U.S. patent application number 13/966959 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-12 for feed-through and method for integrating the feed-through in a housing by ultrasonic welding.
This patent application is currently assigned to Schott AG. The applicant listed for this patent is Schott AG. Invention is credited to Linda Johanna Backnaes, Ulf Dahlmann, Hauke Esemann, Dieter Goedeke, Helmut Hartl, Frank Kroll, Martin Landendinger, Sabine Pichler-Wilhelm, Andreas Roters.
Application Number | 20130330604 13/966959 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45688430 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130330604 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kroll; Frank ; et
al. |
December 12, 2013 |
FEED-THROUGH AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING THE FEED-THROUGH IN A
HOUSING BY ULTRASONIC WELDING
Abstract
A feed-through, in particular a feed-through which passes
through a housing component of a housing, for example a battery
housing, such as a battery cell housing. The housing component
includes at least one opening through which at least one conductor,
for example an essentially pin-shaped conductor, is guided. The
pin-shaped conductor is at least partially surrounded by an
insulator, for example made of a glass or a glass ceramic material.
The at least one conductor connection, for example of the
essentially pin-shaped conductor and/or of the housing component
with the insulator, which is a glass or a glass ceramic material,
is formed, the connection being an ultrasonic welding.
Inventors: |
Kroll; Frank; (Landshut,
DE) ; Hartl; Helmut; (Wien, AT) ; Roters;
Andreas; (Mainz, DE) ; Esemann; Hauke;
(Woerrstadt, DE) ; Goedeke; Dieter; (Bad Soden,
DE) ; Dahlmann; Ulf; (Gau-Odernheim, DE) ;
Pichler-Wilhelm; Sabine; (Landshut, DE) ;
Landendinger; Martin; (Ergoldsbach, DE) ; Backnaes;
Linda Johanna; (Landshut, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Schott AG |
Mainz |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Schott AG
Mainz
DE
|
Family ID: |
45688430 |
Appl. No.: |
13/966959 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2012/000701 |
Feb 17, 2012 |
|
|
|
13966959 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
429/179 ;
65/59.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C03C 27/02 20130101;
B23K 1/19 20130101; B23K 15/0093 20130101; Y10T 29/4911 20150115;
C03C 29/00 20130101; Y02E 60/10 20130101; H01M 10/0569 20130101;
C03C 8/24 20130101; B23K 2101/36 20180801; B23K 2103/10 20180801;
C03C 3/19 20130101; Y10T 29/49108 20150115; C03C 2204/00 20130101;
B23K 26/32 20130101; C03C 8/00 20130101; H01M 2300/0037 20130101;
C03C 2207/08 20130101; H01M 2/24 20130101; H01M 2/305 20130101;
H01M 2220/20 20130101; C03C 4/20 20130101; Y10T 29/49115 20150115;
H01M 2/06 20130101; H01M 2/08 20130101; H01M 2/065 20130101; H01M
10/0525 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
429/179 ;
65/59.7 |
International
Class: |
H01M 2/24 20060101
H01M002/24; C03C 27/02 20060101 C03C027/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 18, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 011 705.9 |
Feb 25, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 012 430.6 |
Apr 1, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 015 869.3 |
Jun 10, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 103 975.2 |
Jun 10, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 103 976.0 |
Jul 7, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 106 873.6 |
Claims
1. A feed-through, comprising: a housing component of a housing,
said housing component having at least one opening; an insulator;
at least one conductor which is at least partially surrounded by
said insulator, said at least one conductor being guided through
said at least one opening of said housing component; and an
ultrasonic welding connection between said at least one conductor
and at least one of said housing component and said insulator.
2. The feed-through according to claim 1, wherein said housing is a
battery cell housing.
3. The feed-through according to claim 1, wherein said at least one
conductor is an essentially pin-shaped conductor.
4. The feed-through according to claim 1, wherein said insulator is
a material which is one of a glass material and a glass ceramic
material.
5. The feed-through according to claim 3, wherein said conductor
includes a head part and said insulator is positioned between said
head part and said housing component.
6. The feed-through according to claim 3, wherein said conductor
includes a metal.
7. The feed-through according to claim 6, wherein said metal is one
of copper, copper silicon carbide (CuSiC), a copper alloy,
aluminum, aluminum silicon carbide (AlSiC), an aluminum alloy,
nickel-iron (NiFe), an NiFe jacket with a copper core, magnesium, a
magnesium alloy, silver, a silver alloy, gold, a gold alloy and a
cobalt-iron alloy.
8. The feed-through according to claim 4, wherein said glass or
ceramic glass material of said insulator includes in Mole (mol)
percent (%): P.sub.2O.sub.5 35-50 mol-%; Al.sub.2O.sub.3 0-14
mol-%; B.sub.2O.sub.3 2-10 mol-%; Na.sub.2O 0-30 mol-%; M.sub.2O
0-20 mol-%, wherein M is one of K, Cs and Rb; PbO 0-10 mol-%;
Li.sub.2O 0-45 mol-%; BaO 0-20 mol-%; and Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 0-10
mol-%.
9. The feed-through according to claim 8, wherein said glass or
glass ceramic material of said insulator includes (in mol-%):
P.sub.2O.sub.5 39-48 mol-%; Al.sub.2O.sub.3 2-12 mol-%;
B.sub.2O.sub.3 4-8 mol-%; Na.sub.2O 0-29 mol-%; M.sub.2O 12-20
mol-%; PbO 0-9 mol-%; Li.sub.2O 0-40 mol-%; BaO 0-20 mol-%; and
Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 0-5 mol-%.
10. The feed-through according to claim 9, wherein said glass or
glass ceramic material of said insulator includes (in mol-%):
Li.sub.2O 17-40 mol-%; BaO 5-20 mol-%; and Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 2-5
mol-%.
11. The feed-through according to claim 8, wherein said glass or
glass ceramic material of said insulator includes (in mol-%):
P.sub.2O.sub.5 38-50 mol-%; Al.sub.2O.sub.3 3-14 mol-%;
B.sub.2O.sub.3 4-10 mol-%; Na.sub.2O 10-30 mol-%; K.sub.2O 10-20
mol-%; and PbO 0-10 mol-%.
12. A housing, comprising: a housing component having at least one
opening; at least one feed-through including: an insulator; at
least one conductor which is at least partially surrounded by said
insulator, said at least one conductor being guided through said at
least one opening; and an ultrasonic welding connection between
said at least one conductor and at least one of said housing
component and said insulator.
13. The housing according to claim 12, wherein the housing is for a
battery cell.
14. The housing according to claim 13, the housing including a
metal.
15. The housing according to claim 14, wherein said metal is a
light metal.
16. The housing according to claim 15, wherein said light metal is
one of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, magnesium, a magnesium alloy,
titanium, a titanium alloy, steel, a high grade steel, a stainless
steel and a tool steel.
17. A storage device, comprising: a feed-through including: a
housing having at least one opening; an insulator; at least one
conductor which is at least partially surrounded by said insulator,
said at least one conductor being guided through said at least one
opening in said housing; and an ultrasonic welding connection
between said at least one conductor and at least one of said
housing component and said insulator.
18. The storage device according to claim 17, wherein the storage
device is an accumulator.
19. The storage device according to claim 18, wherein said
accumulator is a lithium-ion battery with at least one battery cell
surrounded by said housing.
20. The storage device according to claim 19, wherein said housing
is a battery cell housing.
21. The storage device according to claim 17, wherein said at least
one conductor is an essentially pin-shaped conductor.
22. The storage device according to claim 17, wherein said housing
includes one of a metal, a high-grade steel, steel, stainless
steel, tool steel and a light metal.
23. The storage device according to claim 22, wherein said light
metal is one of aluminum, aluminum silicon carbide (AlSiC), an
aluminum alloy, magnesium, a magnesium alloy, titanium and a
titanium alloy.
24. A method of providing a housing component with a feed-through,
the method comprising the steps of: one of sealing and joining a
conductor with an insulator using ultrasonic welding to form a
feed-through; and using ultrasonic welding to connect said
feed-through with the housing component.
25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said conductor is an
essentially pin-shaped conductor.
26. The method according to claim 24, wherein said insulator is one
of a glass material and a glass ceramic material.
27. The method according to claim 24, wherein said connecting step
further comprises the step of hermetically sealing said
feed-through with said housing component.
28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step
of placing a contact material between said insulator and said
housing component prior to said connecting step using said
ultrasonic welding.
29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said contact material
is an aluminum foil.
31. A method of providing a housing component with a feed-through,
the method comprising the steps of: using ultrasonic welding to one
of seal and join an insulator with the housing component; and using
ultrasonic welding to join a conductor with said insulator.
32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said insulator is one
of a glass material and a glass ceramic material.
33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said conductor is an
essentially pin-shaped conductor.
34. The method according to claim 31, wherein said conductor is
hermetically sealed with said insulator.
35. The method according to claim 33, wherein said conductor
includes a head part, said step of joining said conductor with said
insulator further comprising the step of joining said head part
with said insulator using ultrasonic welding.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of PCT application No.
PCT/EP2012/000701, entitled "FEED-THROUGH, IN PARTICULAR FOR
BATTERIES AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING SAID FEED-THROUGH IN A HOUSING
BY MEANS OF ULTRASONIC WELDING", filed Feb. 17, 2012, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a feed-through, for example
a feed-through which passes through a housing component or
respectively a part of a housing, such as a battery cell housing,
whereby the housing part or respectively the housing component
includes at least one opening through which a conductor, for
example an essentially pin-shaped conductor, is guided. Moreover,
the present invention relates to a housing, in particular for a
battery cell having a feed-through, as well as to a method for
providing a housing component or respectively a housing part with a
feed-through, and a storage device, such as an accumulator with a
battery cell housing, whereby the battery cell housing includes at
least one opening with one feed-through.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] According to the current state of the art electric
feed-throughs, as described for example in the following
references: U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,492; U.S. Pat. No. 7,770,520; US
2010/0064923; EP 1 061 325; and DE 10 2007 016692, are produced
from solder glasses which function as insulators. With all
feed-throughs known from the current state of the art, an
essentially pin-shaped conductor is connected with the respective
housing component by means of melting a glass having a low melting
point. It is disadvantageous hereby that the thermal stability of
the metallic materials, in particular their melting point, limits
the possible maximum melting temperature for the utilized solder
glass. Moreover it is necessary that the melted solder glass wets
the used materials of the components well in order to ensure the
required tightness and mechanical stability. A further requirement
is that generally the solder glass has to be selected for the
plurality of feed-throughs in such a manner that the thermal
expansion of the components does not greatly deviate from each
other. An exception hereto are only compression seal feed-throughs,
or respectively compression seals in the form of special seals,
whereby different thermal expansions of glass or glass ceramic
material and surrounding metal lead to a frictional connection of
glass or glass ceramic material and surrounding metal. These types
of compression seal feed-throughs are used for example for airbag
igniters. In the case of compression seal feed-throughs the glass
or glass ceramic material adheres to the surrounding metal; however
no molecular connection exists between the glass or glass ceramic
material and the metal. The frictional connection is lost as soon
as the opposing force of the static friction is exceeded.
[0006] From DE 10 006 199 it is known to hermetically seal a body
form consisting of a brittle material, in particular glass with an
opening, with a sealing body, whereby the body form and the sealing
body are permanently welded together. According to DE 10 006 199
the body form consists of a glass, a glass ceramic or a ceramic and
the sealing body preferably of a metal, a metal alloy or a metal
composite material. The thermal expansions of the body form and the
sealing body are hereby adapted. An electric feed-through is not
shown in DE 10 006 199.
[0007] Connection of a metal strip with an optical element,
comprising preferably a glass or glass ceramic material by means of
ultrasonic welding is also known from DE 1 496 614. As the
preferred material for the metal which is to be joined, an aluminum
alloy is shown in DE 1 496 614. There are also no feed-throughs
shown in DE 1 496 614.
[0008] Accumulators, preferably lithium-ion batteries are intended
for various applications, for example for portable electronic
equipment, cell phones, power tools and in particular electric
vehicles. The batteries can replace traditional energy sources, for
example lead-acid batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries or
nickel-metal hydride batteries.
[0009] Lithium-ion batteries have been known for many years. In
this regard we refer you to the "Handbook of Batteries, published
by David Linden, 2nd issue, McGrawhill, 1995, chapters 36 and 39".
Various aspects of lithium-ion accumulators are described in a
multitude of patents, for example: U.S. Pat. No. 961,672; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,952,126; U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,183; U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,185;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,434; U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,914; and U.S. Pat. No.
5,773,959.
[0010] Lithium-ion batteries, in particular for applications in the
automobile industry generally feature a multitude of individual
battery cells which are generally connected in-series. The
in-series connected battery cells are usually combined into
so-called battery packs and then to a battery module which is also
referred to as lithium-ion battery. Each individual battery cell
has electrodes which are led out of a housing of the battery
cell.
[0011] In particular in the use of lithium-ion batteries in the
automobile industry, a multitude of problems such as corrosion
resistance, stability in accidents and vibration resistance must be
solved. An additional problem is the hermetic seal of the battery
cells over an extended period of time. The hermetic seal may for
example be compromised by leakage in the area of the electrodes of
the battery cell or respectively the electrode feed-through of the
battery cell. Such leakages may for example be caused by
temperature changes and alternating mechanical stresses, for
example vibrations in the vehicle or aging of the synthetic
material. A short-circuit or temperature changes in the battery or
respectively battery cell can lead to a reduced life span of the
battery or the battery cell.
