Method and apparatus for evaluating a battery cell

An apparatus for evaluating a battery cell that includes a hermetically sealed outer casing, a plurality of electrically conductive components enclosed within the outer casing, an electrically conductive terminal having a proximal end that extends within the outer casing and a distal end that extends in a longitudinal direction relative to the cell outside the outer casing, and a solid electrical and mechanical joint formed between one or more of the electrically conductive components and the proximal end of the electrically conductive terminal, wherein the solid electrical and mechanical joint is entirely enclosed within the outer casing of the battery cell, the apparatus comprising:

• a battery cell holder defining a chamber in which at least a portion of the outer casing of the battery cell is received;
• a pair of electrically conductive tangs for establishing an electrical connection between the distal end of the electrically conductive terminal and a battery cell impedance measuring device;
• and
• a means for moving the distal end of the electrically conductive terminal relative to the proximal end of the electrically conductive terminal such that a bending force is applied to electrically conductive terminal and the solid electrical and mechanical joint.

An apparatus for evaluating a battery cell that includes a hermetically sealed outer casing, a plurality of electrically conductive components enclosed within the outer casing, an electrically conductive terminal having a proximal end that extends within the outer casing and a distal end that extends in a longitudinal direction relative to the cell outside the outer casing, and a solid electrical and mechanical joint formed between one or more of the electrically conductive components and the proximal end of the electrically conductive terminal, wherein the solid electrical and mechanical joint is entirely enclosed within the outer casing of the battery cell, the apparatus comprising:

• a circular platform supported for rotation about a central axis and including a plurality of discrete circumferentially spaced-apart radially extending segments;
• a plurality of slots circumferentially spaced apart from one another on the circular platform, with the plurality of slots being distributed among the radially extending segments of the circular platform, wherein each of the slots includes a first end oriented toward the central axis of the circular platform and an opposite second end oriented away from the central axis toward an outer circumference of the platform;
• and
• a terminal clamp located adjacent the first end of one of the slots for securing the battery cell within the slot such that movement of the distal end of the electrically conductive terminal extending from a first end of the outer casing is restrained, while movement of an opposite second end of the outer casing is unrestrained in the longitudinal direction,
• wherein, during rotation of the circular platform, the electrically conductive terminal and the solid electrical and mechanical joint experience a pulling force in the longitudinal direction and in a radially outward direction relative to the central axis of the circular platform, and
• wherein the radially extending segments of the circular platform are configured to pivot relative to a pivot axis to impart a transverse bending force to each of the electrically conductive terminals and each of the solid electrical and mechanical joints of the battery cells secured within the slots of the radially extending segments.