Electrolyte injection fixtures and electrolyte injection methods

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrolyte injection fixture. An electrolyte injection fixture in a design of the invention is constructed for an electrolyte supply device which supplies the electrolyte and an opening which is formed on one side of the battery housing, and the electrolyte injection fixture may include a device coupling part which is coupled to an electrolyte supply device and a battery mounting part constructed for a mounting into the opening and for tight contact with the inner surface of the battery housing, wherein the battery mounting part may have an overhang at the point of contact with the battery housing.

Description

Electrolyte injection jig and electrolyte injection method

[0001] The present invention relates to a jig for electrolyte injection and a method for electrolyte injection.

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0152121, filed on November 6, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the said application are incorporated by reference into this application.

[0003] The battery may house an electrolyte together with an electrode assembly. In the manufacture of a battery, a hole may be formed again for the injection of the electrolyte after the housing constituting the battery has been sealed, or the electrolyte may be injected before the housing is sealed and then the housing is sealed.

[0004] For example, in the case of a cylindrical battery, the electrolyte can be injected after inserting the electrode assembly through an opening on one side of the battery housing. The electrolyte can be injected by inserting one side of an electrolyte injection jig configured to connect the electrolyte supply device and the battery into the opening on the battery housing, and supplying the electrolyte using an electrolyte supply device connected to the other side.

[0005] During the electrolyte injection process, it is necessary to prevent electrolyte from leaking outside the battery. To prevent leakage, the connection between the injection device and the battery must be properly sealed.

[0006] In particular, there was a problem that if the seal between the battery housing and the electrolyte injection jig was broken, the electrolyte would leak out, weakening the overall seal.

[0007] Therefore, development of a jig for electrolyte injection having a structure that can solve these problems is required.

[0008] The present invention was created in consideration of the above-described problems, and its primary purpose is to provide an electrolyte injection jig configured to improve sealing ability at a connection portion with a battery housing.

[0009] However, the problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the problems described above, and other problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, an electrolyte injection jig is configured to connect between an electrolyte supply device that supplies an electrolyte and an opening formed on one side of a battery housing.

[0011] It includes a device coupling part coupled with the electrolyte supply device and a battery insertion part inserted into the opening part and configured to be in close contact with the inner surface of the battery housing.

[0012] The above battery insertion part may have a protrusion at a portion that comes into contact with the battery housing.

[0013] The above protrusion may have a first protrusion provided at a portion that is in contact with the upper portion of the beading portion provided in the battery housing.

[0014] The above protrusion may have a second protrusion provided at a portion that is in contact with the inner surface adjacent to the end of the battery housing.

[0015] The first protrusion may include a plurality of wings extending along the periphery of the battery housing and arranged adjacent to each other along the radial direction of the battery housing.

[0016] The plurality of wings may be configured such that, when pressed toward the beading portion, their ends slide inward or outward along the radial direction of the battery so as to be in close contact with the beading portion of the battery housing.

[0017] The above device coupling portion may be configured to surround an end of the battery housing.

[0018] The above device coupling portion may have an insertion groove formed along the periphery of the battery insertion portion so that an end of the battery housing can be inserted into it.

[0019] The above insertion groove may have a width corresponding to the thickness of the battery housing.

[0020] An electrolyte injection method according to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is an electrolyte injection method for injecting an electrolyte into a battery through an opening formed on one side of a battery housing,

[0021] It may include an insertion step of inserting an electrolyte injection jig into the opening; a mounting step of inserting a battery insertion part provided on the electrolyte injection jig into the opening and mounting it on a beading part provided on the battery housing; a contacting step of pressing the electrolyte injection jig in the insertion direction so that an end of the battery insertion part slides and contacts an upper portion of the beading part; and an injection step of injecting electrolyte into the inside of the battery through the electrolyte injection jig.

[0022] The above-mentioned adhesion step may be a step in which the end of the battery insertion part is folded toward the inside or outside of the battery at the top of the beading part.

[0023] The battery includes a current collector electrically connected to an electrode assembly housed within the battery housing,

[0024] The above-mentioned collector may be positioned on the above-mentioned beading portion.

[0025] The above-mentioned collector may be connected to the battery housing discontinuously on the beading portion along the circumferential direction of the battery housing.

[0026] According to one aspect of the present invention, the protrusion can increase the contact area with the battery housing. By protruding toward the battery housing, the protrusion can increase friction with the battery housing. Accordingly, the protrusion can strengthen the sealing force of the battery insertion part inserted into the battery housing.

[0027] According to another aspect of the present invention, double sealing can be achieved by a first protrusion that comes into contact with the beading portion of the battery housing and a second protrusion that comes into contact with the inner surface adjacent to the end of the battery housing. This can effectively prevent leakage of electrolyte flowing along the beading portion of the battery housing toward the opening portion of the battery housing. In particular, the sealing force can be strengthened by the first protrusion that is composed of a plurality of wings. The number of the plurality of wings of the first protrusion and the plurality of protrusions of the second protrusion can be adjusted according to the required sealing force.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention, the inner surface of the beading portion formed by pressing inwardly around the periphery of the battery housing may not be a completely flat surface, and other components may be positioned on the beading portion. Therefore, even if the end of the battery insertion portion is pressed against the beading portion, there is a possibility that the sealing at the contact interface between the battery insertion portion and the beading portion may be incomplete. Therefore, the end portions of the plurality of wings are configured to slide inward or outward along the radial direction of the battery on the beading portion so as to press against the beading portion, thereby further improving the sealing force.

[0029] According to another aspect of the present invention, even if the electrolyte leaks past the first protrusion and the second protrusion, since the battery housing is fitted into the insertion groove, the electrolyte can be prevented from leaking out of the battery housing. That is, the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the insertion groove are provided along the path through which the electrolyte may leak, thereby achieving triple sealing.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing an electrolyte injection jig according to one embodiment of the present invention before being connected to a battery and an electrolyte supply device.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an electrolyte injection jig according to one embodiment of the present invention connected to a battery and an electrolyte supply device.

[0032] Fig. 3 is a drawing showing a jig for electrolyte injection according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a partial cross-section of a jig for electrolyte injection according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 2.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing an electrolyte injection jig according to one embodiment of the present invention being pressed toward a beading portion of a battery housing.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing an electrolyte injection jig according to another embodiment of the present invention being pressed toward a beading portion of a battery housing.

[0037] Fig. 8 is a drawing showing a partial cross-section of a jig for electrolyte injection according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a partial cross-section of a state in which an electrolyte injection jig and a battery housing are combined according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 10 is a drawing showing a battery equipped with a full-scale collector.

[0040] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention described below, serve to further understand the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the matters described in the drawings. Like reference numerals designate like components. Furthermore, in the drawings, the thicknesses, ratios, and dimensions of components may be exaggerated for the purpose of effectively explaining the technical contents.

[0041] Terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts that conform to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to explain his or her own invention in the best way.

[0042] Although terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used in this specification, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that these terms are only for convenience of explanation and may vary depending on the location of the target object or the location of the observer.

[0043] Accordingly, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, and it should be understood that there may be various equivalents and modified examples that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0044]

[0045] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing an electrolyte injection jig (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention before being connected to a battery (100) and an electrolyte supply device (200).

[0046] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an electrolyte injection jig (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention connected to a battery and an electrolyte supply device (200).

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrolyte injection jig (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention can connect between an electrolyte supply device (200) and an opening of a battery housing (110).

[0048] The electrolyte injection jig (1) can function as a connector connecting the electrolyte supply device (200) and the battery housing (110). The electrolyte injection jig (1) can have a hollow structure so as to be in communication with the internal space of the electrolyte supply device (200) into which the electrolyte is injected. The electrolyte injection jig (1) can have a hollow center portion that is approximately cylindrical. The electrolyte injection jig (1) can have a shape corresponding to one end of the electrolyte supply device (200). The electrolyte injection jig (1) can be inserted into the battery housing (110). The electrolyte can be injected into the battery housing (110) that accommodates the electrode assembly (130) through the electrolyte supply device (200) and the electrolyte injection jig (1).

[0049] The electrolyte injection jig (1) may be a sealing member for preventing leakage of the electrolyte in the area where the electrolyte is injected. The electrolyte injection jig (1) may include a flexible material for sealing. The electrolyte injection jig (1) may include a rubber material.

[0050] Fig. 3 is a drawing showing a jig (1) for electrolyte injection according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 3, an electrolyte injection jig (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a device coupling portion (10) and a battery insertion portion (20).

[0052] The device coupling portion (10) may be configured to be coupled with an electrolyte supply device (200). The device coupling portion (10) may have a shape corresponding to one end of the electrolyte supply device (200).

[0053] The battery insertion portion (20) can be inserted into the opening of the battery housing (110). The battery insertion portion (20) can be inserted into the inside of the battery housing (110). The battery insertion portion (20) can have a shape corresponding to the opening of the battery housing (110). The battery insertion portion (20) can be configured to be in close contact with the inner surface of the battery housing (110). The battery insertion portion (20) can have a protrusion (21) at a portion that comes into contact with the battery housing (110). The battery insertion portion (20) can have a protrusion (21) on an outer surface. The protrusion (21) can protrude toward the battery housing (110).

[0054] According to this configuration of the present invention, the protrusion (21) can increase the contact area with the battery housing (110). The protrusion (21) can increase the frictional force with the battery housing (110) by protruding toward the battery housing (110). Therefore, the protrusion (21) can strengthen the sealing force of the battery insertion part (20) inserted into the battery housing (110).

[0055] Fig. 4 is a drawing showing a partial cross-section of a jig (1) for electrolyte injection according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a drawing showing an enlarged portion of a part of Fig. 2.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the protrusion (21) may have a first protrusion (23) and a second protrusion (25).

[0057] The first protrusion (23) may be provided on the lower surface of the battery insertion portion (20). The first protrusion (23) may be provided at a portion that comes into contact with the upper portion of the beading portion (111) provided in the battery housing (110). The battery housing (110) may be provided with a beading portion (111) that is formed by pressing the periphery of the battery housing (110) inward. The first protrusion (23) may be formed to protrude toward the beading portion (111).

[0058] The first protrusion (23) may extend along the periphery of the battery housing (110). The first protrusion (23) may include a plurality of wings (A) arranged adjacent to each other along the radial direction of the battery housing (110). The plurality of wings (A) may be arranged at equal intervals along the radial direction of the battery housing (110).

[0059] The second protrusion (25) may be provided on the outer circumference of the battery insertion portion (20). The second protrusion (25) may be provided at a portion that is in contact with the inner surface adjacent to the end of the battery housing (110). The second protrusion (25) may be configured to face the inner surface of the battery housing (110) between the end on the open side of the battery housing (110) and the beading portion (111) of the battery housing (110). The second protrusion (25) may be formed to protrude toward the inner surface of the battery housing (110). The second protrusion (25) may be formed to protrude outward along the radial direction of the battery housing (110). The second protrusion (25) may extend along the circumference of the battery housing (110). The second protrusion (25) may include a plurality of protrusions arranged adjacent to each other along the height direction of the battery housing (110). The plurality of protrusions may be arranged at equal intervals along the height direction of the battery housing (110).

[0060] According to this configuration of the present invention, double sealing can be achieved by the first protrusion (23) that comes into contact with the beading portion (111) of the battery housing (110) and the second protrusion (25) that comes into contact with the inner surface adjacent to the end of the battery housing (110). It is possible to effectively prevent electrolyte from leaking toward the opening portion of the battery housing (110) along the beading portion (111) of the battery housing (110). In particular, the sealing force can be strengthened by the first protrusion (23) including a plurality of wings (A). The number of the plurality of wings (A) of the first protrusion (23) and the plurality of protrusions of the second protrusion (25) can be adjusted according to the required sealing force.

[0061] Fig. 6 is a drawing showing an electrolyte injection jig (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention being pressed toward a beading portion (111) of a battery housing (110). Fig. 7 is a drawing showing an electrolyte injection jig (1) according to another embodiment of the present invention being pressed toward a beading portion (111) of a battery housing (110).

[0062] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the plurality of wings (A) may have their ends slide inward or outward along the radial direction of the battery (1) as they are pressed toward the beading portion (111). The plurality of wings (A) may undergo a bending deformation as they are pressed toward the beading portion (111). The plurality of wings (A) may be configured to adhere closely to the beading portion (111) as they are pressed toward the beading portion (111). Some of the plurality of wings (A) may be configured to slide inward along the radial direction of the battery (1), and other parts may be configured to slide outward along the radial direction of the battery (1). For example, the wings (A) adjacent to the inner side along the radial direction of the battery (1) may be configured to slide inward along the radial direction of the battery (1), and the wings (A) adjacent to the outer side along the radial direction of the battery (1) may be configured to slide outward along the radial direction of the battery (1). Alternatively, multiple wings (A) may be configured to all slide in the same direction.

[0063] According to this configuration of the present invention, the inner surface of the beading portion (111) formed by pressing inwardly around the periphery of the battery housing (110) may not form a completely flat surface, and other components may be positioned on the beading portion (111) (for example, the current collector (120) described later may be positioned on at least a portion of the periphery of the beading portion (111). Therefore, even if the end of the battery insertion portion (11) is pressed against the beading portion (111), there is a possibility that the sealing at the contact interface between the battery insertion portion (11) and the beading portion (111) may be incomplete. Therefore, the end portions of the plurality of wings (A) are configured to slide inward and / or outward along the radial direction of the battery (1) on the beading portion (111) so as to press against the beading portion (111), thereby further improving the sealing force.

[0064] Fig. 8 is a drawing showing a partial cross-section of a jig (1) for electrolyte injection according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a drawing showing a partial cross-section of a state in which a jig (1) for electrolyte injection according to one embodiment of the present invention and a battery housing (110) are combined.

[0065] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the device coupling portion (10) may be configured to surround an end of the battery housing (110). An inner surface adjacent to the end of the battery housing (110) may be in close contact with the battery insertion portion (20), and an outer surface adjacent to the end of the battery housing (110) may be in close contact with the device coupling portion (10). The device coupling portion (10) may be formed along the periphery of the battery insertion portion (20). The device coupling portion (10) may have an insertion groove (11) configured to allow the end of the battery housing (110) to be inserted therein. The insertion groove (11) may have a width corresponding to the thickness of the battery housing (110).

[0066] According to this configuration of the present invention, even if the electrolyte leaks past the first protrusion (23) and the second protrusion (25), since the battery housing (110) is fitted into the insertion groove (11), the electrolyte can be prevented from leaking to the outside of the battery housing (110). That is, the first protrusion (23), the second protrusion (25), and the insertion groove (11) are provided along the path through which the electrolyte may leak, so that triple sealing can be achieved.

[0067] Fig. 10 is a drawing showing a battery (1) equipped with a collector (120).

[0068] Referring to Fig. 10, the electrolyte injection jig (1) can be applied to a battery (1) having a current collector (120) positioned on a beading portion (111) of a battery housing (110). The battery (1) can include an electrode assembly (130), a battery housing (110) that accommodates the electrode assembly (130), and a current collector (120) that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly (130) and configured to be connected on the beading portion (111) of the battery housing (110).

[0069] In this case, the battery insertion part (20) may be provided with a protrusion (21) at a portion that comes into contact with the battery housing (110) or the current collector (120). The battery insertion part (11) may be provided with a first protrusion (23) at a portion corresponding to the upper portion of the beading part (111) of the battery housing (110). That is, the first protrusion (23) may be configured such that a portion of the circumference thereof comes into contact with the beading part (111) and the remaining portion comes into contact with the current collector (120).

[0070] The current collector (120) can be combined with a non-conductive portion provided on one side of the electrode assembly (130). The current collector (120) can have a current collector hole (121). The current collector hole (121) can be formed at approximately the center of the current collector (120).

[0071]

[0072] Next, a method for injecting an electrolyte according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. In describing the method for injecting an electrolyte according to the present invention, reference will be made to FIGS. 1 to 10 of the present invention as a whole.

[0073]

[0074] The electrolyte injection method according to the present invention is an electrolyte injection method for injecting an electrolyte into a battery (1) through an opening formed on one side of a battery housing (110), and may include an insertion step, a mounting step, a contact step, and an injection step.

[0075] The insertion step may be a step of inserting an electrolyte injection jig (1) into the opening. The settling step may be a step of inserting a battery insertion part (20) provided on the electrolyte injection jig (1) into the opening and settling it on a beading part (111) provided on the battery housing (110). The sealing step may be a step of pressing the electrolyte injection jig (1) in the insertion direction so that an end of the battery insertion part (20) slides and seals the upper portion of the beading part (111). The injection step may be a step of injecting an electrolyte into the battery (1) through the electrolyte injection jig (1).

[0076] The above-mentioned adhesion step may be a step in which the end of the battery insertion portion (11) is folded toward the inside or outside of the battery (1) at the top of the beading portion (111).

[0077] In the electrolyte injection method of the present invention, the battery (1) may include a current collector (120) electrically connected to an electrode assembly (130) accommodated in a battery housing (110). The current collector (120) may be positioned on a beading portion (111). The current collector (120) may be connected to the battery housing (110) discontinuously on the beading portion (111) along the circumferential direction of the battery housing (110).

[0078] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the attached drawings, focusing on preferred embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous obvious modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be construed by the claims, which are written to encompass such numerous modifications.

[0079] [Explanation of drawing reference symbols]

[0080] 1. Electrolyte injection jig

[0081] 10 Device Joint

[0082] 11 Insert Home

[0083] 20 Battery compartment

[0084] 21 protrusions

[0085] 23 First protrusion

[0086] 25 Second protrusion

[0087] 100 battery

[0088] 110 battery housing

[0089] 111 Bidding Department

[0090] 120 whole house

[0091] 121 Whole House Hall

[0092] 130 electrode assembly

[0093] 200 electrolyte supply unit

[0094] A multiple wings

Claims

1. An electrolyte injection jig configured to connect between an electrolyte supply device that supplies electrolyte and an opening formed on one side of a battery housing, It includes a device coupling part coupled with the electrolyte supply device and a battery insertion part inserted into the opening part and configured to be in close contact with the inner surface of the battery housing. The above battery insertion part, An electrolyte injection jig characterized by having a protrusion provided at a portion that comes into contact with the battery housing.

2. In paragraph 1, The above protrusion is, An electrolyte injection jig characterized in that it has a first protrusion provided at a portion that contacts the upper part of the beading portion provided in the battery housing.

3. In paragraph 1, The above protrusion is, An electrolyte injection jig characterized in that it has a second protrusion provided on a portion that is in contact with the inner surface adjacent to the end of the battery housing.

4. In paragraph 2, The above first protrusion is, An electrolyte injection jig characterized by including a plurality of wings extending along the periphery of the battery housing and arranged adjacent to each other along the radial direction of the battery housing.

5. In paragraph 4, The above multiple wings, An electrolyte injection jig characterized in that, as pressure is applied toward the beading portion, the end thereof slides inward or outward along the radial direction of the battery so as to be in close contact with the beading portion of the battery housing.

6. In paragraph 1, The above device coupling part is, An electrolyte injection jig characterized in that it is configured to surround an end of the battery housing.

7. In paragraph 6, The above device coupling part is, An electrolyte injection jig characterized by having an insertion groove formed along the periphery of the battery insertion portion so that an end of the battery housing can be inserted into it.

8. In paragraph 7, An electrolyte injection jig characterized in that the above insertion groove has a width corresponding to the thickness of the battery housing.

9. An electrolyte injection method for injecting electrolyte into a battery through an opening formed on one side of a battery housing, An insertion step of inserting a jig for injecting electrolyte into the above opening; A mounting step of inserting a battery insertion part provided in the electrolyte injection jig into the opening part and mounting it on a beading part provided in the battery housing; A contact step of applying pressure to the electrolyte injection jig in the insertion direction so that the end of the battery insertion part slides and contacts the upper part of the beading part; and An electrolyte injection step of injecting electrolyte into the battery through the above-mentioned electrolyte injection jig; An electrolyte injection method including:

10. In paragraph 9, The above adhesion step is, An electrolyte injection method characterized in that the end of the battery insertion part is folded toward the inside or outside of the battery from the upper part of the beading part.

11. In paragraph 9, The battery includes a current collector electrically connected to an electrode assembly housed within the battery housing, An electrolyte injection method characterized in that the above-mentioned collector is located on the above-mentioned beading portion.

12. In paragraph 11, The above-mentioned entire house, An electrolyte injection method characterized in that the battery housing is connected to the beading portion discontinuously along the circumferential direction of the battery housing.

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