Rechargeable battery

Abstract

A rechargeable battery includes: a prismatic can including a terminal hole; an electrode assembly accommodated in the internal space of the can and including a plurality of electrode tabs; a collector plate coupled to the electrode tab; a rivet terminal coupled to the collector plate and extending into the terminal hole via the insulator to be mounted on the tank; and a sealing element coupled to the rivet terminal. The collector plate includes a plate-shaped portion and a tubular portion. The plate-shaped portion is coupled to the electrode tab, and the liquid injection port is in the plate-shaped portion. The tubular portion surrounds the liquid injection port and is connected to one side of the plate-shaped portion. The rivet terminal is bonded to the tubular portion to contact an outer wall of the tubular portion, and the sealing element covers and seals the tubular portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to rechargeable batteries. Background Art

[0002] Rechargeable batteries have been used for various purposes, including as a power source for small electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptop computers, and as a power source for driving motors in transportation vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. In the latter case, a battery module in which a plurality of rechargeable batteries are combined has been used.

[0003] A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly, a can that holds the electrode assembly with an electrolyte, a cover plate that seals the can, and positive and negative terminals that allow current to flow to an external device. In addition, a rechargeable battery includes various components such as a positive electrode current collecting plate, a negative electrode current collecting plate, and a plug that seals an electrolyte injection port. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present disclosure relates to various embodiments of a rechargeable battery configured to simplify component configuration and facilitate electrolyte injection and sealing of an electrolyte injection port.

[0005] In addition, the present disclosure relates to various embodiments of a rechargeable battery configured to improve power and capacity of a battery module by increasing integration of the rechargeable battery in the battery module by minimizing dead space.

[0006] A rechargeable battery according to an embodiment includes a can, an electrode assembly, a current collecting plate, a rivet terminal and a sealing element. The can has a prismatic shape, and a terminal hole is provided in the can. The electrode assembly is accommodated in the inner space of the can, and the electrode terminal tab is exposed on one side of the electrode assembly. The current collecting plate includes a plate-shaped portion and a tubular portion. The plate-shaped portion is coupled to the electrode terminal tab, and the liquid injection port is in the plate-shaped portion. The tubular portion surrounds the liquid injection port, is connected to one side of the plate-shaped portion and extends through the terminal hole. The rivet terminal is coupled to the tubular portion, contacts the outer wall of the tubular portion and is inserted into the terminal hole through an insulator in the can. The sealing element is coupled to the rivet terminal to seal the tubular portion.

[0007] The can may be in the shape of a hexagonal column. The can may include a top and a side, the top having a terminal hole located in the center, and the side connected to the edge of the top. A hexagonal cover plate may be coupled to the end of the side to seal the can. The electrode assembly may have a structure in which the electrodes are arranged in a quadrilateral sheet shape and stacked in sequence in the width direction. The width of the electrode may gradually increase from the outer portion of the electrode assembly toward the center of the electrode assembly.

[0008] The can may have a quadrilateral column shape. The can may include a top and a side, the top having a terminal hole located in the center, and the side connected to the edge of the top. A quadrilateral cover plate may be coupled to the end of the side to seal the can. The electrode assembly may have a structure in which electrodes are arranged in a quadrilateral sheet shape and stacked in sequence in a width direction. The electrodes may have the same width and the same length.

[0009] The electrode tab may be divided into a first region and a second region and positioned at a distance from each other. The electrode tab in the first region may be bent in a first direction, and the electrode tab in the second region may be bent in a direction opposite to the first direction. The plate-shaped portion may include a circular, quadrilateral, or hexagonal metal plate covering the first region and the second region, and the plate-shaped portion may be fixed to the electrode tab by a welding wire.

[0010] The liquid injection port may have an arc shape and may be offset from the electrode tab. The tubular portion may be hollow cylindrical and may guide the injection of the electrolyte. The central hole may be located in the rivet terminal, and the tubular portion may extend into the central hole and be physically and electrically connected to the rivet terminal. The sealing ball may be inside the tubular portion to double seal the liquid injection port with the sealing element.

[0011] A rechargeable battery according to another embodiment includes a can, an electrode assembly, a current collector, a rivet terminal and a cap plate. The can includes a top and a side, the terminal hole is located in the top, and the side is connected to the edge of the top. The electrode assembly is accommodated in the internal space of the can and includes a first electrode tab located on one side toward the top and a second electrode tab located on the side opposite to the first electrode tab. The current collector includes a plate-shaped portion and a tubular portion. The plate-shaped portion is coupled to the first electrode tab, and the liquid injection port is located on the plate-shaped portion. The tubular portion surrounds the liquid injection port, is connected to one side of the plate-shaped portion and extends through the terminal hole. The rivet terminal is coupled to the tubular portion, contacts the outer wall of the tubular portion and extends into the terminal hole through an insulator in the top. The cap plate is coupled to the second electrode tab and to the end of the side to seal the can.

[0012] The electrode assembly may have a structure in which the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged in the form of quadrilateral sheets and are alternately stacked one by one in the width direction with a separator therebetween. The first electrode tab may extend from the first electrode from one side of the electrode assembly, and the second electrode tab may extend from the second electrode from the opposite side of the electrode assembly.

[0013] The first electrode tab may be located in the first region and the second region at a distance from each other, and may be bent in opposite directions in the first region and the second region. The second electrode tab may be located in the third region and the fourth region at a distance from each other, and may be bent in opposite directions in the third region and the fourth region.

[0014] The plate-shaped portion may include a circular, quadrilateral, or hexagonal metal plate covering the first and second regions and may be coupled to the first electrode tab by a welding wire. The cap plate may be coupled to the second electrode tab by a welding wire.

[0015] The liquid injection port may have an arc shape and may be offset from the first electrode tab. The tubular portion may be hollow cylindrical and may guide the injection of the electrolyte. The central hole may be located in the rivet terminal, and the tubular portion may extend into the central hole and be physically and electrically connected to the rivet terminal. The rechargeable battery may further include a sealing ball and a sealing element, the sealing ball being inside the tubular portion to block the liquid injection port, and the sealing element being coupled to the rivet terminal to cover the tubular portion.

[0016] According to the embodiment, since the liquid injection port is located in the rivet terminal and the current collecting plate, the component configuration can be simplified, and the mechanical combination and electrical connection of the current collecting plate and the rivet terminal can be facilitated. In addition, the injection of electrolyte and the sealing of the liquid injection port can be facilitated, and when a plurality of rechargeable batteries are arranged together to form a battery module, the integration can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to a first embodiment.

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a rechargeable battery is shown.

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of an electrode assembly and a current collecting plate of a rechargeable battery is shown.

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 An enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of an electrode assembly is shown.

[0021] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A plan view of a current collecting plate in a rechargeable battery is shown.

[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of an electrode assembly and a cap plate of a rechargeable battery is shown, in which the rechargeable battery is inverted.

[0023] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A plan view of the cover plate shown.

[0024] Figure 8 yes Figure 2An enlarged fragmentary view of a rechargeable battery is shown.

[0025] Fig. 9 yes Figure 2 An enlarged partial plan view of a current collecting plate in a rechargeable battery is shown.

[0026] Fig.10 is a schematic perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment.

[0027] Fig.11 is a perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to a second embodiment.

[0028] Fig.12 is an exploded perspective view of an electrode assembly and a current collecting plate in a rechargeable battery according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Hereinafter, the present disclosure is described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to a first embodiment, Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a rechargeable battery is shown. Figure 3 yes Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of an electrode assembly and a current collecting plate of a rechargeable battery is shown, Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the electrode assembly is shown.

[0031] Reference Figures 1 to 4 The rechargeable battery 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure includes a terminal hole 121 (see Figure 8 ) is located therein, the electrode assembly 130 accommodated inside the can 120, the rivet terminal 150 installed in the terminal hole 121 via the insulator 141, and the current collecting plate 40 that physically and electrically connects the first electrode 10 of the electrode assembly 130 to the rivet terminal 150. In addition, in one or more embodiments, the rechargeable battery 100 may include a cap plate 160 that is coupled to an end (e.g., a lower end) of the can 120 and seals the can 120.

