Battery pack, battery-mounted device and connection structure for battery pack

• US 8,323,812 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishino, Hajime, Hirakawa, Yasushi, Takamura, Koshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rhee, Jane
• Application Number:
  US12/445,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20100104928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 429/163, 429/149, 429/148, 429/53
• US Class Current: 429/53
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/30 Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/516 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/548 on opposite sides of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/559 Terminals adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round, elliptic or button cells H01M50/553 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

It is aimed to provide a battery pack capable of securing safety by preventing A battery contained in the battery pack from entering a burning state even if the battery releases high-temperature gas in an abnormal state. An exhaust duct 1C for permitting the flow of gas released from the battery is provided and the gas is exhausted to the outside after reducing the temperature thereof in the exhaust duct 1C. A flow passage area of the exhaust duct 1C is in the range of not less than 0.5 mm² and not more than 15 mm² per 1 Ah of the battery capacity. The exhaust duct 1C is provided with a gas cooling portion 1L and a spark trapping portion 1M.

Claims

1. A battery pack containing a battery in a casing, comprising a path for permitting the flow of gas released from the battery, the path being capable of exhausting the gas to the outside after reducing the temperature of the gas in the path, wherein a horizontal cross-sectional area of the path is in the range of not less than 0.5 mm² and not more than 15 mm² per 1 Ah of the capacity of the battery having a gas releasing portion communicating with the path.

2. A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein a duct is provided as the path.

6. A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the path includes heat exchange means or endothermic means for reducing the temperature of the gas.

7. A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the path includes means for trapping sparks generated in the gas.

8. A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the path is connected with gas releasing portions of the respective batteries in such a manner that gas from a plurality of batteries can flow into the path.

18. A battery pack connecting structure, comprising a battery pack according to claim 1 and an external path provided in a battery-mounted device to have the battery pack mounted therein and capable of communicating with the path of the battery pack, wherein an exhaust port of the external path is arranged in a surface of the battery-mounted device different from a side surface facing a user.

20. A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery and the path are detachably attachable to each other.

3. A battery pack containing a battery in a casing, comprising a path for permitting the flow of gas released from the battery, wherein the path is capable of permitting the flow of the gas such that a flow velocity of the gas does not fall to or below a certain value, wherein a horizontal cross-sectional area of the path is in the range of not less than 0.5 mm² and not more than 15 mm² per 1 Ah of the capacity of the battery having a gas releasing portion communicating with the path.

4. A battery pack according to claim 3, wherein a duct is provided as the path.

5. A battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the path includes a bent portion for bending a flowing direction of the gas.

9. A battery-mounted device containing a battery in a casing and exhibiting a specified function by the power of the battery, comprising a path for permitting the flow of gas released from the battery, the path being capable of exhausting the gas to the outside after reducing the temperature of the gas in the path, wherein a horizontal cross-sectional area of the path is in the range of not less than 0.5 mm² and not more than 15 mm² per 1 Ah of the capacity of the battery having a gas releasing portion communicating with the path.

10. A battery-mounted device according to claim 9, wherein a duct is provided as the path.

14. A battery-mounted device according to claim 9, wherein the path includes heat exchange means or endothermic means for reducing the temperature of the gas.

15. A battery-mounted device according to claim 9, wherein the path includes means for trapping sparks generated in the gas.

16. A battery-mounted device according to claim 9, wherein a connecting portion for attaching and detaching the battery or a battery pack to or from the battery-mounted device is provided in the path.

17. A battery-mounted device according to claim 9, wherein the path is connected with gas releasing portions of the respective batteries in such a manner that gas from a plurality of battery packs can flow into the path.

19. A battery-mounted device according to claim 9, wherein an exhaust port for releasing the gas to the outside is arranged in a surface different from a side surface of an electronic-mounted device facing the user.

21. A battery-mounted device according to claim 9, wherein the battery and the path are detachably attachable to each other.

11. A battery-mounted device containing a battery in a casing and exhibiting a specified function by the power of the battery, comprising a path for permitting the flow of gas released from the battery, wherein the path is capable of permitting the flow of the gas such that a flow velocity of the gas does not fall to or below a certain value, wherein a horizontal cross-sectional area of the path is in the range of not less than 0.5 mm² and not more than 15 mm² per 1 Ah of the capacity of the battery having a gas releasing portion communicating with the path.

12. A battery-mounted device according to claim 11, wherein a duct is provided as the path.

13. A battery-mounted device according to claim 11, wherein the path includes a bent portion for bending a flowing direction of the gas.