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US 2003/0157398 A1Published application
Seal for an electrochemical cell
AssigneeEveready Battery Company, Inc.
InventorWilliam Michael Stec
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ventable seal is provided for closing the open end of an electrochemical cell. The seal incorporates indentations formed in the outer surface of the centrally located hub that abuts a flexible diaphragm at a ventable interface. If a cell's internal pressure reaches an unsafe level and the seal ruptures, the indentations prevent resealing of the ruptured seal thereby avoiding a second build up of pressure within the cell.
Claims33
An electrochemical cell, comprising:
- (a) a container having an open end, a closed end and a sidewall therebetween, said container comprising a separator and electrochemically active materials arranged on opposite sides of said separator;
- (b) a disc shaped seal body secured to the open end of said container, said seal body formed as a single component and having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter contacting said top and bottom surfaces, a flexible diaphragm formed between said surfaces and positioned around a centrally located protrusion projecting perpendicularly from the center of said top surface and defining an opening between said top and bottom surfaces, said protrusion having a proximal section abutting said flexible diaphragm at a ventable interface and comprising an outer surface free of one or more indentations, a venting section concentrically aligned with and abutting said proximal section and comprising an outer surface with at least one indentation formed therein, said venting section's indentation creating an unobstructed pressure relief path along the outer surface of said venting section;
- (c) a current collector extending through said opening in said protrusion and adapted to contact an electrochemically active material in said cell;
- and
- (d) an outer cover positioned between said seal body's flexible diaphragm and the cell's external environment.
2 more elements
A disc shaped seal body formed as a single component for use in a pressurized container, comprises:
- (a) a first surface, a second surface and a flexible diaphragm formed between said surfaces;
- and
- (b) a centrally located protrusion projecting perpendicularly from the center of said first surface, said diaphragm positioned around said protrusion, said protrusion having a proximal section abutting said flexible diaphragm at a ventable interface and comprising an outer surface free of one or more indentations, a venting section concentrically aligned with and abutting said proximal section and comprising an outer surface with at least one indentation formed therein, said venting section's indentation creating an unobstructed path along the outer surface of said venting section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.