GB2058440A - Improvements in or Relating to Galvanic Cells - Google Patents

Improvements in or Relating to Galvanic Cells Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2058440A
GB2058440A GB7931684A GB7931684A GB2058440A GB 2058440 A GB2058440 A GB 2058440A GB 7931684 A GB7931684 A GB 7931684A GB 7931684 A GB7931684 A GB 7931684A GB 2058440 A GB2058440 A GB 2058440A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
closure member
web
casing
galvanic cell
tubular casing
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
GB7931684A
Other versions
GB2058440B (en
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.)
Berec Group Ltd
Original Assignee
Berec Group 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 Berec Group Ltd filed Critical Berec Group Ltd
Priority to GB7931684A priority Critical patent/GB2058440B/en
Priority to NL8004848A priority patent/NL8004848A/en
Priority to DE19803033113 priority patent/DE3033113A1/en
Priority to JP12289680A priority patent/JPS5650049A/en
Priority to FR8019449A priority patent/FR2469008B1/en
Priority to IT12642/80A priority patent/IT1136194B/en
Priority to LU82759A priority patent/LU82759A1/en
Priority to SE8006332A priority patent/SE8006332L/en
Priority to BE0/202071A priority patent/BE885193A/en
Priority to NO802698A priority patent/NO802698L/en
Priority to ZA00805605A priority patent/ZA805605B/en
Priority to DK387980A priority patent/DK387980A/en
Publication of GB2058440A publication Critical patent/GB2058440A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2058440B publication Critical patent/GB2058440B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/10—Primary casings; Jackets or wrappings
    • H01M50/147—Lids or covers
    • H01M50/148—Lids or covers characterised by their shape
    • H01M50/154—Lid or cover comprising an axial bore for receiving a central current collector
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/30—Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
    • H01M50/342—Non-re-sealable arrangements
    • H01M50/3425—Non-re-sealable arrangements in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member
    • Y—GENERAL 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
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Gas Exhaust Devices For Batteries (AREA)
  • Sealing Battery Cases Or Jackets (AREA)

