Electrochemical cell with thermal current interrupting switch
First Claim
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1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
- a container having a closed end and an open end;
an electrode assembly disposed within the container and including a negative electrode, a positive electrode, an electrolyte, and a separator disposed between the negative electrode and positive electrode, wherein one of the electrodes is electrically connected to the container;
an internal seal plate located inside the container and providing a seal between the open end of the container and the electrode assembly, the seal plate being in contact with the container and being electrically non-conductive or having a polarity the same as the container;
an electrically conductive contact member extending through the seal plate; and
an end assembly covering the seal plate and having a terminal cap with a conductive terminal, wherein the contact member provides a portion of an electrical path between the electrode not electrically connected to the container and the conductive terminal, wherein an insulating gasket is present between the seal plate and the contact member when the seal plate is the same polarity as the container, wherein a temperature responsive current interrupting switch is present in the end assembly and operatively connected between the contact member and the conductive terminal so that below an activating temperature the current interrupting switch is at least part of an electrical path between the contact member and the conductive terminal, and at or above the activating temperature the current interrupting switch is out of electrical contact with one or more of the contact member and conductive terminal, and a circuit between the contact member and conductive terminal is opened, and wherein the current interrupting switch is capable of re-establishing a closed circuit between the contact member and conductive terminal when the temperature in the cell is below the activating temperature.
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Abstract
An electrochemical cell having a current interrupting switch as an internal component of the cell that is thermally responsive and breaks an electrical path within the cell thereby preventing current flow when temperature within the cell is at or above an activating temperature. The switch is reversible and current flow and a closed circuit is re-established when temperature within the cell returns below the activating temperature.
142 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
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a container having a closed end and an open end; an electrode assembly disposed within the container and including a negative electrode, a positive electrode, an electrolyte, and a separator disposed between the negative electrode and positive electrode, wherein one of the electrodes is electrically connected to the container; an internal seal plate located inside the container and providing a seal between the open end of the container and the electrode assembly, the seal plate being in contact with the container and being electrically non-conductive or having a polarity the same as the container; an electrically conductive contact member extending through the seal plate; and an end assembly covering the seal plate and having a terminal cap with a conductive terminal, wherein the contact member provides a portion of an electrical path between the electrode not electrically connected to the container and the conductive terminal, wherein an insulating gasket is present between the seal plate and the contact member when the seal plate is the same polarity as the container, wherein a temperature responsive current interrupting switch is present in the end assembly and operatively connected between the contact member and the conductive terminal so that below an activating temperature the current interrupting switch is at least part of an electrical path between the contact member and the conductive terminal, and at or above the activating temperature the current interrupting switch is out of electrical contact with one or more of the contact member and conductive terminal, and a circuit between the contact member and conductive terminal is opened, and wherein the current interrupting switch is capable of re-establishing a closed circuit between the contact member and conductive terminal when the temperature in the cell is below the activating temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
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a container having a closed end and an open end; an electrode assembly disposed within the container and including a negative electrode, a positive electrode, an electrolyte, and a separator disposed between the negative electrode and positive electrode, wherein one of the electrodes is electrically connected to the container; and an end assembly sealing the open end of the container and having a terminal cap with a conductive terminal, and a temperature responsive current interrupting switch operatively connected between the conductive terminal and the electrode of the electrode assembly not electrically connected to the container so that below an activating temperature the current interrupting switch is part of an electrical path between the terminal and the electrode not electrically connected to the container, and at or above the activating temperature the current interrupting switch is switched and the electrical path is interrupted, wherein the current interrupting switch is capable of re-establishing the electrical path when the temperature in the cell is below the activating temperature, wherein an insulating gasket is provided between the terminal cap and the open end of the container, and wherein the terminal cap extends over the open end of the container and has a perimeter that terminates outside of the container and seals the open end. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
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a cylindrical container having a closed end and an open end; a jelly-roll electrode assembly disposed within the container and including a negative electrode, a positive electrode, an electrolyte, and a separator disposed between the negative electrode and positive electrode, wherein one of the electrodes is electrically connected to the container; an end assembly having a conductive terminal and a non-articulating temperature-responsive switch, wherein the switch changes shape to selectively control current flow between the electrode not electrically connected to the container and the conductive terminal based upon a pre-determined temperature; and an internal seal plate and optionally a gasket providing a seal between the open end of the container and the electrode assembly, and wherein the switch is operatively located between the conductive terminal and the seal member within the cell. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification