Rechargeable battery

1. A rechargeable battery, comprising:

an electrode assembly including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator provided between the first electrode and the second electrode;

a first current collecting plate electrically connected to the first electrode;

a second current collecting plate electrically connected to the second electrode; and

a case including the electrode assembly, the first current collecting plate, and the second current collecting plate, the case having a length direction and a width direction, the first current collecting plate being electrically connected to an inner wall of the case, wherein:

the first current collecting plate includes a plurality of spaced protrusions extending along the length direction and welded with the inner wall of the case, adjacent protrusions being spaced apart by a groove in contact with the first electrode, each of the protrusions establishing electrical contact between the first current collecting plate and the case, each of the protrusions made of a heat-conducting material, and

each ones of the protrusions transfers heat generated inside the case to outside the case through a path that passes through areas where the protrusions contact the inner wall of the case.

2. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least two welded protrusions have a same shape.

3. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the welded protrusions includes a bend in the first current collecting plate, the bend protruding toward the inner wall of the case.

4. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the welded protrusions has a cross-section having a square, triangular, or circular shape.

5. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the first electrode is a positive electrode, and

the second electrode is a negative electrode.

6. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inner wall is a side wall of the case.

7. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a first protrusion is spaced from a second protrusion by a gap.

8. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the protrusions is elastically biased in a direction toward the inner wall of the case.

9. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the first current collecting plate includes an elastic portion, the elastic portion being partially detached with respect to a remaining portion of the first current collecting plate, and

at least one of the protrusion protrudes from a surface of the elastic portion, the at least one protrusion being attached to the inner wall of the case.

10. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the elastic portion includes:

a first portion that is incised on a side of the first current collecting plate and that protrudes in the inner wall direction of the case;

a second portion that is incised on a side of the first current collecting plate at a position near the first portion and that protrudes in the inner wall direction of the case; and

the at least one protrusion protrudes at the surfaces of the first portion and the second portion.

11. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the at least one protrusion includes a bend in the first portion and the second portion, the bend protruding toward the inner wall of the case.

12. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the at least one protrusion has a cross-section having a square, triangular, or circular shape.

13. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the elastic portion is movable with respect to a remaining portion of the first current collecting plate.

14. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

spaces between the protrusions establish first passages in a third direction,

spaces aligned with the protrusions establish second passages in the third direction,

the first passages face a first direction,

the second passages face a second direction opposite to the first direction, and

the third direction crosses the first and second directions.

15. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 14 , wherein:

the first direction faces the inner wall of the case, and

the second direction faces the electrode assembly.

16. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of welds,

wherein each of the welds extends through the inner wall of the case to contact and join to a respective one of the protrusions.

17. The rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 16 , wherein:

each of the protrusions transfers heat generated inside the case to outside the case through a path that passes through a respective one of the welds that extend through the inner wall of the case.