High voltage modular battery with electrically-insulated cell module and interconnector peripheries

Abstract

A modular battery includes a housing, a first planar battery cell having a first planar electrode surface, a second planar battery cell having a second planar electrode surface, and an interconnector disposed between the first planar surface and the second planar surface and electrically connecting the first and second planar electrode surfaces, side peripheries of the interconnector, the first and second planar battery cells being electrically insulated from the housing. A method is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular battery comprising:
 a housing,   a first planar battery cell including alternating first positive and negative electrodes interleaved together, the first positive and negative electrodes including a first end electrode having a first planar electrode surface,   a second planar battery cell including alternating second positive and negative electrodes interleaved together, the second positive and negative electrodes including a second end electrode having a second planar electrode surface, and   an interconnector disposed between the first planar surface and the second planar surface and electrically connecting the first and second planar electrode surfaces, the interconnector being positioned parallel to the first planar electrode surface and the second planar electrode surface so as to space the first end electrode from the second end electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first positive and negative electrodes are joined to form a first positive tab and first negative electrodes joined to form a first negative tab. 
     
     
         3 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 2  wherein first positive tab is at a first longitudinal end of the first planar battery cell and the first negative tab is at a second longitudinal end of the first planar battery cell, the interconnector extending in a longitudinal direction along the first planar electrode surface from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end. 
     
     
         4 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an electrical insulator between the first planar battery cell and the second planar battery and between side peripheries of the interconnector and the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 4  wherein the electrical insulator is a gasket. 
     
     
         6 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 4  wherein the electrical insulator is a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         7 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 1  wherein an inside of the housing is electrically insulating and thermally conducting. 
     
     
         8 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first and second planar battery cells include a thermally conducting material on their side peripheries contacting the housing 
     
     
         9 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first and second planar battery cells each include an electrically insulating frame on sides of the first planar battery cell orthogonal to the thermally conducting material. 
     
     
         10 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 9  wherein the electrically insulating frame is a two-part electrically insulating frame having front and rear, generally C-shaped, frame sections inserted over edges of the thermally conducting material and edges of electrodes of the first and second planar battery cells. 
     
     
         11 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 9  wherein the electrically insulating frame is thermally conducting in order to remove heat from the first and second planar battery cells. 
     
     
         12 . A method for forming a modular battery comprising:
 placing a first planar battery cell in a housing, the first planar battery cell including alternating first positive and negative electrodes interleaved together, the first positive and negative electrodes including a first end electrode having a first planar electrode surface,   placing an interconnector over the first end electrode in the housing, and   placing a second planar battery cell in a housing, the second planar battery cell including alternating second positive and negative electrodes interleaved together, the second positive and negative electrodes including a second end electrode having a second planar electrode surface, the interconnector being disposed between the first planar surface and the second planar surface and electrically connecting the first and second planar electrode surfaces, the interconnector being positioned parallel to the first planar electrode surface and the second planar electrode surface so as to space the first end electrode from the second end electrode.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the first positive and negative electrodes are joined to form a first positive tab and first negative electrodes joined to form a first negative tab. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein first positive tab is at a first longitudinal end of the first planar battery cell and the first negative tab is at a second longitudinal end of the first planar battery cell, the interconnector extending in a longitudinal direction along the first planar electrode surface from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 12  further comprising placing an electrical insulator between side peripheries of the interconnector and the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the electrical insulator is a gasket. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the electrical insulator is a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         18 . A modular battery comprising:
 a housing,   a first planar battery cell including alternating first positive and negative electrodes interleaved together and first insulators at side peripheries of the first planar battery cell, the first positive and negative electrodes including a first end electrode having a first planar electrode surface,   a second planar battery cell including alternating second positive and negative electrodes interleaved together and second insulators at side peripheries of the first planar battery cell, the second positive and negative electrodes including a second end electrode having a second planar electrode surface, and   an interconnector disposed between the first planar surface and the second planar surface and electrically connecting the first and second planar electrode surfaces.   
     
     
         19 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 18  wherein the first positive and negative electrodes are joined to form a first positive tab and first negative electrodes joined to form a first negative tab. 
     
     
         20 . The modular battery as recited in  claim 18  further comprising an electrical insulator between the first planar battery cell and the second planar battery and between side peripheries of the interconnector and the housing.