Weldable aluminum terminal pads of an electrochemical cell

Abstract

A battery system includes an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes a cover having an opening. The electrochemical cell also includes an aluminum terminal pad disposed proximate an outer surface of the cover. The pad opening includes a tapered surface such that the pad opening has a larger cross-sectional width proximate an upper surface of the aluminum terminal pad than proximate a lower surface of the aluminum terminal pad opposite the upper surface and facing the outer surface of the cover. The electrochemical cell also includes a rivet having a body portion extending through the opening in the cover, a head portion disposed in the pad opening of the aluminum terminal pad, and a shoulder extending between the body portion and the head portion. The head portion includes an inverted cone shape corresponding with the tapered surface of the pad opening.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.