High pressure seal for alkaline cells
AssigneeDuracell Inc.
InventorsMarian Wiacek, Vance R. Shepard, Jr., Robert A. Yoppolo, Robert J. Payne, Peter J. Pope, Boris Falczuk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a seal for a cylindrical alkaline cell. The member includes a metal support having an annular spring disposed at the outer periphery. The spring is placed under compression by a radial crimp and the spring is adapted to expand and contract whereby the seal is maintained during thermal cycling. The member also includes a plastic grommet having an annular vent designed to open at very high pressures whereby said seal member is particularly useful in alkaline cells having little or no mercury whereby high internal pressures can develop.
Claims42
A sealing member for the open end of an electrochemical cell casing which includes a circular metal support member having a diameter such that it substantially covers the open end of a cell casing, said support member comprising a central disc portion and an outer section;
- said outer section being configured so that its lowest portion will move downwardly away from said central portion upon the application of inwardly directed radial compressive forces while the central disc portion is of sufficient strength to prevent concomitant upward movement of the center of the support member, wherein said lowest portion has a tendency to move upwardly upon the release of said compressive forces.
A sealing member for the open end of an electrochemical cell casing comprising a circular metal support member having a diameter such that it substantially covers the open end of a cell casing, said support member comprising a central disc portion;
- strengthening means disposed in said disc portion;
- and spring means located in the periphery of the member, whereby when said spring means is under inwardly directed radial compression the strengthening means prevents concomitant upward movement of the center of the support member.
A sealing member for the open end of an electrochemical cell casing comprising a circular plastic grommet having a diameter such that it fits closely within the opening of an electrochemical cell casing, said grommet comprising a central disc portion having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- an outer section;
- an axial boss portion located at the center and extending above and below the disc portion;
- and an annular vent membrane located in the disc portion and encircling the boss, wherein the membrane is formed between an annular groove in the upper surface of the disc portion and an annular groove in the lower surface of the disc portion coincident with the groove in the upper surface, wherein each groove is less than one half the thickness of the disc portion.
A sealing member for the open end of an electrochemical cell casing comprising a circular plastic grommet wherein said grommet is made from a plastic selected from the group consisting of Nylon 12-12, plastic comprising a member alloys comprising Nylon 12-12, alloys of nylon 6-6 and ABS, and mixtures of these.
A sealing member for the open of an electrochemical cell casing comprising;
- a circular plastic grommet having upper and lower surfaces;
- a central disc portion;
- an axially extending boss centered on the disc portion;
- an annular outer section connected to the periphery of the disc portion;
- an upwardly extending circumferential outer wall attached at the periphery of the annular section grommet, wherein said outer wall has a diameter such that it fits closely within the open end of an electrochemical cell casing;
- and an annular vent membrane located in the central disc portion and encircling the boss;
- and
- a circular metal support member having upper and lower surfaces, wherein said support member comprises a central disc portion, strengthening means disposed in said disc portion, a downwardly and outwardly dependent skirt connected to the periphery of the central disc portion, spring means connected to the lower end of the skirt, and a radial flange connected to said spring means said flange having a diameter such that it fits closely within the circumferential wall of the grommet;
- wherein said spring means is adapted to be partially compressed within its elastic limit when inwardly directed radial compressive forces are applied against the outer edge of the flange and said strengthening means retards doming of the central disc portion when the spring means is under compression.
An insulating seal for an electrochemical cell casing comprising:
- a circular plastic grommet having an upper surface, a lower surface, an upwardly extending circumferential wall at its periphery, and an axial aperture;
- a metal support with a central disc portion, a resilient peripheral portion, an axial aperture, and means to strengthen said metal support;
- said strengthening means being adapted to prevent upward movement of the center of the support when said resilient peripheral portion is put under inwardly directed, radially applied, compressive forces;
- said metal support being seated within and coaxial with the circumferential wall of said grommet;
- a current collector extending through the apertures in the metal support and the grommet, with said current collector being in mechanical and electrical contact with said support;
- and
- a circular conductive end terminal on the side of said support opposite said grommet, with said end terminal being in contact with at least one of the current collector or the central disc portion of the support;
- and said end terminal being held against the support by a turned down edge of the upwardly extending circumferential wall of said grommet, whereby an integrated seal assembly is provided which assembly is adapted to be inserted into the open end of an electrochemical cell casing as a single unit.
An electrochemical cell comprising a cylindrical casing having an open end, an anode, a cathode, a separator between said anode and cathode, and a sealing member under radial compression disposed in the open end of the casing;
- said sealing member comprising a circular plastic grommet having a circumferential wall and a circular metal support member seated within the circumferential wall of the grommet;
- said support member comprising a central disc portion, an outer radially extending, continuous, annular flange, and spring means between said flange and the periphery of said disc portion;
- wherein a lower portion of the circumferential wall of the grommet is compressed between said flange and said casing and said spring means is under partial compression within its elastic limit whereby said spring means is adapted to expand or compress in response to temperature fluctuations so that compression of the lower portion of the grommet wall is maintained.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.