Apparatus for injecting electrolyte into secondary battery

Abstract

In the device for injecting the electrolyte into the secondary battery, the device for injecting the electrolyte according to the utility model can comprise a chamber for accommodating the secondary battery; an injection part in which an electrolyte is stored and which injects the electrolyte into the secondary battery by a pressure difference between the inside of the injection part and the inside of the chamber; and a compression part connected to the injection part and compressing the inside of the injection part so as to inject the electrolyte remaining in the injection part into the secondary battery.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0104378, filed on August 19, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This utility model relates to a device for injecting electrolyte into the battery casing of a secondary battery. Background Technology

[0004] Typically, rechargeable batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and lithium-ion polymer batteries. These rechargeable batteries are suitable for use not only in small products such as digital cameras, P-DVD players, MP3 players, mobile phones, PDAs, portable gaming devices, power tools, and electric bicycles, but also in large products requiring high output power, such as electric or hybrid vehicles, energy storage systems for storing surplus electricity or new renewable energy sources, and backup energy storage systems.

[0005] To manufacture these secondary batteries, an electrode active material slurry is coated onto the positive and negative current collectors to create the positive and negative electrodes. The positive and negative electrodes are then stacked on both sides of a separator to form an electrode assembly with a predetermined shape. The electrode assembly is then housed in a battery casing, and the battery casing is sealed after electrolyte injection.

[0006] With the battery casing housed in a vacuum chamber, the electrolyte is injected into the battery casing by means of the internal pressure difference between the injection device and the vacuum chamber. For example, the interior of the vacuum chamber housing the battery casing is kept under vacuum, and a valve for regulating the opening or closing of the vacuum chamber and the injection device storing the electrolyte is opened, so that the electrolyte stored in the injection device is injected into the battery casing.

[0007] However, during electrolyte injection, there is a frequent problem of electrolyte residue remaining in the injection device and channels. For example, Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the state of the stored electrolyte E in the injection device D of the comparative example. Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the state after electrolyte E has been discharged from the injection device D according to the comparative example. (e.g.) Figure 2 As shown, even if electrolyte E is injected through the pressure difference between the inside of the chamber and the inside of the injection device D, electrolyte E may remain in the injection device D according to the comparative example.

[0008] Electrolyte E remaining in the injection device D and the passage P can cause problems of corrosion of the injection device D and the passage P or deterioration of the efficiency of injection of the electrolyte E. Therefore, there is a need for a device and a method for injecting an electrolyte such that no electrolyte remains. SUMMARY

[0009] TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0010] An object of the present application to solve the above problem is to provide a device for injecting an electrolyte into a secondary battery, which additionally injects electrolyte remaining in an injection portion.

[0011] TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0012] The device for injecting an electrolyte according to the present application can include a chamber in which a secondary battery is accommodated, an injection portion in which an electrolyte is stored and injecting the electrolyte into the secondary battery by a pressure difference between an inside of the injection portion and an inside of the chamber, and a compression portion connected with the injection portion and compressing the inside of the injection portion so as to inject the electrolyte remaining in the injection portion into the secondary battery.

[0013] The device for injecting an electrolyte can further include an injection passage which communicates the injection portion and the secondary battery with each other and adjusts opening or closing.

[0014] The injection passage can be provided on one surface of the injection portion, and the compression portion can be connected with the other surface of the injection portion.

[0015] One surface of the injection portion, on which the injection passage is provided, can include an inclined surface which is inclined.

[0016] One surface of the injection portion, on which the injection passage is provided, can have an inner diameter which is gradually reduced toward the injection passage.

[0017] The device for injecting an electrolyte according to the present application can include a storage portion which stores an electrolyte, and a pump which causes the electrolyte in the storage portion to flow into the injection portion.

[0018] The pump can supply the electrolyte to the injection portion such that a pneumatic space is defined in the injection portion, and the pneumatic space can be defined between the electrolyte and the compression portion.

[0019] The compression portion can squeeze the pneumatic space so as to cause the electrolyte remaining in the injection portion to flow into the secondary battery.

[0020] ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT

[0021] According to the preferred embodiment of the present application, the electrolyte remaining in the injection part can be additionally injected into the secondary battery, thereby preventing problems of injection efficiency deterioration and injection device corrosion due to the remaining electrolyte.

[0022] Further, effects that can be easily predicted by those skilled in the art according to the configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present application can be included. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] The following drawings attached to the present specification illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present application, and serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present application together with the detailed description of the present application. The present application should not be construed as being limited to the drawings.

[0024] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the electrolyte is stored in the injection device according to the comparative example.

[0025] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a state after the electrolyte is discharged from the injection device according to the comparative example.

[0026] Figure 3 is a schematic view of a device for injecting an electrolyte according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0027] Figure 4 is a schematic view of a state in which the compression part compresses the inside of the injection part according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing the injection part and the compression part according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0029] Figure 6 is a block diagram of a method for injecting an electrolyte according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art to which the present application pertains can easily practice the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0031] In order to clearly describe the present application, parts irrelevant to the description will be excluded, or detailed descriptions of related known technologies that can unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present application will be omitted. Throughout the specification, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

[0032] Also, the terms or words used in the present specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to the common or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted to best suit the concept of the present application based on the principle that an inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe and explain his or her application.

[0033] Figure 3 is a schematic view of an electrolyte injecting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0034] Referring to Figure 3 The electrolyte injecting device 1 can inject an electrolyte into a secondary battery B. For example, the secondary battery B can include a battery case and an electrode assembly accommodated in the battery case, and the electrolyte can be injected into the battery case to activate the electrode assembly. Specifically, in a state in which the electrolyte injecting device 1 is in communication with the inside of the battery case, the electrolyte stored in the electrolyte injecting device 1 can flow into the battery case by a pressure difference between the inside of the electrolyte injecting device 1 and the inside of the battery case.

[0035] The electrolyte injecting device 1 can also inject the electrolyte remaining in the inside thereof into the secondary battery B additionally after injecting the electrolyte by the pressure difference. For example, the electrolyte injecting device 1 can inject the electrolyte and then compress the inside thereof so as to inject the electrolyte remaining in the inside into the secondary battery B additionally.

[0036] The electrolyte injecting device 1 can include a chamber 10, an injection portion 13, and a compression portion 14. Also, the electrolyte injecting device 1 can further include an injection passage 15.

[0037] The chamber 10 can define an accommodation space therein and accommodate the secondary battery B therein. Also, the chamber 10 can be connected with a vacuum pump to be brought into a vacuum state and be maintained in the vacuum state by the vacuum pump. That is, for an injection operation of the injection portion 13 described later, the chamber 10 can function to bring the inside thereof into the vacuum state so that the electrolyte is injected into the secondary battery B.

[0038] The injection portion 13 can be in communication with the secondary battery B and inject the electrolyte into the secondary battery B. In other words, the injection portion 13 can store the electrolyte therein and inject the electrolyte into the secondary battery B by a pressure difference between the inside of the injection portion 13 and the inside of the chamber 10.

[0039] For example, the inside of the injection portion 13 and the inside of the secondary battery B can be communicated with each other through the injection passage 15. Specifically, the injection passage 15 can regulate opening or closing in a state of communicating the inside of the injection portion 13 and the inside of the secondary battery B with each other. In other words, the injection passage 15 can include a switching valve to regulate opening or closing of the passage, such that when the inside of the chamber 10 reaches a vacuum state and is maintained in the vacuum state, the injection passage 15 functions to open the passage, allowing the electrolyte in the injection portion 13 to flow into the secondary battery B.

[0040] Specifically, the device 1 for injecting the electrolyte can further include a storage portion 11 to store the electrolyte and a pump 12 to allow the electrolyte in the storage portion 11 to flow into the injection portion 13. In this case, the pump 12 can include a bellows pump. In other words, the pump 12 can suck fluid by generating internal negative pressure by a retracted plunger member to open an inlet valve, and discharge the fluid to the outside by advancing the plunger to open an outlet valve. However, the type of the pump 12 is not limited thereto.

[0041] The pump 12 can supply the electrolyte to the injection portion 13 by allowing the electrolyte stored in the storage portion 11 to flow into the injection portion 13. When the electrolyte is supplied to the inside of the injection portion 13, a pneumatic space 130 can be defined in the injection portion 13. Here, the pneumatic space 130 can be defined between the electrolyte and the compression portion 14.

[0042] Thereafter, as described above, the electrolyte can flow from the inside of the injection portion 13 into the secondary battery B through a pressure difference between the inside of the injection portion 13 and the inside of the chamber 10, and the pressure between the inside of the injection portion 13 and the inside of the chamber 10 can be in a balanced state.

[0043] Figure 4 is a schematic view of a state in which the compression portion 14 according to the embodiment of the present application compresses the inside of the injection portion 13.

[0044] Referring to Figure 4 , the compression portion 14 can compress the inside of the injection portion 13 in order to inject the electrolyte remaining in the injection portion 13 into the secondary battery B. For example, the compression portion 14 can be connected to one side of the injection portion 13 in order to compress the inside space of the injection portion 13. In other words, after the electrolyte in the injection portion 13 is injected into the secondary battery B through a pressure difference between the chamber 10 and the injection portion 13, the compression portion 14 can push the electrolyte remaining in the injection portion 13 and inject the electrolyte into the secondary battery B through a separate compression operation.

[0045] The compression part 14 can pressurize the pneumatic space 130 to flow the electrolyte remaining in the injection part 13 into the secondary battery B. More specifically, in a state in which the injection passage 15 is provided on one surface of the injection part 13 and the compression part 14 is connected with the other surface of the injection part 13, the compression part 14 can perform a compression operation of descending toward the one surface of the injection part 13. That is, the compression part 14 can pressurize the upper side of the pneumatic space 130 to compress the inside of the injection part 13 so that the electrolyte remaining in the injection part 13 is pushed by the pneumatic space 130 to flow along the injection passage 15 provided on the lower side of the injection part 13 and be discharged.

[0046] Further, Figure 5 FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the injection part and the compression part according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0047] Referring to Figure 5 , the one surface of the injection part 13 provided with the injection passage 15 can include an inclined inclined surface 131. For example, the one surface of the injection part 13 provided with the injection passage 15 can have an inner diameter that gradually decreases toward the injection passage 15. According to this structure, even when the electrolyte remains in the injection part 13, the electrolyte can flow along the inclined surface 131 due to gravity to be injected into the secondary battery B, and the electrolyte can be more effectively injected into the secondary battery B due to the compression operation of the compression part 14.

[0048] As a result, the electrolyte can be injected into the secondary battery B by utilizing the pressure difference between the chamber 10 and the injection part 13, and then the electrolyte remaining in the injection part 13 can be additionally injected by the compression operation of the compression part, so that the device 1 for injecting the electrolyte improves the efficiency of the electrolyte injection process and prevents a phenomenon in which the injection part 13 and the injection passage 15 are corroded due to the remaining electrolyte.

[0049] Hereinafter, a method for injecting an electrolyte according to another embodiment of the present application will be described. The detailed description of the same content as the above will be omitted.

[0050] Figure 6 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a method for injecting an electrolyte according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0051] Referring to Figure 6 , the electrolyte can be injected into the secondary battery B by the method for injecting the electrolyte according to the embodiment of the present application. Further, the electrolyte remaining in the injection part 13 can be additionally injected into the secondary battery B by the compression part 14.

[0052] The method for injecting the electrolyte can include a vacuum process (S10), a supply process (S20), an injection process (S30), and an additional injection process (S40).

[0053] In the vacuum process (S10), the secondary battery B can be accommodated in the chamber 10, and the inside of the chamber 10 can be maintained in a vacuum state. That is, the chamber 10 can be connected with a vacuum pump (not shown) to make the inside of the chamber 10 a vacuum state and maintain the vacuum state by the vacuum pump (not shown).

[0054] In the supply process (S20), the electrolyte stored in the storage part 11 can be supplied to the injection part 13. For example, the pump 12 can include a peristaltic pump to make the electrolyte in the storage part 11 flow into the injection part 13.

[0055] The supply process (S20) can include a forming process (S21) and a rising process (S22).

[0056] In the forming process (S21), when the electrolyte is supplied to the injection part 13, the pneumatic space 130 can be defined between the electrolyte and the injection part 13.

[0057] In the rising process (S22), when the pneumatic space 130 is defined in the injection part 13, the compression part 14 can be pushed to rise. Thereafter, the rising compression part 14 can compress the pneumatic space 130 by a lowering operation.

[0058] In the injection process (S30), the electrolyte can be injected into the secondary battery B by a pressure difference between the inside of the chamber 10 in a vacuum state and the inside of the injection part 13 storing the electrolyte. For example, the inside of the injection part 13 and the inside of the secondary battery B can be communicated with each other through the injection passage 15. Specifically, the injection passage 15 can adjust opening or closing in a state of communicating the inside of the injection part 13 and the inside of the secondary battery B with each other. In other words, the injection passage 15 can include a switching valve to adjust opening or closing of the passage, so that when the inside of the chamber 10 reaches a vacuum state and is maintained in the vacuum state, the injection passage 15 functions to open the passage to make the electrolyte in the injection part 13 flow into the secondary battery B.

[0059] In the additional injection process (S40), the compression part 14 connected with the injection part 13 can compress the inside of the injection part 13 in order to inject the electrolyte into the secondary battery B. For example, the compression part 14 can be connected with one side of the injection part 13 in order to compress the inside space of the injection part 13. In other words, after the electrolyte in the injection part 13 is injected into the secondary battery B by the pressure difference between the chamber 10 and the injection part 13, the compression part 14 can push the electrolyte remaining in the injection part 13 and inject the electrolyte into the secondary battery B by a separate compression operation. The compression part 14 can squeeze the pneumatic space 130 to make the electrolyte remaining in the injection part 13 flow into the secondary battery B.

[0060] The description of the present application is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive, and those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims.

[0061] Therefore, the embodiments described herein are a description of the technical spirit of the present application, not a limitation. The scope of the technical spirit of the present application is not limited by the embodiments.

[0062] In addition, the scope of protection of the present application should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all technical concepts within the equivalent scope of the present application should be interpreted as within the scope of the present application.

[0063] [Reference numeral explanation]

[0064] 1: device for injecting electrolyte B: secondary battery 10: chamber

[0065] 11: storage part 12: pump

[0066] 13: injection part 14: compression part

[0067] 15: injection passage 130: pneumatic space

[0068] 131: inclined surface S10: vacuum process

[0069] S20: supply process S21: formation process

[0070] S22: rising process S30: injection process

[0071] S40: additional injection process.

Claims

1. An apparatus for injecting an electrolyte into a secondary battery, characterized by comprising: The device includes: a chamber configured to accommodate a secondary battery therein; an injection portion configured to store an electrolyte therein and inject the electrolyte into the secondary battery through a pressure difference between an inside of the injection portion and an inside of the chamber; and a compression portion connected with the injection portion and configured to compress the inside of the injection portion so as to inject the electrolyte remaining in the injection portion into the secondary battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, further includes an injection passage configured to communicate the injection portion and the secondary battery with each other and adjust opening or closing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, The injection passage is provided on one surface of the injection portion, and the compression portion is connected with another surface of the injection portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, The one surface of the injection portion provided with the injection passage includes an inclined surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein, The one surface of the injection portion provided with the injection passage has an inner diameter that gradually decreases toward the injection passage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, further includes: a storage portion configured to store an electrolyte; and a pump configured to flow the electrolyte in the storage portion into the injection portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein, The pump supplies the electrolyte to the injection portion so that a pneumatic space is defined in the injection portion, wherein the pneumatic space is defined between the electrolyte and the compression portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein, The compression portion is configured to squeeze the pneumatic space so as to flow the electrolyte remaining in the injection portion into the secondary battery.

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