Sealed battery and manufacturing method thereof, and vehicle and device having the same mounted thereon

Abstract

The sealed battery has a battery container () and a power generating element sealed inside the battery container. The battery container is provided with a fill opening (), an annular ridge (), which extends around the entire circumference of the outer face surrounding the fill opening, and an annular indentation () on the inside of the inner wall surface of the annular ridge, and has a sealing cap (), which fits into the annular indentation and covers the fill opening. The sealing cap is joined by being welded to the inner wall surface of the annular ridge around the entire circumference at the edge thereof. Since heat is not well transferred from the inside to the outside of the outer wall surface of the annular ridge, the effective thermal capacity during welding is mostly determined by the structure of the area inside the outer wall surface of the annular ridge. Consequently, the effective thermal capacity is nearly uniform independent of direction. Thus, it is possible to provide a sealed battery, a manufacturing method thereof, and vehicles and machinery in which the same is installed, wherein the opening can be closed under consistent welding conditions around the entire circumference.