[0012] In order to ensure better stability in accidents, a housing
for a lithium-ion battery is suggested for example in DE 101 05 877
A1, whereby the housing includes a metal jacket which is open on
both sides and which is being sealed. The power connection is
insulated by a synthetic material. A disadvantage of the synthetic
material insulations is the limited temperature resistance, the
limited mechanical stability, aging and the uncertain hermetic seal
over the service life. The current feed-throughs on the lithium-ion
batteries according to the current state of the art are therefore
not integrated hermetically sealed into the cover part of the
lithium-ion battery. Moreover, the electrodes are crimped and laser
welded connecting components with additional insulators in the
interior of the battery.
[0013] An alkaline battery has become known from DE 27 33 948 A1
wherein an insulator, for example glass or ceramic, is joined
directly by means of a fusion bond with a metal component.
[0014] One of the metal parts is connected electrically with one
anode of the alkaline battery and the other is connected
electrically with the cathode of the alkaline battery. The metals
used in DE 27 33, 948 A1 are iron or steel. Light metals like
aluminum are not described in DE 27 33 948 A1. Also, the sealing
temperature of the glass or ceramic material is not cited in DE 27
33 948 A1. The alkaline battery described in DE 27 33 948 A1 is a
battery with an alkaline electrolyte which, according to DE 27 33
948 A1, contains sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
Lithium-ion batteries are not favored in DE 27 33 948 A1.
[0015] A method to produce asymmetrical organic carboxylic acid
esters and to produce anhydrous organic electrolytes for alkali-ion
batteries has become known from DE 698 04 378 T2, or respectively
EP 0885 874 B1. Electrolytes for rechargeable lithium-ion cells are
also described in DE 698 04 378 T2, or respectively EP 0885 874
B1.
[0016] An RF-feed through, or a radio frequency-feed-through, with
improved electrical efficiency is described in DE 699 23 805 T2, or
respectively EP 0 954 045 B1. The feed-throughs known from DE 699
23 805 T2 or respectively EP 0 954 045 B1 are not glass-metal
feed-throughs. Glass-metal feed-throughs which are provided
immediately inside for example the metal wall of a packing are
described in EP 0 954 045 B1 as being disadvantageous since RF
feed-throughs of this type due to embrittlement of the glass are
not durable.
[0017] DE 690 230 71 T2, or respectively EP 0 412 655 B1, describes
a glass-metal feed-through for batteries or other electrochemical
cells, whereby glasses having an SiO.sub.2 content of approximately
45 weight-% are being used and metals, in particular alloys, are
being used which contain molybdenum and/or chromium and/or nickel.
The use of light metals is insufficiently addressed in DE 690 230
71 T2, as are sealing temperatures or respectively bonding
temperatures for the used glasses. The materials used for the pin
shaped conductor are, according to DE 690 230 71 T2 or respectively
EP 0 412 655 B1, alloys which contain molybdenum, niobium or
tantalum.
[0018] A glass-metal feed-through for lithium-ion batteries has
become known from U.S. Pat. No. 7,687,200. According to U.S. Pat.
No. 7,687,200 the housing was produced from high-grade steel and
the pin-shaped conductor from platinum/iridium. The glass materials
cited in U.S. Pat. No. 7,687,200 are glasses TA23 and CABAL-12.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,530 these are
CaO--MgO--Al.sub.2O.sub.3-.alpha..sub.2O.sub.3 systems having
sealing temperatures of 1025.degree. C. or 800.degree. C. Moreover,
glass compositions for glass-metal feed-throughs for lithium
batteries have become known from U.S. Pat. No. 7,687,200 which
contain CaO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, B.sub.2O.sub.3, SrO and BaO whose
sealing temperatures are in the range of 650.degree. C.-750.degree.
C. and which are therefore too high for use with light metals.
Furthermore, barium is undesirable in many applications since it is
considered to be environmentally harmful and hazardous to health.
Also discussed is strontium, the use of which is also to be avoided
in the future. Furthermore, the glass compositions according to
U.S. Pat. No. 7,687,200 moreover have a coefficient of expansion a
in the temperature range of 20.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. of only
a .alpha..apprxeq.9.times.10.sup.-6/K.
[0019] What is needed in the art is to avoid the disadvantages of
the current state of the art as described above and to cite an
electric feed-through which is simple to produce and which can in
particular also be used in a battery cell housing. The feed-through
shall moreover also distinguish itself through high stability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention provides a housing component of a
housing, such as a battery housing, whereby the housing component
includes at least one opening through which a conductor, such as an
essentially pin-shaped conductor is guided and whereby the
conductor, in particular the essentially pin-shaped conductor is
surrounded at least partially by an insulator, for example by a
glass or glass ceramic material. The inventive feed-through
includes at least one connection of the essentially pin-shaped
conductor and/or the housing component with the insulator, which is
in the form of a glass or glass ceramic material, the connection
being an ultrasonic welding.
[0021] A battery according to the present invention is to be
understood to be a disposable battery which is disposed of and/or
recycled after its discharge, as well as an accumulator.
[0022] Ultrasonic welding is a joining technology which is used,
for example, with thermoplastic and polymer-compatible plastics,
for example in situations where short process times at high process
reliability are required. During ultrasonic welding, high frequency
mechanical vibrations cause molecular and interfacial friction in a
joining region. The heat necessary for welding is thereby generated
and the material is being plasticized. After the ultrasound action,
a homogeneous solidification of the joining region is achieved
through short cooling times and by maintaining the joining
pressure. The geometry of the sonotrode, as well as the
configuration of the joining region can, for example, also
influence the welding result. In contrast to pressure sealing
wherein only a friction connection is provided, the connection
between the glass material and the material with which the glass
material is joined is a chemical connection.
[0023] The fundamental characteristics of ultrasonic welding are:
very short process times, very good process control and reliability
through monitoring of the welding parameters, selective energy
supply using digital control of the welding process, constant
welding quality with optical perfect and stable, as well as
reproducible welding seams and optically appealing welding seam
appearance. Moreover it is possible to connect any desired
contours, in particular also any desired closed contours of two
materials with each other. Cold welding tools can advantageously be
utilized, so that no consideration has to be given to warm-up times
of the machine and fast, simple changeover of the welding tools is
possible. Moreover, the welding seams are air tight as well as
liquid tight.
[0024] Due to the arrangement as an ultrasonic welding connection
it is possible to use glass or glass ceramic materials which have
higher sealing temperatures than, for example, the melting
temperatures of the materials of the housing component. This makes
the selection of glasses or glass ceramic materials possible which,
in their wetting behavior are adapted to the used materials of the
housing component and/or pin. Due to the good wettability, the
glass and/or glass ceramic materials then provides the necessary
tightness and mechanical stability, whereby the sealing temperature
of the used materials can then be freely selected.
[0025] Sealing temperature of the glass or glass ceramic is
understood to be the temperature of the glass or the glass ceramic
whereby the glass material softens and then fits closely against
the metal which is to be sealed so that a bonded joint connection
is obtained between the glass or the glass ceramic and the
metal.
[0026] The sealing temperature may, for example, be determined
through the hemispherical temperature as described in R. Gorke, K.
J. Leers: Keram. Z. 48 (1996) 300-305, or according to DIN 51730,
ISO 540 or CEN/TS 15404 and 15370-1 whose disclosure content is
incorporated in its entirety into the current patent application.
According to DE 10 2009 011 182A1, the hemispherical temperature
can be determined in a microscopic process by using a heating stage
microscope. It identifies the temperature at which an originally
cylindrical test body melts into a hemispherical mass. A viscosity
of approximately log .eta.=4.6 deciPascals (dPas) can be allocated
to the hemispherical temperature, as can be learned from
appropriate technical literature. If a crystallization-free glass,
for example in the form of a glass powder, is melted down and then
cooled so that it solidifies, it can then normally be melted down
again at the same melting temperature. For a bonded connection with
a crystallization-free glass this means that the operating
temperature to which the bonded connection is continuously
subjected may not be higher than the sealing temperature. Glass
compositions as utilized in the current application are generally
often produced from a glass powder which is melted down and which,
under the influence of heat provides the bonded connection with the
components which are to be joined. Generally, the sealing
temperature or melting temperature is consistent with the level of
the so-called hemispherical temperature of the glass. Glasses
having low sealing temperatures or respectively melting
temperatures are also referred to as solder glass. Instead of
fusing or melting temperature, one speaks of solder temperature or
soldering temperature in this instance. The sealing temperature or
respectively the solder temperature may deviate from the
hemispherical temperature by +20K.
[0027] The solder glass having become known from DE 10 2009 011 182
A1 pertains to high temperature applications, for example fuel
cells.
[0028] An additional advantage of the connection between insulator,
in particular glass material, with the surrounding material using a
welding connection, such as an ultrasonic welding connection in
accordance with the present invention is to be seen in that the
utilized materials may be selected relatively freely and an
adaptation, for example of the thermal expansion of the components
is no longer in the foreground. This allows, for example, for the
glass or the glass ceramic to be adapted to the electrolyte of the
battery cell. In particular, materials can be selected that offer a
high resistance to the chemically aggressive electrolytes. This is
the case especially if the connection of the insulator to the base
body, as well as the connection of the insulator to the essentially
pin-shaped conductor occurs by ultrasonic welding. In such a case,
a glass ceramic or quartz glass could, for example, be used as the
material for the insulator. The glass ceramic distinguishes itself
through very high strength, high chemical resistance and a low
coefficient of expansion. Quartz glass has a very high stability,
in particular when compared to most of the melting or solder
glasses.
[0029] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
pin-shaped conductor includes a head part and the insulator, in
particular the glass or glass ceramic material is introduced
between the head part and housing component. The glass or glass
ceramic material is, for example, ring-shaped, for example a glass
ring. In this embodiment of a pin-shaped conductor with a head
part, welding can be provided between the essentially pin-shaped
conductor, produced for example of aluminum and the ring-shaped
material, for example the glass ring. The ultrasonically welded
joint may however also be located between the insulator and the
housing component. If both joints are welded joints the greatest
freedom in regard to material selection for the insulator as
described above is provided. The arrangement of the pin-shaped
conductor with a head part has particular advantages in regard to
space which, inside battery cells is mostly very tight. Pin-shaped
conductors with a head part permit for example that the head area
of the head part which is generally larger than the head area of
the pin-shaped conductor can be connected to an electrode
connecting part, which in turn is connected with the anode or
cathode of the battery cell.
[0030] The electrode connecting parts or respectively electrode
connecting components can for example be firmly connected with the
head part by welding, for example laser welding, resistance
welding, electron beam welding, friction welding, ultrasonic
welding, bonding, gluing, soldering, caulking, shrinking, grouting,
jamming and crimping.
[0031] Materials finding use for the conductor, preferably the
pin-shaped conductor are, for example, metals, in particular Cu,
CuSiC or copper alloys, Al or AlSiC or aluminum alloys, Mg or
magnesium alloys, gold or gold alloys, silver or silver alloys,
NiFe, an NiFe-jacket with copper core, as well as a cobalt-iron
alloy.
[0032] As aluminum or respectively aluminum alloys, the following
may be used: [0033] EN AW-1050 A; [0034] EN AW-1350; [0035] EN
AW-2014; [0036] EN AW-3003; [0037] EN AW-4032; [0038] EN AW-5019;
[0039] EN AW-5056; [0040] EN AW-5083; [0041] EN AW-5556A; [0042] EN
AW-6060; and [0043] EN AW-6061.
[0044] As copper or respectively copper alloys, the following may
be used: [0045] Cu-PHC 2.0070; [0046] Cu-OF 2.0070; [0047] Cu-ETP
2.0065; [0048] Cu-HCP 2.0070; and [0049] Cu-DHP 2.0090.
[0050] Exemplary glass or glass ceramic materials for one
embodiment are such materials which have a sealing temperature
which is lower than the melting temperature of the conductor, in
particular the essentially pin-shaped conductor and/or the housing
component. For example, light metals may be used for pin-shaped
conductors and as the materials of the housing component.
[0051] In the current application, metals which have a specific
weight of less than 5.0 kilograms per cubic decimeter (kg/dm.sup.3)
are understood to be light metals. The specific weight of the light
metals is, for example, in the range of 1.0 kg/dm.sup.3 to 3.0
kg/dm.sup.3.
[0052] If the light metals are additionally used as materials for
the conductors, for example for the pin shaped conductor or the
electrode connecting component, then the light metals further
distinguish themselves through an electric conductivity in the
range of 5.times.10.sup.6 Siemens per meter (S/m) to
50.times.10.sup.6 S/m. When used in compression seal feed-throughs
the coefficient of expansion a for the range of 20.degree. C. to
300.degree. C. is moreover in the range of 18.times.10.sup.-6 per
degree Kelvin (K) to 30.times.10.sup.-6/K. Light metals generally
have melting temperatures in the range of 350.degree. C. to
800.degree. C.
[0053] Exemplary glass compositions which can be used include the
following components in mol-%:
[0054] P.sub.2O.sub.5 35-50 mol-%, for example 39-48 mol-%;
[0055] Al.sub.2O.sub.3 0-14 mol-%, for example 2-12 mol-%;
[0056] B.sub.2O.sub.3 2-10 mol-%, for example 4-8 mol-%;
[0057] Na.sub.2O 0-30 mol-%, for example 0-20 mol-%;
[0058] M.sub.2O 0-20 mol-%, for example 12-20 mol-%, wherein M is
K, Cs or Rb;
[0059] PbO 0-10 mol-%, for example 0-9 mol-%;
[0060] Li.sub.2O 0-45 mol-%, for example 0-40 mol-%, or 17-40
mol-%;
[0061] BaO 0-20 mol-%, for example 0-20 mol-%, or 5-20 mol-%;
and
[0062] Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 0-10 mol-%, for example 1-5 mol-%, or 2-5
mol-%.
[0063] A further exemplary composition includes the following
components in mol-%:
[0064] P.sub.2O.sub.5 38-50 mol-%, for example 39-48 mol-%;
[0065] Al.sub.2O.sub.3 3-14 mol-%, for example 4-12 mol-%;
[0066] B.sub.2O.sub.3 4-10 mol-%, for example 4-8 mol-%;
[0067] Na.sub.2O 10-30 mol-%, for example 14-20 mol-%;
[0068] K.sub.2O 10-20 mol-%, for example 12-19 mol-%; and
[0069] PbO 0-10 mol-%, for example 0-9 mol-%.
[0070] The previously listed glass compositions distinguish
themselves not only through a low sealing temperature and a low
transition temperature Tg, but also in that they have sufficient
resistance to battery-electrolytes, as used for example in
lithium-ion batteries, and in this respect ensure the required
long-term durability.
[0071] The glass materials disclosed above are stable phosphate
glasses which, as known alkali-phosphate glasses have clearly a low
overall alkali content.
[0072] The previously mentioned glass compositions contain lithium
which is integrated in the glass structure. The glass compositions
are hereby especially suited for lithium-ion storage devices which
include electrolytes based on lithium, for example a 1 Molar (M)
LiPF.sub.6-solution, including a 1:1 mixture of ethylene-carbonate
and dimethyl-carbonate.
[0073] Further exemplary compositions are low sodium or
respectively sodium-free glass compositions, since the diffusion of
the alkali-ions occurs in Na+>K+>Cs+ sequence and since
therefore low sodium glasses to 20 mol-% Na.sub.2O or respectively
sodium-free glasses are especially resistant to electrolytes,
especially those which are used in lithium-ion storage devices.
[0074] The resistance of the glass composition according to the
present invention in regard to the battery electrolytes can be
verified in that the glass composition in the form of a glass
powder is ground to a granularity of d50=10 micrometers (.mu.m) and
is stored in the electrolytes for a predetermined time period, for
example one week. d50 means, that 50% of all particles or granules
of the glass powder are smaller than or equivalent to a diameter of
10 .mu.m. A carbonate mixture of ethylene-carbonate and
dimethyl-carbonate is used as non-aqueous electrolyte for example
at a ratio of 1:1 M LiPF.sub.6 as conducting salt. After the glass
powder is exposed to the electrolyte, the glass powder can be
filtered off and the electrolyte be examined for glass elements
which were leached from the glass. Herein it has been proven that
with the phosphate glasses in the previously described composition
ranges such leaching occurs surprisingly only to a limited extent
of less than 20 mass percent; and that in special instances
leaching of <5 mass percent is achieved. Moreover, such glass
compositions have a thermal expansion a (20.degree. C. to
300.degree. C.)>14.times.10.sup.-6/K, for example between
15.times.10.sup.-6/K and 25.times.10.sup.-6/K. An additional
advantage of the previously cited glass composition can be seen in
that sealing of the glass with the surrounding light metal or
respectively the metal of the conductor, in particular in the
embodiment of a metal pin is possible also in a gaseous atmosphere
which is not an inert gas atmosphere. In contrast to the previously
used method, a vacuum is also no longer necessary for aluminum
(Al)-fusing. This type of fusing can rather occur under atmospheric
conditions. For both types of fusing nitrogen (N.sub.2) or argon
(Ar) can be used as inert gas.
As a pre-treatment for sealing the metal, the light metal is
cleaned and/or etched, and if necessary is subjected to targeted
oxidizing or coating. During the process, temperatures of between
300.degree. C. and 600.degree. C. are used at heating rates of 0.1
to 30 degrees Kelvin per minute (K/min) and dwell times of 1 to 60
minutes.
[0075] In addition to the feed-through through a housing component,
a housing such as a battery cell housing, for example a battery
cover, is cited which includes at least one feed-through according
to the present invention, as well as a storage device, such as a
battery with such a feed-through. In addition to the feed-through
and the housing, the present invention also provides a method to
equip a housing component with a feed-through. In a first
arrangement of the present invention an essentially pin-shaped
conductor is first sealed with an insulator, in particular a glass
or glass ceramic material, resulting in the feed-through. The
feed-through is then connected with the housing component by
ultrasonic welding, for example hermetically sealed. Hereby the
essentially pin-shaped conductor of the feed-through is guided
through an opening in the housing component, and following
insertion of the conductor, for example the essentially pin-shaped
conductor through the housing component the feed-through is
connected through ultrasonic welding with the housing component. In
order to obtain a good result with the welding process with certain
housing component materials, provision can be made for a contact
material, for example an aluminum foil to be placed before welding,
between the insulator and the housing component. It is also
feasible for the ultrasonic welding to occur, for example, by a
torsion sonotrode, and in particular from the direction of the
housing component.
[0076] The battery is, for example, a lithium-ion battery. The
lithium-ion battery may have a non-aqueous electrolyte, in
particular on a carbonate basis, such as a carbonate mixture. The
carbonate mixture can include a mixture of ethylene-carbonate and
dimethyl-carbonate, with a conducting salt, for example
LiPF.sub.6.
[0077] The material for the housing component is, for example a
metal, such as a light metal, for example aluminum, ALSiC, an
aluminum alloy, magnesium or a magnesium alloy. For the battery
housing as well as for the base body titanium and/or titanium
alloys such as Ti6246 and/or Ti6242 can be used. Titanium is a
material which is well tolerated by the body, so that it is used
for medical applications for example in prosthetics. Due to its
strength, resistance and low weight its use is also favored in
special applications, for example in racing sports and for
aerospace applications. Alternative materials for the housing
component and/or the base body are also steel, stainless steel,
standard steel, or high-grade steel.
[0078] Standard steels, used in particular are St35, St37 or St38.
Exemplary high-grade steels are for example X12CrMoS17, X5CrNi1810,
XCrNiS189, X2CrNi1911, X12CrNi177, X5CrNiMo17-12-2,
X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2, X6CrNiTi1810 and X15CrNiSi25-20, X10CrNi1808,
X2CrNiMo17-12-2 and X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2. However high-grade steels
having material grade numbers (WNr.) according to Euro-Norm (EN)
1.4301, 1.4302, 1.4303, 1.4304, 1.4305, 1.4306, as well as 1.4307
are also feasible. These high-grade steels distinguish themselves
through their effective weldability, in particular with laser
welding or resistance welding, as well as deep-drawing
properties.
[0079] Machining steels, for example with material number 1.0718,
which possess a suitable coefficient of expansion and can be
machined by turning, or construction steels, for example those
having material number 1.0338, which can be processed by punching
and can be used for the housing and/or the base body.
