SEALED BATTERY

• US 20100209746A1
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kiyama, Akira
• Application Number:
  US12/681,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20100209746A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/56
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/325 comprising deformable valve members, e.g. elastic or flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/342 Non-re-sealable arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A sealed battery (100) provided in the present invention includes an electrode assembly (80), an outer case (40) housing the electrode assembly (80), a sealing lid (20) for closing an opening (42) of the outer case (40), and a current cutoff valve (22) that is deformed by abnormal internal pressure in the outer case (40). A plurality of conductive members (10) for carrying current between the current cutoff valve (22) and electrode assembly (80) are attached to the current cutoff valve (22). The plurality of conductive members (10) are configured so as to be broken off in a stepwise manner by the deformation of the current cutoff valve (22) as a result of abnormal internal pressure, thereby shutting off current flowing between the current cutoff valve (22) and electrode assembly (80).

Claims

1. A sealed battery, comprising:

an electrode assembly;

an outer case housing the electrode assembly;

a sealing lid for closing an opening of the outer case; and

a current cutoff valve that is deformed by abnormal internal pressure in the outer case, wherein

a plurality of conductive members for carrying current between the current cutoff valve and electrode assembly are attached to the current cutoff valve, and

the plurality of conductive members are configured so as to be broken off in a stepwise manner by the deformation of the current cutoff valve as a result of abnormal internal pressure, thereby shutting off the current flowing between the current cutoff valve and electrode assembly.

2. The sealed battery according to claim 1, wherein the current cutoff valve is provided in the sealing lid.

3. The sealed battery according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of conductive members are attached, with a predetermined loosening margin, to one or more connecting points on the current cutoff valve, and

the one or more connecting points are configured to shift in a direction to extend the loosening margin of the conductive members by the deformation of the current cutoff valve, and the plurality of conductive members are sequentially broken off at different points in time respectively as the connecting points shift.

4. The sealed battery according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of conductive members are attached, with varying loosening margins, to the same connecting point on the current cutoff valve.

5. The sealed battery according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of conductive members are each attached, with the same loosening margin, to different connecting points on the current cutoff valve.

6. A vehicle equipped with the sealed battery according to claim 1.

7. A vehicle equipped with the sealed battery according to claim 3.