Battery cover plate and battery

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of secondary batteries, and disclosed are a battery cover plate and a battery. The battery cover plate comprises: a terminal post; an electrically conductive member connected to the terminal post; a sealing ring sleeved on the terminal post, wherein a bottom side of the sealing ring abuts against the electrically conductive member; and a fixing assembly sleeved on the terminal post, wherein the fixing assembly abuts against a top side of the sealing ring and presses the sealing ring, a reserved space is provided between the fixing assembly and the sealing ring before the sealing ring is compressed, the compressed volume of the sealing ring is V1, and the volume of the reserved space is V2, meeting 0.4V1≤V2≤V1. In the present application, when the sealing ring is pressed for sealing, by means of controlling the volume of the reserved space by limitation, it is ensured that the reserved space is filled with the sealing ring, and the situation where the fixing assembly is pressed by the sealing ring to deform due to an excessively small volume of the reserved space is also prevented.

Description

Battery cover plate and battery

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202410734720.4, filed on June 7, 2024, and entitled "Battery cover plate and battery", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to the technical field of secondary batteries, in particular to a battery cover plate and a battery. BACKGROUND

[0004] With the continuous development of the battery industry, lithium ion batteries are widely used in the fields of vehicles, mobile devices and the like due to their high energy density. Among them, the battery cover plate is an important component for ensuring the safety of the battery, and the sealing ring in the battery cover plate plays a crucial role in sealing and insulation.

[0005] However, most batteries do not control the use of the sealing ring, resulting in poor sealing of the battery and unguaranteed sealing performance. SUMMARY

[0006] Therefore, the present application provides a battery cover plate and a battery to solve the problem of poor sealing of the battery and unguaranteed sealing performance.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a battery cover plate, comprising: a pole; a conductive part connected with the pole; a sealing ring sleeved on the pole, the bottom side of the sealing ring abutting against the conductive part; a fixing assembly sleeved on the pole, the fixing assembly abutting against the top side of the sealing ring and pressing the sealing ring, the fixing assembly and the sealing ring having a reserved space before the sealing ring is compressed; the compressed volume of the sealing ring is V1, the volume of the reserved space is V2, and 0.4V1≤V2≤V1 is satisfied.

[0008] Beneficial effect: when the sealing ring is compressed and sealed, the volume of the reserved space is limited and controlled, so that the reserved space is filled with the sealing ring while preventing the fixing assembly from being deformed due to the small volume of the reserved space.

[0009] In an optional embodiment, the fixing assembly comprises a ceramic column and a spacer ring, the ceramic column is connected with the spacer ring, the ceramic column is sleeved on the pole, the ceramic column abuts against the sealing ring, the spacer ring is sleeved on the sealing ring, and the ceramic column, the spacer ring and the sealing ring form the reserved space.

[0010] Beneficial effects: the ceramic column and the ring-shaped gasket further improve the sealing performance of the battery cover plate while fixing the sealing ring.

[0011] In an alternative embodiment, the sealing ring comprises a first ring body and a second ring body arranged in layers, the top side of the first ring body is in abutment with the ceramic column, the bottom side of the first ring body is connected to the top side of the second ring body, the bottom side of the second ring body is in abutment with the conductive part, the ring-shaped gasket has a corresponding surface spaced apart from the outer ring of the first ring body, the corresponding surface is used to enclose the reserved space, the ring-shaped gasket is sleeved on the second ring body, the compression amount of the sealing ring is a, the inner diameter of the first ring body is b, the outer diameter of the first ring body is c, the inner diameter of the ring-shaped gasket at the corresponding surface is d, the height of the reserved space is h, the compressed volume V1 of the sealing ring is [π(c / 2) 2 -π(b / 2) 2 ]×a, and the volume V2 of the reserved space is [π(d / 2) 2 -π(c / 2) 2 ]×h.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, the ceramic column is surface brazed to the ring-shaped gasket, and / or the ceramic column is surface brazed to the pole column.

[0013] Beneficial effects: the ceramic column is brazed to the ring-shaped gasket or the pole column, the connection strength is high, the sealing performance is good, and the structure after brazing connection is resistant to corrosion.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment, the battery cover plate further comprises a top cover body, and the top cover body is connected to the ring-shaped gasket.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the battery cover plate further comprises an insulating strip arranged between the top cover body and the conductive part, and the insulating strip is connected to the sealing ring, and / or the top cover body is welded to the ring-shaped gasket.

[0016] Beneficial effects: the insulating pad improves the insulation effect of the battery cover plate, and the top cover body is welded to the ring-shaped gasket, further improving the sealing effect of the battery cover plate.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the compression amount of the sealing ring is a, the thickness of the sealing ring is A, the compression rate X of the sealing ring is (a / A)×100%, and 8%≤X≤45%.

[0018] Beneficial effects: by controlling the compression rate of the sealing ring, the sealing performance is met, plastic deformation is prevented due to excessive compression of the sealing ring, and the service life of the sealing ring is prevented from being affected.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment, the pole includes a pole body and a cap body, the pole body is connected with the cap body, the conductive piece is sleeved on the pole body, the sealing ring is sleeved on the pole body and arranged between the conductive piece and the cap body, and the fixing assembly is sleeved on the pole body and arranged between the conductive piece and the cap body.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, the pole body is connected with the conductive piece by laser welding.

[0021] Beneficial effects: the pole body and the conductive piece are connected by laser welding, the welding speed is fast, the welding scar is small, the influence on the insulation performance of the material is small, and the insulation performance of the battery cover plate is protected.

[0022] In a second aspect, the application further provides a battery including the battery cover plate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the drawings needed in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present application, and other drawings can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor.

[0024] Fig. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cover plate (the sealing ring is not compressed) according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Fig. 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at Y in Fig. 1;

[0026] Fig. 3 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cover plate (the sealing ring is not compressed) according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Fig. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a pole according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Legend: 10, pole; 11, pole body; 12, cap body; 20, conductive piece; 30, sealing ring; 31, first ring body; 32, second ring body; 40, fixing assembly; 41, ceramic column; 42, spacer ring; 50, top cover body; 60, insulating band; 70, reserved space; 80, overlapping part. EMBODIMENTS

[0029] In order to make the purposes, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0030] The embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0031] According to the embodiments of the present application, in one aspect, a battery cover plate is provided, comprising a pole 10, a conductive part 20, a sealing ring 30, and a fixing assembly 40. The conductive part 20 is arranged in connection with the pole 10. The sealing ring 30 is sleeved on the pole 10, and the bottom side of the sealing ring 30 abuts against the conductive part 20. The fixing assembly 40 is sleeved on the pole 10, and abuts against and presses the sealing ring 30 on the top side of the sealing ring 30. Before the sealing ring 30 is compressed, a reserved space 70 is formed between the fixing assembly 40 and the sealing ring 30. The compressed volume of the sealing ring 30 is V1, the volume of the reserved space 70 is V2, and 0.4V1≤V2≤V1 is satisfied.

[0032] When the sealing ring 30 is compressed and sealed in the battery cover plate of the present embodiment, the volume of the reserved space 70 is limited and controlled, so that the reserved space 70 is filled with the sealing ring 30 while preventing the fixing assembly 40 from being deformed by the sealing ring 30 due to the too small volume of the reserved space 70.

[0033] Specifically, please refer to FIG. 2, the part enclosed by the long dashed line in FIG. 2 is the overlapping part 80, that is, the part of the sealing ring that is compressed; and the part enclosed by the short dashed line in the figure is the reserved space 70.

[0034] It should be noted that the actual shape of the overlapping part 80 and the reserved space 70 is annular.

[0035] It should be noted that please refer to FIG. 2, which shows the state of the sealing ring 30 before being compressed. Theoretically, the compressed volume V1 of the sealing ring 30 is equal to the volume of the overlapping part 80 of the sealing ring 30 and the fixing assembly 40 in the figure. After the sealing ring 30 is compressed, the overlapping part 80 shown in FIG. 2 is extruded into the reserved space 70 and fills the reserved space 70.

[0036] Specifically, please refer to FIG. 1. The upper side of the figure is the outside direction of the battery cover plate, and the lower side of the figure is the inside direction of the battery cover plate. The sealing ring 30 is arranged outside the conductive part 20, and the fixing assembly 40 is at least partially arranged outside the sealing ring 30.

[0037] It should be noted that when V2 < 0.4V1, the reserved space 70 is completely filled by the sealing ring 30 without gap, but the spacer ring 42 is deformed by the sealing ring 30, which does not meet the requirements; when V2 > V1, the reserved space 70 is not filled by the sealing ring 30, and there is a gap, which does not meet the requirements.

[0038] It should be noted that when the battery cover plate is assembled, the fixing assembly 40 exerts pressure on the sealing ring 30, and the sealing ring 30 is deformed under pressure to fill the reserved space 70.

[0039] Specifically, in the embodiment, the sealing ring 30 is a fluororubber sealing ring 30.

[0040] It should be noted that theoretically, the volume V2 of the reserved space 70 is equal to the compressed volume V1 of the sealing ring 30, but considering the influence of the material of the sealing ring 30, the ratio of V2 to V1 needs to be adjusted.

[0041] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing assembly 40 includes a ceramic column 41 and a spacer ring 42, the ceramic column 41 is connected with the spacer ring 42, the ceramic column 41 is sleeved on the pole column 10, the ceramic column 41 abuts against the sealing ring 30, the spacer ring 42 is sleeved on the sealing ring 30, and the reserved space 70 is formed between the ceramic column 41, the spacer ring 42 and the sealing ring 30.

[0042] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the sealing ring 30 includes a first ring body 31 and a second ring body 32 arranged in layers, the top side of the first ring body 31 abuts against the ceramic column 41, the bottom side of the first ring body 31 is connected with the top side of the second ring body 32, the spacer ring 42 has a corresponding surface arranged in a spaced manner with the outer ring of the first ring body 31, the corresponding surface is used to enclose the reserved space 70, the spacer ring 42 is sleeved on the second ring body 32, the bottom side of the second ring body 32 abuts against the conductive piece 20, the compression amount of the sealing ring 30 is a, the inner diameter of the first ring body 31 is b, the outer diameter of the first ring body 31 is c, the inner diameter of the spacer ring 42 at the corresponding surface is d, the height of the reserved space 70 is h, the compressed volume V1 of the sealing ring 30 is [π(c / 2) 2 -π(b / 2) 2 ]×a, and the volume V2 of the reserved space 70 is [π(d / 2) 2 -π(c / 2) 2 ]×h.

[0043] Specifically, referring to FIG. 2, the ceramic column 41 abuts against the first ring body 31 of the sealing ring 30, the spacer ring 42 abuts against the second ring body 32 of the sealing ring 30, and the reserved space 70 is formed between the ceramic column 41, the spacer ring 42, the first ring body 31 and the second ring body 32.

[0044] It should be noted that the ceramic column 41 is annular, and when the ceramic column 41 is installed, the ceramic column 41 exerts pressure on the surface of the first ring body 31 of the sealing ring 30, and the first ring body 31 of the sealing ring 30 is deformed and compressed downward.

[0045] Specifically, referring to FIG. 3, the spacer ring 42 is divided into a first ring body and a second ring body, and the corresponding surface is the inner diameter surface of the first ring body. The first ring body of the spacer ring 42 and the ceramic column 41, the first ring body 31 and the second ring body 32 form a reserved space 70. The inner diameter of the reserved space 70 is equal to the outer diameter of the first ring body 31, and the outer diameter of the reserved space 70 is equal to the inner diameter of the first ring body of the spacer ring 42. The inner diameter of the first ring body of the spacer ring 42 is d.

[0046] Specifically, in this embodiment, the spacer ring 42 is an aluminum spacer ring.

[0047] Of course, in other alternative embodiments, the spacer ring 42 can also be made of other materials.

[0048] It should be noted that the ceramic column 41 and the spacer ring 42 not only fix the sealing ring 30, but also further improve the sealing performance of the battery cover plate.

[0049] In one embodiment, the ceramic column 41 and the spacer ring 42 are surface brazing connection; the ceramic column 41 and the pole column 10 are surface brazing connection.

[0050] Of course, in other alternative embodiments, brazing connection can also be used only between the ceramic column 41 and the spacer ring 42, and other connection methods can be used between the ceramic column 41 and the pole column 10; or brazing connection can also be used only between the ceramic column 41 and the pole column 10, and other connection methods can be used between the ceramic column 41 and the spacer ring 42.

[0051] Of course, in other alternative embodiments, the ceramic column 41 and the spacer ring 42, and the ceramic column 41 and the pole column 10 can also adopt other welding methods, such as friction stir welding.

[0052] It should be noted that the ceramic column 41 and the spacer ring 42 or the pole column 10 are connected by brazing, which has high connection strength, good sealing performance, and strong corrosion resistance after brazing connection.

[0053] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the battery cover plate further comprises a top cover body 50, and the top cover body 50 is connected with the spacer ring 42.

[0054] It should be noted that the top cover body 50 is welded with the spacer ring 42.

[0055] It should be noted that the top cover body 50 prevents the spacer ring 42 from expanding and deforming outward after being extruded.

[0056] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the battery cover plate further comprises an insulating strip 60, which is arranged between the top cover body 50 and the conductive part 20, and is connected with the sealing ring 30.

[0057] Specifically, in the embodiment, the insulating strip 60 is a lower plastic.

[0058] It is worth noting that the insulation effect of the battery cover plate is improved by arranging the insulating pad.

[0059] In one embodiment, the top cover body 50 is welded with the spacer ring 42.

[0060] It is worth noting that the top cover body 50 is welded with the spacer ring 42, which further strengthens the sealing effect of the battery cover plate.

[0061] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the compression amount of the sealing ring 30 is a, the thickness of the sealing ring 30 is A, and the compression rate X of the sealing ring 30 = (a / A) x 100%, which satisfies 8%≤X≤45%.

[0062] It is worth noting that the measurement method of the compression amount a of the sealing ring 30 is to cut the center of the pole 10 of the battery cover plate and observe the compressed length of the sealing ring 30 under a magnifying glass.

[0063] It is worth noting that when X<8%, the helium detection test and the penetrant test do not pass, and the sealing property of the battery cover plate does not meet the requirements; when X>45%, the helium detection test and the penetrant test pass, but the sealing ring 30 produces plastic deformation, the strength of the sealing ring 30 is reduced, and the requirements are not met.

[0064] It is worth noting that by controlling the compression rate of the sealing ring 30, the sealing performance is met, plastic deformation of the sealing ring 30 caused by excessive compression is prevented, and the service life of the sealing ring 30 is not affected.

[0065] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the pole 10 comprises a column body 11 and a cap body 12, the column body 11 is connected with the cap body 12, the conductive part 20 is sleeved on the column body 11, the sealing ring 30 is sleeved on the column body 11 and arranged between the conductive part 20 and the cap body 12, and the fixing assembly 40 is sleeved on the column body 11 and arranged between the conductive part 20 and the cap body 12.

[0066] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the ceramic column 41 is sleeved between the sealing ring 30 and the cap body 12, and the spacer ring 42 is arranged between the ceramic column 41 and the conductive part 20.

[0067] In one embodiment, the column body 11 is laser welded with the conductive part 20.

[0068] Of course, in other alternative embodiments, the column body 11 and the conductive member 20 can also be connected in other ways, such as riveting, etc.

[0069] It is worth noting that the column body 11 and the conductive member 20 are connected by laser welding, which has the advantages of fast welding speed, small welding scar, little influence on the insulation performance of the material, and is conducive to protecting the insulation performance of the battery cover plate.

[0070] Next, the battery cover plates with different V1 / V2 ratios are subjected to metallographic sectioning tests to observe the compression state of the sealing ring 30 and the state of the reserved space 70. The specific test results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[0071] Table 1 Metallographic sectioning test results

[0072] Table 2 Metallographic sectioning test results

[0073] As can be seen from the test results in Table 1, in Examples 01 to 12, the value of (V2 / V1) x 100% is in the range of 40% to 100%, i.e., the value of V2 / V1 is between 0.4 and 1. In this case, the reserved space 70 is completely filled with the sealing ring 30, there is no gap, and the spacer ring 42 is not deformed by the sealing ring 30.

[0074] As can be seen from the test results in Table 2, in Comparative Examples 01 to 03, the value of (V2 / V1) x 100% is greater than 100%, i.e., the value of V2 / V1 is greater than 1. In this case, the reserved space 70 is not filled with the sealing ring 30, and there is a gap. Therefore, V2 > V1, the reserved space 70 is not filled with the sealing ring 30, and there is a gap, which does not meet the requirements.

[0075] As can be seen from the test results in Table 2, in Comparative Examples 04 to 07, the value of (V2 / V1) x 100% is less than 40%, i.e., the value of V2 / V1 is less than 0.4. In this case, the reserved space 70 is completely filled with the sealing ring 30, there is no gap, but the spacer ring 42 is deformed by the sealing ring 30. Therefore, V2 < 0.4V1, the reserved space 70 is completely filled with the sealing ring 30, there is no gap, but the spacer ring 42 is deformed by the sealing ring 30, which does not meet the requirements.

[0076] It is worth noting that in combination with the test results in Tables 1 and 2, when 0.4V1≤V2≤V1, the reserved space 70 is filled with the sealing ring 30 while preventing the fixed assembly 40 from being deformed by the sealing ring 30 due to the small volume of the reserved space 70.

[0077] The battery cover plates with different compression rates of the sealing ring 30 were subjected to the sealing performance test, including the helium detection test and the penetrant test, and the specific test results are shown in Tables 3 and 4.

[0078] Specifically, the helium detection test includes: using a helium mass spectrometer to detect the air tightness of the battery cover plate, and the test requires that the battery cover plate is not leaked at 1.2 MPa air pressure for 30 s from the inside to the outside and from the outside to the inside at the pole 10 of the battery cover plate, and the actual leakage rate of the helium detection is less than 1*10 -7 Pa*m 3 / s.

[0079] Specifically, the penetrant test includes: cleaning-penetration-imaging.

[0080] Further, the dirt on the surface of the battery cover plate is cleaned with a cleaning agent, and is placed for 5 min to 10 min; after the surface of the battery cover plate is dried, the penetrant is applied, the nozzle is 20 mm to 30 mm away from the surface of the battery cover plate, and the penetration time is generally 5 min to 15 min, so that the surface of the battery cover plate is fully wetted by the penetrant; after the developing agent is fully shaken, the battery cover plate is uniformly sprayed at a distance of 300 mm, and after the developing agent is sprayed, the battery cover plate is disassembled, and then observed.

[0081] It should be noted that if no penetrant residue is found at the sealing ring 30, it means that the penetrant test is passed.

[0082] Table 3: Sealing performance test results

[0083] Table 4: Sealing performance test results

[0084] As can be seen from the test results in Table 3, in Examples 01 to 10, the compression rate X of the sealing ring 30 is in the range of 8% to 45%, in which case the cover plate helium detection test and the penetrant test are passed, and the sealing performance requirements are met.

[0085] As can be seen from the test results in Table 4, in Comparative Examples 01 to 04, the compression rate X of the sealing ring 30 is less than 8%, in which case the helium detection test and the penetrant test are not passed. Therefore, X<8%, the helium detection test and the penetrant test are not passed, and the sealing performance of the battery cover plate does not meet the requirements.

[0086] As can be seen from the test results in Table 4, in Comparative Examples 05 to 08, the compression rate X of the sealing ring 30 is greater than 45%, in which case the helium detection test and the penetrant test are passed, but the sealing ring 30 is plastically deformed. Therefore, X>45%, the helium detection test and the penetrant test are passed, but the sealing ring 30 is plastically deformed, the strength of the sealing ring 30 is reduced, and the requirements are not met.

[0087] It is worth mentioning that, in combination with the test results of Table 3 and Table 4, when 8%≤X≤45%, the sealing performance is met while preventing the sealing ring 30 from being compressed too much to produce plastic deformation, preventing the service life of the sealing ring 30 from being affected.

[0088] According to the embodiments of the present application, in another aspect, a battery is also provided, which comprises the battery cover plate described above.

[0089] Although the embodiments of the present application are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application, and such modifications and changes fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery cover plate, characterized by, The battery cover plate comprises: a pole column; a conductive piece arranged in connection with the pole column; a sealing ring sleeved on the pole column, a bottom side of the sealing ring abutting against the conductive piece; a fixing assembly sleeved on the pole column, the fixing assembly abutting against and pressing a top side of the sealing ring, the fixing assembly and the sealing ring having a reserved space before the sealing ring is compressed; a compressed volume of the sealing ring is V1, a volume of the reserved space is V2, and 0.4V1≤V2≤V1 is satisfied; the fixing assembly comprises a ceramic column and a spacer ring, the ceramic column is connected with the spacer ring, the ceramic column is sleeved on the pole column, the ceramic column abuts against the sealing ring, the spacer ring is sleeved on the sealing ring, and the ceramic column, the spacer ring and the sealing ring enclose the reserved space; The sealing ring comprises a first ring body and a second ring body arranged in layers, the top side of the first ring body is in abutment with the ceramic column, the bottom side of the first ring body is connected with the top side of the second ring body, the bottom side of the second ring body is in abutment with the conductive part, the spacer ring has a corresponding surface arranged in opposite spacing with the outer ring of the first ring body, the corresponding surface is used for enclosing the reserved space, the spacer ring is sleeved on the second ring body, the compression amount of the sealing ring is a, the inner diameter of the first ring body is b, the outer diameter of the first ring body is c, the inner diameter of the spacer ring at the corresponding surface is d, the height of the reserved space is h, the compressed volume V1 of the sealing ring is [π(c / 2) 2 -π(b / 2) 2 ]×a, the volume V2 of the reserved space is [π(d / 2) 2 -π(c / 2) 2 ]×h.

2. The battery cover plate of claim 1, wherein, the ceramic column and the spacer ring are surface brazing connected; and / or, the ceramic column and the pole column are surface brazing connected.

3. The battery cover plate of claim 1, wherein, The battery cover plate further comprises a top cover body, the top cover body is connected with the spacer ring.

4. The battery cover plate of claim 3, wherein, The battery cover plate further comprises an insulating tape, the insulating tape is arranged between the top cover body and the conductive piece, the insulating tape is connected with the sealing ring; and / or, the top cover body and the spacer ring are welding connected.

5. The battery cover plate of any one of claims 1-4, wherein, A compression amount of the sealing ring is a, a thickness of the sealing ring is A, a compression rate X of the sealing ring is (a / A)×100%, and 8%≤X≤45% is satisfied.

6. The battery cover plate of any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The pole column comprises a column body and a cap body, the column body is connected with the cap body, the conductive piece is sleeved on the column body, the sealing ring is sleeved on the column body and arranged between the conductive piece and the cap body, and the fixing assembly is sleeved on the column body and arranged between the conductive piece and the cap body.

7. The battery cover plate of claim 6, wherein, The column body and the conductive piece are laser welding connected.

8. A battery, characterized by The battery cover plate comprises any one of claims 1 to 7. The battery cover plate comprises any one of claims 1 to 7.

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