BATTERY WITH INTEGRALLY FORMED TERMINAL

• US 20090208836A1
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarios Advanced Solutions GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions, LLC. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Dougherty, Thomas J., Houchin-Miller, Gary P., Wood, Steven J., Trester, Dale B., Fuhr, Jason D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,568,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/158
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• 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 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/147 Lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/276 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/30 Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/507 comprising an arrangement of two or more busbars within a container structure, e.g. busbar modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/516 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/522 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/559 Terminals adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round, elliptic or button cells H01M50/553 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/566 by welding, soldering or brazing
• 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: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 : Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A battery comprising a housing having a central longitudinal axis. A cover is coupled to the housing and a first flange is integrally formed with the cover and configured to act as a first terminal for the battery. At least a portion of the first flange extends away from the housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. Wherein the first flange is configured for electrical coupling with a terminal of an adjacent battery in a battery system. for electrical coupling with a terminal of an adjacent battery in a battery system.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

a housing having a central longitudinal axis;

a cover coupled to the housing; and

a first flange integrally formed with the cover and configured to act as a first terminal for the battery, at least a portion of the first flange extending away from the housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis;

wherein the first flange is configured for electrical coupling with a terminal of an adjacent battery in a battery system.

2. The battery of claim 1, further comprising a second flange integrally formed with the housing and configured to act as a second terminal for the battery, at least a portion of the second flange extending away from the housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.

3. The battery of claim 2, wherein the housing is conductively coupled to the second flange and the cover is electrically insulated from the housing.

4. The battery of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first flange and the second flange comprise aluminum.

5. The battery of claim 2, wherein the housing is generally cylindrical and the first flange and second flange extend beyond the circumference of the housing.

6. The battery of claim 2, wherein the first flange has a first polarity and the second flange has a second polarity opposite that of the first polarity.

7. The battery of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first flange and the second flange comprises a first portion that extends generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the housing and a second portion that extends generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the housing.

8. The battery of claim 7, wherein both the first flange and the second flange comprise a first portion that extends generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the housing and a second portion that extends generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the first portion of the first flange extends a first distance beyond and end of the housing and the first portion of the second flange extends a second distance beyond the end of the housing, the first distance differing from the second distance.

9. The battery of claim 8, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

10. The battery of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a generally flat surface and a wall that extends upward from and generally perpendicular to the flat surface, wherein the first flange is integrally formed with the wall.

11. The battery of claim 10, wherein the generally flat surface has a substantially circular shape.

12. The battery of claim 1, wherein the first flange includes an aperture for receiving the terminal of the adjacent battery.

13. The battery of claim 1, wherein the cover includes an aperture through which a second terminal for the battery extends.

14. The battery of claim 13, wherein the second terminal is electrically isolated from the cover.

15. The battery of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first flange is configured to be provided in contact with a surface of the terminal of the adjacent battery.

16. The battery of claim 15, wherein the first flange includes an aperture and is configured to receive a fastener for coupling the first flange to the terminal of the adjacent battery.

17. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery is a lithium-ion battery.

18. A battery module comprising:

a plurality of electrochemical cells, each of the cells comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis and a lid coupled to the housing, the lid comprising a member configured to act as a first terminal for the cell, at least a portion of the member extending away from the housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and conductively conductively coupled to a terminal of an adjacent cell.

19. The battery module of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of electrochemical cells further comprises a second member integrally formed with the housing and configured to act as a second terminal for the cell, at least a portion of the second member extending away from the housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

20. The battery module of claim 19, wherein the housing is conductively coupled to the second member and the cover is electrically insulated from the housing.

21. The battery module of claim 18, wherein the member is integrally formed with the lid.

22. The battery module of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of cells further comprises a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of a first cell is conductively coupled to the second terminal of an adjacent cell.

23. The battery module of claim 22, wherein a surface of the first terminal is in facing engagement with a surface of the second terminal of the adjacent cell.

24. The battery module of claim 18, wherein the lid includes an aperture through which a second terminal for the cell extends, wherein the second terminal is electrically isolated from the lid.

25. The battery module of claim 18, wherein a portion of the member is configured to be provided in contact with a surface of the terminal of the adjacent cell.

26. The battery module of claim 25, wherein the member includes an aperture and is configured to receive a fastener for coupling the member to the terminal of the adjacent battery.

27. The battery module of claim 18, further comprising a structure configured to receive the plurality of cells and comprising a plurality of depressions, each of the plurality of depressions configured to receive at least a portion of the member such that the member is properly aligned for conductive coupling with the terminal of the adjacent cell.

28. The battery module of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of depressions of the structure comprises a cutout to allow access to an aperture of the member.

29. A method of producing a battery module comprising:

providing a plurality of electrochemical cells, each of the cells comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis and a cover coupled to the housing at a first end of the cell, the cover comprising a member configured to act as a first terminal for the cell, at least a portion of the member extending away from the housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

coupling the member of one of the plurality of cells to a terminal of an adjacent cell.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein each of the plurality of electrochemical cells further comprises a second member integrally formed with the housing and configured to act as a second terminal for the cell, at least a portion of the second member extending away from the housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein a portion of the member is configured to be provided in contact with a surface of the terminal of the adjacent cell.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the member comprises an aperture and is configured to receive a fastener for coupling the member to the terminal of the adjacent cell.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising providing a first structure having a plurality of features, each feature configured to receive one of the plurality of cells in a specified orientation and placing one of the plurality of cells in each of the features of the first structure, wherein each of the plurality of features of the first structure include a depression configured to receive the member of each of the plurality of the cells.