US 12,261,309 B2
Co-axial glass-to-metal seal for a case-neutral electrochemical cell
Gary Freitag, East Aurora, NY (US); Paul T. Hallifax, Gasport, NY (US); and Michael F. Scalise, Clarence, NY (US)
Assigned to Greatbatch Ltd., Clarence, NY (US)
Filed by Greatbatch Ltd., Clarence, NY (US)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/599,318.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/451,385, filed on Mar. 10, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0304913 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. H01M 50/191 (2021.01); H01M 50/119 (2021.01); H01M 50/148 (2021.01); H01M 50/152 (2021.01); H01M 50/184 (2021.01)
CPC H01M 50/191 (2021.01) [H01M 50/119 (2021.01); H01M 50/152 (2021.01); H01M 50/154 (2021.01); H01M 50/184 (2021.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A case-neutral electrochemical cell, comprising:
a) a casing comprising an open-ended container closed by a lid, wherein the casing has an opening;
b) an electrode assembly housed inside the casing, the electrode assembly comprising an anode and a cathode separated from direct physical contact with each other by an intermediate separator;
c) a co-axial glass-to-metal seal, comprising:
i) a terminal pin extending along a terminal pin axis;
ii) an inner ferrule comprising an inner ferrule sidewall extending to an inner ferrule inside end residing inside the casing spaced from an inner ferrule outside end residing outside the casing, wherein the inner ferrule inside and outside ends extend to an inner ferrule inner annular surface opposite an inner ferrule outer annular surface;
iii) an inner insulating glass hermetically sealed to the terminal pin and to the inner annular surface of the inner ferrule, wherein the inner insulating glass has an inner insulating glass melting temperature;
iv) an outer ferrule comprising an outer ferrule sidewall extending to an outer ferrule inside end residing inside the casing spaced from an outer ferrule outside end residing outside the casing, wherein the outer ferrule inside and outside ends extend to an outer ferrule inner annular surface opposite an outer ferrule outer annular surface; and
v) an outer insulating glass hermetically sealed to the outer annular surface of the inner ferrule and to the inner annular surface of the outer ferrule, wherein the outer insulating glass has an outer insulating glass melting temperature;
vi) wherein the outer ferrule outer annular surface is secured to the casing in the casing opening, and
vii) wherein the inner insulating glass comprises TA-23 having an inner insulating glass melting temperature of about 775° C. that is less than the outer insulating glass comprising Cabal-12 having an outer insulating glass melting temperature of about 925° C., or the inner insulating glass comprises Cabal-12 having an inner insulating glass melting temperature of about 925° C. that is greater than the outer insulating glass comprising TA-23 having an outer insulating glass melting temperature of about 775° C., and
d) wherein one of the anode and the cathode is electrically connected to the terminal pin and the other of the anode and the cathode is electrically connected to the inner ferrule; and
e) an electrolyte provided in the casing to activate the electrode assembly.