Arrangement for implementing a safety feature in a battery

Abstract

The invention pertains to a safety feature that finds particular utility in batteries with flexible shells. Conductors to be attached to the electrodes of a battery are thin strips, and the strength of such a conductive strip (20) is reduced at one point e.g. by cutting a slit (22) on its side. At one side of the slit the conductive strip is attached to the top part (61) of the battery shell, and at the other side of the slit to the bottom part (62) of the battery shell. If overcharging, for instance, generates an overpressure inside the battery, the battery shell bulges and tears (B) the conductive strip in two starting at the slit. This way, the structures and equipment around the battery will avoid damage possibly caused by battery chemicals or high temperature. The arrangement according to the invention makes separate internal battery protection components redundant and has low costs.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.