Accumulator

Abstract

An accumulator comprises at least one galvanic cell and a receiving device for supporting the galvanic cell(s) of the accumulator. The receiving device comprises at least one protecting wall for receiving energy by means of elastic and/or plastic deformation. The protecting wall encases the at least one galvanic cell at least partially and has a thickness which is at least partially less than about 1/10 of the characteristic edge length of the at least one galvanic cell. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

1 . An accumulator, wherein the accumulator comprises at least one galvanic cell and a receiving device for holding the at least one galvanic cell, which receiving device comprises at least one protecting wall for absorbing energy by means of at least one of elastic and ductile deformation, the at least one protecting wall surrounding the at least one galvanic cell which is held by the receiving device at least partially and having a thickness which is at least partially less than about 1/10 of a characteristic edge length of the at least one galvanic cell. 
   
   
       2 . The accumulator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protecting wall surrounds the at least one galvanic cell which is held by the receiving device at least partially and with positive locking. 
   
   
       3 . The accumulator of  claim 1 , wherein that the at least one galvanic cell comprises a gas-tight jacket and wherein the at least one protecting wall is capable of absorbing more strain energy than the gas-tight jacket. 
   
   
       4 . The accumulator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protecting wall at least one of (i) comprises at least one first material which is electrically non-conducting at a voltage which is similar to the nominal voltage of the accumulator and (ii) comprises at least partially a covering layer. 
   
   
       5 . The accumulator of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one first material comprises at least one curable polymer. 
   
   
       6 . The accumulator of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one first material is capable of forming cavities during curing. 
   
   
       7 . The accumulator of  claim 1 , wherein a density of the at least one protecting wall is less than about 1,500 kg/m 3 . 
   
   
       8 . The accumulator of  claim 1 , wherein a density of the at least one protecting wall is less than about 150 kg/m 3 . 
   
   
       9 . The accumulator of  claim 1 , wherein a density of the at least one protecting wall is less than about 15 kg/m 3 . 
   
   
       10 . The accumulator of  claim 1 , wherein a density of the at least one protecting wall is higher than about 5 kg/m 3 . 
   
   
       11 . The accumulator of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one first material of the at least one protecting wall further comprises at least one filler material which is able to at least partially join with the cured first material by material engagement and the cured first material at least partially surrounds the at least one filler material, and wherein the cured first material with the filler material shows at least one of a larger Young's modulus and a larger tensile strength than the cured first material without the filler material. 
   
   
       12 . The accumulator of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one protecting wall further comprises at least one second material which has a larger thermal conductivity than the at least one first material and is capable of passing through a phase change at predetermined conditions, at least partially, which second material at least one of (i) shows a larger absorptivity with respect to an electrolyte of the galvanic cell than the at least one first material and (ii) forms at least one channel which may be permeable. 
   
   
       13 . The accumulator of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one protecting wall further comprises filling particles, a density of which is lower than a density of the at least one first material. 
   
   
       14 . The accumulator of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one protecting wall further comprises filling particles, a density of which is lower than a density of the at least one first material. 
   
   
       15 . A method of manufacturing the accumulator of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises at least
 (a) arranging the at least one galvanic cell in a mold corresponding to a shape of the accumulator; and   (b) filling the mold, at least partially, with a material for forming the at least one protecting wall.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one further substance is added to the material for use in (b) for affecting a viscosity of the uncured material for forming the at least one protecting wall.