A capacitor and a method for assembling a capacitor. A capacitor is assembled from a case, which contains an anode that is electrically coupled to the case and defines wells or slots receiving a plurality of cathode plates. A header is placed on the case. The header also supports a glass seal that insulates the lead tube and cathode lead coming from the cathode. Once assembled, the capacitor is filled with electrolyte. A weld extends around the header to secure the header to the case. A bent cathode configuration enables a plurality of cathode plates electrically coupled together from a common cathode plate.
1. An electrolytic capacitor comprising:
an anode having a plurality of wells therein, wherein each of the plurality of wells is contiguously surrounded for a majority of its boundary by the anode;
an electrically conductive case surrounding and electrically coupled to the anode;
a plurality of cathodes each respectively extending into a well of the plurality of wells, wherein the cathodes are electrically coupled together and are electrically separated from the anode; and
electrolyte within the plurality of wells and contacting both the anode and the plurality of cathodes.
2. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the anode and cathodes are contained within a case, the electrolyte is a liquid electrolyte, and the anode is electrically separated from the cathodes.
3. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein each of the cathodes comprises a high surface area capacitive material layer over a majority of its surface.
4. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the anode is shaped from primarily tantalum powder.
5. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the anode is primarily titanium.
6. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the anode is primarily niobium.
7. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of cathodes have a cylindrical shape.
8. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of cathodes have a plate shape.
9. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of cathodes are a unitary piece.
10. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cathodes comprises a plurality of cathode plates electrically coupled together and shaped to form a cylinder with slots extending between the cathode plates.
11. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cathodes comprises a plurality of cathode plates shaped to form a cylindrical shape and the plurality of wells are arranged in a cylindrical shape such that the plurality of cathode plates fits into the plurality of wells.
12. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , further comprising at least one separator between the plurality of cathodes and the anode.
13. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , further comprising at least one isolator between the plurality of cathodes and the header.
14. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , further comprising at least one cathode tie plate electrically coupling each of the plurality of cathodes to each other.
15. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 14 , further comprising at least a first isolator between the cathode tie plate and a header.
16. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 15 , further comprising at least a second isolator between the anode and the at least one cathode tie plate.
17. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is a solid electrolyte.
18. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is a liquid electrolyte.
19. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the anode is a cylindrically shaped anode.
20. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of wells are each cylindrically shaped wells.
21. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of cathodes are each cylindrically shaped cathodes.
22. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wells are each cylindrically shaped wells.
23. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of cathodes are each cylindrically shaped cathodes.
24. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the cathodes are electrically coupled together through a plurality of cathode tie plates.
25. The electrolytic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the cathodes are electrically coupled together through a cathode tie plate extending radially in a plurality of directions from a center cathode of the plurality of cathodes to the rest of the plurality of cathodes.