Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Current producing cell – elements – subcombinations and... – Separator – retainer or spacer insulating structure
Patent
1997-05-22
1999-11-23
Nuzzolillo, Maria
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Current producing cell, elements, subcombinations and...
Separator, retainer or spacer insulating structure
429 94, 429161, 429170, 429234, 429238, 429246, H01M 1014, H01M 1044
Patent
active
059897430
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel non-aqueous battery. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a non-aqueous battery comprising (1) a casing, (2) a non-aqueous electrolyte contained in a space defined by an inner wall of the casing, and (3) a spirally wound electrode assembly accommodated in the above-mentioned space, operatively with the non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the spirally wound electrode assembly comprises a cathode (comprising a cathode active material layer), an anode (comprising an anode active material layer) and a separator which are spirally wound together into a spirally wound structure so that the cathode active material layer and the anode active material layer are arranged opposite to each other through the separator, and wherein the battery has a cathode-equipotential metallic segment provided in association with the cathode, in which the cathode-equipotential metallic segment has on at least one side thereof a portion free of a cathode active material layer to provide a cathode-equipotential, exposed metallic portion (.alpha.) longitudinally extending over a length of one wind or more of the spirally wound structure, wherein the cathode-equipotential, exposed metallic portion (.alpha.) Is positioned opposite to an anode-equipotential, exposed metallic portion (.beta.) which is provided, in association with the anode, over a length of one wind or more of the spirally wound structure. The present invention is also concerned with a non-aqueous battery having substantially the same construction as in the above-mentioned battery, except that, in place of the above-mentioned spirally wound electrode assembly, use is made of a stacked laminate electrode assembly or a zigzag-folded laminate electrode assembly, each having substantially the same cathode/separator/anode structure as that of the above-mentioned spirally wound electrode assembly. By virtue of the above-mentioned unique construction of the battery of the present invention, it has become possible to ensure the safety of the battery even when the battery suffers an accident. Specifically, even when the battery of the present invention suffers accidents, such as an accident In which the battery casing is crushed by an external pressure, an accident in which the battery is overcharged by a malfunctioning of a charging circuit or the like, an accident in which the battery is penetrated with a metallic nail or the like, and an accident in which the battery is exposed to heat from an external high-temperature heat source, the battery is adapted to be easily subject to short-circuiting between metallic segments having very low electric resistance, to thereby prevent the occurrence of a rapid temperature elevation in the battery, so that the safety of the battery can be ensured.
2. Prior Art
A conventional lithium ton secondary battery using a non-aqueous electrolytic liquid generally has a construction in which a spirally wound electrode assembly is used, wherein the electrode assembly comprises a cathode sheet (prepared by coating an aluminum foil with a lithium-containing composite metal oxide as a cathode active material), an anode sheet (prepared by coating a copper foil with a carbonaceous material as an anode active material) and a separator composed of a microporous polyethylene film or the like (which is disposed between the cathode sheet and the anode sheet) which are spirally wound together into a spirally wound structure, and in which the electrode assembly is accommodated In a can made of stainless steel, which functions as an outside electrode, such as an outside anode. With respect to the details of the above-mentioned lithium ion secondary battery using a non-aqueous electrolytic liquid, reference can be made, for example, to Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 2-51875 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 5-234620.
The above-mentioned lithium ion secondary battery has various ad
REFERENCES:
patent: 4622277 (1986-11-01), Bedder et al.
patent: 4731304 (1988-03-01), Lundquist et al.
patent: 4879190 (1989-11-01), Lundsgaard
patent: 5147737 (1992-09-01), Post et al.
patent: 5401595 (1995-03-01), Kagawa et al.
patent: 5736270 (1998-04-01), Suzuki et al.
Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Nuzzolillo Maria
Ruthkosky Mark
LandOfFree
Non-aqueous battery does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Non-aqueous battery, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Non-aqueous battery will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1219621