Current interrupt device based on thermal activation of frangible glass bulb

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a current interrupt device (CID) including a frangible bulb that is configured to be thermally triggered. In some embodiments, the CID includes a breaking contact electrically coupled to a fixed contact and held in electrical contact by the frangible bulb. In some embodiments, the frangible bulb is configured to break at a temperature threshold. In some embodiments, the breaking contact is configured to bend, rotate and/or otherwise deform about a hinge point in order to become electrically disconnected from the fixed contact when the frangible bulb breaks. In some embodiments, opening the electrical circuit between the breaking contact and the fixed contact may prevent overcharging, overvoltage conditions, overcurrent conditions, thermal runaway, and/or other catastrophic failure events.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A current interrupt device for an electrochemical cell, comprising:
 a fixed contact;   a movable contact configured to be held in electrical contact with the fixed contact in a first configuration, and move to be electrically disconnected from the fixed contact in a second configuration; and   a frangible structure operatively coupled to the electrochemical cell, the frangible structure maintaining the movable contact in the first configuration, the frangible structure configured to break in response to an operating parameter of the electrochemical cell exceeding a threshold operating parameter to cause the movable contact to move into the second configuration.   
     
     
         22 . The current interrupt device of  claim 21 , wherein the current interrupt device is electrically coupled to one of an anode tab or a cathode tab of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         23 . The current interrupt device of  claim 21 , wherein the operating parameter is at least one of an operating current, an operating voltage, or an operating temperature of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         24 . The current interrupt device of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the operating parameter is the operating temperature, and   the frangible structure is disposed proximate to or in electrical contact with the electrochemical cell such that an operating temperature of the frangible structure is substantially similar to the operating temperature of the electrochemical cell.   
     
     
         25 . The current interrupt device of  claim 24 , wherein the operating temperature of the frangible structure increases from heat provided by a cathode terminal or an anode terminal of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         26 . The current interrupt device of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the operating parameter is the operating temperature and the threshold operating parameter is a threshold temperature, and   the current interrupt device further comprises a resistor disposed and configured to heat the frangible structure to the threshold temperature when a current passing through the movable contact reaches a current threshold.   
     
     
         27 . The current interrupt device of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the operating parameter is the operating temperature and the threshold operating parameter is a threshold temperature, and   the current interrupt device further comprises:
 a heating element configured to heat the frangible structure to the threshold temperature; and 
 a diode, the diode configured to keep the heating element disconnected from a circuit below a voltage threshold. 
   
     
     
         28 . The current interrupt device of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a puncturing element configured to puncture an enclosure of the electrochemical cell in the second configuration to allow gases formed in the electrochemical cell to escape the enclosure.   
     
     
         29 . The current interrupt device of  claim 21 , wherein the frangible structure includes a housing that defines an interior volume filled with a fluid, the fluid configured to expand in the interior volume responsive to the operating parameter of the electrochemical cell exceeding the threshold operating parameter, thereby causing the housing to break. 
     
     
         30 . A current interrupt device for an electrochemical cell, comprising:
 a fixed contact;   a movable contact configured to be held in electrical contact with the fixed contact in a first configuration, and move to be electrically disconnected from the fixed contact in a second configuration, at least a portion of the movable contact configured to bend, rotate and/or deform to move from the first configuration to the second configuration; and   a frangible structure operatively coupled to the electrochemical cell, the frangible structure maintaining the movable contact in the first configuration, the frangible structure configured to break in response to an operating parameter of the electrochemical cell exceeding a threshold operating parameter to cause the movable contact to move into the second configuration.   
     
     
         31 . The current interrupt device of  claim 30 , wherein the current interrupt device is electrically coupled to one of an anode tab or a cathode tab of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         32 . The current interrupt device of  claim 30 , wherein the operating parameter is at least one of an operating current, an operating voltage, or an operating temperature of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         33 . The current interrupt device of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the operating parameter is the operating temperature, and   the frangible structure is disposed proximate to or in electrical contact with the electrochemical cell such that an operating temperature of the frangible structure is substantially similar to the operating temperature of the electrochemical cell.   
     
     
         34 . The current interrupt device of  claim 33 , wherein the operating temperature of the frangible structure increases from heat provided by a cathode terminal or an anode terminal of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         35 . The current interrupt device of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the operating parameter is the operating temperature and the threshold operating parameter is a threshold temperature, and   the current interrupt device further comprises a resistor disposed and configured to heat the frangible structure to the threshold temperature when a current passing through the movable contact reaches a current threshold.   
     
     
         36 . The current interrupt device of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the operating parameter is the operating temperature and the threshold operating parameter is a threshold temperature, and   the current interrupt device further comprises:
 a heating element configured to heat the frangible structure to the threshold temperature; and 
 a diode, the diode configured to keep the heating element disconnected from a circuit below a voltage threshold. 
   
     
     
         37 . A current interrupt device for an electrochemical cell, comprising:
 a first contact;   a second contact configured to be in electrical contact with the first contact in a first configuration and to be electrically disconnected from the first contact in a second configuration;   a frangible structure operatively coupled to the electrochemical cell, the frangible structure configured to break in response to an operating parameter of the electrochemical cell exceeding a threshold operating parameter; and   a shutter configured to be movable from a first position to a second position, in the first position the shutter located away from the first contact and the second contact by the frangible structure such that the second contact is in the first configuration, and the shutter configured to move to the second position between the first contact and the second contact to cause the second contact to be in the second configuration in response to the frangible structure breaking.   
     
     
         38 . The current interrupt device of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a biasing member operatively coupled to the shutter, the biasing member configured to store potential energy when the shutter is in the first position and release the potential energy to move the shutter to the second position.   
     
     
         39 . The current interrupt device of  claim 37 , wherein the shutter includes an electrically insulating material. 
     
     
         40 . The current interrupt device of  claim 37 , wherein the second contact is configured to bend, rotate and/or deform to move from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         41 . The current interrupt device of  claim 37 , wherein the second contact is configured to substantially maintain a shape thereof in moving from the first configuration to the second configuration.