Abstract: A self-sealing battery terminal including a hydroformed Inconel outer case, a low shear strength sealant material, and a central post in the form of a bolt which acts as both a conductor and transmits the preload from a pair of Belleville washers to a lower ceramic washer. The lower ceramic washer acts like a piston to compress the sealant when the nut on the central post is tightened. The Belleville washers serve to maintain a minimum tension on the central post. A top ceramic washer is held in place by the tension in the central bolt as long as the tension exceeds a minimum value.

Abstract: A metal-hydrogen cell (e.g., silver-hydrogen or nickel-hydrogen) of heat pipe design wherein a central heat pipe serves as a thermal path, a positive plate conductor and terminal, and a mechanical support for the stack. The positive plates are electrically, mechanically and thermally connected to the heat pipe in the stack center. The negative plate terminals are at the outside edge of the stack. The pressure vessel may be of spherical configuration to provide a light weight design which has a two to one stress advantage in hoop stress over a cylinder with the same wall thickness and internal pressure.