Method and device for mounting cell

• US 6,376,109 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1998
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Daisuke, Daio, Fumio, Sano, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Brouillette, Gabrielle
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alejandro, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US09/212,964
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 429/1, 429/7, 429/10, 429/121, 429/123, 429/186, 429/187, 429/163, 296/231, 296/232, 297/30, 297/31
• US Class Current: 429/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/216 adapted for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/16 with organic electrolyte H01M6/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53135 Storage cell or battery

Abstract

A battery cell 10 is attached in an apparatus loaded in a revolving body, etc., such that the negative electrode 2 side of the battery cell 10 is oriented, within a prescribed angular range, in the direction in which centrifugal force acts.

Claims

1. A method of attaching a battery cell for use in an apparatus which is installed in a place acted on by centrifugal force, the method comprising:

providing a battery cell which includes a battery case, said battery cell further including positive polarity material, negative polarity material, and a separator received within said battery case, said positive polarity material and said negative polarity material being placed in opposed positions across said separator, said battery cell further including a liquid electrolyte packed between said positive polarity material and said negative polarity material within said battery case; and

inhibiting a decline in discharge capacity of said battery cell when acted upon by the centrifugal force by attaching said battery cell to said apparatus such that a side of the battery cell where the negative polarity material is present faces in a direction which is codirectional with a direction in which said centrifugal force acts on said apparatus.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of providing includes configuring said battery case with a generally flattened shape which presents a thickness which is relatively smaller than an expanded dimension thereof, an interior of said battery case defining a first divided part and a second divided part within said battery case when bisected in a thickness direction thereof, said first and second divided parts corresponding respectively to a positioning of said negative polarity material and said positive polarity material, an interior of said battery case including a vacant volume defined by a volume remaining after volumes of the negative polarity material, the positive polarity material, and the separator are subtracted from a total volume inside said battery case; and

said step of attaching includes attaching said battery cell such that a first portion of said vacant volume in said first divided part is smaller than a second portion of said vacant volume in said second divided part.

3. A battery cell for use in an apparatus which is installed in a place acted on by centrifugal force which is produced by a method comprising the steps of:

placing a positive polarity material comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a halide, and a sulfide, and a negative polarity material comprising at least another component selected from the group consisting of light metal and light metal alloy, such that said positive polarity material and said negative polarity material oppose each other through a separator made of a substance capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 150°

C., into a battery case via an opening therein;

packing a liquid electrolyte which includes one of an organic solvent and mixture of organic solvents having a solvent boiling point of at least 170°

C., into which a lithium salt is dissolved in a form of a solute, between the positive polarity material and the negative polarity material; and

sealing the opening in said battery case with a sealing plate, an intervening gasket being interposed between said sealing plate and said battery case that is resistant to temperatures in excess of 150°

C. and resistant to organic solvents.

4. The battery cell according to claim 3, wherein said separator is made of a substance selected from the group consisting of glass fiber, polyphenylene sulfide fiber, vinylidine polyfluoride resin, polytetrafluoroethylene resin, polybutylene terephthalate resin, and ceramic resin.

5. The batter cell according to claim 3, wherein said organic solvent is made of a substance selected from the group consisting of gamma butylolacate, ethylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, sulfolane, and 3-methyl sulfolane.

6. The battery cell according to claim 3, wherein said gasket is made of substance selected from the group consisting of polyphenylene sulfide resin, polyether ketone resin, polyether ether ketone resin, polytetrafluoroethylene resin, and vinylidene tetrafluoride resin.

7. A method of attaching a battery cell for use in vehicle wheel where the battery cell is acted on by centrifugal force, the method comprising:

providing a battery cell which includes a battery case, said battery cell further including positive polarity material, negative polarity material, and a separator received within said battery case, said positive polarity material and said negative polarity material being placed in opposed positions across said separator, said battery cell further including a liquid electrolyte packed between said positive polarity material and said negative polarity material within said battery case; and

inhibiting a decline in discharge capacity of said battery cell when acted upon by the centrifugal force by attaching said battery cell to said vehicle wheel such that a side of the battery cell where the negative polarity material is present faces in a direction which is codirectional with a direction in which said centrifugal force acts on said apparatus.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

said step of providing includes configuring said battery case with a generally flattened shape which presents a thickness which is relatively smaller than an expanded dimension thereof, an interior of said battery case defining a first divided part and a second divided part within said battery case when bisected in a thickness direction thereof, said first and second divided parts corresponding respectively to a positioning of said negative polarity material and said positive polarity material, an interior of said battery case including a vacant volume defined by a volume remaining after volumes of the negative polarity material, the positive polarity material, and the separator are subtracted from a total volume inside said battery case; and

said step of attaching includes attaching said battery cell such that a first portion of said vacant volume in said first divided part is smaller than a second portion of said vacant volume in said second divided part.