Venting Structure Patents (Class 429/82)
  • Publication number: 20130029186
    Abstract: A battery case is disposed in a decompression chamber. An electrolyte in an aeration tank is injected into the battery case in the decompression chamber using a liquid injection nozzle. By exposing the electrolyte to an ambient pressure in the decompression chamber within the aeration tank before supplying the electrolyte to the liquid injection nozzle, a pressure of the electrolyte is regulated to a pressure in the decompression chamber, and gas molecules in the electrolyte are separated therefrom. By providing the aeration tank, an efficiency with which the gas molecules are separated from the electrolyte is improved, and as a result, the electrolyte is injected into the battery case smoothly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Koichi Takada
  • Publication number: 20130029197
    Abstract: One aspect according to the present invention includes a battery pack and a shock absorbing device interposed between a battery cell holder and a case body and capable of keeping the battery cell holder and the battery cells not to directly contact with an inner surface of the case body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi MURAYAMA, Hideyuki TAGA, Kazutoshi OGINO, Hidekazu HAYASHI, Hitoshi SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8361642
    Abstract: A battery pack thermal management system is provided that is comprised of at least one enclosure failure port integrated into at least one wall of a battery pack enclosure, where the enclosure failure port(s) remains closed during normal operation of the battery pack, and opens during a battery pack thermal runaway event, thereby providing a flow path for hot gas generated during the thermal runaway event to be exhausted out of the battery pack enclosure in a controlled fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Alex Prilutsky, Vineet Haresh Mehta
  • Publication number: 20130017422
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly including: an inner pack accommodating a plurality of secondary cells; an outer pack accommodating the inner pack; a first shock absorbing member between a first surface of the inner pack and a first surface of the outer pack, the first shock absorbing member configured to absorb a shock between the inner pack and the outer pack; and a second shock absorbing member between at least a side surface of the inner pack and a side surface of the outer pack among surfaces of the inner pack and the outer pack other than the first surfaces, the second shock absorbing member configured to absorb a shock between the inner pack and the outer pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Joon-Soo Bae, Min-Cheol Bae, Ik-Jae Jeong, Tae-Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20130017423
    Abstract: An alkaline secondary battery including: a hollow cylindrical positive electrode; a negative electrode containing zinc as an active material; a separator arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; an alkaline electrolytic solution; and a battery case containing the positive electrode, the negative electrode, the separator, and the alkaline electrolytic solution, wherein the positive electrode has a porosity of 34% or higher, and the separator is a hydrophilized microporous polyolefin film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Machiko TSUKIJI, Jun Nunome, Miyuki Nakai, Fumio Kato
  • Patent number: 8354181
    Abstract: Provided is a battery capable of providing both fixing durability of a protective film during normal use and peeling easiness of the protective film during operation of a safety valve. A lithium ion secondary battery (100) includes a protective film (140) fixed to a battery case (110) while covering a safety valve part (125) including a breakable portion (126). This protective film (140) has a first fixed portion (145) located around a valve-corresponding unfixed portion (144) and fixed to the battery case (110) and a second fixed portion (147) located more outside than the first fixed portion and fixed to the battery case (110) through an intermediate unfixed portion (146). They are configured such that the first fixed portion (145) first peels off when the safety valve part (125) operates, prompting peeling of the second fixed portion (147), thus releasing gas to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Suzuki, Tooru Nakai
  • Publication number: 20130011701
    Abstract: An apparatus may store at least one object including at least one top end and at least one bottom end. The apparatus may include a container configured to store the at least one object and a pouch containing a liquid. The pouch may be configured to substantially cover the at least one top end of the at least one object when stored inside the container. The pouch may be configured to contact the at least one top end of the at least one object and to open when contacted by contents expelled from the at least one object due to thermal runaway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventor: Mark Richard PETZINGER
  • Publication number: 20130004808
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermally insulated housing system having a housing, which has an inner chamber configured to receive a high capacity accumulator. The housing according to the invention comprises a double wall in which there is a gap, wherein the gap is connected to the inner chamber in a thermally conductive manner by means of at least one inner wall section of the double wall. The gap is connected to the surroundings of the housing by means of at least one outer wall section of the double wall and is completely sealed except for a liquid connection. The housing system further comprises a liquid pump connected to the fluid connection and a liquid tank having liquid. The liquid tank is connected to the inner chamber via the liquid pump. The liquid pump is designed to control the fill level of the liquid in the gap between the wall sections of the double wall. The invention further relates to a method for the controlled cooling of a high capacity accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Oliver Tschismar
  • Publication number: 20120328917
    Abstract: In order to obtain a secondary battery and a method for producing same whereby, notwithstanding the large size of an electrode group of several tens of stacked layers of positive electrode plates, negative electrode plates, and separators, any residual air, gases, or the like present between layers can be effectively driven out, and the electrolyte can be induced to reliably penetrate into the interior of the electrode group, secondary batteries RB1 to RB4 and the method for producing same are configured such that, during creation of a vacuum in a vacuum injection step, a predetermined section of a battery can 10 opposing the vicinity of the center part of an electrode group 1 undergoes deformation by a predetermined amount or more, and a venting function of driving out residual air between the layers is exhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Kazuya Sakashita, Kazuo Yamada, Yoshihiro Tsukuda, Yuki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120328918
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, each battery cell including a vent, a cover enclosing the vent, and an insulation member between the battery cell and the cover, wherein the insulation member includes a bent part that sealably engages the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: Myung-Chul KIM
  • Patent number: 8338009
    Abstract: A battery (3) includes a battery case (10) having an opening sealed with a sealing plate (13). The sealing plate (13) has a protrusion (13a) extending in a direction toward the outside of the battery case (10), and a ring-shaped insulator (32) is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the protrusion (13a). An inner circumferential portion (32e) of the insulator (32) is in contact with the outer circumferential surface (13b) of the protrusion (13a), and an outer circumferential portion (32d) of the insulator (32) is extended to be positioned on an opening end (10a) of the battery case (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasui, Toshiki Itoi, Daisuke Kishii, Shinya Geshi
  • Publication number: 20120321922
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery that improves an anti-vibration property is provided. The rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator that is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a case that houses the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly including terminals that are coupled to the case and that are electrically connected to the electrode assembly, wherein the terminal has a lead tab that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly and an anti-vibration member is installed between the lead tab and the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Yong-Sam Kim, Sung-Bae Kim
  • Publication number: 20120315520
    Abstract: A cover 1b of a battery pack case has an intake port and an exhaust port 31. With in the battery pack case, battery accommodation sections respectively accommodate battery modules and a junction box accommodation section. A supply flow path and an exhaust flow path are provided at ends of each of the battery accommodation section. A guide is provided between the cover and the battery modules accommodated in the battery accommodation portions. The guide and a lower surface of the cover define a distribution flow path. The air introduced from the intake port flows to the exhaust port through the distribution flow path, supply flow paths, clearances between battery cells, exhaust flow paths, and exhaust port. The battery cells are efficiently cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicants: SUZUKI MOTOR COPORATION, Lithium Energy Japan
    Inventors: Hiromasa MINAMI, Jun Mishima, Shin-ichi Hoshino, Minoru Watanabe, Toshiki Kusunoki, Shingo Kawahara
  • Publication number: 20120315510
    Abstract: A battery pack is provided which includes at least one electrochemical rechargeable battery cell, and a housing enclosing the battery cell. At least one inlet is formed in the housing configured such that gas can enter into the housing, and at least one outlet is formed in the housing configured such that gas can exit the housing. The outlet includes a breathable membrane configured such that water vapor can pass through the membrane and outside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Coda Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Broc William TenHouten, Satish Anantharaman
  • Publication number: 20120308858
    Abstract: A battery pack thermal management system is provided that is comprised of at least one enclosure failure port integrated into at least one wall of a battery pack enclosure, where the enclosure failure port(s) remains closed during normal operation of the battery pack, and opens during a battery pack thermal runaway event, thereby providing a flow path for hot gas generated during the thermal runaway event to be exhausted out of the battery pack enclosure in a controlled fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Alex Prilutsky, Vineet Haresh Mehta
  • Publication number: 20120308859
    Abstract: A battery pack thermal management system is provided that is comprised of at least one enclosure failure port integrated into at least one wall of a battery pack enclosure, where the enclosure failure port(s) remains closed during normal operation of the battery pack, and opens during a battery pack thermal runaway event, thereby providing a flow path for hot gas generated during the thermal runaway event to be exhausted out of the battery pack enclosure in a controlled fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Alex Prilutsky, Vineet Haresh Mehta
  • Publication number: 20120301757
    Abstract: In a rectangular battery, a lead 9L connected to an electrode plate having a first polarity is connected to a battery case 1 which is an external terminal having the first polarity. A lead 11L connected to an electrode plate having a second polarity is connected to an external terminal 25 having the second polarity, through a connection plate 29. A distance between the battery case 1 and the connection plate 29 at at least one end of the battery case 1 in a long-side direction is equal to or less than the half of the width of the battery case 1 in a short-side direction thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Tomohiko Yokoyama, Kazuki Endo, Masato Fujikawa
  • Publication number: 20120301756
    Abstract: A current collector for an electrochemical cell includes a member having an outer member and an inner member coupled to the outer member by a plurality of flexible arms configured to allow the inner member to move relative to the outer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Jason Fuhr, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkleman, Thomas J. Dougherty, Wataru Tsutsui, Chris Bonin
  • Patent number: 8318333
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery including a battery element covered with a packaging member, a battery protection circuit board, a covering material, and a rippable portion formed in a part of the covering material. The battery element includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are spirally wound or stacked through a separator. The covering material collectively covers the battery and the battery protection circuit board. The rippable portion rips open due to a gas generated from the battery in the event of an abnormal condition to form a gas release hole for releasing the gas outside the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeru Yamamoto, Ken Segawa, Hiroyuki Akashi, Takayuki Aita, Shunsuke Saito
  • Patent number: 8313852
    Abstract: A lithium rechargeable battery includes an insulation case positioned on top of an electrode assembly where the insulation case has least one hole to improve the stability of the battery by evacuating gas that may be generated by the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Sok Jung, Se Yun Kim
  • Publication number: 20120288738
    Abstract: A battery pack 200 includes stacked battery modules 100 each including a case 30 in which a plurality of cells 10 are accommodated, and an outlet 33 which is provided to the case 30 and through which gas released from the cell 10 is released outside the case 30. The battery pack 200 is fixed to a rectangular parallelepiped framework 40 built by frame bodies each having a hollow structure, and the outlet 33 of each battery module 100 is connected to an intake port 61 provided to the framework 40. Gas released through the outlet 33 of the battery module 100 flows through a hollow section of the frame body, and is released through an exhaust port 60 provided to the framework 40 to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasui, Tomoaki Aoki, Hiroshi Takasaki
  • Patent number: 8309250
    Abstract: A battery includes an electrode group, a case, a sealing member, and a mesh portion. The electrode group includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode opposing the positive electrode, an electrolyte interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The case has an opening and contains the electrode group. The sealing member closes the opening of the case. The mesh portion is provided so as to face an exhaust hole formed in at least one of the case and the sealing member. The mesh is formed of a thermally conductive material to put off frame coming out of the exhaust hole, in case where the battery is so defective to ignite fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Nishino, Masato Fujikawa, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Mikinari Shimada
  • Publication number: 20120282504
    Abstract: Disclosed is a secondary battery including an electrode assembly, a casing and a cover assembly. In the electrode assembly, a cathode plate and an anode plate are arranged to face each other through a separator. The casing is adapted to house the electrode assembly therein. The cover assembly includes a metallic cover welded to an open end of the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Jong Kim, Cha-Hun Ku
  • Publication number: 20120282503
    Abstract: An electric device 100 which has a battery pack 30 including a plurality of batteries 20 is disclosed. The electric device 100 has a holding unit 40 which accommodates at least the battery pack 30, and is capable of being carried by a user. Each of the plurality of batteries 20 included in the battery pack 30 has a release portion 8a for releasing gas generated in the battery 20 in the event of abnormal heat generation in the battery 20. The battery pack 30 is accommodated in the holding unit 40 such that the gas is released from the release portion 8a of the battery 20 in a direction away from the user when the holding unit 40 is carried by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Fujikawa, Masatoshi Nagayama, Takuya Nakashima, Shunsuke Yasui, Keisuke Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20120282502
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a case, an electrode assembly in the case, at least one terminal portion disposed at least partially inside the case, at least one current collecting member electrically connecting the electrode assembly and the terminal portion, the current collecting member including a terminal coupling portion, and at least one insulation member in the case. The insulation member includes a current collecting member coupling portion into which the terminal coupling portion extends. The current collecting member coupling portion supports at least a portion of the terminal coupling portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Duk-Jung KIM
  • Publication number: 20120282505
    Abstract: A battery assembly comprising a housing defining an interior and at least two electrical storage cells located in the interior of the housing. A thermal transfer barrier located in the interior of the housing, the thermal transfer barrier being positioned between the at least two cells in the housing, wherein the thermal transfer barrier is formed of a material having a greater insulation capability than a material of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: GATEWAY, INC.
    Inventor: Michael R. Flannery
  • Publication number: 20120263981
    Abstract: An energy storage system, in particular a battery having a plurality of battery cells. These battery cells are accommodated in a first container. The first container is separated from a second container by a separating element, which allows for establishing a pressure difference ?p for expansion of a gas out of the first container into the second container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Roland Norden, Jochen Fassnacht
  • Publication number: 20120263984
    Abstract: A cooling/heating element for a rechargeable battery, the cooling/heating element including a cooling area having a first boundary which physically contacts a first cell of the rechargeable battery, and a second boundary which physically contacts a second cell of the rechargeable battery. The cooling/heating element can be stacked and also include an inlet and/or outlet which interacts with an inlet and/or outlet of an adjacent cooling/heating element in a stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: MAGNA E-Car Systems GmbH &Co. OG
    Inventor: Gert Krammer
  • Publication number: 20120263983
    Abstract: A battery module includes an outer case having a receiving space defined therein, an inner case having a cavity defined therein, the inner case being in the receiving space of the outer case, a plurality of unit battery packs in the cavity of the inner case, and an elastic buffer between the inner case and the outer case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Jong-Wook YOON, Jeong-Deok Byun
  • Publication number: 20120263980
    Abstract: The invention is directed at devices, systems, and processes for managing the temperature of an electrochemical call including a device (10) comprising an inlet for receiving a heat transfer fluid; one or more electrochemical cell compartments (12) for receiving one or more electrochemical calls (20); one or more thermal energy storage material compartments (14) containing one or more thermal energy storage materials (18); and one or more heat transfer fluid compartments (16) for flowing the heat transfer fluid through the device; wherein the space between the one or more heat transfer fluid compartments (16) and the one or more electrochemical cell compartments (12) preferably includes one or more first regions (22) (i.e. portion) that are substantially free of the thermal energy storage material (18): and the space between the one or more heat transfer fluid compartments (18) and the one or more thermal energy storage material compartments (14) preferably includes one or more second regions (24) (i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Andrey N. Soukhojak, Kalyan Sehanobish
  • Patent number: 8288026
    Abstract: The secondary battery according to the present invention has a vent deformation accelerator which promotes the operation of a vent formed on a wide side of a can in the cap plate, a bottom side of a can or a narrow side of a can so that the vent operates at the low pressure. Therefore, a secondary battery is provided with a vent which operates at a lower pressure than the operating pressure of existing vents. Also, the vent can be formed relatively thick when the operating vent which operates at the same pressure as the operating pressure of an existing vent so that it can avoid forming a vent having a minute thickness, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs and processing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwail Uh, Sangwoo Lee
  • Publication number: 20120251858
    Abstract: Provided is a laminated type energy device which can enhance the sealing ability and the adhesibility between the layered structure and the sealing body which houses the layered structure, and the degree of space-saving, and uses the sealing means with sufficient productivity and reliability. The laminated type energy device includes: at least two layers of layered structure 80 in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are alternately laminated so that positive and negative extraction electrodes 32a and 32b are exposed, inserting a separator 30 in which an electrolysis solution and ion pass therethrough between positive and negative active material electrodes 10 and 12; laminate sheets 40a and 40b overlaid from front and back surfaces of the layered structure 80 to compressively seal the layered structure 80; and contact holes 20a and 20b for use in spot bonding of the laminated type energy device to a module substrate 100.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro KATO, Daichi TOMITA
  • Publication number: 20120251856
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery cell; a case housing the battery cell; and an adhesion sheet surrounding at least a portion of an exterior surface of the case, wherein the adhesion sheet includes a base part and an adhesion part, the base part having a bending line corresponding in position to an edge of the case, and the adhesion part being on a bottom surface of the base part and including air exhaustion paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Jae-Seung Kim, Seok Koh
  • Publication number: 20120251857
    Abstract: The invention relates to an insert (1), which can be inserted into a storage battery part (2) of an electrically operated tool, in particular a hand-guided tool with at least one handle for holding the tool, wherein the insert (1) comprises several battery cells (3), which are connected to one another in a current-conducting manner. According to the invention it is provided that the insert (1) has an openable housing (4) in which the battery cells (3) are inserted, wherein the battery cells (3) are connected in a current-conducting manner to conductor bars (5) attached to the inside of the housing (4). Furthermore, the invention relates to a storage battery part (2) with an insert (1) of this type as well as an electrically operated tool, comprising the storage battery part (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Norman Neuhold, Nikolaus Chorinsky
  • Patent number: 8277965
    Abstract: A battery pack thermal management system is provided that is comprised of at least one enclosure failure port integrated into at least one wall of a battery pack enclosure, where the enclosure failure port(s) remains closed during normal operation of the battery pack, and opens during a battery pack thermal runaway event, thereby providing a flow path for hot gas generated during the thermal runaway event to be exhausted out of the battery pack enclosure in a controlled fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Alex Prilutsky, Vineet Haresh Mehta
  • Publication number: 20120244400
    Abstract: An energy storage system comprising at least one energy storage module implemented as a sealed or submersible unit and adapted to supply electrical energy to a hybrid vehicle. The energy storage module comprises an enclosure and at least one battery array located within the enclosure. The energy storage module includes a pressure relief panel held in place by springs that allows battery gases to escape if gas pressures reach a predetermined threshold. Pressure in the enclosure compresses the springs causing the pressure relief panel to temporarily move outward until pressure is relieved at which time the springs force the pressure relief panel to reseal the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel J. Youngs, Kurt Biehl, Edward Bass, Eric D. Schneider, Felice E. Bailey, Steven T. Reyburn, Dean M. Ford, Clyde H. Johnson, Scott K. Bennett, Brian J. Maskew, Leonard F. Baxter, II, Bruce E. Miller, Richard Bletsis, Derek A. Delrymple, Markus Naegeli, Jerry Wendling, Timothy A. Gasaway, Russell B. Hopkins, Brian C. Morrow
  • Publication number: 20120244399
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a set of walls made of sturdy material, power interface terminals and battery cells and optionally electronics held within the walls. A spring-loaded check valve installed in a wall of the enclosure fluidly connects an area within the enclosure with an atmosphere outside of the enclosure. The one-way check valve allows pressurized fluids to flow out of the enclosure while preventing pressurized fluids from flowing from the atmosphere into the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: LITHIONICS, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Tartaglia
  • Patent number: 8273473
    Abstract: A secondary battery has a safety vent, and the safety vent has an asymmetric structure and provides a substantial opening for the battery, instead of having a local crack, to rapidly vent to atmosphere in order to prevent the secondary battery from bursting when the internal pressure of a battery increases excessively or external impact is applied thereto. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly charging/discharging functions, a can housing the electrode assembly, a cap assembly that includes a cap plate closing up an open part of the can, and a safety vent having an asymmetric track shape that is provided in the cap plate of the cap assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sangsok Jung
  • Publication number: 20120235481
    Abstract: This storage unit includes a power converter that radiates heat by converting power to direct current or alternating current, a storage portion that stores power, a housing that houses at least the storage portion and the power converter, and an air blower provided in the housing, while the air blower is so configured as to send air containing the heat radiated from the power converter into the housing where the storage portion is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nakashima, Ken YAMADA, Hayato IKEBE, Ryuzo HAGIHARA
  • Patent number: 8268469
    Abstract: A thermal management system is provided that minimizes the effects of thermal runaway within a battery pack. The system is comprised of a multi-sided, substantially airtight battery pack enclosure configured to hold a plurality of batteries, where at least one side of the battery pack enclosure includes at least one cavity. An inner wall of the enclosure includes a plurality of perforations configured to pass gas from within the enclosure to the cavity within the at least one side member. The system is further comprised of at least one gas exhaust port integrated into an outer wall of the enclosure and configured to pass gas from within the cavity of the enclosure side member to the ambient environment when one or more batteries contained within the battery pack undergo thermal runaway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Alan Paul Clarke
  • Publication number: 20120231307
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery, which can prevent explosion and fire of the battery by melting a safety film formed on an electrode tab to quickly clear a sealed state of a case when the internal temperature or pressure of the battery rises. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode tab and a second electrode tab, and a case accommodating the electrode assembly such that the electrode tab is exposed to the outside. At least one of the first and second electrode tabs has a recess formed lengthwise on at least one of top and bottom surfaces of the at least one of the first and second electrode tabs, and a safety film is positioned in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD
    Inventor: Yunkyung Ha
  • Patent number: 8263251
    Abstract: An insulating plate of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell is interposed between a cell element and a cover member in a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell including the cell element formed by stacking cathodes and anodes through separators, a cell can including a can body which houses the cell element and the cover member which closes an opening of the can body to seal the cell element, and an electrolyte injected into the cell can. The insulating plate includes a plate-shaped insulating plate body having insulating property, an injection hole which passes through the insulating plate body in the thickness direction and through which the electrolyte can be injected, and a filter member permeable to only the electrolyte and provided on one of the surfaces of the insulating plate body so as to cover the injection hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Fukase, Katsuhiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8263242
    Abstract: The provision of improved venting in battery cells by way of better preventing pressure buildup in the cells. Via different variants of the present invention, the following advantages are achieved: Gas can escape from the cell without clogging the vent; gas buildup is avoided while the venting valve can operate in a consistently reliable manner; the solutions presented are sufficiently versatile as to be applicable to a variety of cells on the market; and the risk of explosion is virtually eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Bouziane Yebka, Jeremy R. Carlson, Larry G. Estes, Joseph A. Holung, Timothy Humphrey, Tin-Lup Wong
  • Patent number: 8263246
    Abstract: A current collector for an electrochemical cell includes a member having an outer member and an inner member coupled to the outer member by a plurality of flexible arms configured to allow the inner member to move relative to the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls—Saft Advanced Power Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jason Fuhr, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkleman, Thomas J. Dougherty, Wataru Tsutsui, Chris Bonin
  • Publication number: 20120225335
    Abstract: A battery module which is able to discharge high-temperature gas emitted from an abnormal battery cell to the outside of a case, without adversely affecting normal battery cells, while suppressing as much as possible an increase in the volume of the battery module due to an exhaust chamber, is provided. The battery module of the present invention includes: a case having an opening, and an exhaust port for discharging gas generated inside the case; a plurality of battery cells each having a terminal plate in which an open part for discharging gas generated inside the cell is provided, the battery cells being arranged inside the case with the terminal plates facing the opening of the case; and a lid attached to the case so as to cover the opening of the case, the lid including a flat plate, and a plurality of convex parts which protrude from a plane including the flat plate toward the inside of the case, and are connected to the terminal plates of the battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Keisuke Naito, Takuya Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20120214033
    Abstract: A battery cell arrangement having a battery cell which is in the form of a film cell and includes a flat cell body with two end faces, a flexible cell rim surrounding the cell body, and two contact sections arranged on a rim side of the battery cell. The battery cell arrangement further has a frame arrangement which includes a first frame element and a second frame element which frames the cell body on all sides on the rim. At least one vent opening is provided on a side of the frame arrangement which faces away from the end faces of the cell body, in order to allow fluid, in particular gas, to emerge from the battery cell arrangement in the event of damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Magna E-Car Systems GmbH & Co OG
    Inventors: Peter Dämon, Stefan Roepke, Herbert Thanner, Ralph Wünsche
  • Publication number: 20120208053
    Abstract: An electrical energy store of a motor vehicle, in particular a high voltage energy store of a hybrid vehicle or of an electric vehicle, having a housing (11) and having storage modules (12) accommodated in the housing (11). The housing (11) having a supporting element (17) connecting the electrical energy store to a vehicle bodywork structure of a motor vehicle. The temperature of the storage modules (12) can be controlled via the supporting element (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan Bender, Steffen Maurer, Richard Krestel
  • Publication number: 20120208052
    Abstract: A battery pack includes at least one secondary battery and a case that accommodates the at least one secondary battery. In the battery pack, at least one gas exhausting portion is provided at one side of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: Youn-Gu Kim
  • Patent number: 8236437
    Abstract: Provided is a battery case cover which can be produced through a single process, by integrally forming the structural components of a battery case cover such as a recovering part, a cell partition part and a gas inlet part on the bottom surface, while forming the recovering part in the shape of a pipe and applying a vent cap mode to the gas inlet part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Global Battery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Ung Kim, Kyu-Hyeong Lee, Nam-Il Kim
  • Patent number: 8236438
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes an outer case having one open end portion, a battery element held in the outer case, and a battery lid which is disposed on the one open end portion and which is provided with a protrusion portion protruded toward the outside of the battery, at least two opening portions disposed in the protrusion portion, and release portions disposed adjoining the respective opening portions so as to deform in accordance with an increase in internal pressure of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Meguro