Cap assembly for prismatic single cell battery

Abstract

This invention relates to a cover assembly for a prismatic single-cell battery, the cover assembly comprising a through-hole electrode and a substrate, the substrate having at least one first functional opening. Here, the through-hole electrode is disposed within the first functional opening. The substrate has a reinforcing structure adjacent to the first functional opening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a cover assembly for a prismatic single-cell battery. Background Technology

[0002] The function of the cover assembly for a prismatic cell is to enclose and seal the prismatic cell, thereby protecting the battery chemistry from environmental influences. Specifically, the cover assembly should prevent interfering substances, such as oxygen or water, from seeping into the prismatic cell from the outside. Another function of the cover assembly is to provide electrical connection to the prismatic cell both internally and externally. The prismatic cell can also be secured within the battery assembly by the cover assembly. External forces can be applied to the cover assembly, and these forces are borne by the cover assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of this invention is to provide an improved cover assembly that can be manufactured simply and economically.

[0004] The objective is achieved by a cover assembly having the features of claim 1.

[0005] A cover assembly according to claim 1 includes through-hole terminals and a substrate, the substrate having at least one first functional opening. Here, the through-hole terminals are disposed in the first functional opening. The substrate has a reinforcing structure adjacent to the first functional opening. The functional surface of the cover assembly adjacent to the first functional opening is subjected to greater loads during manufacturing and operation compared to other areas of the cover assembly. The reinforcing structure allows for targeted improvement of the mechanical properties of the cover assembly. The reinforcing structure, in particular, strengthens the substrate. This allows for material savings in areas of the cover assembly with lower loads, resulting in a lighter and more economical cover assembly. The cover assembly preferably includes two through-hole terminals, particularly an anode and a cathode. The through-hole terminals enable electrical connection between the prismatic cell and an internal energy storage device and a power consumer outside the prismatic cell. The substrate preferably extends over the entire surface of the opening in the prismatic cell.

[0006] The prismatic single cell is preferably a storage battery or a supercapacitor.

[0007] The dependent claims provide preferred improvements to the invention.

[0008] The cover assembly preferably includes a burstable region disposed within a second functional opening in the substrate. This burstable region allows for pressure and temperature-activated opening in the event of a battery failure, thereby enabling the battery chemistry to exit the prismatic cell in a controlled manner. Preferably, a defined mechanical and thermally weak point is introduced within the burstable region. A reinforcing structure is provided around the burstable region to prevent deformation in the event of a battery failure, thereby ensuring the burstable region operates reliably.

[0009] More preferably, the cover assembly includes a filling port disposed in a third functional opening of the substrate. Particularly preferably, the substrate has two filling ports. Electrolyte can be filled into the prismatic single-cell battery through the filling ports. The second filling port facilitates the extraction of gases emitted from the electrolyte, thereby accelerating the filling process. Preferably, the filling port is sealed with a plug. Particularly preferably, the plug is configured to be welded to the cover assembly after the single-cell battery has been filled. Reinforcing structures at the filling ports prevent mechanical deformation during the filling process, thereby reducing the risk of leakage.

[0010] The reinforcing structure is preferably arranged in a ring around the functional opening. This avoids weak points at the functional opening and ensures that the functional opening has uniform mechanical properties.

[0011] Further preferably, the reinforcing structure has a pressed structure. The pressed structure is particularly a sicke and / or bump and / or planar pressed structure. Further preferably, the substrate is made from a semi-finished product, particularly a sheet metal component, with uniform wall thickness. The pressed structure can be manufactured simply and quickly through a molding process, and reliably improves the mechanical properties of the substrate. The pressed structure, in particular, improves the stiffness of the reinforcing structure.

[0012] Particularly preferred is that the substrate has a regular structure, especially a honeycomb or grid structure. In this case, the substrate preferably has a uniform thickness. The honeycomb or grid structure, especially as the core layer of the sandwich panel, offers high flexural stiffness and strength while being lightweight. Alternative regular structures are box-shaped structures, ribbed structures, or cross-ribbed structures. With such regular structures, a cover assembly with a flat substrate can be achieved, which offers high stiffness while being lightweight. Here, the structure can protrude inwards, outwards, or in both directions.

[0013] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the substrate has an irregular biomimetic structure. In this case, areas of the component with lower load-bearing capacity are removed to save weight. Preferably, the irregular biomimetic structure is obtained by means of computer-aided topology optimization.

[0014] The cover assembly preferably includes a thin film mounted on a substrate. The thin film can be mounted on the inner and / or outer side of the substrate. Preferably, the thin film is locked to the substrate material. This improves substrate performance while saving space.

[0015] More preferably, the film is an electrically insulating layer and / or a gas-permeability-reducing film and / or part of the burst region. As an electrically insulating layer, the film provides electrical insulation between the substrate and the terminal block, the casing, and / or components inside the prismatic cell. As a gas-permeability-reducing film, the film prevents fluid exchange between the internal space of the prismatic cell and the surrounding environment. Therefore, the substrate can have a permeable structure sealed by the gas-permeability-reducing film. Furthermore, the film can form defined weak points in the burst region. The film is particularly pressed in the burst region, thus providing defined failure sites in the burst region.

[0016] The substrate is preferably a plastic component. The substrate is particularly made of electrically insulating plastic. Therefore, the substrate can be manufactured economically. Furthermore, due to this plastic substrate, it is unnecessary to provide additional insulating components between the electrode through-hole and the casing of the prismatic single cell.

[0017] More preferably, the through-hole and / or the bursting area and / or the filler hole are built-in components. Integrating the built-in components into the substrate makes it easy to integrate additional functions. Furthermore, the integrated construction of the cover assembly reduces its assembly workload. Another advantage of the built-in components is the substrate's ability to compensate for tolerances in the through-hole, bursting area, and / or filler hole during manufacturing.

[0018] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the substrate is a metal component. The substrate is particularly made of sheet metal. This results in an economical and space-saving substrate with good mechanical properties. Aluminum is a preferred material.

[0019] The cover assembly preferably includes an electrically insulating layer disposed on the substrate. In this case, the insulating layer is configured to electrically insulate the substrate from the electrode through-hole. The insulating layer is preferably fixed to the substrate in a material-locking manner. The electrically insulating layer is preferably disposed between the electrode through-hole and the substrate, particularly on the inner side of the substrate. This achieves reliable electrical insulation between the electrode through-hole and the substrate.

[0020] More preferably, the electrical insulating layer is designed as a coating and / or film and / or sprayed electrical insulating layer. This allows the electrical insulating layer to be manufactured economically and easily mounted on a substrate. When the electrical insulating layer is a film, the film is preferably pre-pressed and adapted to the contours of the substrate.

[0021] It is conceivable that the material used for the electrical insulation layer is a thermoplastic, such as PE, PP, PBT or PPS, but it can also be an elastomer, such as EPDM or FKM. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Other details, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein:

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a prismatic single-cell battery having a cover assembly according to a first embodiment is shown.

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic top view of the substrate of the cover assembly according to the first embodiment is shown.

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a prismatic single-cell battery having a cover assembly according to a second embodiment is shown.

[0026] Figure 4 A schematic perspective view of the substrate in the second embodiment is shown, and

[0027] Figure 5 A schematic perspective view of the substrate of the cover assembly according to the third embodiment is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The following is for reference. Figure 1 and 2 The cover assembly 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0029] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a prismatic single-cell battery 3 in a longitudinal plane is shown. The prismatic single-cell battery 3 includes a housing 2, which is closed on its upper side by a cover assembly 1. An energy storage device 4 is disposed within the housing 2.

[0030] The cover assembly 1 includes a substrate 12 with three functional openings 41, 42, and 43 and an electrical insulating layer 18, two through-holes 21, and a bursting region 22. One through-hole 21 is disposed in each of the two first functional openings 41. The bursting region 22 is formed in the second functional opening 42.

[0031] The first functional opening 41 is defined in an opening in the substrate 12 of the cover assembly 1, the pole through member 21 is disposed in this opening, and a reinforcing structure 5 is disposed around this opening.

[0032] The second functional opening 42 defines an opening in the substrate 12 of the cover assembly 1, the bursting area 22 is disposed in the opening, and a reinforcing structure 5 is disposed around the opening.

[0033] The energy storage device 4 includes at least one negative electrode 7 and one positive electrode 8, which are surrounded by an electrolyte 9. The energy storage device 4 may be, for example, a lithium-ion battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a supercapacitor.

[0034] One through-hole member 21 is connected to the negative electrode 7 inside the prismatic single cell 3 and forms the anode 25. The other through-hole member 21 is connected to the positive electrode 8 inside the prismatic single cell 3 and forms the cathode 26.

[0035] exist Figure 1 In the process, the thin-walled substrate 12 is made of plate material, and the substrate 12 is configured to be connected to the casing 2 of the prismatic single cell battery 3 by welding connection 27 on the peripheral side.

[0036] The housing 2 preferably has a wall thickness of 0.3-1.0 mm and is preferably made of aluminum.

[0037] In the substrate 12, a reinforcing structure 5 is pressed out in an annular manner around the first and second functional openings 41 and 42, and the reinforcing structure locally improves the mechanical properties of the substrate 12. Figure 1 The reinforcing structure 5 is designed as a pressed structure 15, which is preferably introduced into the substrate 12 through a molding process. Alternatively, the substrate 12 can also be cast or manufactured by etching or 3D printing processes.

[0038] Furthermore, the cover assembly 1 includes an electrically insulating layer 18, which is attached flush to the underside of the substrate 12 as a thin film 23. Alternatively, the electrically insulating layer 18 can be manufactured by applying an adhesive to the underside of the substrate 12 or by using a plastic coating.

[0039] The electrode through-hole 21 is electrically insulated from the substrate 12 by a thin film 23. For this purpose, the thin film 23 is deep-drawn before being mounted on the substrate 12, so that the thin film 23 is radially disposed between the electrode through-hole 21 and the substrate 12 in the region of the first functional opening 41. The thin film 23 preferably has a thickness of less than 2 mm.

[0040] The film 23 is also part of the burst region 22. Therefore, the film is locally weakened in the burst region 22, so that the film opens in a temperature and / or pressure-activated manner in the event of a battery failure.

[0041] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 Top view of substrate 12.

[0042] The two first functional openings 41 and the second functional opening 42 are centrally located along the longitudinal axis XX. Here, the second functional opening 42 is centrally located and configured to accommodate the bursting area 22. The first functional opening 41 adjacent to the first end and the second end in the longitudinal direction R1 is configured to allow the pole post penetrating member 21 to pass through. In this case, the second functional opening 42 is larger than the two first functional openings 41.

[0043] To mechanically reinforce the substrate 12 around the first and second functional openings 41 and 42, a reinforcing structure 5 is arranged in a ring around the first and second functional openings 41 and 42. The reinforcing structure 5 has different types of pressing structures 15.

[0044] exist Figure 2 In this substrate 12, all reinforcing structures 5 have a combination of narrow ribs 15a and planar pressed structures 15c. The reinforcing structure 5 at the first functional opening 41 where the pole post penetrating member 21 is provided additionally has four protrusions 15b distributed on the peripheral side.

[0045] Thus, the first embodiment achieves a cover assembly 1 that is lightweight and compact while possessing high mechanical strength. Furthermore, the cover assembly 1 according to the first embodiment can be manufactured quickly and economically.

[0046] Figure 3 Another cross-sectional view on a longitudinal plane is shown of the prismatic single-cell battery 3 having the cover assembly 1 according to the second embodiment. Here, Figure 1 and Figure 3 The housing 2 and the energy storage device 4 in the different embodiments are the same.

[0047] Figure 3 The cover assembly 1 has a metal frame 11, which is fixed to the casing 2 of the prismatic single cell 3 by welding connection 27. A substrate 12 made of electrically insulating plastic is disposed within the metal frame 11. At this time, a form-locking connection is formed between the substrate 12 and the metal frame 11.

[0048] The cover assembly 1 includes two through-holes 21, a filling port 24, and a bursting region 22 having a first bursting region 22a and a second bursting region 22b. Here, the two through-holes 21, the filling port 24, and the bursting region 22 are respectively disposed in the first, second, or third functional openings 41, 42, and 43 of the substrate 12 and designed as an embedded member 31, which is injection-molded from an electrically insulating plastic coating of the substrate 12. The outer contour of the embedded member 31 allows for a form-locking connection between the substrate 12 and the embedded member 31.

[0049] The third functional opening 43 defines an opening in the substrate 12 of the cover assembly 1, the filling opening 24 is disposed in the opening, and a reinforcing structure 5 is disposed around the opening.

[0050] According to the second embodiment, the substrate 12 has a reinforcing structure 5 around the first, second, and third functional openings 41, 42, and 43, in which more material is used.

[0051] The electrically insulating plastic of substrate 12 may contain flame retardants or fillers to improve thermal conductivity.

[0052] Figure 3 The substrate 12 has a regular structure 17 between the reinforcing structures 5, which is a honeycomb structure.

[0053] The electrode through-piece 21 has an H-shaped cross-section, where the electrically insulating plastic of the substrate 12 flows between two parallel side plates of the H-shaped cross-section to form a form-locking connection. Alternatively, the electrode through-piece 21 may have other structural forms that achieve a good form-locking connection with the substrate 12.

[0054] Simultaneously, the H-shaped cross-section is oriented coplanarly with the substrate 12. One outer side of the H-shaped cross-section of the electrode through-piece 21 points towards the interior space of the prismatic single cell 3. Here, one electrode through-piece 21 is connected to the negative electrode 7, thereby forming the anode 25. The other electrode through-piece 21 is connected to the positive electrode 8, thereby forming the cathode 26. The other outer side of the H-shaped cross-section of the electrode through-piece 21 points outward and is configured to be connected to an electrical conductor.

[0055] The electrode through-piece 21 is disposed near the metal frame 11 at both lateral ends along the longitudinal direction R1. Here, the distance from the metal frame 11 must be large enough to prevent electrical breakdown from the electrode through-piece 21 into the housing.

[0056] A bursting region 22 is centrally located within the cover assembly 1. The bursting region 22 has a stepped structure, forming a first bursting region 22a and a second bursting region 22b. Here, the first bursting region 22a has a smaller thickness than the second bursting region 22b. Therefore, the pressure resistance of the first bursting region 22a is lower than that of the second bursting region 22b, so that in the event of a battery failure, the first bursting region 22a opens first, allowing the rising pressure inside the prismatic cell to decrease. Next, as the pressure inside the prismatic cell continues to rise, the second bursting region 22b can open. Here, the first bursting region 22a is located inside the second bursting region 22b, and a cut is formed between the first bursting region 22a and the second bursting region 22b, the cut constituting a defined failure site. A cut is also formed on the outer periphery of the second bursting region 22b, the cut constituting a defined failure site for the second bursting region 22b.

[0057] In the explosion zone 22 and Figure 3 Between the through-holes 21 on the right side of the electrode, a filling port 24 is provided in the substrate 12. Here, the filling port 24 is used to introduce electrolyte 9 into the prismatic single cell 3 and to discharge the gas displaced by electrolyte 9. For this purpose, the filling port 24 has a cylindrical through hole, which is configured to be closed with a plug.

[0058] A thin film 23 for reducing gas permeability is applied to the outer side of the substrate 12 of the cover assembly 1, which is oriented perpendicular to the lateral direction R2. The film prevents gas exchange between the energy storage device 4 and the surrounding environment of the prismatic single cell 3 when the prismatic single cell 3 is filled, and improves the mechanical properties of the substrate 12.

[0059] Figure 4 A perspective view of the substrate 12 according to the second embodiment is shown in the region of the first end along the longitudinal direction R1.

[0060] The substrate 12 is rectangular on its peripheral side and has a regular honeycomb structure 17. The hexagonal honeycomb of the regular structure 17 is open and oriented in the lateral direction R2.

[0061] A circular first functional opening 41 and a second functional opening 42 are provided within the regular structure 17. An annular reinforcing structure 5 is installed around the first and second functional openings 41 and 42, the reinforcing structure mechanically reinforcing the first and second functional openings 41 and 42. In the second embodiment, the reinforcing structure 5 is characterized by having a solid structural form.

[0062] Figure 5 Another perspective view of the substrate 12 according to the third embodiment is shown. The difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment lies in the shape of the regular structure 17.

[0063] exist Figure 5 In this context, the regular structure 17 is a mesh structure. The mesh structure is preferably manufactured using additive manufacturing, but it can also be cast.

[0064] In addition to the foregoing textual description of the invention, as a supplementary disclosure to the invention, the graphical representation of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings is hereby explicitly referenced.

Claims

1. A cover assembly for a prismatic single-cell battery (3), comprising: -Pole post through part (21), and - Substrate (12), the substrate having at least one first functional opening (41). - The pole penetrating member (21) is disposed in the first functional opening (41), and - The substrate (12) has a reinforcing structure (5) adjacent to the first functional opening (41).

2. The cover assembly according to claim 1, the cover assembly includes a burst region (22) disposed in a second functional opening (42) of the substrate (12).

3. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, the cover assembly comprising a filling port (24) disposed in a third functional opening (43) of the substrate (12).

4. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The reinforcing structure (5) is arranged circumferentially around the first functional opening (41) and / or the second functional opening (42) and / or the third functional opening (43).

5. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The reinforcing structure (5) has a pressed structure (15), especially a rib (15a) and / or a protrusion (15b) and / or a planar pressed structure (15c).

6. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The substrate (12) has a regular structure (17), especially a honeycomb structure or a grid structure.

7. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The substrate (12) has an irregular biomimetic structure.

8. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, the cover assembly comprising a thin film (23) mounted on the substrate (12).

9. The cover assembly according to claim 8, wherein, The film (23) is an electrically insulating layer (18), and / or the film (23) is a film (23) that reduces gas permeability, and / or the film (23) is part of the bursting area (22).

10. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The substrate (12) is a plastic component.

11. The cover assembly according to claim 10, wherein, The pole penetrating part (12) and / or the bursting area (22) and / or the filling port (24) are built-in parts (31).

12. The cover assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, The substrate (12) is a metal component.

13. The cover assembly according to claim 12, the cover assembly comprising an electrically insulating layer (18) disposed on the substrate (12), the electrically insulating layer (18) being configured to electrically insulate the substrate (12) from the pole through member (21).

14. The cover assembly according to claim 13, wherein, The electrical insulating layer (18) is designed as a coating and / or as a film (23) and / or as a sprayed electrical insulating layer (18).

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