Patents Examined by Charles F. LeFevour
  • Patent number: 5080984
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell and method of making same are provided wherein the electrochemical cell includes a radial sealing function effected by the combination of a seal comprised of an amorphous polymer and a cell container wall having a stiffening rib on one axial side of the seal and a lip on the other side of the seal wherein the rib and the lip eliminate springback of the container wall upon removal of the external radial force establishing the compressive sealing forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Gates Energy Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Thibault, Paul E. Pate
  • Patent number: 4664987
    Abstract: A fuel cell arrangement is provided wherein cylindrical cells of the solid oxide electrolyte type are arranged in planar arrays where the cells within a plane are parallel. Planes of cells are stacked with cells of adjacent planes perpendicular to one another. Air is provided to the interior of the cells through feed tubes which pass through a preheat chamber. Fuel is provided to the fuel cells through a channel in the center of the cell stack; the fuel then passes the exterior of the cells and combines with the oxygen-depleted air in the preheat chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Arnold O. Isenberg
  • Patent number: 4643959
    Abstract: The cell of a gas-tight alkaline battery is balanced by subdividing the negative excess capacity into the necessary charge and discharge reserves by individually treating the two electrode polarities prior to their assembly, while avoiding open cell forming. When combining a charged, dried, positive sintered electrode which is suitable for storage with a negative electro-deposited electrode, the latter inherently receives a charge reserve due to partial chemical oxidation with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 or K.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.8. When a discharged, but preformed positive sintered electrode is combined with a negative sintered electrode, the latter is electrochemically partially charged to the extent necessary to achieve the desired discharge reserve, and thereafter preserved by immersion in a solution containing sulfuric acid, and possibly CdSO.sub.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Varta Batterie A.G.
    Inventors: Karl Glotzl, Wolfgang Knabenbauer, Dietrich Sprengel, Rudolf Tepel
  • Patent number: 4634642
    Abstract: An electric storage battery whose basic features are that it comprises four terminals electrically connected in pairs under the battery cover, which permits it to be used in any type of vehicle regardless of the position of its collectors, and the arrangement of two C-shaped handles pivotally connected at their ends to two vertical partition walls and capable of occupying two positions, (1) a vertical position in which they function as a handle and (2) a horizontal position in which they permit the batteries to be stacked while protecting the terminals from possible damage from the stacked weight and the shock or rubbing of one battery against the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Sociedad Espanola del Acumulador Tudor, S.A.
    Inventor: Juan A. Lopez-Doriga Lopez-Doriga
  • Patent number: 4631240
    Abstract: An improved metal-halogen electrochemical cell, particularly a zinc bromide cell, contains a water soluble tetraorgano-substituted amino acid, ester or betaine salt in the electrolyte which forms a substantially water insoluble liquid complex with cathodic halogen thereby reducing self-discharge of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Tracer Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Fraser M. Walsh
  • Patent number: 4628012
    Abstract: In a hermetically sealed cell, the housing is formed by two metal cylinders which are each closed at one end and which are pushed over one another to obtain a press-fit such that, with the interposition of an intermediate insulating layer made from a plastic material, the cylinder which forms the lid of the cell can be pushed off from the cylinder which forms the can of the cell only in response to a predetermined internal pressure. High internal pressures which are lower than the bursting pressure for the cell, generated by the excessive release of gases or vapors, are permitted to escape through vent holes, if necessary, which become exposed in increasing number after being uncovered during separation of the lid from the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Varta Batterie Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dieter Spahrbier
  • Patent number: 4625395
