High performance battery and current collector therefor

The invention relates generally to batteries, and more particularly to high performance batteries. A winding assembly for a battery includes a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, a separator sheet, and a current collector. The positive and negative plates and the separator sheet are wound in overlying relationship such that the separator sheet is positioned between the positive and negative plates, an exposed top edge of the positive electrode plate is spaced longitudinally from an adjacent unexposed top edge of the negative plate, and an exposed bottom edge of the negative electrode plate is spaced longitudinally from an unexposed bottom edge of said positive electrode plate. The current collector is connected to one of the exposed edges of one of the positive and negative electrode plates, and, accordingly, is spaced apart from the adjacent unexposed bottom edge of the other (i.e., the non-attached) electrode plate. The current collector includes a terminal mounting portion and a radially extending collecting web. The collecting web of the current collector includes a perimeter, at least one open-ended perimeter aperture located at the perimeter and extending radially inwardly therefrom, and at least one closed-end internal aperture positioned between the terminal portion and the perimeter. Also, the current collector may have recessed areas surrounding the apertures to facilitate joining of the current collector and the electrode plate.