Abstract

A sealed galvanic cell has a tubular casing (11) sealed at one end with a plastics closure member (13) covered by an outer conducting cap (15). The closure member (13) is moulded with an integral plug (26) joined to the remainder of the closure member by a thin plastics web (25) extending along the length of the tube and capable of rupturing and thereby releasing the plug (26) in the event of excess gas pressure in the cell. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or Relating to Galvanic Cells The present invention relates to galvanic cells and more particularly to the provision of such cells with pressure release means. Galvanic cells for the generation of electricity are well known and commonly comprise a tubular casing, which may form one electrode of the cell, housing electrolyte and any anode or cathode material necessary for the operation of the cell, together with a further electrode. It is necessary to seal the contents into the casing so as to prevent leakage of electrolyte. It is also common in such cells to provide a plastic closure member at one end of the tubular casing, the plastic closure member being resistant to the electrolyte and held in sealing engagement at one end of the casing.
Various proposals have previously been made for the incorporation of a pressure relief mechanism in the plastic closure member in the event that excessive gas pressure should build up inside the cell. This can occur for various reasons including the possibility of excessive charging current being applied to the cell. Known galvanic cells include rechargeable units and even those which are not intended for recharging can be subject to a charging current if wrongly connected in use.
During a charging operation the cell electrolyte generates gas and in certain conditions could cause excessive pressure which if allowed to build up within the cell could cause the cell to burst.
Various pressure relief mechanisms have been proposed but the problems of providing a satisfactory arrangement increase as it is necessary to make cells of smaller and smaller sizes thereby involving problems of very small manufacturing tolerances and the difficulties of handling very small components.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealed galvanic cell with an improved pressure relief device.
According to the present invention there is provided a sealed galvanic cell comprising a tubular casing having an opening at one end, electrolyte contained within said casing, an insulating closure member fixed in sealing engagement in said opening so as to close the casing in a sealed manner, an outer conducting cap located over the closure member and spaced from the casing, and a terminal member extending from said cap through the closure member into said electrolyte, said closure member being moulded in one piece from plastics material resistant to the electrolyte and incorporating an integral plug member joined to the remainder of the closure member by a thin web of plastics material which extends between the plug member and the remainder of the closure member in a direction along the length of the tubular casing and is thin in a direction transverse to the length of the tubular casing, whereby the closure member provides a gas-tight seal at said end of the cell in normal operation but in the event of excessive gas pressure in the cell, the web may be ruptured thereby releasing the plug member and allowing gas to escape through the closure member.
Preferably the plug member is of circular crosssection and said web is in the form of an annular web.
Preferably the region of the plug member which is joined to the remainder of the closure member is longitudinally spaced from the part of the closure member to which it is joined so that said region of the plug lies on the side of the closure member remote from the interior of the casing. Preferably the web extends in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis of the tubular casing.
Preferably said closure member comprises a disc of circular cross-section having two concentric annular recesses on opposite faces the recesses being of overlapping depths but of slightly different diameter whereby this web is provided by an annular wall separating the two recesses.
Preferably said plug member is centrally located on the closure member.
Preferably said plug member has a central aperture through which said terminal member passes.
Preferably the outer edge of said closure member is provided with a flange for sealing engagement against the tubular casing.
Preferably the outer end of the tubular casing Is crimped so as to hold said flange on the closure member in sealing engagement between the tubular casing and the outer cap.
Although the invention is applicable to different types of sealed galvanic cell, the invention is particularly applicable to alkaline manganese cells.
The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which~ Figure 1 is a vertical section through one cell embodying the present invention Figure 2 is a cross-section through a plastics closure member for the cell of Figure 1 before being fitted in situ, and Figure 3 is a plan view of the closure member shown in Figure 2.
In this particular example the cell comprises an alkaline manganese cell having an outer tubular casing 1 1 closed at one end by a projection 12 which may be used as one terminal of the cell.
The tubular casing 1 1 is formed of electrically conducting material such as nickel plated steel. A tubular casing 1 1 has an opening at the other end and the opening is closed by a plastic# blosure member 13 which is shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3. The open end of the casing 4 11 has an annular opening 14 in which an outer cap 15 is located in spaced relation from the casing 11 so as to avoid electrical connection between the two. The cap 15 is held in position by the closure member 13 and forms a negative terminal for the cell. The cap 15 has fixed to its inner face a terminal member 16 in the form of a nail which may be formed of nickel silver or brass.The nail 16 passes through the closure member 13 into the interior of the cell where it makes contact with anode paste 17 which in this example comprises a zinc paste together with an alkaline electrolyte including potassium hydroxide. The anode paste 17 is contained within a generally tubular separator 18 which comprises a composite material consisting of two adjacent layers. The separator 18 is closed at its end adjacent the end 12 of the tubuler casing 11. The other end 1 9 of the separator is open and engages part of the closure member 13. Cathode mix 20 is contained between the separator 18 and the tubular casing 11. In this example the cathode mix comprises manganese dioxide and graphite.
The closure member 13 will now be described in greater detail with reference to Figures 2 and 3.
The closure member is moulded in one piece from plastics material which is resistant to the electrolyte used in the cell. The closure member is of circular cross-section as shown in Figure 3 and generally comprises a disc member having an upwardly projecting peripheral flange 21 and a central aperture 22. The disc is moulded by the application of mould tools which move relative to each other in the directions of the arrows A and B shown in Figure 2. The mould tools are arranged to form two concentric recesses 23, 24 on opposite faces of the disc. The two recesses are of such depth that they overlap forming a thin annular web 25 between them. The recess 23 is of greater diameter than the recess 24 and the thickness of the web is determined by the difference in diameter of the two recesses. This results in the central part of the closure member forming a plug member 26.The plug member 26 is of circular cross-section and is concentric with the closure member as a whole. The part 27 of the plug member to which the web 25 is fixed lies on the side of the closure member which is remote from the interior of the cell when the closure member is in position in the cell. In this way, if the plug member 26 is ejected by rupture of the web 25 as a result of excessive gas pressure in the cell, the plug member is free to move outwardly allowing gas to escape through the closure member.
When fitted in situ, the flange 21 on the closure member fits within the open end of the tubular casing 1 1 and engages a pre-formed peripheral indentation 30 in the exterior of the casing 11 so as to hold the closure member in position and prevent it moving further into the interior of the cell. The outer end of the casing 1 1 is then crimped to the position shown in Figure 1 where the flange 21 on the closure member 13 is caused to fold over onto the exterior of a flange 32 surrounding the cap 15. This causes the flange 21 to provide an effective seal against the tubular casing 1 1 and against the cap 1 5 and at the same time provides electrical insulation between the two. The upper end 1 9 of the separator 18 fits inside the annular recess 24 on the interior face of the closure member 13.This recess 24 assists in assembly in that it provides ready location for the upper end of the separator and reduces the possibility of escape of anode mix 1 7 around the end of the separator when in use. The nail 16 passes through the central aperture 22 in the plug member 26 and is sealed on the inner face of the closure member 13 by bitumen based insulating material 33.
It will be appreciated that when in use, any increase in gas pressure in the interior of the cell will act on the inner face of the plug member 26 and this is held in position by the annular web 25.
As already described, the annular web extends in a direction along the length of the tubular casing 11 and is thin in a direction transverse to the length of the casing. In this way, any movement of the plug 26 towards the cap 15 causes longitudinal extension of the web 25 with consequential thinning of the web. If the pressure increase is of a small and temporary nature then small movement of the plug by extension of the length of the web 25 may be sufficient to accommodate the gas pressure. If however the gas pressure continues to increase to unacceptable levels, the web 25 will rupture thereby releasing the plug 26 and permitting gas to escape through the closure member 13. The flange 32 on the cap 15 is provided with a plurality of spaced slots (not shown) through which gas may escape once the plug device 26 has been released.
It will be appreciated that the closure member described above provides a number of practical advantages. Firstly, the plug device is moulded in one piece with the rest of the closure member so that assembly is facilitated. Only one piece has to be handled and no moving parts are involved in the assembly. Furthermore, in cells of very small size the dimensions of the plug member would be very small and consequently difficult to handle if separate from the rest of the closure member.
This is however avoided in the above example.
Furthermore, it is necessary to manufacture the closure members so that they meet predetermined operating pressure limits for the cells in question. It will be appreciated that the particular pressure at which the pressure relief mechanism operates will in this case depend upon the nature of the plastics material used as well as the thickness of the web 25. In the present arrangement the thickness of the web 25 is controlled by the difference in diameter of the two mould tools which form the recesses 23 and 24. Consequently the effectiveness of the web 25 is not influenced by any variations in the mould closing pressure. In other words, any variation in spacing of the mould tools in the directions of the arrows A and B shown in Figure 2 will not affect the operational characteristics of the web 25.
Furthermore, the particular pressure at which the relief mechanism operates can be adjusted from a low value to any required higher value by simple adjustment of the diameters of the mould parts forming the recesses 23 and 24. Once set at any particular diameter the products will be made with consistent operating characteristics for the life of the mould tool and will not for example be affected by wear on the major faces of the mould tools.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing example.

