Patent ID: 6046514
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: H01M,H02J,Y02E

Abstract:
A bypass apparatus for an energy storing device coupled to a series connection, comprising:a chamber containing an activatable medium;a movable terminal disposed adjacent the chamber and moveable between a contacting and a non-contacting state with respect to a stationary terminal, the movable terminal and stationary terminal being coupled in parallel across the energy storing device;an activation circuit, coupled to the chamber and the energy storing device, that activates the activatable medium in response to an anomalous condition occurring in the energy storing device, the activated medium producing a force that moves the movable terminal into contact with the stationary terminal thereby providing a bypass current path to the series connection that bypasses the energy storing device; anda voltage limiting circuit coupled in parallel across the energy storing device, the voltage limiting circuit limiting a voltage across the energy storing device during provision of the bypass current path.