Battery cap assembly with high efficiency vent
AssigneeTesla Motors, Inc.
InventorsFrancisco LePort, Scott I. Kohn, Orion A. King, Alex Prilutsky
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Abstract
A battery cell design is disclosed that provides a predictable pathway through a portion of the cell (e.g., the cell cap assembly) for the efficient release of the thermal energy that occurs during thermal runaway, thereby reducing the chances of a rupture in an undesirable location. Furthermore the disclosed design maintains the functionality of the cell cap as the positive terminal of the cell, thereby having minimal impact on the manufacturability of the cell as well as its use in a variety of applications.
Claims21
1-22. (canceled)
A method, comprising:
- a) enclosing an electrode assembly for a first battery cell within a closed case, said electrode assembly having a cathode and an anode with said electrode assembly constructed of materials that combust under a plurality of combustion conditions to generate a combustion material having a plurality of combustion material properties including a combustion material temperature and a combustion material pressure;
- b) defining an ejectment structure within a portion of said closed case;
- and
- c) responding to one or more particular combustion material properties of said plurality of combustion material properties to provide an ejectment aperture at a predefined location that directs said combustion material out of said closed case in a predetermined direction.
The method of claim 28 wherein said closed case includes a width dimension, a height dimension, and a length dimension, a largest of said dimensions generally parallel to said side wall, wherein said portion of said closed case is integrated into said crown, wherein an electrical contact is provided at said crown with a cell cap assembly coupled to said side wall, wherein said portion of said closed case includes said cell cap assembly, and wherein said cell cap assembly includes said ejectment structure and said electrical contact defines a first form factor for operation of said first battery cell;
- the method further comprising:
- d) disposing removeably an adapter over both said cell cap assembly and said ejectment structure with said adapter reconfiguring said cell cap assembly to provide a second form factor different from said first form factor with said second form factor used for manufacturing and testing.
A method, comprising:
- a) placing an electrode assembly having a cathode and an anode within a closed case, said electrode assembly constructed of materials that combust to generate a combustion material having a combustion material temperature and a combustion material pressure;
- b) defining an ejectment structure within a portion of said closed case;
- and
- c) responding to the combustion material temperature or the combustion material pressure to provide an ejectment aperture at a predefined location that directs said combustion material out of said closed case in a predetermined direction.
A method, comprising:
- a) placing an electrode assembly having a cathode and an anode within a closed case, said electrode assembly constructed of materials that combust to generate a combustion material having a combustion material temperature and a combustion material pressure;
- b) defining an ejectment structure within a portion of said closed case;
- and
- c) step for providing an ejectment aperture at a predefined location that directs said combustion material out of said closed case in a predetermined direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.