Crucible for loading secondary battery

Abstract

The present invention relates to a crucible for loading a secondary battery, and comprises a container bottom formed in a square shape.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a crucible for loading a secondary battery. Background Art

[0002] Secondary batteries refer to batteries that can be charged and discharged, unlike primary batteries that cannot be charged. Types of secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries, etc. In particular, lithium-ion batteries (hereinafter referred to as "lithium secondary batteries") with high energy density and voltage, long cycle life, and low self-discharge rate are widely used commercially. These secondary batteries are not only used in small products such as digital cameras, laptops, mobile phones, PDAs, and electric bicycles, but also in large products that require high output such as electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, as well as storage devices for storing surplus power generation or new renewable energy, and backup storage devices.

[0003] Lithium transition metal oxides are used as positive electrode active materials for lithium secondary batteries, among which lithium cobalt oxide with LiCoO2 having high operating voltage and excellent capacity characteristics is mainly used. However, due to the unstable crystal structure caused by delithiation, the thermal properties of LiCoO2 are very poor, and it is expensive, so its large-scale use as a power source in the fields of electric vehicles is limited. As a material to replace the LiCoO2, lithium manganese composite metal oxides (LiMnO2 or LiMn2O4, etc.), lithium iron phosphate compounds (LiFePO4, etc.) or lithium nickel composite metal oxides (LiNiO2, etc.) have been developed.

[0004] The positive electrode material of Li(Co, Mn, Ni)O2 is prepared by, for example, placing a slurry or powder material of a mixture of a lithium-containing raw material (lithium precursor) and a transition metal-containing raw material (transition metal precursor) into a square sagger (or crucible) inside a sintering furnace (or kiln), heating and sintering at a temperature of 200 to 1100°C and then cooling according to the type of raw material substances that become the sintered material.

[0005] At this time, a plurality of saggers are generally provided and stacked up and down (called "sagger modules"), and sintering is performed in a state where a plurality of sagger modules are arranged inside the sintering furnace. In addition, the sintering furnace is provided with heaters at the top and bottom, and heat is supplied from the heaters to the sagger body or the sagger body modules to perform sintering of the sintered material.

[0006] However, the sintering material contained in the cassette or cassette module is different from the distance between the contained position and the heater, so the heat supplied and the temperature deviation of the material thereof occur. In addition, since the cassette module formed by stacking cassettes is a cassette stacked in multiple layers, there is a region where the heat source, i.e., the heater, is shielded, resulting in the supply of heat and temperature deviation on the sintering material contained in each cassette. Such temperature deviation eventually leads to the crystal size deviation of the sintering result, i.e., the material, and eventually becomes the reason for the quality decline of the sintered product.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a sintering container and a sintering method that can minimize the deviation of the physical properties of the sintered material and ensure uniform quality. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention is proposed to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a crucible for loading secondary batteries that prevents the crucible from rotating left and right due to transfer and vibration during sintering, and loads the crucible in a straight line to prevent displacement to the greatest extent after loading.

[0009] The technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and a person skilled in the art can clearly understand other technical problems not mentioned from the following description.

[0010] A secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a container bottom formed in a square shape.

[0011] The secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include side surfaces having walls vertically formed on each surface of the bottom of the container in the height direction.

[0012] In one embodiment, the container bottom may further include a bottom corner groove portion, wherein the bottom corner groove portion is provided at each corner. The shape forms a groove equivalent to the thickness of the side surface portion.

[0013] In one embodiment, the side portion may include: an inner side portion, which is arranged in an inclined shape between the bottom of the container and the side portion; a ventilation portion, which is formed with a center height lower than a height of two side surfaces to allow air to pass through; and a corner portion, which is formed with a height of two side surfaces higher than the center.

[0014] In one embodiment, the ventilation portion and the corner portion are connected to each other obliquely, and the corner portion of the side portion is tightly mounted on the bottom corner groove portion to vertically load a plurality of containers.

[0015] In one embodiment, in the side surface portion, in order to reduce vibration and impact transmitted when multiple containers are loaded, an internal support column may be further provided inside between the corner portion and the bottom corner groove portion.

[0016] In one embodiment, the internal support column may include: a shell formed in a square column shape; a protruding plate portion protruding downward from the upper surface of the shell; an intermediate ball connected to the central lower portion of the protruding plate portion and moving up and down; a central spring installed at the lower portion of the intermediate ball and supporting the intermediate ball; and a main support body connected to the lower portion of the central spring and supported as a whole by a supporting elastomer.

[0017] The above-mentioned means for solving the problems are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition to the above-mentioned illustrative embodiments, there may be additional embodiments described in the drawings and detailed description of the invention.

[0018] Effects of the Invention

[0019] According to one aspect of the present invention, a secondary battery loading crucible can be provided which prevents the crucible from rotating left and right due to transfer and vibration during sintering and loads the sagger in a straight line to prevent displacement as much as possible after loading.

[0020] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and the contents described below may include various effects within the scope clear to those skilled in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 and Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the lower surface of a secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a loading state of a secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an inner support column of a secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 6 2 is a diagram showing a main support body of an inner support column according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 7 2 is a diagram showing a connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figures 8 to 10 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Description of reference numerals:

[0029] 10: Crucible for loading secondary batteries. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following detailed description of the invention is an illustration of specific embodiments in which the invention may be implemented, with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are described sufficiently to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to implement the invention. It should be understood that although the various embodiments of the invention are different from one another, they need not be mutually exclusive. For example, with respect to one embodiment, the specific shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be implemented as other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0031] In addition, it should be understood that the position or configuration of each component in each disclosed embodiment can be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. More specifically, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the claims and equivalents and the scope of the appended claims. In the figures, similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar functions in various aspects.

[0032] In addition, throughout the specification, unless otherwise specified, when a part "includes" a certain constituent element, it does not exclude other constituent elements, but may also include other constituent elements. In addition, the constituent element "part" used in this specification performs at least one function or operation. And the "part" can perform a function or operation through hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0033] Terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second may be used to describe various constituent elements, but these constituent elements are not limited by these terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one constituent element from other constituent elements.

[0034] In this specification, the terms "including" and the like should be understood as being used to specify the existence of features, numbers, steps, actions, constituent elements, parts or combinations thereof recorded in the specification, and do not preclude the existence or additional possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, constituent elements, parts or combinations thereof. When a certain constituent element is mentioned as being "connected" to another constituent element, it should be understood that it can be directly connected or linked to the other constituent element, but other constituent elements may also exist in between.

[0035] Furthermore, when describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related well-known function or structure would make the gist of the present invention unclear, the detailed description thereof will be shortened or omitted.

[0036] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] Figure 1 and Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the lower surface of a secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a loading state of a secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an inner support column of a secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 6 2 is a diagram showing a main support body of an inner support column according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 7 2 is a diagram showing a connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figures 8 to 10 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a secondary battery loading crucible according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] The secondary battery loading crucible 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a container bottom 100 and a side surface 200 .

[0045] In one embodiment, the container bottom 100 may be formed into a square to form the bottom surface of the container. Preferably, the container bottom 100 may be formed into a square with a width of 330 mm and a length of 330 mm.

[0046] In one embodiment, the side surface portion 200 may form a vertical wall along the height direction on each surface of the container bottom 100. Preferably, the side surface portion 200 may be formed to be 100 mm in height.

[0047] The secondary battery loading crucible 10 having an inner space in a square basket shape may be formed by the structure of the container bottom 100 and the side surface part 200 as described above.

[0048] In one embodiment, the container bottom 100 may further include a bottom corner groove portion 110 , wherein the bottom corner groove portion forms a groove in a “┒” shape at each corner with a thickness equivalent to the corner portion 230 of the side portion 200 .

[0049] Here, since the thickness of the corner portion 230 can be varied, the grooves in the bottom corner groove portion can also be formed in various shapes accordingly.

[0050] In one embodiment, the side portion 200 may include an inner side portion 210 , a ventilation portion 220 , and a corner portion 230 .

[0051] In one embodiment, the inner side surface portion 210 may be arranged in an inclined shape between the container bottom 100 and the side surface portion 200. More specifically, the inner side surface portion 210 may be formed in a tapered shape, and the container bottom 100, the side surface portion 200 and the inner side surface portion 210 may be formed as one body.

[0052] In one embodiment, the vent 220 may be formed with a central height lower than the height of the two sides to allow air to pass through during operation. For example, the vent 220 may be formed 20 mm lower than the corner 230 to allow air to flow through the gap.

[0053] In one embodiment, the corner portion 230 may be formed so that the height of the two side surfaces is higher than that of the center. Preferably, the corner portion 230 may be formed so that the height is 220 mm higher than that of the ventilation portion 220 .

[0054] Here, the ventilation part 220 and the corner part 230 are connected to each other obliquely and formed as one body, and the corner part 230 of the side part 200 is closely installed in the bottom corner groove part 110 to vertically load a plurality of containers.

[0055] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the side surface portion 200 is further provided with an internal support column 300 between the corner portion 230 and the bottom corner groove portion 110 to reduce vibration and impact transmitted when multiple containers are loaded.

[0056] In one embodiment, the inner support column 300 may include a housing 310 , a protruding plate 320 , an intermediate ball 330 , a central spring 340 , and a main support body 400 .

[0057] The housing 310 may be formed in a square pillar shape.

[0058] The protruding plate portion 320 may be formed to protrude downward from the upper surface of the housing 310. The protruding plate portion 320 is formed of a material similar to a leaf spring, and may move up and down to a certain extent.

[0059] The middle ball 330 is coupled to the central lower portion of the protruding plate portion 320 and can move up and down. When the up and down vibration is generated by the central spring 340, it can naturally move up and down.

[0060] The central spring 340 may be installed at a lower portion of the middle ball 330 and support the middle ball 330 .

[0061] The main support body 400 may be formed to be coupled to the lower portion of the central spring 340 and supported by the supporting elastic body as a whole. Here, the main support body 400 may be used to absorb and reduce vibration and impact generated in the front, rear, left, and right directions.

[0062] In one embodiment, the main support body 400 may include: a first absorption module 420 , a first absorption elastic body 430 , a cross groove portion 440 , a second absorption module 450 , a second absorption elastic body 460 , and a connector 500 .

[0063] The first absorbing module 420 may be connected and arranged to be able to slide in the up, down, left and right directions. That is, by being supported by the first absorbing elastic body 430 in the front, back, left and right directions, it is possible to buffer external vibration or impact that may be generated in the front, back, left and right directions.

[0064] The first absorbing elastic body 430 is connected to the first absorbing module 420 in the upper, lower, left and right directions, and can support one end of the first absorbing module 420 .

[0065] The cross groove portion 440 may extend along the front of the first absorption module 420 and bend forward into a circle in a “+” shape.

[0066] The second absorption module 450 is bent into a “+” shape corresponding to the shape of the cross groove portion 440 , and is connected to the cross groove portion 440 to be slidable along the cross groove portion 440 .

[0067] That is, the second absorbing module 450 is supported at the front, rear, left and right sides by the second absorbing elastic body 460 , thereby buffering vibration or impact from the outside that may occur at the front, rear, left and right sides.

[0068] The second absorbent elastic body 460 is disposed at one end of the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the second absorbent module 450 and may support one end of the second absorbent module 450 installed in the cross groove portion.

[0069] The connector 500 may be disposed at a front end of the second absorption module 450 and connected to a lower surface of the housing 310 .

[0070] The main support body 400 having the above-described structure can prevent the durability of the device from being deteriorated by buffering the impact or vibration applied to the present invention from the outside.

[0071] In one embodiment, the connecting body 500 includes: a shell component 510 , an elastic component 520 , a connecting component 530 , a rotating body 540 , a rotating driving body 550 and a connecting rod 560 .

[0072] The shell member 510 is formed on the upper part of the middle support rod 505, an elastic member 520 is provided on the lower surface, a connecting member 530 is fixedly provided on the upper part, and a through hole is provided in the central part of the lower surface, and the connecting rod 560 passes through the through hole.

[0073] The elastic member 520 has a rotating body 540 at the upper part, and a connecting rod 560 is passed through the central part and is arranged on the lower surface of the shell member 510, so that when pressed once, it rises due to elastic force, and when pressed again, it is lowered and compressed.

[0074] In one embodiment, when the user applies pressure to the connecting body 500, the elastic member 520 causes the rotating body 540 to rise by elastic force, and when the connecting body 500 is pressed again, it is compressed by the descending of the rotating body 540. In one embodiment, the elastic member 520 can use an elastic body such as a spring.

[0075] The connection member 530 is fixedly disposed on the upper portion of the housing member 510 , and includes a plurality of guide grooves 532 formed between a plurality of locking portions 531 and the locking portions 531 on the inner side surface.

[0076] In one embodiment, the connection member 530 may be fixedly mounted on the upper portion of the housing member 510 , or may be formed as one piece with the upper portion of the housing member 510 .

[0077] In one embodiment, the locking portion 531 is formed such that the portion in contact with the first protrusion 541 is inclined, so that when the user presses the connecting body 500 again, the rotary driving body 550 descends to lock the first protrusion 541 .

[0078] The rotating body 540 has its upper portion inserted into the insertion groove of the rotating driving body 550, and has a connecting rod 560 fixed on its lower surface. It is located on the upper portion of the elastic component 520, and has a plurality of first protrusions 541 on its outer surface. When the elastic component 520 rises due to the elastic force of the elastic component 520, the first protrusions 541 rotate and rise along the guide groove 532. When the elastic component 520 is lowered and compressed, the first protrusions 541 rotate while descending and are locked in the locking portion 531.

[0079] In one embodiment, the upper portion of the first protrusion 541 is formed obliquely so as to be stopped at the stopping portion 531 , and is formed to have a width smaller than that of the guide groove 532 so as to be able to rise or fall along the guide groove 532 .

[0080] The rotating driving body 550 is installed on the upper surface of the shell 310, and an insertion groove is formed in the lower central part to insert the upper part of the rotating body 540. A plurality of second protrusions 551 are provided on the lower frame, and a plurality of third protrusions 552 are provided on the lower side. When the rotating body 540 rises or falls, the third protrusions 552 can rise or fall along the guide groove 532, and the rotating protrusion causes the first protrusion 541 to rotate.

[0081] In one embodiment, the second protrusion 551 may be formed in a sawtooth shape to contact the first protrusion 541 to rotate the first protrusion 541 .

[0082] In one embodiment, the third protrusion 552 is formed at a lower portion of a side surface of the rotation driving body 550 (preferably, an upper portion of the second protrusion 551 ), and can rise or fall along the guide groove 532 .

[0083] The connecting rod 560 is fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the rotating body 540 and extends through the central portion of the elastic member 520 and the through hole of the housing member 510 so as to rise or fall as the rotating body 540 rises or falls.

[0084] In one embodiment, the connection rod 560 may be fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the rotating body 540 , or may be formed as one body with the lower surface of the rotating body 540 .

[0085] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned specific embodiments. Of course, a person skilled in the art may perform various modified implementations without departing from the spirit of the present invention as claimed in the claims, and these modified implementations should not be understood solely from the technical ideas or prospects of the present invention.

Claims

1. A crucible for loading a secondary battery, characterized in that: The secondary battery loading crucible includes a container bottom formed in a square shape.

2. The crucible for loading a secondary battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: The secondary battery loading crucible further includes a side surface portion having walls vertically formed on each surface of the bottom of the container in the height direction. The bottom of the container also includes a bottom corner groove portion, wherein the bottom corner groove portion is formed at each corner. The shape forms a groove equivalent to the thickness of the side portion, The side surface portion comprises: An inner side surface portion is arranged in an inclined shape between the bottom of the container and the side surface portion; a ventilation portion formed so that the height of the center is lower than the height of the two side surfaces to allow air to pass through; and The corners are formed so that the height of the two sides is higher than the center. The ventilation part and the corner part are connected to each other obliquely. The corner portions of the side portions are closely mounted on the bottom corner groove portions to vertically load a plurality of containers.

3. The crucible for loading a secondary battery according to claim 2, characterized in that: In the side part, in order to reduce the vibration and impact transmitted when multiple containers are loaded, an internal support column is further arranged inside between the corner part and the bottom corner groove part. The internal support column comprises: A shell body formed in a square column shape; A protruding plate portion is formed to protrude downward from the upper surface of the shell; An intermediate ball connected to the lower central portion of the protruding plate portion and moving up and down; a central spring installed at the lower part of the middle ball and supporting the middle ball; and The main support body is connected to the lower part of the central spring and is supported by the supporting elastic body as a whole.

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