US3859136A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seawater battery with valve
Assignee: ESB Inc
•
Filing: 1973-05-18
•
Granted: 1975-01-07
•
Expires: 1993-05-18
Abstract
Abstract An immersion type battery using seawater as electrolyte and having metallic anodes and metal halide cathodes is enclosed in a container. The container is supplied with a valve which in abovesurface conditions closes and seals the battery against entry of fluids to the battery compartment. However, when the battery is allowed to fall into water of unrestricted depth, the valve, at a predetermined pressure, will open, allowing water to infiltrate the battery and thus activate it. The opening of the valve is controlled by a valve retaining means, calibrated to permit the opening of the valve at the required pressure. The valve retaining means also prevents the valve from subsequent reclosure regardless of shock or changes in ambient pressures.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip George Perry
- 👤 Thomas Hector Purcell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/30; H01M6/32; H01M6/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
IN A SEAWATER BATTERY COMPRISING A CONTAINER AND A COVER, THE CONTAINER HAVING POSITIVE AND NEGAIVE ELECTRODES THEREIN, THE COVER DEFINING A CIRCULAR OPENING THERETHROUGH, THE OPENING PROVIDING ACCESS BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER AND THE SPACE EXTERIOR THERETO, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: A. A VALVE MEMBER LOCATED IN AND CLOSING THE OPENING IN THE COVER, THE VALVE MEMBER INCLUDING AN EXTERNALLY EXPOSED FACE; B. A VALVE RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING A BAR OF DUCTILE MATERIAL FASTENED TO THE EXTERNALLY EXPOSED FACE OF THE VALVE, SAID VALVE RETAINING MEANS BEING GREATER IN LENGTH THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE OPENING IN THE CONTAINER AND SPANNING SAID OPENING AND SAID VALVE RETAINING MEANS BEING CAPABLE OF BENIG DEFORMED UNDER EXTERNAL PRESSURE OF SEAWATER SUCH THAT WHEN A PREDETERMINED EXTERNAL PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO SAID VALVE MEMBER, SAID VALVE MEMBER IS URGED INWARDLY THROUGH AND OUT OF SAID OPENING THEREBY ALLOWING SEAWATER TO ENTER SAID BATTERY.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
IN A SEAWATER BATTERY COMPRISING A CONTAINER AND A COVER, THE CONTAINER HAVING POSITIVE AND NEGAIVE ELECTRODES THEREIN, THE COVER DEFINING A CIRCULAR OPENING THERETHROUGH, THE OPENING PROVIDING ACCESS BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER AND THE SPACE EXTERIOR THERETO, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: A. A VALVE MEMBER LOCATED IN AND CLOSING THE OPENING IN THE COVER, THE VALVE MEMBER INCLUDING AN EXTERNALLY EXPOSED FACE; B. A VALVE RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING A BAR OF DUCTILE MATERIAL FASTENED TO THE EXTERNALLY EXPOSED FACE OF THE VALVE, SAID VALVE RETAINING MEANS BEING GREATER IN LENGTH THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE OPENING IN THE CONTAINER AND SPANNING SAID OPENING AND SAID VALVE RETAINING MEANS BEING CAPABLE OF BENIG DEFORMED UNDER EXTERNAL PRESSURE OF SEAWATER SUCH THAT WHEN A PREDETERMINED EXTERNAL PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO SAID VALVE MEMBER, SAID VALVE MEMBER IS URGED INWARDLY THROUGH AND OUT OF SAID OPENING THEREBY ALLOWING SEAWATER TO ENTER SAID BATTERY.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A seawater battery as defined in claim 1 and including a valve stop spanning the valve opening for preventing the valve from coming out of the battery, a guide tube located within the battery, and a valve stem located on the underside of the valve and riding in the guide tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A seawater battery as defined in claim 1 wherein tHe positive electrodes are selected from the group which consists of the halides of lead, silver and copper and the negative electrodes are selected from the group which consists of metallic magnesium, zinc and aluminum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A seawater battery as defined in claim 1 wherein the valve retaining means includes a valve retaining backing piece, the length of the backing piece being less than the diameter of the valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A seawater battery as defined in claim 4 wherein the valve retaining means has a set of predetermined physical constants, the physical constants of the retaining means and the length of the backing piece being such that when the valve face is exposed to external fluid pressures less than a chosen pressure the valve remains closed and when the valve face is exposed to pressures greater than the chosen pressure the valve will open.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A seawater battery as defined in claim 1 wherein the valve is a seatless valve including an elastomeric seal ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A seawater battery as defined in claim 1 wherein the chosen pressure above which the valve will open is about 60 pounds per square inch.
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) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |