Insulator component design for maintaining electrode assembly compression in prismatic medical cells
US8580439B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 8, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P70/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electrochemical cell comprising a conductive casing housing an electrode assembly provided with a stack holder surrounding the electrode assembly is described. The stack holder is of a shape memory material that serves to maintain the anode and cathode in a face-to-face close physical proximity alignment throughout discharge. This is particularly important in later stages of cell life. As the cell discharges, anode active material is physically moved from the anode to intercalate with the cathode active material. As this mass transfer occurs, the cathode becomes physically larger and the anode smaller. This can lead to gaps forming between the anode and the cathode. However, the stack holder inhibits the formation of such gaps by maintaining a compressive force on the electrode assembly throughout cell discharge.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.