US3663302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bellow for reserve cell
Assignee: Duracell Inc USA
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Filing: 1970-08-14
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1990-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A reserve cell with indefinite shelf life, in which the structural elements, including the anode, cathode, separator and depolarizer are contained in an insulating housing and the electrolyte is contained in a compressible sealed vessel outside the housing and communicating with said housing, so the electrolyte is kept isolated from the cell until the cell is to be activated, at which time the seal is broken to enable the electrolyte to pass from the sealed vessel into the housing to assume operating position between anode and cathode and render the cell active.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon E Kaye
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/30; H01M6/36; H01M6/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A reserve cell comprising an anode, in the form of a hollow body with porous enclosure walls; an absorbant spacer material, engaging the outer surface of said anode; a depolarizer material, engaging said spacer; a cathode, engaging the outer surface of the depolarizer material; an insulating housing, enclosing said cathode, depolarizer, spacer and anode and having an orifice for accommodating a transfer conduit; a bellows, initially in expanded condition, serving as a static container for a volume of electrolyte; and operable to compressed condition to express the electrolyte into a predesigned path; a transfer conduit, constituting a transfer coupling between said bellows and said anode and including a fracturable seal, effective to confine the electrolyte normally to the bellows in said initial condition, said conduit extending through a tapered opening in said housing and thence through an orifice in said anode wall and into the inner space within said anode; a breaker rod, enclosed within said bellows and operable by said bellows, upon compression of said bellows, to extend into said transfer conduit and to fracture said seal in said conduit to permit the electrolyte to flow into said anode, said rod having a shank with longitudinal radial ribs and intermediate fluted spaces to slide freely in said conduit and to permit free flow of the electrolyte into said anode, along said shank and in said fluted spaces after the seal is broken by said rod and as said rod moves forward into said conduit as the bellows is compressed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A reserve cell comprising an anode, in the form of a hollow body with porous enclosure walls; an absorbant spacer material, engaging the outer surface of said anode; a depolarizer material, engaging said spacer; a cathode, engaging the outer surface of the depolarizer material; an insulating housing, enclosing said cathode, depolarizer, spacer and anode and having an orifice for accommodating a transfer conduit; a bellows, initially in expanded condition, serving as a static container for a volume of electrolyte; and operable to compressed condition to express the electrolyte into a predesigned path; a transfer conduit, constituting a transfer coupling between said bellows and said anode and including a fracturable seal, effective to confine the electrolyte normally to the bellows in said initial condition, said conduit extending through a tapered opening in said housing and thence through an orifice in said anode wall and into the inner space within said anode; a breaker rod, enclosed within said bellows and operable by said bellows, upon compression of said bellows, to extend into said transfer conduit and to fracture said seal in said conduit to permit the electrolyte to flow into said anode, said rod having a shank with longitudinal radial ribs and intermediate fluted spaces to slide freely in said conduit and to permit free flow of the electrolyte into said anode, along said shank and in said fluted spaces after the seal is broken by said rod and as said rod moves forward into said conduit as the bellows is compressed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
171 words
A reserve cell, as in claim 1, in which said conduit has one end hermetically sealed to the static end of said bellows and is tapered at one end to seat on a tapered seat in said tapered opening in the top wall of said insulating housing; said tapered opening in said top wall of said insulating housing having thin ribs longitudinally along said tapered opening to constitute said seat for the tapered end of said conduit, and to provide the spaces along said ribs to serve as vents from the space around said anode as the electrolyte moves through said porous anode into said space; and a tapered plug adjacent the back end of the breaker rod for pressing the tapered back end of the conduit radially outward to deform and press said thin ribs of said seat to substantially close said tapered opening and limit or close said vent spaces when the breaker rod is pressed home by the fully compressed bellows in transferring said electrolyte to said bellows.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A reserve cell, as in claim 1, comprising a pair of prong-type terminals extending through the insulating housing and electrically connected to said anode and to said cathode respectively, to permit simple insertion of said cell into a suitable external receptacle for connection into an external electrical circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
A reserve cell, as in claim 1, in which said bellows has a static end and a free outer movable end, and the static end rests on end wall of said insulating housing, and said free outer movable end of said bellows is normally spaced from said end wall of said housing; and an outer shell cap fits over said insulating housing covering and engaging said free outer movable end of said bellows, to cover and protect said bellows from external shock so long as the cell is to remain unactivated, and said Shell cap serving to be manually actuable to compress said bellows to render said cell activated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A reserve cell, as in claim 4, in which said insulating housing embodies means for holding said outer shell cap in actuated position to hold the bellows compressed in cell-activating position, after said bellows has been compressed to activate the cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A reserve cell, as in claim 5, in which said outer shell cap embodies anchoring means for holding said shell cap in actuated position on said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |