JP2001338628A - Cylindrical enclosed battery and battery package body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sufficient shock resistance against fall and the like without increasing the outside dimensions or package size of the battery in the battery having a projecting terminal and an explosion-proof safety valve formed on the closed top end of the cylindrical outside container. SOLUTION: The cylindrical enclosed battery comprises a ring shape leg portion 41 which is structured by non-cushioning rigid material at the closed top end 21 formed of a projecting terminal 23 and an explosion-proof safety valve 3 and provided at the ring portion along the edge of the above closed top end 21 and outside the above explosion-proof safety valve 3, and a protective member 4 which is supported by this ring shape leg portion 41 and covers the explosion-proof safety valve 3, and is made integrated with a protective lid portion 42 which forms a protective surface 43 at the position of same height or a little higher than the above projecting terminal 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sealed cylindrical battery and a battery package, and more particularly to a sealed cylindrical housing having a projecting terminal portion and an explosion-proof safety valve formed on one closed end face of a tubular external container for sealingly housing a power generating element. The present invention relates to a battery and a package thereof, for example, to a technique effective when applied to a cylindrical alkaline battery and a package thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the case of a cylindrical sealed battery such as an LR03 type alkaline battery, if the battery is used or handled improperly, there is a danger that the internal pressure of the battery will abnormally rise and the external container will explode and burst.

As a means for preventing this danger, an explosion-proof safety valve which is easily broken locally is formed integrally with a part of a gasket which forms a hermetic sealing material for an external container. In order to more reliably prevent explosive rupture of the outer container, that is, to further enhance safety, it is desirable to form an explosion-proof safety valve directly on the outer container of the battery itself. This explosion-proof safety valve is formed by providing, in a part of the external container, a break-inducing groove of a groove that is preliminarily cleaved by an abnormal increase in the internal pressure of the container.

FIG. 6 shows an outer shape (A) of a sealed battery provided with the above explosion-proof safety valve in an external container and a package (B) thereof. The battery 1 shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, an LR03 type alkaline battery, and the main body of the battery 1 is a cylindrical outer container 2 for hermetically storing a power generation element (not shown) as shown in FIG. One of the closed end faces 21 has the end face 21
The explosion-proof safety valve 3 is formed by a break inducing strip 31 together with the positive electrode protruding terminal portion 23 protruding from the convex portion. As shown in (B), this type of battery is shipped to a distribution market in the form of a package 10 (a so-called packaged product) in which a plurality of packages are bundled by a packaging material 51 such as a transparent heat-shrinkable film.

[0005]

However, it has been clarified by the present inventor that the above-mentioned technology has the following problems.

That is, the closed end face of the cylindrical outer container provided with the explosion-proof safety valve has a lower strength at the portion where the explosion-proof safety valve is formed than at other portions. This partial reduction in strength does not hinder normal use of batteries. For example, if a user accidentally drops only one battery when loading a battery into equipment, this alone is fatal. There is usually no serious damage.

However, it cannot be denied that the explosion-proof safety valve is a weak point in strength, and even a normal drop may be fatally damaged depending on the conditions. For example,
In a battery package in which a large number of batteries are packaged together, if the package is accidentally dropped, a drop impact occurs due to the total weight of the package. When this drop impact is applied to the protruding terminal portion of only one battery in the package, as shown in FIG. 7, the impact causes the explosion-proof safety valve to be damaged such as tearing or deformation. Becomes unusable.

[0008] As described above, in the cylindrical sealed battery in which the protruding terminal portion and the explosion-proof safety valve are formed on one closed end surface of the cylindrical outer shape container, the explosion-proof safety valve becomes a weak point in strength and has sufficient impact resistance. There is a problem that can not have.

As a means for solving the above problem, a cushion material such as a sponge is applied to a portion where the strength is weak,
It is conceivable that a shock such as a drop is absorbed by the cushion material. However, in order to obtain a predetermined shock absorbing effect with the cushioning material, it is necessary to use a considerable amount of cushioning material in volume, which significantly increases the size of the battery packaging and reduces the size of the transportation and sales. Another problem arises, such as a great disadvantage in distribution.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cylindrical sealed battery in which a protruding terminal portion and an explosion-proof safety valve are formed on one closed end face of a cylindrical external container. An object of the present invention is to provide a cylindrical sealed battery and a battery package having sufficient impact resistance against a drop or the like without increasing the external size of the battery or the size of the package thereof.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical outer container for hermetically storing a power generating element, wherein a cylindrical terminal having a protruding terminal portion and an explosion-proof safety valve formed on one closed end face. In the sealed battery, an annular leg which is formed of a non-cushioning rigid material and is seated on an annular portion along the edge of the closed end face outside the explosion-proof safety valve, and the explosion-proof supported by the annular leg A structure in which an electrically insulating protection member integrally formed with a protective cover portion that covers the safety valve and forms a protective surface at a position equal to or slightly higher than the protruding terminal portion is fitted to the closed end surface portion. And

With such a configuration, the impact received by the projecting terminal portion due to dropping or the like is received by the protective surface, and the impact received by the protective surface is heightened from the annular leg of the protective member in terms of shape and structure. The explosion-proof safety valve, which is a weak point in strength, can be protected from the impact by transmitting the strength in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion of the cylindrical outer container. The protection effect by the impact transmission is that the protection member is made of a non-cushioning rigid material, so that the protection surface formed by the protection member is at the same or slightly higher position than the protruding terminal portion. It is achieved by forming. Therefore, the protective member can reliably increase the impact resistance of the battery without substantially increasing the cylinder length of the external container, that is, the external size of the battery.

Thus, in a cylindrical sealed battery having a protruding terminal portion and an explosion-proof safety valve formed on one closed end face of the cylindrical outer shape container, sufficient resistance to falling or the like can be obtained without increasing the outer size of the battery. It can have impact properties (claim 1).

Further, since the protective member is electrically insulating, if the protective member is formed in a cap shape covering the entire closed end face, it is possible to prevent an unexpected short circuit or discharge when not in use. At the same time, it is possible to provide a guide for individually identifying new / used batteries by the presence or absence of the protection member (claim 2).

In the case where the protection member is formed in a ring shape opening above the protruding terminal portion and an annular protection surface having substantially the same height as the protruding terminal portion is formed on the upper end surface of the ring. The electrical connection to the battery terminals can be made while the protective member is fitted in the protective state (claim 3).

Further, according to the present invention, a battery package in which a plurality of cylindrical sealed batteries in which a protruding terminal portion and an explosion-proof safety valve are formed on one closed end surface of a cylindrical external container for hermetically storing a power generation element is packaged together. An annular leg that is made of a non-cushioning rigid material and is seated on an annular portion along the edge of the closed end face outside the explosion-proof safety valve, and the explosion-proof safety valve is supported by the annular leg. A closed end face of one of the batteries in the package is provided with an electrically insulating protective member integrally formed with a protective lid portion that covers and forms a protective surface at the same or slightly higher position as the protruding terminal portion. It was configured to be fitted to each part.

With such a configuration, each battery in the package can be provided without increasing the outer size of the package.
Sufficient impact resistance against falling or the like can be provided.
(Claim 4)

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the portions denoted by the same reference numerals between the drawings indicate the same or corresponding portions. FIG. 1 shows an outer shape of a cylindrical sealed battery according to the present invention and a cross section of a main part thereof.

In the battery 1 shown in FIG. 1, first, both ends of the battery are formed on both closed end faces 21 and 22 of a cylindrical outer container 2 for hermetically storing a power generating element, and a closed end on the side serving as a positive terminal is formed. A protruding terminal portion 23 protruding in a convex shape at the end face portion 21.
Is formed.

Although not shown in detail, the cylindrical outer container 2 is formed by closing an opening of a bottomed cylindrical battery can also serving as a positive electrode terminal with a sealing body including a negative electrode terminal plate. The protruding terminal portion 23 of the positive electrode is integrally formed on the bottom surface of the cylindrical battery can.

The closed end face 2 on which the protruding terminal 23 is formed
An explosion-proof safety valve 3 is formed in 1. The safety valve 3 is formed by a groove-shaped break inducing strip 31. The rupture-inducing strip 31 forms, for example, an annular line pattern as shown in the figure, and is opened when the internal pressure of the container 2 rises abnormally, and performs a valve operation to release the internal pressure. This prevents the explosive rupture of the external container 2 due to an abnormal increase in the internal pressure.

A disk-shaped protective member 4 is fitted to the closed end face 21 on which the protruding terminal 23 is formed. The protective member 4 is made of an electrically insulating and non-cushioning rigid material, for example, PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene), and is entirely formed in a cap shape covering the entire closed end face portion 21. The protection member 4 includes an annular leg 4 that is seated on an annular portion along the edge of the closed end face 21 outside the explosion-proof safety valve 3.
And the explosion-proof safety valve 3 supported by the annular leg 41.
And a protective lid portion 42 that forms a protective surface 43 at a position slightly higher than the protruding terminal portion 23 is integrally formed.

The protection member 4 receives the impact that the protruding terminal portion 23 receives by dropping or the like on the protection surface 43. The impact received by the protection surface 43 is transmitted to the annular leg 41. The annular leg 41 is, as described above,
Since the protective cover 42 is supported by sitting on an annular portion along the edge 21 of the closed end surface outside the explosion-proof safety valve 3, the impact received by the protective surface 43 is reduced in shape and structure. Power is transmitted in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion of the cylindrical outer container 2 having high strength.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the battery to which the protective member 4 is fitted becomes a weak point in terms of strength even if the battery is dropped in a state where the protruding terminal 23 is directly hit. Some explosion-proof safety valves are protected from the impact of the fall.

The protection effect by the transmission of the impact is that the protection member 4 is made of a non-cushioning rigid material, so that the protection surface 43 formed by the protection member 4 is the same as that of the protruding terminal portion 23. This is achieved by forming it at a slightly higher position. Therefore, the protection member 4 can reliably increase the impact resistance of the battery 1 without substantially increasing the cylinder length of the external container 2, that is, the external size of the battery 1.

As described above, the battery 1 described above can have sufficient impact resistance against, for example, dropping in a packaged state in which a plurality of batteries are bundled without increasing the outer size or the package size. .

The protective member 4 is also effective in protecting against mechanical shock and stress other than dropping. For example, in the battery manufacturing process, the protection member 4 is fitted to the closed end face 21 on which the protruding terminal portion 23 and the explosion-proof safety valve 3 are formed, so that the safety valve 3 is protected from mechanical shock and stress applied during the process. Can be protected. The battery 1 to which the protection member 4 is attached during the process is
Can be used as the final finished product while leaving the same. Therefore, there is no need to remove the protection member after the process.

Further, since the protective member 4 is electrically insulating, if the protective member 4 is formed in a cap shape covering the entire closed end face portion 21, a function of preventing an unexpected short circuit or discharge when not in use. Can be obtained. With this,
A function as a guide for individually identifying new / used batteries can be obtained depending on whether or not the protection member 4 is fitted. The function of preventing short-circuiting and discharge is performed by the protection member 4 described above.
Can be obtained by making at least the surface portion of the substrate electrically insulating. Therefore, the protection member 4 may be made of metal whose surface is subjected to insulation treatment.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the cylindrical sealed battery according to the present invention.

The difference from the above-described embodiment will be described. In the tubular sealed battery 1 shown in FIG. 1, the protection member 4 is formed in a ring shape that opens above the protruding terminal portion 23. An annular protective surface 43 having substantially the same height as the protruding terminal portion 23 is formed on the upper end surface of the ring.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the battery 1 to which the protective member 4 is fitted is dropped in a state in which the protruding terminal 23 is directly hit, the impact of the drop is reduced. By transmitting the high-strength cylindrical outer container 2 in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion, it is possible to prevent the explosion-proof safety valve 3, which is a weak point in strength, from being broken.

Further, the battery 1 to which the ring-shaped protection member 4 is fitted can be electrically connected to the battery terminals while the protection state in which the protection member 4 is fitted is maintained. This is convenient for, for example, measurement and inspection in a manufacturing process, voltage check before use, and the like.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a battery package according to the present invention.

3A shows the package 10 of the battery 1 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B shows the package 10 of the battery 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the battery 1 to which the protection member 4 is fitted is:
It is shipped to the distribution market in a form (package) in which a plurality (eight) of them are packaged together by a packaging material 51 such as a transparent heat-shrinkable film.

If the package 10 is accidentally dropped during transportation or the like, as described above, only one of the packages may be subjected to a drop impact due to the total weight of the package 10.
Even in such a case, the protection member 4 transmits the drop impact in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion of the cylindrical external container having high strength in terms of shape and structure, so that the explosion-proof safety valve has a structural weakness. 3 can be reliably prevented.

