Polymeric enclosures for non-aqueous active metal cells

• US 4,752,540 A
• Filed: 06/05/1987
• Issued: 06/21/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation), The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Chua, David L., Eppley, William J., Hoff, Gerald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/058,296
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 429/56, 429/53, 429/176, 429/163, 429/82, 429/194, 220/207, 220/89 A, 220/89 B, 220/DIG. 14
• US Class Current: 429/56
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/109 of button or coin shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/342 Non-re-sealable arrangements
• 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 6/46 of flat cells

Abstract

A container for a non-aqueous electrochemical cell is molded from a partially hologenated alkaline polymer and has integral electrical leads and vents.

Claims

1. A non-aqueous electrochemical cell including a polymeric container having an active metal anode, an electrolyte comprising an oxyhalide solvent/depolarizer containing a salt of a cation of the anode metal and an inert cathode, said container consisting essentially of polymer material selected from the group consisting of partially halogenated alkene polymers and copolymers.

2. The cell of claim 1 wherein said active metal anode is lithium and said polymer material consists essentially of ethylenetetrafluroroethylene copolymer.

3. The cell of claim 2 wherein said polymer material is formed by molding.

4. The cell of claim 3 including electrical leads integrally molded therein.

5. The cell of claim 3 including integral venting means to vent said container upon reaching a predetermined temperature and pressure.

6. The cell of claim 5 wherein said vent means further comprises an amount of metal material having a melting point just below said predetermined temperature imbedded in a wall of said container such that when said metal material melts, the effective thickness of said wall is reduced to a thickness which readily ruptures at the internal container pressure associated with that temperature.