Flame-Retardant Composite Pad, Method for Manufacturing Same, and Secondary Battery Module and Secondary Battery Pack Comprising Such Composite Pad

Abstract

There are provided a flame retardant element for suppressing flame propagation when a fire occurs during the use of a lithium secondary battery, thereby ensuring safety of the secondary battery while in use, a method for manufacturing the flame retardant element, and a secondary battery module and a secondary battery pack comprising the flame retardant element. The proposed flame retardant element is a composite pad having a stack of at least two polymer resin single layers including fire extinguishing materials having different fire extinguishing and flame retardant mechanisms, the composite pad includes a first polymer resin single layer and a second polymer resin single layer, and the first polymer resin single layer includes the fire extinguishing material which takes effect in a lower temperature range than the second polymer resin single layer.

Claims

1. A composite pad having a stack of at least two polymer resin single layers including different types of fire extinguishing materials, wherein the at least two polymer resin single layers comprises a first polymer resin single layer and a second polymer resin single layer, and the first polymer resin single layer includes a first fire extinguishing material which takes effect in a lower temperature range than a second fire extinguishing material of the second polymer resin single layer.

2. The composite pad according to claim 1, wherein the at least two polymer resin single layers comprises the second polymer resin single layer sandwiched between two of the first polymer resin single layers.

3. The composite pad according to claim 2, wherein the first polymer resin single layer includes poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) and aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3), and the second polymer resin single layer includes poly(dimethyl siloxane) and calcium bromide (CaBr.sub.2).

4. The composite pad according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second fire extinguishing materials is selected from solid materials including a metal hydroxide compound, a phosphorus-based and sulfuric acid compound and a halogen-based compound.

5. The composite pad according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two polymer resin single layers includes a respective polymer resin that is selected from materials including methylmethacrylic resin, styrol resin, polyethylene resin, polyamide resin, phenol resin, silicon resin, epoxy resin or polyurethane resin.

6. The composite pad according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second fire extinguishing materials is selected from materials including aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH).sub.2) or calcium bromide (CaBr.sub.2).

7. A method for manufacturing a composite pad, comprising forming at least two polymer resin single layers including different types of fire extinguishing materials in a sequential order, wherein the at least two polymer resin single layers includes a first polymer resin single layer and a second polymer resin single layer, and the first polymer resin single layer includes a first fire extinguishing material which takes effect in a lower temperature range than a second fire extinguishing material of the second polymer resin single layer.

8. The method for manufacturing a composite pad according to claim 7, wherein the forming of the at least two polymer resin single layers including different types of fire extinguishing materials in a sequential order comprises: mixing the first fire extinguishing material with a first polymer resin to prepare a first flame retardant composition; applying the first flame retardant composition and curing to form the first polymer resin single layer; mixing the second fire extinguishing material with a second polymer resin to prepare a second flame retardant composition; and applying the second flame retardant composition to the first polymer resin single layer and curing to form the second polymer resin single layer.

9. The method for manufacturing a composite pad according to claim 8, wherein preparing of the first flame retardant composition includes: adding the first fire extinguishing material in an amount of more than 0 to 50% or less to the first polymer resin to form a first mixture; stirring the first mixture; and adding a curing agent to the first mixture, and the preparing of the second flame retardant composition includes: adding the second fire extinguishing material in an amount of more than 0 to 80% or less to the second polymer resin to form a second mixture; stirring the second mixture; and adding a curing agent to the second mixture.

10. The method for manufacturing a composite pad according to claim 9, wherein the first fire extinguishing material includes aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3) and the second fire extinguishing material includes calcium bromide (CaBr.sub.2).

11. The method for manufacturing a composite pad according to claim 7, wherein the at least two polymer resin single layers includes the second polymer resin single layer sandwiched between two of the first polymer resin single layers.

12. The method for manufacturing a composite pad according to claim 11, wherein the first polymer resin single layer includes poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) and aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3), and the second polymer resin single layer includes poly(dimethyl siloxane) and calcium bromide (CaBr.sub.2).

13. The method for manufacturing a composite pad according to claim 7, wherein each of the first and second fire extinguishing materials is selected from solid materials including a metal hydroxide compound, a phosphorus-based and sulfuric acid compound and a halogen-based compound.

14. The method for manufacturing a composite pad according to claim 7, wherein each of the at least two polymer resin single layers includes a respective polymer resin that is selected from materials including methylmethacrylic resin, styrol resin, polyethylene resin, polyamide resin, phenol resin, silicon resin, epoxy resin or polyurethane resin.

15. The method for manufacturing a composite pad according to claim 7, wherein each of the first and second fire extinguishing materials selected from materials including is aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH).sub.2) or calcium bromide (CaBr.sub.2).

16. A secondary battery module comprising the composite pad according to claim 1.

17. A secondary battery pack comprising the secondary battery module according to claim 16.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a composite pad according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a composite pad according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the composite pad shown in FIG. 2.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a secondary battery module according to the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows photographic images of comparative examples.

[0028] FIG. 6 shows photographic images of comparison between comparative example 1-2 and example before evaluation and ˜15 sec after flame contact.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an experiment of measurement of the fire propagation time to secondary batteries through comparative examples and example.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a graph showing the measured fire propagation time to secondary batteries through comparative examples and example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in sufficient detail with reference to the accompanying drawings for those skilled in the art to easily practice the invention. The present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms, and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0032] To describe the present disclosure clearly, any irrelevant description is omitted herein, and identical reference numerals are affixed to identical or similar elements throughout the specification.

[0033] Additionally, the size and thickness of each element in the drawings are arbitrarily represented for convenience of description, and the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the illustrations. In the drawings, the thickness is enlarged to clearly depict layers and ranges. Additionally, in the drawings, for convenience of description, the thicknesses of some layers and ranges are exaggerated.

[0034] The present disclosure relates to a composite pad manufactured from a fire extinguishing and flame retardant composition for suppressing fire propagation, a method for manufacturing the same, and a secondary battery module and a secondary battery pack using the composite pad.

[0035] The present disclosure manufactures a composite pad having a multilayer structure from a polymer resin based pad containing a flame retardant and fire extinguishing functional material and inserts it into a secondary battery module and a secondary battery pack to improve battery safety by the unit of secondary battery module.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a composite pad according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a composite pad according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the composite pad shown in FIG. 2.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the composite pad 100, 100′ according to the present disclosure includes a first polymer resin single layer 10 and a second polymer resin single layer 20. The first polymer resin single layer 10 and the second polymer resin single layer 20 include different types of fire extinguishing materials. The different types of fire extinguishing materials may indicate materials having functionally different fire extinguishing and flame retardant mechanisms, and indicate materials that are different from each other.

[0038] The composite pad 100, 100′ according to the present disclosure includes a stack of two or more polymer resin single layers such as the first polymer resin single layer 10 and the second polymer resin single layer 20. The composite pad 100, 100′ is a pad made of a polymer resin containing a fire extinguishing material, and can effectively suppress a fire or explosion in a secondary battery.

[0039] There is no particular limitation to the thickness of each of the first polymer resin single layer 10 and the second polymer resin single layer 20 and the thickness of the composite pad 100, 100′ including them. The thickness may be appropriately set in the range from the minimum thickness for forming a uniform layer by a method for forming a film using a polymer resin to the maximum thickness taking the production costs into account while not increasing the size of a secondary battery module so much when inserted into the secondary battery module.

[0040] The first polymer resin single layer 10 and the second polymer resin single layer 20 are a polymer resin based pad containing a flame retardant and fire extinguishing functional material called “fire extinguishing material”, and includes a fire extinguishing material and a polymer resin.

[0041] The fire extinguishing material refers to a material or a mixed material that extinguishes a fire, i.e., preferably suppresses a fire and/or inhibits or retards the occurrence of a fire. Preferably in relation to the present disclosure, the fire extinguishing effect refers to a fire inhibition effect, i.e., an effect of suppressing or abating the continuation or occurrence of a fire. Main examples of the preferred material of the fire extinguishing material is a material which removes a reactant that makes a fire last from a fire source, or suppresses chemical reaction necessary to cause a fire or make the fire last, or a material which causes endothermic reaction that absorbs energy from flames to lower the temperature and put out the fire.

[0042] The fire extinguishing material may be selected from solid materials including a metal hydroxide compound, a phosphorus-based and sulfuric acid compound and a halogen-based compound. Additionally, the polymer resin may be methylmethacrylic resin, styrol resin, polyethylene resin, polyamide resin, phenol resin, silicon resin, epoxy resin or polyurethane resin. Typical examples of the fire extinguishing material may include aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH).sub.2) or calcium bromide (CaBr.sub.2). Preferably, the polymer resin itself is flame retardant, but to increase the flame retardancy, a film made of a composition of the polymer resin containing the fire extinguishing material or a polymer resin single layer which is a composite of the polymer resin and the fire extinguishing material may be formed.

[0043] The polymer resin (hereinafter referred to as a first polymer resin) included in the first polymer resin single layer 10 and the polymer resin (hereinafter referred to as a second polymer resin) included in the second polymer resin single layer 20 may be the same or different. However, the fire extinguishing material (hereinafter referred to as a first fire extinguishing material) included in the first polymer resin single layer 10 and the fire extinguishing material (hereinafter referred to as a second fire extinguishing material) included in the second polymer resin single layer 20 are of different types. In particular, the fire extinguishing material included in the first polymer resin single layer 10 is activated in the lower temperature range than the fire extinguishing material included in the second polymer resin single layer 20. In this sense, the first polymer resin single layer 10 may be referred to as a low temperature active layer, and the second polymer resin single layer 20 may be referred to as a high temperature active layer.

[0044] For example, the first fire extinguishing material is a material that takes the fire extinguishing and flame retardant effect in the low temperature range (for example, 200 to 400° C.). The second fire extinguishing material is a material that takes the fire extinguishing and flame retardant effect in the high temperature range (for example, 700° C. or above). When the fire extinguishing material in the first polymer resin single layer 10 and the fire extinguishing material in the second polymer resin single layer 20 have different working temperature ranges, the fire extinguishing effect is manifested stepwise according to the temperature.

[0045] Preferably, the first polymer resin single layer 10 includes poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) and Al(OH).sub.3, and the second polymer resin single layer 20 includes PDMS and CaBr.sub.2. That is, the first polymer resin and the second polymer resin are equally PDMS, and the first fire extinguishing material is Al(OH).sub.3 and the second fire extinguishing material is CaBr.sub.2. The fire extinguishing mechanism of Al(OH).sub.3 is different from the fire extinguishing mechanism of CaBr.sub.2, and Al(OH).sub.3 exerts the fire extinguishing effect in the lower temperature range than CaBr.sub.2.

[0046] The composite pad 100 of FIG. 1 has a double layer structure including the first polymer resin single layer 10 and the second polymer resin single layer 20 stacked on the first polymer resin single layer 10. The composite pad 100′ of FIG. 2 has a triple layer structure including two first polymer resin single layers 10 and the second polymer resin single layer 20 sandwiched between the two first polymer resin single layers 10. Another example of the triple layer structure includes the first polymer resin single layer 10 sandwiched between two second polymer resin single layers 20, but it is preferred that the first polymer resin single layer 10 including the fire extinguishing material working in the lower temperature range is disposed on the outer side than the second polymer resin single layer 20, and thus is applied closer to the secondary battery than the second polymer resin single layer 20.

[0047] The composite pad 100′ of FIG. 2 is a fire extinguishing and flame retardant functional composite pad of triple layer structure. Al(OH).sub.3 having good stability in air is included in the outermost layer and helps to ensure stability of the polymer resin layer including CaBr.sub.2 corresponding to the inner layer, and when a fire occurs, it decomposes at relatively low temperatures (180 to 200° C.) by heat generated by contact with flame to produce inflammable aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) and (H.sub.2O). In this instance, the produced water cools down to lower the temperature of the flame rapidly.

[0048] When combustion continues, the temperature of the composite pad 100′ rises and thermal decomposition of CaBr.sub.2 included in the inner layer occurs at about 730° C. The thermal decomposition of CaBr.sub.2 in the presence of oxygen (O.sub.2) produces CaO and Br.sub.2. The thermal decomposition of CaBr.sub.2 in water produces CaO and HBr. HBr which is a product of thermal decomposition inhibits activated radicals (⋅O⋅, OH⋅, ⋅H⋅) of high energy generated by combustion from acting as a chain carrier, leading to the chemical fire extinguishing effect.

[0049] As described above, the flame retardant and fire extinguishing functional flame retardant element for improving battery safety may be formed as the proposed multilayer structure composite pad 100, 100′, including the first polymer resin single layer 10 corresponding to the outermost layer containing the fire extinguishing composition that takes the fire extinguishing and flame retardant effect in the low temperature range, and the second polymer resin single layer 20 corresponding to the inner layer containing the fire extinguishing composition that implements the fire extinguishing mechanism at high temperatures, to take the fire extinguishing effect stepwise according to the temperature. The polymer based composite pad manufactured with the above-described structure may be included in a secondary battery module as shown in FIG. 4.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a secondary battery module according to the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 4, the secondary battery module 200 includes secondary batteries 210 and composite pads 100′. The composite pads 100′ are interposed between the secondary batteries 210 to delay the movement of heat through endothermic reaction in the event of a fire, and exert the fire extinguishing function by suppressing the combustion reaction and propagation of the fire.

[0051] The secondary battery 210 may be a pouch type secondary battery. Each secondary battery 210 has a plate shape, and may be stacked and arranged with one or two surfaces in contact with adjacent secondary battery to form a stack. The composite pad 100′ may be inserted around the stack of secondary batteries 210, but the composite pad 100′ may be preferably inserted between every two secondary batteries 210 as shown to prevent a fire from spreading to other secondary battery when the fire occurs in any one secondary battery 210.

[0052] There may be provided a secondary battery pack including at least one secondary battery module 200. The secondary battery pack may be manufactured by combining the secondary battery modules 200 as unit modules according to the desired output and capacity, and when considering the mount efficiency and structural stability, the secondary battery pack may be preferably used as a source of power for electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and energy storage systems, but the range of applications is not limited thereto.

[0053] Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a composite pad 100′ will be described.

[0054] The composite pad 100′ is manufactured by forming a first polymer resin single layer 10 and a second polymer resin single layer 20 in a sequential order.

[0055] First, a first fire extinguishing material and a first polymer resin are mixed to prepare a first flame retardant composition. The first flame retardant composition is applied to an appropriate substrate, for example, an aluminum plate or a glass substrate and cured to form the first polymer resin single layer 10. To form a layer having a uniform thickness, a casting process or its analogous process may be used. When the casting process is used, the first flame retardant composition is fed on a belt of a film forming device and pressed using a casting die to form a uniform thickness film.

[0056] A second fire extinguishing material and a second polymer resin are mixed to prepare a second flame retardant composition. The second flame retardant composition is applied to the first polymer resin single layer 10 and cured to form the second polymer resin single layer 20. To form a layer having a uniform thickness, a casting process or its analogous process may be used. When the process is completed, a composite pad 100 of a double layer structure is manufactured.

[0057] Subsequently, the first flame retardant composition is applied to the second polymer resin single layer 20 and cured to form the first polymer resin single layer 10. To form a layer having a uniform thickness, a casting process or its analogous process may be used.

[0058] The curing after applying the first flame retardant composition and the second flame retardant composition may be performed at 85° C. for 4 hours.

[0059] Here, the first flame retardant composition is prepared by adding the first fire extinguishing material in an amount of more than 0 and 50% or less to the first polymer resin to form a first mixture, and stirring the first mixture using a stirrer to uniformly disperse the first fire extinguishing material in the first polymer resin. For uniform mixing in the first mixture, stirring using a magnetic bar and/or sonication may be performed. Subsequently, for uniform mixing, an additional stirring operation may be performed with an addition of a curing agent in a predetermined percentage.

[0060] Additionally, the second flame retardant composition is prepared by adding the second fire extinguishing material in an amount of more than 0 and 80% or less to the second polymer resin to form a second mixture, and stirring the second mixture using a stirrer to uniformly disperse the second fire extinguishing material in the second polymer resin. Subsequently, for uniform mixing, an additional stirring operation may be performed with an addition of a curing agent in a predetermined percentage.

[0061] Additionally, the first fire extinguishing material may include Al(OH).sub.3 and the second fire extinguishing material may include CaBr.sub.2. The first polymer resin and the second polymer resin may be PDMS. The PDMS based composite pad may be flame retardant and flexible.

[0062] In this way, the composite pad 100′ of a triple layer structure may be manufactured. Additionally, the multi-layer structure pad of triple or more layers may be manufactured through the repeated stacking processes until the final target thickness is reached. The composite pad 100′ is obtained as a freestanding solidified plate which is easily separated from the substrate, for example, an aluminum plate or a glass substrate coated with the first polymer resin single layer 10 or the belt of the film forming device.

[0063] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in more detail through an experimental example. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following experimental example.

Comparative Example 1-1

[0064] A polymer resin single layer is formed using PDMS alone. That is, a PDMS layer not including a fire extinguishing material is formed. It is found that the film forming method used in the experiment can form a layer which is at least 0.4 mm thick. The PDMS layer of comparative example 1-1 is 0.4 mm in thickness.

Comparative Example 1-2

[0065] A polymer resin single layer is formed using PDMS alone. That is, a PDMS layer not including a fire extinguishing material is formed. The thickness is 1.5 mm.

Comparative Example 2-1

[0066] A first polymer resin single layer (PDMS+Al(OH).sub.3) including PDMS and Al(OH).sub.3 is formed. The thickness is 0.4 mm.

Comparative Example 2-2

[0067] A first polymer resin single layer including PDMS and Al(OH).sub.3 is manufactured. The thickness is 1.5 mm.

Comparative Example 3-1

[0068] A second polymer resin single layer (PDMS+CaBr.sub.2) including PDMS and CaBr.sub.2 is formed. The thickness is 0.4 mm.

Comparative Example 3-2

[0069] A second polymer resin single layer including PDMS and CaBr.sub.2 is formed. The thickness is 1.5 mm.

Comparative Example 4

[0070] A 0.5 mm thick PDMS layer is formed, and a 0.5 mm thick second polymer resin single layer including PDMS and CaBr.sub.2 is stacked on the PDMS layer. Another PDMS layer having the thickness of 0.5 mm is stacked on the second polymer resin single layer. Accordingly, a triple layer structure of PDMS/PDMS+CaBr.sub.2/PDMS having the thickness of 1.5 mm is manufactured.

Comparative Example 5

[0071] A 1.5 mm thick mica sheet is prepared.

EXAMPLE

[0072] A 0.5 mm thick first polymer resin single layer including PDMS and Al(OH).sub.3 is formed, and a 0.5 mm thick second polymer resin single layer including PDMS and CaBr.sub.2 is stacked on the first polymer resin single layer. Another first polymer resin single layer including PDMS and Al(OH).sub.3 having the thickness of 0.5 mm is stacked on the second polymer resin single layer. In this way, a triple layer structure of PDMS+Al(OH).sub.3/PDMS+CaBr.sub.2/PDMS+Al(OH).sub.3 having the thickness of 1.5 mm is manufactured.

[0073] FIG. 5 shows photographic images of comparative examples.