Claims (10)

Claims
1. A sealed galvanic cell comprising a tubular casing having an opening at one end, electrolyte contained within said casing, an insulating closure member fixed in sealing engagement in said opening so as to close the casing in a sealed manner, an outer conducting cap located over the closure member and spaced from the casing, and a terminal member extending from said cap through the closure member into said electrolyte, said closure member being moulded in one piece from plastics material resistant to the electrolyte and incorporating an integral plug member joined to the remainder of the closure member by a thin web of plastics material which extends between the plug member and the remainder of the closure member in a direction along the length of the tubular casing and is thin in a direction transverse to the length of the tubular casing, whereby the closure member provides a gas-tight seal at said end of the cell in normal operation but in the event of excessive gas pressure in the cell, the web may be ruptured thereby releasing the plug member and allowing gas to escape through the closure member.
2. A sealed galvanic cell according to claim 1 in which the plug member is of circular crosssection and said web is in the form of an annular web.
3. A sealed galvanic cell according to claim 2 in which said closure member comprises a disc of circular cross-section having two concentric annular recesses on opposite faces the recesses being of overlapping depths but of different diameter whereby the web is provided by an annular wall separating the two recesses.
4. A sealed galvanic cell according to any one of the preceding claims in which said plug member is centrally located on the closure member.
5. A sealed galvanic cell according to any one of the preceding claims in which said plug member has a central aperture through which said terminal member passes.
6. A sealed galvanic cell according to any one of the preceding claims in which the outer edge of said closure member is provided with a flange for sealing engagement against the tubular casing.
7. A sealed galvanic cell according to claim 6 in which the outer end of the tubular casing is crimped so as to hold said flange on the closure member in sealing engagement between the tubular casing and the outer cap.
8. A sealed galvanic cell according to any one of the preceding claims in which the web extends in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis of the tubular casing, and the plug member is joined to the end of the web remote from the interior of the casing.
9. A sealed galvanic cell according to any one of the preceding claims in which the cell is an alkaline manganese cell.
10. A sealed galvanic cell substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
GB7931684A 1979-09-12 1979-09-12 Galvanic cells Expired GB2058440B (en)

Priority Applications (12)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7931684A GB2058440B (en) 1979-09-12 1979-09-12 Galvanic cells
NL8004848A NL8004848A (en) 1979-09-12 1980-08-27 GALVANIC CELL.
DE19803033113 DE3033113A1 (en) 1979-09-12 1980-09-03 GALVANIC CELL
JP12289680A JPS5650049A (en) 1979-09-12 1980-09-04 Sealed galvani battery
IT12642/80A IT1136194B (en) 1979-09-12 1980-09-09 GALVANIC STACK
FR8019449A FR2469008B1 (en) 1979-09-12 1980-09-09 WATERPROOF ELECTRIC BATTERY
LU82759A LU82759A1 (en) 1979-09-12 1980-09-10 WATERPROOF ELECTRIC BATTERY
SE8006332A SE8006332L (en) 1979-09-12 1980-09-10 GALVANIC CELL
BE0/202071A BE885193A (en) 1979-09-12 1980-09-11 WATERPROOF ELECTRIC BATTERY
NO802698A NO802698L (en) 1979-09-12 1980-09-11 CLOSED, GALVANIC CELL.
ZA00805605A ZA805605B (en) 1979-09-12 1980-09-11 Galvanic cells
DK387980A DK387980A (en) 1979-09-12 1980-09-11 SEALED GALVANIC ELEMENT

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7931684A GB2058440B (en) 1979-09-12 1979-09-12 Galvanic cells

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2058440A true GB2058440A (en) 1981-04-08
GB2058440B GB2058440B (en) 1983-01-26

Family

ID=10507788

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB7931684A Expired GB2058440B (en) 1979-09-12 1979-09-12 Galvanic cells

Country Status (12)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS5650049A (en)
BE (1) BE885193A (en)
DE (1) DE3033113A1 (en)
DK (1) DK387980A (en)
FR (1) FR2469008B1 (en)
GB (1) GB2058440B (en)
IT (1) IT1136194B (en)
LU (1) LU82759A1 (en)
NL (1) NL8004848A (en)
NO (1) NO802698L (en)
SE (1) SE8006332L (en)
ZA (1) ZA805605B (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2513813A1 (en) * 1981-09-29 1983-04-01 Celaya Emparanza Galdos Sa CONTACTS ON ELECTRIC ALKALINE BATTERIES
FR2540677A1 (en) * 1983-02-07 1984-08-10 Sanyo Electric Co CYLINDRICAL STACK
US4606983A (en) * 1985-02-25 1986-08-19 Duracell Inc. Anchored terminal conductor
US4684589A (en) * 1986-02-06 1987-08-04 Rayovac Corporation Battery seal
EP0282649A1 (en) * 1987-02-13 1988-09-21 VARTA Batterie Aktiengesellschaft Hermetically sealed galvanic element
EP0538039A2 (en) * 1991-10-15 1993-04-21 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. A seal for an electrochemical cell
EP0840382A1 (en) * 1996-11-05 1998-05-06 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Battery having pressure relief cover
WO2014158984A1 (en) * 2013-03-29 2014-10-02 The Gillette Company End cap assembly for an electrochemical cell

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5827858U (en) * 1981-08-19 1983-02-23 富士電気化学株式会社 Sealing gasket for explosion-proof batteries
JPH0537407Y2 (en) * 1987-02-27 1993-09-21
JP2005071648A (en) * 2003-08-28 2005-03-17 Toshiba Battery Co Ltd Sealed battery

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2199519A (en) * 1937-07-21 1940-05-07 Sprague Specialties Co Electrolytic device
CA688500A (en) * 1960-02-25 1964-06-09 Carmichael Robert Combined safety blow-out and gas permeable membrane for galvanic cells
GB918210A (en) * 1961-12-15
US3314824A (en) * 1965-03-22 1967-04-18 Union Carbide Corp Puncture-type safety seal for galvanic cells
US3401314A (en) * 1966-03-07 1968-09-10 Gen Electric Electrolytic capacitor having a cover with sealing and venting means therein
US3617386A (en) * 1970-04-30 1971-11-02 Esb Inc Sealed cell construction
US3787243A (en) * 1972-05-08 1974-01-22 Mallory & Co Inc P R Energy cell
US4075398A (en) * 1976-10-26 1978-02-21 Esb Incorporated Means of providing pressure relief to sealed galvanic cell
JPS5855619B2 (en) * 1977-11-30 1983-12-10 富士電気化学株式会社 Sealing gasket body for explosion-proof batteries

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2513813A1 (en) * 1981-09-29 1983-04-01 Celaya Emparanza Galdos Sa CONTACTS ON ELECTRIC ALKALINE BATTERIES
FR2540677A1 (en) * 1983-02-07 1984-08-10 Sanyo Electric Co CYLINDRICAL STACK
US4606983A (en) * 1985-02-25 1986-08-19 Duracell Inc. Anchored terminal conductor
US4684589A (en) * 1986-02-06 1987-08-04 Rayovac Corporation Battery seal
EP0282649A1 (en) * 1987-02-13 1988-09-21 VARTA Batterie Aktiengesellschaft Hermetically sealed galvanic element
EP0538039A2 (en) * 1991-10-15 1993-04-21 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. A seal for an electrochemical cell
EP0538039A3 (en) * 1991-10-15 1993-07-14 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. A seal for an electrochemical cell
EP0840382A1 (en) * 1996-11-05 1998-05-06 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Battery having pressure relief cover
US5976728A (en) * 1996-11-05 1999-11-02 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Battery
WO2014158984A1 (en) * 2013-03-29 2014-10-02 The Gillette Company End cap assembly for an electrochemical cell

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK387980A (en) 1981-03-13
FR2469008B1 (en) 1985-09-13
GB2058440B (en) 1983-01-26
NO802698L (en) 1981-03-13
IT8012642A0 (en) 1980-09-09
DE3033113A1 (en) 1981-04-02
ZA805605B (en) 1982-04-28
NL8004848A (en) 1981-03-16
SE8006332L (en) 1981-03-13
IT1136194B (en) 1986-08-27
LU82759A1 (en) 1980-12-15
JPS5650049A (en) 1981-05-07
BE885193A (en) 1981-03-11
FR2469008A1 (en) 1981-05-08

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee