Housing for an electronic element, preferably a battery cell or a capacitor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a housing for an electronic component, preferably a battery cell or a capacitor, having a cylindrical portion (4) and a base (6) arranged on one side of the cylindrical portion (4), the cylindrical portion (4) and the base (6) being integrally formed, characterized in that the cylindrical portion (4) and the base (6) are made of clad metal plates, the metal plates having at least one aluminum layer (10) and at least one steel layer (12). This housing solves the problem of providing an improved housing.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention provides a housing for an electronic device, preferably a battery cell or capacitor, having a cylindrical portion and a base disposed on one side of the cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion and the base being integrally formed. The cylindrical portion and the base are made of clad metal plates, which have at least one aluminum layer and at least one steel layer; Regarding housing. In particular, the invention relates to a housing having the features set forth in the preambles of claims 1 and 2. [Background technology]

[0002] Such housings are widely used in the electrical industry, particularly for vehicle electrification, where battery cell housings are used, preferably for circular cells. These housings can be made from a number of different materials or metals, preferably aluminum or steel, preferably galvanized steel.

[0003] Aluminum has the advantage of being lightweight.

[0004] On the other hand, steel has the advantage of low manufacturing costs and high structural robustness, which in turn provides protection against burnout (so-called "thermal runaway") and against mechanical and compressive loads.

[0005] Patent Document 1 describes a secondary battery made from a metal composite layer by electroplating.

[0006] US Pat. No. 5,629,999 describes the production of a battery housing from a metal composite layer.

[0007] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2010 / 113549(A1) [Patent Document 2] JP 2001-313008(A) Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is therefore based on the technical problem of further improving the housing.

[0009] The above technical problems are solved by the present invention. First aspect of According to The metal plate has a layer structure consisting of two aluminum layers and one steel layer arranged between them, the two aluminum layers each having a thickness of 40% + / - 10%, particularly + / - 5%, of the total thickness of the metal plate, and the steel layer having a thickness of 20% + / - 10%, particularly + / - 5%, of the total thickness of the metal plate. This is solved by having

[0010] By steel it is meant iron and its alloys and should be understood to include all steel grades including stainless steel.

[0011] Furthermore, the above technical problem is solved in a second aspect of the present invention in that the metal plate has a layer structure comprising one aluminum layer, one steel layer and one nickel or one zinc-containing layer, wherein the aluminum layer has a thickness of 75% + / - 5% or + / - 4% of the total thickness of the metal plate, the steel layer has a thickness of 20% + / - 5% or + / - 4% of the total thickness of the metal plate, and the nickel or zinc-containing layer has a thickness of 5% + / - 5% or + / - 4% of the total thickness of the metal plate.

[0012] If the electronic components are designed as battery cells, the individual battery cells may have different thicknesses. For example, some so-called pouch cells may be only 50-150 μm thick, while other battery cells have dimensions in the range of a few millimeters or centimeters. This means that the wall thickness of the housing can be adapted to the thickness of the battery cells. In general, housings with thin walls can be used for electronic components with small dimensions.

[0013] In a preferred manner, the cylindrical portion may be formed with a base of various shapes, where the base may have a circular, polygonal prism, or rectangular shape, and the term "cylinder" is therefore not limited to a cylinder having a circular base shape or region, but is to be interpreted broadly.

[0014] According to one embodiment not belonging to the present invention: The metal plate has at least one nickel layer. Preferably, the metal plate has at least two outer layers made of nickel.

[0015] or, According to a further embodiment not belonging to the present invention, The metal plate may have at least one zinc or zinc alloy layer, in particular a lead-free zinc alloy layer. In this case, the metal plate preferably has at least two outer layers made of zinc or zinc alloy, in particular a lead-free zinc alloy. Zinc has the advantage that the zinc-containing outer layers can be soldered at low temperatures.

[0016] The number of layers of a particular metal and the arrangement of these layers within the layer structure can be freely selected.

[0017] In the context of this specification, cladding is to be understood as bonding by adhesive bonding via atomic diffusion, i.e., bonding between two joining partners, in which a transition layer is formed as a joining zone by atomic diffusion of the materials of both joining partners. This transition layer allows for a continuous adaptation of the material properties. Adhesive bonding by atomic diffusion therefore occurs due to the formation of a transition layer between the layers.

[0018] In the transition layer, the atoms of both bonding partners gradually intermix. The formation of the bond occurs through position exchange processes (diffusion) in the transition layer, also known as the bonding zone. This transition layer reduces internal stresses. The extent of the transition zone depends on the respective bonding partners used, especially on the diffusivity of the materials involved.

[0019] To characterize the bond zone and properties of adhesive bonds by atomic diffusion, i.e., adhesive bonds at the transition layer, various analytical methods can be used, including optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), and analysis of microhardness curves.

[0020] Such a joint or composite is also called a clad joint or composite. Preferably, the two joining partners are metallic materials, and the clad composite is a metallic connection between the two joining or bonding partners. The joining partners of the clad composite can be joined by the above-mentioned clad methods. For this purpose, the bonding can be carried out by cold-roll clad or hot clad methods.

[0021] Alternatively, the joining of the joining partners can also be carried out by welding of sheet metal packets, in particular by diffusion or electrofusion bonding, or by packeting and partial welding. Furthermore, manufacturing by sintering or hot isostatic pressing (HIP) is also possible.

[0022] According to a first aspect of the present invention Clad metal sheets have a layer structure consisting of two aluminum layers and one steel layer placed between them. Thus, both sides of the steel layer are covered with aluminum layers, or the steel layer is the core layer within the layer structure.

[0023] More preferably, the two aluminum layers may each have a thickness of approximately 40% of the total thickness of the metal plate, and the steel layer may have a thickness of approximately 20% of the total thickness of the metal plate. The thickness deviation may vary within limits of + / - 10%, in particular + / - 5%.

[0024] More preferably, the housing can be designed so that the two aluminum layers each have a thickness of less than 40% of the total thickness of the metal plate, and the steel layer has a thickness of more than 20% of the total thickness of the metal plate.

[0025] According to a second aspect of the present invention Clad metal sheets have a layer structure with one aluminum layer, one steel layer, and one nickel or zinc-containing layer, stacked in a specified order. The steel layer is again the core layer.

[0026] Preferably, the aluminum layer may have a thickness of approximately 75% of the total thickness of the metal sheet, the steel layer may have a thickness of approximately 20% of the total thickness of the metal sheet, and the nickel or zinc-containing layer may have a thickness of approximately 5% of the total thickness of the metal sheet. The thickness deviations may vary within limits of + / - 5% or + / - 4%.

[0027] In the preferred manufacturing method for all of the above housing designs, the unitary housing structure is fabricated by deep drawing of sheet metal.

[0028] The result of all the above preferred designs is a housing that combines various desirable properties: on the one hand, the use of aluminum results in a low specific weight, and on the other hand, the use of steel in the same housing results in improved structural robustness and corrosion resistance.

[0029] The use of at least one nickel layer as described above may be advantageous or necessary for reasons of bonding technology.

[0030] In the following, the invention will be explained with reference to the drawings using several example embodiments, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 2 or 3. A housing made from sheet metal according to FIG. [Figure 2] A first metal sheet according to the invention for producing a housing for an electronic element, preferably a battery cell or a capacitor. [Figure 3] 2 is a second metal plate according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] 1 shows a housing 2 for an electronic component, preferably a battery cell or a capacitor, having a cylindrical portion 4 and a base 6 arranged on one side of the cylindrical portion 4. The cylindrical portion 4 and the base 6 are formed in one piece and are manufactured, for example, by deep drawing of a prefabricated metal sheet.

[0033] The cylindrical portion 4 and the base 6 are made of a clad metal plate 8. The metal plate 8 has two aluminum layers 10 and one steel layer 12. In addition, the metal plate may further have at least one nickel layer 14. In the following, two different layer structures will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

[0034] 2 shows the layer structure of the metal plate 8, which is made up of two aluminum layers 10 and one intermediate steel layer 12. As an example, the two aluminum layers 10 each have a thickness of approximately 40% of the total thickness of the metal plate 8, and the steel layer 12 has a thickness of approximately 20% of the total thickness of the metal plate 8.

[0035] 3 shows the layer structure of the metal plate 8, which is composed of one aluminum layer 10, one steel layer 12, and one nickel layer 14. For example, the aluminum layer 10 has a thickness of approximately 75% of the total thickness of the metal plate 8, the steel layer 12 has a thickness of approximately 20% of the total thickness of the metal plate 8, and the nickel layer 14 has a thickness of approximately 5% of the total thickness of the metal plate 8.

Claims

1. 1. A housing for an electronic element, preferably a battery cell or a capacitor, comprising: a cylindrical portion (4), a base (6) located on one side of said cylindrical portion (4); and - said cylindrical portion (4) and said base (6) are formed in one piece; In the housing, - said cylindrical part (4) and said base (6) consist of clad metal plates; - said metal plate has at least one aluminum layer (10) and at least one steel layer (12); A housing characterized by:

2. 2. The housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (6) has a circular, polygonal or rectangular shape.

3. 3. A housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metal plate has at least one nickel layer (14).

4. 4. A housing according to claim 3, characterized in that the metal plate has at least two outer layers (14) made of nickel.

5. 5. Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the metal plate comprises at least one layer (14) made of zinc or a zinc alloy, in particular a lead-free zinc alloy.

6. 6. A housing according to claim 5, characterized in that the metal plate has at least two outer layers (14) made of zinc or a zinc alloy, in particular a lead-free zinc alloy.

7. 3. A housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metal plate has a layer structure consisting of two aluminum layers (10) and one steel layer (12) arranged between them.

8. 8. The housing according to claim 7, wherein the two aluminum layers (10) each have a thickness of approximately 40% of the total thickness of the metal plate (8), and the steel layer (12) has a thickness of approximately 20% of the total thickness of the metal plate (8).

9. 8. The housing according to claim 7, wherein the two aluminum layers (10) each have a thickness of less than 40% of the total thickness of the metal plate (8), and the steel layer (12) has a thickness of more than 20% of the total thickness of the metal plate (8).

10. 3. The housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metal plate (8) has a layer structure comprising one aluminum layer (10), one steel layer (12) and one nickel layer (14) or zinc-containing layer (14).

11. 11. The housing according to claim 10, wherein the aluminum layer (10) has a thickness of approximately 75% of the total thickness of the metal plate (8), the steel layer (12) has a thickness of approximately 20% of the total thickness of the metal plate (8), and the nickel layer (14) or the zinc-containing layer (14) has a thickness of approximately 5% of the total thickness of the metal plate (8).

12. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the monolithic structure is produced by deep drawing of the metal sheet (8).

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