阅读说明：本技术 用于二次电池的绝缘体以及包括该绝缘体的二次电池 (Insulator for secondary battery and secondary battery including the same ) 是由 金秀珍 于 2020-03-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了一种用于二次电池的绝缘体以及包括该绝缘体的二次电池。根据用于实现上述目的的本发明的一个方面,提供一种用于二次电池的绝缘体,该绝缘体包括：主体部分,其形成主体；以及缓冲部分,其结合至所述主体部分的顶表面,其中,所述缓冲部分包括向上突出的多个突起,并且所述主体部分的材料特性和所述缓冲部分的材料特性彼此不同。(Disclosed are an insulator for a secondary battery and a secondary battery including the same. According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, there is provided an insulator for a secondary battery, the insulator including: a body portion forming a body; and a buffer portion coupled to a top surface of the body portion, wherein the buffer portion includes a plurality of protrusions protruding upward, and a material property of the body portion and a material property of the buffer portion are different from each other.)

1. An insulator for a secondary battery, the insulator comprising:

a body portion configured to define a body; and

a cushioning portion adhered to a top surface of the body portion,

wherein the buffer portion includes a plurality of protrusions protruding upward, and

the body portion is made of a different material than the cushioning portion.

2. The insulator of claim 1, wherein the buffer portion is made of a material having elasticity.

3. The insulator of claim 2, wherein the buffer portion comprises polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene, perfluoroalkoxy polymer, or a rubber material.

4. The insulator of claim 1, wherein a horizontal cross-section of each of the plurality of protrusions has an elongated rod-like shape.

5. The insulator of claim 1, wherein a horizontal cross-section of each of the plurality of protrusions has a circular or elliptical shape.

6. The insulator of claim 4 or 5, wherein the plurality of protrusions are connected to each other by a lower region of the buffer portion such that the plurality of protrusions are integrally provided.

7. The insulator of claim 4 or 5, wherein a top surface of the body portion is exposed between the plurality of protrusions such that the plurality of protrusions are disposed apart from each other.

8. The insulator of claim 1, wherein an upper region of a surface of each of the plurality of protrusions has a curved surface.

9. The insulator of claim 4, wherein the plurality of protrusions comprise:

a first protrusion extending in a first direction (D1) in a rod-like shape in a horizontal section; and

a second protrusion extending in a second direction (D2) in a rod-like shape in a horizontal section.

10. The insulator of claim 9, wherein the first direction (D1) and the second direction (D2) are perpendicular to each other.

11. A secondary battery, comprising:

a battery can having a structure in which an upper portion is opened;

a top cap coupled with the upper portion of the battery can;

an electrode assembly received in the battery can; and

the insulator of claim 1, the insulator disposed to face a top or bottom surface of the electrode assembly.

12. The secondary battery according to claim 11, wherein the insulator comprises:

an upper insulator facing the top surface of the electrode assembly; and

a lower insulator facing the bottom surface of the electrode assembly,

wherein each of the plurality of protrusions of the upper insulator and the plurality of protrusions of the lower insulator is disposed to face the electrode assembly.

Technical Field

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims the benefit of priority from korean patent application No. 10-2019-0031578, filed on 3/20/2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an insulator for a secondary battery and a secondary battery including the same, and more particularly, to an insulator for a secondary battery, which minimizes an impact applied to an electrode assembly compared to the related art, and a secondary battery including the same.

Background

Secondary batteries that can be repeatedly charged and discharged are classified into pouch type secondary batteries, cylindrical type secondary batteries, and prismatic type secondary batteries according to their structures.

The secondary battery is provided therein with an electrode assembly having a structure in which electrodes and separators are alternately arranged, and an insulator may be provided on an upper portion or a lower portion of the electrode assembly.

The insulator serves to electrically insulate the electrode assembly from other components. According to the related art, there is a problem in that impact is applied to the electrode assembly due to collision between the insulator and the electrode assembly and collision between the electrode assembly and other parts adjacent to the electrode assembly when the secondary battery is used. In particular, when vibration is applied to the secondary battery from the outside, there is a problem in that durability of the secondary battery is deteriorated due to continuous application of impact to the electrode assembly. For example, when an impact or vibration is applied to the electrode assembly, there is a problem in that the electrode tabs of the electrode assembly are moved away from the original positions, resulting in abnormal operation of the secondary battery.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

Accordingly, one object to be achieved by the present invention is to improve the durability of a secondary battery by minimizing impact applied to an electrode assembly due to external impact or vibration.

Technical scheme

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, an insulator for a secondary battery includes: a body portion configured to define a body; and a buffer portion adhered to a top surface of the body portion, wherein the buffer portion includes a plurality of protrusions protruding upward, and the body portion is made of a material different from the buffer portion.

The buffer portion may be made of a material having elasticity.

The cushioning portion may comprise polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene, perfluoroalkoxy polymer, or a rubber material.

The horizontal cross section of each of the plurality of protrusions may have an elongated rod-like shape.

The horizontal cross-section of each of the plurality of protrusions may have a circular or elliptical shape.

The plurality of protrusions are connected to each other by the lower region of the cushioning portion so that the plurality of protrusions can be integrally provided.

The top surface of the body portion is exposed to the outside between the plurality of protrusions such that the plurality of protrusions are disposed apart from each other.

An upper region of a surface of each of the plurality of protrusions may have a curved surface.

The plurality of protrusions may include: a first protrusion extending in a first direction (D1) in a rod-like shape in a horizontal section; and a second protrusion extending in the second direction (D2) in a rod-like shape in horizontal section.

The first direction (D1) and the second direction (D2) may be perpendicular to each other.

According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a secondary battery includes: a battery can having a structure in which an upper portion is opened; a top cap coupled with the upper portion of the battery can; an electrode assembly received in the battery can; and an insulator for a secondary battery, the insulator being disposed to face a top surface or a bottom surface of the electrode assembly.

The insulator may include: an upper insulator facing the top surface of the electrode assembly; and a lower insulator facing the bottom surface of the electrode assembly, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions of the upper insulator and the plurality of protrusions of the lower insulator may be disposed to face the electrode assembly.

Advantageous effects

According to the present invention, it is possible to minimize an impact applied to the electrode assembly due to an external impact or vibration to improve the durability of the secondary battery.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view illustrating the structure of a secondary battery according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side sectional view showing an example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side sectional view showing another example of the structure of the insulator for a secondary battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side sectional view showing an example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side sectional view showing another example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, the structure of the secondary battery and the insulator for the secondary battery according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The secondary battery according to the present invention may be applied to a cylindrical type secondary battery or a prismatic type secondary battery.

Secondary battery and insulator for secondary battery

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view illustrating the structure of a secondary battery according to the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, a secondary battery 10 according to the present invention may include a battery can 100 and a top cap 200, the battery can 100 having a structure in which an upper portion is open, the top cap 200 being coupled to the upper portion of the battery can 100.

The electrode assembly 300 may be accommodated in the battery can 100. The electrode assembly 300 may have a structure in which electrodes and separators are alternately arranged.

The electrode assembly 300 may have electrode taps 310 and 320 disposed thereon, each of the electrode taps 310 and 320 having an outwardly protruding shape. Fig. 1 shows a case where a protruding first electrode tab 310 is disposed at an upper portion of an electrode assembly 300 and a protruding second electrode tab 320 is disposed at a lower portion of the electrode assembly 300.

With continued reference to fig. 1, a current interrupt member 400 may be disposed below the top cap 200, and a safety vent 500 may be disposed below the current interrupt member 400. As shown in fig. 1, an outer circumferential portion of a top surface of the current interrupting member 400 may be disposed in close contact with an outer circumferential portion of a bottom surface of the top cap 200, and an outer circumferential portion of a top surface of the safety vent 500 may be disposed in close contact with an outer circumferential portion of a bottom surface of the current interrupting member 400. The current interruption member may be, for example, a PTC element. The safety vent 500 may be electrically connected to the first electrode tab 310.

The secondary battery 10 according to the present invention may include an insulator 600 (hereinafter, referred to as an "insulator") for the secondary battery, the insulator 600 being disposed to face a top or bottom surface of the electrode assembly 300. Hereinafter, in this specification, an insulator facing the top surface of the electrode assembly 300 is referred to as an upper insulator 610, and an insulator facing the bottom surface of the electrode assembly 300 is referred to as a lower insulator 620. Fig. 1 shows a case where both the upper insulator 610 and the lower insulator 620 are provided. However, alternatively, the secondary battery 10 according to the present invention may be provided with only the upper insulator 610 or the lower insulator 620. In addition, the upper insulator 610 or the lower insulator 620 may be in close contact with the top surface or the bottom surface of the electrode assembly 300, respectively. Alternatively, the upper insulator 610 or the lower insulator 620 may be spaced apart from the electrode assembly 300 by a predetermined distance. As described later, a plurality of protrusions 604a (see fig. 2 to 8) may be disposed on the insulator 600. When the upper insulator 610 is provided in the secondary battery 10 according to the present invention, the upper insulator 610 may be disposed such that a plurality of protrusions of the upper insulator 610 face the electrode assembly 300. When the lower insulator 620 is provided in the secondary battery 10 according to the present invention, the lower insulator may be disposed such that the plurality of protrusions of the lower insulator 620 face the electrode assembly 300.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 2, an insulator 600 according to the present invention may include a body portion 602 defining a body and a buffer portion 604 adhered to a top surface of the body portion 602. The buffer portion 604 may be configured to absorb impact applied to the electrode assembly when the impact or vibration is applied to the secondary battery or the electrode assembly from the outside. A hole H may be defined in a central portion of the insulator 600.

In addition, since the insulator 600 is configured to electrically insulate the electrode assembly 300 from other components, a region of the insulator 600 facing or directly contacting the electrode assembly 300 must be made of a material having electrical insulation.

Accordingly, the buffer portion 604 of the insulator 600 may be made of a material having electrical insulation and elasticity to electrically insulate the electrode assembly from other components while effectively absorbing impact applied to the electrode assembly. For example, the cushioning portion 604 may comprise or be made of polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene, perfluoroalkoxy polymer, or a rubber material.

In the insulator 600 according to the present invention, the material of the body portion 602 may be different from that of the buffer portion 604. The body portion 602 may be made of a metallic material. For example, the body portion 602 may be made of stainless steel or aluminum. When the body portion 602 is made of a metal material, since the overall rigidity of the insulator 600 is increased, the insulator 600 can normally operate without shape deformation even if external impact is applied. Here, in order to more effectively improve the rigidity of the insulator 600, it is preferable to form the body portion 602 in such a manner that a flat metal plate having a constant thickness is bonded to one surface of the buffer portion 604, rather than applying metal powder to the surface of the buffer portion 604 in a thin thickness having a thin film level and then sintering.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side sectional view showing an example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 4 is an enlarged side sectional view showing another example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the buffering portion 604 of the insulator 600 according to the present invention may include a plurality of protrusions 604a protruding upward. The plurality of protrusions 604a may be configured to face the electrode assembly 300 (see fig. 1). When an impact or vibration is applied to the secondary battery or the electrode assembly, the plurality of protrusions 604a of the buffer portion 604 may absorb the impact applied to the electrode assembly to improve the durability of the secondary battery.

Here, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the buffering portion 604 of the insulator 600 may have a wavy wave shape. This can be understood as that the horizontal cross section of each of the plurality of protrusions 604a of the cushioning portion 604 has an elongated rod-like shape.

In addition, as shown in fig. 3, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of protrusions 604a may be connected to each other by means of the lower region of the buffering portion 604 such that the plurality of protrusions 604a are integrally formed.

However, as shown in fig. 4, according to another example of the first embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of protrusions 604a may be provided separately from each other. Accordingly, as shown in fig. 4, the top surface of the body portion 602 may be exposed to the outside between the plurality of protrusions 604 a.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 6 is an enlarged side sectional view showing an example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Further, fig. 7 is an enlarged side sectional view showing another example of the structure of the insulator for a secondary battery according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the buffering portion 604 of the insulator 600 may have an embossed shape. This can be understood as the horizontal cross section of each of the plurality of protrusions 640a of the buffering portion 604 having a circular or elliptical shape.

In addition, as shown in fig. 6, according to the example of the second embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of protrusions 604a may be connected to each other by means of the lower region of the buffering portion 604 such that the plurality of protrusions 604a are integrally formed.

However, as shown in fig. 7, according to another example of the second embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of protrusions 604a may be provided separately from each other. Accordingly, as shown in fig. 7, the top surface of the body portion 602 may be exposed to the outside between the plurality of protrusions 604 a.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of an insulator for a secondary battery according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 8, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the buffering portion 604 of the insulator 600 may be a wave shape in which waves overlap each other. This may be understood that the plurality of protrusions 604a of the buffering portion 604 have an elongated bar-like shape in horizontal section, and the plurality of protrusions 604a include a first protrusion in which the bar-like shape in horizontal section extends in the first direction D1 and a second protrusion in which the bar-like shape in horizontal section extends in the second direction D2. Here, as shown in fig. 8, the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 may be perpendicular to each other. That is, the directions in which the rod-like shapes of the horizontal cross sections of the first protrusion and the second protrusion extend may be perpendicular to each other.

According to the present invention, an upper region of a surface of each of the plurality of protrusions provided on the buffering portion 604 may have a curved surface. Therefore, even if the electrode assembly and the buffer portion are in contact with each other, the problem that the electrode assembly is damaged by the plurality of protrusions can be minimized.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Description of the reference numerals

10: secondary battery

100: battery can

200: top cap

300: electrode assembly

310: first electrode joint

320: second electrode joint

400: current interrupt member

500: safety exhaust port

600: insulator

602: body part

604: buffer part

604 a: protrusion

610: upper insulator

620: lower insulator

H: hole(s)

D1: a first direction

D2: second direction