[0080] Alternatively to welding of the completed feed-through, in
other words, of the insulator with one part of the housing
component as described above, it is also possible to seal the
insulator, in particular the glass or glass ceramic material with
the housing component according to the current state of the art and
to connect the pin-shaped conductor by ultrasonic welding with the
insulator, for example hermetically sealed, after sealing of the
housing component with the glass or glass ceramic material. This
method is particularly advantageous if the conductor, in particular
the pin-shaped conductor is equipped with a head part, so that the
head part of the pin-shaped conductor can be joined with the glass
or glass ceramic material by ultrasonic welding.
[0081] Alternatively, the insulator, or respectively the glass or
glass ceramic, can be welded with the housing component, as can the
essentially pin-shaped conductor be welded with the insulator, in
particular by ultrasonic welding. This opens up considerable
freedom in regard to material selection for the insulator. For
example, glass ceramics or quartz glass could then be selected as
material for the insulator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0082] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of
this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more
apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference
to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0083] FIG. 1 is a first arrangement of the present invention with
a contact material;
[0084] FIG. 2 is a second arrangement of the present invention
without a contact material;
[0085] FIG. 3 is a third arrangement of the present invention
whereby the essentially pin-shaped conductor is equipped with a
head part; and
[0086] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate a battery cell having an
inventive feed-through.
[0087] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out
herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such
exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of
the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0088] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG.
1, there is shown an electric feed-through according to the present
invention through a housing component 3, as part of a battery cell
housing. Battery cell housing 3 includes an opening 5 through which
the conductor 7, in particular the essentially pin-shaped conductor
7, of feed-through 1 is guided. Housing part 3 includes an inside
10.1, and an outside 10.2. Inside 10.1 of housing part 3 faces
toward the battery cell. Essentially pin-shaped conductor 7
protrudes over outside 10.2 of housing component 3.
[0089] The materials for housing component 3 as well as for
conductor 7, in particular for pin-shaped conductor 7 can include
different materials. The conductor 7, for example essentially
pin-shaped conductor 7, may consist of copper or aluminum due to
the high electric conductivity, whereas for example housing
component 3 can be produced from high-grade steel to be welded
later with other high-grade steel components. A light metal would
also be possible alternatively for housing component 3.
[0090] In the current application metals which have a specific
weight of less than 5.0 kilograms per cubic decimeter (kg/dm.sup.3)
are understood to be light metals. The specific weight of the light
metals is, for example in the range of 1.0 kg/dm.sup.3 to 3.0
kg/dm.sup.3.
[0091] If the light metals are additionally used as materials for
the conductors, for example for the pin shaped conductor or the
electrode connection component, then the light metals further
distinguish themselves through an electric conductivity in the
range of 5.times.10.sup.6 S/m to 50.times.10.sup.-6 S/m. When used
in compression seal feed-throughs the coefficient of expansion a of
the light metal for the range of 20.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. is
moreover in the range of 10.times.10.sup.-6/K to
30.times.10.sup.-6/K. Light metals generally have melting
temperatures in the range of 350.degree. C. to 800.degree. C.
[0092] According to the invention, feed-through 1 includes, in
addition to the essentially pin-shaped conductor 7, an insulator 20
which is formed, for example, of a glass or glass ceramic material.
Essentially pin-shaped conductor 7 is hermetically sealed with
insulator 20, in this case with the glass or glass ceramic
material, in a first process step, for example through fusing or
ultrasonic welding. Insulator 20 is, for example ring-shaped, for
example a glass ring. Even though the glass ring is described here
as being ring-shaped, this contour is in no way obligatory. Other
contours for the insulator would also be possible, for example a
polygon. The freedom in the selection of the contour becomes
possible in particular in that the connection of insulator and
housing can occur with the assistance of ultrasonic welding. After
the feedthrough consisting of the conductor 7, in particular
essentially pin-shaped conductor 7 as well as insulator 20 into
which essentially pin-shaped conductor 7 is sealed has been
produced, feedthrough 1 as a whole is connected with housing
component 3 by welding, for example ultrasonic welding. If
essentially pin-shaped conductor 7 is sealed with insulator 20, for
example the glass ring, it is necessary to adapt the material
properties of insulator 20, for example the glass or respectively
the glass ring, to the material of essentially pin-shaped conductor
7, for example in regard to the sealing temperature. If insulator
20, for example the glass ring is connected with essentially
pin-shaped conductor 7 by ultrasonic welding, the choice of the
material for insulator 20 is even freer than in the aforementioned
example, since then adaptation of the sealing temperature of the
insulator 20 to essentially pin-shaped conductor 7 is not
necessary. A glass ceramic or quartz glass can then be selected as
the material for insulator 20. The connection of pre-manufactured
feed-through 1 with housing component 3 occurs in the inventive
arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 through welding by a contact
material 32 positioned between insulating material 20 and housing
component 3. Use of contact material 32 advantageously achieves
that the insulator can be connected not only with a ductile metal,
such as for example soft aluminum by ultrasonic welding, but also
with other less ductile metals such as high-grade steel or
copper.
[0093] If pin-shaped conductor 7 is connected with insulator 20
through ultrasonic welding, contact material 32, in particular the
aluminum foil can be wound around essentially pin-shaped conductor
7 (not illustrated). An aluminum foil is especially advantageous as
a contact material for conductors consisting of Cu-materials.
[0094] Aluminum foil may advantageously serve as a contact
material. Welding of insulators 20 of feed-through 1 with housing
component 3 occurs, for example from the direction of the side of
housing component 3 by a torsion sonotrode through ultrasonic
coupling.
[0095] In addition to aluminum (Al), an aluminum alloy, AlSiC,
possible materials for conductor 7, for example essentially
pin-shaped conductor 7, are also Cu, CuSiC, a copper alloy, an
NiFe-jacket with a copper component, silver, a silver as well as a
cobalt-iron alloy.
[0096] Possible materials for insulator 20 are, for example glass
or glass ceramic materials, such as melting glasses or solder
glasses in the following compositions:
[0097] P.sub.2O.sub.5 35-50 mol-%, for example 39-48 mol-%;
[0098] Al.sub.2O.sub.3 0-14 mol-%, for example 2-12 mol-%;
[0099] B.sub.2O.sub.3 2-10 mol-%, for example 4-8 mol-%;
[0100] Na.sub.2O 0-30 mol-%, for example 0-20 mol-%;
[0101] M.sub.2O 0-20 mol-%, for example 12-20 mol-%, wherein M is
K, Cs or Rb;
[0102] PbO 0-10 mol-%, for example 0-9 mol-%;
[0103] Li.sub.2O 0-45 mol-%, for example 0-40 mol-%, or 17-40
mol-%;
[0104] BaO 0-20 mol-%, for example 0-20 mol-%, or 5-20 mol-%;
and
[0105] Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 0-10 mol-%, for example 1-5 mol-%, or 2-5
mol-%.
[0106] An additional exemplary composition is as follows:
[0107] P.sub.2O.sub.5 38-50 mol-%, for example 39-48 mol-%;
[0108] Al.sub.2O.sub.3 3-14 mol-%, for example 4-12 mol-%;
[0109] B.sub.2O.sub.3 4-10 mol-%, for example 4-8 mol-%;
[0110] Na.sub.2O 10-30 mol-%, for example 14-20 mol-%;
[0111] K.sub.2O 10-20 mol-%, for example 12-19 mol-%; and
[0112] PbO 0-10 mol-%, for example 0-9 mol-%.
[0113] The previously mentioned phosphate glasses have a high
crystallization stability. The high crystallization stability of
the phosphate glasses generally ensures melting of the glasses even
at temperatures of <600.degree. C.
[0114] The sealing temperature may for example be determined
through the hemispherical temperature as described in R. Gorke, K.
J. Leers: Keram. Z. 48 (1996) 300-305, or according to DIN 51730,
ISO 540 or CEN/TS 15404 and 15370-1 whose disclosure content is
incorporated in its entirety into the current patent application.
According to DE 10 2009 011 182A1 the hemispherical temperature can
be determined in a microscopic process by using a heating stage
microscope. It identifies the temperature at which an originally
cylindrical test body melts into a hemispherical mass. A viscosity
of approximately log .eta.=4.6 deciPascals (dPas) can be allocated
to the hemispherical temperature, as can be learned from
appropriate technical literature. If a crystallization-free glass,
for example in the form of a glass powder, is melted down and then
cooled so that it solidifies, it can then normally be melted down
again at the same melting temperature. For a bonded connection with
a crystallization-free glass this means that the operating
temperature to which the bonded connection is continuously
subjected may not be higher than the sealing temperature. Glass
compositions as utilized in the current application are generally
often produced from a glass powder which is melted down and which,
under the influence of heat, provides the bonded connection with
the components which are to be joined. Generally, the sealing
temperature or melting temperature is consistent with the level of
the so-called hemispherical temperature of the glass. Glasses
having low sealing temperatures or respectively melting
temperatures are also referred to as solder glass. Instead of
fusing or melting temperature, one speaks of solder temperature or
soldering temperature in this instance. The sealing temperature or
respectively the solder temperature may deviate from the
hemispherical temperature by +20K.
[0115] Table 1 below illustrates exemplary phosphate glasses:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 AB1 AB2 AB3 AB4 AB5 AB6 AB7 AB8 Mol-%
P.sub.2O.sub.5 47.6 43.3 43.3 43.3 37.1 40.0 42.0 46.5
B.sub.2O.sub.3 7.6 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.9 6.0 6.0 7.6 Al.sub.2O.sub.3 4.2
8.6 8.7 2.0 2 12.0 12.0 4.2 Na.sub.2O 28.3 17.3 15.0 16.0 28.3
K.sub.2O 12.4 17.3 17.3 18.0 19.0 12.4 PbO 9.0 BaO 8.7 8.7 15.4 14
Li.sub.2O 17.3 34.6 42.1 Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 5 1 Hemispherical 513 554
564 540 625 553 502 Temperature (.degree. C.) .alpha.
(20-300.degree. C.) 19 16.5 14.9 13.7 14.8 16.7 16.0 19.8
(10.sup.-6/K) Tg (.degree. C.) 325 375 354 369 359 392 425 347
Density 2.56 3 3.02 2.63 [g/cm.sup.3] Leaching 18.7 14.11 7.66
12.63 1.47 3.7 29.01 8.43 In Ma-% Weight 10.7 0.37 0.1 0.13 0.13
n.b. 0.006/0.001 0.45/0.66 Loss (%) after 70 h in 70.degree. C.-
water
[0116] Example 1 (AB1) in Table 1 is suited in particular for
aluminum/aluminum sealing, that is sealing of an aluminum pin in
the embodiment of a conductor into a surrounding aluminum base
body.
[0117] In addition to leaching, water resistances of the individual
glasses were also determined. The hydrolytic resistance tests were
conducted so that melted down glass samples were produced
(2.times.2 centimeters (cm), height: .about.0.5 cm) which were
stored in 200 milliliters (mL) water at 25.degree. C. and
70.degree. C. for 70 hours. Subsequently the material loss in
weight % was determined and listed in the table.
[0118] Example 6 (AB6) in Table 1 is, for example suitable for
Cu/Al sealing, that is sealing of a copper pin as a conductor into
a surrounding aluminum base body.
[0119] Even though some of the examples have coefficients of
expansion which tend to be too low for bonding with copper (Cu), it
is clear that a high lithium-share in the molten mass can be
dissolved without the glass of such a glass composition becoming
unstable.
[0120] Examples 7 and 8 (AB7 and AB8) distinguish themselves in
that they contain Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 instead of PbO, as in example 6
(AB6).
[0121] Surprisingly it has been shown that the hydrolytic
resistance can be clearly increased by Bi.sub.2O.sub.3. For
example, by adding 1 mol-% Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 a 10-times higher water
resistance would be achieved in example 8 (AB8) than in example 1
(AB1). Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 can in particular also be used in place of
PbO according to example 6 (AB6). Due to their environmental
compatibility, compositions which except for contaminants are free
of lead, meaning that they include less than 100 parts per million
(ppm), for example less than 10 ppm, or less than 1 ppm of lead are
particularly feasible.
[0122] Table 1 shows the composition in mol-%, the transition
temperature Tg as defined for example in "Schott Guide to Glass,
second edition, 1996, Chapman & Hall, pages 18-21, the total
leaching in mass percentage (Ma-%), the expansion coefficient
.alpha. in 10.sup.-6 per degree Kelvin in the range of 20.degree.
C.-300.degree. C., as well as the density in g/cm.sup.3. The total
leaching is determined as described below. First, the glass
composition is ground to glass powder having a d50=10 micrometers
(.mu.m) granularity, and is exposed for one week to the electrolyte
consisting of ethylene-carbonate/dimethyl-carbonate at a ratio 1:1,
with 1 Molar LiPF.sub.6 in the form of conducting salt dissolved
therein and after this time is examined for glass components which
were leached from the glass. "n.b." in Table 1 denotes unknown
properties.
[0123] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a second
arrangement, whereby no contact material is used in the electrical
feed-through. Identical components as those in FIG. 1 are
identified by the same reference numbers.
[0124] An arrangement without the use of a contact foil, as shown
in FIG. 1, is considered especially when conductor 7, in particular
pin-shaped conductor 7, or respectively housing component 3,
consist of aluminum. In such a case the additional layer can be
foregone, since the metals which are to be welded are ductile
metals. The manufacturing process occurs again as shown in FIG.
1--first pin-shaped conductor 7 is sealed with the insulator 20,
for example the glass or glass ceramic material, or through
ultrasonic welding and after producing feed-through 1 consisting of
essentially pin-shaped conductor 7 and insulator 20, the entire
feedthrough 1 with housing component 3 is connected by a welding
process, for example through ultrasonic welding. In contrast to
FIG. 1, a direct sealing of insulator 20 with inside 10.1 of
housing component 3 occurs hereby. Side 10.2 of the housing
component represents the outside, side 10.1 the inside, that is the
side which in arranging the housing component faces the inside of
the battery, that is the battery cell as part of a battery cell
housing. Essentially pin-shaped conductor 7 is again guided to the
outside through opening 5 in housing component 3.
[0125] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an alternative
arrangement of the electric feed-through according to the present
invention. In the arrangement according to FIG. 3 identical
components as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are identified with reference
numbers increased by 100. Feed-through 101 now includes an
essentially pin-shaped conductor 107 with a head part 130. Surface
F of the head part is substantially larger than surface FS of the
essentially pin-shaped conductor 107.
[0126] In contrast to the arrangements according to FIGS. 1 and 2,
the insulator 120, in particular the glass or glass ceramic
material 120 according to FIG. 3, is introduced between area F of
head part 130 of essentially pin-shaped conductor 107 and inside
110.1 of the housing part.
[0127] The conductor 107, in particular essentially pin-shaped
conductor 107 according to FIG. 3 with a head part 130 has the
advantage that electrode connecting components can be attached, for
example through contact on the inside surface, that is on surface
Fl of head part 130 facing the battery cell. Protrusion 140
extending beyond head part 130 of pin-shaped conductor 107 can be
utilized for an electrode connecting part, for example for
centering or twist lock. The electrode connecting part which is not
illustrated and which is to be connected with the head part 130 of
essentially pin-shaped conductor 107 is connected to the cathode or
respectively the anode in the battery cell. In contrast to the
arrangement in FIGS. 1 and 2, inventive feed-through 1, shown in
FIG. 3, can be connected with the housing part 103 in such a manner
that first insulator 120, for example in the embodiment of a
ring-shaped insulator, such as a glass ring is sealed with housing
component 103 for example in accordance with conventional methods,
or by ultrasonic welding. After sealing or welding of insulator 120
with housing outside 110.1 essentially pin-shaped conductor 107 is
guided through opening 105 in housing component 103, as well as the
opening in glass ring 120. After having been guided through the
opening in glass ring 120 and in housing component 103, essentially
pin-shaped conductor 107 is connected in particular in the region
of inside surface F of the head part with glass ring 120 by
welding, for example ultrasonic welding. As previously discussed,
welding of conductor 107 with insulator 120, as well as of
insulator 120 with housing component 103 is advantageous since the
materials, in particular for the insulator can be freely selected.
Quartz glass and glass ceramic are also suitable as materials.
[0128] In addition to glasses and glass ceramic materials, ceramic
materials may also be used as insulators with the inventive
feed-throughs. When using ceramics they are connected with the
housing component 103 or essentially pin-shaped conductor 107, for
example, with a metallic solder.
[0129] Referring now to FIGS. 4a and 4b, there are shown complete
battery cells with integrated feed-throughs. FIGS. 4a and 4b hereby
illustrate an arrangement whereby the essentially pin-shaped
conductor is equipped with a head part. FIG. 4a shows the basic
structure of a battery cell 1000. Battery cell 1000 includes a
housing 1100 with side walls 1110 and a cover part 1120. Openings
1130.1, 1130.2 are worked into the opening of cover part 1120 of
housing 1100, for example by stamping. The essentially pin-shaped
conductors 1140.1, 1140.2 of the feedthroughs are guided through
the two openings 1130.1, 1130.2.
[0130] FIG. 4b shows a detailed section of battery cover 1120 with
opening 1130.1 and therein inserted feed-through 1140.1.
Feed-through 1140.1 includes pin-shaped conductor 2003, as well as
a base body 2200 or respectively insulator 2200. Base body 2200 or
respectively the insulator 2200 in the current example is
ring-shaped and in the current example is essentially in the
embodiment of a glass or glass ceramic ring. Pin-shaped conductor
2003 with a head part is connected with base body 2200 through
sealing or ultrasonic welding. After joining of pin-shaped
conductor 2003 by sealing or ultrasonic welding with base body
2200, pin-shaped conductor 2003 is guided through opening 1130.1 of
housing 1100. Afterwards, the base body or respectively insulator
2200 is joined by sealing or ultrasonic welding with inside 1110.1
of housing 1100 in the region of cover part 1120.
[0131] An electrode connecting part 2020 can be joined with head
part 2130 of the essentially pin-shaped conductor (for example by
means of welding, in particular laser welding, resistance welding,
electron beam welding, friction welding, ultrasonic welding). The
electrode connecting part 2020 again serves as the connection to
either the cathode or anode of electrochemical cell 2004 of battery
1000. The electrochemical cell of the lithium-ion battery is also
referred to as battery cell 2004. Housing 1100 surrounding battery
cell 2004 is in the embodiment of a battery cell housing.
[0132] Based on the inventive flat structure of the pin-shaped
conductor 2003 with head part 2130 as illustrated in FIG. 4b it is
possible to minimize the unused space inside the battery cell
housing 1100.
[0133] Materials for the conductor are in particular metals, for
example aluminum, AlSiC, copper, CuSiC, magnesium, silver, gold, an
aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy, a copper alloy, a silver alloy,
a gold alloy or NiFe-alloys.
[0134] The base body and/or the housing component include, for
example a light metal, high-grade steel, steel, stainless steel, in
particular aluminum, AlSiC, an aluminum alloy, magnesium, a
magnesium alloy, titanium or a titanium alloy.
[0135] With the pin-shaped conductor with a head part and the
thereto connected electrode-connecting components a very high
stability, in particular against mechanical stresses such as
vibration is achieved. All embodiments of the feed-through
discussed in this application have in common that an adaptation of
the insulator in regard to the material of the essentially
pin-shaped conductor, as well as to the housing component, is no
longer necessary. Due to the low temperatures occurring with
ultrasonic welding it is possible, to connect components having a
clearly different thermal expansion and/or melting temperature.
Also the wetting properties of the melted glass only play a
subordinate roll, at least on one of the contact materials where no
sealing takes place. The connection by ultrasonic welding hereby
provides freedoms regarding the choice of materials, as well as
freedom in the selection of the insulator, in particular the glass
or glass ceramic material. It is possible to use glass or
respectively glass ceramic materials which are resistant to
mediums, for example, to the electrolytes of the battery cell.
[0136] The discussed feed-throughs are especially suited for use
electric feed-throughs for batteries, in particular lithium-ion
batteries.
[0137] With the feed-through according to the present invention, a
battery housing can be provided which is hermetically sealed even
in the event of a deformation of the battery housing, as opposed to
plastic feed-throughs which have a tendency to crack formation. On
batteries with battery housings which are equipped with an
inventive feed-through an especially high fire resistance is hereby
provided in the event of a vehicle accident. This is particularly
relevant in the use of batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries in
the automobile industry.
[0138] While this invention has been described with respect to at
least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified
within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is
therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of
the invention using its general principles. Further, this
application is intended to cover such departures from the present
disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to
which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of
the appended claims.
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