Electric storage device, electric storage device assembly, and method for producing electric storage device

{
  "publication_number": "US10135040B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Electric storage device, electric storage device assembly, and method for producing electric storage device",
  "abstract": "Provided is an electric storage device including a first conductive member having a head bulging from an inserted part inserted through a partition wall, and a second conductive member that is formed using a metal material different from a material of the first conductive member and is fixed to the head of the first conductive member by friction stir welding.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An electric storage device comprising: an electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate insulated from each other; a case comprising a partition wall and housing the electrode assembly; a first conductive member passing through a hole in the partition wall and electrically connected to the electrode assembly inside the case; and a second conductive member arranged outside the case and electrically connected to the first conductive member, wherein the first conductive member comprises an inserted part inserted through the hole in the partition wall and a head bulging from the inserted part, the head being provided at an end of the first conductive member in an insertion direction of the inserted part, and the second conductive member is formed using a metal material different from a material of the first conductive member and is fixed to the head of the first conductive member by a weld formed by friction stir welding, at least a part of the second conductive member, of the head of the first conductive member and the partition wall being arranged in this order in the insertion direction.",
    "2. The electric storage device according to claim 1, wherein the head of the first conductive member and the second conductive member respectively have flat surfaces, and the flat surfaces are joined to each other by friction stir welding.",
    "3. The electric storage device according to claim 1, wherein the second conductive member has a recess configured to house at least a part of the head of the first conductive member, the recess being disposed on the side of the head of the first conductive member that is opposite the partition wall.",
    "4. The electric storage device according to claim 3, wherein abutting surfaces of at least a part of the head of the first conductive member and the recess of the second conductive member are joined to each other by friction stir welding.",
    "5. The electric storage device according to claim 1, wherein one of the head of the first conductive member and the second conductive member has a projection, the other of the head of the first conductive member and the second conductive member has a hole into which the projection is inserted or fitted, and abutting surfaces of the projection and the hole are joined to each other by friction stir welding.",
    "6. The electric storage device according to claim 3, wherein the recess is formed through the second conductive member, and an upper surface of the head of the first conductive member and an upper surface of the second conductive member are flush with each other.",
    "7. The electric storage device according to claim 5, wherein the projection is formed on the head of the first conductive member, the hole is formed through the second conductive member, and an upper surface of the projection of the first conductive member and an upper surface of the second conductive member are flush with each other.",
    "8. An electric storage device comprising: an electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate insulated from each other; a case comprising a partition wall and housing the electrode assembly; a first conductive member passing through a hole in the partition wall and electrically connected to the electrode assembly inside the case; and a second conductive member arranged outside the case and electrically connected to the first conductive member, wherein the first conductive member comprises an inserted part inserted through the hole in the partition wall and a head bulging from the inserted part, the head being provided at an end of the first conductive member in an insertion direction of the inserted part, the first conductive member is formed using a first metal material, the second conductive member is formed using a second metal material that is different from the first conductive member, and the second conductive member is fixed to the head of the first conductive member via a nugget part in which the first metal material and the second metal material are mixed, at least a part of the nugget part being formed over the hole in the partition wall, and at least a part of the second conductive member, the head of the first conductive member and the partition wall being arranged in this order in the insertion direction.",
    "9. An electric storage device assembly comprising: at least two electric storage devices including at least one electric storage device according to claim 1; and a coupling member configured to couple the electric storage devices.",
    "10. A method for producing the electric storage device according to claim 1, comprising: fixing the second conductive member to the head of the first conductive member by friction stir welding; and fixing the first conductive member to which the second conductive member has been fixed to the partition wall of the case by inserting the first conductive member therethrough.",
    "11. An electric storage device assembly comprising: at least two electric storage devices including at least one electric storage device according to claim 8; and a coupling member configured to couple the electric storage devices.",
    "12. A method for producing the electric storage device according to claim 8, comprising: fixing the second conductive member to the head of the first conductive member by friction stir welding; and fixing the first conductive member to which the second conductive member has been fixed to the partition wall of the case by inserting the first conductive member therethrough.",
    "13. The electric storage device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the weld is formed over the hole in the partition wall in the insertion direction of the inserted part.",
    "14. The electric storage device according to claim 13, further comprising: a current collector which electrically connects the electrode assembly to the first conductive member, wherein the inserted part of the first conductive member comprises a swaged part, the inserted part of the first conductive member is inserted through a hole in the current collector and the swaged part contacts the current collector.",
    "15. The electric storage device according to claim 1, wherein the head of the first conductive member comprises a first flat surface formed on the side of the head of the first conductive member that is opposite the partition wall, and the weld is formed at the first flat surface.",
    "16. The electric storage device according to claim 15, wherein the second conductive member comprises a second flat surface that contacts the first flat surface, the weld being formed at an interface between the first flat surface and the second flat surface.",
    "17. The electric storage device according to claim 1, further comprising: an outer gasket formed in the hole in the partition wall so as to separate the inserted part of the first conductive member from the partition wall.",
    "18. The electric storage device according to claim 17, wherein the outer gasket is formed between the head of the first conductive member and the partition plate."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to an electric storage device including an electrode assembly, a case housing the electrode assembly, and a conductive member passing through a partition wall of the case, to an electric storage device assembly, and to a method for producing an electric storage device.\n\nIn recent years, rechargeable electric storage devices such as battery cells (such as lithium ion battery cells and nickel hydrogen battery cells) and capacitors (such as electric double layer capacitors) have been employed as power sources, for example, for vehicles (such as automobiles and motorcycles) and various equipment (such as mobile terminals and laptop computers). For example, a battery cell includes an electrode assembly and a case. The case includes a case body housing the electrode assembly and a cover plate configured to close an opening of the case body. A current collector is connected to the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly and the current collector are arranged inside the case. An external terminal is, for example, arranged on the outer surface of the cover plate. The external terminal and the current collector are connected directly or indirectly to each other. Thus, the external terminal and the electrode assembly are electrically connected to each other.\n\nAs a method for electrically connecting the external terminal and the current collector to each other, a conductive member is used. The conductive member includes a first conductive member and a second conductive member.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01G 9/15",
    "B23K 20/002",
    "B23K 20/122",
    "H01G 4/228",
    "H01G 9/008",
    "H01G 9/048",
    "H01M 10/0525",
    "H01M 2/06",
    "H01M 2/202",
    "H01M 2/204",
    "H01M 2/206",
    "H01M 2/30",
    "H01M 2220/20",
    "H01M 2220/30",
    "H01M 50/176",
    "H01M 50/505",
    "H01M 50/51",
    "H01M 50/516",
    "H01M 50/531",
    "H01M 50/534",
    "H01M 50/55",
    "H01M 50/553",
    "H01M 50/562",
    "H01M 50/567",
    "Y02E 60/10",
    "Y02E 60/13"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B23K 20/00",
    "B23K 20/12",
    "H01G 9/048",
    "H01G 9/15",
    "H01M 10/0525",
    "H01M 50/176",
    "H01M 50/505",
    "H01M 50/51",
    "H01M 50/516",
    "H01M 50/531",
    "H01M 50/534",
    "H01M 50/55",
    "H01M 50/553",
    "H01M 50/562",
    "H01M 50/567",
    "H01G 4/228",
    "H01G 9/008"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "GS Yuasa International Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Masakazu Tsutsumi",
    "Takuma Tonari"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-12-19",
  "publication_date": "2018-11-20",
  "grant_date": "2018-11-20",
  "priority_date": "2012-12-25",
  "application_number": "US-201314649194-A",
  "family_id": "51020961",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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}