Cell connection straps for battery cells of a battery pack

• US 20110008655A1
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Adam M. Casalena, Alexis Johnson, Daniel J. White, Michael W. Roberts Jr, Steven J Phillips
• Original Assignee: Adam M. Casalena, Alexis Johnson, Daniel J. White, Michael W. Roberts Jr, Steven J Phillips
• Inventors: Johnson, Alexis, Roberts, Michael W. JR., Phillips, Steven J., Casalena, Adam M., White, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US12/923,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20110008655A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/62
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/103 Fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/106 PTC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/583 in response to current, e.g. fuses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A cell connection strap for electrically connecting a pair of adjacent battery cells within a battery pack includes, in one example, a fusible link for preventing a thermal runaway condition from occurring in a cell connected thereto. The strap may include raised features thereon for permitting relative movement between the cells in the pack due to vibration or an impact of the pack from translating stress to welds connecting the straps to the cells. In another example, the body of the cell strap may include slits formed in sides thereof to reduce rigidity of the strap for protecting the welds between strap and cell, and also provides a fusible link capability in the strap for preventing a thermal runaway condition from occurring in a cell connected thereto.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A cell connection strap for electrically connecting a pair of adjacent battery cells within a battery pack, comprising:

a body, the body having a length extending between a first and second end and a width between sides thereof, and

a fuse link disposed in the body between the first and second ends, wherein

the body further comprises a first body portion terminating at the first end and a second body portion terminating at the second end, and

the fuse link is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device attached to the body between the first and second body portions.

38. The cell connection strap as recited in claim 37, wherein the fuse link is formed at one of the first and second ends.

39. The strap of claim 37, wherein a slit is formed in opposing sides of the body and the fuse link is formed at one of the first and second ends.

40. A battery pack, comprising:

a housing,

a plurality of cells disposed in the housing and configured in a serial-parallel arrangement within the housing,

a plurality of cell connection straps for electrically connecting pairs of adjacent battery cells within a battery pack, wherein a cell strap connecting a pair of cells in parallel in the pack includes a fuse link therein,

wherein the body further comprises a first body portion terminating at the first end and a second body portion terminating at the second end, and

the fuse link is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device attached to the body between the first and second body portions.

41. The battery pack as recited in claim 40, wherein the fuse link is formed at one of the first and second ends.

42. The battery pack as recited in claim 40, wherein a slit is formed in opposing sides of the body and the fuse link is formed at one of the first and second ends.