# US 12,113,245 B1 · Battery cell design for improved safety

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- Number: US 12,113,245 B1
- Document ID: US12113245B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/643,134
- Filed: 2024-04-23
- Published: 2024-10-24
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2023-04-24
- Assignees: South 8 Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: South 8 Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Cyrus S. Rustomji; Frederick Krause; Jungwoo Lee; Lasantha Korala
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113245B1

## CPC

- H01M 50/572: Means for preventing undesired use or discharge
- H01M 50/166: characterised by the methods of assembling casings with lids
- H01M 50/342: Non-re-sealable arrangements
- H01M 50/3425: {in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member}
- H01M 50/578: in response to pressure
- H01M 2200/20: Pressure-sensitive devices
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The present invention discloses an electrochemical cell design that safely discharges after cell venting. The cell includes a housing and a lid assembly connected to the housing via a vent. The housing houses an electrode assembly with a first electrode separated from a second electrode by a separator. The first electrode is electrically connected to the housing, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the lid assembly structure. The cell has a non-venting configuration characterized by the vent connecting the lid assembly to the housing such that the internal pressure is maintained at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. A venting configuration is characterized by (A) the vent releasing the housing from the lid assembly when a predetermined internal pressure is exceeded; (B) venting the internal pressure; and (C) the venting dislodging the lid assembly such that it makes electrical contact with the housing, thus discharging the cell.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A safety cell comprising:
a cell housing (1);
a lid assembly (3) comprising a shorting structure (7-1), the lid assembly (3) connected to the cell housing (1) via a vent (2) and an electrical isolator (7);
an electrode assembly (5) housed within the cell housing (1), and comprising a first electrode separated from a second electrode by a separator, wherein:
the first electrode is electrically connected to the cell housing (1);
the second electrode is electrically connected to the shorting structure (7-1); and
the first electrode, the second electrode and the separator are wound together;
wherein the safety cell comprises a non-venting configuration and a venting configuration, wherein:
the non-venting configuration is characterized by the vent (2) connecting the lid assembly (3) to the cell housing (1) such that the internal safety cell pressure is maintained at a pressure above atmospheric pressure; and
the venting configuration is characterized by the steps of:
(A) the vent (2) releasing the cell housing (1) from the lid assembly (3) when a predetermined internal pressure within the safety cell is exceeded;
(B) venting the internal pressure;
(C) the venting of the internal pressure dislodging the lid assembly (3) such that the shorting structure (7-1) makes electrical contact with the cell housing (1), discharging the safety cell, and
(D) the venting of the internal pressure at least partially unwinding the electrode assembly (5) such that the first electrode makes electrical contact with the second electrode, discharging the safety cell.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The safety cell of claim 1, further comprising an electrolyte (13) within the cell housing (1).

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The safety cell of claim 2, wherein the electrolyte (13) is a liquid electrolyte.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The safety cell of claim 2, wherein the electrolyte (13) is a liquified gas electrolyte.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The safety cell of claim 4, wherein the liquified gas electrolyte comprises a solvent with a vapor pressure above an atmospheric pressure of 100 kPa at a temperature of 293.15 K.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The safety cell of claim 1, wherein the vent (2) comprises a score.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The safety cell of claim 6, wherein the score is full circle, a half circle, two nearly complete half circles, a nearly complete single circle, a square or a rectangle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The safety cell of claim 1, wherein the vent (2) comprises a burst disc.

### Claim 9

A safety cell comprising:
a cell housing (1);
a lid assembly (3) comprising a shorting structure (7-1), the lid assembly (3) connected to the cell housing (1) via a vent (2) and an electrical isolator (7);
an electrode assembly (5) housed within the cell housing (1), and comprising a first electrode separated from a second electrode by a separator, wherein:
the first electrode is electrically connected to the cell housing (1);
the second electrode is electrically connected to the shorting structure (7-1);
the first electrode, the second electrode and the separator are wound together; and
wherein the safety cell comprises a non-venting configuration and a venting configuration, wherein:
the non-venting configuration is characterized by the vent (2) connecting the lid assembly (3) to the cell housing (1) such that the internal safety cell pressure is maintained at a pressure above atmospheric; and
the venting configuration is characterized by the steps of:
(A) the vent (2) releasing the cell housing (1) from the lid assembly (3) when a predetermined internal pressure within the safety cell is exceeded;
(B) venting the internal pressure;
(C) the venting of the internal pressure dislodging the lid assembly (3) such that the shorting structure (7-1) makes electrical contact with the cell housing (1), discharging the safety cell; and
(D) the venting of the internal pressure at least partially unwinding the electrode assembly (5) such that the first electrode makes electrical contact with the lid assembly (3), discharging the safety cell.

### Claim 10

A safety cell comprising:
a cell housing (1);
a lid assembly (3) connected to the cell housing (1) via a vent (2);
an electrode assembly (5) housed within the cell housing (1), and comprising a first electrode separated from a second electrode by a separator, wherein:
the first electrode, the second electrode and the separator are wound together; and
the second electrode is electrically connected to the lid assembly (3);
wherein the safety cell comprises a non-venting configuration and a venting configuration, wherein:
the non-venting configuration is characterized by the vent (2) connecting the lid assembly (3) to the cell housing (1) such that the internal safety cell pressure is maintained at a pressure above atmospheric; and
the venting configuration is characterized by the steps of:
(A) the vent (2) releasing the cell housing (1) from the lid assembly (3) when a predetermined internal pressure within the safety cell is exceeded;
(B) venting the internal pressure; and
(C) the venting of the internal pressure at least partially unwinding the electrode assembly (5) such that the first electrode makes electrical contact with the second electrode and/or the lid assembly (3), discharging the safety cell.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The safety cell of claim 10, further comprising an electrolyte (13) within the cell housing (1).

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The safety cell of claim 11, wherein the electrolyte (13) is a liquid electrolyte.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The safety cell of claim 11, wherein the electrolyte (13) is a liquified gas electrolyte.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The safety cell of claim 13, wherein the liquified gas electrolyte comprises a solvent with a vapor pressure above an atmospheric pressure of 100 kPa at a temperature of 293.15 K.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The safety cell of claim 10, wherein:
the lid assembly comprises a shorting structure (7-1), and the second electrode is electrically connected to the shorting structure (7-1); and
the venting configuration is further characterized by the step:
(D) the venting of the internal pressure dislodging the lid assembly (3) such that the shorting structure (7-1) makes electrical contact with the cell housing (1), discharging the safety cell.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The safety cell of claim 10, wherein the vent (2) comprises a score.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The safety cell of claim 16, wherein the score is full circle, a half circle, two nearly complete half circles, a nearly complete single circle, a square or a rectangle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The safety cell of claim 10, wherein the vent (2) comprises a burst disc.

### Claim 19

A safety cell comprising:
a cell housing (1) with a vent;
a lid assembly (3) connected to the cell housing (1);
an electrode assembly (5) housed within the cell housing (1), and comprising a first electrode separated from a second electrode by a separator, wherein:
the first electrode, the second electrode and the separator are wound together; and
the first electrode is electrically connected to the cell housing (1);
wherein the safety cell comprises a non-venting configuration and a venting configuration, wherein:
the non-venting configuration is characterized by the vent (2) in a closed configuration such that the internal safety cell pressure is maintained at a pressure above atmospheric; and
the venting configuration is characterized by the steps of:
(A) the vent (2) opening to vent the internal pressure when a predetermined internal pressure within the safety cell is exceeded; and
(B) the venting of the internal pressure at least partially unwinding the electrode assembly (5) such that the second electrode makes electrical contact with the first electrode and/or the cell housing (1), discharging the safety cell.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The safety cell of claim 19, further comprising an electrolyte (13) within the cell housing (1).

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The safety cell of claim 20, wherein the electrolyte (13) is a liquid electrolyte.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The safety cell of claim 20, wherein the electrolyte (13) is a liquified gas electrolyte.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The safety cell of claim 22, wherein the liquified gas electrolyte comprises a solvent with a vapor pressure above an atmospheric pressure of 100 kPa at a temperature of 293.15 K.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The safety cell of claim 19, wherein the vent comprises a score.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The safety cell of claim 24, wherein the score is full circle, a half circle, two nearly complete half circles, a nearly complete single circle, a square or a rectangle.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The safety cell of claim 19, wherein the vent (2) comprises a burst disc.

### Claim 27 (depends on 19)

The safety cell of claim 19, wherein the vent (2) is located on a bottom wall (1-1) of the cell housing (1).