US 12,132,177 B1
Systems, apparatus, and processes for battery recycling
Matthew Strong, Ellsworth, ME (US)
Assigned to Interco Trading, Inc., Madison, IL (US)
Filed by Interco Trading, Inc., Madison, IL (US)
Filed on Nov. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/454,296.
Application 17/454,296 is a continuation of application No. 16/903,515, filed on Jun. 17, 2020, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/862,356, filed on Jun. 17, 2019.
Int. Cl. H01M 10/54 (2006.01); B02C 23/10 (2006.01); B03C 1/30 (2006.01); H01M 10/0525 (2010.01)
CPC H01M 10/54 (2013.01) [B02C 23/10 (2013.01); B03C 1/30 (2013.01); H01M 10/0525 (2013.01); B02C 2201/06 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of recycling one or more battery cell assemblies each containing a plurality of battery cells, the method comprising:
reducing a battery cell assembly into smaller pieces while keeping the battery cells of the battery cell assembly intact to retain electrolyte therein, the smaller pieces including the intact battery cells;
directing the smaller pieces to a furnace for burning off electrolyte in the battery cells;
shredding a remainder of the smaller pieces from the furnace; and
sorting the remainder by material type into different material groups;
wherein reducing the battery cell assembly comprises breaking the battery cell assembly by flexing the battery cell assembly.