US 11,715,868 B2
Electrochemical cell casing having an electrolyte fill port with an embossed rim lid design
Jared D. Arellano, Akron, NY (US); and Lasantha Viyannalage, Pittsford, NY (US)
Assigned to Greatbatch Ltd., Clarence, NY (US)
Filed by Greatbatch Ltd., Clarence, NY (US)
Filed on Sep. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/471,686.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/076,963, filed on Sep. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0085473 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 50/645 (2021.01); H01M 50/188 (2021.01)
CPC H01M 50/645 (2021.01) [H01M 50/188 (2021.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrochemical cell, comprising: a) a casing, comprising: i) an annular sidewall extending to an upper annular edge spaced from a lower annular edge, The annular sidewall having an outer surface spaced from an inner surface; ii) a lid closing the upper annular edge of the annular sidewall, wherein the lid has a hermetically sealed electrolyte fill port extending from a lid upper surface to a spaced apart lid lower surface; iii) a current collector contacted to the lid lower surface; iv) a lower plate; v) a dielectric material coating the lower annular edge of the annular sidewall and at least a portion of the inner surface of the annular sidewall; and vi) a ring-shaped sealing glass in a glass-to-metal sealed relationship with the lower plate and in a hermetically sealed relationship with the dielectric material coating the lower annular edge of the annular sidewall; and b) an electrode assembly housed inside the casing, the electrode assembly comprising: i) an anode active material; ii) a cathode active material; and iii) a separator segregating the anode active material from direct physical contact with the cathode active material, iv) wherein one of the anode and the cathode active materials contacts the current collector in turn contacting the lid serving as one terminal for the cell, and the other of the anode and the cathode active materials contacts the lower plate serving as the other terminal for the cell; and c) an activating electrolyte filed in the casing to contact the electrode assembly.
 
15. An electrochemical cell, comprising: a) a casing, comprising: i) an annular sidewall extending to an upper annular edge spaced from a lower annular edge, and an outer annular surface spaced from an inner annular surface, wherein the inner annular surface of the annular sidewall is provided with a step; ii) a lid seated on the step to close the upper annular edge of the annular sidewall, wherein a lid annular peripheral edge provides a lid thickness extending to a lid upper surface spaced from a lid lower surface, and wherein a recess extends inwardly from the lid upper surface part-way into the lid thickness to thereby provide a lid annular rim that extends from the lid annular peripheral edge to the recess; iii) a hermetically sealed electrolyte fill port extending to the lid upper and lower surfaces; iv) a current collector contacted to the lid lower surface; v) a lower plate; vi) an alumina coating the lower annular edge and at least a portion of the inner surface of the annular sidewall; and vii) a ring-shaped sealing glass in a glass-to-metal sealed relationship with the lower plate and in a glass-to-ceramic sealed relationship with the alumina at the lower annular edge of the annular sidewall; and b) an electrode assembly housed inside the casing, the electrode assembly comprising: i) an anode active material; ii) a cathode active material; and iii) a separator segregating the anode active material from direct physical contact with the cathode active material, iv) wherein one of the anode and the cathode active materials contacts the current collector in turn contacting the lid serving as one terminal for the cell, and the other of the anode and the cathode active materials contacts the lower plate serving as the other terminal for the cell; and c) an activating electrolyte filled in the casing to contact the electrode assembly.
 
20. A method for providing an electrochemical cell, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a casing, comprising: i) providing an annular sidewall extending to an upper annular edge spaced from a lower annular edge, and an outer annular surface spaced from an inner surface, wherein the inner annular surface is provided with a step; ii) coating a dielectric material on the lower annular edge of the annular sidewall and at least a portion of the inner surface of the annular sidewall; iii) providing a lower plate; iv) positioning a ring-shaped sealing glass contacting the lower plate and the dielectric material coating the lower annular edge of the annular sidewall; v) heating the lower plate and the annular sidewall to form a glass-to-metal seal between the lower plate and the dielectric material at the lower annular edge of the annular sidewall; vi) providing a lid; vii) providing an electrolyte fill port extending through the lid to the lid upper and lower surfaces; and viii) contacting a current collector to the lid lower surface; b) providing an electrode assembly, comprising: i) an anode active material; ii) a cathode active material; iii) contacting one of the anode and the cathode active materials to the current collector in turn contacting the lid serving as one terminal for the cell, and contacting the other of the anode and the cathode active materials to the lower plate serving as the other terminal for the cell; and iv) positioning a separator segregating the anode active material from direct physical contact with the cathode active material; c) seating the lid on the step of the annular sidewall; d) welding the lid to the upper annular edge of the annular sidewall; and e) filling an activating electrolyte into the casing through the electrolyte fill port in the lid and then closing the electrolyte fill port.