SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING BATTERY CELLS

• US 20130196197A1
• Filed: 01/21/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Tyler, Matthew R., Fuhr, Jason D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,945,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/82
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/176 for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/181 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/179 for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/176, H01M50/181 take 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 50/528 Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/536 characterised by the method of fixing the leads to the electrodes, e.g. by welding
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing

Abstract

A system includes a battery cell having a packaging and a coil disposed within the packaging. The battery cell further includes a first terminal electrically coupled to a portion the coil and protruding through an opening in the packaging, wherein the first terminal is hermetically sealed at the opening in the packaging using a compressive force.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a battery cell, comprising;

a packaging;

a coil disposed within the packaging;

a first terminal electrically coupled to a portion the coil and protruding through an opening in the packaging, wherein the first terminal is hermetically sealed at the opening in the packaging using a compressive force.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the packaging comprises a cupped portion disposed around the opening, and wherein a press-fit ring is configured to provide the compressive force around the cupped portion to hermetically seal the first terminal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery cell comprises an insulating gasket disposed between the packaging and the first terminal at the opening in the packaging.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first terminal comprises a bolt having a threaded shaft disposed through the opening in the packaging.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first terminal comprises a nut threaded onto the shaft of the bolt, wherein the nut is configured to provide a compressive force to a gasket disposed between the first terminal and the packaging to hermetically seal the first terminal.

6. The system of claim 1, comprising a second terminal electrically coupled to a different portion of the coil and protruding through a second opening in the packaging, wherein the second terminal is hermetically sealed at the second opening using a second compressive force.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the packaging of the battery cell comprises a vent feature stamped into the packaging.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the packaging is prismatic, cylindrical, or oblong cylindrical in shape.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the packaging is metallic or polymeric.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the packaging has a neutral polarity.

11. A battery cell package, comprising:

a first cupped portion disposed about a first terminal port on a face of the package, wherein the first terminal port is configured to allow the first terminal to pass through the package, and wherein the first cupped portion is configured to be compressed by a first press-fit ring toward the first terminal to seal the first terminal port.

12. The battery cell package of claim 11, comprising a second cupped portion disposed about a second terminal port on the face of the package, wherein the second cupped portion is configured to allow the second terminal to pass through the package, and wherein the second cupped portion is configured to be compressed by a second press-fit ring toward the second terminal to seal the first terminal port.

13. The battery cell package of claim 12, wherein the first terminal port is configured to receive a first insulator gasket, and wherein the first insulator gasket is configured to be disposed between the first terminal and the first cup of the package, and wherein the second terminal port is configured to receive a second insulator gasket, and wherein the second insulator gasket is configured to be disposed between the second terminal and the second cup of the package.

14. A method of manufacturing a battery cell, comprising:

providing a battery package comprising a terminal port and an open face;

providing a coil assembly, wherein the coil assembly comprises a coil coupled to a terminal;

passing the terminal through the terminal port from inside the battery package; and

hermetically sealing the terminal port using a compressive force.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the terminal comprises a bolt having a threaded shaft, and wherein a gasket is disposed in the terminal port and comprising tightening a nut down onto the threaded shaft of the bolt after passing the bolt through the terminal port, wherein the nut is configured to provide a compressive force to the seal the gasket into the terminal port.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the battery package comprises a cupped portion disposed around the terminal port and comprising disposing a press-fit ring around the cupped portion, wherein the press-fit ring is capable of compressing the cupped portion of the battery package inwardly to hermetically seal the terminal port.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising pressing the press-fit ring to compress the cupped portion inwardly, then passing the terminal through the compressed cupped portion with sufficient pushing and/or pulling force to hermetically seal the terminal port.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising passing the terminal through the cupped portion, and then pressing the press-fit ring to compress the cupped portion inwardly toward the terminal to hermetically seal the terminal port.

19. The method of claim 14, comprising crimping a bottom plate onto the open face of the battery cell.

20. The method of claim 14, comprising welding a bottom plate onto the open face of the battery cell.

21. The method of claim 14, comprising disposing a top spacer about the terminal after hermetically sealing the terminal, wherein the top spacer is configured to receive and capture a nut, and wherein the nut is configured to receive a threaded connector.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the top spacer is configured to receive and hold a terminal cap, wherein the terminal cap comprises a first metal in a first portion configured to attach to the terminal, and wherein the terminal cap comprises a second metal in a second portion configured to attach to a bus bar.