Battery packaging for flat cell batteries having a compressing material for the cell stack

• US 5,670,272 A
• Filed: 03/31/1994
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valence Technology Incorporated (Lithium Werks B.V.)
• Original Assignee: Valence Technology Incorporated (Lithium Werks B.V.)
• Inventors: Moulton, Russell D., Cheu, S. Scot
• Primary Examiner(s): CHU, JOHN S Y
• Application Number:
  US08/221,437
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 429/152, 429/153, 429/127, 429/162, 429/163, 429/218, 429/191, 429/192, 429/210
• US Class Current: 429/162
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0468 Compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• 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 4/382 Lithium H01M4/405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/121 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/131 characterised by physical properties, e.g. gas permeability, size or heat resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/10 with wound or folded electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/12 with flat electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/181 with polymeric electrolytes
• 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

In order to maintain electrical contact between the anode, cathode and electrolyte layers in an electrochemical cell, a layer of material under tension is wrapped around the cell so that the material compresses the layers together to ensure sufficient electrical contact. Alternatively, a metal, foam or inflatable gas spring is employed in a housing structure containing the electrochemical cell to apply a compressive force to achieve the same result.

Claims

1. A battery assembly comprising:

a housing having a chamber therein containing a laminar battery surrounded by a of heat-shrinkable compressive material, and an inert gas;

a laminar battery having at least one anode layer, one cathode layer and one electrolyte layer between said anode and cathode layers;

a layer of heat-shrink material surrounding and in contact with the laminar battery, said material having been heated to apply compressive pressure to the laminar battery and insure contact between the electrolyte and anode and cathode layers; and

an inert gas within said chamber.

2. A battery assembly comprising:

a laminar battery having at least one anode layer, one cathode layer and one electrolyte layer between said anode and cathode layers;

a layer of heat-shrink material surrounding and in contact with the laminar battery, said material having been heated to apply compressive pressure to insure sufficient contact between the electrolyte and anode and cathode layers; and

a housing with a chamber therein containing the laminar battery and the compressive layer of heat-shrink material, said housing further including inert gas in said housing chamber.