Storage cell battery incorporating a safety device

• US 6,599,656 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saft Finance Sarl (Totalenergies Se)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Cittanova, Jean-Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martin, Angela J
• Application Number:
  US09/884,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20010055712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 429/61, 429/62, 429/116, 429/110, 429/112, 429/56, 429/90, 429/122
• US Class Current: 429/61
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/07 in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/023 the extinguishing material being expelled by compressed gas, taken from storage tanks, or by generating a pressure gas for foam generation A62C5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0018 using gases or vapours that do not support combustion, e.g. steam, carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/05 Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte H01M10/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6564 using compressed gas
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6566 Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers H01M10/6565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A storage cell battery includes at least one cell having an enclosure containing an electrode assembly impregnated with an electrolyte and including at least one positive electrode, at least one negative electrode and at least one separator disposed between the electrodes. The cells are housed in a common container provided with a first orifice. A safety device includes an anomaly detector, a storage tank containing a non-inflammable gas under pressure and connected to the first orifice, and a control system in the form of a pyrotechnic mechanism for controlling the admission of the gas into the common container.

Claims

1. A storage cell battery including:

at least one cell having an enclosure containing an electrode assembly impregnated with electrolyte and comprising at least one positive electrode, at least one negative electrode and at least one separator disposed between the electrodes,

a common container provided with a first orifice, and

a safety device including an anomaly detector, a storage tank containing a non-inflammable gas under pressure and connected to said first orifice, and a control system in the form of a pyrotechnic mechanism for controlling the admission of said gas into said common container.

2. The battery claimed in claim 1 wherein said container is further provided with a second orifice.

3. The battery claimed in claim 1 wherein said orifice contains a check valve.

4. The battery claimed in claim 1 wherein said pyrotechnic mechanism includes an igniter composition and an initiator chosen from the group comprising an electric initiator, a mechanical initiator and a magnetic initiator.

5. The battery claimed in claim 4 wherein said mechanism contains an explosive composition whose detonation opens a vent mechanically.

6. The battery claimed in claim 4 wherein said mechanism contains a composition whose combustion generates gases producing a pressure sufficient to actuate a piston.

7. The battery claimed in claim 1 wherein said non-inflammable gas storage tank contains carbon dioxide or argonite.

8. The battery claimed in claim 1 wherein said anomaly detector includes a system for measuring the value of the parameter to be detected and a system for comparing the measured value to a reference value.