Current interrupt device for batteries

• US 7,763,375 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Artem'evich, Martsinovskiy Geory, Constantinovich, Chernov Boris, Igoris, Misiucenko, Grigorievich, Khorenyan Rostislav, Shkolnik, Nikolay
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuan; Dah-Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martin; Angela J.
• Application Number:
  US11/439,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20070275298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 429/62, 429/53, 429/61, 429/54
• US Class Current: 429/62
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4235 Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte H01M10/4242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/101 Bimetal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/134 Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/136 Electrodes based on inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/15 for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/153 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/152 for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/15, H01M50/153 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/325 comprising deformable valve members, e.g. elastic or flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/375 Vent means sensitive to or responsive to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/14 Cells with non-aqueous electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5038 Heating or cooling of cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention is a battery containing at least one electrochemical cell having a sealing plate with a pressure relief vent, the sealing plate being part of an electrical circuit between one of the electrodes and the corresponding terminal under normal conditions but capable of changing shape to break the circuit without the cell venting when the temperature of the sealing plate rises to a predetermined level and then returning to its original shape to reestablish the broken circuit when the sealing plate temperature returns to a normal level.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

a container with an opening;

at least one electrochemical cell having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator and an electrolyte, said electrochemical cell disposed within the container;

a terminal cover fitted within the opening;

an insulating washer proximate to the terminal cover;

a sealing plate forming an electrical circuit between the terminal cover and either the positive or negative electrode, said sealing plate having a pressure relief vent, a lower portion which defines an internal surface of the electrochemical cell and an upper portion extending through an aperture in the insulating washer to contact the terminal cover;

a gasket compressed between the container and the sealing plate;

wherein the sealing plate cooperates with the gasket and the insulating washer to change shape at a predetermined temperature value so as to break the electrical circuit; and

wherein the sealing plate maintains contact with either the positive or negative electrode irrespective of the shape of the sealing plate.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein a contact member is attached to the sealing plate and either the positive or negative electrode to complete the electrical circuit.

3. The battery according to claim 2, wherein the contact member is affixed on the lower portion of the sealing plate by an interference fit.

4. The battery according to claim 2, wherein the contact member exerts spring force against the positive or negative electrode to minimize internal resistance.

5. The battery according to claim 4, further comprising a heat generating component.

6. The battery according to claim 5, wherein the heat generating component is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a diode, a Zener diode, a Schottky diode and a power rectifier.

7. The battery according to claim 6, wherein the pressure relief vent opens at a temperature that is greater than the predetermined temperature necessary to change the shape of the sealing plate.

8. The battery according to claim 1, further comprising at least one heat generating component selected from the group consisting of:

a diode, a Zener diode, a Schottky diode and a power rectifier.

9. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief vent opens at a temperature that is greater than the predetermined temperature necessary to change the shape of the sealing plate.