ALKALINE BATTERY
An alkaline battery includes: a battery can ( 2 ) encasing a positive mixture ( 4 ), a separator ( 5 ) and a gel-like negative electrode ( 6 ); and a sealing assembly for fitting to an opening of the battery can ( 11 ), the sealing assembly including: a gasket ( 7 ) including an inner cylindrical portion ( 7 a ), an outer cylindrical portion ( 7 b ) that engages with an inner periphery of the opening of the battery can, a linking portion ( 7 c ) that connects the inner cylindrical portion to the outer cylindrical portion, and a thin portion ( 8 ) that is formed between the linking portion and the inner cylindrical portion, with a negative electrode collector ( 9 ) being placed through the inner cylindrical portion and through the gel-like negative electrode; and a negative electrode terminal plate ( 10 ) that is welded to a head ( 9 a ) of the negative electrode collector and has its outer edge engaging with the inside of the outer cylindrical portion of the gasket, wherein the opening of the battery can is sealed by the edge of the opening of the battery can as the edge is bent inward and axially crimped while the seal assembly is being supported by a groove ( 12 ) formed at the opening of the battery can to engage with the opening. In this alkaline battery, the linking portion of the gasket includes an annular disc ( 7 f ) that is uniform in thickness and has a two-step profile with a bent portion ( 7 g ) formed at its middle portion as viewed along the radial direction. The alkaline battery has a reduced axial dimension of the sealing portion and thus achieves improved discharge performance while retaining its safety and leakage-proof performance.
1 . An alkaline battery comprising:
a battery can ( 2 ) encasing a positive mixture ( 4 ), a separator ( 5 ), and a gel-like negative electrode ( 6 ); and
a sealing assembly for fitting to an opening of the battery can ( 11 ), the sealing assembly comprising:
a gasket ( 7 ) including an inner cylindrical portion ( 7 a ), an outer cylindrical portion ( 7 b ) that engages with an inner periphery of the opening of the battery can, a linking portion ( 7 c ) that connects the inner cylindrical portion to the outer cylindrical portion, and a thin portion ( 8 ) that is formed between the linking portion and the inner cylindrical portion, with a negative electrode collector ( 9 ) being placed through the inner cylindrical portion and through the gel-like negative electrode; and
a negative electrode terminal plate ( 10 ) that is welded to a head ( 9 a ) of the negative electrode collector and has its outer edge engaging with the inside of the outer cylindrical portion of the gasket, wherein the opening of the battery can is sealed by the edge of the opening of the battery can as the edge is bent inward and axially crimped while the seal assembly is being supported by a groove ( 12 ) formed at the opening of the battery can to engage with the opening, and wherein the linking portion of the gasket includes an annular disc ( 7 f ) that is uniform in thickness and has a two-step profile with a bent portion ( 7 g ) formed at its middle portion as viewed along the radial direction.
2 . The alkaline battery according to claim 1 , wherein, given that an angle between an outer periphery of the inner cylindrical portion ( 7 a ) of the gasket ( 7 ) and a portion of the annular disc ( 7 f ) inside the bent portion ( 7 g ) is A 1 , and that an angle between an outer periphery of the inner cylindrical portion of the gasket and a portion of the annular disc outside the bent portion is A 2 , A 1 is greater than A 2 and is an angle smaller or equal to 90 degrees.
3 . The alkaline battery according to claim 2 , wherein a difference between A 1 and A 2 (A 1 −A 2 ) is set in a range of 11 to 22 degrees.
4 . The alkaline battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the bent portion ( 7 g ) of the annular disc ( 7 f ) is formed as an angular inflexion point.