Battery and battery kit
By improving the cover design of the button battery and utilizing the gap between the cover and the bottom container through the surrounding adapter, a seal and electrical insulation are achieved, solving the waste problem of the double-wall configuration, improving welding precision, reducing the risk of chemical leakage, and lowering production costs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422928548.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-12-11
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-25
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-11-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing sealing methods for button batteries require a double-walled configuration, which results in wasted space for the seals. Furthermore, precise dimensional matching during the welding process is difficult to achieve, which can easily lead to imperfect welding and chemical leakage.
The cover design includes an internal conductive part, an intermediate insulating part, and a peripheral adapter part. The peripheral adapter part bridges the gap between the cover and the bottom container, providing a seal and electrical insulation. The cover is fixed to the bottom container by welding, which can accommodate bottom containers of different shapes and sizes.
It reduces the space occupied by the seals, lowers production costs, improves welding precision and sealing effect, and reduces the risk of chemical leakage.
Smart Images
Figure CN223598841U_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present utility model relates to batteries, for example button batteries, which are recognized as power sources for small electric appliances such as watches, thermometers, etc. BACKGROUND
[0002] Batteries are widely used and come in various types, for example button batteries, also known as coin cells, which are distinguished according to different sizes and shapes, as well as the materials used for the electrodes and electrolyte.
[0003] The most well-known type of button battery comprises a metal base cup and a metal cover cup, the metal base cup having a flat base portion that serves as a positive contact and an upstanding sidewall extending upwardly from the flat base portion. The flat base portion of the cover cup serves as a negative contact. The battery further comprises an electrode assembly located within the space between the cover cup and the base cup. For example, in a rechargeable lithium-ion button battery, the electrode assembly can be a spiral-shaped assembly obtained by winding a stack of electrode layers separated by separator sheets impregnated with a liquid electrolyte. Other electrode assemblies are formed as horizontal stacks of alternating electrode layers and separator layers, the electrode layers and separator layers being oriented parallel to the top and bottom contacts. Button batteries are typically disc-shaped, but other shapes are possible.
[0004] The production process of the above-mentioned type of battery comprises arranging the electrode assembly in the cover cup and inserting the cover cup into the base cup, sealing the electrode assembly from the outside of the battery using a gasket or a glue-type electrically insulating seal between the two. If a physical gasket is used, the open end of the cover cup wall is inserted into the gasket and the base cup is crimped onto the gasket. If a glue-type electrically insulating seal is used, the outside of the sidewall of the cover cup is coated with a sealing material and the cover cup is then inserted into the base cup. The glue is allowed to dry or cure, thereby sealing the battery.
[0005] These known methods of sealing a battery have a number of drawbacks. For example, one problem is the need for a double wall configuration to accommodate the gasket or glue: the sidewalls of the cover cup and the base cup have to overlap against each other. This results in a waste of space occupied by the insulating seal as a physical gasket or sealing glue.
[0006] A solution to this problem was found by improving the battery design without resorting to a double wall configuration. This type of battery is the subject of European patent application EP22178203. The battery still comprises a base cup that houses the electrode assembly and still serves as a positive contact. The battery further comprises a cover formed of three parts: a central part that is electrically conductive, an outer peripheral part that is electrically conductive, and an electrically insulating intermediate insulating part that separates the central part from the outer peripheral part and insulates it. The central part serves as a negative contact and the insulating part achieves electrical insulation. The cover is fixed to the open end of the base cup, thereby sealing the battery from the outside. The fixed connection of the cover to the base cup is electrically conductive, such that the base of the base cup forms the positive contact of the battery.
[0007] Problems in the manufacturing process of this type of battery are related to the process of fixing the lid to the bottom cup, which can be done by aligning the lid to the rim of the side wall of the bottom cup and welding the lid to said rim along its aligned perimeter (e.g. laser welding). However, a perfect sealing weld connection requires that the dimensions of the lid and the bottom cup are highly accurately matched. Also, due to the small size of this type of battery, it is difficult to keep the lid in the correct position during the welding process. These problems can lead to imperfect welds and to the risk of leakage of the chemicals inside the battery. Utility content
[0008] The above objects will be met and suitably solved by a battery, in particular a button cell. The battery comprises a cup-shaped bottom container for accommodating an electrode assembly. The bottom container comprises a base and a side wall along the outer periphery of the base. The side wall can be a straight or protruding side wall, e.g. extending parallel to the surface normal of a flat or planar shaped base. The battery further comprises a lid for closing and / or covering the interior of the bottom container.
[0009] The lid comprises an inner conductive portion, an intermediate insulating portion surrounding the inner conductive portion, and a peripheral adaptation portion. The peripheral adaptation portion forms or constitutes an outer peripheral edge portion of the lid. The lid and / or the peripheral adaptation portion is capable of being fixed to the side wall of the bottom container, e.g. at an end of the side wall opposite to the base of the bottom container.