    Abstract: The plate (10) comprises a matrix or binder resin phase (12) in which is dispersed particulate, conductive tin oxide such as tin oxide coated glass fibers (14). A monopolar plate (11) is prepared by coating a layer (18) of electrolytically active material onto a surface of the plate (10). Tin oxide is prevented from reduction by coating a surface of the plate (10) with a conductive, impervious layer resistant to reduction such as a thin film (22) of lead adhered to the plate with a layer (21) of conductive adhesive. The plate (10) can be formed by casting a molten dispersion from mixer (36) onto a sheet (30) of lead foil or by passing an assembly of a sheet (41) of resin, a sheet (43) of fiberglass and a sheet (45) of lead between the nip of heated rollers (48, 50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: John J. Rowlette
  • Patent number: 4623598
    Abstract: A flat battery has a flat generating element which is sealed and sheathed within a two-fold electrically insulating sheathing film, and positive and negative terminals are provided on either the upper or the lower surface thereof. The capacity of the battery per unit area is increased, and either the positive or the negative terminal, which can extend along the inner side of the film, can be reduced in size and simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Waki, Shigeo Kobayashi, Yutaka Hashimoto, Miyoji Nakai
  • Patent number: 4622277
    Abstract: This invention provides a design for spirally wound electrochemical cells which improves their safety during abuse such as voltage reversal. The invention comprises coupling a first segment of inert conductive metal to the cathode and a dendrite target comprised of an inert conductive metal to the anode. When these electrodes are spirally wound together the two segments of inert conductive metal face each other, held in physical separation by the separator, whereby during voltage reversal a dendrite grows from said first segment to said dendrite target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Duracell Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Bedder, Peter R. Moses, Bhupendra Patel, Terrence F. Reise, Alwyn H. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4621035
    Abstract: Laminar electrode subassemblies comprising a lithium layer having one surface consisting essentially of metallic lithium adhered to a conductive plastic substrate, and a method of making such subassemblies in which a web of lithium foil having at least one freshly exposed surface is laminated directly to a conductive plastic substrate without an intermediate layer of conductive plastic adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Alan H. Bruder
  • Patent number: 4619874
    Abstract: Electrochemical cells having an oxidizable active anode material, a solid, non-reactive electronically conductive cathode current collector, and an electrolytic solution between and in contact with the anode and the cathode current collector, the electrolytic solution comprising a solvent cathode component which is a liquid oxyhalide or thiohalide. And anode ion transporting solute component dissolved therein for rendering the electrolytic solution conductive of anode metal ions, the electrolytic solution having an end-of-life (EOL) component associated therewith, the EOL component being selected from the group consisting of the Main Group V halides preferably arsenic tribromide (AsBr.sub.3), arsenic trichloride (AsCl.sub.3), arsenic trifluoride (AsF.sub.3), vanadium halides, transition metal sulfides, oxides, except for the actinide series and technetium, and mixtures thereof to provide end-of-life indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Skarstad, Thomas G. Hayes
  • Patent number: 4617243
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrochemical battery having electrodes immersed in an organic solvent electrolyte solution so that the electromotive force is generated by doping to and/or undoping from said electrodes. Both electrodes are characterized to be carbon molded products having a specific surface area of 100 to 2500 m.sup.2 /g. The electrodes according to this invention are capable of accepting a large quantity of doping, light in weight and easy to handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Kao Soap Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nogami, Masayoshi Nawa
  • Patent number: 4617242
    Abstract: An electrochemical zinc/air cell which includes an organic siliconate, such as methyl siliconate, in contact with the zinc anode. The siliconate may be present as an additive to the electrolyte or a coating on the zinc anode or separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Rayovac Corporation
    Inventor: Robert B. Dopp
  • Patent number: 4615108
    Abstract: An electrochemical device having one or more cells, a bipolar carbon-plastic electrode element providing in combination a separator, cathode and anode, the cathode and anode each having a space formed therebetween, catholyte and anolyte electrolytes circulated from and to reservoirs therefor via distribution connector means to or from a feed or discharge orifice in the appropriate cathode space or anode space. The distribution connector means is provided with at least a configured offset pathways interconnecting feed or discharge channels and the cathode or anode orifices. The pathways of a connector can be interconnected by a cross-channel having a varying area cross-section whereby shunt current protection capabilities are provided so as to reduce or eliminate detrimental orifice blocking depositions. In one embodiment the cross channel can be provided by means having a constant cross section, but variable length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Johnson Service Company
    Inventor: Gerd Tomazic
  • Patent number: 4615955
    Abstract: A fuel cell for generating electricity by reaction of reacting gases through a catalyst, which comprises a pair of electrodes each having a gas passage and being made from a porous substrate, an electrolyte-retaining matrix provided between the electrodes, and a pair of separator plates for partitioning the cells at the outer ends, one electrode in which a gas is formed by reaction of the reacting gases, among the pair of electrodes, having a catalyst layer and an independent gas inflow passage and an independent gas outflow passage as the gas passage and the reacting gas supplied from the gas inflow passage being passed through the electrode and the catalyst layer to the gas outflow passage as accompanied with the gas formed by the reaction of the reacting gas through the catalyst layer has a good diffusion of a reacting substance through the electrode and an improved electrode performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Amakawa, Norihira Uozumi
  • Patent number: 4614025
    Abstract: In a method for fabricating lightweight bipolar metal-gas battery cell stacks (1), a segmented frame (21, 23) for insulating and mechanically supporting the stack (1) is fabricated of dielectric materials. Each cell (3) has associated therewith first and second frame segments (21, 23) associated with negative and positive electrodes (5, 7, respectively). Weld tabs (25, 27) are welded to the negative and positive electrodes (5, 7, respectively), and are welded together external to the cell frame (21, 23). Electrolyte is added to each cell (3), preferably as it is fabricated within the enveloping cell frame segments (21, 23). Alignment rods (34) align the stack (1) components, and assist in compression-sealing adjacent frame segments (21, 23) by means of compressing mating tongues (43) and grooves (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Gerrit vanOmmering, Charles W. Koehler
  • Patent number: 4614026
    Abstract: Laminar electrical cells and batteries, each cell of which comprises a first electrode formed as a porous layer of electrochemically active particles on an electrically conductive, electrochemically inactive substrate coextensive with the particle layer. The electrochemically inactive substrate is adhered around its periphery to the borders of an aperture in an electrically insulating frame. A separator for each cell overlies the active particle layer of the first electrode and has borders extending beyond the borders of the first electrode and within the borders of the insulating frame. A second electrode for each cell comprises a slurry of electrochemically active particles in contact with the other side of the separator. Methods of making the above cells and batteries from elongated webs of electrically insulating ones of the constituent materials of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Paul A. Plasse
  • Patent number: 4614692
    Abstract: A fuel cell electrode having a structure wherein at least one catalytic active component selected from noble metals belonging to the groups I and VIII in the periodic table is carried on surfaces and among lamellar crystalline layers of a donor-type graphite intercalation compound, is effective for improving cell performance when used in a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kajiyama, Tetsuro Minemura, Hisashi Ando, Kiyoshi Konno
  • Patent number: 4614694
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a baffle capable of floating on the electrolyte in a battery cell, and diverts with that floating baffle any splashing electrolyte away from a gas venting device at the top of the cell, particularly during vibration of that cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Danny O. Manthis
  • Patent number: 4613550
    Abstract: A multi-cell, lead-acid electric storage battery of the wet or absorbed electrolyte type is provided. The battery comprises one or more manifolding apertures in one or more partition walls, which apertures are of a size which allows passage of gases and in wet batteries minimizes passage of electrolyte and which define one or more sets of manifolded cells; a single trapping chamber associated with each set of manifolded cells; one or more vent apertures for wet battery applications or a pressure release valve for absorbed electrolyte battery applications is disposed between each set of manifolded cells and its respective trapping chamber, which vent apertures are of a size which allows passage of gases and in wet batteries minimizes passage of electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: GNB Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph J. Jergl, William H. Kump