Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for managing the temperature of rechargeable cells. An energy storage device can include a plurality of rechargeable cells disposed within a housing and a material disposed within the housing so as to completely surround each of the rechargeable cells in a particular plane. The material can have a thermal characteristic such that the material remains a solid upon absorbing heat from the rechargeable cells by changing a crystal lattice structure. Intrinsic latent heat properties of the material result in absorption or release of heat to maintain a temperature of a rechargeable cell within a pre-defined temperature range. A regenerative mechanism including a heat pump coil can restore the material to a lower energy crystal lattice structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for detecting a hazardous condition by a conductive layer in an energy storage device. An energy storage device assembly includes a conductive layer configured to cause a change in an electrical parameter in the event of a hazardous condition. A melting point of the conductive layer is lower than a boiling point of a liquid coolant. An electrical sensor is electrically connected to the conductive layer and configured to detect a change in the electrical parameter in the conductive layer. Upon detecting a change in the electrical parameter associated with a hazardous condition, an energy management system suspends operation of the energy storage device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for detecting a hazardous condition by a conductive layer in an energy storage device. An energy storage device assembly includes a conductive layer configured to cause a change in an electrical parameter in the event of a hazardous condition. A melting point of the conductive layer is lower than a boiling point of a liquid coolant. An electrical sensor is electrically connected to the conductive layer and configured to detect a change in the electrical parameter in the conductive layer. Upon detecting a change in the electrical parameter associated with a hazardous condition, an energy management system suspends operation of the energy storage device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for alleviating explosion propagation from one cell to another cell in a battery module. Cell explosion propagation is contained in an opening adjacent to cells, directed down a channel isolated from other cells, and released from the enclosure. A perforated region of an insulation region adjacent to a pole of a cells opens in response to the explosion, releasing explosion emissions down the channel. Gaseous pressure and heat generated by the exploding cell is released through a fracture seal or a flexible seal at the edge of the enclosure and/or a rupture of the cover at a prefabricated fracture line.

Abstract: A battery pack apparatus is disclosed that reduces the possibility of thermal runaway by improving the transfer of heat from the battery body and apparatus to the coolant by increasing the surface area of contact between the two. Principles of shape charge are used to drive debris, splinters and other particles towards the ground in an automobile in the event of an explosion, thereby reducing the possibility of harm to the driver, occupants and automobile. Fire retardant cartridges are suitably embedded to deter fire and incidental harm to person and automobile.

Abstract: A battery pack apparatus is disclosed that reduces the possibility of thermal runaway by improving the transfer of heat from the battery body and apparatus to the coolant by increasing the surface area of contact between the two. Principles of shape charge are used to drive debris, splinters and other particles towards the ground in an automobile in the event of an explosion, thereby reducing the possibility of harm to the driver, occupants and automobile. Fire retardant cartridges are suitably embedded to deter fire and incidental harm to person and automobile.

Abstract: Mechanisms for loading and unloading heads on surfaces of disks in a disk drive provide ramps attached to central portions of the disks. The ramps are integral parts of spacers between disks or spacers or disk clamps at the top or bottom of a stack of disks. Each head assembly has a suspension arm that engages a corresponding ramp to lift a read/write head away from a surface of a disk. Heads land (or return to the surfaces of the disks) in landing zones at inner diameters of the disks and do not damage data because the loading zones contain no data storage. Alignment of the ramps with the disks is automatic because ramps directly attach to the disks.

Abstract: A miniature removable rigid disk drive and cartridge including a removable, self-contained hard disk storage device. The disk drive includes mechanical and electrical components that act in conjunction with components in the disk cartridge when it is placed within the disk drive. The combination of drive and cartridge function as a complete and separate hard disk storage unit within the computer, but with the disk cartridge readily removable therefrom.The disk drive and disk cartridge act in conjunction to form a complete miniature removable rigid disk drive and cartridge system. Because the disk and heads are mounted on the same base within the disk cartridge, interchangeability problems are eliminated. More specifically, there can be no misalignment of the head and disk because both are implemented within a common device. Additionally, because the disk cartridge is designed to occupy the least possible volume, it is easily transportable.

Abstract: An improved magnetic head carriage and support apparatus including a carriage body a lower head supporting arm affixed to the carriage body and carrying a gimbaled mounted lower head, an upper arm pivotally connected to the carriage body and movable between a retracted position and a media engaging position in which a stop is engaged. The upper arm carries an upper head that is also gimbal mounted and head load is applied by a light weight flexure spring such that when the upper arm is in the media engaging position the head are free to move relative to the supporting arms as either the media moves out of it mid-plane or the carriage moves towards or away from the media mid-plane.

Abstract: An improved disk drive and centering mechanism for attachment to the spindle of a microfloppy drive, including a first circular segmented plate attached to a second circular segmented plate by four parallel spring wires. The first plate is fixedly attached to the drive spindle and the second plate is resiliently carried by the four spring wires. A drive pin is carried by the second plate, and the four parallel wires limit the motion of the drive pin and the second plate to vertical and horizontal displacement relative to the first plate and thereby prevent any tilting of the vertical axis of the drive pin.