Battery case employing ring sandwich
The invention includes a brazed ceramic ring that separates the positive and negative ends of the battery while still providing a leak-tight seal. The ceramic is aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide or zirconium oxide with 3% yttrium. The invention includes a brazing material, which is grater than 50% gold. The invention includes a titanium alloy case (Ti-6Al-4V) which is titanium with 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium as its major alloying elements. The case has the desirable properties of titanium such as high strength for a relatively low weight; and the case has the requisite ability and electro-activity to be used as a positive current carrying element where the battery's positive electrode exhibits more then 3.5 V vs. Li/Li + .
1. A battery case, comprising:
a cylinder configured to hold battery electrodes, the cylinder including titanium;
a first end cap welded to the cylinder;
a second end cap sealed to the cylinder using a brazed ceramic ring sandwich including;
a first ring including ceramic material;
a second ring including titanium attached to the first ring with a gold alloy braze;
a third ring including titanium attached to the first ring with the gold alloy braze; and
wherein the gold alloy braze has a gold content of more than 50 wt %; and
a weld attaches the third ring of the brazed ceramic ring sandwich to the cylinder; and wherein
the second ring of the brazed ceramic ring sandwich to the second end cap.
2. The battery case of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder includes titanium with 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium.
3. The battery case of claim 1 , wherein the first end cap includes titanium.
4. The battery case of claim 1 , wherein the first end cap includes titanium with 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium.
5. The battery case of claim 1 , wherein the second end cap includes titanium.
6. The battery case of claim 1 , wherein the second end cap includes a feedthrough hole formed feedthrough.
7. The battery case of claim 1 , wherein the third ring of the brazed ceramic ring sandwich is welded to the cylinder with a laser weld.
8. The battery case of claim 1 , wherein the second ring of the brazed ceramic ring sandwich is welded to the second end cap with a laser weld.
9. The battery case of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, and zirconium oxide with 3% yttrium.
10. The battery case of claim 1 , wherein the gold alloy braze includes 96.4% gold 3.0% nickel, and 0.6% titanium.
11. The battery case of claim 1 , wherein the third ring includes titanium with 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium.
12. The battery case of claim 1 , wherein a second weld attached the second ring of the brazed ceramic ring sandwich to the second end cap.
13. A battery case, comprising:
a cylinder configured to hold battery electrodes, the cylinder including Ti-6Al-4V;
a first end cap including titanium with 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium welded to the cylinder;
a second end cap including titanium sealed to the cylinder using a brazed ceramic ring sandwich, the brazed ceramic ring sandwich including:
a first ring including ceramic material;
a second ring including titanium attached to the first ring with a gold alloy braze; and
a third ring including Ti-6Al-4V attached to the first ring with the gold alloy braze; wherein
the gold alloy braze has a gold content of more than 50 wt %;
wherein a weld attaches the third ring of the brazed ceramic ring sandwich to the cylinder; and
wherein the second ring of the brazed ceramic ring sandwich is attached to the second end cap.
14. The battery case of claim 13 , wherein a second weld attached the second ring of the brazed ceramic ring sandwich to the second end cap.