimmed by a compressible sheet.

26. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claim 25, in which said sheet is of a non-woven fabric.

27. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claim 25, in which said sheet is of a woven fabric.

28. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, in which said plastic end plugs are replaced with a metal end plugs having outside surfaces and said outside surfaces of said metal end plugs having a heat sealable plastic layers, said metal end plugs having metal terminals sealed in by an electrically insulating substance, and said metal terminals passing through said metal end plugs without contact with said metal plugs, said heat sealable plastic layer on said tubing is in contact with said heat sealable plastic layers on said metal end plugs, whereby said plastic layers can be heat sealed and bonded together to enclose and contain said electrochemical device.

29. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claim 28, in which said electrically insulating substance is a glass.

30. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claim 28, in which said electrically insulating substance is a plastic.

31. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, or 28, in which said heat sealable plastic layers are attached to said metals and each other by heat and pressure and then cooling.

2. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices which comprises

a rectangular cross section metal tubing having inside and outside surfaces, and front and back ends, having at least on said inside surface of said tubing a heat sealable plastic layer,

a rectangular heat sealable plastic back end plug having back surface, said back surface of said back end plug having attached a metal layer,

a rectangular heat sealable plastic front end plug having embedded and sealed metal terminals therein, and having front surface, said front surface of said front end plug having attached a metal layer, said metal terminals passing through said front end plug without contact with said metal layer,

an electrochemical device inserted into said tubing and electroconductively connected to said terminals,

said plugs inserted into said tubing'"'"'s front and back ends,

said heat sealable plastic layer on said tubing is in contact with said heat sealable plastic front end plug and with said heat sealable plastic back end plug,

whereby said plastic layer and said plastic plugs can be heat sealed and bonded together to enclose and contain said electrochemical device.

3. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices which comprises

a rectangular cross section metal tubing having inside and outside surfaces, and front and back ends, having at least on said inside surface of said tubing a heat sealable plastic layer,

a rectangular solid metal back end plug having outside surface, on said outside surface of said back end plug having a heat sealable plastic layer,

a rectangular heat sealable plastic front end plug having embedded and sealed metal terminals therein, and having front surface, said front surface of said front end plug having attached a metal layer, said metal terminals passing through said front end plug without contact with said metal layer,

an electrochemical device inserted into said tubing and electroconductively connected to said terminals,

said plugs inserted into said tubing'"'"'s front and back ends,

said heat sealable plastic layer on said tubing is in contact with said heat sealable plastic front end plug and with said heat sealable plastic layer on said back end plug,

whereby said plastic layers and said plastic plug can be heat sealed and bonded together to enclose and contain said electrochemical device.

4. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices which comprises

a rectangular cross section metal tubing having inside and outside surfaces, and front and back ends, having at least on said inside surfaces of said tubing a heat sealable plastic layer,

a rectangular heat sealable plastic back end plug having embedded and sealed metal terminals therein and having back surface, said back surface of said back end plug having attached a metal layer,

said metal terminals passing through said back end plug without contact with said metal layer,

a rectangular heat sealable plastic front end plug having embedded and sealded metal terminals therein, and having front surface, said front surface of said front end plug having attached a metal layer, said metal terminals passing through said front end plug without contact with said metal layer,

electrochemical devices inserted into said tubing and electroconductively connected to said, front end and back end plugs'"'"' terminals,

said plugs inserted into said tubing'"'"'s front and back ends,

said heat sealable plastic layer on said tubing is in contact with said heat sealable plastic front end plug and with said heat sealable plastic back end plug,

whereby said plastic layer and said plastic plugs can be heat sealed and bonded together to enclose and contain said electrochemical devices.

5. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices which comprises

a rectangular cross section sheet metal vessel having front and back ends, said front end is open, and said vessel having inside and outside surfaces, having at least on said inside surface of said vessel a heat sealable plastic layer,

a rectangular heat sealable plastic front end plug having embedded and sealed metal terminals therein, and having front surface, said front surface of said front end plug having attached a metal layer, said metal terminals passing through said front end plug without contact with said metal layer,

an electrochemical device inserted into said vessel and electroconductively connected to said terminals,

said plug inserted into said vessels'"'"' front end,

said heat sealable plastic layer on said vessel is in contact with said heat sealable plastic front end plug, whereby said plastic layer and said plastic plug can be heat sealed and bonded together to enclose and contain said electrochemical device.

6. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices which comprises

a square cross section metal tubing having inside and outside surfaces, and front and back ends, having at least on said inside surface of said tubing a heat sealable plastic layer,

a square metal back end plug having inside and outside surfaces, having at least on said outside surface of said back end plug a heat sealable plastic layer,

a square heat sealable plastic front end plug having embedded and sealed metal terminals therein, and having front surface, said front surface of said front end plug having attached a metal layer,

said metal terminals passing through said front end plug without contact with said metal layer,

an electrochemical device inserted into said tubing and electroconductively connected to said terminals,

said plugs inserted into said tubing'"'"'s front and back ends,

said heat sealable plastic layer on said tubing is in contact with said heat sealable plastic layer on said back end plug and with said heat sealable plastic front end plug, whereby said plastic layers and said plug can be heat sealed and bonded together to enclose and contain said electrochemical device.

7. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices which comprises

a square cross section metal tubing having inside and outside surfaces, and front and back ends, having at least on said inside surface of said tubing a heat sealable plastic layer,

a square heat sealable plastic back end plug having back surface, said back surface of said back end plug having attached a metal layer,

a square heat sealable plastic front end plug having embedded and sealed metal terminals therein, and having front surface, said front surface of said front end plug having attached a metal layer, said metal terminals passing through said front end plug without contact with said metal layer,

an electrochemical device inserted into said tubing and electronductively connected to said terminals,

said plugs inserted into said tubing'"'"'s front and back ends,

said heat sealable plastic layer on said tubing is in contact with said heat sealable plastic front end plug and with said heat sealable plastic back end plug, whereby said plastic layer and said plastic plugs can be heat sealed and bonded together to enclose and contain said electrochemical device.

8. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices which comprises

a square cross section metal tubing having inside and outside surfaces, and front and back ends, having at least on said inside surface of said tubing a heat sealable plastic layer,

a square solid metal back end plug having outside surface, on said outside surface of said back end plug having a heat sealable plastic layer,

a square heat sealable plastic front end plug having embedded and sealed metal terminals therein, and having front surface, said front surface of said front end plug having attached a metal layer, said metal terminals passing through said front end plug without contact with said metal layer,

an electrochemical device inserted into said tubing and electroconductively connected to said terminals,

said plugs inserted into said tubing'"'"'s front and back ends,

said heat sealable plastic layer on said tubing is in contact with said heat sealable plastic front end plug and with said heat sealable plastic layer on said back end plug, whereby said plastic layers and said plastic plug can be heat sealed and bonded together to enclose and contain said electrochemical device.

9. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices which comprises

a square cross section metal tubing having inside and outside surfaces, and front and back ends, having at least on said inside surface of said tubing a heat sealable plastic layer,

a square heat sealable plastic back end plug, having embedded and sealed metal terminals therein, and having front back surface, said back surface of said back end plug having attached a metal layer, said metal terminals passing through said back end plug without contact with said metal layer,

a square heat sealable plastic front end plug having embedded and sealed metal terminals therein, and having front surface, said front surface of said front end plug having attached a metal layer, said metal terminals passing through said front end plug without contact with said metal layer,

electrochemical devices inserted into said tubing and electroconductively connected to said front end and back end plugs'"'"' terminals,

said plugs inserted into said tubing'"'"'s front and back ends,

said heat sealable plastic layer on said tubing is in contact with said heat sealable plastic front end plug and with said heat sealable plastic back end plug,

whereby said plastic layer and said plastic plugs can be heat sealed and bonded together to enclose and contain said electrochemical devices.

10. Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices which comprises

a square cross section sheet metal vessel having front and back ends, said front end is open, and said vessel having inside and outside surfaces, having at least on said inside surface of said vessel a heat sealable plastic layer,

a square heat sealable plastic front end plug having embedded and sealed metal terminals therein, and having front surface, said front surface of said front end plug having attached a metal layer, said metal terminals passing through said front end plug without contact with said metal layer,

an electrochemical device inserted into said vessel and electroconductively connected to said terminals,

said plug inserted into said vessel'"'"'s front end,

said heat sealable plastic layer on said vessel is in contact with said heat sealable plastic front end plug, whereby said plastic layer and said plastic plug can be heat sealed and bonded together to enclose and contain said electrochemical device.

32. A method of assembly and sealing of prismatic packaging enclosure for electrochemical devices, comprising the steps of:

providing a length of rectangular cross section metal tubing,

said tubing having walls, front and back ends and inside and outside surfaces, and having a heat sealable plastic layer on at least said inside surface,

providing a matching rectangular heat sealable front end plug with sealed and insulated metal terminals passing through said plug,

providing an electrochemical device and connecting electroconductively said device to said terminals,

providing a matching rectangular heat sealable back end plug,

providing a heat-sealing clamping device having clamps with controlled temperature, pressure and “

on”

time duration intervals,

said clamping device having clamps matching said cross section of said tubing, and having said clamps'"'"' dividing line diagonally on said cross section of said tubing,

inserting said electrochemical device and said front end plug into said tubing'"'"'s front end,

and said back end plug into said tubing'"'"'s back end,

said plugs being in contact with said tubing'"'"'s inside plastic layer,

inserting said tubing with said plugs into said clamping device,

and applying heat and pressure approximately in direction 45°

to said walls of said tubing in front view for a preset time period, to provide heatsealing step,

removing and rotating 180°

lengthwise said tubing with said plugs,

inserting again said tubing with said plugs into said clamping device and repeating said heatsealing step,

whereby welding and bonding together said plugs to said tubing and hermetically sealing said device therein.

34. A method of assembly and sealing of prismatic packaging enclosure for electrochemical devices as described in claim 32, in which said rectangular cross section, tubing and said rectangular plugs are replaced by square cross section tubing and square plugs.

36. A method of assembly and sealing of prismatic packaging enclosure for electrochemical devices as described in claims 32, or 33, or 34, or 35, in which said clamping device'"'"'s clamps are compliant clamps.

33. A method of assembly and sealing of prismatic packaging enclosure for electrochemical devices, comprising the steps of:

providing a length of rectangular cross section metal vessel,

said vessel having walls, front ends and inside and outside surfaces, and having a heat sealable plastic layer on at least said inside surface,

providing a matching rectangular heat sealable front end plug with sealed and insulated metal terminals passing through said plug,

providing an electrochemical device and connecting electroconductively said device to said terminals,

providing a heat-sealing clamping device having clamps with controlled temperature, pressure and “

on”

time duration intervals,

said clamping device having clamps matching said cross section of said vessel, and having said clamps'"'"' dividing line diagonally on said cross section of said vessel,

inserting said electrochemical device and said front end plug into said vessel'"'"'s front end,

said plugs being in contact with said vessel'"'"'s inside plastic layer,

inserting said vessel with said plugs into said clamping device, and applying heat and pressure approximately in direction 45°

to said walls of said vessel in front view for preset “

on”

time period, cooling said assembly and then releasing said pressure to provide heatsealing step,

removing and rotating 180°

lengthwise said vessel with said plug,

inserting again said vessel with said plug into said clamping device and repeating said heatsealing step,

whereby welding and bonding together said plug to said tubing and hermetically sealing said device therein.

35. A method of assembly and sealing of prismatic packaging enclosure for electrochemical devices as described in claim 33, in which said rectangular cross section vessel and rectangular plug are replaced by square cross section vessel and square plug.

37. A method of assembly and sealing of a rectangular tubing for prismatic packaging of electrochemical devices, in which said tubing is constructed from two metal channels and said method comprises the steps of:

providing two lengths of metal “

u”

section channels, said channels having first and second flanges and inside surfaces, and said channels having heat sealable plastic layers on said inside surfaces,

providing heat sealing clamping device having cantilever support and clamp, and having controllable heat, pressure and “

on”

time intervals,

said support and clamp are longer than said lengths of said channels, and narrower than said flanges and said support is fitting inside of said channels,

assembling said channels together lined-up with said flanges in overlying relation and with said heat sealable plastic layers in contact with said flanges,

inserting said assembly onto said support, applying heat and pressure on said first flanges for a preset “

on”

time period,

cooling said assembly and then releasing said pressure, to provide heat sealing step,

removing and rotating said assembly 180°

, and repeating said heat sealing step for said second flanges, to heatseal and bond together said plastic layers and said flanges to form said sealed tubing.

38. A method of assembly and sealing of a square tubing for prismatic packaging of electrochemical devices, in which said tubing is constructed from two metal channels and said method comprises the steps of:

providing two lengths of metal “

u”

section channels, said channels having first and second flanges and inside surfaces, and said channels having heat sealable plastic layers on said inside surfaces,

providing heat sealing clamping device having cantilever support and clamp, and controllable heat, pressure and “

on”

time intervals,

said support and clamp are longer than said lengths of said channels, and narrower than said flanges and said support is fitting inside of said channels,

assembling said channels together lined-up with said flanges in overlying relation and with said heat sealable plastic layers in contact with said flanges,

inserting said assembly onto said support, applying heat and pressure on said first flanges for a preset “

on”

time period,

cooling said assembly and then releasing said pressure, to provide heat sealing step,

removing and rotating said assembly 180°

, and repeating said heat sealing step for said second flanges, to heatseal and bond together said plastic layers and said flanges to form said sealed tubing.