Construction of electrochemical storage cell with conductive bridge

A battery system for storing electrical power and supplying electrical power comprising:

• a first battery cell having a first electrical terminal, and a second battery cell having a second electrical terminal, wherein the first and second battery cells are secured adjacent to one another in a battery pack so that the first and second electrical terminals are separated from one another by a gap;
• a rigid conductive bridge piece, wherein:
• the rigid conductive bridge piece is disposed inside the gap and bonds with the first and second electrical terminals when a temperature at the rigid conductive bridge piece is below a level, thereby establishing an electrical and mechanical connection between the first and second electrical terminals, the rigid conductive bridge piece being a mechanical buffer absorbing vibrational energy between the first and second electrical terminals, thereby increasing an integrity of the battery system, wherein a layer of solder is disposed between the rigid conductive bridge piece and at least one of the first and second electrical terminals, and
• the rigid conductive bridge piece changes its shape and the layer of solder melts when the temperature at the rigid conductive bridge piece reaches the level corresponding to an over-current/over-temperature condition, thereby severing the electrical and mechanical connection between the rigid conductive bridge piece and at least one of the first and second electrical terminals, without melting off the rigid conductive bridge piece;
• a thermal-expansion member disposed inside the gap, the thermal-expansion member comprising an electrically insulating material with a first melting temperature;
• a bonding member disposed inside the gap, the bonding member comprising an electrically conductive material with a second melting temperature, the second melting temperature being lower than the first melting temperature;
• and
• wherein:
• when a temperature at the gap is below a pre-determined level, the thermal-expansion member and the bonding member are configured to establish an electrical and mechanical connection between the first and second electrical terminals so that the first and second electrical terminals are separated from one another by a first distance, and
• when the temperature at the gap reaches the pre-determined level corresponding to an over-current/over-temperature condition, the thermal-expansion member is configured to expand and drive apart the first and second electrical terminals so that the first and second electrical terminals are separated from one another by a second distance, the second distance is larger than the first distance, the bonding member is configured to melt and flow out of the gap thereby severing the electrical connection between the first and second electrical terminals.