CN108448023A - A kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly - Google Patents

A kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN108448023A
CN108448023A CN201810479443.1A CN201810479443A CN108448023A CN 108448023 A CN108448023 A CN 108448023A CN 201810479443 A CN201810479443 A CN 201810479443A CN 108448023 A CN108448023 A CN 108448023A
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
fixedly connected
seal assembly
placing groove
cell body
gauge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CN201810479443.1A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Other versions
CN108448023B (en
Inventor
金容升
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nantong Power Supply Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Nantong Power Supply Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nantong Power Supply Co Ltd filed Critical Nantong Power Supply Co Ltd
Priority to CN201810479443.1A priority Critical patent/CN108448023B/en
Publication of CN108448023A publication Critical patent/CN108448023A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN108448023B publication Critical patent/CN108448023B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/20Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
    • H01M50/256Carrying devices, e.g. belts
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/05Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte
    • H01M10/052Li-accumulators
    • H01M10/0525Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/05Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte
    • H01M10/058Construction or manufacture
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/10Primary casings; Jackets or wrappings
    • H01M50/183Sealing members
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/20Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10Energy storage using batteries
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02PCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Sealing Battery Cases Or Jackets (AREA)
  • Primary Cells (AREA)

Abstract

The invention discloses a kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assemblies, including cell body, the both sides of the cell body top surface have been fixedly connected with conducting rod, surface at the top of the cell body and offer placing groove between two conducting rods, it has been fixedly connected with resetting spring on front side of the both sides of the placing groove inner cavity and at the top and bottom of rear side, semicircle snap-gauge is fixedly connected on the inside of the resetting spring.The present invention is by being arranged being used cooperatively for resetting spring, guide rod, pull rod, loose slot, placing groove, semicircle snap-gauge, sealing girth sheets, card slot, fixture block and inlet and outlet, convenient positioning can be carried out to seal assembly, improve the stability of seal assembly, seal assembly is solved when being sealed to lithium battery, because that cannot position, causes seal assembly to be in the presence of shaking, the poor problem of leakproofness occur so as to cause seal assembly, the practicability for substantially increasing seal assembly, is worthy to be popularized.

Description

A kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly
Technical field
The present invention relates to technical field of lithium batteries, specially a kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly.
Background technology
Lithium battery is one kind using lithium metal or lithium alloy as negative material, using the one-shot battery of non-aqueous electrolytic solution, It is different with lithium ion polymer battery with rechargeable battery lithium ion battery, since the chemical characteristic of lithium metal is very living It sprinkles so that processing, preservation, the use of lithium metal, it is very high to environmental requirement, so, lithium battery is not applied for a long time;With The development of microelectric technique, the equipment of miniaturization is increasing, and very high requirement is proposed to power supply, and lithium battery enters therewith Large-scale practical stage.
In high-capacity lithium battery, seal assembly is widely used, and existing seal assembly is sealed to lithium battery When, it cannot get convenience positioning so that seal assembly is susceptible to the situation of shaking, leakproofness occurs so as to cause seal assembly Poor problem greatly reduces the practicability of seal assembly, is unfavorable for the sealing of high-capacity lithium battery.
Invention content
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assemblies, have the advantages of facilitating positioning, solution There is the poor problem of leakproofness in seal assembly of having determined.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:A kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly, including The both sides of cell body, the cell body top surface have been fixedly connected with conducting rod, the surface at the top of the cell body and are located at Offer placing groove between two conducting rods, on front side of the both sides of the placing groove inner cavity be fixedly connected at the top and bottom of rear side There is resetting spring;
It is fixedly connected with semicircle snap-gauge on the inside of the resetting spring, is fixed at the center of the semicircle snap-gauge top surface It is connected with pull rod, the top of the pull rod runs through placing groove and extends to the top of placing groove, on the left of the semicircle snap-gauge Surface offers loose slot, has been fixedly connected with guide rod at the center of placing groove inner cavity both sides, the guide rod it is interior Side extends to the inner cavity of loose slot, and the top and bottom of the semicircle snap-gauge inner surface offer card slot, the placement It is communicated with liquid filling mouth at the center of slot intracavity bottom, is laterally fixedly connected at the center of the liquid filling mouth inner cavity top There is sealing girth sheets, runs through at the center of the sealing girth sheets top surface and offer inlet and outlet, the cell body top surface Round positioning plate is provided at center, the surface at the top of the circle positioning plate is fixedly connected with swivel becket, the round positioning Plunger is fixedly connected at the center of plate bottom surface, the bottom of the plunger sequentially passes through placing groove and sealing ring from top to bottom Plate simultaneously extend to sealing girth sheets bottom, the bottom of the plunger surface and positioned at sealing girth sheets at the top of be arranged with elastic packing Circle is fixedly connected at the top of the plunger both sides there are two fixture block, and card slot inner cavity is extended on the outside of the fixture block.
Preferably, the quadrangle of the cell body bottom surface has been fixedly connected with support leg, the bottom on the support leg surface Portion is arranged with resilient sleeve.
Preferably, it has been fixedly connected with fixed ring at the top of the cell body both sides, the inner cavity of the fixed ring is provided with Draw ring.
Preferably, the inner ring of the semicircle snap-gauge and the surface of plunger are sliding contact, the surface of the plunger with into The inner ring of outlet is sliding contact.
Compared with prior art, beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:
1, the present invention is by being arranged resetting spring, guide rod, pull rod, loose slot, placing groove, semicircle snap-gauge, sealing girth sheets, card Slot, fixture block and inlet and outlet are used cooperatively, and can be carried out convenient positioning to seal assembly, be improved the stability of seal assembly, solve Seal assembly determined when being sealed to lithium battery, because cannot position, seal assembly has been caused to be in the presence of shaking, so as to cause There is the poor problem of leakproofness in seal assembly, substantially increases the practicability of seal assembly, is worthy to be popularized.
2, the present invention can effectively seal liquid filling mouth, avoid the leakage of liquid by elastic seal ring, lead to Swivel becket is crossed, round positioning plate can effectively be rotated, facilitate the cooperation of fixture block and card slot, by semicircle snap-gauge and close The cooperation of seal plate can carry out effective position to plunger, improve the stability of plunger.
Description of the drawings
Fig. 1 is schematic structural view of the invention;
Fig. 2 is the semicircle snap-gauge vertical view of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is the enlarged drawing of A in Fig. 1 of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is present invention sealing girth sheets vertical view.
In figure:1 cell body, 2 draw rings, 3 fixed rings, 4 conducting rods, 5 resetting springs, 6 guide rods, 7 pull rods, 8 loose slots, 9 Placing groove, 10 support legs, 11 semicircle snap-gauges, 12 swivel beckets, 13 round positioning plates, 14 elastic seal rings, 15 plungers, 16 sealings Girth sheets, 17 card slots, 18 fixture blocks, 19 inlet and outlet, 20 resilient sleeves, 21 liquid filling mouths.
Specific implementation mode
Following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and technical solution in the embodiment of the present invention carries out clear, complete Site preparation describes, it is clear that described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, instead of all the embodiments.It is based on Embodiment in the present invention, it is obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without making creative efforts every other Embodiment shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Please refer to Fig.1-4, a kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly, including cell body 1,1 bottom surface of cell body Quadrangle has been fixedly connected with support leg 10, and the bottom on 10 surface of support leg is arranged with resilient sleeve 20, and the top of 1 both sides of cell body is equal It is fixedly connected with fixed ring 3, the inner cavity of fixed ring 3 is provided with draw ring 2, and the both sides of 1 top surface of cell body have been fixedly connected with Conducting rod 4, the surface at the top of cell body 1 and offers placing groove 9 between two conducting rods 4, before 9 inner cavity both sides of placing groove Resetting spring 5 has been fixedly connected at the top and bottom of side and rear side;
The inside of resetting spring 5 is fixedly connected with semicircle snap-gauge 11, the company of fixation at the center of 11 top surface of semicircle snap-gauge It is connected to pull rod 7, the top of pull rod 7 runs through placing groove 9 and extends to the top of placing groove 9, the surface in 11 left side of semicircle snap-gauge Loose slot 8 is offered, has been fixedly connected with guide rod 6 at the center of 9 inner cavity both sides of placing groove, the inside of guide rod 6 extends to The top and bottom of the inner cavity of loose slot 8,11 inner surface of semicircle snap-gauge offer card slot 17,9 intracavity bottom of placing groove Center at be communicated with liquid filling mouth 21, be laterally fixedly connected with sealing girth sheets at the center of 21 inner cavity top of liquid filling mouth 16, it seals at the center of 16 top surface of girth sheets through inlet and outlet 19 are offered, is provided at the center of 1 top surface of cell body The surface of round positioning plate 13,13 top of round positioning plate is fixedly connected with swivel becket 12,13 bottom surface of round positioning plate Plunger 15 is fixedly connected at center, the bottom of plunger 15 sequentially passes through placing groove 9 and sealing girth sheets 16 and extends from top to bottom To the bottom of sealing girth sheets 16, the inner ring of semicircle snap-gauge 11 and the surface of plunger 15 are sliding contact, the surface of plunger 15 with The inner ring of inlet and outlet 19 is sliding contact, by the cooperation of semicircle snap-gauge 11 and sealing girth sheets 16, can be had to plunger 15 Effect positioning, improves the stability of plunger 15, and the bottom on 15 surface of plunger and the top for being located at sealing girth sheets 16 are arranged flexible Sealing ring 14 can effectively seal liquid filling mouth 21, avoid the leakage of liquid, plunger by elastic seal ring 14 It being fixedly connected at the top of 15 both sides there are two fixture block 18, the outside of fixture block 18 extends to 17 inner cavity of card slot, by swivel becket 12, Round positioning plate 13 can effectively be rotated, facilitate the cooperation of fixture block 18 and card slot 17, by the way that resetting spring 5 is arranged, leads To bar 6, pull rod 7, loose slot 8, placing groove 9, semicircle snap-gauge 11, sealing girth sheets 16, card slot 17, fixture block 18 and inlet and outlet 19 It is used cooperatively, convenient positioning can be carried out to seal assembly, improve the stability of seal assembly, solve seal assembly to lithium When cell sealing, because that cannot position, causes seal assembly to be in the presence of shaking, leakproofness occur so as to cause seal assembly Poor problem substantially increases the practicability of seal assembly, is worthy to be popularized.
In use, when seal assembly needs in use, pulling pull rod 7, is moved under the action of pull rod 7 outside semicircle snap-gauge 11 Resetting spring 5 is squeezed, round positioning plate 13 is then placed into the top with cell body 1, and pressed, makes plunger 15 Into the bottom of sealing girth sheets 16, stop pulling under the action of resetting spring 5 pull rod 7, semicircle snap-gauge 11 resets, rotation Swivel becket 12 makes fixture block 18 be formed with card slot 17 and coordinates, completes operation.
In summary:The high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly, by the way that resetting spring 5 is arranged, guide rod 6, pull rod 7, lives Dynamic slot 8, semicircle snap-gauge 11, seals being used cooperatively for girth sheets 16, card slot 17, fixture block 18 and inlet and outlet 19 at placing groove 9, solves There is the poor problem of leakproofness in seal assembly.
It although an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, for the ordinary skill in the art, can be with Understanding without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention can carry out these embodiments a variety of variations, modification, replace And modification, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended.

Claims (4)

1. a kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly, including cell body(1), it is characterised in that:The cell body(1)Top table The both sides in face have been fixedly connected with conducting rod(4), the cell body(1)The surface at top and be located at two conducting rods(4)Between Offer placing groove(9), the placing groove(9)It is fixedly connected with reset bullet on front side of the both sides of inner cavity and at the top and bottom of rear side Spring(5);
The resetting spring(5)Inside be fixedly connected with semicircle snap-gauge(11), the semicircle snap-gauge(11)Top surface Center at be fixedly connected with pull rod(7), the pull rod(7)Top run through placing groove(9)And extend to placing groove(9)Top Portion, the semicircle snap-gauge(11)The surface in left side offers loose slot(8), the placing groove(9)At the center of inner cavity both sides It has been fixedly connected with guide rod(6), the guide rod(6)Inside extend to loose slot(8)Inner cavity, it is described semicircle snap-gauge (11)The top and bottom of inner surface offer card slot(17), the placing groove(9)It is communicated at the center of intracavity bottom Liquid filling mouth(21), the liquid filling mouth(21)Sealing girth sheets is laterally fixedly connected at the center of inner cavity top(16), The sealing girth sheets(16)Run through at the center of top surface and offers inlet and outlet(19), the cell body(1)Top surface Round positioning plate is provided at center(13), the circle positioning plate(13)The surface at top is fixedly connected with swivel becket(12), The circle positioning plate(13)It is fixedly connected with plunger at the center of bottom surface(15), the plunger(15)Bottom from up to Under sequentially pass through placing groove(9)With sealing girth sheets(16)And extend to sealing girth sheets(16)Bottom, the plunger(15)Surface Bottom and positioned at sealing girth sheets(16)Top be arranged with elastic seal ring(14), the plunger(15)The top of both sides is solid There are two fixture blocks for fixed connection(18), the fixture block(18)Outside extend to card slot(17)Inner cavity.
2. a kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly according to claim 1, it is characterised in that:The cell body(1) The quadrangle of bottom surface has been fixedly connected with support leg(10), the support leg(10)The bottom on surface is arranged with resilient sleeve (20).
3. a kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly according to claim 1, it is characterised in that:The cell body(1) Fixed ring has been fixedly connected at the top of both sides(3), the fixed ring(3)Inner cavity be provided with draw ring(2).
4. a kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly according to claim 1, it is characterised in that:The semicircle snap-gauge (11)Inner ring and plunger(15)Surface be sliding contact, the plunger(15)Surface and inlet and outlet(19)Inner ring be slide Dynamic contact.
CN201810479443.1A 2018-05-18 2018-05-18 Sealing assembly for high-capacity lithium battery Active CN108448023B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201810479443.1A CN108448023B (en) 2018-05-18 2018-05-18 Sealing assembly for high-capacity lithium battery

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201810479443.1A CN108448023B (en) 2018-05-18 2018-05-18 Sealing assembly for high-capacity lithium battery

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN108448023A true CN108448023A (en) 2018-08-24
CN108448023B CN108448023B (en) 2023-05-30

Family

ID=63204641

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN201810479443.1A Active CN108448023B (en) 2018-05-18 2018-05-18 Sealing assembly for high-capacity lithium battery

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CN (1) CN108448023B (en)

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE9312172U1 (en) * 1993-08-14 1993-10-07 Varta Batterie Insert for openings in the cell cover of electrical batteries
JP2011086382A (en) * 2009-10-13 2011-04-28 Toshiba Corp Sealed battery
CN103887454A (en) * 2012-12-24 2014-06-25 上海比亚迪有限公司 Lithium ion battery seal structure and its lithium ion battery
CN206003899U (en) * 2016-05-31 2017-03-08 余赛君 The lithium ion battery of sealed taper can conveniently be opened
JP2017076475A (en) * 2015-10-13 2017-04-20 株式会社豊田自動織機 Power storage device
CN206432341U (en) * 2017-02-20 2017-08-22 南通耐维特电源有限公司 Safety-type lithium battery
CN207320226U (en) * 2017-10-17 2018-05-04 江西中锂新能源有限责任公司 The lithium ion battery of fluid injection can be facilitated
CN208422987U (en) * 2018-05-18 2019-01-22 南通耐维特电源有限公司 A kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE9312172U1 (en) * 1993-08-14 1993-10-07 Varta Batterie Insert for openings in the cell cover of electrical batteries
JP2011086382A (en) * 2009-10-13 2011-04-28 Toshiba Corp Sealed battery
CN103887454A (en) * 2012-12-24 2014-06-25 上海比亚迪有限公司 Lithium ion battery seal structure and its lithium ion battery
JP2017076475A (en) * 2015-10-13 2017-04-20 株式会社豊田自動織機 Power storage device
CN206003899U (en) * 2016-05-31 2017-03-08 余赛君 The lithium ion battery of sealed taper can conveniently be opened
CN206432341U (en) * 2017-02-20 2017-08-22 南通耐维特电源有限公司 Safety-type lithium battery
CN207320226U (en) * 2017-10-17 2018-05-04 江西中锂新能源有限责任公司 The lithium ion battery of fluid injection can be facilitated
CN208422987U (en) * 2018-05-18 2019-01-22 南通耐维特电源有限公司 A kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN108448023B (en) 2023-05-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN109638358A (en) A kind of packaging system of lithium battery
CN108408254A (en) A kind of Portable dry cold storage of cell case
CN103996876A (en) Lithium ion battery formation method and preparation method
CN208422987U (en) A kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly
CN108550739A (en) A kind of fixing device of battery of electric vehicle
CN106848134B (en) A kind of convenient and practical power battery placing box
CN209691852U (en) A kind of all-vanadium flow battery pile end plate sealing device
CN210224194U (en) Button cell's equipment and closing device
CN208753620U (en) A kind of USB charge port of the intelligent robot with dust reduction capability
CN108448023A (en) A kind of high-capacity lithium battery seal assembly
CN205050917U (en) Cylindrical lithium ion battery annotates liquid mechanism
CN209217133U (en) A kind of pneumatic seal clamp of novel aluminum case lithium battery
CN110350233A (en) A kind of assembling of button cell and closing device
CN206532821U (en) A kind of linear cylindrical battery pallet apparatus
CN208457185U (en) A kind of pressure container seal structure
CN207353357U (en) A kind of lithium battery pressure relief device
CN206250276U (en) A kind of lithium battery filling machine electrolyte recycling device
CN207338493U (en) A kind of lithium ion battery encapsulation device of leakproof
CN208835199U (en) One envelope machine of lithium battery
CN208315896U (en) A kind of computer hardware dustproof and waterproof USB slot
CN208970677U (en) A kind of two sealing mechanism of lithium ion battery
CN208848991U (en) A kind of battery pole ear heat-sealing device
CN204029937U (en) Soft-package battery reshaping device
CN209607793U (en) A kind of durable lithium ion battery
CN208423075U (en) A kind of waterproof encapsulation structure for lithium ion battery

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PB01 Publication
PB01 Publication
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
GR01 Patent grant
GR01 Patent grant