Battery

Abstract

Battery (1) with: a battery housing (10) which has the following: a housing body component (11) having an opening (11H) and an opening end section (11f) that defines this opening (11H); and a housing cover component (12) having a through hole (12H) formed through the housing cover component (12) and a circumferential edge section (12r) attached to the opening end section (11f) of the housing body component (11) to seal the opening (11H); a rivet (60) which engages in the through hole (12H), wherein the rivet (60) has the following features: a shaft section (63) that is inserted into the through hole (12H); and an outer flange (52) that is continuous to the shaft section (63) on an outer surface of the battery housing (10), wherein a diameter of the outer flange (52) is larger than the shaft section (63); and a seal (70) which is in a ring shape and made of thermoplastic resin or rubber-elastic material, wherein the seal (70) is arranged between a circumferential outer surface (13c) of an outer surface (13) of the housing cover component (12), which faces the outside of the battery housing (10), and the outer flange (52) of the rivet (60), and is in close contact with these to hermetically seal the through-hole (12H), wherein the circumferential outer surface (13c) is arranged around a circumferential edge of the through-hole (12H), characterized by the fact that the housing cover component (12) is designed such that the circumferential outer surface (13c) is positioned further outwards in an axially outward direction (HO) that points outwards along an axis line (AX) of the through hole (12H) than the circumferential edge section (12r) and the opening end section (11f), while the circumferential edge section (12r) of the housing cover component (12) is attached to the opening end section (11f) of the housing body component (11).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery according to the preamble of claim 1. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A battery is known that includes a battery housing with a through-hole, such as a liquid injection port (liquid filler port), for injecting (filling) an electrolyte, and that this through-hole in the battery housing is hermetically sealed. Accordingly, batteries have been proposed that use various sealing structures to seal such a through-hole. For example, JP 2003-229118 A discloses a sealed battery designed such that a sealing material is arranged between an engagement flange of a sealing component and a circumferential outer surface of a liquid injection port (a through-hole), in which a blind rivet is used as the sealing component.

[0003] However, in the sealed battery disclosed in JP 2003-229118 A, a cover component of the battery housing has a stepped, cup-like shape with a formed shoulder and a large-diameter cylindrical extension around a base. The base, in which the liquid injection port is formed, is designed to be lower than its surrounding part. Thus, the condition of the sealing material held between an engagement flange of the blind rivet and the outer surface around the liquid injection port cannot be adequately observed from the outside of the battery housing (in a lateral direction).Even if the shape of the battery housing's cover component is flat, and the opening in the housing body through the cover component is closed by welding or similar means, the adjoining sections of the housing body and the cover component are bulged (curved), and therefore the condition of the sealing material still cannot be easily and adequately perceived (monitored) from the outside of the battery housing (in the lateral direction). This results in a problem: even if the blind rivet is not sufficiently or excessively tightened, this condition cannot be assessed from the outside of the battery housing.

[0004] US 2011 / 0 072 648 A1 discloses a generic battery according to the preamble of claim 1, comprising a battery casing having: a casing body component having an opening and an opening end section defining that opening; and a casing lid component having a through-hole formed through the casing lid component and a circumferential rim section attached to the opening end section of the casing body component to seal the opening; a rivet engaging in the through-hole, the rivet comprising: a shaft section inserted into the through-hole; and an outer flange continuous to the shaft section on an outer surface of the battery casing, the diameter of the outer flange being larger than the shaft section;and a seal in a ring shape and made of thermoplastic resin or rubber-elastic material, wherein the seal is arranged between a circumferential outer surface of an outer surface of the housing cover component, which faces the outside of the battery housing, and the outer flange of the rivet, and is in close contact with these to hermetically seal the through-hole, wherein the circumferential outer surface is arranged around a circumferential edge of the through-hole.

[0005] US 3,427,205 A discloses a battery with a battery casing comprising: a casing body component having an opening and an opening end section defining that opening; and a casing lid component having a through-hole formed through the casing lid component and a circumferential rim section attached to the opening end section of the casing body component to seal the opening; a rivet engaging in the through-hole, the rivet comprising: a shaft section inserted into the through-hole; and an outer flange continuous to the shaft section on an outer surface of the battery casing, the diameter of the outer flange being larger than the shaft section;and a seal manufactured in a ring shape, wherein the seal is arranged between a circumferential outer surface of an outer surface of the housing cover component, which faces the outside of the battery housing, and the outer flange of the rivet, and is in close contact with these to hermetically seal the through-hole, wherein the circumferential outer surface is arranged around a circumferential edge of the through-hole.

[0006] DE 37 83 853 T2 discloses a further battery with a battery housing comprising: a housing body component having an opening and an opening end section defining that opening; and a housing cover component having a through-hole formed through the housing cover component and a circumferential edge section attached to the opening end section of the housing body component to seal the opening; a seal manufactured in an annular form; and a connecting pin inserted into the through-hole over the seal, the connecting pin having a shaft section. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The object of the present invention is to improve a battery according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that the tightness of the battery can be easily checked.

[0008] The object of the present invention is achieved by a battery having the features of claim 1.

[0009] Advantageous further developments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0010] It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a battery in which the condition of a seal that seals a through-hole of a battery housing can be reliably determined from the outside of the battery housing.

[0011] This battery has the through-hole in the housing cover component and the seal, which is in close contact with and between the circumferential outer surface of the housing cover component, which faces the outside of the battery housing and is arranged around the circumferential edge of the through-hole, and the outer flange of the rivet, which engages in the through-hole to hermetically seal the through-hole.In this battery, the housing cover component is designed such that the outer circumferential surface is positioned further outwards in the axially outward direction than the circumferential edge section of the housing cover component and the opening end section of the housing body component, while the circumferential edge section of the battery designed in this way allows the condition of the seal that seals the through-hole to be detected from the outside of the battery housing without the detection being blocked or hindered by the circumferential edge section of the housing cover component and the opening end section of the housing body component.

[0012] It should be noted that the rivet used for sealing also includes the blind rivet disclosed in patent document 1. The sealing material can include a thermoplastic resin such as PFA (tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer) and a rubber-elastic material such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber).

[0013] Furthermore, in the aforementioned battery, it is preferred that, assuming that a first position is a position where an outer-surface edge, which is an edge contacting the outer circumferential surface of an outer circumferential surface of the seal arranged between the outer circumferential surface and the outer flange, is visually identifiable when the battery housing is viewed from a radial outside of the axis line further (outward) than the battery housing in the direction of a radial inside of the axis line, and assuming that a second position is a position where an outer-flange-side edge, which is an edge in contact with the outer flange of the outer circumferential surface of the seal arranged between the outer circumferential surface and the outer flange, is visually identifiable,If the battery housing is considered from a position on the radial outside of the axis line further (outside) than the battery housing and in the same angular position in a circumferential direction of the axis line as the first position and further out in the axially outward direction than the first position in the direction of the radial inside of the axis line, the housing body component and the housing cover component of the battery housing and the outer flange of the rivet are designed such that the first position and the second position are present.

[0014] In this battery, the housing body component and the housing cover component of the battery housing, as well as the outer flange of the rivet, are designed such that the outer surface edge of the seal can be visually identified when the battery housing is viewed from the first position, which is located further along the radial outside of the axis line than the battery housing, in the direction of the radial inside of the axis line. Furthermore, they are designed such that the outer flange edge of the seal can be visually identified when the battery housing is viewed from the second position, which is located further along the radial outside of the axis line than the battery housing and at the same angular position as the first position in the circumferential direction of the axis line, and further outward in the axially outward direction than the first position.

[0015] The battery designed in this way allows for suitable detection of the axial positions of the outer flange-side edge and the outer surface-side edge, or the positional ratio between them, from the outside of the battery housing. This detection is unaffected, for example, by the presence of the opening end section of the housing body component and any raised or domed molten section in the attachment sections of the housing body component and the housing cover component. Accordingly, the thickness of the seal located between the circumferential outer surface of the housing cover component and the outer flange of the rivet—i.e., the compressed state of the seal—can be easily identified. Thus, a battery can be obtained that allows for simple verification of the adequacy of the seal using the rivet and the seal.

[0016] Furthermore, the housing body component and the housing cover component, which allow visual identification of the outer surface edge from the first position and the outer flange edge from the second position, are designed, for example, such that the position of a section positioned further outside than the circumferential outer surface, the section including the circumferential edge section of the housing cover component, and the position of the opening end section of the housing body component are defined in the axial direction in a direction opposite to (an axially inward direction) the axially outward direction of the circumferential outer surface in at least one arbitrary angular position in the circumferential direction of the axis line of the through hole. Furthermore, in addition to the foregoing, the battery is designed such that other components, such as, for example,a connecting component is not installed in a central section of the housing cover component, which is arranged between the outer circumferential surface and the outer circumferential edge section in the angular position in the aforementioned circumferential direction, or it is designed such that, even when the components are installed, the positions of the other components are positioned further inwards in the axial direction than the outer circumferential surface of the housing cover component.

[0017] For example, the outer flange of the rivet can be designed such that it has the same diameter as the outer flange-side edge of the gasket over its entire circumference. Alternatively, the outer flange of the rivet can be designed to have a section that extends further outwards on the radial outer side than the outer flange-side edge of the gasket over all or part of the circumference, but this section is positioned further outwards in any axially outward direction than the outer flange-side edge.

[0018] Furthermore, preferably in the above battery, the circumferential outer surface of the housing cover component is a flat surface perpendicular to the axis line, a flange inner surface of the outer flange of the rivet, which faces the circumferential outer surface, has a contact section that is in contact with the seal, and at least the contact section of the flange inner surface is a flat surface perpendicular to the axis line.

[0019] Furthermore, in the above battery, the outer flange of the rivet is preferably designed to have a section on a radial outer side that is located further outwards than the outer flange-side edge of the seal, so that the section is positioned further outwards in the axially outward direction than the outer flange-side edge over an entire circumference. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a lithium-ion secondary battery in a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a sealing structure of a through hole from a direction that is relative to Fig. 1 is rotated by 90° around an axis of the through hole; Fig. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the details of the sealing structure of the through-hole, which is sealed by a deformed blind rivet, in the first embodiment; Fig. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which an undeformed blind rivet is inserted into the through hole in the first embodiment; Fig. Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the undeformed blind rivet has not yet been inserted into the through hole in the first embodiment; Fig. Figure 6 is an explanatory view showing a method for measuring the thickness of a seal using a laser distance sensor in the first embodiment; Fig. 7 is a distance profile obtained using the laser distance sensor in the first embodiment; Fig. Figure 8 is an explanatory view showing a hybrid vehicle in a second embodiment; and Fig. Figure 9 is an explanatory view showing a rotary hammer in a third embodiment. FORMS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION (First embodiment)

[0020] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a lithium-ion secondary battery (a sealed battery) 1 (hereinafter also referred to simply as a battery 1) in a first embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a sealing structure of a through hole 12H from a direction relative to Fig. 1 is rotated by 90° around an axis AX of the through hole 12H. Fig. Figure 3 shows the details of the sealing structure of the through hole 12H, which is sealed by a deformed blind rivet 60. In the present description, the upper side is shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is designated as the upper side UW of battery 1 and the lower side is designated as the lower side DW of battery 1. In Fig. 2, if a direction for viewing a battery 10 from an inside to an outside in the axial direction along the axis line AX of the through hole 12H is designated as an axially outwardly directed direction HO, the axially outwardly directed direction HO is the same direction as the upper side UW of the battery 1 in the first embodiment.

[0021] This battery 1 is a rectangular battery that can be mounted in a vehicle, such as a hybrid car, an electric car, or in a battery-powered assembly device, such as a rotary hammer. This battery 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped battery housing 10, a wound electrode body 20 which is received in this battery housing 10, a positive terminal 40 and a negative terminal 41 which are supported in the battery housing 10, and other components (see Fig. 1) on. The battery housing 10 also contains a non-aqueous electrolyte 17.

[0022] The battery housing 10 is made of metal (aluminum in the first embodiment). This battery housing 10 comprises a housing body component 11 with a rectangular, parallelepiped, box-like shape with a closed bottom, an opening only on the upper side UW, and a housing cover component 12, which is welded to this housing body component 11 to close an opening 11H of the housing body component 11. The housing body component 11 has an opening end section 11f that defines the opening 11H. The opening 11H is closed such that a circumferential edge section 12r of the housing cover component 12 is connected to the opening end section 11f of the housing body component 11 by an attachment section (weld section) 11J (see Fig. 2) is welded. The housing cover component 12 has an outer surface 13 facing the outside of the battery housing 10 and an inner surface 14 facing the inside of the battery housing 10.

[0023] The housing cover component 12 is provided with a safety valve 15, which is destroyed when the internal pressure of the battery housing 10 reaches a predetermined pressure. Furthermore, this housing cover component 12 has a through-hole 12H (a liquid injection port, liquid filling port). This housing cover component 12 is hermetically sealed by a deformed blind rivet 60 and a gasket 70, as described below.Assuming that a section of the outer surface 13 of the housing cover component 12, which is arranged around the circumferential edge of the through-hole 12H, is designated as a circumferential outer surface 13c, the housing cover component 12 is designed such that the circumferential outer surface 13c is positioned further outwards in the axially outward direction HO than a circumferential edge section 12r of the housing cover component 12 and the opening end section 11f, while the circumferential edge section 12r is attached to the opening end section 11f of the housing body component 11 (see . Fig. 2) In the first embodiment, in particular the outer circumferential surface 13c, in which the through hole 12H is formed, projects upwards in a circular cylindrical shape from the circumferential edge section 12r of the housing cover component 12 in the direction of the axially outward direction HO (from the upper side UW of the battery 1).

[0024] The positive terminal 40 and the negative terminal 41, each having an extended terminal component 42 and a screw 43, are fixed to the housing cover component 12 by insulating components 44 made of resin (see Fig. 1) In the battery housing 10, the positive terminal 40 is connected to a positive electrode plate 21 (its positive current collection section 21m) of the electrode body 20, while the negative terminal 41 is connected to a negative electrode plate 31 (its negative current collection section 31m) of the electrode body 20.

[0025] The electrode body 20 is described below. This electrode body 20 is packed in an insulating film sheath 16, which is formed from an insulating film in a sheath shape that is open only at the top UW, and this packed electrode body 20 is laterally mounted in the battery housing 10. This electrode body 20 is formed from a strip-shaped positive electrode plate 21 and a strip-shaped negative electrode plate 31, which are wound successively in a laminated relationship by interposition of strip-shaped separators 34 and pressed together in a flattened shape.

[0026] The positive electrode plate 21 has a positive current-collecting foil 22, which is made of a strip-shaped aluminum foil as a core component. The main surfaces of this positive current-collecting foil 22 are provided with strip-shaped positive active material layers 23 in regions that are partially arranged in a width direction and extend in a length direction of the foil 22. Each of the positive active material layers 23 is made of a positive active material, a conductive material, and a binder. In the positive current-collecting foil 22, an end section on one side in the width direction forms the positive current-collecting section 21m, in which the positive active material layers 23 are not present in the thickness direction of the foil 22. This positive current-collecting section 21m is connected to the positive terminal 40 as described above.

[0027] The negative electrode plate 31 comprises a negative current collector plate 23, which is made of a strip of copper foil as a core component. The main surfaces of this negative current collector plate 23 are provided with strip-shaped negative active material layers 33 in regions that are partially arranged in a width direction and extend in a length direction of the plate 32. Each of the negative active material layers 23 is made of a negative active material, conductive material, and binder material. In the negative current collector plate 32, an end section on one side in the width direction forms the negative current collector section 31m, in which the negative active material layers 33 are not present in the thickness direction of the plate 32. This negative current collector section 31m is connected to the negative terminal 41 as described above.

[0028] Furthermore, the separators are 34 porous films made of resin, in particular polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), and formed in a strip shape.

[0029] The sealing structure of the through-hole 12H (the liquid injection port) is explained below. As described above, the through-hole 12H (the liquid injection port, liquid filler port) is formed in the housing cover component 12. This through-hole 12H is hermetically sealed by the deformed blind rivet 60 (hereinafter referred to simply as a rivet 60) and the seal 70. The deformed blind rivet 60 has a deformed rivet body 61, which has a nearly cylindrical shape with a closed bottom, and a broken or destroyed shaft portion 65 (a large-diameter section 56 and a core rod section 57 of an undeformed blind rivet 50, which is explained below) which has an inverted T-shape in cross-section and is surrounded by the deformed rivet body 61 (see Figure 1). Fig. 3) The deformed rivet body 61 has a shaft section 63, an outer flange 52, and a deformed riveting section 64. In the deformed rivet body 61, the shaft section 63 has a cylindrical shape and is inserted into the through-hole 12H. Referring to the deformed blind rivet 60, the deformed rivet body 61, the undeformed blind rivet 50, and an undeformed rivet body 61 described above, the direction from the outer flange 50 to the shaft section 63 is designated as a distal end HS, and the opposite direction is designated as a proximal end HK (the same applies to the following figures). The outer flange 52 of the deformed rivet body 61 is located at the proximal end HK (the upper side UW of the battery 1, the axially outward direction HO in the Fig. 3) of the shaft section 63 and has a larger diameter than the shaft section 63 in order to rivet the circumferential outer surface 13c with the rivet 70. The circumferential outer surface 13c corresponds to the circumferential edge of the through-hole 12H of the outer surface 13 of the housing cover component 12. The deformed riveting section 63 extends to the distal end HS of the shaft section 63 and has a larger diameter than the shaft section 63 in order to rivet a circumferential inner surface 14c which corresponds to the circumferential edge of the through-hole 12H of the inner surface 14 of the housing cover component 12. The seal 70, which is made of a thermoplastic resin (more precisely of PFA) in a ring shape and is arranged between and in close contact with the circumferential outer surface 13c of the housing cover component 12 and the outer flange 52 of the rivet 60 (the deformed rivet body 61), is provided.Thus, the through-hole 12H of the battery housing 10 is hermetically sealed by the rivet 60 and the seal 70. The deformed blind rivet 60 is designed to close the through-hole 12H by partially deforming the undeformed blind rivet 50, as explained below. The seal 70 can also be made of a rubber-like elastic material (in particular EPDM).

[0030] In a state where the seal 70 is arranged between the circumferential outer surface 13c and the outer flange 52 of the rivet 60, one edge of an outer circumferential surface 70r of the seal 70, which is arranged to contact the outer flange 52, is designated as an outer flange-side edge 70ra, and the other edge, which is arranged to contact the circumferential outer surface 13c, is designated as an outer surface-side edge 70rb. If the battery 1 extends from at least one position on the radial outer surface RO of the axis AX of the through hole 12H further than the battery housing 10 and in the circumferential direction HR of the axis AX (e.g., from a right and left direction in Fig. 2 in the first embodiment) viewed in the direction of the radial inner side RI of the axis line AX, the outer surface edge 70rb can be visually identified, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is shown.

[0031] Furthermore, assuming that the aforementioned position on the radial outer side RO of the axis line AX, with which the outer surface edge 70rb can be visually identified, can be considered a first position P1 (e.g., of the left direction of the right and left directions in Fig. 2 in the first embodiment) is designated when the battery 1 is viewed from a second position P2 in the direction of the radial inside RI of the axis line AX, and the second position P2 on the radial outside RO of the axis line AX of the through hole 12H is further than the battery housing 10 and in the same angular position in the circumferential direction HR of the axis line AX as the first position P1 (e.g. the left direction in Fig. 2 in the first embodiment) however, since the outer flange-side edge 70ra is positioned further outwards in the axially outward direction HO than the first position P1, the outer flange-side edge 70ra can also be visually recognized. In particular, the housing body component 11 and the housing cover component 12 of the battery housing 10 and the outer flange 52 of the rivet 60 are designed such that the outer surface-side edge 70rb and the outer flange-side edge 70ra are visible from the radial outer side RO of the axis line AX, as explained above.

[0032] The circumferential outer surface 13c of the housing cover component 12 is a flat (planar) surface perpendicular to the axis AX of the through-hole 12H. The outer flange 52 of the rivet 60 has a section that is positioned further on the radial outer surface RO than the outer flange-side edge 70ra of the gasket 70. However, the inner flange surface 52c (including a contact section 52ct that touches the gasket 70) of the outer flange 52 of the rivet 60, which faces the circumferential outer surface 13c, is a completely flat (planar) surface perpendicular to the axis AX.

[0033] A method for manufacturing the battery 1 in the first embodiment is described below. The strip-shaped positive electrode plate 21 and the strip-shaped negative electrode plate 31, which are produced separately, are successively laminated by interleaving the strip-shaped separators 34 between them and wound together around a winding core. This wound assembly is then compressed into a flattened shape to form the electrode body 20.

[0034] The housing cover component 12, which is formed with the safety valve 15, the through-hole 12H and other components, and the extended components 42 and the screws 43 are provided separately. The insulation components 44 are manufactured by injection molding, whereby the positive terminal 40 and the negative terminal 41 are fixed to the housing cover component 40.

[0035] The positive terminal 40 is then connected (welded) to the positive current collection section 21m of the electrode body 20. The negative terminal 41 is connected (welded) to the negative current collection section 31m of the electrode body 20. The electrode body 20 is then inserted into the housing component 11 through the insulating film covering 16, and the opening 11H of the housing component 11 is closed by the housing cover component 12. The housing component 11 and the housing cover component 12 are welded together by laser welding, thus completing the battery housing 10 (see Fig. 1).

[0036] The battery is then placed in a vacuum chamber and the interior of this chamber is evacuated. Under vacuum, a liquid injection nozzle (liquid filling nozzle) is inserted into the through-hole 12H and the electrolyte 17 is injected (filled) into the battery housing 10 through the nozzle.

[0037] Furthermore, under negative pressure, the through-hole 12H is sealed by means of the non-deformed blind rivet 50. The structure of the non-deformed blind rivet 50, which is used in the first embodiment, is explained below. The non-deformed blind rivet 50 has, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in section 5, the undeformed rivet body 51 has a cylindrical shape with a closed bottom at the distal end HS (a lower side in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) and a rod-like shaft section (undeformed part) 55, which is arranged in this undeformed rivet body 51. The undeformed rivet body 51, which is made of aluminum, has a cylindrical shape with a closed bottom at the distal end HS including a cylindrical section 53 that is inserted into the through-hole 12H, and an annular outer flange 52 that extends to this cylindrical section 53 at the proximal end HK (an upper side in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) is continuous, wherein the outer flange 52 has a larger diameter than the cylindrical section 53 and is engageable with the outer surface 13 of the battery housing 10. In the cylindrical section 53, a cylindrical guide end section 52s is formed at the distal end HS with an inner diameter that is larger (i.e., due to a thinner wall thickness) than a section at the proximal end HK. Accordingly, the cylindrical section 53 is formed internally by a change in wall thickness with a shoulder 53d.

[0038] On the other hand, the undeformed shaft section 55 is made of stainless steel and has a shaft guide end section 55s at the distal end HS (the lower side in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5), which is arranged in the cylindrical section 53 of the undeformed rivet body 51. A front section of this shaft guide end section 55s has a large-diameter section 56, which is designed with a large diameter that engages with the shoulder 53d of the cylindrical guide end section 53s of the cylindrical section 53. In addition to the large-diameter section 56, this shaft part 55 has a core rod section 57, a destroyable section 58, and a service rod section 59, which extend in that order from the large-diameter section 56 toward the proximal end face HK (the upper side in Fig. 5) are arranged. The core rod section 57 has a circular cylindrical shape with a smaller diameter than the large-diameter section 56. The section 58 to be destroyed (broken) is constricted by a smaller diameter than the core rod section 57. The operating rod section 59 has a circular cylindrical shape with the same diameter as the core rod section 57 and extends to the outside of the undeformed rivet body 51.

[0039] The seal 70, which is provided separately, is arranged on the outer circumferential surface 13c of the housing cover component 12 (see Fig. 5).

[0040] In an insertion step, the cylindrical section 53 of the undeformed blind rivet 50 is inserted into the through hole 12H of the housing cover component 12 until the outer flange 52 comes into contact with the seal 70, which is arranged on the circumferential outer surface 13c of the housing cover component 12 (see Fig. 4).

[0041] In a subsequent sealing step, while the outer flange 52 of the undeformed rivet body 51 of the undeformed blind rivet 50, which is inserted in the through hole 12H, is pressed against the outer surface 13 of the housing cover component 12, the operating rod section 59 of the shaft part 55 is moved towards the proximal end face HK (the upper side UW in Fig. 4) is pulled upwards. Then the large-diameter section 56 of the shaft part 55 engages with the shoulder 53d formed in the cylindrical section 53 of the undeformed blind rivet 51. As the operating rod section 59 is pulled further upwards, a portion of the cylindrical section 53, which is positioned further than the shoulder 53d at the proximal end HK and further than the through-hole 12H at the distal end HS, is warped and plastically deformed, so that it expands outwards in the radial direction and is pressed against the circumferential inner surface 14c of the inner surface 14 of the housing cover component 12.Accordingly, the cylindrical section 53 is transformed into the cylindrical shaft section 63, which is inserted into the through-hole 12H, and the deformed riveting section 64, which extends through to the shaft section 63 at the distal end HS, such that the riveting section 64 has a larger diameter than the shaft section 63 and is in close contact with the circumferential inner surface 14c of the housing cover component 12. Simultaneously, this deformed riveting section 64 rivets the circumferential inner surface 14c of the inner surface 14 of the housing cover component 12, corresponding to the circumferential edge of the through-hole 12H. On the other hand, the outer flange 52 crimps the outer circumferential surface 13c of the outer surface 13 of the housing cover component 12, corresponding to the circumferential edge of the through hole 12H through the seal 70, without being deformed.Thus, the undeformed rivet body 51 is transformed into the deformed rivet body 61 with the outer flange 52, the shaft section 63, and the deformed riveting section 64. Subsequently, the operating rod section 59 is pulled further upwards, and then the shaft section 55 breaks at the section 58 to be broken (destroyed). In this way, only the broken shaft section 65, which has the large-diameter section 56 and the core rod section 57, remains in the deformed rivet body 61 (the operating rod section 59 is removed). The undeformed blind rivet 50 is accordingly transformed into the deformed blind rivet 60 with the deformed rivet body 61 and the broken shaft section 65, as shown in [reference]. Fig. 3 is shown, reshaped and furthermore the through hole 12H is hermetically sealed.

[0042] Afterwards, the interior of the vacuum chamber is raised back to atmospheric pressure, and then battery 1, which is completely sealed, is removed from the vacuum chamber. The interior of battery housing 10 of battery 1 is thus sealed under vacuum relative to atmospheric pressure.

[0043] As mentioned above, the housing cover component 12 is designed such that the circumferential outer surface 13c is arranged further outwards in the axially outward direction HO than the circumferential edge section 12r and the opening end section 11f, while the circumferential edge section 12r of the housing cover component 12 is attached (attached, welded) to the opening end section 11f of the housing body component 11. Furthermore, the housing body component 11 and the housing cover component 12 of the battery housing 10 and the outer flange 52 of the rivet 60 are designed such that the outer surface-side edge 70rb and the outer flange-side edge 70ra can be visually identified when viewed from the first position P1 and the second position P2 on the radial outside RO of the axis line AX of the through hole 12H further than the battery housing 10 in the direction of the radial inside RI of the axis line AX (see Fig. 2) In the manufacturing process of the battery 1 according to the first embodiment, a step is therefore provided for determining the thickness of the seal 70 while the through hole 12H is sealed by the rivet 60, and a selection step for selecting a battery (batteries) with the predetermined thickness of the seal within a predetermined range.

[0044] In the first embodiment, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the thickness of the seal is measured by a laser distance sensor 100 (LJ-G030 from Keyence Co., Ltd.). More precisely, the laser distance sensor 100 is positioned on the radial outer side RO of the axis AX further than the battery housing 10 and in the circumferential direction HR (the left direction in Figure 6). Fig. 6 in the first embodiment) of the axis AX, on which the outer surface edge 70rb and the outer flange edge 70ra are visually identified in the direction of the radial inner side RI of the axis AX. This laser distance sensor 100 is designed to be movable in the axial direction HJ while maintaining its orientation. By moving the laser distance sensor 100 at a constant speed in the axial direction HJ, the distances to the battery housing 10 (the housing cover component 12), the outer circumferential surface 70r of the seal 70, and the outer flange 52 of the rivet 60 are continuously measured and recorded as measured distance data (distance profile) per unit of movement. Fig. Figure 7 shows the distance profile in the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 7 represents the horizontal axis representing the movement time of the laser distance sensor 100, and the vertical axis representing the distance from the laser distance sensor to a measuring object. Since the laser distance sensor 100 moves at a constant speed in the axial direction HJ, the movement time along the horizontal axis corresponds to the movement distance (position) of the laser distance sensor 100 in the axial direction HJ. From the changes in the distance profile, it is possible to determine the time it takes for the laser distance sensor 100 to pass the first position P1 corresponding to the outer surface edge 70rb and the second position corresponding to the outer flange edge 70ra, i.e., a position PJ1 in the axial direction HJ corresponding to the first position P1 and a position PJ2 in the axial direction corresponding to the second position P2.Consequently, the distance in the axial direction HJ between position PJ1 in the axial direction HJ of the first position P1 and position PJ2 in the axial direction HJ of the second position P2 is determined by a calculation and obtained as the thickness T of the seal 70.

[0045] The system then determines whether the measured thickness T of the seal 70 lies within a predetermined range, in order to eliminate the battery or batteries where the seal thickness is outside the predetermined range. Thus, the battery or batteries with a seal thickness within the predetermined range are selected.

[0046] In the first embodiment, the thickness T of the seal 70 is measured by the laser distance sensor. Alternatively, a camera can be used to photograph the seal 70, such that the outer surface edge 70rb and the outer flange edge 70ra are positioned in their respective predetermined positions on a photographed image, and the thickness T of the seal 70 is calculated from the movement distance of the camera in the axial direction HJ at that time.

[0047] In a conditioning step (an initial charging and discharging step), this battery 1 is then subjected to an initial charging and discharging cycle. In this way, battery 1 is completed.

[0048] As explained above, in the battery 1 of the first embodiment, the housing cover component 12 is designed such that the circumferential outer surface 13c is arranged further outwards in the axially outward direction HO than the circumferential edge section 12r of the housing cover component 12 and the opening end section 11f, while the circumferential edge section 12r is attached to the opening end section 11f of the housing body component 11. Since this battery 1 is designed as described above, the condition of the seal 70, which seals the through-hole 12H, can be observed or checked from the outside of the battery housing 10 without the seal being blocked or obstructed by the circumferential edge section 12r of the housing cover component 12 and the opening end section 11f of the housing body component 11.

