Multi-cell battery

• US 4,883,726 A
• Filed: 05/22/1987
• Issued: 11/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emanuel Peled, Esther Elster, Josef Kimel, Mordechai Brand, Ronen Cohen
• Original Assignee: Emanuel Peled, Esther Elster, Josef Kimel, Mordechai Brand, Ronen Cohen
• Inventors: Cohen, Ronen, Kimel, Josef, Brand, Mordechai, Peled, Emanuel, Elster, Esther
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US07/052,967
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 429/120, 429/149, 429/156, 429/157, 429/183, 429/184
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/659 by heat storage or buffering, e.g. heat capacity or liquid-solid phase changes or transition
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-cell battery of electro-chemical cells of the type which is likely to be severely damaged and which is apt to release a substantial quantity of heat when short-circuited.

According to the invention, the multi-cell unit is provided with a certain filler in the space between the constituent electrochemical cells, which is either a solid with a melting point in a predetermined range of temperature, or a liquid. The filler ought to be electrically non-conducting, and its quantity ought to have an adequate heat capacity and it ought also to be capable to transfer heat to adjacent cells.

Claims

1. A multi-cell electric battery comprising a housing, a plurality of electrochemical cells of cylindrical cross section positioned in the housing, said cells having a lithium or calcium anode, and an electrically insulating substance provided in the space between the cells, the electrically insulating substance being a solid having a melting point in the range between about 40°

C. and about 150°

C. and being capable of taking up heat and transferring heat from one cell to the others, in an unimpaired manner.

2. A cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating substance substantially fills the space between the cells.

3. A battery according to claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating substance has a high heat capacity and a low viscosity in the liquid state.

5. A battery according to claim 1, wherein the cells are high-energy wound electrode cells.

6. A battery according to claim 1, wherein the cells have a a thionyl chloride, sulfuryl chloride, or sulfur dioxide electrolyte.

4. A multi-cell electric battery comprising a housing, a plurality of electrochemical cells of cylindrical cross section positioned in the housing, said cells having a lithium or calcium anode, and an electrically insulating substance provided in the space between the cells, the electrically insulating substance being a natural or synthetic wax, a paraffin, polyethylene, tar or a mixture of any of these.