Battery

• US 20070182371A1
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Torqeedo GmbH (Deutz AG)
• Original Assignee: Torqeedo GmbH (Deutz AG)
• Inventors: BOEBEL, Friedrich
• Granted Patent: US 7,659,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/50 of manganese
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/509 characterised by the type of connection, e.g. mixed connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/583 in response to current, e.g. fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/16 with organic electrolyte H01M6/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery with at least one battery cell has two battery poles and current-conducting connections between the battery cells and the battery poles. A safety switching encompasses a current-limiting element in the connection between the battery cells and one of the battery poles. A switch is parallel to the current-limiting element and a control device closes the switch, if the current between the battery cells and the battery poles falls below a predetermined threshold minimum current.

Claims

1. A battery with at least one battery cell, comprising two battery poles, current-conducting connections between the at least one battery cell and the battery poles, and a safety switching arrangement which includes a current-limiting element in one of the connections between the battery cell and the at least one battery poles, a switch disposed in parallel to the current-limiting element, and a control device arranged to close the switch, if the current that flows between the at least one battery cell and the battery poles falls below a predetermined threshold minimum current.

2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein a main switch is provided in one of the current conducting connections between the at least one battery cell and one of the battery poles.

3. The battery according to claim 2, wherein the control device is operative to open the main switch and the switch, if the current flowing between the at least one battery cell and one of the battery poles exceeds a predetermined maximum current.

4. The battery according to claim 2, wherein the switch and the main switch are operatively associated so that the switch opens if the main switch is opened.

5. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the control device is operative to open the main switch and the switch, if the current flowing between the at least one battery cell and one of the battery poles exceeds a predetermined maximum current.

6. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the at least one battery cell is a lithium cell.

7. The battery according to claim 6, wherein the at least one lithium cell is a lithium-manganese cell.

8. The battery according to claim 1, where the at least one battery cell comprises a plurality of battery cells connected in at least one of series and parallel.

9. The battery according to claim 8, wherein the battery cells are lithium-manganese cells.

10. The battery according to claim 6, wherein at least one of between four and twelve lithium-manganese cells are connected in series and more than ten lithium-manganese cells are connected in parallel.

11. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the safety switching arrangement comprises a device for at least one of current and voltage measurement.

12. The battery according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the switch and the main switch is disposed in one of the connections between the positive pole of the battery and the at least one battery cells.

13. Method according to claim 1, comprising using the battery as a current supply for an electric boat.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one battery cell is a lithium cell.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one lithium cell is a lithium-manganese cell.