Cylindrical Battery and Method for Manufacturing the Same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cylindrical battery comprising: an electrode assembly; and a battery case which houses the electrode assembly and is formed of a resin, wherein the battery case includes an upper case, a side case and a lower case, and wherein a hollow is formed in the side case.

Claims

1. A cylindrical battery comprising: an electrode assembly; and a battery case which houses the electrode assembly therein and is formed of a resin, wherein the battery case includes an upper case, a lower case, and a side case extending between the upper case and the lower case, and wherein a hollow is formed in the side case.

2. The cylindrical battery of claim 1, wherein: the side case includes an inner case and an outer case, the outer case extending around the inner case.

3. The cylindrical battery of claim 2, wherein: the hollow is formed between the inner case and the outer case.

4. The cylindrical battery of claim 1, wherein: the lower case includes a terminal connection part.

5. The cylindrical battery of claim 4, wherein: the terminal connection part has a stepwise-type step formed on a side surface thereof.

6. The cylindrical battery of claim 4, wherein: the lower case defines a mounting space extending therein and having a shape conforming to a shape of the terminal connection part.

7. The cylindrical battery of claim 4, wherein: the terminal connection part is formed of a metal material.

8. The cylindrical battery of claim 7, wherein: the electrode assembly has a negative electrode tab that is electrically connected to the terminal connection part.

9. The cylindrical battery of claim 1, wherein: the upper case includes a first coupling part that is coupled to the side case.

10. The cylindrical battery of claim 9, wherein: the side case includes a second coupling part that is coupled to the first coupling part.

11. The cylindrical battery of claim 9, wherein: the first coupling part is a latch that is fastened to the side case.

12. The cylindrical battery of claim 11, wherein: the side case includes a second coupling part that is coupled to the first coupling part, and the second coupling part includes a groove to which the latch is fastened.

13. The cylindrical battery of claim 9, wherein: the first coupling part includes a first one of a screw thread or a screw valley that is coupled to the side case.

14. The cylindrical battery of claim 13, wherein: the side case includes a second coupling part that is coupled to the first coupling part, and the second coupling part includes a second one of the screw thread or the screw valley that is coupled to the first one of the screw thread or the screw valley.

15. A method for manufacturing the cylindrical battery of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: manufacturing the upper case; connecting the upper case to the side case, and connecting a terminal connection part to the lower case.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein: the connecting of the upper case to the side case includes fastening the upper case to the side case in a snap-fit manner.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein: the connecting of the upper case to the side case includes coupling the upper case to the side case by a screw thread/screw valley coupling method.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein: the manufacturing of the upper case is performed by injection molding.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein: the connecting of the terminal connection part to the lower case includes moving the terminal connection part in a direction in which gravity acts on a housing part of the battery case thereby mounting the terminal connection part into a mounting space formed within the lower case.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional cylindrical battery.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing that the terminal connection part of FIG. 2 is coupled.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a cylindrical battery according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing that the upper case of FIG. 4 is separated.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a cylindrical battery according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing that the upper case of FIG. 6 is separated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them. The present disclosure may be modified in various different ways, and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0043] Further, throughout the specification, when a portion is referred to as “comprising” or “including” a certain component, it means that the portion can further include other components, without excluding the other components, unless otherwise stated.

[0044] Further, throughout the specification, the “hollow” means an empty space in a vacuum state.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing that the terminal connection part of FIG. 2 is coupled.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cylindrical battery 100 may include a top cap (not shown), a battery case 110, a terminal connection part 120, and an electrode assembly 140. The electrode assembly 140 may be housed inside the battery case 110. For convenience of description, a part of the electrode assembly 140 is not shown in the figure.

[0047] The top cap may be mounted on the top of the electrode assembly 140. The top cap may have a structure including a safety vent (not shown) and an electric power interrupting device (not shown). Further, the top cap may have a structure that does not include the safety vent and the electric power interrupting device.

[0048] The battery case 110 may include an upper case 111 , a side case 112 , and a lower case 113 . The side case 112 may include an inner case 112a and an outer case 112b.

[0049] The battery case 120 may be formed of a resin. The resin is not particularly limited, but for example, it may be Teflon. Since the battery case 120 formed of a resin has lower thermal conductivity than a metal can, heat generated in the charging/discharging process of the cylindrical battery 100 may be maintained in the cylindrical battery 100 for a longer period of time.

[0050] The upper case 111 may have a shape in which the beading process has already been completed. Because such shape can be manufactured by injection molding, the manufacturing process of the cylindrical battery 100 may be simplified. The upper case 111 may be formed as a single layer. Further, the upper case may have a structure connected to the inner case 112a and the outer case 112b.

[0051] The inner case 112a is located on the housing part 130 side in which the electrode assembly is housed, and the outer case 112b may have a structure exposed to the outside in a form surrounding the inner case 112a. The inner case 112a and the outer case 112b may have a cylindrical shape, and the diameter of the inner case 112a may be formed smaller than the diameter of the outer case 112b. A space S spaced apart by a predetermined distance may be formed between the inner case 112a and the outer case 112b. The space S may be hollow. The space S maintained in a vacuum state has a lower thermal conductivity than the metal can structure formed as a single layer, so that an excellent heat insulating effect can be exhibited. Therefore, heat generated in the charging/discharging process of the cylindrical battery 100 may be maintained in the inside of the cylindrical battery 100 for a long period of time.

[0052] The lower case 113 may have a structure connected to the inner case 112a and the outer case 112b. The inner case 112a and the outer case 112b may be formed on the edge part of the lower case 113. The lower case 113 may be formed as a single layer. Further, a terminal connection part 120 may be formed in the central part of the lower case 113. In addition, the lower case 113 may have a structure in which a mounting space 121 corresponding to the shape of the terminal connection part 120 is formed.

[0053] The terminal connection part 120 may formed of a metal material. A negative electrode tab of the electrode assembly 140 may be electrically connected to the terminal connection part 120. Therefore, the terminal connection part 120 may be a negative electrode terminal of the cylindrical battery 100.

[0054] The terminal connection part 120 may have a shape in which two or more low-height cylinders are stacked. Because the cylinders have different cross-sectional diameters, the side surface of the terminal connection part 120 may have a structure in which a stepwise-type step is formed. In one example, the terminal connection part 120 may have a structure in which a cylinder C1 having a large cross-sectional diameter is stacked on a cylinder C2 having a small cross-sectional diameter.

[0055] Therefore, the terminal connection part 120 may move in a direction in which gravity acts in the housing part 130 to be mounted in the mounting space 121.

[0056] The terminal connection part 120 and the mounting space 121 may be coupled through various connection structures. In one example, a connection part between the terminal connection part 120 and the mounting space 121 may be coupled to each other by forming a screw thread and a screw valley. Further, rubber O-rings may be included at a connection part between the terminal connection part 120 and the mounting space 121. Through the above coupling, it is possible to prevent the electrolyte solution from leaking to the outside.

[0057] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a cylindrical battery according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing that the upper case of FIG. 4 is separated.

[0059] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cylindrical battery 200 may include a top cap (not shown), a battery case 210, a terminal connection part 220 , and an electrode assembly (not shown). The battery case 210 may include an upper case 211, a side case 212 , and a lower case 213.

[0060] The upper case 211 may include a first coupling part 211a. The upper case 211 may be coupled to the side case 212 via the first coupling part 211a. The first coupling part 211a may be a latch.

[0061] The side case 212 may include an inner case 212a, an outer case 212b, and a second coupling part 212c. The side case 212 may be coupled to the upper case 211 via the second coupling part 212c. The second coupling part 212c may include a groove structure capable of coupling with the latch.

[0062] According to such a structure, the upper case 211 and the side case 212 may be fastened in snap-fit manner. This has the effect of simplifying the manufacturing process of the cylindrical battery 100.

[0063] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a cylindrical battery according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing that the upper case of FIG. 6 is separated.

[0064] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the cylindrical battery 300 may include a top cap (not shown), a battery case 310, a terminal connection part 320 , and an electrode assembly (not shown). The battery case 310 may include an upper case 311, a side case 312, and a lower case 313. The side case 312 may include an inner case 312a and an outer case 312b.

[0065] The upper case 311 may include a first coupling part 311a. The upper case 311 may be coupled to the side case 312 via the first coupling part 311a. The first coupling portion 311a may include a screw thread or a screw valley.

[0066] The side case 312 may include an inner case 312a, an outer case 312b, and a second coupling part 312c. The side case 312 may be coupled to the upper case 311 via the second coupling part 312c. The second coupling portion 312c may include a screw thread or a screw valley.

[0067] According to such as structure, the upper case 311 can be rotated and coupled to the side case 312. This has the effect of simplifying the manufacturing process of the cylindrical battery 300. In addition, the upper case 311 can be easily separated from the side case 312 if necessary.

[0068] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various applications and modifications can be made without departing the sprit and scope of the invention based on the above description.