Component for secondary battery and manufacturing method thereof, and secondary battery and multi-battery system manufactured by using the component

Abstract

The present invention describes a component for a secondary battery and a manufacturing method thereof, and a secondary battery manufactured by using the component. The component for a secondary battery according to the present invention comprises a lead-free soldering bridge having a melting point of 150 to 300° C. and containing tin (Sn) and copper (Cu) as a main ingredient; the first and second metal plates spaced therebetween through a gap and coupling with the lead-free soldering bridge. According to the present invention, when an over-current flows through the component for a secondary battery, the temperature of the lead-free soldering bridge is locally increased rapidly to melt the lead-free soldering bridge, thereby efficiently interrupting the flow of an over-current.

1 . A component for a secondary battery comprising:
 a lead-free soldering bridge having a melting point of 150° C. to 300° C. and containing tin (Sn) and copper (Cu) as a main ingredient;   a first metal plate and a second metal plate spaced from each other with a minute gap therebetween and coupled with the lead-free soldering bridge.   
     
     
         2 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the first metal plate and the second metal plate are positioned on the same plane. 
     
     
         3 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the lead-free soldering bridge is coupled with the first and second metal plates on any one surface or both surfaces of the first and second metal plates. 
     
     
         4 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the gap has a width of 0.3 mm or less. 
     
     
         5 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the gap has any one pattern selected from a straight pattern, a zigzag pattern, a saw-toothed pattern, a wave pattern, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the content of tin is in the range of 80 to 98 wt % and the content of copper is in the range of 2 to 20 wt %. 
     
     
         7 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 6 , wherein the lead-free soldering bridge further comprises at least one additional metal selected from nickel, zinc and silver. 
     
     
         8 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 7 , wherein the content of the additional metal is in the range of 0.01 to 10 wt %. 
     
     
         9 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1 , further comprising an insulating tape to cover the lead-free soldering bridge, the gap, or both. 
     
     
         10 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the lead-free soldering bridge is directly interposed between facing surfaces at which the first and second metal plates face each other to be coupled with the first and second metal plates. 
     
     
         11 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 10 , wherein the facing surfaces have tapered slopes toward the lead-free soldering bridge. 
     
     
         12 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 10 , wherein the facing surfaces have convex shapes toward the lead-free soldering bridge. 
     
     
         13 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 12 , wherein the center areas of the facing surfaces have flat surfaces facing each other in parallel and the periphery areas provided at the upper and lower ends of the center areas have tapered slopes toward opposing direction. 
     
     
         14 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 10 , wherein the facing surfaces of the first and second metal plates have a recess structure. 
     
     
         15 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the lead-free soldering bridge is coupled with the first and second metal plates at the area formed by the encounter of first and second bending portions formed at each edge of the first and second metal plates facing each other. 
     
     
         16 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second bending portions are encountered in a plane symmetry or point symmetry. 
     
     
         17 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the lead-free soldering bridge is coupled with the first and second metal plates at the area formed by the edges of the first and second metal plates vertically disposing and overlapping. 
     
     
         18 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the lead-free soldering bridge is coupled with the first and second metal plates at the area formed by the encounter of grooves formed at the edges of the first and second metal plates. 
     
     
         19 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the lead-free soldering bridge is coupled with the first and second metal plates by means of line welding. 
     
     
         20 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 19 , wherein line welding patterns are formed on the surfaces of the first and second metal plates neighboring the gap. 
     
     
         21 . The component for a secondary battery according to  claim 19 , wherein the line welding is laser welding, ultrasonic welding, resistance welding or arc welding. 
     
     
         22 . A secondary battery comprising:
 an electrode assembly in which a cathode lead and an anode lead are electrically coupled to each other; and   a packing for sealing the electrode assembly to externally expose a part of the cathode lead and the anode lead,   wherein the component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1  is used as the cathode lead, the anode lead, or both.   
     
     
         23 . A multi battery system having a plurality of secondary batteries, comprising:
 a connector for connecting the plurality of secondary batteries to each other in series, in parallel, or both,   wherein the component for a secondary battery according to  claim 1  is used as the connector.   
     
     
         24 . The multi battery system according to  claim 23 , wherein the multi battery system is used as a power source of power tools; vehicles powered by electricity including electric vehicles (EV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV); electric trucks; or power storage apparatuses. 
     
     
         25 . A method of manufacturing a component for a secondary battery, comprising:
 facing a first metal plate and a second metal plate separated from each other by approaching and positioning on substantially the same plane to form a gap between the plates;   providing a lead-free soldering bridge having a melting point of 150° C. to 300° C. and containing tin (Sn) and copper (Cu) at the facing portions of the first and second metal plates; and   coupling one side of the lead-free soldering bridge with the first metal plate, and the other side of the lead-free soldering bridge with the second metal plate.   
     
     
         26 . The method of manufacturing a component for a secondary battery according to  claim 25 , which further comprises covering the lead-free soldering bridge, the gap, or both with an insulating tape. 
     
     
         27 . The method of manufacturing a component for a secondary battery according to  claim 25 , wherein the lead-free soldering bridge is coupled with the first and second metal plates by means of line welding. 
     
     
         28 . The method of manufacturing a component for a secondary battery according to  claim 27 , wherein the line welding is laser welding, ultrasound welding, resistance welding, or arc welding.