Contact arrangement for a galvanic battery

• US 5,066,555 A
• Filed: 11/13/1985
• Issued: 11/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sporax Oy
• Original Assignee: Sporax Oy
• Inventors: Tamminen, Pentti J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/797,763
• Time in Patent Office: 2,197 Days
• Field of Search: 429/121, 429/152, 429/157, 429/158, 429/170, 429/180, 429/159-162
• US Class Current: 429/121
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/08 with cup-shaped electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/12 with flat electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/46 of flat cells

Abstract

Described herein is a contact arrangement for a battery cell of a galvanic battery. The battery cell comprises a positive mass layer (6, 106) and a negative electrode layer (11, 111). A separator layer (5, 105) separates the positive mass layer (6, 106) and the negative electrode layer (11, 111) from each other. A positive current collector (7, 107) is connected to the positive mass layer (6, 106). A case (1, 2, 101, 102) made of an insulating material hermetically encloses the active components of the battery cell. Contact units (12, 14, 16, 22, 23, 24, 116) create electrical contact through the case (1, 2, 101, 102) with the positive current collector (7, 107) and with the negative electrode layer (11, 111), respectively. An additional insulation layer (9, 13, 113) made of a tough and adhesive material and bounded by the case (1, 2, 101, 102) is provided so as to maintain the hermetic nature of the case despite the passing-through of a contact unit (12, 14, 16, 22, 23, 24, 116). According to the invention, the additional insulation layer (13, 113) is at least on the negative side of the cell disposed on the outer face of the case (1, 2, 101, 102) so that the contact unit (16, 23, 24, 116), when passing through the case (1, 2, 102), first penetrates through the said additional insulation layer (13, 113).

Claims

1. Contact arrangement for a battery cell of a galvanic battery comprising

(a) a positive mass layer;

(b) a negative electrode layer;

(c) a separator layer arranged between the positive mass layer and the negative electrode layer so as to separate each from the other;

(d) a positive current collector connected to the positive mass layer;

(e) a case of an insulating material which hermetically encloses the active components of the battery cell in a vacuum;

(f) contact units to create contact through the case with the positive current collector and with the negative electrode layer, respectively, and

(g) at least one additional insulation layer of a tough and adhesive material and which is limited by the case, so as to maintain the hermetic nature of the case despite the passing-through of the contact unit, wherein the additional insulation layer is at least on the negative side of the cell fitted onto the outer face of the case so that the contact unit, when passing into the case, first penetrates through the said additional insulation layer in a hermetic engagement with the additional insulation layer so as to maintain the vacuum in the cell.

2. A contact arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact units comprise separate units.

3. A contact arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact units each comprise a plate-shaped portion functioning as a current collecting terminal and at least one pin-shaped structure projecting from its plane at least substantially perpendicularly.

4. A contact arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the contact unit is in its position, its pin-shaped structure is circumscribed by the additional insulation layer.

5. A contact layer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a negative terminal of the battery electrically connected to the negative electrode layer, and wherein the contact units are permanently fixed to one of the positive current collector of the cell and the negative terminal of the battery.

6. An alkaline battery comprising at least one battery cell having the contact arrangement according to claim 1.

7. The alkaline battery according to claim 6 wherein said alkaline battery is an alkaline flat cell battery.

8. The alkaline battery according to claim 6, wherein in said alkaline battery comprises at least two battery cells and the adjacent outer faces of the cases of the cells through which the contact units pass are adhered together.

9. The alkaline battery according to claim 8, wherein said alkaline battery is a small size alkaline flat cell battery.

10. An element of a flat alkaline cell comprising a plastic sheet for a cell envelope wall, a metal collector plate having its major surfaces coextensive with the flat dimensions of said cell, a metallic connector, a fused metallic bond between said plate and said connector on a central portion of a first major surface of said plate, a coating of a material which is adherent to the metal of said plate and is resistant to attack by potassium hydroxide on said first major surface of said plate coextensive with and bonded to said first major surface of said plate over essentially the entire surface surrounding said connected bond, and bonded to said plastic sheet over an area essentially coextensive and in registry with said first major surface of said plate, said sheet having a passage for said connector and said connector passing through said sheet at the central portion of said plate, whereby essentially the entire lateral extent of said coating on said plate seals against the flow of potassium hydroxide to be contained within the cell to said passage in said envelope sheet.

11. A combination according to claim 10 wherein said coating is an elastometric hot melt.