Protecting device and battery pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11804347-B2
Application number	US-202017638564-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2020
Priority date	Aug 29, 2019
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

Provided is a protecting device that can prevent damage of the device by releasing the pressure inside the housing by providing openings in the housing and can secure appropriate insulation. The protecting device includes: a meltable conductor 3 ; first and second external connection terminals 7, 8 connected to both ends of the meltable conductor 3 ; and a housing 6 having a lower case 4 and an upper case 5 , wherein one end of the first external connection terminal 7 and one end of the second external connection terminal 8 are led out from the housing 6 , and the housing is provided with a first opening 24 formed facing a front surface of the first external connection terminal 7 and a second opening 25 formed facing a front surface of the second external connection terminal 8.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A protecting device, comprising:
a meltable conductor;
first and second external connection terminals connected to both ends of the meltable conductor; and
a housing having a lower case and an upper case,
wherein one end of the first external connection terminal and one end of the second external connection terminal are led out from the housing, and
wherein the housing is provided with a first opening formed facing a front surface of the first external connection terminal, and a second opening formed facing a front surface of the second external connection terminal,
wherein at least one of the first opening and the second opening has a lower side the width of which is wider than that of an upper side in a side view.

2. The protecting device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first and second external connection terminals are led out from between the lower case and the upper case, and
wherein the first and second openings are formed at lower edges of side walls of the upper case.

3. The protecting device according to claim 1 , further comprising
an insulating substrate having a front surface on which the meltable conductor is mounted,
wherein a back surface of the insulating substrate is supported by the lower case,
wherein the insulating substrate is provided with a heat-generator and a third external connection terminal connected to the heat-generator and serving as a power supply terminal of the heat-generator,
wherein one end of the third external connection terminal is led out from the housing, and
wherein the housing has a third opening formed facing a front surface of the third external connection terminal.

4. The protecting device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the third external connection terminal is led out from between the lower case and the upper case, and
wherein the third opening is formed at a lower edge portion of a side wall of the upper case.

5. The protecting device according to claim 3 , wherein the third opening has a lower side the width of which is wider than that of an upper side in a side view.

6. The protecting device according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the first openings and the second openings are formed.

7. The protecting device according to claim 3 , wherein a plurality of the third openings are formed.

8. The protecting device according to claim 1 , wherein an auxiliary opening is formed in a portion of the protecting device other than the portion from which the first external connection terminal and the second external connection terminal are led out.

9. The protecting device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first opening and the second opening is a triangular shape.

10. The protecting device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first opening and the second opening is a trapezoidal shape.

11. The protecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the first opening and the second opening have a lower side the width of which is wider than that of an upper side in a side view.

12. The protecting device according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first opening and the second opening is a triangular shape.

13. The protecting device according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first opening and the second opening is a trapezoidal shape.

14. A battery pack, comprising:
one or more battery cells; and
a protecting device connected to a charge/discharge path of the battery cell to interrupt the charge/discharge path,
wherein the protecting device comprises:
a meltable conductor;
first and second external connection terminals connected to both ends of the meltable conductor; and
a housing having a lower case and an upper case,
wherein one end of the first external connection terminal and one end of the second external connection terminal are led out from the housing, and
wherein the housing is provided with a first opening formed facing a front surface of the first external connection terminal, and a second opening formed facing a front surface of the second external connection terminal,
wherein at least one of the first opening and the second opening has a lower side the width of which is wider than that of an upper side in a side view.

Assignees

• Dexerials Corp

Inventors

• Kimura Yuji
• Komori Chisato

Classifications

• H02J7/65

  against overtemperature · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H01H37/76 Primary

  Contact member actuated by melting of fusible material, actuated due to burning of combustible material or due to explosion of explosive material · CPC title

• H01M50/296

  characterised by terminals of battery packs (terminals of batteries H01M50/543) · CPC title

• H01M50/548

  on opposite sides of the cell · CPC title