[0049] In this battery 1, the housing body component 11 and the housing cover component 12 of the battery housing 10 and the outer flange 52 of the rivet 60 are further designed to enable visual identification of the outer surface edge 70rb and the outer flange edge 70ra when the battery housing 10 is viewed from the first position P1 and the second position P2 on the radial outside RO of the axis line AX further than the battery housing 10 in the direction of the radial inside RI of the axis line AX. The battery 1 designed in this way enables suitable detection of the positions of the outer surface edge 70rb and the outer flange edge 70ra in the axial direction HJ or of a positional ratio between them, without the detection, for example,The presence of the opening end section 11f of the housing body component 11, an upright or convex molten section (the attachment section 11J) in the attachment sections of the housing body component 11 and the housing cover component 12, is influenced by this. Accordingly, the thickness of the seal 70 can be easily checked while the through-hole 12H is sealed by the rivet 60, i.e., the compressed state of the seal 70. Thus, the battery 1 can be provided, which allows for easy verification of the adequacy of the seal by means of the rivet 60 and the seal 70.

[0050] The outer circumferential surface 13c or the contact section 52ct of the inner flange surface 52c may be provided with a projection or a recess (depression). However, it is difficult to precisely define the height of the projection or the depth of the recess (i.e., to drastically reduce a dimensional tolerance). Even if the thickness of the gasket 70 on the outer circumferential surface 70r is specified with a suitable value, it is difficult to correctly define the thickness of a section formed by the projection or recess. This design can cause variations in the sealing behavior between batteries. In this battery 1, on the other hand, the outer circumferential surface 13c of the housing cover component 12 and the inner flange surface 52c of the rivet 60 (at least the contact section 52ct of the inner flange surface 52c that contacts the gasket 70) are flat (planar) surfaces perpendicular to the axis AX.Accordingly, if the outer flange-side edge 70ra and the outer surface-side edge 70rb are visually viewed from at least any position on the radial outer side RO of the axis line AX further than the battery housing 10 and in the circumferential direction HR of the axis line AX, the thickness and shape of the entire seal 70 can be determined. Additionally, it is less likely that the sealing behavior of the seal 70 will vary between batteries.

[0051] In this battery 1, the outer flange 52 of the rivet 60 is further designed such that it has a section positioned further out on the radial outer surface RO than the outer flange-side edge 70ra of the gasket 70, with this section being arranged further outward in the axially outward direction HO than the outer flange-side edge 70ra over the entire circumference (i.e., the inner flange surface 52c is a completely flat (planar) surface). Accordingly, the rivet 60 can engage in the through hole 12H without regard to the arrangement of the rivet 60 in the circumferential direction HR of the axis line AX. This allows for a high degree of flexibility regarding the arrangement of the rivet 60 in the circumferential direction of the axis line and enables reliable visual identification of the outer flange-side edge 70ra from the radial outer surface RO. (Second example)

[0052] A second embodiment is explained below. A hybrid car (vehicle) 700 (hereinafter also referred to simply as a car 700) in the second embodiment has the battery(ies) 1 of the first embodiment mounted in it to use electrical energy stored in this battery(ies) 1 as the sole or as part of the drive energy of a drive source (see Fig. 8).

[0053] This car 700 is a hybrid car in which a battery pack 710 is mounted, comprising a multitude of batteries 1 assembled together, and which is powered individually and in combination by an internal combustion engine 740, a front motor 720, and a rear motor 730. More precisely, this car 700, within its car body 790, houses the internal combustion engine 740, the front motor 720, the rear motor 730, the battery pack 710 (the batteries 1), a cable 750, and an inverter 760. This car 700 is designed to power the front motor 720 and the rear motor 730 using the electrical energy stored in the battery pack 710 (the batteries 1).

[0054] As mentioned above, the battery 1 with the seal 70, whose thickness has been measured and whose good hermetic sealing properties have been confirmed, can improve the reliability of the car 700 in which this battery 1 is installed. (Third embodiment)

[0055] A third embodiment is described below. In this third embodiment, a rotary hammer 800 is a battery-operated mounting device in which the battery(ies) 1 of the first embodiment is / are mounted (see Fig. 9) This rotary hammer 800 is designed such that a battery pack 810 (the batteries 1) including the batteries 1 is received on a base 821 of a main body 820. This battery pack 810 is used as a power source to drive the drill.

[0056] As explained above, the battery 1 with the seal 70, whose thickness has been measured and whose good hermetic properties have been confirmed, can improve the reliability of the rotary hammer 80 in which this battery 1 is mounted.

[0057] As described above, the invention is illustrated in the exemplary embodiments, but it is not limited to the first, second, and third embodiments. The present invention can be applied in other specific forms without deviating from its essential characteristics.

[0058] For example, the first embodiment shows the example in which the through-hole 12H is used as a liquid injection port (liquid filling port) to inject (fill) the electrolyte 17; however, the invention is not limited thereto. The through-hole can include a vent hole to release gas generated in the battery casing during production (such as initial charging and discharging) to the outside.

[0059] In the first embodiment, the housing cover component 12 is designed such that the outer circumferential surface 13c, in which the through-hole 12H is formed, projects in a circular-cylindrical shape from the circumferential edge section 12r of the housing cover component 12 in the axially outward direction HO. However, it is only necessary that the housing cover component 12 be designed such that the outer circumferential surface 13c is arranged further outward in the axially outward direction HO than the circumferential edge section 12r of the housing cover component 12 and the opening end section 11f of the housing body component 11, and the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the housing cover component 12 can be designed such that it has a conical shape with a chamfer (a conical surface) from the circumferential edge section 12r of the housing cover component 12 in the direction of the circumferential outer surface 13c, in order to be curved in the axially outward direction HO.

[0060] In the second embodiment, the vehicle in which the battery 1 is mounted according to the invention is shown by way of example by the hybrid car 700, but the invention is not limited thereto. The vehicle in which the battery is mounted according to the invention can include electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars, hybrid rail vehicles, forklifts, electric wheelchairs, electric bicycles and electric scooters.

[0061] In the third embodiment, the battery-powered mounting device in which the battery 1 is mounted according to the invention is shown by way of example by the rotary hammer 800, but the invention is not limited thereto. The battery-powered mounting device in which the battery is mounted according to the invention can include various battery-powered home and office applications and industrial equipment such as personal computers, mobile phones, battery-powered power tools and uninterruptible power supplies. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 lithium-ion secondary battery (sealed battery) 10 battery cases 11 Housing body component 11H Opening 11f Opening end section 11J Attachment section (mounting section) 12 Housing cover component 12r Circumferential edge section (of the housing cover component) 13 Outer surface (of the housing cover component) 14 Inner surface (of the housing cover component) 12H Through hole (liquid supply connection) 13c Perimeter outer surface 14c Perimeter inner surface 15 safety valve 20 electrode bodies 40 positive connection 41 negative terminal 50 non-deformed blind rivets 51 undeformed rivet body 52 Outer flange 52c flange inner surface 52ct contact section (of the inner flange surface) 53 cylindrical section (cylindrical section with closed bottom) 60 deformed blind rivet (rivet) 61 deformed rivet body 63 Wave section 64 deformed crimping section 70 Seal 70r outer circumferential area (of the seal) 70ra outer flange side edge 70rb outer surface edge 100 laser distance sensor (laser micrometer) T Thickness (of the seal) AX axis line (of the through hole) HJ axial direction HO axially outward directed direction RO radial outside RI radial inside P1 first position P2 second position PJ1 position in the axial direction of the first position PJ2 position in the axial direction of the second position

Claims

[1] Battery (1) with: a battery housing (10) which has the following: a housing body component (11) having an opening (11H) and an opening end section (11f) that defines this opening (11H); and a housing cover component (12) having a through hole (12H) formed through the housing cover component (12) and a circumferential edge section (12r) attached to the opening end section (11f) of the housing body component (11) to seal the opening (11H); a rivet (60) which engages in the through hole (12H), wherein the rivet (60) has the following features: a shaft section (63) that is inserted into the through hole (12H); and an outer flange (52) that is continuous to the shaft section (63) on an outer surface of the battery housing (10), wherein a diameter of the outer flange (52) is larger than the shaft section (63); and a seal (70) which is in a ring shape and made of thermoplastic resin or rubber-elastic material, wherein the seal (70) is arranged between a circumferential outer surface (13c) of an outer surface (13) of the housing cover component (12), which faces the outside of the battery housing (10), and the outer flange (52) of the rivet (60), and is in close contact with these to hermetically seal the through-hole (12H), wherein the circumferential outer surface (13c) is arranged around a circumferential edge of the through-hole (12H), characterized by , that the housing cover component (12) is designed such that the circumferential outer surface (13c) is positioned further outwards in an axially outward direction (HO) that points outwards along an axis line (AX) of the through hole (12H) than the circumferential edge section (12r) and the opening end section (11f), while the circumferential edge section (12r) of the housing cover component (12) is attached to the opening end section (11f) of the housing body component (11). [2] Battery according to claim 1, wherein assuming that a first position (P1) is a position where an outer-surface edge (70rb), which is an edge that touches the circumferential outer surface (13c) of an outer circumferential surface (70r) of the seal (70) located between the circumferential outer surface (13c) and the outer flange (52), is visually identifiable when the battery housing (10) is viewed from a radial outside (RO) of the axis line (AX) further than the battery housing (10) in the direction of a radial inside (RI) of the axis line (AX), and assuming that a second position (P2) is a position where an outer flange-side edge (70ra), which is an edge in contact with the outer flange (52) of the outer circumferential surface (70r) of the seal (70) located between the outer circumferential surface (13c) and the outer flange (52), is visually identifiable when the battery housing (10) is viewed from a position on the radial outside (RO) of the axis line (AX) further than the battery housing (10) and in the same angular position in a circumferential direction (HR) of the axis line (AX) as the first position (P1) and further out in the axially outward direction (HO) than the first position (P1) in the direction of the radial inside (RO) of the axis line (AX), the housing body component (11) and the housing cover component (12) of the battery housing (10) and the outer flange (52) of the rivet (60) are designed such that the first position (P1) and the second position (P2) are present. [3] Battery according to claim 2, wherein the outer circumferential surface (13c) of the housing cover component (12) is a flat surface perpendicular to the axis line (AX), a flange inner surface (52c) of the outer flange (52) of the rivet (60), which faces the circumferential outer surface (13c), has a contact section (52ct) which is in contact with the seal (70), and at least the contact section (52ct) of the inner flange surface (52c) is a flat surface perpendicular to the axis line (AX). [4] Battery according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the outer flange (52) of the rivet (60) is designed to have a section on a radial outer side (RO) that is located further outwards than the outer flange-side edge (70ra) of the seal (70), such that the section is positioned further outwards over an entire circumference in the axial outward direction (HO) than the outer flange-side edge (70ra).

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