US20110195282A1 - Cap assembly and secondary battery using the same - Google Patents

Cap assembly and secondary battery using the same Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20110195282A1
US20110195282A1 US13/090,595 US201113090595A US2011195282A1 US 20110195282 A1 US20110195282 A1 US 20110195282A1 US 201113090595 A US201113090595 A US 201113090595A US 2011195282 A1 US2011195282 A1 US 2011195282A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
secondary battery
plate
terminal
insulating
electrode
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/090,595
Inventor
Sang-Joon Lee
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.)
Samsung SDI Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Samsung SDI 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 Samsung SDI Co Ltd filed Critical Samsung SDI Co Ltd
Priority to US13/090,595 priority Critical patent/US20110195282A1/en
Publication of US20110195282A1 publication Critical patent/US20110195282A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/04—Construction or manufacture in general
    • H01M10/0431—Cells with wound or folded electrodes
    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/02—Details
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/05—Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte
    • H01M10/052—Li-accumulators
    • 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
    • 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
    • H01M50/15—Lids or covers characterised by their shape for prismatic or rectangular cells
    • 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
    • H01M50/155—Lids or covers characterised by the material
    • H01M50/157—Inorganic material
    • H01M50/159—Metals
    • 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
    • H01M50/172—Arrangements of electric connectors penetrating the casing
    • H01M50/174—Arrangements of electric connectors penetrating the casing adapted for the shape of the cells
    • H01M50/176—Arrangements of electric connectors penetrating the casing adapted for the shape of the cells for prismatic or rectangular cells
    • 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
    • H01M50/50—Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
    • H01M50/543—Terminals
    • H01M50/547—Terminals characterised by the disposition of the terminals on the cells
    • H01M50/55—Terminals characterised by the disposition of the terminals on the cells on the same side of the cell
    • 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
    • H01M50/50—Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
    • H01M50/543—Terminals
    • H01M50/552—Terminals characterised by their shape
    • H01M50/553—Terminals adapted for prismatic, pouch or rectangular cells
    • 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
    • H01M50/50—Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
    • H01M50/543—Terminals
    • H01M50/562—Terminals characterised by the material
    • 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
    • H01M50/50—Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
    • H01M50/543—Terminals
    • H01M50/564—Terminals characterised by their manufacturing process
    • H01M50/566—Terminals characterised by their manufacturing process by welding, soldering or brazing
    • 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
    • H01M50/50—Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
    • H01M50/571—Methods or arrangements for affording protection against corrosion; Selection of materials therefor
    • 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
    • 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
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cap assembly and a secondary battery using the same, and more particularly, to a cap assembly and a secondary battery using the same in which an insulating member is disposed in a partial or an entire of a terminal plate, resulting in improved stability.
  • Rechargeable secondary batteries are economical in comparison to disposable dry cells. In recent years, as low-volume and high-capacity secondary batteries are developed, they are widely used as power supplies for portable electronic/electrical devices, such as cellular phones, camcorders, notebook computers and the like.
  • the secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries.
  • the lithium secondary batteries are most widely used because of their small size, high capacity, high operating voltage, and high energy density per weight.
  • the lithium secondary batteries may be classified into can-type lithium secondary batteries and pouch-type lithium secondary batteries depending on shapes of a casing, which accommodates an electrode assembly having a negative electrode plate, a positive electrode plate and a separator.
  • the can-type lithium secondary batteries may be further classified into cylinder-type lithium secondary batteries and prismatic-type lithium secondary batteries.
  • the casing is generally formed of a metal such as aluminum and has a cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape, or a pillar shape with rounded edges.
  • the can has an upper opening through which an electrode assembly is inserted and electrolyte is injected into the can.
  • the can is then finished by a cap assembly having a size and shape corresponding to the opening of the can, resulting in a sealed bare cell.
  • a pouch casing When the lithium secondary battery is of the pouch-type, a pouch casing has a space for accommodating an electrode assembly, which is accommodated on a lower surface of the casing.
  • the lower surface is covered with an upper surface of the pouch casing, and sealing portions are formed at edges of the upper and lower surfaces of the pouch casing and bonded in order to be sealed, resulting in a bare cell.
  • the bare cell configured above is electrically connected with a protecting circuit board, which includes a protecting device for preventing accident caused by abnormal operation, such as overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent, and the like.
  • the electrical connection between the bare cell and the protecting circuit board is made via a lead.
  • a secondary battery may be called a core pack.
  • the core pack is received in a separate casing or a gap of the core pack is filled with a hot-melt resin.
  • the core pack is then subjected to a tubing process with a thin casing and a labeling process, resulting in a battery pack.
  • the conductive terminal plate forming the cap assembly may stab into the electrode assembly or may be brought into contact and short-circuited with the can when the cap assembly finishing the opening of the can is partially distorted and bent toward the electrode assembly by external pressure, causing a stability issue such as a fire and an explosion.
  • the present invention provides a cap assembly comprising a terminal plate and an insulating member, wherein the insulating member disposed in a partial or an entire region of the terminal plate other than a region to which a positive electrode tab is welded.
  • the present invention provides a secondary battery comprising: an electrode assembly including a negative electrode tab and a positive electrode tab; a can for accommodating the electrode assembly, the can including an upper opening; and a cap assembly for finishing the upper opening, in which the cap assembly comprises a terminal plate and an insulating member, wherein the insulating member disposed in a partial or an entire region of the terminal plate other than a region to which the negative electrode tab is welded.
  • the insulating member may be coated with poly-ethylene or poly-ethylene-terephthalate.
  • the insulating member may comprise an insulating tape attached thereon.
  • the secondary battery is of an inner pack type or a hard pack type.
  • the present invention it is possible to prevent the conductive terminal plate forming the cap assembly from stabbing into the electrode assembly or from being brought into contact and abnormally short-circuited with the can when the cap assembly finishing the opening of the can is partially distorted and bent toward the electrode assembly by external pressure.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an assembled cross-sectional view illustrating the secondary battery of FIG. 1 .
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are an exploded perspective view and an assembled cross-sectional view illustrating a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the secondary battery includes an electrode assembly 10 , a can 20 for accommodating the electrode assembly 10 , and a cap assembly 30 disposed on an opening of the can 20 .
  • the electrode assembly 10 includes a positive electrode plate 11 having a positive electrode collector coated with a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode plate 13 having a negative electrode collector coated with a negative electrode active material, and a separator 15 interposed between the positive electrode plate 11 and the negative electrode plate 13 for preventing a short-circuit between the plates 11 and 13 and allowing for movement of lithium ions.
  • the positive electrode plate 11 includes a non-coating portion that is not coated with the positive electrode active material
  • the negative electrode plate 13 includes a non-coating portion that is not coated with the negative electrode active material.
  • a positive electrode tab 17 is bonded to the positive electrode non-coating portion and electrically connected to a cap plate, and a negative electrode tab 19 is bonded to the negative electrode non-coating portion and electrically connected to an electrode terminal.
  • the positive electrode tab 17 and the negative electrode tab 19 may be respectively bonded to the positive electrode non-coating portion and the negative electrode non-coating portion by ultrasonic welding.
  • the present invention is not limited to the ultrasonic welding.
  • the positive electrode collector may be formed of stainless steel, nickel, aluminum, titanium, an alloy thereof, aluminum, or stainless steel that is surface-treated with carbon, nickel, titanium, or silver.
  • the positive electrode collector is formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy.
  • the positive electrode collector may be formed as a foil, a film, a sheet, a punched material, a porous material, a foam, and the like.
  • the positive electrode collector has a thickness of 1 to 50 ⁇ m and preferably 1 to 30 ⁇ m.
  • the positive electrode collector is not limited to such shapes and thicknesses.
  • the positive electrode active material is capable of inserting or extracting lithium ions.
  • the positive electrode active material is at least one selected from a group consisting of cobalt, manganese, and nickel and at least one lithium composite oxide.
  • the negative electrode collector may be formed of stainless steel, nickel, copper, titanium, an alloy thereof, copper, or stainless steel that is surface-treated with carbon, nickel, titanium, or silver.
  • the negative electrode collector is formed of copper or a copper alloy.
  • the negative electrode collector may be formed as a foil, a film, a sheet, a punched material, a porous material, a foam, and the like.
  • the negative electrode collector has a thickness of 1 to 50 ⁇ m, preferably 1 to 30 ⁇ m.
  • the negative electrode collector is not limited to such shapes and thicknesses.
  • the negative electrode active material is capable of inserting or extracting lithium ion, and may include a carbon material, such as crystalline carbon, amorphous carbon, carbon composite, and carbon fiber, a lithium metal, a lithium alloy, etc.
  • the separator 15 is typically formed of a thermoplastic resin, such as poly-ethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) and has a surface in a porous film structure.
  • a thermoplastic resin such as poly-ethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP)
  • This porous film structure becomes an insulating film as the separator 15 is melted and the holes are clogged when an internal temperature of the battery is elevated to a melting point of the thermoplastic resin.
  • the insulating film blocks lithium ion between the positive electrode plate 11 and the negative electrode plate 13 and, accordingly, current no longer flows, thereby stopping elevation of the internal temperature of the battery.
  • the can 20 may be formed of a metal material and have an upper opening.
  • the can 20 may accommodate the electrode assembly 10 and the electrolyte, and have an insulating casing disposed on the electrode assembly.
  • the metal material may be light and flexible aluminum, aluminum alloy or stainless steel.
  • the can 20 When the can 20 is formed of the metal material, it may have a polarity and be used as an electrode terminal.
  • the can 20 may have a prismatic shape or an elliptical shape with rounded edges.
  • the upper opening of the can 20 is welded or melt-bonded to the cap plate to be sealed.
  • the cap assembly 30 is coupled with the upper opening of the can 20 and includes an insulating casing 31 , a cap plate 32 , an insulating gasket 33 , an electrode terminal 34 , an insulating plate 35 , a terminal plate 36 , and a plug 37 for an electrolyte injection hole.
  • the insulating casing 31 is located on the electrode assembly 10 inserted into the can 20 for preventing movement of the electrode assembly 10 .
  • the insulating casing 31 has sidewalls so that the terminal plate 36 and the insulating plate 35 covering the terminal plate 36 are set in the insulating casing 31 .
  • the insulating casing 31 also isolates between the positive electrode tab 17 and the negative electrode tab 19 by a predetermined distance so that they are not short-circuited.
  • the insulating casing 31 may include an external groove serving as a guide.
  • the insulating casing 31 may be formed of an insulating polymer resin, such as polypropylene (PP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyethersulfone (PES), or degenerated poly phenylene oxide (PPO).
  • PP polypropylene
  • PPS polyphenylene sulfide
  • PES polyethersulfone
  • PPO degenerated poly phenylene oxide
  • the cap plate 32 is coupled with the upper opening of the can 20 to seal the opening.
  • the cap plate 32 is a metal plate having the same size and shape as the opening, and includes a terminal hole 32 a into which the insulating gasket 33 and the electrode terminal 34 may be inserted.
  • the cap plate 32 further includes an electrolyte injection hole 32 b that provides a passage for injecting the electrolyte into the can 10 .
  • the can 20 is sealed by sealing the electrolyte injection hole 32 b with the plug 37 .
  • the insulating gasket 33 is coupled with the terminal hole 32 a of the cap plate 32 .
  • the insulating gasket 33 is formed of a rubber or another nonconductive material having good conductivity to insulate between the electrode terminal 34 and the cap plate 32 .
  • the insulating gasket 33 has a central hole for coupling with the electrode terminal 34 .
  • the insulating gasket 33 When the insulating gasket 33 is coupled with the electrode terminal 34 , it surrounds an outer side of the electrode terminal 34 .
  • the electrode terminal 34 is coupled with the cap plate 32 in such a manner that it is inserted into the hole of the insulating gasket 33 .
  • a lower end of the electrode terminal 34 passing through the cap plate 32 is electrically connected to the terminal plate 36 .
  • the insulating plate 35 is formed of an insulating material and located on a lower surface of the cap plate 32 for insulating the cap plate 32 and the terminal plate 36 , which is located on the lower surface of the insulating plate 35 .
  • the insulating plate 35 includes a hole corresponding to the terminal hole 32 a of the cap plate 32 .
  • the electrode terminal 34 is inserted through the hole and connected with the terminal plate 36 and electrically connected to the negative electrode tab 19 of the electrode assembly 10 welded to the terminal plate 36 .
  • the terminal plate 36 is located on the lower surface of the insulating plate 35 .
  • the terminal plate 36 is formed of a conductive material and establishes an electrical path between the negative electrode tab 19 of the electrode assembly 10 , which is welded to the lower surface of the terminal plate 36 , and the electrode terminal 34 .
  • the cap assembly 30 may further include an insulating member 36 a disposed in a partial or an entire region of the terminal plate 36 other than the region to which the negative electrode tab 19 is welded. As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the insulating member 36 a may include a part locating on a surface to which the negative electrode tab 19 is welded. The insulating member 36 a may be disposed in an edge of the lower surface of the terminal plate 36 . The insulating member 36 a may surround or encase an edge of the terminal plate 36 .
  • the insulating member 36 a may be coated with a nonconductive material that is not corroded by the electrolyte, such as poly-ethylene (PE) or poly-ethylene-terephthalate (PET), or may include an insulating tape attached thereon.
  • a nonconductive material such as poly-ethylene (PE) or poly-ethylene-terephthalate (PET)
  • PET poly-ethylene-terephthalate
  • the insulating member 36 a can prevent the conductive terminal plate forming the cap assembly from stabbing into the electrode assembly or from being brought into contact and short-circuited with the can when the cap assembly finishing the opening of the can is partially distorted and bent toward the electrode assembly by external pressure.
  • a core pack with a protecting circuit board disposed at one side thereof may be subjected to a tubing process with a thin casing and a labeling process, resulting in an inner pack
  • the core pack with the protecting circuit board disposed at one side thereof may be received in a separate casing, resulting in a hard pack.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Connection Of Batteries Or Terminals (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)
  • Sealing Battery Cases Or Jackets (AREA)

Abstract

A cap assembly for a secondary battery in which an insulating member is disposed in a partial or entire terminal plate, resulting in improved stability. The cap assembly includes a terminal plate and an insulating member. The insulating member is disposed in a partial or entire region of the terminal plate other than a region to which a negative electrode tab is welded.

Description

    CLAIM OF PRIORITY
  • This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/193,420 entitled “Cap Assembly and Secondary Battery using the same” filed on Aug. 18, 2008, now allowed, which claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2007-0100372, filed on Oct. 5, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of both of which are incorporated by reference herein.
    • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention
  • The present invention relates to a cap assembly and a secondary battery using the same, and more particularly, to a cap assembly and a secondary battery using the same in which an insulating member is disposed in a partial or an entire of a terminal plate, resulting in improved stability.
  • 2. Description of the Related Art
  • Rechargeable secondary batteries are economical in comparison to disposable dry cells. In recent years, as low-volume and high-capacity secondary batteries are developed, they are widely used as power supplies for portable electronic/electrical devices, such as cellular phones, camcorders, notebook computers and the like.
  • The secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries.
  • Among them, the lithium secondary batteries are most widely used because of their small size, high capacity, high operating voltage, and high energy density per weight.
  • The lithium secondary batteries may be classified into can-type lithium secondary batteries and pouch-type lithium secondary batteries depending on shapes of a casing, which accommodates an electrode assembly having a negative electrode plate, a positive electrode plate and a separator. The can-type lithium secondary batteries may be further classified into cylinder-type lithium secondary batteries and prismatic-type lithium secondary batteries.
  • When the lithium secondary battery is of the can type, the casing is generally formed of a metal such as aluminum and has a cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape, or a pillar shape with rounded edges.
  • The can has an upper opening through which an electrode assembly is inserted and electrolyte is injected into the can.
  • The can is then finished by a cap assembly having a size and shape corresponding to the opening of the can, resulting in a sealed bare cell.
  • When the lithium secondary battery is of the pouch-type, a pouch casing has a space for accommodating an electrode assembly, which is accommodated on a lower surface of the casing.
  • The lower surface is covered with an upper surface of the pouch casing, and sealing portions are formed at edges of the upper and lower surfaces of the pouch casing and bonded in order to be sealed, resulting in a bare cell.
  • The bare cell configured above is electrically connected with a protecting circuit board, which includes a protecting device for preventing accident caused by abnormal operation, such as overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent, and the like.
  • In general, the electrical connection between the bare cell and the protecting circuit board is made via a lead. Such a secondary battery may be called a core pack.
  • The core pack is received in a separate casing or a gap of the core pack is filled with a hot-melt resin. The core pack is then subjected to a tubing process with a thin casing and a labeling process, resulting in a battery pack.
  • In a prismatic-type secondary battery, the conductive terminal plate forming the cap assembly may stab into the electrode assembly or may be brought into contact and short-circuited with the can when the cap assembly finishing the opening of the can is partially distorted and bent toward the electrode assembly by external pressure, causing a stability issue such as a fire and an explosion.
  • The above information disclosed in this Related Art section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a cap assembly comprising a terminal plate and an insulating member, wherein the insulating member disposed in a partial or an entire region of the terminal plate other than a region to which a positive electrode tab is welded.
  • In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a secondary battery comprising: an electrode assembly including a negative electrode tab and a positive electrode tab; a can for accommodating the electrode assembly, the can including an upper opening; and a cap assembly for finishing the upper opening, in which the cap assembly comprises a terminal plate and an insulating member, wherein the insulating member disposed in a partial or an entire region of the terminal plate other than a region to which the negative electrode tab is welded.
  • The insulating member may be coated with poly-ethylene or poly-ethylene-terephthalate.
  • The insulating member may comprise an insulating tape attached thereon.
  • The secondary battery is of an inner pack type or a hard pack type.
  • According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the conductive terminal plate forming the cap assembly from stabbing into the electrode assembly or from being brought into contact and abnormally short-circuited with the can when the cap assembly finishing the opening of the can is partially distorted and bent toward the electrode assembly by external pressure.
  • Thus, a fire and an explosion caused by the abnormal short-circuit can be also prevented, thereby improving stability of the battery.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
  • FIG. 2 is an assembled cross-sectional view illustrating the secondary battery of FIG. 1.
    •  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Thicknesses, distances and the like of layers and areas in the drawings may be exaggerated for convenience of illustration.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are an exploded perspective view and an assembled cross-sectional view illustrating a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the secondary battery includes an electrode assembly 10, a can 20 for accommodating the electrode assembly 10, and a cap assembly 30 disposed on an opening of the can 20.
  • The electrode assembly 10 includes a positive electrode plate 11 having a positive electrode collector coated with a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode plate 13 having a negative electrode collector coated with a negative electrode active material, and a separator 15 interposed between the positive electrode plate 11 and the negative electrode plate 13 for preventing a short-circuit between the plates 11 and 13 and allowing for movement of lithium ions.
  • The positive electrode plate 11 includes a non-coating portion that is not coated with the positive electrode active material, and the negative electrode plate 13 includes a non-coating portion that is not coated with the negative electrode active material.
  • A positive electrode tab 17 is bonded to the positive electrode non-coating portion and electrically connected to a cap plate, and a negative electrode tab 19 is bonded to the negative electrode non-coating portion and electrically connected to an electrode terminal.
  • In this case, the positive electrode tab 17 and the negative electrode tab 19 may be respectively bonded to the positive electrode non-coating portion and the negative electrode non-coating portion by ultrasonic welding. The present invention is not limited to the ultrasonic welding.
  • The positive electrode collector may be formed of stainless steel, nickel, aluminum, titanium, an alloy thereof, aluminum, or stainless steel that is surface-treated with carbon, nickel, titanium, or silver. Preferably, the positive electrode collector is formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy.
  • The positive electrode collector may be formed as a foil, a film, a sheet, a punched material, a porous material, a foam, and the like. The positive electrode collector has a thickness of 1 to 50 μm and preferably 1 to 30 μm. Here, the positive electrode collector is not limited to such shapes and thicknesses.
  • The positive electrode active material is capable of inserting or extracting lithium ions. Preferably, the positive electrode active material is at least one selected from a group consisting of cobalt, manganese, and nickel and at least one lithium composite oxide.
  • The negative electrode collector may be formed of stainless steel, nickel, copper, titanium, an alloy thereof, copper, or stainless steel that is surface-treated with carbon, nickel, titanium, or silver. Preferably, the negative electrode collector is formed of copper or a copper alloy.
  • The negative electrode collector may be formed as a foil, a film, a sheet, a punched material, a porous material, a foam, and the like. The negative electrode collector has a thickness of 1 to 50 μm, preferably 1 to 30 μm. Here, the negative electrode collector is not limited to such shapes and thicknesses.
  • The negative electrode active material is capable of inserting or extracting lithium ion, and may include a carbon material, such as crystalline carbon, amorphous carbon, carbon composite, and carbon fiber, a lithium metal, a lithium alloy, etc.
  • The separator 15 is typically formed of a thermoplastic resin, such as poly-ethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) and has a surface in a porous film structure.
  • This porous film structure becomes an insulating film as the separator 15 is melted and the holes are clogged when an internal temperature of the battery is elevated to a melting point of the thermoplastic resin.
  • The insulating film blocks lithium ion between the positive electrode plate 11 and the negative electrode plate 13 and, accordingly, current no longer flows, thereby stopping elevation of the internal temperature of the battery.
  • The can 20 may be formed of a metal material and have an upper opening. The can 20 may accommodate the electrode assembly 10 and the electrolyte, and have an insulating casing disposed on the electrode assembly.
  • The metal material may be light and flexible aluminum, aluminum alloy or stainless steel. When the can 20 is formed of the metal material, it may have a polarity and be used as an electrode terminal.
  • The can 20 may have a prismatic shape or an elliptical shape with rounded edges. The upper opening of the can 20 is welded or melt-bonded to the cap plate to be sealed.
  • The cap assembly 30 is coupled with the upper opening of the can 20 and includes an insulating casing 31, a cap plate 32, an insulating gasket 33, an electrode terminal 34, an insulating plate 35, a terminal plate 36, and a plug 37 for an electrolyte injection hole.
  • The insulating casing 31 is located on the electrode assembly 10 inserted into the can 20 for preventing movement of the electrode assembly 10.
  • The insulating casing 31 has sidewalls so that the terminal plate 36 and the insulating plate 35 covering the terminal plate 36 are set in the insulating casing 31.
  • The insulating casing 31 also isolates between the positive electrode tab 17 and the negative electrode tab 19 by a predetermined distance so that they are not short-circuited. The insulating casing 31 may include an external groove serving as a guide.
  • The insulating casing 31 may be formed of an insulating polymer resin, such as polypropylene (PP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyethersulfone (PES), or degenerated poly phenylene oxide (PPO).
  • The cap plate 32 is coupled with the upper opening of the can 20 to seal the opening. The cap plate 32 is a metal plate having the same size and shape as the opening, and includes a terminal hole 32 a into which the insulating gasket 33 and the electrode terminal 34 may be inserted.
  • The cap plate 32 further includes an electrolyte injection hole 32 b that provides a passage for injecting the electrolyte into the can 10.
  • After the electrolyte is injected, the can 20 is sealed by sealing the electrolyte injection hole 32 b with the plug 37.
  • The insulating gasket 33 is coupled with the terminal hole 32 a of the cap plate 32. The insulating gasket 33 is formed of a rubber or another nonconductive material having good conductivity to insulate between the electrode terminal 34 and the cap plate 32.
  • The insulating gasket 33 has a central hole for coupling with the electrode terminal 34. When the insulating gasket 33 is coupled with the electrode terminal 34, it surrounds an outer side of the electrode terminal 34.
  • The electrode terminal 34 is coupled with the cap plate 32 in such a manner that it is inserted into the hole of the insulating gasket 33. A lower end of the electrode terminal 34 passing through the cap plate 32 is electrically connected to the terminal plate 36.
  • The insulating plate 35 is formed of an insulating material and located on a lower surface of the cap plate 32 for insulating the cap plate 32 and the terminal plate 36, which is located on the lower surface of the insulating plate 35.
  • The insulating plate 35 includes a hole corresponding to the terminal hole 32 a of the cap plate 32.
  • The electrode terminal 34 is inserted through the hole and connected with the terminal plate 36 and electrically connected to the negative electrode tab 19 of the electrode assembly 10 welded to the terminal plate 36.
  • The terminal plate 36 is located on the lower surface of the insulating plate 35. The terminal plate 36 is formed of a conductive material and establishes an electrical path between the negative electrode tab 19 of the electrode assembly 10, which is welded to the lower surface of the terminal plate 36, and the electrode terminal 34.
  • The cap assembly 30 may further include an insulating member 36 a disposed in a partial or an entire region of the terminal plate 36 other than the region to which the negative electrode tab 19 is welded. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the insulating member 36 a may include a part locating on a surface to which the negative electrode tab 19 is welded. The insulating member 36 a may be disposed in an edge of the lower surface of the terminal plate 36. The insulating member 36 a may surround or encase an edge of the terminal plate 36.
  • The insulating member 36 a may be coated with a nonconductive material that is not corroded by the electrolyte, such as poly-ethylene (PE) or poly-ethylene-terephthalate (PET), or may include an insulating tape attached thereon.
  • The insulating member 36 a can prevent the conductive terminal plate forming the cap assembly from stabbing into the electrode assembly or from being brought into contact and short-circuited with the can when the cap assembly finishing the opening of the can is partially distorted and bent toward the electrode assembly by external pressure.
  • For the secondary battery as the bare cell configured above, a core pack with a protecting circuit board disposed at one side thereof may be subjected to a tubing process with a thin casing and a labeling process, resulting in an inner pack
  • Alternatively, the core pack with the protecting circuit board disposed at one side thereof may be received in a separate casing, resulting in a hard pack.
  • The invention has been described using preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the scope of the invention is intended to include various modifications and alternative arrangements within the capabilities of persons skilled in the art using presently known or future technologies and equivalents. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

Claims (11)

1. A secondary battery, comprising:
an electrode assembly having two electrode tabs including a positive electrode tab and a negative electrode tab;
an outer can accommodating the electrode assembly;
a cap plate closing the outer can;
a terminal plate including a first region in which the terminal plate rigidly contacts one of the two electrode tabs and a second region in which the terminal plate does not contact any one of the two electrode tabs; and
an insulating member located on the second region, wherein the insulating member is disposed both between the cap plate and the terminal plate and in a same plane of the first region.
2. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, wherein the insulating member is coated with poly-ethylene or poly-ethylene-terephthalate.
3. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, wherein the insulating member comprises an insulating tape attached thereon.
4. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, wherein the outer can has a prismatic shape or an elliptical shape with rounded edges.
5. The secondary battery recited in claim 4, wherein the outer can is formed of aluminum, aluminum alloy, or stainless steel.
6. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary battery further comprises:
a protecting circuit board disposed at one side thereof.
7. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary battery is of an inner pack type.
8. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary battery is of a hard pack type.
9. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, wherein the first region rigidly contacts the positive electrode tab.
10. The secondary battery recited in claim 9, wherein the negative tab contacts the cap plate.
11. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary battery further comprises:
a terminal hole disposed in the cap plate;
an insulating gasket coupled with the terminal hole and having a central hole;
an electrode terminal coupled with the central hole;
an insulating plate disposed between the cap plate and the terminal plate; and
an insulating casing located on the electrode assembly,
wherein the terminal plate electrically connected to the electrode terminal.
US13/090,595 2007-10-05 2011-04-20 Cap assembly and secondary battery using the same Abandoned US20110195282A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/090,595 US20110195282A1 (en) 2007-10-05 2011-04-20 Cap assembly and secondary battery using the same

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR10-2007-0100372 2007-10-05
KR1020070100372A KR100929033B1 (en) 2007-10-05 2007-10-05 Cap assembly and secondary battery having the same
US12/193,420 US7951486B2 (en) 2007-10-05 2008-08-18 Cap assembly and secondary battery using the same
US13/090,595 US20110195282A1 (en) 2007-10-05 2011-04-20 Cap assembly and secondary battery using the same

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/193,420 Continuation US7951486B2 (en) 2007-10-05 2008-08-18 Cap assembly and secondary battery using the same

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20110195282A1 true US20110195282A1 (en) 2011-08-11

Family

ID=40523544

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/193,420 Expired - Fee Related US7951486B2 (en) 2007-10-05 2008-08-18 Cap assembly and secondary battery using the same
US13/090,595 Abandoned US20110195282A1 (en) 2007-10-05 2011-04-20 Cap assembly and secondary battery using the same

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/193,420 Expired - Fee Related US7951486B2 (en) 2007-10-05 2008-08-18 Cap assembly and secondary battery using the same

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (2) US7951486B2 (en)
KR (1) KR100929033B1 (en)
CN (1) CN101404325B (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110086242A1 (en) * 2009-10-09 2011-04-14 Sangjoo Lee Battery pack and method of manufacturing battery pack
US8771851B2 (en) 2011-06-07 2014-07-08 Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Battery pack

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8420254B2 (en) * 2007-12-25 2013-04-16 Byd Co. Ltd. End cover assembly for an electrochemical cell
JP5577802B2 (en) * 2010-04-07 2014-08-27 日産自動車株式会社 Battery module
JP2013118161A (en) * 2011-12-02 2013-06-13 ▲蘇▼州冠▲碩▼新能源有限公司 Battery lid assembly member, battery assembly including battery lid assembly member, and manufacturing method of battery assembly
CN104576975B (en) * 2013-10-28 2017-07-04 比亚迪股份有限公司 Seal assembly and its manufacture method for battery and the battery with it
CN104617242B (en) * 2015-01-05 2017-11-17 惠州亿纬锂能股份有限公司 A kind of seal assembly and the lithium battery comprising the seal assembly
KR102601641B1 (en) * 2016-01-20 2023-11-13 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 Cap assembly for secondary battery and secondary battery including the same
US20190296273A1 (en) * 2018-03-23 2019-09-26 Sf Motors, Inc. Battery cell for electric vehicle battery pack
US11145925B2 (en) * 2018-09-06 2021-10-12 Apple Inc. Cylindrical battery cell with overmolded glass feedthrough
US20200091468A1 (en) * 2018-09-14 2020-03-19 Sf Motors, Inc. Dual polarity lid for battery cell of an electric vehicle
CN112331963A (en) * 2019-09-19 2021-02-05 宁德时代新能源科技股份有限公司 Case, secondary battery, battery pack, vehicle, and method for manufacturing secondary battery
CN112234282A (en) * 2020-10-10 2021-01-15 深圳市合壹新能技术有限公司 Battery shell assembly, battery and preparation method
KR20220072503A (en) * 2020-11-25 2022-06-02 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 Rechargeable battery

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20010012582A1 (en) * 1999-12-27 2001-08-09 Young-Hoon Kim Prismatic sealed battery and method for making the same
US6440601B1 (en) * 1999-02-01 2002-08-27 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Battery pack
US20030148174A1 (en) * 2002-02-06 2003-08-07 Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Battery unit, lithium polymer battery using the same, and method for manufacturing lithium polymer battery
US20050208345A1 (en) * 2004-01-28 2005-09-22 Yoon Seog J Secondary battery of assemble-type structure
US20060051667A1 (en) * 2004-07-30 2006-03-09 Kim Chang S Can-type secondary battery
US20060057459A1 (en) * 2004-09-09 2006-03-16 Kwon Teak H Can type secondary battery
JP2006100097A (en) * 2004-09-29 2006-04-13 Hitachi Maxell Ltd Sealed square battery
US20060263685A1 (en) * 2005-04-26 2006-11-23 Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Battery
US20070154797A1 (en) * 2005-12-29 2007-07-05 Yooeup Hyung Cylindrical lithium ion secondary battery

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH11167909A (en) 1997-12-03 1999-06-22 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Explosion-proof valve device for nonaqueous electrolyte battery
KR200186979Y1 (en) 1997-12-30 2000-07-01 손욱 Secondary battery apparatus preventing pole plate from short
JP4201619B2 (en) 2003-02-26 2008-12-24 三洋電機株式会社 Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and method for producing electrode used therefor
KR100551050B1 (en) * 2003-11-24 2006-02-09 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 Cap assembly of secondary battery with shape memory alloy
KR20050121115A (en) 2004-06-21 2005-12-26 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 Electrode jelly-roll for lithium secondary battery
JP5260838B2 (en) 2005-08-30 2013-08-14 三洋電機株式会社 Non-aqueous secondary battery

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6440601B1 (en) * 1999-02-01 2002-08-27 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Battery pack
US20010012582A1 (en) * 1999-12-27 2001-08-09 Young-Hoon Kim Prismatic sealed battery and method for making the same
US20030148174A1 (en) * 2002-02-06 2003-08-07 Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Battery unit, lithium polymer battery using the same, and method for manufacturing lithium polymer battery
US20050208345A1 (en) * 2004-01-28 2005-09-22 Yoon Seog J Secondary battery of assemble-type structure
US20060051667A1 (en) * 2004-07-30 2006-03-09 Kim Chang S Can-type secondary battery
US20060057459A1 (en) * 2004-09-09 2006-03-16 Kwon Teak H Can type secondary battery
JP2006100097A (en) * 2004-09-29 2006-04-13 Hitachi Maxell Ltd Sealed square battery
US20060263685A1 (en) * 2005-04-26 2006-11-23 Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Battery
US20070154797A1 (en) * 2005-12-29 2007-07-05 Yooeup Hyung Cylindrical lithium ion secondary battery

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110086242A1 (en) * 2009-10-09 2011-04-14 Sangjoo Lee Battery pack and method of manufacturing battery pack
US8722217B2 (en) * 2009-10-09 2014-05-13 Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Battery pack and method of manufacturing battery pack
US8771851B2 (en) 2011-06-07 2014-07-08 Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Battery pack

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR20090035226A (en) 2009-04-09
US7951486B2 (en) 2011-05-31
US20090092897A1 (en) 2009-04-09
CN101404325A (en) 2009-04-08
KR100929033B1 (en) 2009-11-26
CN101404325B (en) 2011-04-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7951486B2 (en) Cap assembly and secondary battery using the same
US8986871B2 (en) Electrode assembly and secondary battery having the same
US7618737B2 (en) Lithium secondary battery and method for manufacturing the same
US8679675B2 (en) Battery including a member configured to prevent a short circuit
EP1919009B1 (en) Lithium Rechargeable Battery
US20070160904A1 (en) Battery and method of making the same
US20060269835A1 (en) Jelly-roll type electrode assembly and lithium secondary battery with the same
US8709649B2 (en) Electrode tab for secondary battery and secondary battery using the same
KR101233470B1 (en) Rechargeable battery
KR20080085316A (en) Rechargeable battery
KR100696791B1 (en) Cap Assembly and Lithium Ion Secondary Battery with the same
US8530077B2 (en) Insulating case for secondary battery and secondary battery having the same
US8815441B2 (en) Secondary battery
US20090155683A1 (en) Insulating case for secondary battery and secondary battery using the same
KR20080073922A (en) Protection circuit assembly and battery pack having the same
KR100646520B1 (en) secondary battery and method for assembling the same
KR100760786B1 (en) Secondary battery and the same using method
KR100731464B1 (en) Secondary battery and the same using method
KR100696787B1 (en) Cap Assembly and Lithium Ion Secondary Battery with the same
KR100614385B1 (en) Cap Assembly and Lithium Secondary Battery with the same
KR100670516B1 (en) Secondary battery and the same using method
KR100670452B1 (en) Electrode assembly and the same using Secondary Battery
KR100601528B1 (en) Secondary battery
JP2013152935A (en) Large capacity battery pack
KR20090018189A (en) Protection circuit assembly and battery pack having the same

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION