US3739573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for converting electrical energy to mechanical energy
Assignee: Tyco International Ltd
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Filing: 1970-10-20
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1990-10-20
Abstract
Abstract An electrochemical energy conversion device comprising a container, one or more electrochemical cells in said container adapted to produce a gas or to consume said gas according to the polarity of current passed by said one or more cells, polarity reversible means for passing current through said one or more cells, and pressure-responsive moveable mechanical means arranged for movement according to changes in the gas pressure in said container. Each cell comprises a gas producing and consuming electrode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte contacted by both electrodes.
Inventors
- 👤 J Giner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:00
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N11/00; H02N11/006; A; A61; A61M; A61M60/00; A61M60/10; A61M60/20; A61M60/247; A61M60/253; A61M60/258; A61M60/40; A61M60/424; A61M60/427; A61M60/80; A61M60/855; A61M60/871; C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; F; F04; F04B; F04B17/00; F04B43/00; F04B43/08; F04B43/10; F04B43/107; A61M60/268; A61M60/89; A61M60/892; A61M60/894
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A device for converting electrical energy to mechanical energy comprising a housing containing at least one reversible electrochemical cell adapted to release a gas when passing a current in a first direction and to consume said gas when passing a current in the opposite direction, said housing being sealed so as to prevent escape of gas therefrom and also including displaceable mechanical means adapted to move in a first direction in response to a gas pressure buildup in said housing as gas is released by said at least one cell and to move in a second opposite direction in response to a gas pressure drop in said housing as gas is consumed by said at least one cell, means exterior of said housing and responsive to said displaceable means for producing mechanical work exterior of said device in accordance with movement of said displaceable means, a d.c. power supply exterior of said housing, and means exterior of said housing and connected between said power supply and said at least one cell for switching the output of said power supply with respect to said at least one cell so as to control the direction of the current passed by said at least one cell.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
A device for converting electrical energy to mechanical energy comprising a housing containing at least one reversible electrochemical cell adapted to release a gas when passing a current in a first direction and to consume said gas when passing a current in the opposite direction, said housing being sealed so as to prevent escape of gas therefrom and also including displaceable mechanical means adapted to move in a first direction in response to a gas pressure buildup in said housing as gas is released by said at least one cell and to move in a second opposite direction in response to a gas pressure drop in said housing as gas is consumed by said at least one cell, means exterior of said housing and responsive to said displaceable means for producing mechanical work exterior of said device in accordance with movement of said displaceable means, a d.c. power supply exterior of said housing, and means exterior of said housing and connected between said power supply and said at least one cell for switching the output of said power supply with respect to said at least one cell so as to control the direction of the current passed by said at least one cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one cell comprises an electrolyte and two electrodes contacting said electrolyte, at least one of said electrodes being adapted to release and consume said gas according to the polarity of current passed between said electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said gas is hydrogen or chlorine or oxygen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said displaceable means comprises a piston.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said means for producing mechanical work, comprises a fluid handling pump, and means connecting said pump and said displaceable means so that said pump is operated by movement of said displaceable means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein said pump comprises a bladder surrounded by a fluid for applying pressure to said bladder, and said connecting means comprises a coupling for translating movement of said displaceable means into changes in the pressure of said fluid so that said bladder will contract or expand according to said changes in fluid pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
An energy converter comprising an electrochemical pressure generator that includes a closed pressure housing with dispLaceable means mounted for movement according to the differential between the pressure in said housing and the pressure exterior of said housing, a pair of terminals, a plurality of reversible electrochemical cells mounted as a stack within said housing and connected in series between said terminals, each of said cells having an electrolyte and first and second electrodes contacting said electrolyte with said first electrode adapted to (a) release a gas to pressurize said housing when a current passes in a first direction between said electrodes and (b) consume said gas to reduce the pressure in said housing when a currnet passes in a second opposite direction between said electrodes, means for selectively applying a voltage across said terminals so as to control the direction and magnitude of the current passed by said cells, and means exterior of said housing for producing mechanical work in accordance with movement of said displaceable means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
167 words
