Battery and safety device therefor

• US 5,585,207 A
• Filed: 10/12/1995
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd. (GS Yuasa Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Japan Storage Battery Company Limited (GS Yuasa Corporation)
• Inventors: Kojima, Tetsuzo, Maki, Takao, Sakai, Yasuharu, Wakabe, Masayuki, Miura, Jun-ichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nuzzolillo, Maria
• Application Number:
  US08/541,264
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 429/178, 429/179, 429/180, 429/181
• US Class Current: 429/178
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/20 Pressure-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/382 Lithium H01M4/405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/176 for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/181 takes precedence
• 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 50/578 in response to pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A safety device of the present invention for a storage battery includes a charge-discharge lead one end of which is connected to a positive electrode side of the storage battery and the other end of which is connected to a positive terminal of the storage battery; a pressure-sensing device which deforms in response to the increase of the pressure in the storage battery; and a cutting device for cutting the charge-discharge lead. The cutting device is pressed by the deformation of the pressure-sensing device to cut the charge-discharge lead.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

power generation elements including an electric collection member;

a casing which accommodates said power generation elements therein;

a terminal which is mounted in said casing, said terminal including an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said electric collection member being crimped to said lower end portion; and

a terminal plate being crimped to said upper end portion so that said terminal plate is mechanically and electrically connected to said terminal.

2. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing includes an opening, said terminal being inserted into said casing through said opening.

3. A battery as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a insulation packing provided between said terminal and casing.

4. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper end portion comprises a columnar shaft, and said terminal plate has a circular opening including a tapered inner wall whose diameter decreases in a direction from the outside of said battery toward an inside thereof, said columnar shaft being inserted into said circular opening to be crimped to said terminal plate.

5. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower end portion comprises a cylindrical shaft, and said electric collection member has a circular opening, said cylindrical shaft being inserted into said circular opening to be crimped to said electric collection member.

6. A battery as claimed in claim 4, wherein said terminal includes a rectangular body portion, said lower end portion comprises a cylindrical shaft, and said electric collection member has a circular opening, said cylindrical shaft being inserted into said circular opening of said electric collection member to be crimped to said electric collection member.

7. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said terminal and said electric collection member comprises at least one of aluminum and aluminum-alloy.

8. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said terminal plate comprises at least one of stainless steel, nickel-plated stainless steel and nickel-plated ferrous.