Abstract: An illuminated sign, internally illuminated by a source such as one or more LED'S generally located at one end, and having a character panel with at least partially transmissive portions to define the characters of the sign. The character panel is curved so as to face the source more squarely at distances further from the source. By this arrangement, the geometric fall-off of illumination with increasing distance from the source is compensated for by the curvature of the character panel, such that more uniform illumination is provided than with prior art flat panels. Power management systems for solar charged illuminated signs are also described, in which the illumination level of the sign is adjusted according to the ambient solar flux and according to the charge-holding capacity of the battery. The system also warns of the impending end of battery life without interrupting the sign functionality.

Abstract: An illuminated sign, internally illuminated by a source such as one or more LED'S generally located at one end, and having a character panel with at least partially transmissive portions to define the characters of the sign. The character panel is curved so as to face the source more squarely at distances further from the source. By this arrangement, the geometric fall-off of illumination with increasing distance from the source is compensated for by the curvature of the character panel, such that more uniform illumination is provided than with prior art flat panels. Power management systems for solar charged illuminated signs are also described, in which the illumination level of the sign is adjusted according to the ambient solar flux and according to the charge-holding capacity of the battery. The system also warns of the impending end of battery life without interrupting the sign functionality.

Abstract: The invention provides a zinc battery anode, comprising a substantially planar skeletal frame including conductive metal and having a portion of its surface area formed as open spaces, and further comprising an active zinc anode component encompassing the skeletal frame, the active anode component being formed of a slurry of porous granules comprising zinc, impregnated with and suspended in an electrolyte, and compacted under pressure to the skeletal frame.

Abstract: The invention provides a rigid reusable transport and storage vessel for retaining a plurality of anode cassettes of pressed zinc particles saturated with aqueous alkaline solution, and utilizable as an electric fuel in a zinc-air battery, the vessel having a sealably covered aperture and being provided with a hydrogen recombination device, the device being provided with an external surface at least part of which projects into the air surrounding the vessel for venting any hydrogen produced by the anode cassettes into the air surrounding the vessel, and the vessel being internally compartmentalized to contain a plurality of sealable internal compartments for retaining the plurality of anode cassettes, each of the internal compartments being provided with a gas non-return valve venting from the internal compartment to an interior space of the vessel for venting generated hydrogen from the cassettes via the gas non-return valve to the vessel for elimination via the hydrogen recombination device while preventing

Abstract: The invention provides a metal-air battery-powered electric vehicle of the type having a motor powered by a plurality of metal-air cells wherein air is continuously provided to the cells by a blower system energized from a power source, in combination with a collision-activated switch for disconnecting the air blower system from the power source, wherein upon activation of the switch the air in the cell is immediately depleted and the battery is rendered substantially inert in less than 5 seconds.

Abstract: The invention provides a multi-cell, sealed, cooled, zinc-oxygen battery, comprising a container containing a plurality of bi-cells, each cell having a housing provided with two major surfaces and accommodating a pair of oppositely-disposed, spaced-apart, air-permeable, liquid-impermeable cathodes in the form of oxygen-reduction electrodes, and defining between themselves a cavity configured to accommodate an anode of the battery and electrolyte, substantial portions of the major surfaces of the housing being removed, thus exposing major portions of the oxygen-reduction electrodes, and wherein two major surfaces are partly recessed in such a way as to form, in conjunction with a similarly-recessed outer surface of a major wall of an adjacent cell housing, an inter-cathode gas space between adjacent cells with a plurality of oxygen access openings leading thereto; an anode positioned within the cavity and comprising an active zinc anode component compacted into a rigid static bed of active anode material of ti

Abstract: A modular cell for a multi-cell metal-air battery system, comprises a relatively flat cell housing having two major surfaces and accommodating a pair of oppositely disposed, spaced-apart, air-permeable, liquid-impermeable cathodes in the form of air electrodes defining between themselves a space open towards the upper edges of the cell housing and closed at the lateral edges and the bottom of the cell housing, the space being configured to accommodate an anode of said battery, substantial portions of the major surfaces of the housing being removed, thus exposing major portions of the air electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides a multi-cell, sealed, zinc-oxygen battery, comprising a container containing (a) a plurality of bi-cells, each cell having a housing provided with two major surfaces and accommodating a pair of oppositely-disposed, spaced-apart, air-permeable, liquid-impermeable cathodes in the form of oxygen-reduction electrodes, and defining between themselves a cavity configured to accommodate an anode of the battery and electrolyte, substantial portions of the major surfaces of the housing being removed, thus exposing major portions of the oxygen electrodes, and wherein the two major surfaces are partly recessed in such a way as to form, in conjunction with a similarly-recessed outer surface of a major wall of an adjacent cell housing, an inter-cathode gas space between adjacent cells with a plurality of oxygen access openings leading thereto; (b) a dead space volume between inner surfaces of the housing and the plurality of bi-cells; and (c) pressurized oxygen supply means for feeding oxygen to the

Abstract: A modular cell for a multi-cell metal-air battery system, comprises a relatively flat cell housing having two major surfaces and accommodating a pair of oppositely disposed, spaced-apart, air-permeable, liquid-impermeable cathodes in the form of air electrodes defining between themselves a space open towards the upper edges of the cell housing and closed at the lateral edges and the bottom of the cell housing, the space being configured to accommodate an anode of said battery, substantial portions of the major surfaces of the housing being removed, thus exposing major portions of the air electrodes.

Abstract: A mechanically rechargeable electric battery includes at least one electrical cell which has a pair of generally planar outer electrodes configured to define therebetween an interior space for an electrical power storage medium, and inner electrodes removably-mounted between the pair of outer electrodes so as to be in electrically conductive contact with the electrical power storage medium and configured to provide mechanical support for the electrical power storage medium and to be removable as a unit therewith from the cell. The cell is a metal-gas battery cell and the electrical power storage medium contained in the interior space contains a slurry containing active porous zinc particles saturated with an electrolyte solution. The outer electrodes define an opening communicating with the interior space, and the inner electrodes are configured for their removal from the interior space, via the opening, thereby enabling the simultaneous removal of the inner electrodes and the slurry from the interior space.

Abstract: The invention provides a bipolar electrode for use in a primary metal/air battery of the type having a metallic slurry anode, the electrode comprising a current-collecting, electrolyte-impervious metallic structure having a first surface for collecting current from the metallic slurry anode, and a metallic air cathode spaced from the structure and having a plurality of electrically-conductive protrusions extending at least from a central area of a first surface thereof and attached to a second surface of the structure, a second surface of the air cathode being provided with an inner hydrophobic waterproof barrier layer which is impermeable to electrolyte but permeable to oxygen gas and coated with an outer active catalytic layer.