Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – With control means responsive to battery condition sensing...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-07
2001-09-11
Maples, John S. (Department: 1745)
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
With control means responsive to battery condition sensing...
C429S007000, C429S090000, C200S061080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287718
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a protection device used for assuring a safe operation of a rechargeable battery, such as a secondary cell or the like, and a battery cell provided with this protection device.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a charging is further continued even after the charging is completed in a rechargeable battery cell or when a charging is carried out with a higher level of current than that of a predetermined current, it sometimes occurs that an abnormal state is generated in the battery cell to produce gas within the battery cell, either an air pressure or a temperature within the battery cell is increased and extrusion of electrolyte caused by expansion or cracks of the battery cell corrode equipment assembled with the battery cell. In addition, a continuation of this use of the battery cell under such a condition even though corrosion may not occur causes a possibility in which the battery cell is bulged out, a crack or a breakage is generated in the battery cell and so the use of the battery cell in which a certain abnormal state is produced should be stopped immediately.
In view of the foregoing, a rechargeable battery cell is provided with various kinds of safety countermeasures such as a safety valve arranged in it to discharge gas in the battery cell in response to an increased air pressure within the battery cell or alternatively means arranged out of the battery cell for sensing the increased temperature and preventing an electric current from flowing to an electrical circuit to which the battery cell is connected.
However, in the case that the safety valve was required to be installed in the battery cell, a piping or the like in the battery cell had to be considered and this became a restriction on designing the battery cell or in the case of the type in which an increasing of temperature within the battery cell was detected, there was a possibility in which the battery cell was used again when the temperature was decreased as time elapsed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been completed in view of the foregoing, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a protection device and a battery cell using this protection device in which a degree of freedom in design of the battery cell can be improved and a use of the battery cell having an abnormal state of increased air pressure within the battery cell can be positively terminated.
As a first means for accomplishing the aforesaid object, the protection device of the present invention is provided with a casing and a lid member one of which has a flexibility, wherein each of the aforesaid casing and the aforesaid lid member are electrically conductive, an electrical conducting passage is arranged between the aforesaid casing and the aforesaid lid member, the aforesaid casing and the aforesaid lid member are electrically connected by the aforesaid electrical conductive passage, the aforesaid electrical conductive passage is broken so as to cut off an electrical conduction between the aforesaid casing and the aforesaid lid member.
As a second means for accomplishing the aforesaid object, the protection device of the present invention is provided with a casing and a lid member one of which has a flexibility characteristic, each of the aforesaid casing and the aforesaid lid member has an insulating characteristic, an electrical conductive passage is arranged between the aforesaid casing and the aforesaid lid member, a pair of wiring members are arranged in the aforesaid electrical conductive passage, the aforesaid pair of wiring members are extended out of the aforesaid casing, the aforesaid electrical conductive passage is broken under a flexing of either the aforesaid casing or the aforesaid lid member caused by the external pressure and then the electrical conduction between said pair of wiring members is cut off.
In addition, as a third means for accomplishing the aforesaid object, the protection device of the present invention is comprised of an electrical conductive hollow casing, an electrical conductive passage stored in the aforesaid casing, a holding member having resiliency and insulating characteristics stored in the aforesaid casing and holding the aforesaid electrical conductive passage, and a lid member having flexibility, wherein the aforesaid casing is connected to the aforesaid lid member through the aforesaid holding member is such a way that the hollow part of the aforesaid casing is sealingly closed, and at the same time, the aforesaid electrical conductive passage is held by the aforesaid lid member and the aforesaid casing, the aforesaid casing and the aforesaid lid member are electrically connected by the aforesaid electrical conductive passage, the aforesaid lid member is provided with a projection at a location oppositely faced to a point near a central part of the aforesaid electrical conductive passage while being abutted against the aforesaid electrical conductive passage, the aforesaid projection breaks the aforesaid electrical conductive passage so as to cut off an electrical conduction between the aforesaid casing and the aforesaid lid member.
In addition, as a fourth means for accomplishing the aforesaid object, the protection device of the present invention is comprised of an insulating hollow casing, an electrical conductive passage stored in the aforesaid casing, a pair of wiring members connected to the aforesaid electrical conducting passage and electrically connected through the aforesaid electrical conductive passage, a holding member having resiliency and insulating characteristics stored in the aforesaid casing and for holding the aforesaid electrical conductive passage, and a lid member having flexibility and insulating characteristics, wherein the aforesaid lid member is connected to the aforesaid holding member through the aforesaid holding member in such a way as the hollow part of the aforesaid casing is sealingly closed, the aforesaid electrical conductive passage is held by the aforesaid casing and the aforesaid holding member, the aforesaid wiring members are extended out of a space sealingly closed by the aforesaid casing, the aforesaid holding member and the aforesaid lid member, the aforesaid lid member is provided with a projection while being abutted against the aforesaid electrical conductive passage at a location opposing against a part near a central part including the central part of the aforesaid electrical conductive passage, the aforesaid projection breaks the aforesaid electrical conductive passage under a flexing of the aforesaid lid member with an external pressure so as to cut off an electrical conduction between the aforesaid pair of wiring members.
In addition, at the third and fourth means, a bottom surface of the aforesaid lid member is formed with a projection part projected inwardly of the aforesaid casing at a position opposing against the aforesaid electrical conductive passage, and the aforesaid projection is provided with a convex part.
In addition, in the third means, each of the aforesaid casing and the aforesaid lid member is provided with an electrical conductive foil so as to cause an electrical conduction to be attained and the aforesaid metallic foil is applied as an external pulling-out terminal in the aforesaid electrical conductive passage.
In addition, in the fourth means, the aforesaid electrical conductive passage is made such that an electrode is formed at the surface of a ceramic substrate.
In addition, in the fourth means, the aforesaid electrical conductive passage and the aforesaid wiring members are integrally formed.
In addition, the protection device in the third means is installed within the battery cell, the internal and external electrodes of the aforesaid battery cell are connected to the aforesaid casing and the aforesaid lid member so as to cause the aforesaid internal electrode and the aforesaid external electrode to be electrically conductive through the aforesaid electrical conductive passage.
In addition, the prot
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Maples John S.
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