Housing Or Casing With Plural Covers Patents (Class 429/177)
  • Patent number: 7807304
    Abstract: A zinc air-type battery comprising first and second cathodes each with positive contacts and an anode with a negative contact. The second cathode is situated proximal to the negative contact and proximal to the anode, which can enable air ingress to be substantially doubled and the internal resistance of the battery to be substantially halved, and further can provide for a relatively short diffusion length of ions from the second cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Dirk Arno Fiedler
  • Patent number: 7794875
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery module including two battery cells, each of which has electrode terminals formed at upper and lower ends thereof. The battery module further includes a frame member, to which upper-end sealing parts, lower-end sealing parts, and one-side sealing parts of the battery cells are mounted, a metal sheathing member for covering the outer surfaces of the battery cells while the battery cells are mounted to the frame member, and caps (an upper-end cap and a lower-end cap) mounted to the upper and lower ends of the battery cells, respectively, which are covered by the metal sheathing member. According to the present invention, it is possible to minimize the weight and the size of the battery module while increasing the strength of the battery cells. Also, it is possible to easily mount the detecting means that detects the operation of the battery cells, and it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of short circuits during the assembly or the operation of the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junill Yoon, Seungjae You, Heekook Yang, Jongmoon Yoon, Jisang Yu, John E. Namgoong
  • Patent number: 7763381
    Abstract: A means for inhibiting the propagation of thermal runaway within a plurality of batteries is provided, wherein the means is comprised of a pair of intumescent material layers coating the battery casing, or at least a portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Vineet Haresh Mehta, Alex Prilutsky
  • Patent number: 7749647
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided in which a sleeve comprised of one or more layers of a high yield strength material surrounds the casing of a battery, the sleeve inhibiting the flow of hot, pressurized gas from within the battery through perforations formed in the battery casing during a thermal runaway event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Alex Prilutsky, Scott Ira Kohn, Vineet Haresh Mehta
  • Patent number: 7749650
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided in which at least one layer pair comprised of an inner, thermally insulating layer and an outer, high yield strength layer, surrounds the casing of a battery, the at least one layer pair inhibiting the flow of hot, pressurized gas from within the battery through perforations formed in the battery casing during a thermal runaway event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Patent number: 7745044
    Abstract: A battery module includes a battery case, at least a battery, and at least a thermal pad. The battery case includes a top cover and a bottom cover. The battery is received in the bottom cover of the battery case. The thermal pad is placed in a chamber of the batteries and pressed by the top cover of the battery case after the top cover and the bottom cover covering together. Therefore, the thermal energy created by the battery module can be easily transmitted to the outside of the battery module case along the thermal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsien-Hung Chen, Nan-Sheng Chang, Chuan-Jung Wang
  • Patent number: 7736799
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided in which a layer of an intumescent material surrounds the casing of a battery, the layer helping to prevent the formation of perforations in the battery casing during a thermal runaway event and, if a perforation is formed, inhibiting the flow of hot, pressurized gas from within the battery. A sleeve, surrounding the cell, may be used to contain the intumescent material during the thermal event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Vineet Haresh Mehta, Alex Prilutsky
  • Publication number: 20100136416
    Abstract: Disclosed is a card type battery that has both functions of a smart card and a battery. The card battery can prevent a short caused by contact with an external device, reduce a total thickness of the battery and improve bonding strength between internal elements of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Koh, Bongyoung Kim, Kyungho Park
  • Patent number: 7722987
    Abstract: A battery having a housing assembled from multiple parts, of which one housing part is implemented like a vessel having an initially open front side and the other housing part is a closure part, which closes the vessel-like housing part on its initially open front side, and having at least one first and at least one second electrode, each of which is formed by a planar material, of which the first electrode is electrically connected to an electrically conductive housing part of the battery, while the second electrode is electrically connected to an electrically conductive contact, which is electrically insulated from the remaining housing, the battery comprising a molded part which is provided with at least one first recess for receiving and positioning at least one section of the first electrode or the first electrodes at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Juergen Drews, Steffen Hickmann, Roland Staub
  • Patent number: 7682735
    Abstract: A pouch type lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate connected to a first electrode tap, a second electrode plate connected to a second electrode tap, and a separator interposed between the first and second electrode plates. The battery also includes a pouch exterior having an electrode assembly storing portion and at least a wing portion extending from at least an end of the electrode assembly storing portion, the wing portion entirely winding around side faces of the electrode assembly storing portion. A method of fabricating a pouch type lithium secondary battery is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung Bok Lee
  • Patent number: 7662512
    Abstract: A square-shaped storage battery including a rectangular accumulator element (16), a sealed case (30) that accommodates the accumulator element, and a resin plate (20) which is formed of a hard resin having insulating properties and interposed between the sealed case and the accumulator element for limiting movement of the accumulator element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norifumi Yasuda, Hisashi Katoh, Tatsuya Kouda, Sunao Morishita, Hitoshi Toda, Shinichi Kaneda, Masayuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 7635535
    Abstract: A battery pack having a battery in which a battery case and a cap of a sealing plate sealing an open end of the battery case serve as connection electrodes of opposite polarities, a terminal unit including external connection terminals respectively connected to these connection electrodes and an insulating cover integrally formed therewith, the terminal unit covering at least one end of the battery case, and a resilient member interposed between one end of the battery case and the terminal unit in a compressed state. In the manufacturing method of this battery pack, the dimension between the terminal unit and the other end of the battery case is controlled when fixing the terminal unit with the battery case. The battery pack thus has a simple and low cost configuration and yet exhibits high reliability in terms of the connection state of the external connection terminals when set in a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichiro Ebi, Kenjin Masumoto, Toshiharu Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20090263712
    Abstract: To provide a film-packaged battery 1 in which battery element 2 formed by collectively joining a plurality of positive and negative extending portions 2a and 2b to positive and negative electrode leads 3a and 3b for each polarity, is surrounded by laminate films 5 and 6 which are formed by laminating at least heat fusion layer 10 and metal layer 11. Protection member 4a having a melting point lower than that of heat fusion layer 10 is arranged at least between each of joining portions 20a and 20b of positive and negative electrode extending portions 2a and 2b, and heat fusion layer 10 of laminate film 5 which layer face the each of joining portions 20a and 20b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Shunji Noda
  • Publication number: 20090263713
    Abstract: A battery cover assembly includes a back cover, a battery cover and at least one elastic device. The back cover includes a battery chamber recessed there-into and an separation-preventing portion protruding therefrom. The battery cover is slidably mounted on the battery chamber of the back cover and includes an anti-detaching portion protruding therefrom. The anti-detaching portion is configured for being blocked by the separation-preventing portion to avoid the battery cover being released from the back cover when the battery cover is slid relative to the back cover. The elastic device has two opposite ends secured to the back cover and the battery cover respectively. The elastic device is configured for providing an elastic force to open the battery cover relative to the back cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicants: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventors: ZHENG SHI, CHIH-CHIANG CHANG
  • Patent number: 7597994
    Abstract: An outer case (10, 20, 35, 40) for housing a rechargeable battery (1, 31, 41) and a battery circuit therein is composed of an upper case (7, 21, 42) and a lower case (8, 22, 43), each being formed as a half-shell body. The respective bottom faces of the upper case (7, 21, 42) and the lower case (8, 22, 43) are formed of film members (7b, 8b, 32, 34, 42b, 43b), and are integrally formed with resin moldings (7a, 8a, 33, 42c, 43c) forming circumferential side faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Kozu, Koichi Inaba, Iichiro Mori, Koici Toriyama, Naohiro Hamao, Tadashi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20090239142
    Abstract: This electrochemical device includes a first frame, a second frame, and a laminated electrochemical element having a housing encasing an element. Outer edges of the housing are sandwiched between the first frame and the second frame. Hook members are provided on one of the first frame and the second frame, and indentations engaging the hook members are provided on the other one of the frames, thereby fixing the relative positional relationship between the first frame and the second frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke SUTO
  • Patent number: 7572550
