HIGH VOLTAGE MODULAR BATTERY WITH ELECTRICALLY-INSULATED CELL MODULE AND INTERCONNECTOR PERIPHERIES

• US 20100273044A1
• Filed: 12/31/2009
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lightening Energy
• Original Assignee: Lightening Energy
• Inventors: DYER, Christopher K., EPSTEIN, Michael L., Culver, Duncan
• Granted Patent: US 8,173,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/160
• 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 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/529 Intercell connections through partitions, e.g. in a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• 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: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A modular battery includes a housing, a first planar battery cell having a first planar electrode surface, a second planar battery cell having a second planar electrode surface, and an interconnector disposed between the first planar surface and the second planar surface and electrically connecting the first and second planar electrode surfaces, side peripheries of the interconnector, the first and second planar battery cells being electrically insulated from the housing.

A method is also provided.

Claims

1. A modular battery comprising:

a housing,

a first planar battery cell having a first planar electrode surface,

a second planar battery cell having a second planar electrode surface, and

an interconnector disposed between the first planar surface and the second planar surface and electrically connecting the first and second planar electrode surfaces, side peripheries of the interconnector, the first and second planar battery cells being electrically insulated from the housing.

2. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second planar battery cells include an electrically insulating material on their side peripheries and contact the housing.

3. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second planar battery cells include a thermally conducting material on their side peripheries and contact the housing

4. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein an inside of the housing is electrically insulating and thermally conducting.

5. The modular battery as recited in claim 2 wherein the interconnector is spaced from the housing.

6. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein the interconnector is spaced from the housing so as to define a spacing.

7. The modular battery as recited in claim 6 wherein an inert gas fills the spacing.

8. The modular battery as recited in claim 6 further comprising a sealant thermally connecting the side periphery of the interconnector to the housing.

9. The modular battery as recited in claim 8 wherein the sealant contains a polymer.

10. The modular battery as recited in claim 6 further comprising a gasket in the spacing.

11. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 further comprising further planar battery cells and further interconnectors.

12. A method for forming a modular battery comprising:

placing a first planar battery cell having a first planar electrode surface in a housing,

placing an interconnector over the first planar battery cell in the housing,

placing a second planar battery cell having a second planar electrode surface in the housing,

so that the interconnector electrically connects the first and second planar electrode surfaces and side peripheries of the interconnector, first and second planar battery cells are electrically insulated from the housing.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising injecting a sealant into the housing to thermally connect the side periphery of the interconnector to the housing.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising injecting an inert gas into the housing.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising placing a gasket around the side periphery of the interconnector.