Patent US5773806A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3607401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Frangible electrochemical cell
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1968-05-15
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Granted: 1971-09-21
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Expires: 1988-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A flexible, frangible electrochemical cell and a package therefor, suitable generally for application in an atmospheric environment, is fabricated with flexible, frangible electrode plates and electrolyte containing separators sandwiched between the plates. The electrodes and the separators are secured together by electrically nonconductive fasteners, and each electrode has an expanded metal terminal. The cell housing is a flexible polymeric member having bonded outer seams, some of which are formed directly over the expanded metal terminals which partially protrude from the housing. An additional envelope or outer container may be provided to thermally insulate the cell. Such a container may be made from foamed polymeric material or flexible polymeric sheet filled with insulation.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald Halpert
- 👤 Joseph G Haynos
- 👤 Joseph M Sherfey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/30; H01M6/36; H01M6/38; H01M10/00; H01M10/04; H01M10/0413; H01M10/42; H01M10/46; H01M10/465; H01M50/00; H01M50/10; H01M50/172; H01M50/174; H01M50/178; H01M50/20; H01M50/204; H01M50/207; H01M50/211; H01M50/233; H01M50/24; H01M50/50; H01M50/531; H01M50/54; H01M50/543; H01M50/547; H01M50/548; H01M50/552; H01M50/553; H01M10/24; H01M10/30; H01M10/34; H01M10/52; H01M10/60; H01M10/61; H01M10/617; H01M10/62; H01M10/625; H01M50/534; H01M50/536; H01M6/42; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, and further including: a flexible, frangible outer container surrounding said flexible housing, and a high heat capacity substance in said outer container for thermally ballasting said joined electrochemical cells.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
The structure as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said electrode plates includes: a flexible, frangible metal grid, a sintered metallic material covering said grid, and an active material carried within the pores of said sintered metallic material; and wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or combinations thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
A flexible, frangible electrochemical cell comprising: a plurality of flexible, frangible electrodes, each of said electrodes being provided with a flexible, frangible expanded metal electrical terminal having perforations therein, a plurality of flexible, frangible separators sandwiched between and separating said electrodes, a current-carrying electrolyte substance and a flexible, frangible thin wall housing sealably retaining said electrodes separators and electrolyte therein, said expanded metal electrical terminals protruding from said housing, said housing being provided with a leaktight seam formed directly over and bonded to and through the perforations of each protruding expanded metal electrical terminal for effecting a leaktight seal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure as recited in claim 4, and further including: means for securing together said electrodes and said separators.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure as recited in claim 5 and further including: a flexible, frangiBle outer container surrounding said flexible, thin wall housing, and a high heat capacity substance in said outer container for thermally ballasting said cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The structure as recited in claim 9 wherein each of said electrodes includes at least one plate element comprising: a flexible, frangible metal grid, a sintered metallic material covering said grid, and an active material carried within the pores of said sintered metallic material; wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or combinations thereof; and wherein said electrolyte substance is carried by each of said separators.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein: said housing comprises a polymeric material, said expanded metal terminals are provided with a thin coating of polymeric material, and the union of said polymeric material of said housing with itself and with that coated on said expanded metal terminals is accomplished by means of heat and pressure to provide a leaktight seal for said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The structure as recited in claim 4 wherein: said housing comprising a polymeric material, said expanded metal terminals are provided with a thin coating of polymeric material, and the union of said polymeric material of said housing with itself and with that coated on said expanded metal terminals is accomplished by means of heat and pressure to provide a leaktight seal for said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure in claim 4, wherein said electrolyte is contained by a crushable capsule.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
224 words
A flexible and frangible battery comprising: at least two flexible, frangible electrochemical cells, each including a flexible, frangible positive electrode having at least one plate and a flexible, frangible negative electrode having at least two plates, flexible, frangible separators sandwiched between adjacent plates of said electrodes, a current-carrying electrolyte substance generally carried by each of said separators, each of said positive electrodes of each of said electrochemical cells being provided with a flexible, a frangible expanded metal positive terminal having perforations therein, said expanded metal positive terminal being free of polymeric coating, each of said negative electrodes of each of said electrochemical cells being provided with a flexible, frangible expanded metal negative terminal having perforations therein, said expanded metal negative terminal being free of polymeric material, the flexible expanded metal positive terminal of one of said electrochemical cells being joined to the flexible expanded metal negative terminal of another electrochemical cell whereby said electrochemical cells are joined in series relationship, and a flexible, frangible thin wall housing sealably retaining said joined electrochemical cells therein and, where contacting said expanded metal terminals, being bonded to and through the perforations thereof, said housing being provided with a leaktight seam bonded directly to and through the perforations of each of said joined flexible expanded metal terminals, whereby said joined electrochemical cells are sealably separated from each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure as recited in claim 11, and further including: a flexible, frangible outer container surrounding said flexible housing, and a high heat capacity substance in said outer container for thermally ballasting said joined electrochemical cells.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure as recited in claim 11, wherein: said housing comprises a polymeric material, and the union of said polymeric material of said housing with itself and with said expanded metal terminals is accomplished by means of heat and pressure to provide a leaktight seal for said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
The structure as recited in claim 13, wherein each of said electrode plates includes: a flexible, frangible metal grid, a sintered metallic material covering said grid, and an active material carried within the pores of said sintered metallic material; and wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or combinations thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
A flexible, frangible electrochemical cell comprising: a plurality of flexible, frangible electrodes, each of said electrodes being provided with a flexible, frangible expanded metal electrical terminal having perforations therein, said expanded metal electrical terminal being free of polymeric/coating, a plurality of flexible, frangible separators sandwiched between and separating said electrodes, a current-carrying electrolyte substance, and a flexible, frangible thin wall housing sealably retaining said electrodes, separators, and electrolyte therein, said expanded metal electrical terminals protruding from said housing, said housing being provided with a leaktight seam formed directly over and bonded to and through the perforations of each protruding expanded metal electrical terminal for effecting a leaktight seal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure as recited in claim 15, and further including: means for securing together said electrodes and said separators.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure as recited in claim 16 and further including: a flexible, frangible outer container surrounding said flexible, thin wall housing, and a high heat capacity substance in said outer container for thermally ballasting said cell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure as recited in claim 15 wherein: said housing comprising a polymeric material, and the union of said polymeric material of said housing with itself and with said expanded metal terminals is accomplished by means of heat and pressure to provide a leaktight seal for said housing:
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
The structure as recited in claim 18 wherein each of said electrodes includes at least one plate element comprising: a flexible, frangible metal grid, a sintered metallic material covering said grid, and an active material carried within the pores of said sintered metallic material; wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or combinations thereof; and wherein said electrolyte substance is carried by each of said separators.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure in claim is, wherein said electrolyte is contained by a crushable capsule.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-20 | 1975-03-22 | 1975-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-20 | 1979-03-22 | 1979-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-20 | 1983-03-22 | 1983-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |