{
  "patent_number": "US 12288901",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How a Battery Automatically Disconnects Itself During Overheating",
  "original_title": "Disconnection device comprising a heat activatable element",
  "summary": "A safety system for battery packs that uses a heat-sensitive material to physically break the electrical connection between cells if they get too hot, preventing thermal runaway.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a mechanical safety device integrated into battery packs to prevent catastrophic failure. When a battery cell overheats, a heat-activatable element—such as a shape-memory alloy or bimetal—reaches a specific temperature threshold and deforms. This deformation physically forces a disconnection between the cell's terminal and the connecting part that links it to other cells. Crucially, the heat-sensitive part does not carry electricity during normal operation, meaning it only acts as a passive safety trigger. The system also includes a low-thermal-conductivity material between cells to ensure heat from one failing cell does not immediately trigger the disconnection of its neighbors.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover electronic fuses or circuit breakers that rely on current-sensing logic.",
    "Does not cover chemical additives or electrolytes designed to suppress fire within the cell.",
    "Does not cover disconnection methods that rely on melting a conductive link (fuses) rather than mechanical deformation.",
    "Does not cover systems where the heat-sensitive element itself is part of the electrical current path."
  ],
  "filed": "2020-11-30",
  "granted": "2025-04-29",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "SAFT Societe des Accumulateurs Fixes et de Traction SA",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/saft-societe-des-accumulateurs-fixes-et-de-traction-sa",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Emmanuelle Garitte",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/emmanuelle-garitte"
    },
    {
      "name": "Philippe Borel",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/philippe-borel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mélanie Dendary",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/mlanie-dendary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Dinh An NGUYEN",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/dinh-an-nguyen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Laure LE GUENNE",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/laure-le-guenne"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "energy",
    "mechanical",
    "automotive",
    "aerospace"
  ],
  "abstract": "The present invention relates to a battery comprising: -i) at least two electrochemical elements (d) connected to one another by a connection part (c), each electrochemical element comprising a container, -ii) a material arranged between said at least two electrochemical elements, and -iii) at least one disconnection device, said device comprising: a heat-activatable element (a) able to deform when its temperature reaches a threshold value, the heat-activatable element being arranged such that, when its temperature reaches said threshold value, it disconnects the connection part (c) from at least one electrochemical element (d) through its deformation, said heat-activatable element not contributing to the conduction of electric current when an electric current flows through said electrochemical elements, said heat-activatable element being placed in contact with the connection part (c) and with a current output terminal.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12288901/draco-thrusters",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12288901/draco-thrusters/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12288901",
  "relatedPatents": []
}