Alkaline battery

Abstract

To provide an alkaline battery capable of preventing a short circuit between a negative electrode material and a positive electrode material.SOLUTION: A alkaline battery includes a cylindrical battery can, a cylindrical positive electrode material loaded in the battery can along its inner peripheral surface, and a cylindrical separator member arranged inside the positive electrode material. The alkaline battery further includes a cylindrical negative electrode material loaded inside the separator member, a gasket member that seals an opening of the battery can, and a partition plate arranged inside the separator member and partitioning between the negative electrode material and the opening of the separator member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an alkaline battery.

Background Art

[0002] In an alkaline battery, there is a battery having a cylindrical battery can, a positive electrode material stored in the battery can, a negative electrode material stored in the battery can, a cylindrical separator member that separates between the positive electrode material and the negative electrode material, and a gasket member that seals an opening on the negative electrode terminal side of the battery can.

[0003] In an alkaline battery, a gel-like negative electrode material is injected into a cylindrical separator member through an opening on the negative electrode terminal side of the battery can, so that the negative electrode material is stored and held in the separator member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in a conventional alkaline battery, for example, when an impact is applied to the battery can from the outside, such as dropping or vibration during transportation, the negative electrode material may spill out from inside the separator member and touch the positive electrode material due to the impact. As a result, a short circuit may occur between the negative electrode material and the positive electrode material, and heat generation may occur.

[0006] The disclosed technology has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an alkaline battery capable of preventing a short circuit between a negative electrode material and a positive electrode material.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One aspect of the alkaline battery disclosed in the present application includes a cylindrical battery can, a cylindrical positive electrode material loaded along the inner circumferential surface thereof within the battery can, and a cylindrical separator member disposed inside the positive electrode material. Further, the alkaline battery includes a cylindrical negative electrode material loaded inside the separator member, a gasket member for sealing the opening of the battery can, and a partition plate disposed inside the separator member for partitioning between the negative electrode material and the opening of the separator member.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the alkaline battery disclosed in the present application, a short circuit between the negative electrode material and the positive electrode material can be prevented.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, an example of the alkaline battery disclosed in the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the alkaline battery disclosed in the present application is not limited by the following examples.

Example

[0011] (Configuration of Alkaline Battery) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the alkaline battery of the example. As shown in FIG. 1, the alkaline battery 1 of the example is an aqueous primary battery, so-called dry battery. The alkaline battery 1 includes a cylindrical battery can 3 having an opening 3a, a current collector rod 4, a positive electrode material 5, a negative electrode material 6, a separator member 7 for partitioning the positive electrode material 5 and the negative electrode material 6, a gasket member 8 for sealing the opening 3a of the battery can 3, and a partition plate 9. Further, the alkaline battery 1 has, as electrode terminals, a positive electrode terminal 11 formed at one end of the battery can 3 and a negative electrode terminal 12 disposed at the other end of the battery can 3.

[0012] At one end of the battery can 3, a positive electrode terminal 11 is integrally formed. At the other end of the battery can 3, a constricted portion (beading portion) 3b that is bead-worked along the outer periphery of the battery can 3 is formed. In the constricted portion 3b of the battery can 3, a negative electrode terminal 12 and a gasket member 8 are provided so as to close the opening 3a. The current collector rod 4 is disposed at the center inside the battery can 3. The base end portion of the current collector rod 4 is supported by the gasket member 8, and the tip end portion extends toward the positive electrode terminal 11 side. The current collector rod 4 is formed of, for example, brass or the like.

[0013] The negative electrode material 6 is a cylindrical material provided around the current collector rod 4 inside the battery can 3 and is loaded inside the separator member 7. Further, as the negative electrode material 6, for example, a gel-like negative electrode mixture mainly composed of zinc is used. The positive electrode material 5 is loaded in the battery can 3 along its inner peripheral surface. And the positive electrode material 5 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the negative electrode material 6 housed inside the battery can 3 with the separator member 7 interposed therebetween. As the positive electrode material 5, for example, a ring-shaped positive electrode mixture is used, and a plurality of ring-shaped positive electrode mixtures are laminated and arranged along the axial direction of the current collector rod 4. The separator member 7 is formed in a cylindrical shape by, for example, a non-woven fabric or the like and is arranged inside the positive electrode material 5 and along the axial direction of the current collector rod 4.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of the alkaline battery 1 of the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the gasket member 8 of the alkaline battery 1 has a cylindrical central portion 15 as a support portion for supporting one end portion of the current collector rod 4, an annular safety valve 16 formed along the outer periphery of the central portion 15, and an annular outer peripheral portion 17 supported by the opening 3a of the battery can 3. Further, the gasket member 8 has an annular intermediate portion 18 formed between the safety valve 16 and the outer peripheral portion 17. The safety valve 16 is a groove-shaped thin portion that is broken by the internal gas of the battery can 3.

[0015] The central portion 15 has a support hole 15a through which the current collector rod 4 is passed. As shown in FIG. 2, the current collector rod 4 is supported by the support hole 15a so as to be in contact with the negative electrode terminal 12. The outer peripheral portion 17 is sandwiched between the vicinity of the constricted portion 3b of the battery can 3 and the outer peripheral portion of the negative electrode terminal 12, whereby the gasket member 8 is supported by the battery can 3.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the end portion of the separator member 7 abuts against the intermediate portion 18, and the space in which the negative electrode material 6 is accommodated is blocked by the separator member 7.

[0017] Further, the partition plate 9 is a metal plate disposed inside the separator member 7 and partitioning between the negative electrode material 6 and the opening 10 of the separator member 7. Further, the partition plate 9 presses the gel surface of the negative electrode material 6 in the separator member 7 from the opening side of the negative electrode terminal 12 and contacts the gel surface of the negative electrode material 6. That is, the partition plate 9 can prevent the negative electrode material 6 from spilling out from the opening 10 by partitioning between the negative electrode material 6 and the opening 10 of the separator member 7. The partition plate 9 is, for example, a metal plate made of a zinc plate. Further, the partition plate 9 has a support hole 9a for supporting the current collector rod 4 inserted into the negative electrode material 6, and electrically connects the current collector rod 4 and the support portion in the support hole 9a. Further, the partition plate 9 contacts the gel surface of the negative electrode material 6 on the opening 10 side and is electrically connected to the negative electrode material 6.

[0018] The alkaline battery 1 has a structure in which the separator member 7 partitions between the negative electrode material 6 and the positive electrode material 5, and the partition plate 9 partitions between the negative electrode material 6 and the opening 10 of the separator member 7, so that a short circuit between the negative electrode material 6 and the positive electrode material 5 can be prevented.

[0019] The partition plate 9 is disposed inside the separator member 7 and partitions between the negative electrode material 6 and the opening 10 of the separator member 7. As a result, even if some impact is applied to the battery can 3, the partition plate 9 can prevent the negative electrode material 6 injected into the separator member 7 from spilling out from the opening 10.

[0020] In the alkaline battery 1 of this embodiment, a partition plate 9 that partitions between the negative electrode material 6 and the opening 10 of the separator member 7 is disposed inside the separator member 7. As a result, even if an impact is applied to the alkaline battery 1, the partition plate 9 can suppress a short circuit due to contact between the negative electrode material 6 and the positive electrode material 5, and an alkaline battery 1 with excellent safety can be provided.

[0021] The alkaline battery 1 is configured such that the partition plate 9 is made of a zinc plate, and the partition plate 9 is electrically connected to a part of the current collector rod 4 in the battery can 3. As a result, an alkaline battery with excellent discharge performance can be provided while expanding the current collection surface area.

[0022] (Test Example 1) The following is the evaluation result of Test Example 1 in which the presence or absence of spillage of the negative electrode material 6 due to vibration and dropping for each LR6 alkaline battery (single 3-type alkaline battery) was verified. The vibration test is, for example, the test method and test conditions defined in the transportation - vibration test of JIS C 8514 (safety of aqueous primary batteries) for LR6, and is an evaluation test for confirming the presence or absence of spillage of the negative electrode material 6 of the alkaline battery.

[0023] The dropping test is, for example, an evaluation test in which the alkaline battery is freely dropped 5 times from a height of 1 m from the positive electrode terminal 11, the negative electrode terminal 12, and the body of the battery can 3, respectively, and the presence or absence of spillage of the negative electrode material 6 after standing for 1 hour for each dropping condition is confirmed.

[0024] The alkaline battery of the conventional example has a specification without the partition plate 9. The alkaline battery 1 of the embodiment has the partition plate 9 and is configured such that the partition plate 9 is made of a zinc plate in this embodiment. The alkaline battery 1 of Comparative Example 1 has the partition plate 9 and is configured such that the partition plate 9 is made of a brass plate. The alkaline battery 1 of Comparative Example 2 has the partition plate 9 and is configured such that the partition plate 9 is made of a resin plate.

[0025]

Table 1

[0026] In the conventional alkaline battery, as shown in Table 1, in the vibration test, spillage of the negative electrode material 6 occurred (○), and in the drop test, spillage of the negative electrode material 6 occurred (○) was obtained as the evaluation result.

[0027] On the other hand, in the alkaline batteries 1 of the examples, Comparative Example 1, and Comparative Example 2, in the vibration test, no spillage of the negative electrode material 6 occurred (×), and in the drop test, no spillage of the negative electrode material 6 occurred (×) was obtained as the evaluation result.

[0028] That is, in the vibration test and the drop test, in the case of the alkaline battery 1 having the partition plate 9, since no spillage of the negative electrode material 6 occurs, a short circuit due to spillage of the negative electrode material 6 during impact can be suppressed. In the alkaline battery 1 having the partition plate 9, it was confirmed that a useful effect of no spillage of the negative electrode material 6 can be obtained.

[0029] (Test Example 2) The following are the evaluation results of Test Example 2 of the discharge performance for each LR6 alkaline battery (AA-sized alkaline battery). The discharge test is, for example, the LR6 JIS standard discharge test (based on the primary battery individual product specification of JIS C 8515). In the discharge test, for example, it was verified under each condition of light load discharge, medium load discharge, and high load discharge.

[0030] In the light load discharge, for example, the discharge performance was verified at a constant current discharge load of 100 mA / h. In the medium load discharge, for example, the discharge performance was verified at a constant current discharge load of 250 mA / h. Further, in the high load discharge, for example, the discharge performance was verified at a constant power discharge of 1500 mW.

[0031] In the discharge test, when the discharge performance is equivalent to that of the conventional example (△), when it is better than the discharge performance of the conventional example (○), and further, when it is even better than the discharge performance of the conventional example (◎). It is assumed that the discharge performance gradually increases in the order of △ → ○ → ◎.

[0032] The conventional alkaline battery has a specification without a partition plate 9. The alkaline battery 1 of the embodiment has a partition plate 9, and the partition plate 9 is made of a zinc plate in the specification of this embodiment. The alkaline battery 1 of Comparative Example 1 has a partition plate 9, and the partition plate 9 is made of a brass plate. The alkaline battery 1 of Comparative Example 2 has a partition plate 9, and the partition plate 9 is made of a resin plate. [Table 2]

[0033] In the alkaline battery 1 of Comparative Example 2, for all of low-load discharge, medium-load discharge, and high-load discharge, an evaluation (Δ) of discharge performance equivalent to that of the conventional example was obtained. In contrast, in the alkaline battery 1 of Comparative Example 1, since the partition plate 9 is a brass plate, the zinc-based negative electrode material 6, the brass current collector rod 4, and the brass plate partition plate 9 are electrically connected, and the surface area of the current collection part is enlarged. As a result, in the alkaline battery 1 of Comparative Example 1, for all of low-load discharge, medium-load discharge, and high-load discharge, an evaluation (○) of better discharge performance compared to the discharge performance of the conventional example was obtained.

[0034] Furthermore, in the alkaline battery 1 of the embodiment, since the partition plate 9 is a zinc plate, the zinc-based negative electrode material 6, the brass current collector rod 4, and the zinc plate partition plate 9 are electrically connected, and the surface area of the current collection part is enlarged. As a result, in the alkaline battery 1 of the embodiment, for all of low-load discharge, medium-load discharge, and high-load discharge, an evaluation (◎) of better discharge performance compared to the discharge performance of the alkaline battery of Comparative Example 1 was obtained.

[0035] Therefore, in the alkaline battery 1 of the embodiment, it was evaluated that the zinc-based negative electrode material 6, the brass current collector rod 4, and the zinc plate partition plate 9 are electrically connected, and the surface area of the current collection part is enlarged, thereby improving the discharge performance.

[0036] (Manufacturing process of alkaline battery 1) Regarding the manufacturing process of the alkaline battery 1 configured as described above, it will be described in the order of the processes. (1) For example, using electrolytic manganese dioxide, graphite, a binder, and a potassium hydroxide solution, a positive electrode mixture as the positive electrode material 5 is made, and the positive electrode mixture is molded into a ring shape. (2) Using zinc alloy powder, an electrolytic solution, etc., a gel-like negative electrode mixture as the negative electrode material 6 is made. (3) The ring-shaped positive electrode mixture is accommodated inside the battery can 3. (4) A constricted portion 3b is formed at the end of the battery can 3 by beading, and a sealing agent is applied to the contact surface between the gasket member 8 and the battery can 3. (5) The separator member 7 is inserted inside the positive electrode mixture accommodated in the battery can 3. (6) The separator member 7 is impregnated with a potassium hydroxide electrolytic solution. (7) The gel-like negative electrode mixture is injected from the opening 3a on the negative electrode terminal 12 side inside the separator member 7 provided in the battery can 3. (8) A current collector is made by assembling the partition plate 9, the gasket member 8, the current collecting rod 4, and the negative electrode terminal 12. (9) The current collector is assembled to the opening 3a of the battery can 3 so that the partition plate 9 presses the gel surface of the negative electrode material 6 injected into the separator member 7, and the opening 3a is sealed by the current collector.

[0037] (Effect of the embodiment) In the alkaline battery 1 of this embodiment, a partition plate 9 is provided that separates between the negative electrode material 6 and the opening 10 of the separator member 7. As a result, by preventing the spillage of the negative electrode material 6 into the opening 10, the occurrence of a short circuit between the negative electrode material 6 and the positive electrode material 5 can be suppressed, and an alkaline battery 1 with excellent safety can be provided.

[0038] In the alkaline battery 1 of this embodiment, the partition plate 9 of the zinc plate and the current collecting rod 4 are electrically connected. As a result, the partition plate 9 of the zinc plate and the current collecting rod 4 are electrically connected. As a result, since the surface area of the current collecting portion is widened, an alkaline battery 1 with excellent discharge performance can be provided.

[0039] In the alkaline battery 1 of this embodiment, the gel surface of the negative electrode material 6 containing a zinc component is brought into contact with the partition plate 9 of the zinc plate, and the space between the partition plate 9 and the negative electrode material 6 is electrically connected. As a result, in order to increase the surface area of the current collecting portion, an alkaline battery 1 with excellent discharge performance can be provided.

[0040] (Modification example) For the sake of convenience of explanation, the partition plate 9 of the alkaline battery 1 is exemplified by a zinc plate, but it is not limited to the zinc plate, and a resin plate may also be used. In this case, the partition plate 9 of the resin plate partitions the space between the negative electrode material 6 and the opening 10 in the separator member 7, so that the spillage of the negative electrode material 6 into the opening 10 can be suppressed.

[0041] Also, the partition plate 9 of the alkaline battery 1 is exemplified by a zinc plate, but it is not limited to the zinc plate, and a metal plate such as brass may also be used. In this case, it goes without saying that the partition plate 9 can suppress the spillage of the negative electrode material 6 into the opening 10. By electrically connecting the metal partition plate 9, the current collecting rod 4, and the negative electrode material 6, the surface area of the current collecting portion is enlarged, and the discharge performance can be improved.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0042] 1 Alkaline battery 3 Battery can 3a Opening 4 Current collecting rod 5 Positive electrode material 6 Negative electrode material 7 Separator member 8 Gasket member 9 Partition plate 10 Opening 12 Negative electrode terminal

Claims

1. A cylindrical battery can, a cylindrical positive electrode material loaded along its inner peripheral surface within the battery can, a cylindrical separator member disposed inside the positive electrode material, a cylindrical negative electrode material loaded inside the separator member, a gasket member for sealing the opening of the battery can, a partition plate which is a metal plate, disposed inside the separator member and partitioning between the negative electrode material and the opening of the separator member, and having: the partition plate is, an alkaline battery that contacts the gel surface of the negative electrode material and is electrically connected to the negative electrode material.

2. The metal plate is, a zinc plate, the alkaline battery according to Claim 1.

3. The partition plate is, electrically connected to a current collector rod inserted into the negative electrode material, the alkaline battery according to Claim 1 or 2.

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