Lithium secondary battery
AssigneeSamsung SDI Co., Ltd.
InventorsTeak Kwon, Chang Shin, Hoon Yim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lithium secondary battery having a cap assembly including a cap plate, an insulation plate and a terminal plate. The insulation plate and the terminal plate each have a predetermined vent hole corresponding to a safety vent formed on the cap plate so that if the secondary battery is dropped, an electrolyte passes through the vent-holes and undergoes a pressure reduction, thereby preventing fracture of a safety vent by the electrolyte while allowing gas to be exhausted upon battery overcharge, full discharge or by overheating.
Claims16
A lithium secondary battery comprising:
- an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a short circuit prevention separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate;
- a can adapted to contain the electrode assembly and an electrolyte;
- and
- a cap assembly coupled to an upper opening of the can to seal the can, the cap assembly including a cap plate, an insulation plate coupled to a can interior-facing surface of the cap plate, a terminal plate coupled to a can interior-facing surface of the insulation plate, and an electrode terminal inserted through the cap plate, the insulation plate and the terminal plate and coupled to the electrode assembly,
- wherein the cap plate includes a fracturable safety vent, and
- wherein the insulation plate has an insulation plate vent-hole passing through the insulation plate at a portion corresponding to the safety vent.
In a lithium secondary battery having an electrode assembly, a can, a fracturable safety vent and electrolyte inserted into the can, a method for allowing gas to be exhausted from the can while preventing fracture of the fracturable safety vent by the electrolyte if the lithium secondary battery is dropped, the method comprising:
- providing a cap assembly having a cap plate, an insulation plate coupled to a can interior-facing surface of the cap plate, a terminal plate coupled to a can interior-facing surface of the insulation plate, and an electrode terminal inserted through the cap plate, the insulation plate and the terminal plate being coupled to the electrode assembly, the cap plate housing the fracturable safety vent;
- and
- mounting the insulation plate to the cap plate such that an insulation plate vent-hole is aligned with the fracturable safety vent, the insulation plate vent-hole being sized to reduce electrolyte contact with the safety vent upon the battery being dropped while allowing gas pressure with the can to be exhausted upon battery overcharge, full discharge or by overheating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.