An energy converter comprising an electrochemical pressure generator that includes a closed pressure housing with dispLaceable means mounted for movement according to the differential between the pressure in said housing and the pressure exterior of said housing, a pair of terminals, a plurality of reversible electrochemical cells mounted as a stack within said housing and connected in series between said terminals, each of said cells having an electrolyte and first and second electrodes contacting said electrolyte with said first electrode adapted to (a) release a gas to pressurize said housing when a current passes in a first direction between said electrodes and (b) consume said gas to reduce the pressure in said housing when a currnet passes in a second opposite direction between said electrodes, means for selectively applying a voltage across said terminals so as to control the direction and magnitude of the current passed by said cells, and means exterior of said housing for producing mechanical work in accordance with movement of said displaceable means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An energy converter according to claim 7 wherein said first electrode is a porous fuel cell electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An energy converter according to claim 7 wherein said first electrode comprises platinum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An energy converter according to claim 8 wherein said electrolyte is an alkaline hydroxide, said second electrode is a palladium electrode, and said gas is hydrogen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An energy converter according to claim 8 wherein said electrolyte comprises chloride ions and said second electrode is Ag/AgCl2 or Pd or Hg/Hg2Cl2 or Hg - Na, whereby the gas is chlorine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An energy converter according to claim 8 wherein said first electrode consists of a catalyst and a hydrophobic binder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
An energy converter according to claim 12 wherein said binder isTeflon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
An energy converter according to claim 12 wherein said catalyst is platinum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An energy converter according to claim 8 wherein said electrolyte comprises hydroxyl ions and said second electrode is a metal/metal oxide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
An energy converter according to claim 15 wherein said second electrode is Ag/AgO or Cd/CdO.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
An energy converter according to claim 7 wherein said electrodes are flat members and each cell comprises an electrode separator including said electrolyte and a matrix for said electrolyte, and first and second current collector plates engaging said first and second electrodes respectively, said terminal leads being connected to the first and last collector plates in said stack of cells.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
An energy converter according to claim 17 wherein said collector plates have grooves confronting said first electrodes for movement of said gas to and from said first electrodes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
An energy converter according to claim 5 wherein said displaceable means is a flexible diaphragm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
An energy converter according to claim 19 wherein said means for producing mechanical work comprises a moveable member and hydraulic means for moving said member in accordance with movement of said diaphragm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
An energy converter according to claim 7 wherein said voltage applying means comprises a source of electrical potential exterior of said housing and means connecting said source and said terminals for reversing the polarity of said potential with respect to said cells.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
An energy converter according to claim 17 wherein said first electrode comprises platinum and is porous and said second electrode comprises palladium, and further wherein each of said first and second electrodes is integral with a current collector plate.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
161 words
A device for converting electrical energy to mechanical energy comprising a closed housing, at least one reversible electrochemical cell within said housing adapted to release a gas into said housing when passing a current in a first direction and to consume said gas when passing a current in a second opposite direction, displaceable means exterior of said cell, said displaceable means being mounted for (a) movement in a first direction in responSe to a gas pressure buildup in said housing as gas is released by said at least one cell and (b) movement in a second opposite direction in response to a gas pressure drop in said housing as gas is consumed by said at least one cell, means outside of said housing for producing mechanical work exterior of said device in accordance with and in response to movement of said displaceable means, and means for controlling the direction and magnitude of the current passed by said at least one cell.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
161 words
A device for converting electrical energy to mechanical energy comprising a closed housing, at least one reversible electrochemical cell within said housing adapted to release a gas into said housing when passing a current in a first direction and to consume said gas when passing a current in a second opposite direction, displaceable means exterior of said cell, said displaceable means being mounted for (a) movement in a first direction in responSe to a gas pressure buildup in said housing as gas is released by said at least one cell and (b) movement in a second opposite direction in response to a gas pressure drop in said housing as gas is consumed by said at least one cell, means outside of said housing for producing mechanical work exterior of said device in accordance with and in response to movement of said displaceable means, and means for controlling the direction and magnitude of the current passed by said at least one cell.
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) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |