Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Cell support for removable cell – Having switch or interlock means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-27
2001-04-17
Nuzzolillo, Maria (Department: 1745)
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Cell support for removable cell
Having switch or interlock means
C429S099000, C429S100000, C429S159000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06218042
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device for assembling electrochemical cells together, such as non-rechargeable cells, to make up a battery.
To make up a battery of non-rechargeable cells, one known solution is to put them in a housing which is closed by a cover that is welded or glued in place. The non-rechargeable cells are then no longer visible, and identification means are necessary. In addition, the housing is voluminous. Finally the method of assembly is quite costly because it requires parts having very different shapes and because it requires a plurality of steps.
It is also known for the non-rechargeable cells to be assembled together under a heat-shrinkable sheath. With that known solution, identification means are also necessary. Furthermore, the heat-shrinking method is difficult to control and to industrialize. Finally, the resulting sheath is not strong enough.
Another solution consists in putting the battery between two end plates placed one at each end. The end plates can be glued or force fitted to the ends of the battery, in which case the assembly is not strong enough, or else a separate part can be mounted to couple the end plates together mechanically, which complicates assembly and increases the number of parts required.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,440 discloses a device for assembling together four cylindrical electrochemical cells side-by-side to form a battery, the device comprising two elements, each of which constitutes a base against which the ends of said cells can bear; one of the elements is provided with elongate prongs for coupling to the other element; the two elements are provided with complementary snap-fastening means that co-operate to hold the two elements assembled together at the ends of said cells. Unfortunately, the cost of that solution is high because the two elements are different, and they require two different injection molds, they need to be stored differently, and they need keying means to be provided for putting them in position for assembly purposes.
Document DE-2 805 067 describes a device for assembling together same-diameter cylindrical objects to form a column. That device is made up of two identical elements, each of which includes a base against which the end of a cell can bear, and one or more longitudinal walls provided with longitudinal recesses, the walls being reinforced on their inside faces. The two elements are provided with centering members, and they are held together in particular by heat sealing. That assembly of electrochemical cells is not strong enough to withstand high stress or impact.
Documents JP-A-6 243 849 and JP-A-8 203 488 also disclose various assembly elements.
An object of the invention is to remedy those drawbacks by providing a novel device for assembling together non-rechargeable cells or other electrochemical cells to form a battery, the device being compact and low cost.
Furthermore, the device should enable the wires and the connectors to pass out through it and it should hold the battery together strongly. Advantageously, it should be non-disassemblable.
The invention achieves this object by means of a device for assembling electrochemical cells together side-by-side to form a battery, the device being made up of two identical elements, said device being characterized in that each of said elements comprises a base against which the ends of said cells can bear, said base being formed of an end wall surrounded by an edge band, at least one elongate coupling prong for coupling to the other element, which prong is integrally molded with said edge band from which it projects perpendicularly, and complementary means co-operating to hold the two elements assembled together at the ends of said cells, said complementary means consisting firstly of a tooth formed on the prong of one of the elements and projecting in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the assembly direction, and secondly of a recess in the edge band of the other element for receiving said tooth so as to snap-fasten.
The presence of an edge band makes it possible to hold the elements laterally and to reinforce the resistance to impact of the assembly of cells. The edge band must be high enough to make the assembly strong, but low enough to avoid making the device heavier and more costly.
The edge band is advantageously is provided with a notch enabling electrical connections to pass through. Wires may pass through axially or radially.
The two parts required to hold together a battery are exactly identical, and they can be made of semi-rigid plastic by injection molding in a single mold.
To assemble the battery, it is merely necessary to place the parts around the non-rechargeable cells and to snap-fasten them together head-to-tail. No other fixing means are necessary to provide strength for the battery of cells assembled together by the device of the invention. Once it is inserted in the recesses, the teeth lock the assembly, and the parts can no longer be separated.
The parts hold the cells together strongly, they insulate them electrically and mechanically from the surrounding environment (e.g. from impact from hard parts or aggressive objects), and they permit identification (the cells remain visible).
The holding and coupling system of the invention is external to the battery and it is remarkable in that it takes up no space or very little space outside the volume of the envelope occupied by the battery itself.
Furthermore, the empty volume provided inside the envelope volume makes it possible optionally to include safety or other components (electronic components, wires, etc.). Advantageously, the inside face of the prong is shaped to increase the empty volume further.
The device can be adapted to suit any number of cells. In its simplest embodiment, it enables two cylindrical cells to be assembled together. The end walls of the elements are substantially rectangular with rounded corners, and a single prong per element is sufficient to provide good holding strength.
To assemble together four cells, the end walls are square with rounded corners, and each element is provided either with a single prong, or with two prongs disposed on two sides of the square end wall. Moreover, the invention is adaptable to suit various shapes (cylindrical, prismatic) and sizes of cell.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4965148 (1990-10-01), Daio et al.
patent: 5709963 (1998-01-01), Sim
Naudet Jean-Paul
Potiron Francis
Alcatel
Nuzzolillo Maria
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
Wills Monique M.
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