Electrical feedthroughs for battery housings
Electrical feedthroughs for battery housings are presented. The electrical feedthroughs include a connector, a ceramic insulator, and a terminal. A first seal couples the connector to the ceramic insulator via a first braze alloy. A second seal couples the ceramic insulator to the terminal via a second braze alloy. The electrical feedthroughs can also include a spacer. A first seal couples the connector to the ceramic insulator; a second seal couples the ceramic insulator to the spacer; and the third seal couples the spacer to the terminal. The first seal, the second seal, and the third seal include, respectively, a first braze alloy, a second braze alloy, and a third braze alloy.
1. An electrical feedthrough comprising:
a connector for coupling to a housing, wherein the connector comprises a cylindrical body with a central opening, the connector further comprising a lip surrounding the cylindrical body, the lip comprising an inner surface for bonding to the housing;
wherein the housing has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the connector;
a terminal disposed within the central opening of the connector; and
a seal glass coupling the connector to the terminal, the seal glass comprising a boroaluminate glass.
2. The electrical feedthrough of claim 1 , wherein the connector is formed of a stainless steel.
3. The electrical feedthrough of claim 2 wherein the stainless steel is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel 304, stainless steel 316, and stainless steel 316 L.
4. The electrical feedthrough of claim 1 , wherein the terminal is formed of a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, molybdenum, tungsten, and an iron-nickel-cobalt alloy.
5. The electrical feedthrough of claim 1 , wherein the boroaluminate glass comprises at least one of barium oxide and calcium oxide.
6. The electrical feedthrough of claim 1 , wherein the bonding of the connector to the housing comprises at least one of soldering, brazing, welding, and epoxying.
7. The electrical feedthrough of claim 1 , wherein the bonding of the connector to the housing comprises a hermetic seal.
8. The electrical feedthrough of claim 1 , wherein the coupling of the connector to the terminal comprises a hermetic seal.
9. A battery comprising:
a set of layers comprising a cathode layer, an anode layer, and a separator layer disposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer;
an enclosure enclosing the set of layers;
a feedthrough comprising:
a connector for coupling to a housing, wherein the connector comprises a cylindrical body with a central opening, the connector further comprising a lip surrounding the cylindrical body, the lip comprising an inner surface for bonding to the housing;
wherein the housing has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the connector;
a terminal disposed within the central opening of the connector; and
a seal glass coupling the connector to the terminal, the seal glass comprising a boroaluminate glass.
10. The battery of claim 9 , wherein the connector is formed of a stainless steel.
11. The battery of claim 9 , wherein the terminal is formed of a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, molybdenum, tungsten, and an iron-nickel-cobalt alloy.
12. The battery of claim 9 , wherein the boroaluminate glass comprises at least one of barium oxide and calcium oxide.
13. The battery of claim 9 , wherein the bonding of the connector to the housing comprises a hermetic seal.
14. The battery of claim 9 , wherein the coupling of the connector to the terminal comprises a hermetic seal.
15. The battery of claim 9 , wherein a gold layer is disposed over the nickel layer or portions thereof.
16. A method for manufacturing a feedthrough, the method comprising:
coupling a connector to a housing, wherein the connector comprises a cylindrical body with a central opening, the connector further comprising a lip surrounding the cylindrical body, the lip comprising an inner surface for coupling to the housing, wherein the housing has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the connector;
disposing a terminal within the central opening of the connector; and
coupling the connector to the terminal using a seal glass, the seal glass comprising a boroaluminate glass.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the connector is formed of a stainless steel.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the terminal is formed of a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, molybdenum, tungsten, and an iron-nickel-cobalt alloy.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the coupling the connector to the housing creates a hermetic seal.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the coupling the connector to the terminal creates a hermetic seal.