The Gillette Company

Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc.

Mark T Ashbolt

Alexander Boris Shelekhin

Steven Jeffrey Specht

Matthew R Sylvestre

David Lloyd Anglin

Robert Yoppolo

Philip D Trainer

Anthony Joseph Malgioglio

Brien Merrill

Robert S Ferrin

Derek R Bobowick

Oleg Podoprigora

Paul Albert Christian

Michael F Roberts

Richard Edward Durkot

James R Costanzo

Daniel G Allen

Dean MacNeil

Scott Manning

A seal assembly for a battery cell includes a grommet having an opening having an inner surface. A nail has a nail head and a stem extending from the stem. The stem includes a first portion with a larger diameter and a second portion with a smaller diameter and the stem extends through the opening in the grommet. The stem and the grommet form a first interference fit at a distal end of the opening. A trap clearance is formed between the distal end of the opening and the nail head. The trap clearance defines a trap for a sealant. A sealant is disposed on the stem and is located at least partially in the trap.

Seal assembly for a battery cell

Batteries having vents are disclosed. An example battery includes a housing, including: a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal includes a cover. The cover includes at least one line of weakness therein. The line of weakness is structured to form an opening when a threshold pressure is satisfied within the housing to enable gas to vent from the housing through the opening. A filter is positioned within the housing and adjacent the cover. The filter has an aperture structured to enable the gas to vent from the housing and to deter solid material housed within the housing from exiting the opening when the threshold pressure is satisfied.

Batteries having vents

An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The housing may be laser welded closed with a metal cover inserted as a part of an end cap assembly. A portion of an insulating seal may be held compressed between a sleeve extending from the metal cover and an anode current collector nail within the end cap assembly. The housing may include a vent mechanism, preferably a grooved vent, which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 250 and 800 psig (1724&#xd7;10and 5515&#xd7;10pascal gage). The cell can have a supplemental laser welded vent which may activate at higher pressure levels.

Alkaline cell with flat housing

An alkaline cell having a flat casing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising nickel oxyhydroxide. The casing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm, but may be larger. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the casing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism, preferably a grooved vent, which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 250 and 800 psig (1724&#xd7;10and 5515&#xd7;10pascal gage). The cell can have a supplemental vent mechanism such as a laser welded region on the surface of the casing which may activate at higher pressure levels.

Alkaline cell with flat housing and nickel oxyhydroxide cathode

An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising MnO. The housing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the housing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. There can be a gap between separator and cathode for insertion of additional electrolyte. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism, preferably a grooved vent, which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 250 and 800 psig (1724&#xd7;10and 5515&#xd7;10pascal gage). The cell can have a supplemental vent mechanism such as a laser welded region on the surface of the housing which may activate at higher pressure levels.

An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising MnO. The housing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the housing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 100 and 300 psig (6.89&#xd7;10and 20.69&#xd7;10pascal gage). The cell can have primary and supplemental vent mechanisms such as welded or thinned regions on the surface of the housing which may activate at different pressure levels. The cathode can be formed of a plurality of stacked slabs having aligned hollow centers with an elongated opening for anode material to be inserted therein.

An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising MnO. The housing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the housing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. The end cap assembly includes an insulating sealing member having a circumferential skirt which surrounds wide portions of the anode current collector. This provides a barrier between said wide portions of the current collector and the cell housing. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a level typically between about 100 and 300 psig (6.89&#xd7;10and 20.69&#xd7;10pascal gage). The cathode can be formed of a plurality of stacked slabs having aligned hollow centers forming a central core with anode material placed therein. A separator is between anode and cathode. The housing can be of steel having a wall thickness desirably between about 0.30 and 0.45 mm.

Alkaline cell with flat housing and improved current collector

An electrochemical cell generating hydrogen gas upon discharge, wherein the cell has an outer casing, a vent aperture passing through a wall of the casing, and a rupturable membrane covering the vent aperture. The outer casing preferably has a flat wall running along the cell's length and a vent aperture passing through the flat wall. The cell may typically be an alkaline cell in the shape of a cuboid. The rupturable membrane may be secured by a ring facing the inside surface of the flat wall of the casing in a position adjacent the vent aperture. The rupturable membrane is preferably of polysulfone. The membrane allows hydrogen gas to permeate therethrough to the environment and is rupturable if hydrogen gas within the cell interior builds up rapidly to a threshold pressure level. Optionally, a pointed puncture member extends into the vent aperture to assist membrane rupture.

Electrochemical cell with flat casing and vent

An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising MnO . The housing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the housing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. The end cap assembly includes an insulating sealing member having a circumferential skirt which surrounds wide portions of the anode current collector. This provides a barrier between said wide portions of the current collector and the cell housing. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a level typically between about 100 and 300 psig (6.89&times;10 and 20.69&times;10 pascal gage). The cathode can be formed of a plurality of stacked slabs having aligned hollow centers forming a central core with anode material placed therein. A separator is between anode and cathode. The housing can be of steel having a wall thickness desirably between about 0.30 and 0.45 mm.

Growing community of inventors

Newtown, CT, United States of America

Mark T Ashbolt