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US 6,599,656 B2Granted
Storage cell battery incorporating a safety device
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorJean-Pierre Cittanova
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AssigneeAlcatel
InventorJean-Pierre Cittanova
Estimating the term…
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.
A storage cell battery including:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Methods of extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire by cooling down or suffocating the flames: using gases or vapours that do not support…
Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places: in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles
With containers for delivering the extinguishing substance: the extinguishing material being expelled by compressed gas, taken from storage tanks,…
Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof: methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
Term ended 7 Feb 2022 (estimated)
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage cell battery incorporating a safety device. The device operates in the event of an anomaly in the operation of one or more cells to increase the response time and minimize the risks, in particular of fire. This is why the invention is more particularly intended to be applied to lithium rechargeable storage cell batteries, some components of which are inflammable. Improving the safety of the user is one imperative for “consumer” applications, for example if the battery is installed in an electric vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a battery according to the invention fitted with a safety device.
FIG. 2 is a diagram similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a different embodiment of a battery according to the invention.
It must be understood that the drawings and the corresponding parts of the description are provided entirely to illustrate the subject matter of the invention, which they do not limit in any way.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 1, the battery 1 includes eight cells 2, for example lithium cells, each having a cylindrical enclosure, and housed in a common container 3 closed by an orifice 4 fitted with a check valve. The check valve must be set to achieve a compromise between two objectives, namely fast evacuation of the air contained in the common container, requiring a relatively large diameter, and ongoing residual sweeping with a slight leak to prevent backflow of air.
The dead volume inside the battery container 3 is of the order of 500 dm3. The battery 1 includes a safety device 5 to prevent fire. The safety device 5 includes a temperature detector 6 connected to a pyrotechnic mechanism 7 cooperating with a gas storage tank 8 that communicates with the container 3 via an introduction tube 9. The diameter of the tube 9 is sufficiently large for it not to impede the admission of the gas into the container 3 and the tube is as short as possible. The storage tank 8 contains argonite Ar/N2 at a pressure of approximately 60 bars. The temperature detector 6 consists of a measuring probe 6a and a comparator 6b.