IP Library Granted Patent US 8,822,064
Granted Patent B2
US 8,822,064 · App. 12/650,773 · Granted Sep 2, 2014

Modular battery with polymeric compression sealing

Inventors: Duncan Culver (Howell, NJ); Christopher K. Dyer (Madison, NJ); Michael L. Epstein (Bedminster, NJ)
Assignee: Lightening Energy
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,822,064
App. No.
12/650,773
Granted
Sep 2, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A modular battery includes: a first battery cell having a first electrode surface; a second battery cell having a second electrode surface; a compressible interconnector connecting the first battery cell and the second battery cell; and a polymeric material holding the first battery cell against the second battery cell with the interconnector in a compressed state. A method is also provided.

Claims (46)

1. A modular battery comprising:

a first battery cell having a first electrode surface;

a second battery cell having a second electrode surface;

a compressible interconnector connecting the first battery cell and the second battery cell; and

a polymeric material holding the first battery cell against the second battery cell with the interconnector in a compressed state,

wherein the interconnector electrically connects the first battery cell and the second battery cell in series.

2. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is a shrink-wrap material.

3. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is a sealant.

4. The modular battery as recited in claim 3 wherein the sealant is located between planar surfaces of the first and second battery cells.

5. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is electrically insulating.

6. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is thermally conducting.

7. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 further comprising a first end plate contacting the first battery cell, and a second end plate, the polymeric material contacting the first end plate and second end plate.

8. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein the polymeric material seals a space between the first and second battery cells.

9. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein the compressible interconnector is spaced at its periphery from the polymeric material.

10. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 further comprising further battery cells spaced by further interconnectors to form a stack, the stack being held in a compressed state by the polymeric material.

11. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein the polymeric material holds the first battery cell against the second battery cell with the interconnector in a compressed state such that the resistance between the first battery and the second battery cell is lowered.

12. The modular battery as recited in claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is spaced from peripheries of the interconnector and contacting the peripheries of the first and second battery cells.

13. The modular battery as recited in claim 12 wherein the interconnector is compressed by a plurality of mils in thickness.

14. A method for forming a modular battery comprising:

placing a compressible interconnector between a first battery cell having a first electrode surface and a second battery cell having a second electrode surface;

placing a polymeric material at the peripheries of the first and second battery cells;

compressing the compressible interconnector; and

curing the polymeric material to hold the first battery cell with respect to the second battery cell so that the compressible interconnector remains in a compressed state,

wherein the compressing the compressible interconnector lowers the resistance between the first and second battery cells.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the polymeric material is a shrink-wrap material.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the polymeric material is at the peripheries at a distance, and then heated to shrink.

17. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the polymeric material is a sealant.

18. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising cutting through the polymeric material and reforming the modular battery by adding further polymeric material, compressing the compressible interconnector and curing the further polymeric material.

19. A modular battery comprising:

a first battery cell having a first electrode surface;

a second battery cell having a second electrode surface;

a compressible interconnector connecting the first battery cell and the second battery cell; and

a polymeric material holding the first battery cell against the second battery cell with the interconnector in a compressed state,

wherein the polymeric material holds the first battery cell against the second battery cell with the interconnector in a compressed state such that the resistance between the first battery and the second battery cell is lowered.

20. The modular battery as recited in claim 19 wherein the polymeric material is a shrink-wrap material.

21. The modular battery as recited in claim 19 wherein the polymeric material is a sealant.

22. The modular battery as recited in claim 21 wherein the sealant is located between planar surfaces of the first and second battery cells.

23. The modular battery as recited in claim 19 wherein the polymeric material is electrically insulating.

24. The modular battery as recited in claim 19 wherein the polymeric material is thermally conducting.

25. The modular battery as recited in claim 19 further comprising a first end plate contacting the first battery cell, and a second end plate, the polymeric material contacting the first end plate and second end plate.

26. The modular battery as recited in claim 19 wherein the polymeric material seals a space between the first and second battery cells.

27. The modular battery as recited in claim 19 wherein the compressible interconnector is spaced at its periphery from the polymeric material.

28. The modular battery as recited in claim 19 further comprising further battery cells spaced by further interconnectors to form a stack, the stack being held in a compressed state by the polymeric material.

29. The modular battery as recited in claim 19 wherein the polymeric material is spaced from peripheries of the interconnector and contacting the peripheries of the first and second battery cells.

30. The modular battery as recited in claim 29 wherein the interconnector is compressed by a plurality of mils in thickness.

31. The modular battery as recited in claim 19 wherein the interconnector electrically connects the first battery cell and the second battery cell in series.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2010
From: CULVER, DUNCAN; DYER, CHRISTOPHER K.; EPSTEIN, MICHAEL L.
To: LIGHTENING ENERGY
Reel/Frame 023960/0575 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110159351A1 · Jun 30, 2011