Rechargeable battery
View Patent ↗A rechargeable battery including: an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode; a case containing the electrode assembly; a cap plate coupled to the case; a short-circuit tab electrically connected to the first electrode; and a short-circuit member electrically connected to the second electrode and configured to contact the short-circuit tab according to an increase of an internal pressure of the rechargeable battery, and the short-circuit member includes a connection portion having a plate shape, a support portion at an outer side of the connection portion, and a variable groove having a shape that is configured to change according to the increase of the internal pressure.
1. A rechargeable battery comprising:
an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode and a second electrode;
a case containing the electrode assembly;
a cap plate coupled to the case;
a short-circuit tab electrically connected to the first electrode; and
a short-circuit member electrically connected to the second electrode and configured to contact the short-circuit tab according to an increase of an internal pressure of the rechargeable battery,
wherein the short-circuit member comprises a connection portion having a plate shape, a support portion at an outer side of the connection portion, and a variable groove having a shape that is configured to change according to the increase of the internal pressure, and
wherein the connection portion is configured to rise from a pre-deformation state in which the connection portion has an arc-shaped cross-section protruding toward the short-circuit tab to a deformed state and contact the short-circuit tab when the internal pressure of the rechargeable battery exceeds a reference pressure.
2. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the support portion comprises an edge portion having a ring shape, and a driving portion at an inner side of the edge portion and inclined with respect to the edge portion.
3. The rechargeable battery of claim 2 , wherein the variable groove is formed at a corner where the edge portion and the driving portion meet each other.
4. The rechargeable battery of claim 3 , wherein a width of the variable groove decreases as the connection portion rises according to the increase of the internal pressure.
5. The rechargeable battery of claim 2 , wherein the variable groove comprises a first variable groove formed at a corner where the edge portion and the driving portion meet each other, and the short-circuit member further comprises a second variable groove formed in a portion where the connection portion and the driving portion meet each other.
6. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the short-circuit member is partially inserted in a short-circuit groove formed in the cap plate, and electrically connected with the second electrode through the cap plate.
7. A rechargeable battery comprising:
an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode and a second electrode;
a case containing the electrode assembly;
a cap plate coupled to the case;
a short-circuit tab electrically connected to the first electrode: and a short-circuit member electrically connected to the second electrode and configured to contact the short-circuit tab according to an increase of an internal pressure of the rechargeable battery,
wherein the short-circuit member comprises a connection portion having a plate shape, a support portion at an outer side of the connection portion, and a variable groove having a shape that is configured to change according to the increase of the internal pressure,
wherein the connection portion is configured to rise from a pre-deformation state in which the connection portion has an arc-shaped cross-section protruding toward the short-circuit tab to a deformed state and contact the short-circuit tab when the internal pressure of the rechargeable battery exceeds a reference pressure, and
wherein the connection portion comprises a protrusion at a center portion of the connection portion such that a thickness of the center portion of the connection portion is greater than a thickness of a peripheral portion of the connection portion.
8. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the support portion comprises an edge portion having a ring shape, a first driving portion at an inner side of the edge portion and inclined with respect to the edge portion, and a second driving portion at an inner side of the first driving portion and inclined with respect to the first driving portion.
9. The rechargeable battery of claim 8 , wherein the variable groove comprises a first variable groove formed at a corner where the edge portion and the first driving portion meet each other, and the short-circuit member further comprises a second variable groove formed in a portion where the first driving portion and the second driving portion meet each other, and a third variable groove formed in a portion where the second driving portion and the connection portion meet each other.
10. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the connection portion is greater than a thickness of the support portion.
11. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the support portion comprises a driving portion inclined in a direction away from the short-circuit tab, and the connection portion convexly protrudes toward the short-circuit tab.
12. The rechargeable battery of claim 11 , wherein a convex portion of the short-circuit member is formed at a portion where the support portion and the connection portion meet each other.
13. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable battery is adapted for use as a motor-driving power source for propelling an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle.