Electric vehicle cell

• US 5,521,021 A
• Filed: 07/06/1994
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alexander Manufacturing Co.
• Original Assignee: Alexander Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Hughett, Elmer, Alexandres, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US08/271,415
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 429/53-56, 429/94, 429/72, 429/168-174, 429/223, 429/194, 429/213
• US Class Current: 429/54
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0431 Cells with wound or folded electrodes H01M10/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/325 comprising deformable valve members, e.g. elastic or flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/533 characterised by the shape of the leads or tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/536 characterised by the method of fixing the leads to the electrodes, e.g. by welding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/538 Connection of several leads or tabs of wound or folded electrode stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/548 on opposite sides of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/552 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/578 in response to pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/10 with wound or folded electrodes
• 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

An electric vehicle cell featuring internal pressure relief and spring disengagement devices which vent various internal pressures to atmosphere to prevent cell bulging or explosion and which also internally interrupt current flow through the cell due to internal overheat, excessive current draw and the like. Internal reconnection of cell members reoccurs subsequent to internal thermal and other abnormalities.

Claims

1. A battery cell comprising:

a. a case;

b. an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode disposed within said case;

c. a positive current collector within said case in firm engagement with said positive electrode;

d. a negative current collector within said case in firm engagement with said negative electrode;

e. a positive end plate within said case spaced from said positive current collector;

f. a flexible electrical conductor member connecting said positive current collector to said positive end plate; and

,

g. a spring positioned between said positive current collector and said positive end plate and urging said positive current collector into said firm engagement with said positive electrode, said positive current collector being held in said firm engagement with said positive electrode solely by the force exerted on said positive current collector by said spring, whereby upon occurrence of a force sufficient to overcome the tension of said spring, said positive current collector will move out of engagement with said positive electrode, and upon cessation of said force sufficient to overcome the tension of said spring, said spring will again force said positive current collector into said firm engagement with said positive electrode.

2. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein said flexible electrical conductor member is a spring tab formed in one piece with said positive current collector and extending therefrom into contact with said positive end plate.

3. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein said positive current collector has V-projections contacting said positive electrode.

4. The battery cell of claim 3, wherein said negative current collector has V-projections contacting said negative electrode.

5. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein said positive end plate has an external surface, and wherein a positive contact member is attached to said external surface substantially at the center thereof.

6. The battery cell of claim 5, wherein said positive contact member has a disk base and an externally threaded post extending upwardly from said disk base.

7. The battery cell of claim 6, wherein said positive contact member further has a cavity in said disk base, and wherein a vent pellet is located in said cavity.

8. The battery cell of claim 7, wherein said positive end plate has a vent therein in alignment with said vent pellet, and wherein said positive contact member has a vent hole in communication with said cavity.

9. The battery cell of claim 8, wherein said flexible electrical conductor member is a spring tab having a lower end formed integrally with said positive current collector and a free upper end connected to said positive end plate, said free upper end having an orifice therethrough aligned with said vent in said positive end plate.

10. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein said case has an open upper end and an open lower end, and wherein an upper seal ring and an upper closing ring closes said open upper end, and a lower seal ring and a lower closing ring closes said open lower end.

11. The battery cell of claim 10, further including a negative end plate within said casing in contact with said negative current collector, and wherein said positive end plate has a beveled periphery and said upper seal ring has a complementary beveled portion receiving and conforming to said beveled periphery of said positive end plate, and said negative end plate also has a beveled periphery and said lower seal ring has a complementary beveled portion receiving and conforming to said beveled periphery of said negative end plate.

12. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein said spring is a coil spring.

13. The battery cell of claim 2, wherein said spring surrounds said spring tab.

14. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein said positive electrode and said negative electrode are spaced from each other by insulating separators and are spirally wound together with said insulating separators about a centrally located mandrel hole.

15. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein said cell is nickel cadmium.

16. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein said cell is nickel metal hydride.

17. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein said cell is silver metal hydride.

18. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein said cell is lithium ion.

19. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein said cell is lithium polymer.