[0010] The peripheral adaptation portion is capable of being fixed to or being fixed to the bottom container and thus via the outer peripheral edge portion to the side wall of the bottom container.
[0011] The peripheral adaptation portion is dimensioned, shaped and / or configured to bridge a gap between the outer edge of the intermediate insulating portion of the lid and the inner periphery of the side wall.
[0012] In particular, the peripheral adaptation portion is dimensioned and configured to provide a match, e.g. a geometric or shape match, between the intermediate insulating portion and the side wall of the bottom container. The peripheral adaptation portion is particularly suitable for individually adapting the same type or shape of intermediate insulating portion to various bottom containers, which can differ in shape and / or size.
[0013] In some examples, the peripheral adaptation portion can provide a specific positioning of the inner conductive portion and the intermediate insulating portion on and / or within a surface or plane of the peripheral adaptation portion and / or a plane of the lid. In this way, by selecting a suitable peripheral adaptation portion, the same arrangement or pre-assembled component of inner conductive portion and intermediate insulating portion can universally be adapted to various designs suitable for fixing and / or closing a cavity formed by the bottom container and its side wall.
[0014] In particular, the mutual fixation and / or integration of the inner electrically conductive part and the intermediate insulating part of the lid can be delicate and / or sophisticated. In order to provide a lid for various differently shaped or differently dimensioned cup-shaped bottom containers, it is now intended to provide a periphery adaptation part for each bottom container or for a number of differently dimensioned or differently shaped bottom containers and their side walls, wherein the periphery adaptation part generally matches with the inner electrically conductive part and the intermediate insulating part of the same type or configuration. In this way, the manufacturing costs and manufacturing effort can be reduced.
[0015] Furthermore, in some examples, the material used for making or providing the lid can be reduced. The respective costs and weight for producing the lid and / or the housing of the battery can be saved.
[0016] In some examples, the periphery adaptation part is made of an electrically conductive material. It can form a part of one electrode of the battery. The periphery adaptation part can form or constitute one electrode with the cup-shaped bottom container.
[0017] The inner electrically conductive part can provide a further electrode of the battery. It can be electrically insulated from the first electrode by the intermediate insulating part, which completely surrounds the inner electrically conductive part.
[0018] In some examples of the battery, the periphery adaptation part fills or occupies the space between the intermediate insulating part of the lid and the side wall of the bottom container. The inner electrically conductive part and / or the intermediate insulating part can have a standard or standardized dimension, shape and / or configuration. In order to accommodate and use the assembly of the inner electrically conductive part and the intermediate insulating part, the periphery adaptation part always accommodates the different shape and / or dimension of the bottom container. The periphery adaptation part can not only accommodate the different shape and dimension of the side wall and / or the bottom container. Furthermore, it can also provide different positions or locations of the inner electrically conductive part and the intermediate insulating part on the surface of the lid. In this way, by selecting or choosing one periphery adaptation part from a plurality of periphery adaptation parts for a battery of a specific shape or a specific design, the position of the electrode provided by the inner electrically conductive part relative to the electrode assembly configured to be arranged within the bottom container can be easily changed and accommodated.
[0019] According to a further example, the periphery adaptation part comprises a through recess or a through opening, which is dimensioned and shaped to match the outer edge of the intermediate insulating part. Generally, the entire through recess can be filled or occupied by the assembly of the intermediate insulating part and the inner electrically conductive part. In this way, the through recess of the periphery adaptation part can be effectively sealed and closed by the arrangement of the intermediate insulating part and the inner electrically conductive part. The lid can comprise at least three separate components, namely the inner electrically conductive part, the intermediate insulating part and the periphery adaptation part, which can subsequently provide or comprise a liquid- and / or gas-tight structure when the three components are assembled and fixed to each other.
[0020] According to another example, the through recess of the perimeter adaptation portion comprises an upright or protruding sidewall portion protruding from the plane of the perimeter adaptation portion. Typically, the upright sidewall portion is or forms an inner edge of the through recess of the perimeter adaptation portion. The sidewall portion can comprise a longitudinal dimension, i.e. a dimension in axial or vertical direction, which is larger than the material thickness of the adjacent (e.g. planar or flat shaped) plane structure of the perimeter adaptation portion. By the rather large sidewall portion, the mutual contact surface for fixing and / or fastening together with the intermediate insulation portion can be increased. This way, a rather effective mutual connection between the intermediate insulation portion and the perimeter adaptation portion can be provided.
[0021] According to another example, the material thickness of the perimeter adaptation portion is smaller than the material thickness of at least one of the inner electrically conductive portion and the intermediate insulation portion. This way, the total amount of material required for forming or providing the perimeter adaptation portion can be reduced. This can reduce the weight and lower the costs for producing and / or providing the perimeter adaptation portion.
[0022] According to yet another example, the perimeter adaptation portion comprises an inner surface. At least one of the inner electrically conductive portion and the intermediate insulation portion protrudes inwardly from the inner surface. When connected to the sidewall, the inner surface faces the interior of the cavity enclosed by the sidewall and the base. This way, a rather good and easy contact to the current collector tab of an electrode assembly, for example located within a cup-shaped bottom container, can be provided. In some examples, the inner electrically conductive portion can even protrude inwardly from the intermediate insulation portion. This way, the electrical contact to the current collector tab of an electrode assembly can be further improved.
[0023] In yet some examples, the surface of the inner electrically conductive portion can be convex and can protrude inwardly or outwardly from the lid of the battery. The convex shape can further improve the electrical contact to the current collector tab within the electrode assembly and / or the cavity of the bottom container.
[0024] According to yet another example, the outer peripheral edge portion of the perimeter adaptation portion is non-circular. It can comprise a rather planar or flat shaped surface structure, e.g. a material sheet. In some examples, the outer peripheral edge portion of the perimeter adaptation portion is circular, in particular when the cup-shaped bottom container comprises a cylindrical sidewall. In other examples, the outer peripheral edge portion of the perimeter adaptation portion is non-circular. In this case, the outer peripheral edge portion of the perimeter adaptation portion comprises a shape which matches in size and / or geometry the inner circumference or inner cross section of the sidewall of the cup-shaped bottom container.
[0025] Irrespective of the shape of the perimeter adaptation portion and / or the shape of the sidewall of the cup-shaped bottom container, the inner electrically conductive portion and the intermediate insulation portion can always have the same standardized shape or structure. Here, the perimeter adaptation portion can also comprise a suitable and thus corresponding dimensioned through recess for receiving the intermediate insulation portion and the inner electrically conductive portion.
[0026] According to a further example of the battery, the lid comprises an inner peripheral adaptation portion fixed to the outer periphery of the intermediate insulating portion, and further comprises an outer peripheral adaptation portion fixed to the outer peripheral edge portion of the intermediate insulating portion. The outer peripheral adaptation portion forms or constitutes the outer peripheral edge portion of the lid.
[0027] In this way, it is possible to provide a lid of a battery or a lid for a battery which comprises four separate components in total, namely an inner electrically conductive portion, an intermediate insulating portion surrounding the inner electrically conductive portion, an inner peripheral adaptation portion surrounding or fixed to the outer periphery of the intermediate insulating portion, and an outer peripheral adaptation portion fixed to the outer peripheral edge portion of the intermediate insulating portion.
[0028] Here, the outer peripheral adaptation portion comprises an outer peripheral edge portion which is able to be fixed to the side wall of a square-shaped bottom container.
[0029] By providing the inner peripheral adaptation portion and the outer peripheral adaptation portion, the entire peripheral adaptation portion is made of two separate components, wherein the outer peripheral adaptation portion forms or establishes the mechanical contact to the side wall of the bottom container and the inner peripheral adaptation portion forms or establishes the mechanical contact to the intermediate insulating portion of the lid.
[0030] By the inner peripheral adaptation portion and the outer peripheral adaptation portion, it is possible to easily modify the overall design of the lid in order to match different dimensions of the side wall of the bottom container of different sizes or different configurations.
[0031] In particular, the outer peripheral adaptation portion can be provided as an optional adaptation portion. The lid without the outer peripheral adaptation portion can provide fastening and fixation to the side wall of the bottom container exclusively via the outer peripheral edge portion of the inner peripheral adaptation portion, which can also form or constitute the outer peripheral edge portion of the lid.
[0032] In order to use the same lid for different sizes of containers, for example for a larger size of the bottom container comprising a side wall with an increased diameter or cross section, the inner peripheral adaptation portion can be fixed to the outer peripheral adaptation portion, which can then surround or enclose the inner peripheral adaptation portion. The lid can then be fixed to the side wall by the outer peripheral adaptation portion. In this way, it is possible to easily modify and adapt the overall size of the lid according to the given size or geometry of the cup-shaped bottom container, simply by selecting or deselecting the outer peripheral adaptation portion to form or constitute the lid.
[0033] According to a further example of the battery, at least one of the inner peripheral adaptation portion and the outer peripheral adaptation portion comprises a step portion at or along its outer peripheral edge portion. The step portion can facilitate the assembly and / or mutual fixation of the inner peripheral adaptation portion with the outer peripheral adaptation portion. Further, when the outer peripheral adaptation portion comprises such a step portion, it can facilitate the fixation and / or fastening of the lid to the side wall of the bottom container.
[0034] According to a further example, the step portion of at least one of the inner peripheral adaptation portion and the outer peripheral adaptation portion comprises an annular profile having an abutment face to abut with a facing outer abutment face of at least one of the outer peripheral adaptation portion and the side wall, respectively. By such an annular profile, a well-defined mutual abutment and fixation configuration can be provided which allows for positioning and fixation of the inner peripheral adaptation portion to the outer peripheral adaptation portion and / or fixation of at least one of the inner peripheral adaptation portion and the outer peripheral adaptation portion to the side wall of the bottom container.
[0035] According to a further example, the outer peripheral edge portion of the inner peripheral adaptation portion matches in size and shape the inner edge portion of the outer peripheral adaptation portion. The inner peripheral adaptation portion is fixed to the outer peripheral adaptation portion via the mutually engaging outer peripheral edge portion of the inner peripheral adaptation portion and the inner edge portion of the outer peripheral adaptation portion.
[0036] In this way, a circumferential and / or continuous mutual fixation between the inner peripheral adaptation portion and the outer peripheral adaptation portion can be provided. The mutual fixation can be provided by, for example, welding, gluing or bonding.
[0037] According to a further example, the intermediate insulating portion comprises an insulating material selected from glass, a polymer material or a ceramic material.
[0038] In a further aspect, the utility model also relates to a battery assembly, which is, for example, a button cell. The battery assembly comprises a first battery as described above and further comprises a second battery as described above. The first battery comprises a first bottom container having a first side wall and a first lid connected to the first side wall and closing the first bottom container. The second battery comprises a second bottom container having a second side wall, which is different in size or shape from the first side wall. The second battery comprises a second lid connected or fixed to the second side wall and closing the second bottom container.
[0039] In further examples, the second bottom container comprises a through opening for receiving the assembly of the inner conductive portion and the intermediate insulating portion. Here, the position of the through recess of the second lid can be different from the position of the through recess of the first lid. Here, the side walls of the first battery and the second battery can be substantially identical, but the respective batteries can differ in the position and thus configuration of the electrode assembly arranged within the respective cup-shaped bottom container.
[0040] Since the first and second lid comprise a through opening located at a different position relative to the outer peripheral edge portion of the respective lid, the first and second lid can bring the inner electrically conductive portion and the intermediate insulating portion in a unique and different position relative to the side wall of the bottom container.
[0041] According to yet another example, the first lid comprises a first inner electrically conductive portion and the second lid comprises a second inner electrically conductive portion. The first and second inner electrically conductive portion can have the same shape and / or size. However, since the first side wall of the first battery and the second side wall of the second battery are different from each other, the respective peripheral adaptation portion of the first and second lid are also different in order to close or bridge the gap between the outer edge of the intermediate insulating portion and the inner periphery of the side wall of the respective bottom container.
[0042] According to yet another example, the first lid comprises a first intermediate insulating portion and the second lid comprises a second intermediate insulating portion. The shape and / or size of the first and second intermediate insulating portion can be the same. In some examples, the inner electrically conductive portion and the intermediate insulating portion of the first and second lid can be substantially the same, respectively. Generally, according to yet another example, the first and second lid can use the same arrangement of inner electrically conductive portion and intermediate insulating portion.
[0043] The first and second lid can only differ in the structure, shape and / or size of the peripheral adaptation portion in order to provide an effective adaptation means for fastening and / or fixing the inner electrically conductive portion and the intermediate insulating portion to the side wall of the cup-shaped bottom container or the inner electrode assembly of different sizes, different shapes and / or different configurations.
[0044] According to yet another example, the first lid comprises a first peripheral adaptation portion and the second lid comprises a second peripheral adaptation portion. The first peripheral adaptation portion differs in size and / or shape from the second peripheral adaptation portion. Alternatively, the first peripheral adaptation portion comprises a first through recess which is located differently than a respective location of a second through recess extending through the second peripheral adaptation portion. The respective through recesses are shaped to receive the assembly of the inner electrically conductive portion and the intermediate insulating portion of the respective lid.
[0045] Generally, the battery as described herein can be a so-called free-form battery. In particular, the cup-shaped bottom container, its side wall and / or the lid can have any shape or profile suitable for accommodating the electrode assembly of the battery. In some examples, the battery as described herein can be a so-called button battery. Here, the side wall and / or the cup-shaped bottom container can be circular, annular or cylindrical. In other examples, the side wall and / or the cup-shaped bottom container can be polygonal, e.g. they can have a D-shape, an oval shape or any other suitable geometric shape.
[0046] In another aspect, a method of manufacturing a battery as described above is also disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a cup-shaped bottom container comprising a base and an upstanding sidewall along an outer periphery of the base. In a subsequent step, an electrode assembly is arranged within the bottom container.
[0047] In a further step, an inner conductive portion and an intermediate insulating portion surrounding the inner conductive portion are provided. In a yet further step, a perimeter adaptation portion is selected from a plurality of available different sizes, different shapes and / or different configurations of perimeter adaptation portions, wherein the selected perimeter adaptation portion is sized, shaped and / or configured to bridge a gap between an outer edge of the intermediate insulating portion and an inner periphery of the sidewall. Thereafter, in a yet further step, the inner conductive portion and the intermediate insulating portion are fixed to the selected perimeter adaptation portion to form or constitute a lid of the battery. In a final step, the lid is fixed to the sidewall of the bottom container.
[0048] Optionally, the lid is welded or otherwise fixed to the sidewall of the bottom container. Optionally, the inner conductive portion of the lid is welded to a current collector tab of the electrode assembly arranged within a housing of the battery formed by the bottom container, which is covered and enclosed by the lid. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0049] A number of examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0050] Figure 1 Main components of a battery according to one example of the present invention are shown, the battery comprising a wound electrode assembly;
[0051] Figure 2 A battery of Figure 1 is shown in an assembled state;
[0052] Figure 3 A bottom container and a lid of a battery of Figure 1 and 2 are shown in an exploded view prior to a sealing process;
[0053] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of one example of a lid is shown;
[0054] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of another example of a lid is shown;
[0055] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of one example of a lid comprising an inner perimeter adaptation portion and an outer perimeter adaptation portion is shown;
[0056] Figure 7 and 8 Two different examples of a lid are shown; and
[0057] Figure 9 and 10 A matching profile of a side wall rim of a battery and a lid edge is shown according to one embodiment of the present utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0058] Figure 1 A component of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery is shown. The battery comprises an electrically conductive cup-shaped bottom container 1, preferably made of metal, having a circular base 2 and an upright side wall 3 along the outer periphery of the base 2. The battery further comprises a wound electrode assembly 4 comprising a positive electrode 5, a negative electrode 6 and a separator 7 between the wound electrodes, and further comprising current collectors. The drawing of the electrode assembly 4 is a simplified representation, the electrode assembly 4 can be of any known design thereof. Only a negative current collector 8 coupled to the negative electrode 6 is visible in the drawing. A positive current collector coupled to the positive electrode 5 is located at the underside of the electrode assembly 4. The negative current collector 8 is shown as a straight rectangular bar in a simplified manner, but it can have a different shape from this. As known to the person skilled in the art, the current collectors are preferably flexible, so that the end portions of the current collectors can be welded to the respective battery contacts.
[0059] The battery comprises a lid 10, which comprises three parts: an electrically conductive inner conductive part (central part) 11, an electrically conductive peripheral adaptation part (inner peripheral adaptation part 12 and optionally an outer peripheral adaptation part 15 hereinafter) and an electrically insulating intermediate insulating part 13, which separates and electrically isolates the inner conductive part 11 and the peripheral adaptation part from each other. The three parts can form a single component, i.e. the intermediate insulating part 13 is combined with the inner conductive part 11 and the peripheral adaptation part along its inner and outer edges, respectively. In Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, all three parts of the lid 10 have the same thickness. According to alternative embodiments, the thickness of the parts can be different.
[0060] The materials used for the three parts have higher mechanical strength and more stable chemical properties with respect to the internal materials of the battery. The inner conductive part 11 and the peripheral adaptation part can be formed of the same material as the bottom container 1, preferably metal. Suitable metals include nickel, cobalt and certain types of stainless steel, such as SS 304 and SS 316. Furthermore, the material of the intermediate insulating part 13 is capable of sealingly bonding to the materials used for the inner conductive part 11 and the peripheral adaptation part. The intermediate insulating part 13 can be formed of, for example, glass, certain types of rubber or PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and any derivatives thereof. The lid 10 can be manufactured by known processes for bonding different materials to each other.
[0061] The assembly of a battery according to the illustrated embodiment comprises welding the positive current collector to the inner surface of the base 2 of the cup-shaped bottom container 1 and inserting the electrode assembly 4 into said bottom container. Liquid electrolyte is injected into the bottom container 1 and the negative current collector 8 is welded to the inner conductive portion 11 of the lid 10. The lid 10 is then placed on the side wall 3 of the bottom container 1 and is joined along the outer edge of the lid 10 by a joining technique that achieves a hermetic connection between the lid 10 and the container 1, thereby obtaining Figure 2 the illustrated finished battery. The hermetic connection can be achieved by welding, for example laser welding.
[0062] The battery has a positive contact formed by the base 2 of the bottom container 1 and a negative contact formed by the inner conductive portion 11 of the lid 10. The contacts are electrically isolated from each other by the intermediate insulating portion 13 of the lid 10. The hermetic connection of the edge of the lid with the rim of the side wall 3 is conductive and isolates the interior of the battery 20 from the environment.
[0063] Figure 3 An exploded view of the bottom container 1 and the lid 10 is shown, in which the lid 10 is aligned with the rim 20 of the side wall 3 before the hermetic connection is achieved. The electrode assembly is not shown in this figure. The side wall 3 can have a rectangular or cylindrical profile, i.e. the rim 20 is substantially perpendicular to the lateral surface of the side wall 3. Alternatively, the rim 20 can be slightly convex. The latter profile typically occurs when the bottom container is produced by a deep-drawing process. In the illustrated example, the lid 10 and the side wall 3 have the same thickness, but there can be a slight difference in thickness between the two. In most batteries, these thicknesses are of the order of tenths of a millimeter. For example, the thickness of the side wall 3 can be between 0.1 and 0.3 millimeters, while the thickness of the lid 10 is between 0.1 and 0.5 millimeters. According to a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the side wall 3 is 0.15 millimeters and the thickness of the lid 10 is 0.2 millimeters.
[0064] In Figure 3 , an example of a lid 10 is shown, which comprises 4 separate parts, i.e. the inner conductive portion 11 is surrounded by the intermediate insulating portion 13. The intermediate insulating portion 13 is surrounded by a peripheral adaptation portion, which forms or constitutes the outer peripheral edge portion 32. For examples according to Figure 3 , the peripheral adaptation portion is an inner peripheral adaptation portion 12 and the lid 10 further comprises an outer peripheral adaptation portion 15.
[0065] The inner perimeter adaptation portion 12 and the outer perimeter adaptation portion 15 both comprise an annular or ring-like planar structure. The outer perimeter adaptation portion 15 comprises a through recess 14 which is dimensioned to receive the inner perimeter adaptation portion 12. Thus, the inner edge portion 27 of the outer perimeter adaptation portion 15 matches in size and shape the outer perimeter edge portion 32 of the inner perimeter adaptation portion 12. The outer perimeter edge portion 26 of the outer perimeter adaptation portion 15 is configured to be joined and / or fixed to the sidewall 3 of the bottom vessel 1, for example as shown in Figure 9 and 10 .
[0066] The outer perimeter adaptation portion 15 can be optional. Typically, the inner perimeter adaptation portion 12 can provide a bridge in size and shape to close the gap between the outer edge 28 of the intermediate insulation portion 13 and the inner perimeter or inner surface of the sidewall 3.
[0067] In the cross-sectional view of Figure 4 , the mutual connection between the perimeter adaptation portion, the inner conductive portion 11 and the intermediate insulation portion 13 is shown in detail.
[0068] The inner conductive portion 11 comprises a conductive metallic material, for example stainless steel. The intermediate insulation portion comprises an insulating material, for example glass, a polymeric material or a ceramic material. The intermediate insulation portion can be welded or glued to the outer perimeter or outer circumference of the inner conductive portion 11. The perimeter adaptation portion comprises a through recess 34 to receive and / or join the intermediate insulation portion 13. To this end, the inner edge of the through recess 34 comprises an upright sidewall portion 16, for example a cylindrical upright sidewall portion 16.
[0069] The inner surface of the sidewall portion 16 can closely match in size the outer surface of the intermediate insulation portion 13, for example the outer edge 28 or the outer facing rim. As shown in Figure 4 , the outer side edge or outer perimeter edge portion 26 of the perimeter adaptation portion can be directly connected to the sidewall 3 or can be connected to an outer perimeter adaptation portion 15 as shown in Figure 6 .
[0070] To improve the mechanical fastening of the perimeter adaptation portion, the perimeter adaptation portion can comprise a step 17 at or along the outer perimeter edge portion 32. The step 17 can comprise an L-shaped profile with a radially outwardly extending flange portion comprising a downwardly or inwardly directed abutment face 18. The abutment face 18 can be configured to abut with an outer facing abutment face 19 of the outer perimeter adaptation portion 15. Alternatively, it can engage or abut a corresponding abutment face 29 or step 23 directly provided at the upper end of the sidewall 3, for example as shown in Figure 9 .
[0071] In accordance with Figure 6In the example of Fig. 1, the inner peripheral adaptation portion 12 is inserted into the through recess 14 of the outer peripheral adaptation portion 15, which provides or constitutes the outer peripheral edge portion 26 of the lid 10, which is intended to be fastened to the side wall 3 of the bottom container 1.
[0072] As can be further seen from Figure 6 As can be further seen from
[0073] In some examples, it can be envisaged that the inner conductive portion 11, the intermediate insulating portion 13 and the inner peripheral adaptation portion 12 form or constitute a standardized electrode structure of the lid 10. To accommodate the size of the respective electrode assembly, the outer peripheral adaptation portion 15 can be used specifically. The inner peripheral adaptation portion 12 and the outer peripheral adaptation portion 15 can be made of the same kind of metallic material. They can also comprise different kinds of conductive metallic material.
[0074] In any case, the mutual fastening (e.g. laser welding) between the inner peripheral adaptation portion 12 and the outer peripheral adaptation portion 15 can be much easier than the fastening or welding between the intermediate insulating portion 13 and the inner peripheral adaptation portion 12. To save production and manufacturing costs, it can be particularly beneficial to provide or pre-assemble the inner conductive portion 11, the intermediate insulating portion 13 and the inner peripheral adaptation portion 12, e.g. in a separate assembly environment.
[0075] Here, since the inner peripheral adaptation portion 12 can always have the same size and shape, this facilitates the mutual assembly. Then, the outer peripheral adaptation portion can provide the final size adaptation or shape adaptation to accommodate different sizes of cup-shaped bottom containers of different shapes or different sizes.
[0076] Figure 7 and 8 A battery kit formed by two batteries 30, 30' is shown. The batteries 30, 30' comprise a lid 10 which is non-circular. For example, as shown in Figure 7 With the battery 30 as shown in Figure 8In contrast to the example of the battery 30', the inner conductive portion 11 and the intermediate insulating portion 13 are located in completely different positions. By simply selecting a suitable outer perimeter adaptation portion 15, the positions of the inner conductive portion 11 and the intermediate insulating portion 13 can be easily changed.
[0077] For batteries according to Figure 7 The through recess 14 is provided at or near the outer edge of the lid 10, thus close to the side wall 3. For the outer perimeter adaptation portion 15' as shown in Figure 8 The through recess 14' is located near or in the middle section of the surface of the lid 10. In this way, by simply selecting a suitable outer perimeter adaptation portion from the set of available outer perimeter adaptation portions 15, 15', the positions of the inner conductive portion 11 and the intermediate insulating portion 13 can be universally adapted to the different requirements of batteries of different sizes or different shapes or different configurations.
[0078] The lid diameter D L is configured to match (i.e. as close as possible) the outer diameter D W1 of the side wall 3. As shown in Figure 9 and 10 , the lid 10 is aligned with said outer diameter D W1 and placed on the rim 20, after which the assembly is welded, for example laser welded, thus forming a welded joint 21 along the aligned perimeters of the rim 20 and the lid 10. The welded joint 21 is symbolically represented in the figures as a black semicircle, but in reality it can have a different shape and size, for example depending on the curvature of the rim 20 in the case of a convex rim.
[0079] The matching of the diameters of the lid 10 and the side wall 3 and the alignment should be quite accurate in order for the welding process to effectively seal the interior of the battery. Moreover, displacements of the lid 10 during the welding process can cause additional difficulties in obtaining an effective seal.
[0080] The rim of the side wall 3 and the edge of the lid 10 are shaped to reduce the difficulty of alignment and the errors caused by displacements, thus improving the quality of the sealing joint. In the embodiment of Figure 9 , the rim 20' of the side wall 3 is provided with a tapered portion 22 and a stepped portion 23. The stepped portion 23 is between the outer diameter D W1 and the intermediate diameter D i of the rim 20'. The tapered portion 22 extends between the intermediate diameter D i and the inner diameter D W2 of the rim 20'. The edge of the lid 10 is shaped in a corresponding manner, including a stepped portion 24 along its outer diameter and a tapered portion 25 radially inward from the stepped portion 24. The tapered portions 22 and 25 are complementary, i.e. they have the same angle of inclination, so that the outer taper of the lid 10 fits in the inner taper of the rim 20'.
[0081] The assembly of the lid 10 onto the bottom container 1 now comprises the insertion of the conical portion 25 of the lid 10 into the conical portion 22 of the bottom container until the step portion 24 of the lid stops on the step portion 23 of the bottom container. Thus, at this time, the conical portions 22 and 25 and the step portions 23 and 24 are in contact with each other. Subsequently, a welded connection 21 is formed along the aligned perimeters of the step portions 23 and 24, as shown in Figure 10 .
[0082] Thus, thanks to the self-alignment properties of the complementary conical portions 22 and 25, this configuration enables to improve the alignment of the lid 10 with the rim 20' of the side wall 3. The insertion of one conical portion into the other also enables a preliminary mechanical stable connection between the lid 10 and the side wall 3, thus making it easier to maintain the alignment during the welding process. The diameter D L of the lid 10 is preferably still matching the outer diameter D W1 of the side wall 3, but in this case, since the correct alignment is now ensured, a slight mismatch between these diameters can be allowed without degrading the quality of the welded connection.
[0083] Technical terms
[0084] 1 bottom container
[0085] 2 base
[0086] 3 side wall
[0087] 4 electrode assembly
[0088] 5 positive electrode
[0089] 6 negative electrode
[0090] 7 separator
[0091] 8 negative current collector
[0092] 10 lid
[0093] 11 inner conductive portion
[0094] 12 inner peripheral adaptation portion
[0095] 13 intermediate insulating portion
[0096] 14 through recess
[0097] 15 outer peripheral adaptation portion
[0098] 16 side wall portion
[0099] 17 step portion
[0100] 18 abutment face
[0101] 19 outer abutment surface
[0102] 20 edge
[0103] 21 welded connection
[0104] 22 tapered portion
[0105] 23 stepped portion
[0106] 24 stepped portion
[0107] 25 tapered portion
[0108] 26 outer peripheral edge portion
[0109] 27 inner edge portion
[0110] 28 outer edge
[0111] 29 abutment surface
[0112] 30 battery
[0113] 32 outer peripheral edge portion
[0114] 34 through recess
[0115] 35 inner surface
[0116] 36 inner surface
Claims
1. A battery (30), the battery (30) comprising: a cup-shaped bottom container (1) for housing an electrode assembly (4), the bottom container (1) comprising a base (2) and an upstanding side wall (3) along an outer periphery of the base (2), and a lid (10), characterized in that the lid (10) comprises: - an inner electrically conductive portion (11), - an intermediate insulating portion (13) surrounding the inner electrically conductive portion (11), and - a peripheral adaptation portion forming or constituting an outer peripheral edge portion of the lid (10) and being fixable to the side wall (3) of the bottom container (1) via the outer peripheral edge portion, wherein the peripheral adaptation portion is dimensioned, shaped and / or configured to bridge a gap between an outer edge (28) of the intermediate insulating portion (13) and an inner periphery of the side wall (3).
2. The battery (30) of claim 1, wherein, The peripheral adaptation portion comprises a through recess dimensioned and shaped to match the outer edge (28) of the intermediate insulating portion (13).
3. The battery (30) of claim 2, wherein, The through recess comprises an upstanding side wall portion (16) protruding from a plane of the peripheral adaptation portion.
4. The battery (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The peripheral adaptation portion has a material thickness which is less than a material thickness of at least one of the inner electrically conductive portion (11) and the intermediate insulating portion (13).
5. The battery (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The peripheral adaptation portion comprises an inner surface from which at least one of the inner electrically conductive portion (11) and the intermediate insulating portion (13) protrudes inwardly.
6. The battery (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The outer peripheral edge portion of the peripheral adaptation portion is non-circular.
7. The battery (30) of claim 1, wherein, The peripheral adaptation portion comprises: an inner peripheral adaptation portion (12) fixed to an outer periphery of the intermediate insulating portion (13), and an outer peripheral adaptation portion (15) fixed to an outer peripheral edge portion (32) of the inner peripheral adaptation portion (12), the outer peripheral adaptation portion (15) forming or constituting an outer peripheral edge portion (26) of the lid (10).
8. The battery (30) of claim 7, characterized in that At least one of the inner peripheral adaptation portion (12) and the outer peripheral adaptation portion (15) comprises a step portion at or along an outer peripheral edge portion thereof.
9. The battery (30) of claim 8, characterized in that The step portion has an L-shaped cross-section, the step portion having an abutment face to abut against a face-facing outer abutment face of at least one of the outer peripheral adaptation portion (15) and the side wall (3), respectively.
10. The battery (30) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that The outer peripheral edge portion (32) of the inner peripheral adaptation portion (12) is dimensioned and shaped to match an inner edge portion (27) of the outer peripheral adaptation portion (15), the inner peripheral adaptation portion (12) being fixed to the outer peripheral adaptation portion (15) via the outer peripheral edge portion (32) of the inner peripheral adaptation portion (12) and the inner edge portion (27) of the outer peripheral adaptation portion (15) mutually engaging.
11. A battery kit, characterized in that The battery kit comprises a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 10 as first battery and a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 10 as second battery, wherein: The first battery comprises: - a first bottom container having a first side wall, and - a first lid connected to the first side wall and closing the first bottom container, The second battery comprises: - a second bottom container having a second side wall, the second side wall being different in size or shape from the first side wall, and - a second lid connected to the second side wall and closing the second bottom container.
12. The battery pack of claim 11, wherein, The first lid comprises a first inner conductive part, the second lid comprises a second inner conductive part, the first inner conductive part and the second inner conductive part having the same shape and / or size.
13. The battery pack of claim 11 or 12, wherein, The first lid comprises a first intermediate insulating part, the second lid comprises a second intermediate insulating part, the first intermediate insulating part and the second intermediate insulating part having the same shape and / or size.
14. The battery pack of claim 11 or 12, wherein, The first lid comprises a first peripheral adaptation part, the second lid comprises a second peripheral adaptation part, the first peripheral adaptation part being different in size and / or shape from the second peripheral adaptation part.