Sealed Cell Terminal Reconnection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no established method to safely handle a secondary cell after a Current Interrupt Device (CID) has activated due to overcharge, particularly when the safety valve remains unopened, making it difficult to recycle or dispose of such cells.
Innovation Solution
A sealed cell design featuring a deformed terminal, inversion plate, and shaft member that allows for hermetic reconnection of internal terminals after the CID has interrupted charging, enabling safe discharge and disposal by re-establishing an electric path between the terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a CID is activated to interrupt charging in an overcharged state, then cell safety is improved, but the cell becomes difficult to handle and dispose of
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables recovery of the cell after CID activation by providing a mechanism to restore electrical continuity. The through-hole in the inversion plate and the shaft member allow reconnection of the electrical path, enabling the cell to be discharged and properly disposed of or recycled after safety intervention
2Reliability
If the inversion plate is deformed to interrupt conduction, then overcharge protection is achieved, but the cell cannot be discharged or recycled
Solution Approach 1:
The inversion plate is designed as a deformable component that can change its state. It can be deformed from a flat state (allowing conduction) to an inverted state (interrupting conduction), and back again through the shaft member mechanism, enabling dynamic control of electrical continuity based on cell conditions
3Manufacturing precision
If the through hole in the inversion plate is positioned to allow pressure transmission, then CID activation pressure sensitivity is improved, but the structural integrity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inversion plate has different properties in different regions: it has a through-hole in the central area to allow pressure transmission and CID activation, while the surrounding rim area maintains structural strength. This local differentiation allows the plate to be both pressure-sensitive and structurally sound
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and easy disposal of cells after a CID has activated by allowing reconnection of internal terminals, ensuring the cell can be safely discharged and recycled without disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
when internal pressure of the cell case rises beyond working pressure, at least the part of the inversion plate is deformed to invert away from the inner terminal
Implementation Method 2
at least the part of the inversion plate is deformed to invert away from the inner terminal
Implementation Method 3
the top portion is pressed from outside and moved within the protruding portion to press the inversion plate inward
Data Source
AI summary
A cell has: a pole terminal placed on outside of a cell case; a deformed terminal fixing the pole terminal to the case by a base surface portion and a protruding portion; an inversion plate attached to the base surface portion and interrupting conduction between the internal terminal and the deformed terminal by inversion deforming away from the internal terminal at least at a portion when the internal pressure of the case increases beyond working pressure; and a shaft member having at least a part of the top portion placed in the protruding portion, and reestablishing conduction between the internal terminal and the deformed terminal after the inversion plate inverted by the top portion being pressed from the outside and thereby being moved inside the protruding section to press the inversion plate inward. A sealed space is provided between the deformed terminal and the inversion plate.