Abstract: A prismatic metal-air battery is provided for having at least one prismatic metal-air cell received in a cell cavity of a prismatic casing. The casing comprises a wall portion which defines a surface. The wall portion has at least one opening in communication with the cell cavity which is adapted to allow the passage of air into the cell cavity. The casing also includes a valve member having a surface bearing on the wall portion surface. The valve member also has at least one opening therein. The wall portion surface and the valve member surface are adapted to allow movement of the valve member across the wall portion surface between a closed position, in which the valve member opening does not overlap with the wall portion opening, and an open position, in which the valve member opening and wall portion opening at least partially overlap. Importantly, the casing also includes means for providing an attractive force between the wall portion and the valve member.

Abstract: The subject invention provides for a prismatic zinc-air cell comprising a prismatic container, an air cathode, and an anode assembly. The prismatic container has one or more oxygen access openings, and the air cathode is disposed in the container in gaseous communication with the oxygen access openings. The anode assembly comprises a rectangular anode frame having peripheral members, a separator mounted proximate to one end of the anode frame and extending substantially continuously between the anode frame peripheral members. The anode frame and separator thereby define a trough. The anode assembly also comprises a zinc anode which comprises zinc, an aqueous electrolyte, and a gelling agent. The zinc anode is disposed in the trough in electrolytic contact with a first side of the separator, and the anode assembly is disposed in the containers such that a second side of the separator is in electrolytic contact with the air cathode.

Abstract: This invention provides a prismatic zinc-air cell including, in general, a prismatic container having therein an air cathode, a separator and a zinc anode. The container has one or more oxygen access openings, and the air cathode is disposed in the container in gaseous communication with the oxygen access openings so as to allow access of oxygen to the cathode. The separator has a first side in electrolytic communication with the air cathode and a second side in electrolytic communication with the zinc anode. The separator isolates the cathode and the zinc anode from direct electrical contact and allows passage of electrolyte therebetween. An expansion chamber adjacent to the zinc anode is provided which accommodates expansion of the zinc anode during discharge of the cell.

Abstract: A product preserving stopper (2) is used to seal the opening (62) in a container (28) and remove oxygen within the container. This accomplished by incorporating a metal-air primary cell (32) into the construction of the stopper. The cathode of the cell is open to the interior (26) of the container so that by electrically connecting the anode and cathode, typically by shorting out the anode can (36) to the cathode can (34) using a resilient contact (40), any oxygen in the container is removed through the action of the metal-air primary cell. Electrical connection between the contact and cell is initially prevented by placement of a removable separator tab (48) between the contact and the anode can. The stopper becomes actuated only after removal of the separator tab by the user to lengthen the shelf life of the cell. Preferably the stopper is packaged within an oxygen impermeable package (70) to further increase the shelf life.