Device for packaging a lithium battery

• US 5,227,264 A
• Filed: 02/14/1991
• Issued: 07/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hydro-Quebec (Province of Québec)
• Original Assignee: Hydro-Quebec (Province of Québec)
• Inventors: Duval, Michel, Giguere, Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Mark L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, WILLIE
• Application Number:
  US07/655,092
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 29/730, 429/152, 429/153, 429/162, 429/163, 429/178, 429/185, 429/192
• US Class Current: 429/153
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/56 Cup shaped terminals
• 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 29/53135 Storage cell or battery

Abstract

Two metallic foils each have a continuous band of polyethylene film adhesively bonded thereto. The lithium battery is sandwiched between these two metallic foils and a thermo-seal is provided to join the two polyethylene films. This construction prevents any outside substance from contacting the lithium battery.

Claims

1. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery, said lithium battery including a solid polymer electrolyte in electrical contact with an anode of lithium or a lithium alloy and a cathode containing at least one metallic salt, said device comprising

a first metallic foil having a first continuous band of plastic film bonded thereto by means of a thermoset adhesive along entire peripheral edges of said first metallic foil,

a second metallic foil having a second continuous band of plastic film bonded thereto by means of a thermoset adhesive along entire peripheral edges of said second metallic foil,

said first and second metallic foils disposed over one another with the first and second plastic films arranged adjacent one another in facing relationship,

said lithium battery being sandwiched between said first and said second metallic foils in space inside said first and said second continuous bands of plastic film with the anode in contact with one said metallic foil and the cathode in contact with the other metallic foil,

said first and second continuous bands of plastic film being imperviously heat-sealed together to prevent any outside substance to contact said battery.

2. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 1, wherein said metallic foils are made of the same material.

3. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 2, wherein said material, plain or coated on another metal, is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, nickel, copper, aluminum, and alloys thereof.

4. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 3, wherein said metallic foils are made of stainless steel.

5. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 4, wherein said metallic foils have a thickness between 8 μ

and 50 μ

.

6. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 5, wherein said metallic foils are made of stainless steel and have a thickness between 9 μ

and 12 μ

.

7. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 3, wherein said metallic foils are made of nickel and have a thickness of about 9 μ

.

8. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 3, wherein said metallic foils are made of aluminum and have a thickness of about 25 μ

.

9. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second metallic foils are in the form of flat rectangular foils.

10. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second metallic foils are in the form of flat round foils.

11. Battery packing construction for packaging a plurality of lithium batteries according to claim 1, wherein at least said second metallic foil is shaped as a container with a peripheral flange at open part thereof, said second continuous band adhesively bonded to said entire peripheral flange.

12. Battery packing construction for packaging a plurality of lithium batteries according to claim 11, wherein both said first and second metallic foils are shaped as a container with a peripheral flange.

13. Battery packing construction for packaging a plurality of lithium batteries according to claim 11, wherein said first metallic foil is shaped as a shallow container with a peripheral first collar, said second metallic foil is shaped as a deeper container with a longer second collar, said deeper container to receive said shallow container in upper portion thereof, said first continuous band being adhesively bonded along upper edge outside said first collar and said second continuous band being adhesively bonded along upper edge inside said second collar.

14. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second continuous bands of plastic film are made of laminating grade polyethylene.

15. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 14, wherein said polyethylene is high density polyethylene.

16. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 14, wherein said film of laminating grade polyethylene is corona treated on one surface thereof.

17. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 14, wherein said polyethylene film has a thickness between about 25 μ

and 100 μ

.

18. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 17, wherein said thickness is about 50 μ

.

19. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 16, wherein said polyethylene film is bonded to said metallic foil by means of a two part polyester glue.

20. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 19, wherein the adhesive bond has a thickness of about 5 μ

to 25 μ

after setting.

21. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 20, wherein said thickness is about 10 μ

.

22. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 19, wherein the corona treated surface faces the corresponding metallic foil, and the adhesive bond is formed between said corona treated surface and said metallic foil.

23. Battery packing construction for packaging at least one lithium battery according to claim 1, wherein said first metallic foil and said first continuous band have a slightly smaller surface area than said second metallic foil and said second continuous band so as to prevent any possible electrical contact between said first and said second metallic foils when said device is assembled.