US 2026/0280022 A1Published application

Port plug for a battery cell

AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC

InventorsDavid Lubischer, Taeri Kwon, Aaron Schwartz, Hwanchul Kim

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Abstract

A port plug for degassing a prismatic battery cell includes a wedge, a pipe, and a valve. The wedge is disposed within a fill port of the prismatic battery cell. The wedge includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a tapered portion. The top surface defines a first opening. The bottom surface opposes the top surface and defines a second opening. The tapered portion is positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface and defines a bore. The bore extends from the first opening to the second opening. The pipe connects to the first opening and to the valve. The valve includes a body and a handle. The body defines an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port is attached to the pipe. The handle is connected to the body and adjusts whether the valve is in a closed position or in an open position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A port plug for degassing a prismatic battery cell, the prismatic battery cell defining a fill port, the port plug comprising:

a wedge disposed within the fill port of the prismatic battery cell, the wedge including:
a top surface defining a first opening;
a bottom surface defining a second opening, the bottom surface opposing the top surface;
and
a tapered portion positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface and wherein a diameter of the tapered portion increases while moving outward from the bottom surface towards the top surface, the tapered portion having a bore that extends from the first opening to the second opening;
a pipe including:
a first end attached to the first opening of the top surface;
and
a second end opposing the first end;
and
a valve including:
a body defining an inlet port and an outlet port and wherein the inlet port is attached to the second end of the pipe;
and
a handle connected to the body and wherein the handle adjusts positions of the valve, the positions including a closed position and an open position, and
wherein when the valve is in the closed position, the prismatic battery cell is sealed, and when the valve is in the open position, the prismatic battery cell is degassed.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.