[0032] The can 120 is formed in a prismatic shape, such as a hexagonal column shape. In one or more embodiments, the can 120 includes a top 122 and a side 123 connected to one or more edges of the top 122. When the rechargeable battery 100 is inverted, the top 122 may be referred to as a bottom.

[0033] The top 122 may be a hexagonal metal plate, and the side 123 may be a hollow hexagonal column-shaped metal tube. The terminal hole 121 (see FIG. 1 ) for installing the rivet terminal 150 Figure 8 ) is located in the top 122. In one or more embodiments, the tank 120 can be formed of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy.

[0034] Hereinafter, the direction parallel to the central axis of the tank 120 is referred to as the "length direction L", and the direction in which the two surfaces of the side portion 123 face each other among the directions perpendicular to the length direction L is referred to as the "width direction W". The six surfaces of the side portion 123 include three pairs of surfaces facing each other, and for convenience, the direction in which a pair of surfaces face each other is referred to as the width direction W. Figure 2 , the length direction L is the same as the vertical direction of the figure, and the width direction W is the same as the horizontal direction of the figure.

[0035] The electrode assembly 130 may have a structure in which a plurality of electrodes 10 and 20 are sequentially stacked in the width direction W. Each of the plurality of electrodes 10 and 20 may be formed in a quadrilateral (e.g., rectangular or square) sheet shape. A pair of sides facing each other of each of the electrodes 10 and 20 may be parallel (or substantially parallel) to the length direction L, and another pair of sides facing each other of each of the electrodes 10 and 20 may be parallel (or substantially parallel) to any two surfaces facing each other among the six surfaces of the side portion 123, for example, parallel (or substantially parallel) to any two sides facing each other among the six sides of the top 122.

[0036] In one or more embodiments, the electrode assembly 130 may include a plurality of first electrodes 10 and a plurality of second electrodes 20 alternately arranged one by one in the width direction W, and a plurality of separators 30 respectively located between the first electrodes 10 and the second electrodes 20. Each of the plurality of separators 30 may be formed in a quadrilateral (eg, rectangular or square) sheet shape.

[0037] The first electrode 10 may include a first substrate 11, a first composite material layer 12 on the first substrate 11, and a first electrode tab 13 extending from one end (e.g., an upper end) of the first substrate 11. The second electrode 20 may include a second substrate 21, a second composite material layer 22 on the second substrate 21, and a second electrode tab 23 extending from an opposite end (e.g., a lower end) of the second substrate 21.

[0038] In a lithium ion rechargeable battery, the first substrate 11 may be formed of aluminum foil, and the first composite material layer 12 may include a transition metal oxide (such as LiCoO2, LiNiO2, LiMn2O4, Li(NiCoAl)O2, LiFePO4, Li(NiCoMn)O2, etc.), a conductive material, a binder, etc. The second substrate 21 may include a copper foil or a nickel foil, and the second composite material layer 22 may include graphite, a conductive material, a binder, etc. The first electrode 10 may be referred to as a positive electrode, and the second electrode 20 may be referred to as a negative electrode. The separator 30 may include a polymer material such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), and the separator 30 may insulate the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 20 and allow the movement of lithium ions.

[0039] The electrode assembly 130 may include a plurality of electrodes 10 and 20 having different widths to form a hexagon on a plane (when the electrode assembly 130 is viewed from above). Hereinafter, "on a plane" means when the electrode assembly 130 is viewed from above.

[0040] Among the plurality of electrodes 10 and 20, the two outermost electrodes may have the smallest width, and the electrode located at the center of the electrode assembly 130 may have the largest width. The widths of the plurality of electrodes 10 and 20 may gradually (or in a stepwise manner) increase from the outer edge toward the center of the electrode assembly 130. In one or more embodiments, the plurality of electrodes 10 and 20 may have the same (or substantially the same) length in the length direction L.

[0041] In an embodiment where the electrode assembly wound into a cylindrical shape is located inside the can 120 in a hexagonal column shape, there may be an ineffective space between the corner of the can 120 and the electrode assembly, thereby reducing the battery capacity. In the rechargeable battery 100 of the present embodiment, the electrode assembly 130 may be configured so that there is a minimum ineffective space inside the can 120 in a hexagonal column shape, and thus, the battery power and capacity may be improved compared to an embodiment where the electrode assembly is cylindrical and the can is in a hexagonal column shape.

[0042] The plurality of first electrode tabs 13 may be located on one side (e.g., the upper side) of the electrode assembly 130, and the plurality of second electrode tabs 23 may be located on the opposite side (e.g., the lower side) of the electrode assembly 130. The plurality of first electrode tabs 13 may be bent in one direction and overlap with adjacent first electrode tabs 13, and the plurality of second electrode tabs 23 may also be bent in one direction to overlap with adjacent second electrode tabs 23. The plurality of first electrode tabs 13 may be bent to overlap and press against each other to form a flat (or substantially flat) surface, and the plurality of second electrode tabs 23 may be bent to overlap and press against each other to form a flat (or substantially flat) surface.

[0043] Each of the plurality of first electrodes 10 may include two first electrode tabs 13 that are located at a distance from each other and on a plane of the electrode assembly 130. The plurality of first electrode tabs 13 may be divided or separated into a first region A10 and a second region A20. The plurality of first electrode tabs 13 may be located side by side in the width direction W in each of the first region A10 and the second region A20.

[0044] In the first area A10, the plurality of first electrode tabs 13 may be bent in a first direction D1, and in the second area A20, the plurality of first electrode tabs 13 may be bent in a second direction D2 different from the first direction D1. The second direction D2 may be a reverse direction (ie, opposite direction) of the first direction D1.

[0045] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A plan view of a current collecting plate in a rechargeable battery is shown.

[0046] Reference Figures 2 to 5 , the current collecting plate 40 may be bonded to the plurality of first electrode tabs 13 by laser welding or the like. A plurality of welding lines 41 generated by welding the first electrode tabs 13 to the current collecting plate 40 may be located on the current collecting plate 40. The plurality of welding lines 41 correspond to the first area A10 and the second area A20 and are positioned parallel (or substantially parallel) to the width direction W. The current collecting plate 40 may have the same polarity as the plurality of first electrodes 10 and may be used as a positive current collecting plate. Inside the can 120, the current collecting plate 40 may face the top 122 of the can 120.

[0047] Figure 6 yes Figure 2 FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrode assembly and a cap plate of a rechargeable battery, in which the rechargeable battery is inverted. Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A plan view of the cover plate shown.

[0048] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 Each of the plurality of second electrodes 20 may include two second electrode tabs 23 located at a distance from each other, and the plurality of second electrode tabs 23 may be divided or separated into a third area A30 and a fourth area A40. The plurality of second electrode tabs 23 may be located side by side in the width direction W in each of the third area A30 and the fourth area A40.

[0049] In the third area A30, the plurality of second electrode tabs 23 may be bent in the first direction D1, and in the fourth area A40, the plurality of second electrode tabs 23 may be bent in a second direction D2 different from the first direction D1. The second direction D2 may be the reverse direction (ie, opposite direction) of the first direction D1.

[0050] The cap plate 160 may be located at one side of the electrode assembly 130 to face the plurality of second electrode tabs 23, and may be bonded to the plurality of second electrode tabs 23 by a method such as laser welding. A plurality of welding lines 161 generated by welding the second electrode tabs 23 to the cap plate 160 may be located on the cap plate 160. The plurality of welding lines 161 correspond to the third area A30 and the fourth area A40, and are parallel (or substantially parallel) to the width direction W. The cap plate 160 may be formed of a hexagonal metal plate, and may have the same polarity as the plurality of second electrodes 20 to serve as a negative current collecting plate.

[0051] Return to reference Figure 2 , one or more edges of the cap plate 160 may be bonded to the end of the side portion 123 by a method such as welding. The can 120 has the same polarity as the second electrode 20 and the cap plate 160, and may serve as a terminal (negative terminal) of the second electrode 20. In one or more embodiments, the insulating plate 142 may be between the top 122 of the can 120 and the current collecting plate 40. The insulating plate 142 may prevent a short circuit by insulating the current collecting plate 40 and the top 122 having opposite polarities.

[0052] The rechargeable battery 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure does not have a separate negative electrode current collecting plate, and uses the cap plate 160 for sealing as the negative electrode current collecting plate, thereby simplifying the configuration.

[0053] In the configuration in which the plurality of electrode tabs 13 and 23 are bent to overlap each other, the current collecting efficiency of the electrodes 10 and 20 can be improved, and the quality of welding with the current collecting plate 40 and the cap plate 160 can be improved. In addition, since the height of the portion of the total height of the electrode assembly 130 that is not related to the composite materials 12 and 22 can be minimized (or at least reduced), the capacity of the rechargeable battery 100 can be improved.

[0054] Furthermore, even if an abnormality such as pressure non-uniformity occurs in the current collecting plate 40 during the process of welding the plurality of first electrode tabs 13 to the current collecting plate 40, the first electrode tabs 13 in at least one of the first area A10 and the second area A20 may maintain a constant (or substantially constant) welding quality with the current collecting plate 40. Similarly, even if an abnormality such as pressure non-uniformity occurs in the cap plate 160 during the process of welding the plurality of second electrode tabs 23 to the cap plate 160, the second electrode tabs 23 in at least one of the third area A30 and the fourth area A40 may maintain a constant (or substantially constant) welding quality with the cap plate 160.

[0055] In this manner, the structure in which the plurality of electrode tabs 13 and 23 are divided or separated into two regions and bent in opposite directions may be a complementary welding structure with respect to the current collecting plate 40 or the cap plate 160 .

[0056] Figure 8 yes Figure 2 A partial enlarged view of a rechargeable battery is shown, Fig. 9 yes Figure 2 A partially enlarged plan view of a current collecting plate in a rechargeable battery is shown.

[0057] Reference Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The current collecting plate 40 includes a plate-shaped portion 43 in which the liquid injection port 42 is located and a tube-shaped portion 44 surrounding the liquid injection port 42 and coupled to and extending from one side (eg, upper side) of the plate-shaped portion 43 .

[0058] The plate-shaped portion 43 is located between the electrode assembly 130 and the top portion 122 and may be formed of a metal plate of various shapes, such as a hexagon, a quadrangle, or a circle. The plate-shaped portion 43 overlaps the plurality of first electrode tabs 13 and may be coupled to the plurality of first electrode tabs 13 (e.g., integrally fixed to the plurality of first electrode tabs 13) by a plurality of welding wires 41. Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the plate-shaped portion 43 is drawn as a hexagonal metal plate as an example, but the shape of the plate-shaped portion 43 is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

[0059] The liquid injection port 42 is an opening for electrolyte injection and may be located at the center (eg, or substantially the center) of the plate-shaped portion 43. The liquid injection port 42 may have various shapes, such as a circular shape or an arc shape (eg, a crescent shape). Fig. 9 In FIG. 4 , an arc-shaped liquid injection port 42 is shown as one embodiment.

[0060] Compared with the circular liquid injection port, the arc-shaped liquid injection port 42 has a greater length, so when the electrolyte is injected through a portion of the liquid injection port 42, the air inside the tank 120 can be smoothly discharged through another portion of the liquid injection port 42. The current collecting plate 40 provided with the arc-shaped liquid injection port 42 can facilitate the injection of the electrolyte solution.

[0061] The liquid injection port 42 may not overlap with the plurality of first electrode tabs 13 in the length direction L. In one or more embodiments, the liquid injection port 42 may be located between the first area A10 and the second area A20, and may be offset from the plurality of first electrode tabs 13 in the width direction W. In one or more embodiments, when the electrolyte is injected through the liquid injection port 42, the plurality of first electrode tabs 13 may be prevented from hindering the injection and diffusion of the electrolyte, and thus damage to the first electrode tabs 13 due to the electrolyte injection may be prevented (or at least mitigated).

[0062] The tubular portion 44 is a hollow cylindrical metal tube and is coupled to one side (e.g., the upper side) of the plate-shaped portion 43. The outer diameter of the tubular portion 44 is smaller than the diameter of the terminal hole 121, and the tubular portion 44 may protrude to the outside (e.g., the upper side) of the top portion 122 through the terminal hole 121. The rivet terminal 150 may be installed in the terminal hole 121 via the insulator 141. The insulator 141 insulates the rivet terminal 150 from the top portion 122, and may seal the terminal hole 121 around the rivet terminal 150.

[0063] The central hole 151 passing through the rivet terminal 150 may be located at the center (or substantially the center) of the rivet terminal 150, and the tubular portion 44 may extend through the central hole 151 of the rivet terminal 150 and be coupled to the rivet terminal 150. The tubular portion 44 and the rivet terminal 150 may be coupled (e.g., integrally fixed) by welding or the like. The rivet terminal 150 may be in contact with a portion of one surface (e.g., the upper surface) of the plate-shaped portion 43 and the outer surface of the tubular portion 44, and may have the same polarity as the first electrode 10 through the current collecting plate 40 to serve as a terminal (positive terminal) of the first electrode 10.

[0064] The tubular portion 44 of the current collecting plate 40 may be a portion physically and electrically connected to the rivet terminal 150, and may be used as a guide tube for guiding the injection of the electrolyte. After the current collecting plate 40 and the rivet terminal 150 are combined together, the electrolyte may be injected into the interior of the tank 120 through the tubular portion 44, and after the electrolyte injection is completed, the sealing member 155 may be fixed to the upper portion of the tubular portion 44 and the rivet terminal 150. The sealing member 155 may be combined (e.g., fixed) to the rivet terminal 150 by welding or the like. Although the sealing member 155 is Figure 8The sealing member 155 is shown as a cap shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The sealing member 155 may have various shapes that can seal the tubular portion 44, such as a plug shape inserted into the tubular portion 44.

[0065] In one or more embodiments, before installing the sealing element 155, the sealing ball 156 may be positioned inside the tubular portion 44 to double seal the liquid injection port 42 with the sealing element 155. The sealing ball 156 includes a polymer material and may include, for example, perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), but is not limited to this embodiment.

[0066] In the rechargeable battery 100 having the above configuration, a separate liquid injection port is not provided in the can 120 or the cap plate 160, but the liquid injection port is located in the rivet terminal 150 and the current collecting plate 40, and thus, the configuration can be simplified. In addition, in the rechargeable battery 100 having the above configuration, the mechanical bonding and electrical connection between the current collecting plate 40 and the rivet terminal 150 can be facilitated, and the injection of the electrolyte and the sealing of the liquid injection port 42 can be facilitated. In addition, when forming a battery module, the rechargeable battery 100 having the above configuration can improve the integration.

[0067] Fig.10 is a schematic perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment.

[0068] Reference Fig.10 The battery module 200 includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries 100 arranged so that the sides 123 of the can 120 contact each other. The plurality of rechargeable batteries 100 may be arranged to closely contact each other on the sides 123 of the can 120 in the shape of a hexagonal column without a dead space therebetween. Fig.10 Some of the plurality of rechargeable batteries 100 of the battery module 200 are shown.

[0069] In a battery module including a plurality of cylindrical rechargeable batteries of the related art, an ineffective space occurs between adjacent rechargeable batteries, but in the battery module 200 of the present embodiment, an ineffective space does not occur between adjacent rechargeable batteries 100. Therefore, the battery module 200 of the present embodiment has a structure that improves space efficiency and thus facilitates improvement in power and capacity.

[0070] Fig.11 is a perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to a second embodiment, Fig.12 is an exploded perspective view of an electrode assembly and a current collecting plate in a rechargeable battery according to a second embodiment. The rechargeable battery of the second embodiment has a configuration that is the same as or similar to that of the rechargeable battery of the first embodiment described above, except for the following configurations.

[0071] Reference Fig.11 and Fig.12 , the tank may have a quadrilateral column shape. In one or more embodiments, the tank 120A includes a quadrilateral top 125 and a side 126 connected to one or more edges of the top 125. The top 125 may be a square or rectangular metal plate, and the side 126 may be a hollow square or rectangular column-shaped metal tube. Fig.11 , an embodiment in which the top 125 is a square is shown. The terminal hole may be located at the center of the top 125, and the rivet terminal 150 may be coupled to the terminal hole via the insulator 141.

[0072] The four surfaces of the side portion 126 include two pairs of surfaces facing each other, and the direction in which the pair of surfaces face each other is referred to as the "width direction W" herein. The electrode assembly 130A may include a plurality of first electrodes 10 and a plurality of second electrodes 20, which are alternately stacked one by one in the width direction W with a separator 30 (see FIG. Figure 4 ). The plurality of first electrodes 10 and the plurality of second electrodes 20 may have the same width and the same length (or substantially the same width and substantially the same length).

[0073] The current collecting plate 40A has the same configuration as the current collecting plate 40 of the first embodiment, except that the plate-shaped portion 45 is a quadrilateral (e.g., rectangular or square). The current collecting plate 40A may be combined (e.g., integrally fixed) with the plurality of first electrode tabs 13 by laser welding or the like. The cap plate 160 may be formed of a metal plate of a quadrilateral (e.g., rectangular or square) shape, and may be combined (e.g., integrally fixed) to the plurality of second electrode tabs by laser welding or the like. One or more edges of the cap plate 160 may be combined (e.g., fixed) to the side portion 126 of the can 120A.

[0074] The rivet terminal 150 is physically and electrically connected to the tubular portion 46 of the current collecting plate 40A and is installed in the terminal hole via the insulator 141. After the electrolyte is injected into the interior of the tank 120A through the tubular portion 46, the sealing ball may be positioned inside the tubular portion 46, and the sealing element 155 may be located at the upper portion of the tubular portion 46 and the rivet terminal 150 to seal the liquid injection port 42 (see Figure 8 ).

[0075] Since the rechargeable battery 100A of the present embodiment has a quadrangular column shape, when a plurality of rechargeable batteries 100A are arranged or positioned together to form a battery module, the plurality of rechargeable batteries 100A can be in close contact with each other at the side of the can 120A without any dead space therebetween. Therefore, these battery modules have a structure that improves space efficiency, thereby facilitating improvement in power and capacity.

[0076] In the first and second embodiments described above, the can has a hexagonal column shape and a quadrangular column shape, respectively, but the shape of the can is not limited to the examples shown, and any of various prismatic shapes may be selected and used. In one or more embodiments in which a plurality of rechargeable batteries are arranged or positioned together to form a battery module, any prismatic shape that allows the sides of the can to be positioned next to each other without dead space therebetween may be used.

[0077] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and may be implemented to be variously modified within the scope of the claims, the detailed description of the present invention, and the accompanying drawings, which also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery comprising: A prismatic can including a terminal hole; an electrode assembly accommodated in the inner space of the can and including a plurality of electrode tabs exposed at one side; a current collecting plate including a plate-shaped portion coupled to the plurality of electrode tabs, a liquid injection port in the plate-shaped portion, and a tube-shaped portion surrounding the liquid injection port, connected to one side of the plate-shaped portion, and extending through the terminal hole; a rivet terminal coupled to the tubular portion, contacting an outer wall of the tubular portion and in the terminal hole; an insulator between the rivet terminal and the can; as well as A sealing member is coupled to the rivet terminal to seal the tubular portion.

2. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein: The tank has a hexagonal column shape and includes a top and a side coupled to at least one edge of the top, The terminal hole is at the center of the top, and The rechargeable battery further includes a hexagonal cover plate coupled to an end of the side portion to seal the can.

3. The rechargeable battery according to claim 2, wherein: The electrode assembly includes a plurality of electrodes arranged in a quadrilateral sheet shape and sequentially stacked in a width direction, and Widths of the plurality of electrodes gradually increase from an outer portion of the electrode assembly toward a center of the electrode assembly.

4. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein: The tank has a quadrangular column shape and includes a top and a side coupled to at least one edge of the top, The terminal hole is at the center of the top, and The rechargeable battery further includes a quadrangular cover plate coupled to ends of the side portion to seal the can.

5. The rechargeable battery according to claim 4, wherein: The electrode assembly includes a plurality of electrodes arranged in a quadrilateral sheet shape and sequentially stacked in a width direction, and The plurality of electrodes have the same width and the same length.

6. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of electrode tabs are divided into a first region and a second region which are spaced a certain distance from each other, The electrode tabs in the first region of the plurality of electrode tabs are bent in a first direction, and The electrode tabs in the second region among the plurality of electrode tabs are bent in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

7. The rechargeable battery according to claim 6, wherein: The plate-shaped portion includes a metal plate in a circular, quadrangular, or hexagonal shape covering the first region and the second region, the metal plate being bonded to the plurality of electrode tabs through a plurality of welding lines.

8. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein: The liquid injection port has an arc shape and is offset from the plurality of electrode tabs, and The tubular portion is hollow cylindrical and is configured to guide electrolyte injection into the tank.

9. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, further comprising: a central hole in the rivet terminal, wherein the tubular portion extends into the central hole and is physically and electrically connected to the rivet terminal; and A sealing ball is disposed inside the tubular portion to double seal the liquid injection port with the sealing element.

10. A rechargeable battery comprising: a prismatic can comprising a top portion and a side portion, the top portion comprising a terminal hole, the side portion being bonded to at least one edge of the top portion; an electrode assembly accommodated in the inner space of the can and comprising a plurality of first electrode tabs on a side of the electrode assembly facing the top and a plurality of second electrode tabs on a side of the electrode assembly opposite to the plurality of first electrode tabs; a current collecting plate including a plate-shaped portion coupled to the plurality of first electrode tabs, a liquid injection port in the plate-shaped portion, and a tube-shaped portion surrounding the liquid injection port, connected to one side of the plate-shaped portion, and extending through the terminal hole; a rivet terminal coupled to the tubular portion, contacting an outer wall of the tubular portion and extending into the terminal hole; an insulator between the rivet terminal and the can; as well as A cap plate is coupled to the plurality of second electrode tabs and to an end of the side portion to seal the can.

11. The rechargeable battery according to claim 10, wherein: The electrode assembly includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are arranged in quadrilateral sheets and are alternately stacked one by one in a width direction with a separator therebetween, The plurality of first electrode tabs extend from the plurality of first electrodes from one side of the electrode assembly, and The plurality of second electrode tabs extend from the plurality of second electrodes from opposite sides of the electrode assembly.

12. The rechargeable battery according to claim 11, wherein: The plurality of first electrode tabs are divided into a first region and a second region which are spaced apart from each other by a certain distance, the plurality of first electrode tabs are bent in opposite directions in the first region and the second region, and The plurality of second electrode tabs are divided into a third region and a fourth region which are spaced apart from each other by a certain distance, and the plurality of second electrode tabs are bent in opposite directions in the third region and the fourth region.

13. The rechargeable battery according to claim 12, wherein: The plate-shaped portion includes a metal plate in a circular, quadrilateral, or hexagonal shape covering the first region and the second region, the metal plate being bonded to the plurality of first electrode tabs through a first plurality of welding wires, and The cap plate is coupled to the plurality of second electrode tabs through a second plurality of welding wires.

14. The rechargeable battery according to claim 10, wherein: The liquid injection port has an arc shape and is offset from the plurality of first electrode tabs, and The tubular portion is hollow cylindrical and is configured to guide injection of electrolyte.

15. The rechargeable battery according to claim 10, further comprising: a central hole in the rivet terminal, wherein the tubular portion extends into the central hole and is physically and electrically connected to the rivet terminal; a sealing ball inside the tubular portion to block the liquid injection port; and A sealing member is coupled to the rivet terminal to cover the tubular portion.

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