CAP ASSEMBLY AND SECONDARY BATTERY INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20150236334A1
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Jung, Won-Il, Kim, Yoon-Chang, Lee, Sang-Hyo
• Granted Patent: US 11,088,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0422 Cells or battery with cylindrical casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/20 Pressure-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/147 Lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/152 for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/15, H01M50/153 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/30 Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/308 Detachable arrangements, e.g. detachable vent plugs or plug systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/325 comprising deformable valve members, e.g. elastic or flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/3425 in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/375 Vent means sensitive to or responsive to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/578 in response to pressure
• 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 cap assembly and a secondary battery including the cap assembly including a cap-down, and at least a portion thereof is configured to open when pressure is applied to the cap-down, a vent portion, and at least a portion thereof is configured to open when pressure is applied to the vent portion, and a cap-up electrically connected to the vent portion.

Claims

1. A cap assembly comprising:

a cap-down, at least a portion of the cap-down configured to open when pressure is applied to the cap-down;

a vent portion, at least a portion of the vent portion configured to open when pressure is applied to the vent portion; and

a cap-up electrically connected to the vent portion.

2. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap-down comprises:

a dislocation portion configured to open when pressure is applied to the cap-down; and

a second notch portion around the dislocation portion, the second notch portion defining a region of the dislocation portion that opens when pressure is applied to the cap-down.

3. The cap assembly of claim 2, wherein the cap-down further comprises a support portion in the second notch portion and connecting the dislocation portion with another region of the cap-down.

4. The cap assembly of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the second notch portion is smaller than a thickness of the dislocation portion.

5. The cap assembly of claim 2, wherein the cap assembly comprises at least one dislocation portion and at least one second notch portion;

and

when the cap assembly comprises a plurality of dislocation portions and a plurality of second notch portions, the plurality of dislocation portions are spaced from one another, and each of the plurality of second notch portions is around each of the plurality of dislocation portions.

6. The cap assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of dislocation portions forms the same angle with a center of the cap-down.

7. The cap assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of dislocation portions is the same distance away from a center of the cap-down.

8. The cap assembly of claim 2, wherein the dislocation portion and the second notch portion are circles.

9. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap-down comprises a dislocation portion in at least one region of the cap-down, the dislocation portion configured to open when pressure is applied to the cap-down.

10. The cap assembly of claim 9, wherein a thickness of the dislocation portion is smaller than a thickness of the region of the cap-down not comprising the dislocation portion.

11. The cap assembly of claim 9, wherein the cap assembly comprises a plurality of dislocation portions, and the plurality of dislocation portions are spaced from one another.

12. The cap assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of dislocation portions forms the same angle with a center of the cap-down.

13. The cap assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of dislocation portions is the same distance away from a center of the cap-down.

14. The cap assembly of claim 9, wherein the dislocation portion is a circle.

15. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein an edge of the vent portion extends beyond an edge of the cap-up and is bent to cover at least a portion of an upper surface of the cap-up.

16. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein a center of the cap-down comprises an opening, and wherein the cap assembly comprises a sub-disk covering the opening in the center of the cap-down.

17. The cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sub-disk coupled to the cap-down.

18. The cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising an insulator between the vent portion and the cap-down.

19. The cap assembly of claim 18, wherein the insulator covers an edge of at least one of the cap-down, the vent portion, and the cap-up.

20. The cap assembly of claim 19, further comprising a cover plate covering the insulator, the cover plate comprising a fluid hole.

21. The cap assembly of claim 20, wherein an area of the fluid hole is 10 mm² or less.

22. The cap assembly of claim 18, wherein the cap-down comprises:

a second lower plate;

a second upper plate spaced from the second lower plate; and

a plurality of second bridge portions connecting the second upper plate and the second lower plate,

wherein spaces between adjacent second bridge portions comprise the insulator.

23. A secondary battery comprising:

an electrode assembly;

a can accommodating the electrode assembly, the can comprising an opening; and

a cap assembly covering the opening of the can,

wherein the cap assembly comprises

a cap-down, at least a portion of the cap-down configured to open when internal pressure of the can increases;

a vent portion, at least a portion of the vent portion configured to open when internal pressure of the can increases; and

a cap-up electrically connected to the vent portion.

24. The secondary battery of claim 23, wherein the cap-down comprises:

a dislocation portion configured to open when internal pressure of the can increases; and

a second notch portion around the dislocation portion, the second notch portion defining a region of the dislocation portion that opens when internal pressure of the can increases.

25. The secondary battery of claim 24, wherein the cap-down further comprises a support portion in the second notch portion and connecting the dislocation portion with another region of the cap-down.

26. The secondary battery of claim 24, wherein a thickness of the second notch portion is smaller than a thickness of the dislocation portion.

27. The secondary battery of claim 24, wherein the secondary battery comprises at least one dislocation portion and at least one second notch portion;

and

when the secondary battery comprises a plurality of dislocation portions and a plurality of second notch portions, the plurality of dislocation portions are spaced from one another, and each of the plurality of second notch portions is around each of the plurality of dislocation portions.

28. The secondary battery of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of dislocation portions forms the same angle with a center of the cap-down.

29. The secondary battery of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of dislocation portions is the same distance away from a center of the cap-down.

30. The secondary battery of claim 24, wherein the dislocation portion and the second notch portion are circles.

31. The secondary battery of claim 23, wherein at least one region of the cap-down comprises a dislocation portion, the dislocation portion configured to rupture when internal pressure of the can increases.

32. The secondary battery of claim 31, wherein a thickness of the dislocation portion is smaller than a thickness of the region of the cap-down not comprising the dislocation portion.

33. The secondary battery of claim 31, wherein the secondary battery comprises a plurality of dislocation portions and the plurality of dislocation portions are spaced from one another.

34. The secondary battery of claim 33, wherein each of the plurality of dislocation portions forms the same angle with a center of the cap-down.

35. The secondary battery of claim 33, wherein each of the plurality of dislocation portions is the same distance away from a center of the cap-down.

36. The secondary battery of claim 31, wherein the dislocation portion is a circle.

37. The secondary battery of claim 23, wherein an edge of the vent portion extends beyond an edge of the cap-up is bent to cover at least a portion of an upper surface of the cap-up.

38. The secondary battery of claim 23, wherein a center of the cap-down comprises an opening, and wherein the secondary battery further comprises a sub-disk covering the opening in the center of the cap-down.

39. The secondary battery of claim 23, further comprising a sub-disk coupled to the cap-down.

40. The secondary battery of claim 23, further comprising an insulator between the vent portion and the cap-down.

41. The secondary battery of claim 40, wherein the insulator covers an edge of at least one of the cap-down, the vent portion, and the cap-up.

42. The secondary battery of claim 41, further comprising a cover plate covering the insulator, the cover plate comprising a fluid hole.

43. The secondary battery of claim 42, wherein an area of the fluid hole is 10 mm² or less.

44. The secondary battery of claim 40, wherein the cap-down comprises:

a second lower plate;

a second upper plate spaced from the second lower plate; and

a plurality of second bridge portions connecting the second upper plate and the second lower plate,

wherein spaces between adjacent second bridge portions comprise the insulator.