초록 ▼

A secondary battery, such as a nickel-hydrogen (NiH 2 ) cell, has a first and a second cell stack, each cantilevered from opposite sides of a weld ring. The weld ring is located at the approximate center or middle of a pressure vessel composed of two half sections which are welded to opposite sides

A secondary battery, such as a nickel-hydrogen (NiH 2 ) cell, has a first and a second cell stack, each cantilevered from opposite sides of a weld ring. The weld ring is located at the approximate center or middle of a pressure vessel composed of two half sections which are welded to opposite sides of the weld ring. The cell stacks are essentially unsupported at their outer ends. Electrical current carriers are received in longitudinal channels formed on opposite sides of an axially located cell stack support member, on which the cell elements are captured. Cantilever mounting of two cell stacks from a central weld ring is found to improve the integrating and durability of the cell. It also increases the eneregy capacity of the battery through the ability to add more cells through the use of axially longer pressure vessels, increasing the capacity of the battery. Location of the weld ring between the pair of cell stacks improves heat transfer between the cells and the pressure vessel during discharge.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A battery comprising: a pressure vessel having two half sections, a weld ring having two opposite sides, said half sections being fixed to respective sides of said weld ring, first and second cell stacks, each stack including anodes, cathodes, separators and electrolyte, means for conductin

1. A battery comprising: a pressure vessel having two half sections, a weld ring having two opposite sides, said half sections being fixed to respective sides of said weld ring, first and second cell stacks, each stack including anodes, cathodes, separators and electrolyte, means for conducting current from said cell stacks to do work, and means for mounting said first cell stack to one side of said weld ring within one half section and said second cell stack to the other side of said weld ring in the other half section. 2. The battery of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said cell stacks includes a stack support member extending generally perpendicularly from each side of said weld ring, said first and second cell stacks being mounted on said stack support member on opposite sides of said weld ring. 3. The battery of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said cell stacks comprises a pair of core pieces, each core piece having an end plate and a cantilever portion extending generally perpendicularly from one side of said end plate, and a core piece support formed on said weld ring, at least one of said core piece end plates being fixed to said core piece support, and the other of said core piece end plates being fixed to at least one of said core piece support and said other core piece end plate. 4. The battery of claim 2 wherein said two half sections are substantially identical in size, said weld ring thereby being located at the longitudinal mid-point of said pressure vessel. 5. The battery of claim 4 wherein the weight distribution of said cell stacks is substantially equal on both sides of said weld ring. 6. The battery of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said cell stacks comprises a pair of core pieces, each core piece having an end plate, a stack support member extending generally perpendicularly from said end plate and having a free end, a core piece support formed on said weld ring, and an end cap received on said free end of said support member, said anodes, cathodes and separators of said cell stacks each having an opening defined therein such that said support member is inserted through said openings with said anodes, cathodes and separators captured on said support member by a respective end cap, at least one of said core piece end plates being fixed to said core piece support, and the other of said core piece end plates being fixed to at least one of said core piece support and the other core piece end plate. 7. A secondary battery comprising: a pressure vessel casing having two half sections, each half section having a cylindrical portion and an integral domed end portion, a weld ring having two sides, said half sections being fixed to opposite sides of said weld ring, first and second cell stacks, each stack including a plurality of anodes, cathodes, separators and electrolyte, a pair of electrical terminals, electrical connectors connecting said cell stacks to said terminals, and means for mounting said first cell stack on one side of said weld ring and said second cell stack on the other side of said weld ring, said weld ring providing the sole support for said mounting means. 8. The battery of claim 7 wherein said mounting means provides the sole support for said cell stacks. 9. An improved electrochemical cell structure comprising: a pressure vessel casing having two likesized half sections, each half section having a domed end and an open end defined by a circumferential edge, a weld ring to which each of said half section open ends is fixed, said weld ring having two sides, a half section being fixed to a respective side along said circumferential edge, a pair of cell stack assemblies including a plurality of anodes, cathodes, separators and electrolytes, and means for mounting one cell stack to one side of said weld ring, and the other cell stack to the other side of said weld ring. 10. The improved cell structure of claim 9 wherein said means for mounting said cell stacks comprises a pair of core pieces, each core piece having an end plate and a cantilever stack support member extending generally perpendicular from one side of said end plate, and a core piece support formed on said weld ring, at least one of said core piece end plates being fixed to said core piece support, and the other of said core piece end plates being fixed to at least one of said core piece support and said other core piece end plate. 11. The improved cell structure of claim 10 wherein each said core piece has a pair of parallel channels formed therein which extend through said stack support member and said end plate, said channels also extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said stack support member, and further including a pair of end caps, each end cap received on a respective stack support member in threaded engagement therewith.