Spiral wound electrochemical cell having high capacity

• US 4,322,484 A
• Filed: 09/16/1980
• Issued: 03/30/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Congress Financial Corporation (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Sugalski, Raymond K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US06/187,743
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 429/94, 429/175, 429/185, 429/120
• US Class Current: 429/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/528 Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/10 with wound or folded electrodes

Abstract

A high current capacity electrochemical cell of the spiral wound type is provided. The cell includes an hermetically sealed casing and a terminal connection which engages exposed edges of an internally positioned spirally wound electrode plate for the transfer of current from the plate to a plurality of regions on the terminal. A thermally conductive ring is provided at the terminal connection to dissipate heat generated at the regions of current transfer.

Claims

1. In an improved electrochemical cell having a sealed casing, at least one external electrical terminal at an end of the casing, at least one spirally wound electrode plate in said casing electrically connected to said terminal and having a plurality of exposed plate edge portions, the improvement comprising:

said electrically conductive terminal having an inner surface engaging said exposed edge portions of the electrode plate so as to be in electrical contact therewith, thereby to provide a plurality of electrode edge contact areas on said terminal inner surface for the transfer of current from the electrode plate to the terminal, said terminal further having a projecting portion at the exterior of said casing, and wherein said cell includes a heat sink encircling said terminal thermally coupled between said terminal and said electrode plate.

2. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of current transfer conductive tabs which electrically connect said exposed edge portions of said electrode plate with said terminal, said current transfer conductive tabs being in contact with said heat sink and engaging a plurality of regions on said inner surface of said terminal.

3. The electrochemical cell of claim 2 wherein said current transfer conductive tabs have raised portions and body portions, said body portions engaging said exposed edge portions of said electrode plate.

7. The electrochemical cell of claim 3 wherein said current transfer conductive tabs are affixed to said exposed edge portions of said electrode plate over substantially the entire length of said tabs.

9. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said terminal has an inner portion positioned in said casing which inner portion comprises the bulk of the material of said terminal.

11. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said electrode plate is spirally wound with a second electrode plate having a plurality of exposed second plate edge portions.

12. The electrochemical cell of claim 11 further comprising:

a second conductive terminal at another end of said casing, said second conductive terminal having an inner surface engaging said exposed second plate edge portions so as to be in electrical contact therewith, thereby to provide a plurality of electrode edge contact areas on said second terminal inner surface for the transfer of current from said second electrode plate to said second terminal.

13. The electrochemical cell of claim 12 further comprising:

a second plurality of current transfer conductive tabs which electrically connect said exposed second plate edge portions with said second conductive terminal, said second plurality of current transfer conductive tabs engaging a plurality of regions on said second terminal inner surface.

14. The electrochemical cell of claim 13 wherein said second plurality of current transfer conductive tabs have raised portions and body portions, said body portions engaging said exposed edge portions of said second electrode plate.

15. The electrochemical cell of claim 14 wherein a second thermally conductive member is positioned in heat sinking relation to said second plurality of current transfer conductive tabs.

4. In an improved electrochemical cell having a sealed casing, at least one external electrical terminal at an end of the casing, at least one spirally wound electrode plate in said casing electrically connected to said terminal and having a plurality of exposed plate edge portions, the improvement comprising:

said electrically conductive terminal having an inner surface engaging said exposed edge portions of the electrode plate so as to be in electrical contact therewith, thereby to provide a plurality of electrode edge contact areas on said terminal inner surface for the transfer of current from the electrode plate to the terminal, said terminal further having a projecting portion forming electrical terminal at the exterior of said casing, said cell further comprising a plurality of current transfer conductive tabs which electrically connect said exposed edge portions of said electrode plate with said terminal, said current transfer conductive tabs engaging a plurality of regions on said inner surface of said terminal; and

wherein

said current transfer conductive tabs have raised portions and body portions, said body portions engaging said exposed edge portions of said electrode plate, and wherein said inner surface of said terminal is provided with peripheral recess and said raised portions of said current transfer conductive tabs contact said terminal along said peripheral recess.

6. The electrochemical cell of claim 4 wherein a thermally conductive member is positioned in said peripheral recess of said terminal so as to be in heat sinking relation to said current transfer conductive tabs.

10. The electrochemical cell of claim 6 wherein said thermally conductive member is a circular ring which is positioned in said recess of said terminal so that said raised portions of said current transfer conductive tabs and said circular ring occupy substantially all of said recess in said terminal.

5. In an improved electrochemical cell having a sealed casing, at least one external electrical terminal at an end of the casing, at least one spirally wound electrode plate in said casing electrically connected to said terminal and having a plurality of exposed plate edge portions, the improvement comprising:

said electrically conductive terminal having an inner surface engaging said exposed edge portions of the electrode plate so as to be in electrical contact therewith, thereby to provide a plurality of electrode edge contact areas on said terminal inner surface for the transfer of current from the electrode plate to the terminal, said terminal further having a projecting portion forming electrical terminal at the exterior of said casing, said cell further comprising a plurality of current transfer conductive tabs which electrically connect said exposed edge portions of said electrode plate with said terminal, said current transfer conductive tabs engaging a plurality of regions on said inner surface of said terminal; and

wherein

said current transfer conductive tabs have raised portions and body portions, said body portions engaging said exposed edge portions of said electrode plate, and wherein a thermally conductive member is positioned in heat sinking relation to said current transfer conductive tabs.

8. In an improved electrochemical cell having a sealed casing, at least one external electrical terminal at an end of the casing, at least one spirally wound electrode plate in said casing electrically connected to said terminal and having a plurality of exposed plate edge portions, the improvement comprising:

said electrically conductive terminal having an inner surface engaging said exposed edge portions of the electrode plate so as to be in electrical contact therewith, thereby to provide a plurality of electrode edge contact areas on said terminal inner surface for the transfer of current from the electrode plate to the terminal, said terminal further having a projecting portion forming said electrical terminal at the exterior of said casing; and

wherein

said terminal is hermetically sealed to said casing by means of an interference fit, said interference fit employing a sealing ring being constructed of a material capable of up to about 25% compression in the lateral direction.

16. An electrochemical cell comprising:

a sealed casing having an electrical terminal projecting through an end thereof;

a spirally wound electrode plate enclosed within said casing;

an electrically conducting strap engaging edge portions of said electrode plate and having tabs for connection with said terminal; and

said terminal being provided with a peripheral recess along an inner surface thereof for mating with tabs of said strap.

17. An electrochemical cell comprising:

a sealed casing having an electrical terminal projecting through an end thereof;

a spirally wound electrode plate enclosed within said casing;

a strap connecting edge portions of said electrode plate with said terminal;

a heat sink encircling said terminal and in thermal contact therewith; and

wherein

said strap includes tab means for engaging in thermal contact with said heat sink.