EP0136769A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal-gas cell with electrolyte reservoir
Assignee: Eagle Picher Industries Inc
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Filing: 1984-04-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A metal-gas electrochemical cell is disclosed wherein electrolyte is progressively supplied from a reservoir into the electrode or cell stack as needed, so as to maintain each stack component with adequate electrolyte, as the plates "grow" and absorb electrolyte with repeated cycling. The reservoir preferably is a compressible bladder positioned between one end of the plate stack and a retaining plate. As the plate stack "grows" with repeated cycling, the bladder is slowly compressed, forcing electrolyte from the bladder through an electrolyte distribution tube located within the plate stack. One end of the electrolyte distribution tube is fixed to an end plate of the plate stack and the second end of the distribution tube may be connected to a Belleville washer or other spring which acts through the distribution tube to compres the plate stack. The elasticity of the spring permits the stack to expand as the electrodes grow.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee E. Miller
- 👤 Dennis D. Carr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:20
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/34; H01M10/345; H01M50/00; H01M50/70; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
An electrochemical cell having a plurality of positive and negative plates arranged as a plate stack within a cell casing and saturated with a liquid electrolyte, wherein in cycling use, said plates tend to increase in volume characterised in that a compressible electrolyte containing reservoir is positioned within the casing relative to the plate stack such that an increase in volume of the plate stack compresses the reservoir and forces electrolyte from the reservoir through passage means to distribute electrolyte into the plate stack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
An electrochemical cell having a plurality of positive and negative plates arranged as a plate stack within a cell casing and saturated with a liquid electrolyte, wherein in cycling use, said plates tend to increase in volume characterised in that a compressible electrolyte containing reservoir is positioned within the casing relative to the plate stack such that an increase in volume of the plate stack compresses the reservoir and forces electrolyte from the reservoir through passage means to distribute electrolyte into the plate stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrochemical cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reservoir is a compressible bladder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electrochemical cell as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the passage means to distribute electrolyte comprises an electrolyte distribution tube and the bladder includes an electrolyte exit port in communication with the electrolyte distribution tube, the tube extending into the plate stack and including means to distribute the electrolyte forced from the bladder to a plurality of discrete locations within the plate stack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrochemical cell as claimed in claim 3 wherein the electrolyte distribution tube further acts to compress said plate stack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electrochemical cell as claimed in claim 3 wherein the distribution tube includes a first end fixed to a plate, compressed between the reservoir and a first end of the plate stack, wherein a second plate is held in fixed relation to the casing and wherein the tube is attached to a biasing means pulling the tube and the first plate toward the said second plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrochemical cell as claimed in claim 5 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring held in fixed relation to the casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrochemical cell as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bladder includes a base plate resting against an annular indent in the casing and wherein the bladder is held between the plate stack and the base plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
216 words
An electrolyte starved nickel-hydrogen electrochemical cell including a plurality of positive and negative electrode plates, said plates forming a plate stack within a cell casing and said plate stack saturated with a liquid electrolyte wherein in use said plates tend to increase in volume; said cell further comprising an electrolyte containing reservoir comprising a compressible bladder, said bladder being positioned within said casing between a base plate held in fixed relation to said casing and a first end of said plate stack, said bladder including an electrolyte exit port in communication with an electrolyte distribution tube, said tube extending through said plate stack and including means to distribute said electrolyte forced from said bladder to a plurality of discrete locations within said plate stack; and wherein said distribution tube includes a first end fixed to a plate, said plate compressed between said first end of said plate stack and said bladder wherein said distribution tube is spring biased, pulling said tube and said first plate toward a second plate at a second end of said plate stack, said second plate being held in fixed relation to said casing; and whereby an increase in volume of said plate stack compresses said bladder, forcing stored electrolyte through said distribution tube to said discrete locations in said plate stack.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
216 words
An electrolyte starved nickel-hydrogen electrochemical cell including a plurality of positive and negative electrode plates, said plates forming a plate stack within a cell casing and said plate stack saturated with a liquid electrolyte wherein in use said plates tend to increase in volume; said cell further comprising an electrolyte containing reservoir comprising a compressible bladder, said bladder being positioned within said casing between a base plate held in fixed relation to said casing and a first end of said plate stack, said bladder including an electrolyte exit port in communication with an electrolyte distribution tube, said tube extending through said plate stack and including means to distribute said electrolyte forced from said bladder to a plurality of discrete locations within said plate stack; and wherein said distribution tube includes a first end fixed to a plate, said plate compressed between said first end of said plate stack and said bladder wherein said distribution tube is spring biased, pulling said tube and said first plate toward a second plate at a second end of said plate stack, said second plate being held in fixed relation to said casing; and whereby an increase in volume of said plate stack compresses said bladder, forcing stored electrolyte through said distribution tube to said discrete locations in said plate stack.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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