US 11,094,487 B2 · Current interrupt device based on thermal activation of frangible glass bulb

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a current interrupt device (CID) including a frangible bulb that is configured to be thermally triggered. In some embodiments, the CID includes a breaking contact electrically coupled to a fixed contact and held in electrical contact by the frangible bulb. In some embodiments, the frangible bulb is configured to break at a temperature threshold. In some embodiments, the breaking contact is configured to bend, rotate and/or otherwise deform about a hinge point in order to become electrically disconnected from the fixed contact when the frangible bulb breaks. In some embodiments, opening the electrical circuit between the breaking contact and the fixed contact may prevent overcharging, overvoltage conditions, overcurrent conditions, thermal runaway, and/or other catastrophic failure events.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A current interrupt device, comprising:

a frangible bulb;
a fixed contact;
and
a breaking contact configured to be held in electrical contact with the fixed contact by the frangible bulb in a first configuration, and to be electrically disconnected from the fixed contact in a second configuration after the frangible bulb breaks;
wherein the frangible bulb is disposed proximate an electrochemical cell such that a temperature of the frangible bulb is substantially similar to an operating temperature of the electrochemical cell;
and
wherein the frangible bulb is configured to break when the operating temperature of the electrochemical cell exceeds a threshold temperature.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Current interrupt device based on thermal activation of frangible glass bulb

Life of this patent

Current interrupt device based on thermal activation of frangible glass bulb

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18