IP Library Granted Patent US 12,438,219
Granted Patent B2
US 12,438,219 · App. 18/201,785 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Battery cell including end cap with protruding structure connecting to tab, method and system for manufacturing same, battery, and electrical device

Inventors: Kun Fang (Fujian, CN); Zhijun Guo (Fujian, CN)
Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
H01M50/169H01M10/0525H01M50/107H01M50/152H01M50/538
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,438,219
App. No.
18/201,785
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A battery cell may include: a housing, on which an opening is made; an electrode assembly, accommodated in the housing; and an end cap, configured to fit and cover the opening. The end cap may include a cap body and a protruding structure around the cap body, the protruding structure may protrude from an inner surface of the cap body toward the electrode assembly, and at least a part of the protruding portion may be located in the housing and configured to fit with the housing. A recess may be formed on the end cap at a position corresponding to the protruding structure, and the recess may be recessed from an outer surface of the cap body toward the electrode assembly and configured to release a stress while the protruding portion extends into the housing.

Claims (33)

1. A battery cell, comprising:

a housing having an opening;

an electrode assembly, accommodated in the housing; and

an end cap to fit and cover the opening, wherein the end cap comprises a cap body and a protruding structure around the cap body, the protruding structure protrudes from an inner surface of the cap body toward the electrode assembly, and at least a part of the protruding structure is located in the housing and fit with the housing, wherein

a recess is formed on the end cap at a position corresponding to the protruding structure, and the recess is recessed from an outer surface of the cap body toward the electrode assembly and releases a stress while the protruding portion extends into the housing,

the electrode assembly is provided with a first tab at one end facing the end cap,

a current collecting structure is provided between the protruding structure and the first tab,

the protruding structure is electrically connected to the first tab via the current collecting structure, and the protruding structure abuts against the current collecting structure in a thickness direction of the end cap,

the end cap further comprises an extension structure protruding beyond an outer peripheral face of the protruding structure and surrounding the protruding structure, and the extension structure is welded to a sidewall of the housing around the opening so that the housing and the end cap are connected into one piece,

the extension structure is welded to a first outer end face of the sidewall of the housing to form a weld structure, the first outer end face of the sidewall of the housing being an outermost end of the sidewall of the housing in the thickness direction of the end cap, and in the thickness direction of the end cap, the weld structure is closer to the electrode assembly than the outer surface of the cap body, and

in a direction pointing to the sidewall from the electrode assembly, an outer wall face of the sidewall extends beyond the weld structure.

2. The battery cell according to claim 1 , wherein, in the thickness direction of the end cap, a bottom face of the recess is closer to the electrode assembly than the entire inner surface of the cap body.

3. The battery cell according to claim 1 , wherein an avoidance slot is disposed on the inner surface of the extension structure, the avoidance slot is disposed around the protruding structure, and a slot wall face of the avoidance slot is configured to connect the inner surface of the extension structure and the outer peripheral face of the protruding structure.

4. The battery cell according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in the direction pointing to the sidewall from the electrode assembly, the outer wall face of the sidewall extends beyond an end face of the extension structure by 0.02 mm to 0.5 mm.

5. The battery cell according to claim 1 , wherein the extension structure and the protruding structure are integral parts of the end cap and comprise a same material of the end cap.

6. The battery cell according to claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the housing extends along the thickness direction of the end cap and is disposed around the electrode assembly, and an inner wall face of the sidewall and the outer peripheral face of the protruding structure are both parallel to the thickness direction, and are disposed opposite to each other.

7. The battery cell according to claim 6 , wherein the protruding structure further comprises a guide face oriented toward the sidewall, the guide face is connected to an end that is the outer peripheral face of the protruding structure and that is closer to the electrode assembly than the outer peripheral face of the protruding structure, and the guide face tilts away from the inner wall face of the sidewall against the outer peripheral face of the protruding structure to guide the protruding structure to extend into the housing.

8. The battery cell according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding structure is in clearance fit with the housing to form a clearance between the outer peripheral face of the protruding structure and the inner wall face of the sidewall.

9. The battery cell according to claim 8 , wherein, in a direction pointing to the sidewall from the electrode assembly, the clearance between the outer peripheral face of the protruding structure and the inner wall face of the sidewall is 0.02 mm to 0.5 mm in size.

10. The battery cell according to claim 1 , wherein the first tab of the electrode assembly is electrically connected to the housing by the end cap.

11. The battery cell according to claim 10 ,

wherein the housing comprises the sidewall and a bottom wall,

the sidewall extends along the thickness direction of the end cap and is disposed around the electrode assembly,

the bottom wall is connected to one end of the sidewall and located on a side that is of the electrode assembly that is oriented away from the end cap, and

an electrode lead-out hole is disposed on the bottom wall;

a second tab is disposed on the electrode assembly at an end oriented toward the bottom wall, and

the first tab and the second tab are of opposite polarities; and

the battery cell further comprises an electrode terminal mounted in the electrode lead-out hole, and

the electrode terminal is electrically connected to the second tab.

12. The battery cell according to claim 10 , wherein the first tab is a negative tab, and a substrate material of the housing is steel.

13. A battery, comprising a plurality of battery cells comprising the battery cell according to claim 1 .

14. An electrical device, comprising the battery according to claim 13 , wherein the battery is configured to provide electrical energy.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
To: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 068338/0402 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2023
From: FANG, KUN; GUO, ZHIJUN
To: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
Reel/Frame 063758/0485 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2021122105 · Sep 30, 2021
Related Publication 20230299395A1 · Sep 21, 2023
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