    Abstract: A plurality of shock-absorbing ribs for protecting batteries are formed on an outer surface of the cover. The plurality of ribs are arranged parallel to each other. The plurality of ribs may be crossed in a lattice-like manner. Shock-absorbing projections each for abutting against a fixing member, engaged with the battery electrode, are formed on an inner surface of the cover. The projection has an annular shape, and a distal end portion of the electrode is received in the projection. A gap between the projection and the fixing member is smaller than a gap between the electrode and the cover. The plurality of ribs and the projections are disposed substantially symmetrically. The plurality of ribs are interconnected by bulge portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Saito, Tomohiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7534525
    Abstract: A battery element is housed and sealed in a package body, and further, packed together with a connecting board and a frame by the package body. A laminate material for sealing the battery element is used as an outer package material of a battery pack. Thus, the increase of volume for the pack is reduced as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Hiratsuka, Mitsuo Sakamoto, Takao Sawaguchi, Kazuhito Hatta, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 7521150
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a bare cell having a terminal side from which an electrode terminal protrudes, an opposing side opposite the terminal side, and a longitudinal side. A circuit module is on the longitudinal side and a resin molding covers the circuit module. A lead electrode electrically connects the electrode terminal and the circuit module. A side covering is attached to at least one of the terminal side and the opposing side, the side covering including a base and a skirt defining a resin cavity adapted to receive hot melt resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyungwon Seo, Yonggeol Kwon, Sangjoo Lee
  • Patent number: 7485393
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laminate for battery encasement comprising aluminum foil and an inner layer, wherein a resin film layer that comprises an aminated phenol polymer (A), an acrylic polymer (B), a phosphorus compound (C), and a zirconium compound (D) lies between the aluminum foil and the inner layer. The laminate for battery encasement of the present invention is excellent in adhesiveness, gas impermeability, etc., and therefore can be suitably used as a material for encasing a secondary battery, particularly a lithium ion polymer secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Arao, Masashi Hiromitsu, Takakazu Goto, Kazuya Tanaka, Akio Shimizu, Ryoji Morita
  • Patent number: 7479758
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery pack having locking members formed at an upper cover and locking grooves formed at a case body such that the locking members can be engaged in the corresponding locking grooves. The assembly of the battery pack is accomplished by a mechanical coupling method, not by an ultrasonic welding method, and the battery pack is manufactured with a high-strength material. Consequently, the battery pack can be manufactured while the thickness of the battery pack is further decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki eob Moon
  • Patent number: 7468222
    Abstract: An electrochemical device comprises a matrix 60 including an anode 10 and a cathode 20, an electrolyte, and a shell 50 for accommodating the matrix 60 and electrolyte in a closed state. The shell 50 includes an upper lid 52, a lower lid 54, and a gasket 56. At least one of the upper lid 52 and lower lid 54 is formed with a projection protruding toward the matrix 60 so that the upper lid 52 and the anode 10 electrically come into contact with each other and that the lower lid 54 and the cathode 20 electrically come into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Takahashi, Masayuki Ohtsuka, Kunio Miyabara, Saburou Tsuchida, Mitsuyoshi Harano
  • Patent number: 7452629
    Abstract: A nickel metal hydride storage battery included a battery case, and a group of electrode plates arranged in the battery case, wherein the battery case includes a battery case main body having a hole and a lid for closing the hole. The battery case includes a first portion made of a metal or a laminate of a metal and a resin, and a second portion made of a resin; and an area of the first portion is 20% or more and 90% or less with respect to the entire battery case. Thus, a nickel metal hydride storage battery is capable of controlling the amount of hydrogen permeating the battery case and capable of suppressing the long-term deterioration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignees: Panasonic Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Komori, Yoshiaki Ogata, Atsushi Adachi, Katsunori Maekawa, Noriyuki Fujioka
  • Patent number: 7438988
    Abstract: Secondary battery structure 100 has secondary batteries 110 equipped with metallic battery cases 111 , temperature detectors 120 for detecting temperature of the secondary batteries 110 , and supporting members 130 for supporting the temperature detectors 120 . Each of the temperature detectors 120 has a detector body 121 which detects surface temperature of the battery case 111 by contacting with a bottom surface 111c (temperature-detected surface) on the battery case 111, and a fixing portion 122 which engages with the supporting member 130 and fixes the temperature detector 120 to the secondary battery 110 while keeping the detector body 121 contact with the bottom surface 111c on the battery case 111.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Misu, Toyohiko Eto
  • Publication number: 20080187827
    Abstract: Disclosed is a welding-type fixing cap used for attachment to both ends of a cylindrical battery composed of metal materials. The welding-type fixing cap comprises a ring-shaped side wall; a visor surface extending outwards from one end of the side wall; a welding lug formed on the visor surface, wherein the welding lug is meltable in a welding process; a cutting hole formed in the side wall, wherein the cutting hole is dimensioned and configured for discharging gas. The welding lug is positioned distal to the side wall and proximal to a cutting hole. The welding-type fixing cap has a sufficient strength, while recuding electric current leakage during a contact-resistance welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Tae-yong Kim, Dae-won Han
  • Patent number: 7348099
    Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary electrolytic battery comprising an electricity-generating element formed by spirally winding a laminate of a positive electrode plate, a separating material and a negative electrode plate, and an electrolytic solution with which the separating material, if it is a separator, is impregnated. The electricity-generating element is sealed in a battery case formed by a resin-laminated sheet comprising a metal layer as a barrier layer. Only a pair of lead terminals are drawn to the exterior of the battery case. The resin sheet comprises an oriented resin layer laminated on both surfaces of the metal layer. The inner heat-fused layers are opposed and heat-fused to each other. A molten and solidified resin mass is formed protruding from the inner end of the welded portion toward the inner space of the battery by 0.1 mm or more. Alternatively, the welded portion is formed thinner at the outer end thereof than at the inner end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: GS Yuasa Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukai, Tetsuya Murai, Shinya Kitano, Mikio Okada, Hiroshi Nakahara, Mikito Nagata, Hiroyuki Yumoto
  • Patent number: 7332244
    Abstract: A battery case is formed by juxtaposing a plurality of electrode plate group housing chambers. An electrolyte-impregnated electrode plate group is housed in each of the housing chambers. A side plate is arranged in abutment with each side face of the battery case. The respective side faces are faced with the openings of the electrode plate group housing chambers. This makes it possible to close the openings of the electrode plate group housing chambers. Thus, the cells and the battery module are fabricated concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Uemoto, Kenji Kimura
  • Patent number: 7329473
    Abstract: The present invention is a secondary battery, comprising an upper housing, an upper accommodated tank, a main component of battery, a lower accommodated tank, a lower housing each is laminated orderly by layers to form a sealed structure of the secondary battery. The upper accommodated tank is made of a printed circuit board (PCB) material and is used to accommodate electrolyzed material. The lower accommodated tank is made of printed circuit board material and used to accommodate the electrolyzed material. The main component of the secondary battery is inserted between the upper accommodated tank and the lower accommodated tank. The upper tank made of a printed circuit board material is used to cover the upper accommodated tank closely, while the lower tank made of a printed circuit board material is used to cover the lower accommodated tank closely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Antig Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ko-Chen Shen, Hsi-Ming Shu, Cheng Hsin Chen
  • Patent number: 7273504
    Abstract: A battery having a single cell, an outer paper package covering the single cell, and a water-repellent layer included in the outer paper package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Nagai, Masanori Asano
  • Patent number: 7270913
    Abstract: To offer excellent hermeticity inside a battery having high productivity and being covered with package members by means of solving a problem such as sealing failures caused by gaps between sides of lead electrodes and the package members in sealing parts, in which the lead electrode to be disposed. During a step of sealing between ends of the package members and the lead electrodes by fusing the sealing members, or during a step of adhering the fused sealing members to the lead electrodes, stripping sheets made of a material such that the fused sealing members does not adhere to heaters, are inserted between the package members, or the sealing members and the heaters. Accordingly, even if the fused sealing members are forced out from ends of the package members, or leaked toward the outside, the sealing members does not adhere to surfaces of the heaters or crumble their shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sugiyama, Tatsuo Onozaki, Takashi Ono
  • Patent number: 7163762
    Abstract: In a polymer electrolyte battery including a battery element having a cathode and an anode coiled through a polymer electrolyte, a section of the battery element perpendicular to the coiling axis has a curved form. As compared with a polymer electrolyte battery having a flat plate type battery element curved, the former battery has an extremely low possibility of short-circuit at the end of an electrode and excellent battery characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Endo, Koichiro Kezuka, Kazuhito Hatta, Takayuki Kondo
  • Patent number: 7011906
    Abstract: A battery for electrical appliances that consume low voltage battery has a body containing a fluid material that is composed of active carbon and water therein, two conductive rods functioning as the opposite electrodes of the battery and extending into the body, and a water receptacle attached to the body. Water stored in the receptacle is able to be drawn into the body via a water absorbent bar to react with the two conductive rods. With such an arrangement, a chemical reaction of the two electrodes and water generates electricity to provide to an electrical appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: Sung-Nien Kao
  • Patent number: 6989217
    Abstract: A battery chamber, in which a dry cell or a battery pack is selectively loaded, is provided in a corner of a digital camera. The battery pack is inserted through a loading gate of a side surface of the digital camera, and plural dry cells are inserted through a loading gate in a bottom surface thereof. Four holes are formed in the loading gate in the bottom surface, and the dry cells are inserted in the respective holes. The loading gate in the side surface has a large size according to a shape of the battery pack. In the battery chamber, contact segments for dry cells and contact segments for battery pack are respectively provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Suto
  • Patent number: 6979515
    Abstract: A battery case excellent in glossiness of appearance and working efficiency and a surface-plated steel plate which can be used preferably to manufacture the battery case. The battery case is produced by deep-drawing, DI-forming, DTR-forming a surface-treated steel plate having glossy nickel or glossy nickel-cobalt alloy plating on the outermost layer corresponding to the external face of a battery case of a plated original plate consisting of a steel plate. The glossy nickel plating or glossy nickel-cobalt alloy plating layer on the outermost layer has a high glossiness, and therefore the appearance is excellent. The runnability of a formed battery case is high as well as the working efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ohmura, Tatsuo Tomomori, Hideo Ohmura
  • Patent number: 6972163
    Abstract: A battery cover assembly for use with a battery cell structure having spaced apart positive and negative terminals along a given surface. The cover assembly includes a cover surface having a relief area and a wall depending from the cover surface. A support structure supports the cover surface relative to the given surface of a desired battery cell structure such that the open relief area is aligned with the negative terminal. At least a portion of the wall extends between the positive and negative terminals and the cover surface covers the positive terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Donald G. Smith, Devin D. Biehler
  • Patent number: 6926996
    Abstract: A flat elongated alkaline battery comprising an outer metal housing and a single alkaline cell encased within a hydrogen permeable plastic container which is housed within the interior of the metal housing. The outer housing has at least a major surface which is a flat polygon. Preferably the outer metal housing is a cuboid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Robert S. Ferrin, Derek R. Bobowick
  • Patent number: 6893753
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery is integrated with a battery protection circuit that protects the rechargeable battery from overcharging, over discharging, and so forth. A circuit board (9) on which are formed a battery protection circuit, a positive input and output terminal (4), and a temperature detection terminal (6) is disposed on a rechargeable battery (10) via a spacer (13), and the positive and negative electrodes of the rechargeable battery (10) are connected to the circuit board (9). This assembly is enveloped by a cover cap (15) and a cover plate (14), such that the positive input and output terminal (4) and the temperature detection terminal (6) are exposed to the outside through openings provided in the cover plate (14), and one end of the cover cap (15) in the same plane as these is used for connection as a negative input and output terminal (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Iwaizono, Shoji Konishi, Shigeru Kajiwara, Takeshi Ishimaru, Masaru Kawabe, Katsuyuki Shirasawa
  • Patent number: 6893771
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery modules electrically connected together, each battery module acting as a secondary battery and including an electrode group, an electrolyte, a container for housing the electrode group and the electrolyte, and a safety valve operating in accordance with the internal pressure of the container. The working pressure of each safety valve is set so that the safety valve of at least one battery module is opened when the at least one battery module has its maximum internal pressure or less during the charge equalization. It is possible to provide a battery assembly that can improve the reliability of the container strength by keeping the working pressure of each safety valve lower than the pressure that the container resists even under elevated temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Arai, Shinji Hamada, Munehisa Ikoma, Masayoshi Iwase, Tomokazu Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6884541
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery includes a cylindrical battery case provided with electrode caps at both end portions thereof. An electrode body impregnated with a nonaqueous electrolyte solution is contained in the battery case and includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, with the positive electrode and the negative electrode being wound or laminated through the separator. An elastic body is disposed between the battery case and the electrode caps, with portions in which the battery case contacts the elastic body being brought into press-contact to form a caulked portion to seal the battery case. Rbody(mm) is a diameter of a body part of the battery case and Rtop(mm) is a diameter of the caulked portion, wherein Rbody and Rtop fulfill a relationship of Rbody>Rtop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Enomoto, Kenji Kawamura, Kenshin Kitoh, Toshihiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6875540
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprising a case, an internal electrode body inside the case, electrolyte contained in the case, and an insulator between the case and a terminal. Also, a lithium secondary battery comprising a body member, electrolyte contained in the body member, an internal electrode body inside the body member, an and cap and an insulator between the body member and the end cap. In each battery, the internal electrode body comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator between the electrodes, being electrically insulated from each other. In each battery, a first terminal is electrically connected to the negative electrode, and a second terminal is electrically connected to the positive electrode. The insulator comprises ethylene-propylene rubber, has surface hardness of from 30 (durometer A) to 60 (durometer D), and has volume resistivity of at least 1010 ?-cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nemoto, Teruhisa Kurokawa, Kenshin Kitoh
  • Patent number: 6866961
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery has an internal electrode body formed by winding a positive electrode and a negative electrode on an outer peripheral wall of a hollow winding core and filled with nonaqueous electrolyte solution, a cylindrical battery case containing this internal electrode body 1 inside with its both ends being open, and electrode caps which each have a battery cap, an internal terminal, and an external terminal, the internal electrode body being sealed by the electrode caps at both open ends of the battery case. At least one of the electrode caps has a pressure release hole in a position corresponding with the center axis of the winding core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Enomoto, Kenji Kawamura, Kenshin Kitoh, Toshihiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6844105
    Abstract: A plate shaped battery pack includes: a power generating element (21) sealed by a wrapping member (22) formed in the shape of a wrapper constructed of a laminated film; an anode terminal (24a, 26, 39) and a cathode terminal (23a, 23c, 25, 35) connected to the power generating element (21) and extending from almost a middle portion thereof; and an exterior member (10, 50, 80). The exterior member has a support member (15, 17, 55, 85) in a protruding shape supporting the anode terminal or the cathode terminal; or a recess (72, 76, 83) receiving a seal portion (22d) of the wrapping member. Furthermore, the plate shaped pack has a construction in which the exterior member is electrically conductive and surrounds the wrapping member, and one of the anode terminal and the cathode terminal are electrically connected to thereto, or another construction including, in addition, a temperature detector connected to a heat transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Hanafusa, Hiroichi Ishida
  • Patent number: 6841297
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery includes: a battery case, and an internal electrode body 1 contained in the battery case and including a positive electrode 2, a negative electrode 3, and a separator 4 made of porous polymer. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are wound and laminated through the separator so that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are not brought into direct contact each other. The battery case is composed of pure aluminum or aluminum alloy in which one or more components selected from manganese, magnesium, silicon and copper is added in aluminum. The lithium secondary battery has high weight energy density, is superior in safety, and is used for, particularly, an electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenshin Kitoh, Hiroshi Nemoto
  • Patent number: 6812634
    Abstract: A graphite nanofiber material herein provided has a cylindrical structure in which graphene sheets each having an ice-cream cone-like shape whose tip is cut off are put in layers through catalytic metal particles; or a structure in which small pieces of graphene sheets having a shape adapted for the facial shape of a catalytic metal particle are put on top of each other through the catalytic metal particles. The catalytic metal comprises Fe, Co or an alloy including at least one of these metals. The material can be used for producing an electron-emitting source, a display element, which is designed in such a manner that only a desired portion of a luminous body emits light, a negative electrode carbonaceous material for batteries and a lithium ion secondary battery. The electron-emitting source (a cold cathode ray source) has a high electron emission density and an ability of emitting electrons at a low electric field, which have never or less been attained by the carbon nanotube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Nihon Shinku Gijutsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirohiko Murakami, Masaaki Hirakawa, Chiaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6797429
    Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary electrolytic battery comprising an electricity-generating element formed by spirally winding a laminate of a positive electrode plate, a separating material and a negative electrode plate, and an electrolytic solution with which the separating material, if it is a separator, is impregnated. The electricity-generating element is sealed in a battery case formed by a resin-laminated sheet comprising a metal layer as a barrier layer. Only a pair of lead terminals are drawn to the exterior of the battery case. The resin sheet comprises an oriented resin layer laminated in both surfaces of the metal layer. The inner heat-fused layers are opposed and heat-fused to each other. A molten and solidified resin mass is formed protruding from the inner end of the welded portion toward the inner space of the battery by 0.1 mm or more. Alternatively, the welded portion is formed thinner at the outer end thereof than at the inner end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Storage Battery Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeo Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20040185339
    Abstract: A lead acid battery cell having at least two containments, an inner or first containment and an outer or second containment around the inner containment. The inner containment contains the electrolyte. The outer containment is leak proof in its upright position in that it can hold all electrolyte if the inner containment is breached. The outer containment is also fire-proof and explosion proof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: William E. M. Jones
  • Patent number: 6780539
    Abstract: A flat elongated alkaline battery comprising an outer metal housing and plurality of individual alkaline cells housed therein. The outer housing has at least a major surface which is a flat polygon. Preferably the outer metal housing is a cuboid. The individual cells comprise an anode slab comprising zinc, cathode slab, comprising manganese dioxide and separator therebetween. Each cell is formed by stacking the anode, separator, and cathode body to body. Each cell has at least one surface which is polygonal. The individual cells are preferably aligned in a row edge to edge to form a pack of cells having the same thickness as the thickness of an individual cell. The pack of cells are inserted into a common hydrogen permeable plastic container and encased therein. The cells encased in the plastic container are housed within the interior of the metal outer casing. The cells are electrically connected in parallel to the battery positive and negative terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Robert S. Ferrin, Derek R. Bobowick
  • Patent number: 6773846
    Abstract: A mobile rack type battery box is constructed to include two hollow rectangular cover shells symmetrically fastened together by screws, each cover shell having at least one longitudinal inside groove for receiving electric wires and ventilation, and a plurality of battery cells mounted in the holding space defined within the cover shells and horizontally abutted against one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignees: Allis Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jake Chen, Johnny Lin
  • Patent number: 6743546
    Abstract: Battery with a flexible laminate casing includes a means for fixing the electrode assembly (2) within the casing (1, 18). The fixing means may be a frame (19, 33, 38, 50, 54) attached to the periphery of the electrode assembly, or an insulating spacer (59, 69, 70, 77, 78) encased within the casing together with the electrode assembly such as to fill a space between one end of the electrode assembly and the casing. Alternatively, the fixing means may be constructed of a material with which the casing and the electrode assembly are joined together by applying heat and pressure, or may be an abutting surface (87h) provided to the casing (87) itself such as to make contact with one end face of the electrode assembly within the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kaneda, Hideaki Yoshio, Yoshitaka Matsumasa, Hiroaki Ichinose, Hitoshi Suzuki, Shingo Tsuda
  • Patent number: RE38518
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a can for containing electrochemical materials including positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, the can having an open end and a closed end; a pressure relief mechanism formed in the closed end of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the can when the internal pressure becomes excessive; a first outer cover positioned on the closed end of the can to be in electrical contact therewith and to extend over the pressure relief mechanism; a second outer cover positioned across the open end of the can; and an insulator disposed between the can and the second outer cover for electrically insulating the can from the second outer cover. According to another embodiment, the second cover is dielectrically isolated from a current collector. The battery comprises a collector assembly and can defining a sealed internal volume within the can and available for containing electrochemically active materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary R. Tucholski