Patent ID: 8193770
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: B23K,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A battery system for storing electrical power having multiple battery packs connected with each other to provide electrical power to a vehicle, each battery pack having a plurality of cells, wherein the cells in each battery pack are electrically connected to each other within the respective battery pack, and wherein electrical connections between at least some of the cells include an over-current/over-temperature protection feature, comprising: a first electrical terminal electrically connected to a core of a first cell and having a first connection face; a second electrical terminal electrically connected to a core of a second cell and having a second connection face; a conductive bonding material applied to the first and second connection faces, wherein the bonding material has a melting point that corresponds to an over-current/over-temperature condition between the cells; and a conductive mass adhered in place between the first and second connection faces by the conductive bonding material, wherein occurrence of the over-current/over-temperature condition causes the conductive bonding material to melt and release the conductive mass under the influence of gravity so as to terminate the electrical connection between corresponding cells.