Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Current producing cell – elements – subcombinations and... – Plural cells
Patent
1992-03-30
1993-07-27
Kalafut, Stephen
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Current producing cell, elements, subcombinations and...
Plural cells
429160, 429178, 296234, H01M 226
Patent
active
052309673
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a battery which comprises at least three electrochemical cell units and in particular, to a method and means to interconnect the electrodes of said electrochemical cell units.
In conventional battery design the electrochemical cell units are interconnected by complex systems which are expensive and difficult to install, or by means of simpler systems which may mean the interconnection means is greater in thickness than the battery leading to the problems this may cause.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned with providing a battery which includes an electrochemical cell unit interconnection means which alleviates the above mentioned problems.
A battery according to the present invention comprises a stack of at least three electrochemical cell units each comprising a positive electrode, a solid electrolyte and a negative electrode, the electrodes of the cell units being interconnected by means of a plurality of connector devices characterised in that each connector device (7, 8) comprises a base section (7a, 8a) connected to an electrode and a pair of contact sections (7b, 7c, 8b, 8c) extending from the cell unit, and the connector devices (7, 8) are arranged in two stacks with the pairs of contact sections (7b, 7c, 8b, 8c) of the devices in each stack overlying one another to form two sets of contact sections, adjacent contact sections 7b, 7c, 8b, 8c) of each set being interconnected with successive interconnections throughout each stack of connector devices alternating between the two sets of contact sections.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the battery also includes two terminal members, wherein each terminal member includes a main body section having a contact means so as to enable connection to apparatus to be driven by the battery or recharging means; and an arm like member in close proximity to the main body section throughout its length.
Preferably, the arm like member is L-shaped and the terminal is formed by cutting a piece of material to form the main body section and the arm like member.
The terminal may be manufactured from any suitable electrically conductive material, for example, stainless steel.
According to a second aspect, the present invention, comprises a method of interconnecting at least three electrochemical cell units of a battery characterised by providing each with a connector device (7, 8) with a base section (7a, 8a) by which it is connected to an electrode of the cell unit and a pair of contact sections (7b, 7c, 8b, 8c) which extend from the cell unit (1), arranging the cell units (1) in a stack so that the connector devices (7, 8) form two stacks with the pairs of contact sections (7b, 7c, 8b, 8c) of the devices in each stack overlying one another to form two sets of contact sections, and interconnecting adjacent contact sections (7b, 7c, 8b, 8c) of each set so that successive interconnections throughout each stack of connector devices alternate between the two sets of contact sections.
The present invention enables connection, in a simple and effective manner, between the electrochemical components in a battery. It can therefore be used t effect electrical connection between individual electrochemical cells or groups/combinations of electrochemical cells.
For example, the present invention can be used to effect the electrical connections necessary to produce a battery in which the electrochemical cells are stacked in parallel or series.
Alternatively the present invention can be used to effect the electrical connections necessary to produce a battery in which groups of electrochemical cells, which have been previously stacked (parallel stack/series stack/Bi polar stack), are stacked in parallel or series.
In a preferred example of the present invention the battery comprises a lithium metal or lithium alloy negative electrode and the connector devices are manufactured from stainless steel.
Preferably, the contact sections of the connector devices are connected together by spot welding.
DESCRIPTIO
REFERENCES:
patent: 3597277 (1971-08-01), Dickfeldt et al.
patent: 3783030 (1974-01-01), Tietze
patent: 3841915 (1974-10-01), Eberle
patent: 4098966 (1978-07-01), Brown
patent: 4452869 (1984-06-01), DeMoully et al.
patent: 4554227 (1985-11-01), Takagaki et al.
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