CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a National Phase Patent Application of International Patent Application Number PCT/KR2017/009660, filed on Sep. 4, 2017, which claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0114635, filed Sep. 6, 2016. The entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rechargeable battery, and more particularly, to a rechargeable battery that integrates elements configured on a cap plate.

BACKGROUND ART

A rechargeable battery is a type of battery which can be charged and discharged repeatedly, as opposed to a primary battery. Small-capacity rechargeable batteries may be used in small portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptop computers, and camcorders. Large-capacity rechargeable batteries may be used as power supplies for driving motors for hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles.

For example, a rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly for performing charging and discharging operations, a case for accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap plate attached to an opening of the case, an electrode terminal for drawing the electrode assembly out of the cap plate, and a vent plate for releasing an internally generated, high-temperature gas and its pressure.

The cap plate has a terminal hole for attaching the electrode terminal and a vent hole for installing the vent plate. In addition, a current collecting member is used to connect the electrode terminal to the electrode assembly. The terminal hole, vent hole, and current collecting member cause an increase in the number of elements and make the configuration of the cap plate complicated, thereby increasing the cost of the rechargeable battery.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a rechargeable battery that has a simple configuration by integrating elements configured on a cap plate.

Technical Solution

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a rechargeable battery including: an electrode assembly formed by disposing first and second electrodes on either side of each separator, the first and second electrodes each having coated regions and uncoated region tabs; a case for accommodating the electrode assembly; and a cap plate attached to an opening of the case to close and seal the case and having a vent plate formed integrally with a vent hole, wherein the vent plate is formed beyond the thickness of the cap plate.

The vent plate may protrude toward the electrode assembly by a height from the inner surface of the cap plate.

The rechargeable battery according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include: a first electrode terminal connected to the uncoated region tabs of the first electrodes and installed with a gasket placed in a terminal hole of the cap plate; and a second electrode terminal connected to the uncoated region tabs of the second electrodes and formed integrally with the cap plate.

The first electrode terminal may include: a rivet portion installed with the gasket placed in the terminal hole; an external plate installed around the exposed end of the rivet portion and connected to the rivet portion; and an internal plate integrally connected to the underside of the rivet portion and connected to the uncoated region tabs of the first electrodes, with a current collecting member placed in between.

The electrode assembly may include a first assembly and a second assembly arranged side by side along the width of the cap plate, and the uncoated region tabs of the first electrodes may include an eleventh tab group connected to the first electrodes of the first assembly and a twelfth tab group connected to the first electrodes of the second assembly.

The eleventh tab group and the twelfth tab group may be bent and welded to the current collecting member.

The cap plate may further include a current collecting portion protruding toward the electrode assembly so as to be connected to the uncoated region tabs of the second electrodes.

The second electrode terminal may protrude outwards from the cap plate.

The electrode assembly may include a first assembly and a second assembly arranged side by side along the width of the cap plate, and the uncoated region tabs of the first electrodes may include a twenty-first tab group connected to the second electrodes of the first assembly and a twenty-second tab group connected to the second electrodes of the second assembly.

The twenty-first tab group and the twenty-second tab group may be bent and welded to the current collecting member.

Advantageous Effects

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the rechargeable battery may have a simple configuration since the vent plate is formed integrally with the vent hole of the cap plate. In this case, since the vent plate is formed beyond the thickness of the cap plate, only the vent plate may be heat-treated, thereby eliminating the increased brittleness of the vent plate caused by the coining process.

