Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a supercapacitor sealing lid, in particular a lid for the fluid-tight sealing of a compartment for housing the electrodes and electrolytic material of a supercapacitor.

Supercapacitors are known, also known as ultracapacitors, which are used as electrical energy accumulators.

A supercapacitor is in fact a special type of capacitor which has the characteristic of storing a much greater amount of electrical charge than conventional capacitors.

Supercapacitors are also known for their high specific power: they can be charged (or discharged) in a relatively short time if compared to the time required to charge a normal chemical accumulator (battery). Another advantage of supercapacitors is that they have a much longer service life than conventional chemical accumulators.

In addition, supercapacitors are characterised by a low energy density if compared to chemical accumulators, which translates into a lower energy storage capacity than chemical accumulators themselves.

A supercapacitor of the known type typically comprises a hollow prismatic or cylindrical casing, usually made of metal, and two electrodes, one positive and one negative, housed within a compartment defined by the casing.

The compartment also houses a separator, or insulator, electrically interposed between the two electrodes.

Inside the housing compartment, the electrodes and separator are immersed in an electrolytic solution, usually liquid or gelatinous.

In a known configuration, the casing has a cylindrical shape around a longitudinal axis and comprises a side wall extending along the axis, an axial bottom wall and an axial opening for accessing the housing compartment opposite the bottom wall. While manufacturing the supercapacitor, the electrodes, normally defined by coaxial rolls wound to each other and together with the insulator, and the electrolytic material are inserted into the compartment through this axial opening.

Typically, the supercapacitor has a lid for closing the axial opening and thereby fluid-tightly sealing the supercapacitor compartment.

The supercapacitor normally comprises two terminals, each one electrically connected to a respective electrode and extending outside the casing to be connected to a power socket or apparatus using the supercapacitor charge.

The two terminals, conveniently made of conductive metal material, such as aluminium, are both arranged at the lid or, alternatively, one at the lid and the other at the bottom wall.

For example, in a known configuration, the terminals are arranged one at the lid and the other at the bottom wall, in a position coaxial to each other and to the axis of the casing, and axially protrude from the lid and from the bottom wall, respectively.

In this configuration, the lid has a terminal passage internal hole (two holes if both terminals are arranged at the lid). The lid, typically made of metal, is normally welded to the terminal (or terminals) at the aforesaid hole, while being coupled, at its outer peripheral wall, to the side wall of the casing.

Typically, a gasket, configured to fluid-tightly seal the housing compartment, is interposed between the peripheral wall of the lid and the side wall of the casing.

Examples of the above-described supercapacitors are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>.

Examples of sealing lids or covers gaskets are described in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

It is well known that during operation, electrolytic gases generate which permeate the housing compartment. It is also known to pressurise the housing compartment in order to ensure optimal operation of the supercapacitor.

Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the correct positioning of the gasket and its nominal operability, in order to avoid leakage of electrolytic material or electrolytic gas between the lid and the casing.

It is also known that the welded coupling between the lid hole and the terminal (or terminals) is susceptible to leakages over time.

It is thus felt the need to improve the known supercapacitor sealing lids, especially as concerns their service life and their ease of manufacture and coupling to the supercapacitors themselves.

Aim of the present invention is to make a supercapacitor having a sealing lid which is highly reliable and cheap, and which allows to overcome at least some of the drawbacks specified above and related to the supercapacitor sealing lids of the known type.

According to the invention, this aim is achieved by a supercapacitor as claimed in Claim <NUM>.

For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred non-limiting embodiment is described below, purely by way of example and with the aid of the attached drawings, wherein:.

With reference to the attached <FIG> denotes as a whole a sealing lid for a supercapacitor <NUM>.

In particular, the lid <NUM> is configured to fluid-tightly seal a compartment <NUM> containing the electrodes <NUM> and the electrolytic material of the supercapacitor <NUM>.

<FIG> shows schematically and in cross-section an example of a supercapacitor <NUM> to which the lid <NUM> according to the present invention is adapted to be coupled.

In detail, the supercapacitor <NUM> comprises:.

The first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> extend outside the compartment <NUM> to be connected, in use, to a power socket or apparatus using the energy stored in the supercapacitor <NUM>.

Conveniently, the terminals <NUM>, <NUM> are made of conductive metal material, such as aluminium.

Preferably, the casing <NUM> is made of metal material.

According to this preferred and non-limiting embodiment, the casing <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical shape of axis A, which is therefore an axis of symmetry for the casing <NUM>, and the two terminals <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged coaxially to the axis A.

The electrodes <NUM> are wound in a spiral, concentrically to each other and coaxially to the axis A, and are housed in the compartment <NUM> immersed in a known and unspecified electrolytic material, such as a liquid or gelatinous electrolytic solution.

According to a known technique, the compartment <NUM> further accommodates a separator <NUM> made of electrically insulating material and electrically interposed between the two electrodes <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the casing has a prismatic shape with a section that is polygonal or polygonal with rounded edges. In addition, the terminals <NUM>, <NUM> may be both arranged at the opening <NUM>. In this last case, the terminals <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged eccentric with respect to the axis A.

The lid <NUM> is designed to close the opening <NUM> to fluid-tightly seal the compartment <NUM>, so as to limit, in particular prevent, electrolytic material from leaking.

It is well known that while the supercapacitor <NUM> is in operation, electrolytic gases generate which permeate the compartment <NUM>.

In one embodiment, these electrolytic gases lead to an increase in the pressure inside the compartment <NUM> to a value of <NUM> bars.

Therefore, the lid <NUM> is also configured to define an operating pressure sealing inside the compartment <NUM>.

As visible in <FIG> and, in particular, in <FIG>, the lid <NUM> according to the preferred and non-limiting embodiment described and shown herein has an annular shape around a central axis B.

In particular, the lid <NUM> is configured to be coupled to the lid <NUM> so that the axis B is coaxial to the axis A.

The lid <NUM> comprises an elastomeric element <NUM> having an internal through hole <NUM>, which is configured to receive the first terminal <NUM> and is delimited by an internal wall <NUM>, and a peripheral wall <NUM>.

Advantageously, the internal wall <NUM> of the internal hole <NUM> is adapted to cooperate in fluid-tight contact with the first terminal <NUM> and the peripheral wall <NUM> is adapted to cooperate in fluid-tight contact with the side wall <NUM>, in particular when the lid <NUM> is coupled to the casing <NUM> to close the opening <NUM>.

In the example described, the internal hole <NUM> is obtained in the elastomeric element <NUM> coaxially to the axis B, in order to coaxially receive the first terminal <NUM> when the lid closes the opening <NUM>.

Therefore, the elastomeric element <NUM> also has an annular shape around the axis B and comprises an internal radial end portion <NUM>, bearing the internal wall <NUM>, configured to cooperate in contact and fluid-tightly with the first terminal <NUM>, and an outer radial end portion <NUM>, bearing the peripheral wall <NUM>, configured to cooperate in contact and fluid-tightly with the side wall <NUM> of the casing <NUM>, so as to fluid-tightly seal the compartment <NUM> when the lid <NUM> is coupled to the casing <NUM> to close the opening <NUM>.

Preferably, the peripheral wall <NUM> is adapted to cooperate in contact and fluid-tightly with an inner surface 6a of the side wall <NUM>, the inner surface 6a facing towards the axis A.

In light of the above, the elastomeric element <NUM> extends, radially, in a single piece and without solution of continuity from the internal wall <NUM> to the peripheral wall <NUM>, or, in use, from the first terminal <NUM> to the inner surface 6a of the side wall <NUM>.

Thus, the elastomeric element <NUM> entirely defines an axial lid and a sealing gasket for the compartment <NUM> of the supercapacitor <NUM>, fulfilling the double function of closure and fluid-tightness in a single component.

Conveniently, the internal wall <NUM> has a plurality of grooves <NUM>, preferably circumferential around the axis B, defining a set of successive ridges <NUM> and valleys <NUM> along the internal wall <NUM> itself. The ridges <NUM> are designed to cooperate in fluid-tight contact with the first terminal <NUM>.

In particular, the internal wall <NUM> has two circumferential grooves <NUM> around the axis B and defining two successive ridges <NUM> with the groove <NUM> interposed between the latter ones and defining a valley <NUM>.

In practice, the internal wall <NUM> comprises a plurality of sealing lips.

The Applicant observed that such a configuration allows, in use, to limit as much as possible, and in particular to prevent electrolytic material and/or electrolytic gases contained within compartment <NUM> from leaking and, at the same time, to ensure a nominal pressure seal at a critical area as regards leakages.

As shown in the attached figures, the lid <NUM> further comprises an insert <NUM> made of a rigid material, preferably metal, such as steel, incorporated within the elastomeric element <NUM>.

In detail, the insert <NUM> is defined by a disc-shaped or discoidal element having a hole <NUM> surrounding the internal hole <NUM> of the elastomeric element.

In greater detail, the hole <NUM> has a radial dimension (i.e. a diameter) larger than that of the internal hole <NUM>.

In other words, the insert <NUM> is defined by a washer.

In the example described, surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> are axial and annular relative to the B axis, while surface <NUM> is circumferential relative to the B axis.

The elastomeric element <NUM> partially covers the insert <NUM>: in particular, the elastomeric element <NUM> covers at least the first surface <NUM> and the lateral surface <NUM>, more particularly it partially covers also the second surface <NUM>.

More precisely, the semi-profile of the elastomeric element <NUM> has, if compared to the axis B, a substantially C-shape with the end portions <NUM> folded towards one another and the free ends 26a supported by them facing one another.

In this way, the C central portion <NUM>, i.e. of the semi-profile, and the end portions <NUM> thus folded partially delimit a cavity <NUM> for housing the insert <NUM>.

In other words, the elastomeric element <NUM> comprises an annular cavity <NUM> housing the insert <NUM>, coaxial to the axis B and open at the top so as to leave the second surface <NUM> of the insert <NUM> partially uncovered.

According to this preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the radially innermost end portion <NUM> has a greater length than the radially outermost end portion <NUM>.

Conveniently, the peripheral wall <NUM> has a plurality of grooves <NUM>, preferably circumferential around the axis B, defining a set of successive ridges <NUM> and valleys <NUM> along the peripheral wall <NUM> itself. The ridges <NUM> are designed to cooperate in fluid-tight contact with the inner surface 6a of the casing <NUM>.

In particular, the peripheral wall <NUM> has three circumferential grooves <NUM> around the axis B and defining four successive ridges <NUM>.

In practice, the peripheral wall <NUM> comprises a plurality of sealing lips.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the elastomeric element <NUM> comprises, at the outer radial end portion <NUM>, a radial projection (not shown) protruding from the peripheral wall <NUM> and designed to engage, when mounted to the supercapacitor <NUM>, a corresponding groove (not shown) obtained in the side wall <NUM> of the casing <NUM>. Thereby, the elastomeric element <NUM>, and thus the lid <NUM>, is fixed to the casing <NUM>.

According to a further alternative embodiment not shown, the elastomeric element <NUM>, and thus the lid <NUM>, is simply fitted with interference against the surface 6a of the side wall <NUM> of the casing <NUM>, the peripheral wall <NUM> being substantially smooth.

According to an embodiment not shown, an end portion of the casing <NUM> located at the lid <NUM> is configured to be partially folded over the lid <NUM> and, in particular, over the radially outermost end portion <NUM> of the elastomeric element <NUM>. Thereby, the folded portion of the casing <NUM> ensures that the lid <NUM> is held in place during operation.

According to an embodiment not shown, the terminal <NUM> comprises a groove (not shown) adapted to receive a corresponding protrusion (not shown) of the internal wall <NUM> of the elastomeric element <NUM>. Such a configuration would further improve the positioning of lid <NUM>.

After examining the characteristics of the lid <NUM> made according to the present invention, the advantages it allows to obtain are clear.

In particular, since the elastomeric element <NUM> extends, in use, in one piece and without solution of continuity from the terminal <NUM> to the side wall <NUM> of the casing, it is possible to obtain an efficient lid <NUM> sealing the compartment <NUM> of the supercapacitor <NUM> in a simple manner and with as few components as possible.

In fact, the elastomeric element <NUM> entirely defines an axial lid and a sealing gasket for the compartment <NUM> of supercapacitor <NUM>, fulfilling the dual function of closure and fluid-tightness in a single component, with particular advantages in terms of simplifying the architecture and production of a supercapacitor lid.

In addition, the Applicant observed that the presence of the insert <NUM> provides increased stiffness to the lid <NUM>, further improving fluid-tightness and pressure-tightness performance inside the compartment <NUM>.

Furthermore, if compared to known sealing gaskets, which are very flexible and difficult to manipulate, which have to be manually enlarged and which often exit from the appropriate seat while assembling the supercapacitor <NUM>, the lid <NUM> according to the invention simply has to be fitted at the opening <NUM> so that the hole <NUM> is engaged by the terminal <NUM>, thus simplifying assembly operations.

Finally, as the lid <NUM> has couplings to the supercapacitor <NUM> only between elastomeric material and parts of the supercapacitor <NUM>, rather than metal parts welded, in use, the fluid tightness of the lid <NUM> is improved.

It is clear that the lid <NUM> described and shown herein may be subject to modifications and variations without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims.

In particular, the lid <NUM> may comprise an internal hole <NUM> eccentric with respect to the axis B, in the event that the first terminal <NUM> is arranged eccentric with respect to the axis A. In such a case, the elastomeric element <NUM> and the insert <NUM> will have an eccentric annular shape.

Claim 1:
Supercapacitor (<NUM>) comprising:
- a casing (<NUM>), internally defining a compartment (<NUM>) housing electrodes (<NUM>) and electrolytic material, and having a longitudinal axis (A), a side wall (<NUM>) extending around the longitudinal axis (A), an axial bottom wall (<NUM>) and an axial opening (<NUM>) for accessing the compartment (<NUM>) arranged on the axially opposite side of the side wall (<NUM>) with respect to the bottom wall (<NUM>);
- at least one terminal (<NUM>) electrically connected to one of said electrodes (<NUM>) and protruding outside of said compartment (<NUM>) through said axial opening (<NUM>); and
- a sealing lid (<NUM>) for sealing the compartment (<NUM>); said lid (<NUM>) closing said axial opening (<NUM>) and comprising an elastomeric element (<NUM>) having:
- an internal through hole (<NUM>) which receives said terminal (<NUM>) and is delimited by an internal wall (<NUM>) cooperating in fluid-tight contact with said terminal (<NUM>); and
- a peripheral wall (<NUM>) cooperating in fluid-tight contact with said side wall (<NUM>);
said lid (<NUM>) comprising an insert (<NUM>) made of rigid material, preferably metallic, incorporated at least partially in said elastomeric element (<NUM>);
wherein said internal wall (<NUM>) has at least one groove (<NUM>) defining at least two successive ridges (<NUM>) along the internal wall (<NUM>) itself, the ridges (<NUM>) cooperating in fluid-tight contact with the terminal (<NUM>).