Patent number: 6210824
Abstract: End cap apparatus (2) is received in the open end of an electrochemical cell casing (6) and is particularly adapted to be crimped thereto electrically separated from the casing by a gasket (4). The end cap apparatus incorporates current interrupt safety protection features including high rate overcharge protection through an over-temperature and/or low pressure switch (22, 12d-18, 18′, 18″, 118a), low rate overcharge and overdischarge protection through a low pressure switch (12d-18, 18′, 18″, 118a), extended short circuit protection through an over-temperature switch driven by l2r heating of internal components (20, 22, 16, 12, 12′, 16′, 16″, 16′″, 12v, 102, 122, 120), and pressure venting through a frangible portion (12e) of a diaphragm. The diaphragm can be integrally formed with a header (12, 12″, 12′″, 12iv) or can be a separate element (32, 82, 92, 108, 112, 112′ 112″, 112′″).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 18, 1998
Date of Patent:
April 3, 2001
Assignee:
Texas Instruments Incorporated
Inventors:
Steven K. Sullivan, Mark G. Dexter, Kevin R. French