Abstract: A metal/air battery is described having gas bubbled through the electrolyte. It includes: (a) a tank defining a reservoir for liquid electrolyte; (b) one or more metal-air cells disposed for immersion in electrolyte, each cell including at least one air cathode having a first surface disposed for contact with electrolyte and a second surface exposed to air and a metal anode disposed for immersion in electrolyte in facing spaced relation to the first cathode surface to constitute therewith an anode-cathode pair electrically coupled by electrolyte, (c) a bubbler tube extending horizontally in the electrolyte reservoir beneath each cell and serving to inject gas bubbles into electrolyte between the anode and cathode of each cell, and (d) means for providing a pulsating flow of gas to the bubbler tube(s).

Abstract: An electrochemical device is disclosed, which comprises at least a pair of electrodes; and a solid or solid-like composite electrolyte interposed therebetween, comprising substantially uniform spherical particles having no or substantially no electronic conductivity which are dispersed in the solid or solid-like composite electrolyte.

Abstract: A rechargeable zinc halide electrochemical cell comprises a laminate of the sequence:a. an electrically conducting chemically inert material;b. a matrix supporting a zinc halide; andc. an electrically conducting layer adapted to absorb and adsorb halogen. Inert and ion specific separation layers can be added to the laminate.Because of the laminate construction of the cell, the cell of the present invention can be made in an extremely thin configuration.

Abstract: The end plates (16) of a fuel cell stack (12) are formed of a thin membrane. Pressure plates (20) exert compressive load through insulation layers (22, 26) to the membrane. Electrical contact between the end plates (16) and electrodes (50, 58) is maintained without deleterious making and breaking of electrical contacts during thermal transients. The thin end plate (16) under compressive load will not distort with a temperature difference across its thickness. Pressure plate (20) experiences a low thermal transient because it is insulated from the cell. The impact on the end plate of any slight deflection created in the pressure plate by temperature difference is minimized by the resilient pressure pad, in the form of insulation, therebetween.

Abstract: Fuel cell current is sensed (30) and during a transient, a feed forward demand signal (50) sent to the fuel flow regulator (58). A nominal desired reformer temperature is established for the new fuel cell current. This desired temperature signal (62) is dynamically compensated (64) to establish the operating temperature set point (72). A predominantly lead compensation (66) is achieved for a desired temperature increase and a predominantly lag compensation (68) for a desired temperature decrease. Increased reliance on the temperature as a result of the system input reduces reliance on the accuracy of fuel flow measurement and on the consistency of fuel heating value.

Abstract: A battery cell including a cylindrical container having a cap assembly positioned in the open end thereof. The cap assembly includes a terminal extending into the container, a rigid plate, a thermal disconnect assembly and a contact cap. A seal fits about the cap assembly to electrically isolate the cap from the container and provide a sealing function and vent for the battery. A sleeve is associated with the seal to tightly seal the terminal. The terminal is associated with a spiral wrapped cell by means of a tab welded thereto. The cell is assembled in a flat layered arrangement and then wrapped about the terminal prior to placement in the container.

Abstract: A solid state polymer electrolyte which is formed by mixing an ultraviolet light or electronbeam curable epoxide based polymer with an electrolyte and curing the mixture whereby the polymer cross links and forms a solid state or semi-solid state electrolyte.

Abstract: A getter electrode is provided to prevent dendrite formation and growth in electrochemical cells having alkali metal anodes such as lithium. The getter electrode includes a relatively thin, for example, about 2 mil thick layer of active material selected from the group consisting of carbon, graphite and mixtures thereof disposed on an inert substrate such as glass fiber separator paper. The getter electrode is positioned between the anode and the cathode in the cell and is separated from the anode and cathode by separators of fiberglass paper or the like. The getter electrode functions as a cathode with low rate capabilities. When dendrites arrive at the getter electrode from the anode or cathode, they are immediately discharged and not allowed to grow beyond the getter electrode. The result is a dramatic improvement in the cell cycle life and capacity retention.

Abstract: A battery of this invention comprises a positive-electrode composition, a separator or solid electrolyte composition, and a negative-electrode composition, wherein the positive-electrode composition, the separator or solid electrolyte composition, and the negative-electrode composition are formed into a three-layered tablet structure by the application of pressure, and wherein an electron-conductive means is provided in the inside or on the surface of at least one of the positive-electrode composition and the negative-electrode composition.

Abstract: A light weight deflection-resistant end block is provided for a battery and comprises a base member of a light weight, chemically inert and electrically resistive material which has one or more cavities adapted to receive low density, substantially rigid inserts such as honey-combed aluminum.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell characterized as utilizing an aramid fiber as a separator material. The aramid fibers are especially suited for lithium/thionyl chloride battery systems. The battery separator made of aramid fibers possesses superior mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and is flame retardant.

Abstract: A lead acid cell having unitized positive and negative electrodes positioned within a container such that the respective edges of the positive electrode are spaced apart from the edges of negative electrode. The electrodes are each made up of at least one plate having a major surface with a composition thereon for imparting a negative or positive polarity. The plates of each electrode have first and second edges in which the second edges are connected to an associated current collector and the first edges of each electrode oppose each other in spaced apart relation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lead storage battery having a battery case divided into a plurality of cells. A stack of positive and negative battery plates is inserted into each cell and rests on a plurality of rest ups, which extend upward from the bottom of the case. A pair of clips are attached to the lower edge of each stack. A positive clip is attached to the positive plates and a negative clip is attached to the negative plates. When a stack is in a cell, the clips are located in receptacles, formed between the rest ups and the side walls of the case. The clips are in contact with contacts that extend through the partitions in the case, so that the positive clip on each stack is in electrical contact with the negative clip in the next cell. The receptacles are then filled with epoxy resin to anchor bond the clips into the receptacles and to insulate the clips and the contacts from the electrolyte acid.

Abstract: A ceria electrolyte composition is disclosed. The composition provides high ionic conductivity and low electronic conductivity under reducing conditions. Fuel cells employing the disclosed composition exhibit improved efficiency and power density.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of lead-acid batteries and associated apparatus and a lead-acid battery design resulting therefrom is disclosed. The method involves providing a battery grid and pasting the grid with a battery paste such that a profiled and tapered battery plate is formed. This battery plate is wrapped onto a coil and cured in curing apparatus. A battery element is formed using coils of the finished plate stock, separator material, and winged end plate. After this, several battery elements are then placed into a battery container.

Abstract: An electrolytic composition is disclosed which comprises an electrolyte mixture and a fluorescent additive. The fluorescent additive should be stable at the pH of the electrolyte mixture. In the preferred embodiment the fluorescent additive is a pyrene compound at a concentration of 0.1% by weight of the final composition. An improved electrochemical cell is also disclosed which incorporates the electrolytic composition of the present invention. A method for detecting spillage or leakage of electrolyte during manufacture of such an electrochemical cell is also disclosed utilizing the fluorescent character of the electrolytic composition of the present invention.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped electrode comprising a polymeric active material (1) and a collector (2) having a plurality of penetrating pores (3), a method of producing the same, and a secondary battery containing the sheet-shaped electrode as a positive electrode. The plurality of the pores provided on the sheet-shaped collector enlarges the contact area between the collector and the polymeric active material, so that close contact between these two members is improved. A polyaniline layer which is prepared by electrochemical polymerization of an aniline type compound in the presence of sulfuric acid or sulfonic acids is applied on both faces of the collector (aluminum) as the polymeric active material. In a secondary battery which comprises the sheet-shaped electrode as a positive electrode, the positive and a negative electrodes are alternately folded with a separator interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell assembly comprises at least one planar fuel cell consisting of a solid oxide electrolyte sandwiched by an anode and a cathode, and at least two gas separators having gas passages for supplying anode gas and cathode gas to said anode and cathode. The at least one fuel cell and at least two separators are arranged one on the other to form a fuel cell assembly. The gas separators except for the uppermost separator are integrally provided at its periphery with an upwardly extending side wall spaced from adjacent upper gas separator to form a space surrounding the fuel cell located thereon, and the space is charged with a nonconducting high viscous melt. The fuel cell assembly may comprises a plurality of planar fuel cells and a plurality of planar separators arranged one on the another to form a fuel cell stack and may be arranged in a open-topped box-like housing charged with a nonconducting high viscous melt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nonaqueous electrochemical cell comprising an alkali metal anode, an oxyhalide or other cathode-electrolyte solvent which is liquid at ambient temperature, and a porous carbonaceous cathode collector, the cathode-electrolyte containing at least polyethylene terephthalate as an additive for minimizing the voltage delay, i.e. a large voltage drop in an initial stage of discharge.

Abstract: The invention concerns rechargeable lithium batteries and anodes for such batteries and method of making the anodes, and comprises the features: (a) the anode may be of a solution type alloy of commercial purity Al with at least one of Mg, Ga, Ca, Si, Sn, Li, Ge and Zn; (b) alternatively, the anode may be of a wrought eutetic aluminum alloy containing 3-25 volume % of dispersed intermetallic particles of average diameter 0.1 to 2 microns; (c) the anode may have been electrochemically alloyed with Li and pre-treated by being subjected to more than one charge-discharge cycle to improve the initial charge-discharge efficiency of the battery. When used as anodes in rechargeable lithium batteries, the specified alloys show high charge-discharge efficiency. Alloys based on commercial purity Al are easier to cut and shape than are alloys based on super-purity Al.