[0074] In FIG. 5, (a) and (b) are photographic images of comparative example 1-1, (c) is a photographic image of comparative example 2-1, and (d) is a photographic image of comparative example 3-1. The PDMS single layer and the layer including PDMS and the fire extinguishing material are 0.4 mm in thickness. The result shows that the film forming method used in the present disclosure can form a layer which is at least 0.4 mm thick.

[0075] To evaluate the flame retardant properties of comparative example and example, UL-94 (Underwriters Laboratories, vertical burning test) evaluation is performed. UL-94 is a flame retardancy (inflammability) evaluation item, especially of plastics, and the test is performed to evaluate the combustion aspect of a product and the extent of flame propagation to the surroundings when a flame is applied in the vertical direction of the product. Through this, the self-extinguishing extent is measured. The actual standard test is performed by preparing a specimen of a predetermined size, bringing flame into contact with the center of the bottom of the specimen over 10 times, dropping 6 inch flame from the specimen, and measuring the combustion time of the specimen. Immediately after extinguishing a fire, flame is brought into contact with the specimen again for 20 sec and is removed. Grading is performed by recording the combustion time, the growing time and whether ignition occurred in a surgical cotton placed below 12 inch.

[0076] FIG. 6 shows photographic images of comparison between comparative example 1-2 and example before evaluation and ˜15 sec after flame contact.

[0077] Comparative example 1-2 does not include the fire extinguishing material. As the flame contact time gradually increases, the red area increases due to the growing flame. In the example, in contrast, the flame contact time gradually increases, but growing is small. Accordingly, it is found that the present disclosure is more flame retardant, and in case that the composite pad is applied into a secondary battery module or pack, it is expected to prevent flames from turning into a fire when the flames occur in a secondary battery.

[0078] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an experiment of measurement of the fire propagation time to secondary batteries through comparative examples and example. The example is shown for illustration.

[0079] The composite pad 100′ of example is placed on a die 310 on a gas burner 300, the secondary battery 210 is placed on the composite pad 100′, and the time of propagation of flames arising from the gas burner 300 is measured by monitoring the voltage of the secondary battery 210. Graphtec GL3820 is used to measure.

[0080] FIG. 8 is a graph showing the measured fire propagation time to secondary batteries through comparative examples and example.

[0081] Those used in the experiment are all 1.5 mm thick; comparative example 2-2 and comparative example 3-2 of single layer structure, example and comparative example 4 of triple structure, and comparative example 5 of mica sheet.

[0082] In FIG. 8, the horizontal axis indicates the time, the left vertical axis indicates the voltage of the secondary battery 210, and the right vertical axis indicates the temperature of the secondary battery 210. When flames of the gas burner 300 spread to the secondary battery 210 through comparative example and example, the maximum peak is found at the temperature when it is impossible to measure the voltage of the secondary battery 210. The time at which the peak appears is the fire propagation time. The fire propagation time is summarized in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Single structure Triple structure Mica sheet Comparative Comparative Comparative Comparative Type example 2-2 example 3-2 Example example 4 example 5 Fire 200 240 439 277 375 propagation time (sec)

[0083] As can be seen from FIG. 8 and the results of Table 1, in the case of example of the present disclosure, the fire propagation time is much longer. In particular, example of the present disclosure shows better performance than not only comparative example 2-2 and comparative example 3-2 of a single layer structure, but also comparative example 5 that is relatively advantageous in terms of thermal conductivity. Besides, it is found that the performance is better by about 70% or above than comparative example 4 of a triple structure in the same way as example of the present disclosure of multilayer structure.

[0084] In particular, on the graph of FIG. 8, example of the present disclosure shows a gentle temperature rise gradient in a temperature curve over time from the low temperature range to high temperatures (before a fire occurs). That is, it is determined that the structure including the high temperature active layer sandwiched between the low temperature active layers has the outstanding thermal propagation suppression effect.

[0085] While the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been hereinabove described in detail, the scope of protection of the present disclosure is not limited thereto and many changes and modifications made on the ordinary level using the basic concept of the present disclosure defined in the appended claims fall in the scope of protection of the present disclosure.