US3855003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal sensing, fire safing device for a thermal battery
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1974-01-02
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1994-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A thermal cell or battery including heat sensing means to short circuit electrical output terminals when the cell is exposed to excessive external heat to thus prevent undesired electrical output of the cell or battery.
Inventors
- 👤 D Bush
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:32
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M50/00; H01M50/50; H01M50/572; H01M50/574; H01M50/581; H01M6/00; H01M6/30; H01M6/36; H01M2200/00; H01M2200/10; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
IN A THERMAL BATTERY COMPRISING A CASSING; A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL BATTERY CELLS WITHIN SAID S.CASING, THERMAL INSULATION POSITIONED ABOUT SAID BATTERY CELLS BETWEEN SAID BATTERY CELLS AND SAID CASING AND A PAIR OF TERMINALS NORMALLY ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED FROM EACH OTHER, THE IMPROVEMENT IN CONBINATION THEREWITH COMPRISING A HEAT SENSING MEANS FOR PROVENTING THERNAL BATTERY ELECTRICAL OUTPUT IN RESPONSE TO APPLICATION OF EXTERNAL HEAT, SAID HEAT SENSING MEANS COMPRISING SHORT CIRCUITING MEANS HAVING LOW MELTING TEMPERATURE MATERIAL DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID THERMAL ISULATION AND SAID CASING FOR MELTING AND ELECTRICALLY INTERCONNECTING PORTIONS OF SAID TERMINALS UPON APPLICATION OF SUFFICIENT HEAT FROM EXTERIOR OF SAID TERMAL BATTERY.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
IN A THERMAL BATTERY COMPRISING A CASSING; A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL BATTERY CELLS WITHIN SAID S.CASING, THERMAL INSULATION POSITIONED ABOUT SAID BATTERY CELLS BETWEEN SAID BATTERY CELLS AND SAID CASING AND A PAIR OF TERMINALS NORMALLY ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED FROM EACH OTHER, THE IMPROVEMENT IN CONBINATION THEREWITH COMPRISING A HEAT SENSING MEANS FOR PROVENTING THERNAL BATTERY ELECTRICAL OUTPUT IN RESPONSE TO APPLICATION OF EXTERNAL HEAT, SAID HEAT SENSING MEANS COMPRISING SHORT CIRCUITING MEANS HAVING LOW MELTING TEMPERATURE MATERIAL DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID THERMAL ISULATION AND SAID CASING FOR MELTING AND ELECTRICALLY INTERCONNECTING PORTIONS OF SAID TERMINALS UPON APPLICATION OF SUFFICIENT HEAT FROM EXTERIOR OF SAID TERMAL BATTERY.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said terminals include output electrodes within said thermal battery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The combination of claim 1 together with a first member in electrical contact with said low melting temperature material and with one of said terminals, a second member in electrical contact with the other of said terminals, and permeable means for electrically insulating, during normal operating conditions, said low melting temperature material from said second member and for effecting said electrical short circuiting through said molten material contact of said first and said second members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said low melting temperature material is a layer of from about 0.003 to about 0.010 inch thickness and said first and second members are layers of from about 0.003 to about 0.010 inch thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 3 further including low melting temperature material in electrical contact with said second member for melting and electrically interconnecting with said low melting temperature material in electrical contact with said first member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said permeable means is taken from the group consisting of perforate mica, and glass cloth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein one of said members comprises an outer casing for said thermal battery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said low melting temperature material is selected from the group consisting of lead, tin, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 1 together with thermal insulation against heat generated during thermal cell operation in said thermal battery disposed intermediate said thermal cell and said low melting temperature layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein one of said terminals, said first member in electrical contact with said low melting temperature material and an output electrode of said thermal battery are electrically connected in series and wherein the other of said terminals, said second member, and the other output electrode of said thermal battery are also electrically connected in series.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |