Abstract: A novel battery with a venting device and overcharge protection system. The battery casing has an inner tube that completely surrounds a hollow core, an outer tube that surrounds the inner tube, and end plates. The inner tube is welded at its ends to two end plates. The inner tube, outer tube, and end plates form a sealed, hermetic annular space in which the battery components are held. The inner tube is designed to collapse into the hollow core when a pressure inside the annular space exceeds a predetermined collapsing pressure, and the welds connecting the inner tube to the end plates are designed to break when the pressure inside the annular space exceeds a predetermined breaking pressure. In addition, the invention can take advantage of the fact that the inner tube is negatively charged by have a connecting member, which is electrically connected to the anode and thus positively charged, that extends into the hollow core.

Abstract: A novel battery with a venting device and overcharge protection system. The battery casing has an inner tube that completely surrounds a hollow core, an outer tube that surrounds the inner tube, and end plates. The inner tube is welded at its ends to two end plates. The inner tube, outer tube, and end plates form a sealed, hermetic annular space in which the battery components are held. The inner tube is designed to collapse into the hollow core when a pressure inside the annular space exceeds a predetermined collapsing pressure, and the welds connecting the inner tube to the end plates are designed to break when the pressure inside the annular space exceeds a predetermined breaking pressure. In addition, the invention can take advantage of the fact that the inner tube is negatively charged by have a connecting member, which is electrically connected to the anode and thus positively charged, that extends into the hollow core.

Abstract: A bussing structure for bussing current within an electrochemical cell. The bussing structure includes a first plate and a second plate, each having a central aperture therein. Current collection tabs, extending from an electrode stack in the electrochemical cell, extend through the central aperture in the first plate, and are then sandwiched between the first plate and second plate. The second plate is then connected to a terminal on the outside of the case of the electrochemical cell. Each of the first and second plates includes a second aperture which is positioned beneath a safety vent in the case of the electrochemical cell to promote turbulent flow of gasses through the vent upon its opening. The second plate also includes protrusions for spacing the bussing structure from the case, as well as plateaus for connecting the bussing structure to the terminal on the case of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A circuit breaker which automatically interrupts the flow of current from a battery upon the development of a predetermined overcurrent. A weld connection around a periphery of an aperture determines a current path which has the lowest current carrying capacity in the battery. Therefore, the diameter of the aperture determines the amount of current which will break the weld thereby disconnecting the battery from a circuit.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method are disclosed for winding into a spiral roll the positive (186) and negative (241) plates of small cylindrical batteries. The originally flat positive and negative pasted plates are conveyed through stations at which they are automatically wrapped with strips of separator material (24, 84). Then the wrapped plates are stacked in a staggered pattern and conveyed to a winding station (78). There the stack of plates is wound into a spiral roll around an arbor (332) surrounded by three driven rolls (322, 324, 326) over which a guide belt (366) is run. As the spiral roll is formed, the driven rolls move radially outwardly from the arbor under the control of a mechanism (362, 402-430) which ensures that the final roll diameter will be within desired tolerances. The outermost layer of plate wrapping material is thermally sealed (104, 105) to the roll to prevent its unwinding; and then a further mechanism (432-478) automatically ejects the completed roll from the arbor.