# US 10,873,065 B2 · Battery cell degassing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,065 B2 - Document ID: US10873065B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/318,813 - Filed: 2017-11-02 - Published: 2019-07-04 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-01 - Assignees: LG Chem, Ltd. - Applicants: LG Chem, Ltd. - Inventors: Hyo-Jin Park; Myung-Hyun Kim; Joon-Sung Bae; Eui-Kyung Lee; Jin-Woo Heo; Suk-Hyun Hong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873065B2 ## CPC - H01M 50/30: Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases - H01M 10/04: Construction or manufacture in general (H01M10/058, H01M10/12, H01M10/28, H01M10/38 take precedence) - H01M 10/0481: {Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators} - H01M 10/0585: of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators - H01M 10/42: Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells (H01M10/60 takes precedence) - H01M 10/52: Removing gases inside the secondary cell, e.g. by absorption (vent plugs or other mechanical arrangements for facilitating escape of gases H01M50/30) - H01M 50/105: Pouches or flexible bags - H01M 50/3425: {in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member} - H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY ## Abstract A battery cell degassing apparatus for degassing a battery cell having a gas pocket, which includes a chamber cover to which the battery cell is detachably mounted, a vacuum chamber coupled to the chamber cover and configured to accommodate the battery cell in a vacuum environment, the chamber cover being slidable in a horizontal direction with respect to the vacuum chamber, a piercing unit provided at the vacuum chamber to pierce a part of the gas pocket, and a pressing unit provided at the vacuum chamber to be spaced apart from the piercing unit and configured to flatten an upper surface and a lower surface of the battery cell and to discharge a gas inside the battery cell to the outside of the battery cell is provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery cell degassing apparatus for degassing a battery cell having a gas pocket, comprising: a chamber cover to which the battery cell is detachably mounted; a vacuum chamber with a longitudinal axis coupled to the chamber cover and configured to accommodate the battery cell in a vacuum environment, the chamber cover being slidable in a direction along the longitudinal axis toward and away from the vacuum chamber; a piercing unit provided at the vacuum chamber to pierce a part of the gas pocket; and a pressing unit provided at the vacuum chamber to be spaced apart from the piercing unit and configured to flatten an upper surface and a lower surface of the battery cell and to discharge a gas inside the battery cell to outside of the battery cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chamber cover includes: a cover body detachably coupled to the vacuum chamber to cover one side of the vacuum chamber; and a support jig provided at the cover body to support the battery cell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support jig includes: a side jig movably mounted to an inner wall of the cover body to support opposite sides of the battery cell; and a guide jig mounted to the inner wall of the cover body to allow the battery cell to be spaced apart from the inner wall of the cover body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the side jig is mounted to the cover body to be movable in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction with respect to the cover body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the piercing unit includes: a first piercing part provided above the gas pocket inside the vacuum chamber; and a second piercing part disposed to face the first piercing part such that the gas pocket is interposable therebetween. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first piercing part includes a perforating element to perforate a part of the gas pocket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second piercing part includes a perforation support disposed to face the perforating element to support the perforating element when the perforating element performs perforation of the gas pocket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first piercing part includes a vacuum pad that is vacuum-attachable to the gas pocket to lift the gas pocket upwards. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second piercing part includes an anti-contamination guide that is contactable with a lower side of the gas pocket to absorb an electrolyte leaking out of the gas pocket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing unit includes: a first pressing part provided above the battery cell when the battery cell is inside the vacuum chamber to flatten and press the upper surface of the battery cell; and a second pressing part disposed to face the first pressing part to flatten and press the lower surface of the battery cell when the battery cell is interposed therebetween. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first pressing part includes: a pressing part body configured to flatten and press the upper surface of the battery cell; and a lifting element connected to the pressing part body to move the pressing part body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least one roller is provided below the pressing part body to slidably contact a part of the upper surface of the battery cell, and wherein the pressing part body is movable toward the gas pocket. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second pressing part includes: a pressing part body configured to flatten and press the lower surface of the battery cell; and a lifting element connected to the pressing part body to move the pressing part body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least one roller is provided on the pressing part body to slidably contact a part of the lower surface of the battery cell, and wherein the pressing part body is movable toward the gas pocket. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The battery cell degassing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell is a pouch-type secondary battery.