REUSABLE ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL TEST FIXTURE

• US 20110159327A1
• Filed: 12/28/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Deckard, Kyle, Hardwick, Bobby
• Granted Patent: US 8,557,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/90
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A container for testing an electrochemical cell having at least one anode and at least one cathode. The container includes a base and a lid movably coupled to the base between an open position and a closed position. The base and the lid cooperate to define an internal cavity that is sized to receive the electrochemical cell.

Claims

1. A container for testing an electrochemical cell having at least one anode and at least one cathode, the container including:

a base; and

a lid movably coupled to the base between an open position and a closed position, the base and the lid cooperating to define an internal cavity that is sized to receive the electrochemical cell,

wherein, with the lid in the closed position, the container includes;

a first opening into the internal cavity that is sized to receive a first wire in electrical communication with the at least one anode of the electrochemical cell;

a second opening into the internal cavity that is sized to receive a second wire in electrical communication with the at least one cathode of the electrochemical cell; and

a third opening into the internal cavity that is configured to direct an electrolytic solution into the internal cavity.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the base defines a plurality of bores and the lid defines a plurality of corresponding bores that are sized to receive a plurality of bolts for securing the lid onto the base in the closed position.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the base is constructed of a polycarbonate material.

4. The container of claim 1, further including a first electrical feed coupled to the container in communication with the first opening and a second electrical feed coupled to the container in communication with the second opening, the first and second electrical feeds configured to grip onto the first and second wires to provide a seal around the first and second wires.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the third opening of the container includes an inlet channel that is configured to receive the electrolytic solution and a plurality of outlet channels in fluid communication with the inlet channel that are configured to deliver the electrolytic solution from the inlet channel into the internal cavity.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the first and second openings are located at an opposite end of the container from the third opening.

7. The container of claim 1, further including a seal, wherein at least one of the base and the lid defines a groove that surrounds the internal cavity for receiving the seal therein.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the base defines a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls of the internal cavity and the lid defines a top wall of the internal cavity.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the lid includes a protrusion that extends beyond a top surface of the base and along the plurality of side walls of the internal cavity when the lid is in the closed position.

10. A system for testing a multi-cell battery including:

a first electrochemical cell from the battery, the first electrochemical cell including a first negative terminal, a first positive terminal, a first negative wire coupled to the first negative terminal, and a first positive wire coupled to the first positive terminal;

a second electrochemical cell from the battery, the second electrochemical cell including a second negative terminal, a second positive terminal, a second negative wire coupled to the second negative terminal, and a second positive wire coupled to the second positive terminal; and

a container including a base and a lid movably coupled to the base between an open position and a closed position, the base and the lid cooperating to define an internal cavity that is sized to interchangeably receive the first and second electrochemical cells;

wherein, with the lid in the closed position, the container includes;

a first opening into the internal cavity that is sized to interchangeably receive the first negative wire of the first electrochemical cell and the second negative wire of the second electrochemical cell;

a second opening into the internal cavity that is sized to interchangeably receive the first positive wire of the first electrochemical cell and the second positive wire of the second electrochemical cell; and

a third opening into the internal cavity that is configured to direct an electrolytic solution into the internal cavity.

11. The system of claim 10, further including a first electrical feed coupled to the container in communication with the first opening and a second electrical feed coupled to the container in communication with the second opening, the first electrical feed being configured to interchangeably grip onto the first and second negative wires and the second electrical feed being configured to interchangeably grip onto the first and second positive wires.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the third opening of the container includes an inlet channel that is configured to receive the electrolytic solution and a plurality of outlet channels in fluid communication with the inlet channel that are configured to deliver the electrolytic solution from the inlet channel into the internal cavity of the container.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second openings are located at an opposite end of the container from the third opening.

14. The system of claim 10, further including a seal, wherein at least one of the base and the lid of the container defines a groove that surrounds the internal cavity for receiving the seal therein.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the base of the container defines a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls of the internal cavity and the lid of the container defines a top wall of the internal cavity.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the bottom wall, the plurality of side walls, and the top wall exerts pressure on each of the first and second electrochemical cells when the lid in the closed position.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the lid of the container includes a protrusion that extends beyond a top surface of the base and along the plurality of side walls of the internal cavity when the lid is in the closed position.

18. A method for testing an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell having at least one anode and at least one cathode, the electrochemical cell including a first wire coupled to the at least one anode and a second wire coupled to the at least one cathode, the method including the steps of:

providing a container including a base and a lid, the base and the lid cooperating to define an internal cavity;

placing the electrochemical cell within the internal cavity of the container with the first wire extending out of the container through a first opening in the container and the second wire extending out of the container through a second opening in the container;

coupling the first and second wires to a test apparatus;

closing the lid of the container;

injecting an electrolytic solution into the internal cavity of the container through a third opening in the container; and

using the test apparatus to test the electrochemical cell.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the injecting step and the using step are performed while maintaining the lid in a closed position.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the container includes first and second electrical feeds in communication with the first and second openings, the method further comprising the step of tightening the first and second electrical feeds onto the first and second wires.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of evacuating the internal cavity of the container before the injecting step by pulling a vacuum on the container.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the injecting step comprises applying a back pressure to the electrolytic solution to force the electrolytic solution into the internal cavity of the container.