Abstract: A battery comprising a consumable anode; a gas-diffusion cathode; a non passivated surface-destroying aqueous medium in contact with the anode and cathode; a housing enclosing the anode, cathode and medium; an additive contained within a medium-impermeable chamber separated from but receivable by the medium upon activation to effect mixing of the additive with the medium to provide an electrolytic mixture to effect electrical contact between the anode and cathode; and activation means to effect said activation. The battery provides an extended shelf-life prior to activation by reason that the anode is not corroded by the electrolyte. The battery is of particular use in portable cell-phones, computers, video cameras and players.

Abstract: An improved gas-diffusion cathode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising an electrically conductive cathode member having a first side communicable with an aqueous electrolyte and a second side communicable with a gaseous medium; and a water-impermeable membrane adjacent said cathode member second side to reduce passage of liquid water between said cathode member and said gaseous medium and having a membrane first side and a membrane second side wherein said membrane first side faces said cathode member and wherein said water-impermeable membrane comprises one or more portions defining one or more openable and closeable apertures the improvement wherein said apertures are associated with one or more integrally-formed resiliently flexible flaps on said membrane first side to effect said opening and closing. The batteries have reduced unwanted water vapour ingress and egress characteristics in its no-load mode.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor comprising a stator; a rotor having a rotor inner circumferential surface; a piezoelectric element retained on the stator; power supply means in communication with said piezoelectric element to operably effect longitudinal resilient mechanical oscillations in the element; a plurality of pusher members each having (a) at least one first portion defining a pusher abutting surface abutting the rotor inner surface, (b) at least one second portion defining a piezoelectric element engaging surface distal of the pusher abutting surface, and (c) a third portion defining a retained surface; retainer means in abutment with the pusher member retained surface to releasably retain the pusher member in abutment with the piezoelectric element engaging surface and the rotor inner surface and wherein the longitudinal resilient mechanical oscillations effect coplanar movement of the pusher member; and the first portion is so shaped and inclined as to operably effect circumferential movement of the circumf

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor having a stator and a rotor. The stator and the rotor are in mechanical contact with one another along at least one cylindrical friction surface by means of curved, elastic and longitudinally elongated pusher plates, the pusher plates being held against the friction surface at a first end of the pusher plates, and arranged at an angle to the friction surface. A piezoelectric element is connected to either the rotor or the stator. The piezoelectric element has electrodes placed on opposing surfaces of the piezoelectric element, and is connectable to an alternating current source via the electrodes for providing longitudinal oscillations in the piezoelectric element. A first ring plate and a second ring plate are arranged on opposite sides of the piezoelectric element, so that at least a portion of surfaces of the piezoelectric element are pressed against surfaces of the first ring plate and the second ring plate, respectively, by a clamping device.

Abstract: A process of making an aluminum alloy anodic material having improved electrochemical properties for use in an electrochemical cell and battery, the alloy consisting essentially of 95-99.5% w/w Al and 0.5-5.0 cumulative w/w additive metal selected from Group II-Group V metals of the Periodic Table, the process comprising heating 95-99.5% w/w Al and 0.5-5.0 cumulative % w/w additive metal in admixture to a temperature to form a homogeneous matrix of melted alloy; cooling the melted alloy at a liquidus/solidius cooling rate to produce a solid, non-equilibrium alloy of a non-homogenous multiphase matrix comprising discrete, relatively large crystals of pure aluminum and relatively smaller crystals of the additive metal included at the interface with the aluminum crystals; rolling the solid alloy to reduce its thickness to a factor of 0.2 to 0.

Abstract: A mechanically rechargeable air-metal source of current having one or more non-consumable gas diffusion positive electrode(s), one or more consumable negative metal electrode(s), an electrolyte based on water solutions of salts and/or bases and a housing enclosing the positive electrode(s) and the negative electrode(s), to create an inter-electrode gap, together with the electrolyte. The negative electrode(s) comprise(s) a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc, magnesium, and alloys thereof, and further comprise(s) an effective amount of one or more additives selected from the group consisting of Ga, In, TI, Sn, Cd, Pb, Mn, and Fe. The effective amount of the additives improves the electrochemical characteristics of the negative electrode, reducing corrosion, and preserves the negative electrode(s) while being stored. The electrolyte is a salt solution, an alkali solution or a mixture of a salt solution and an alkali solution.

Abstract: An electrochemical battery comprising a housing; an electrolyte within the housing; an anode within the electrolyte and the housing and having an anode surface upper portion and an anode surface lower portion; a cathode within the electrolyte and the housing and having a cathode surface upper portion and a cathode surface lower portion at an inter-electrode distance from the anode to operably provide upward laminar flow of the electrolyte from the anode and cathode lower portions to the anode and cathode upper portions; recycle downcomer channel means for effecting and allowing of downward gravity flow of an upper portion of the electrolyte from the anode and cathode surface upper portions to provide a recycled lower portion of the electrolyte for recycle to the anode and cathode. The battery structure provides improved cell power performance, reduces unwanted temperature gradients in the cell, provides uniformity of electrolyte concentration and reduces cell passivation.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor comprising a stator; a rotor having a rotor inner circumferential surface; a piezoelectric element retained on the stator; power supply means in communication with said piezoelectric element to operably effect longitudinal resilient mechanical oscillations in the element; a plurality of pusher members each having (a) at least one first portion defining a pusher abutting surface abutting the rotor inner surface, (b) at least one second portion defining a piezoelectric element engaging surface distal of the pusher abutting surface, and (c) a third portion defining a retained surface; retainer means in abutment with the pusher member retained surface to releasably retain the pusher member in abutment with the piezoelectric element engaging surface and the rotor inner surface and wherein the longitudinal resilient mechanical oscillations effect coplanar movement of the pusher member; and the first portion is so shaped and inclined as to operably effect circumferential movement of the circumf

Abstract: A mechanically rechargeable air-metal source of current having one or more non-consumable gas diffusion positive electrode(s), one or more consumable negative metal electrode(s), an electrolyte based on water solutions of salts and/or bases and a housing enclosing the positive electrode(s) and the negative electrode(s), to create an inter-electrode gap, together with the electrolyte. The current source has a first unit, comprising a first body with the negative electrode(s), together with at least one first conduit for connecting to and distributing ambient air, at least one second conduit for distributing the electrolyte, and at least one third conduit for collecting reaction products in cooperation with the first conduit and the second conduit. Further, the current source has a second unit, comprising the negative metal electrode(s) and the electrolyte.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor having a stator and a rotor. The stator and the rotor are in mechanical contact with one another along at least one cylindrical friction surface by means of curved, elastic and longitudinally elongated pusher plates, the pusher plates being held against the friction surface at a first end of the pusher plates, and arranged at an angle to the friction surface. A piezoelectric element is connected to either the rotor or the stator. The piezoelectric element has electrodes placed on opposing surfaces of the piezoelectric element, and is connectable to an alternating current source via the electrodes for providing longitudinal oscillations in the piezoelectric element. A first ring plate and a second ring plate are arranged on opposite sides of the piezoelectric element, so that at least a portion of surfaces of the piezoelectric element are pressed against surfaces of the first ring plate and the second ring plate, respectively, by a clamping device.