As described above, the present invention has been described based on the typical embodiments. However, the present invention can have various embodiments other than those described above. For example, the protection member 4
As shown in FIG. 8 (A) or (B), a plurality of may be connected.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a cylindrical sealed battery in which a protruding terminal portion and an explosion-proof safety valve are formed on one closed end surface of a cylindrical outer container, an edge of the closed end surface is formed of a non-cushioning rigid material, and is located outside the explosion-proof safety valve. An annular leg seated on an annular portion along the axis, and a protective lid supported by the annular leg and covering the explosion-proof safety valve and forming a protective surface at the same or slightly higher position as the protruding terminal. By fitting an electrically insulating protective member integrally formed on the closed end face, a sufficient impact resistance against dropping or the like can be obtained without increasing the external size of the battery or its packaging size. Can be prepared.

When the protective member is formed in the shape of a cap that covers the entire closed end face portion, it is possible to prevent an unexpected short circuit or discharge when not in use, and to determine whether or not the protective member is provided. Can be provided for individually identifying new / used products.

Further, the protection member is formed in a ring shape that opens above the protruding terminal portion, and an annular protection surface having substantially the same height as the protruding terminal portion is formed on the upper end surface of the ring. In such a case, the electrical connection to the battery terminal can be performed while the protection member is fitted in the protection state.

Also, in a battery package in which a plurality of cylindrical sealed batteries in which a protruding terminal portion and an explosion-proof safety valve are formed on one closed end surface of a cylindrical external container are packaged together, a non-cushioning rigid material is used. An annular leg seated on an annular portion along the edge of the closed end face outside the explosion-proof safety valve; and an annular leg supported by the annular leg and covering the explosion-proof safety valve and the same as or similar to the protruding terminal. An electric insulating protection member integrally formed with a protective lid portion forming a protective surface at a position slightly higher than the above is fitted to one closed end surface portion of each battery in the package, so that the packaging is performed. Each battery in the package can be provided with sufficient impact resistance against falling or the like without increasing the external size of the body.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an outer shape and a partial cross section of a cylindrical sealed battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state when a drop impact is applied to the battery shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an outer shape and a partial cross section of a cylindrical sealed battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state when a drop impact is applied to the battery shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a battery package according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the external shape of a conventional cylindrical sealed battery and a battery package.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state when a drop impact is applied to a conventional battery.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the protection member used in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cylindrical sealed battery 10 Battery package 2 Cylindrical external container 21 One closed end face (positive electrode) 22 The other flat end face (negative electrode) 23 Protrusion terminal part 3 Explosion-proof safety valve 31 Break induction strip 4 Protective member 41 Ring leg 42 Protective lid 43 Protective surface 51 Packaging material (transparent heat shrinkable film)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sealed cylindrical battery in which a protruding terminal portion and an explosion-proof safety valve are formed on one closed end surface of a tubular external container that hermetically accommodates a power generating element, wherein the sealed battery is formed of a non-cushioning rigid material. An annular leg seated on an annular portion along the edge of the closed end surface outside the explosion-proof safety valve, and supported by the annular leg to cover the explosion-proof safety valve and have the same or slightly less than the protruding terminal portion; A cylindrical sealed battery, wherein an electrically insulating protective member integrally formed with a protective cover portion forming a protective surface at a high position is fitted to the closed end surface portion. 2. The cylindrical sealed battery according to claim 1, wherein the protective member is formed in a cap shape that covers the entire closed end face portion. 3. The protection member is formed in a ring shape opening above the protruding terminal portion, and an annular protection surface having substantially the same height as the protruding terminal portion is formed on an upper end surface of the ring. The sealed cylindrical battery according to claim 1. 4. A battery package in which a plurality of cylindrical sealed batteries having a projecting terminal portion and an explosion-proof safety valve formed on one closed end surface of a cylindrical external container for hermetically storing a power generating element are packaged together, An annular leg portion, which is formed of an elastic rigid material, is seated on an annular portion along the edge of the closed end face outside the explosion-proof safety valve, and covers the explosion-proof safety valve while being supported by the annular leg portion. An electrically insulating protective member integrally formed with a protective lid part forming a protective surface at the same or slightly higher position as the terminal part is fitted to one closed end face of each battery in the package. A battery package characterized by being worn.