Patent ID: 8481191

Claim:
A thermal runaway propagation prevention system for use with a plurality of batteries contained within a battery pack, the thermal runaway propagation prevention system comprising: a cell mounting bracket configured to hold at least a portion of each of said plurality of batteries within a predetermined location and with a minimum battery-to-battery separation distance, wherein said cell mounting bracket is fabricated from a first material with a first melting temperature; and a spacer assembly comprised of a plurality of rigid spacers independent and separate from said cell mounting bracket, said plurality of rigid spacers configured to fit between adjacent batteries of said plurality of batteries and maintain each of said plurality of batteries within said predetermined location and with said minimum battery-to-battery separation distance, wherein each of said plurality of rigid spacers has a height dimension between 1 and 5% of the overall height of each of said plurality of batteries, wherein each of said plurality of rigid spacers is comprised of a second material with a second melting temperature, wherein said second melting temperature is greater than said first melting temperature, wherein said second material is comprised of a ceramic material, and wherein said ceramic material is electrically insulating and has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity.