Abstract: A fault tolerant battery system includes an electrical storage cell having a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The electrical storage cell is provided with a normally open bypass circuit path that is closed in the event of an overdischarged, or open-circuit failure of, the electrical storage cell. The bypass circuit path includes a first electrical conductor connected to the negative terminal of the electrical storage cell, a second electrical conductor connected to the positive terminal of the electrical storage cell, and a shorting gap between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: A low energy activation, fault tolerant, battery system includes an electrical storage cell having a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The electrical storage cell is provided with a normally open bypass circuit path that is closed in the event of an overdischarged, or open-circuit failure of, the electrical storage cell. The bypass circuit path includes a first electrical conductor connected to the negative terminal of the electrical storage cell, a second electrical conductor connected to the positive terminal of the electrical storage cell, and a shorting gap between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: A fault tolerant battery system includes an electrical storage cell having a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The electrical storage cell is provided with a normally open bypass circuit path that is closed in the event of an overdischarged, or open-circuit failure of, the electrical storage cell. The bypass circuit path includes a first electrical conductor connected to the negative terminal of the electrical storage cell, a second electrical conductor connected to the positive terminal of the electrical storage cell, and a shorting gap between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: A low energy activation, fault tolerant, battery system includes an electrical storage cell having a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The electrical storage cell is provided with a normally open bypass circuit path that is closed in the event of an overdischarged, or open-circuit failure of, the electrical storage cell. The bypass circuit path includes a first electrical conductor connected to the negative terminal of the electrical storage cell, a second electrical conductor connected to the positive terminal of the electrical storage cell, and a shorting gap between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed for autonomous lithium-ion battery protection. In particular, the present disclosure teaches a system that provides for automatic protection of lithium-ion batteries from damage due to deep discharge and, in some embodiments, from recharging in low temperatures. The disclosed system employs internal logic, autonomous switches and, in some embodiments, heaters to protect the battery without any need for spacecraft monitoring or control intervention. The system uses one or more dedicated strings of solar array cells to, in some embodiments, preheat, and to recharge the battery. The system is completely self contained in the battery with the only additional interface being for the string(s) of the solar array cells that are used to provide dedicated and reliable power to the system.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed for autonomous lithium-ion battery protection. In particular, the present disclosure teaches a system that provides for automatic protection of lithium-ion batteries from damage due to deep discharge and, in some embodiments, from recharging in low temperatures. The disclosed system employs internal logic, autonomous switches and, in some embodiments, heaters to protect the battery without any need for spacecraft monitoring or control intervention. The system uses one or more dedicated strings of solar array cells to, in some embodiments, preheat, and to recharge the battery. The system is completely self contained in the battery with the only additional interface being for the string(s) of the solar array cells that are used to provide dedicated and reliable power to the system.

Abstract: A pressurized-gas battery, such as a nickel-hydrogen battery, is rapidly charged at a high charging rate until the measured pressure reaches a high-pressure limit, and thereafter slowly charged at a reduced charging rate as the measured pressure falls toward a low-pressure limit. The high-pressure limit and the low-pressure limit each decrease with increasing temperature.

Abstract: A battery cell terminal having structure for receiving a thermal conductor. The receiving structure may comprise a bore defined by an inner surface of the terminal. The thermal conductor may be a heat pipe or other suitable conductor. A layer of electrical insulation may be disposed between the terminal and the thermal conductor. The terminal conducts heat produced by electrodes in the cell to the thermal conductor which then conducts the heat to a heat sink.

Abstract: A battery (20) includes a battery container (22), a base (30) attached to the interior of the wall (24) of the battery container (22), a compliant first weld ring (32) extending to a first side of the base (30), and a compliant second weld ring (34) extending to a second side of the base (30). A first electrochemical storage cell stack (36) is supported on a core (42) extending from the first weld ring (32), and a second electrochemical storage cell stack (38) is supported on a separate core (42) extending from the second weld ring (34). Each of the storage cell stacks (36,38) includes a set of storage cells (40) and a gas screen (68) between each of the storage cells (40). The gas screens (68) are dimensioned to extend outwardly to contact the wall (24) of the battery container (22), thereby serving to damp vibrations in the storage cell stack (36, 38 ).