Electric double layer device

Abstract

An electric double layer device is configured such that a lower terminal is directly withdrawn from a lower collecting plate in the same manner as the manner in which an upper terminal is directly withdrawn from an upper collecting plate, thereby improving productivity and ease of assembly, and in addition increasing connection force.

Claims

1. An electric double layer device comprising: an electrode unit comprising a first current collector and a second current collector separated from each other by a separator; a case comprising an upper opening and a lower closure; a lower collecting plate connected to the first current collector, the lower collecting plate having a lower terminal extending toward the upper opening along an outer circumference of the electrode unit, wherein the lower terminal includes a bottom surface facing the electrode unit; a lower insulating plate placed on the lower closure of the case to receive the lower collecting plate; an upper collecting plate connected to the second current collector, the upper collecting plate having an upper terminal extending toward the upper opening; an upper insulating plate placed over the upper collecting plate, wherein the upper insulating plate includes a first surface facing the electrode unit and a second surface facing the upper opening, wherein the first surface of the upper insulating plate is in direct physical contact with the upper collecting plate, and wherein the second surface of the upper insulating plate is in direct physical contact with the bottom surface of the lower terminal of the lower collecting plate; and an upper nonconductive plate fitted in the case to cover the upper opening, the upper nonconductive plate having a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal respectively connected to the lower terminal and the upper terminal.

2. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first through hole and a second through hole formed respectively through the lower closure of the case and the lower insulating plate; a rubber plug fitted in an upper part of the first through hole to seal the first through hole; and a closure plug fitted in a lower part of the first through hole.

3. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, wherein: the lower terminal is bent so as to be placed above the upper insulating plate, and is bent upward so as to be connected to the first connection terminal, the upper insulating plate has therein a through hole, through which the upper terminal extends, and the upper terminal is bent so as to be connected to the second connection terminal.

4. The electric double layer device according to claim 3, wherein each of the upper and lower terminals includes a U-shaped portion.

5. The electric double layer device of claim 3, further comprising an upper insulating ring in physical contact with an edge of the upper insulation plate.

6. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower terminals are respectively integrally formed with the upper and lower collecting plates.

7. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, wherein the upper insulating plate is configured to press the upper collecting plate toward the electrode unit.

8. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, wherein the upper collecting plate includes a body portion from which the upper terminal extends, and wherein the body portion is covered by the first surface of the upper insulating plate.

9. The electric double layer device according to claim 8, wherein the upper insulating plate has a through-hole through which the upper terminal passes so as to be exposed from the upper insulating plate.

10. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, further comprising an upper insulating ring surrounding the upper insulating plate and configured to press a portion of the lower terminal of the lower collecting plate against the upper insulating plate.

11. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower terminals of the upper and lower collecting plates respectively include first and second through-holes foamed at their ends thereof and configured to respectively receive the first and second connection terminals to respectively connect the lower and upper terminals of the upper and lower collecting plates to the first and second connection terminals.

12. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, wherein the lower terminal includes a folded portion disposed between the electrode unit and the upper opening of the case.

13. The electric double layer device according to claim 12, wherein the folded portion includes an upper portion and a lower portion that overlap each other in a direction extending from the lower closure to the upper opening.

14. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode unit is a winding type electrode unit.

15. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, wherein the upper insulating plate surrounds side surfaces of the second current collector.

16. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, wherein the upper insulating plate includes end portions that are formed on opposing ends thereof and are bent toward the lower closure to form bent portions.

17. The electric double layer device according to claim 16, wherein the lower terminal directly contacts the bent portions of the upper insulating plate.

18. The electric double layer device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the lower terminal is substantially parallel to a top surface of the electrode unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of a general electric double layer device;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a principle whereby an electric double layer capacitor, applied to a general electric double layer device, is charged;

(4) FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a principle whereby the electric double layer capacitor applied to the general electric layer device is charged and discharged;

(5) FIG. 4 is a view showing a process of manufacturing an electric double layer capacitor according to Related Art Document 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a method of manufacturing an integrated electric double layer capacitor according to Related Art Document 1;

(7) FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a process of manufacturing an electrode device that constitutes the electric double layer capacitor according to Related Art Document 1;

(8) FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing an electric double layer device according to Related Art Document 2;

(9) FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the electric double layer device according to Related Art Document 2;

(10) FIG. 9A is a plan view showing a wound unit for the electric double layer device according to Related Art Document 2;

(11) FIG. 9B is a half-sectional view showing the wound unit for the electric double layer device according to Related Art Document 2;

(12) FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing an electric double layer device according to the present invention;

(13) FIGS. 11A to 11K are perspective views showing a process of assembling the electric double layer device according to the present invention;

(14) FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the electric double layer device according to the present invention;

(15) FIG. 13A is a plan view showing a wound unit that is applied to the electric double layer device according to the present invention;

(16) FIG. 13B is a half-sectional view showing the wound unit that is applied to the electric double layer device according to the present invention; and

(17) FIG. 13C is a development view showing the wound unit that is applied to the electric double layer device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(18) An exemplary embodiment of an electric double layer device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A plurality of embodiments may be provided. The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the embodiment.

(19) FIG. 13A is a plan view showing a wound applied to an electric double layer device according to the present invention, FIG. 13B is a half-sectional view showing the wound unit that is applied to the electric double layer device according to the present invention, and FIG. 13C is a development view showing the wound unit that is applied to the electric double layer device according to the present invention.

(20) As shown in FIGS. 13A to 13B, a wound unit 10 that is applied to an electric double layer device according to the present invention is configured to have a structure in which a first current collector 11 and a second current collector 12 are wound such that the first current collector 11 extends downward and the second current collector 12 extends upward in a state in which a separator 10a is disposed between the first current collector 11 and the second current collector 12. For example, the first current collector 11 may be a negative electrode, and the second current collector 12 may be a positive electrode. Alternatively, the first current collector 11 may be a positive electrode, and the second current collector 12 may be a negative electrode.

(21) FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing an electric double layer device according to the present invention, FIGS. 11A to 11K are perspective views showing a process of assembling the electric double layer device according to the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the electric double layer device according to the present invention.

(22) As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13C, the electric double layer device according to the present invention basically includes a wound unit 10, which includes a first current collector 11 and a second current collector 12, which are wound while being separated from each other by a separator 10a, and a case 20 having an upper opening 21, through which the wound unit 10 is received, and a lower closure 22.

(23) More specifically, the electric double layer device according to the present invention further includes a lower collecting plate 30 connected to the first current collector 11 of the wound unit 10, the lower collecting plate 30 having a lower terminal 31 extending upward along the outer circumference of the wound unit 10, a lower insulating plate 50 placed on the lower closure 22 to receive the lower collecting plate 30, an upper collecting plate 40 connected to the second current collector 12 of the wound unit 10, the upper collecting plate 40 having an upper terminal 41 extending upward, an upper insulating plate 60 fitted on the upper collecting plate 40 such that the upper terminal 41 and the lower terminal 31 are directed upward, and an upper nonconductive plate 70 fitted in the case 20 to cover the upper opening 21, the upper nonconductive plate 70 having a first connection terminal 71 and a second connection terminal 72 respectively connected to the lower terminal 31 and the upper terminal 41.

(24) The lower terminal 31 is withdrawn from the lower collecting plate 30, which is connected to the first current collector 11, and extends upward. As a result, components such as the connection core and the other terminal, disclosed in Related Art Document 2, are not needed. Consequently, it is possible to omit the process of connecting the connection core to the lower connection plate and the process of connecting the other terminal to toe connection core, which are required in Related Art Document 2, thereby improving productivity and ease of assembly. In addition, the lower terminal 31 is withdrawn from the lower collecting plate 30 in the same manner as the manner in which the upper terminal 41 is withdrawn from the upper collecting plate 40, thereby preventing the risk of a poor connection therebetween. In particular, internal equivalent resistance is reduced, and discharge efficiency is improved during the discharge of high current.

(25) In addition, the connection terminal 71 and the second connection terminal 72 are more securely positioned by the upper nonconductive plate thereby more smoothly achieving connection with an external apparatus.

(26) Furthermore, the wound unit 10 for the electric double layer device according to the present invention includes a first current collector 11 and a second current collector 12, which are wound while being separated from each other by a separator 10a. More specifically, the lower terminal 31 extends upward along the outer circumference of the wound unit 10, is bent so as to be placed above the upper insulating plate 60, and is then bent upward so as to be connected to the first connection terminal 71. The upper insulating plate 60 has therein a through hole 61 through which the upper terminal 41 extends. The upper terminal 41 extends upward from the upper collecting plate 40, extends through the through hole 61, and is then bent so as to be connected to the second connection terminal 72.

(27) That is, the lower terminal 31 and the upper terminal 41 are directly withdrawn respectively from the lower collecting plate 30 and the upper collecting plate 40 without welding, thereby improving productivity and ease of assembly and increasing electrical connection force.

(28) The upper terminal 41 and the lower terminal 31 may be connected to an external apparatus, such as a cellular phone, a GPS receiver, or an MP3 player. Alternatively, the upper terminal 41 and the lower terminal 31 may be connected to a wind energy system, a solar energy system, or a motor of an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle.

(29) In addition, the electric double layer device according to the present invention further includes an upper insulating ring 80, disposed so as to be in tight contact with the edge of the upper insulation plate 60 while receiving the lower terminal 31 therein to enable the lower terminal 31 to maintain a state in which the wound unit 10 and the case 20 are spaced apart from each other, thereby more securely insulating the lower terminal 31.

(30) In particular, the wound unit 10 may be more easily inserted into the case 20, since the upper insulating ring 80 enables the lower terminal 31 to be disposed in tight contact with the edge of the upper insulation plate 60.

(31) The electric double layer device according to the present invention further includes a first through hole 22a and a second through hole 51 formed respectively through the lower closure 22 of the case 20 and the lower insulating plate 50 so as to be used as introduction ports of an electrolytic solution, a rubber plug 91 fitted in the upper part of the first through hole 22a to seal the first through hole 22a, and a closure plug 92 fitted in the lower part of the first through hole 22a and welded to the lower part of the first through hole 22a. The closure plug 92 may be made of aluminum. In a state in which all parts, including the wound unit 10, are assembled in the case 20, therefore, an electrolytic solution is introduced into the case 20 via the first through hole 22a and the second through hole 51, and the first through hole 22a is sealed, thereby improving productivity and ease of assembly.

(32) Meanwhile, the electric double layer device according to the present invention may further include curling rubber 93 placed on the edge of the upper nonconductive plate 70 to seal the upper opening 21 after curling of the case 20, thereby sealing the interior of the case 20.

(33) In addition, the electric double layer device according to the present invention may further include a beading part 23 provided at the upper part of the case 20 to maximize firmness between the upper nonconductive plate 70, including the upper terminal 41 and the lower terminal 31, and the case 20.

(34) As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the lower terminal is directly withdrawn from the lower collecting plate in the same manner as the manner in which the upper terminal is directly withdrawn from the upper collecting plate, thereby improving productivity and ease of assembly, and in addition increasing connection force.

(35) According to the present invention, the lower terminal is directly withdrawn from the lower collecting plate, thereby improving discharge efficiency during the discharge of high current while reducing internal equivalent resistance.

(36) According to the present invention, the electric double layer device further includes an upper insulating ring, configured to enable the lower terminal to maintain a state in which the wound unit and the case are spaced apart from each other, thereby more securely achieving insulation of the lower terminal.

(37) According to the present invention, the upper insulating ring enables the lower terminal to be disposed in tight contact with the edge of the upper insulation plate, whereby the wound unit is more easily inserted into the case.

(38) According to the present invention, an electrolytic solution is introduced into the case via a first through hole and a second through hole in a state in which all parts, including the wound unit, are assembled in the case, thereby improving productivity and workability.

(39) The present invention may be applied to the field of devices such as a battery, a capacitor, and an electrolytic condenser, which store electrical energy.

(40) Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.