Patent US3867199A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3867199A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Nickel hydrogen cell
Assignee: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
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Filing: 1972-06-05
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1992-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A new rechargeable electric cell of the type using a reoxidizable nickel oxide at the positive electrode and hydrogen as the negative electrode reactant. The cell case is pressurized with hydrogen gas while the cathode is in a discharged state and then is sealed off. Additional hydrogen gas is evolved during charging. On discharging the cell, hydrogen is consumed. The cell has inherent protection against damage from overcharging and overdischarging, and the state of charge can be determined by monitoring the gas pressure in the cell case.
Inventors
- 👤 James D Dunlop
- 👤 Jose Giner
- 👤 Ommering Gerrit Van
- 👤 Joseph F Stockel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/86; H01M10/00; H01M10/34; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A RECHARGEABLE NI/H2 POWER CELL ESSENTIALLY INCLUDING A CASE, A PLURALITY OF POSITIVE ELECTRODES IN SAID CASE EACH POSITIVE ELECTRODE COMPRISING NI(OH)2 IN THE DISCHARGED STATE, AT LEAST ONE DUAL POROSITY NEGATIVE ELECTRODE IN SAID CASE COMPRISING TWO CONDUCTIVE SUPPORTS HAVING A CATALYST DISPOSED IN A HYDROPHOBIC NON-CONDUCTING MATRIX MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS AND MEANS BETWEEN SAID SUPPORTS FOR PROVIDING PASSAGES FOR DIFFUSION OF GAS TO SAID CATALYST, SAID CATALYST BEING A MATERIAL CAPABLE OF DISSOCIATING MOLECULAR HYDROGEN TO MONATOMIC HYDROGEN, A PLURALITY OF POROUS MATRICES IN SAID CASE, EACH PORUS MATRIX SEPARATING ONE OF SAID POSITIVE ELECTRODES AND ONE OF SAID CONDUCTIVE SUPPORTS OF SAID DUAL POROSITY NEGATIVE ELECTRODE, AN ALKALINE ELECTROLYTE IN THE SPORES OF SAID MATRIX, A SUPPLY OF HYDROGEN IN SAID CASE SURROUNDING SAID ELECTRODES AND MATRIX, SAID CASE BEING HERMETICALLY SEALED TO PREVENT INFLOW AND OUTFLOW OF GAS DURING CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF SAID CELL.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A RECHARGEABLE NI/H2 POWER CELL ESSENTIALLY INCLUDING A CASE, A PLURALITY OF POSITIVE ELECTRODES IN SAID CASE EACH POSITIVE ELECTRODE COMPRISING NI(OH)2 IN THE DISCHARGED STATE, AT LEAST ONE DUAL POROSITY NEGATIVE ELECTRODE IN SAID CASE COMPRISING TWO CONDUCTIVE SUPPORTS HAVING A CATALYST DISPOSED IN A HYDROPHOBIC NON-CONDUCTING MATRIX MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS AND MEANS BETWEEN SAID SUPPORTS FOR PROVIDING PASSAGES FOR DIFFUSION OF GAS TO SAID CATALYST, SAID CATALYST BEING A MATERIAL CAPABLE OF DISSOCIATING MOLECULAR HYDROGEN TO MONATOMIC HYDROGEN, A PLURALITY OF POROUS MATRICES IN SAID CASE, EACH PORUS MATRIX SEPARATING ONE OF SAID POSITIVE ELECTRODES AND ONE OF SAID CONDUCTIVE SUPPORTS OF SAID DUAL POROSITY NEGATIVE ELECTRODE, AN ALKALINE ELECTROLYTE IN THE SPORES OF SAID MATRIX, A SUPPLY OF HYDROGEN IN SAID CASE SURROUNDING SAID ELECTRODES AND MATRIX, SAID CASE BEING HERMETICALLY SEALED TO PREVENT INFLOW AND OUTFLOW OF GAS DURING CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF SAID CELL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A cell according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of said positive and negative electrodes and matrices disposed in stacked relation to each other, means electrically connecting said positive electrodes in parallel with each other, and means electrically connecting said negative electrodes in parallel with each other, said supply of hydrogen surrounding all of said electrodes and matrices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said nickel oxide is NiOOH and the supply of hydrogen in said case is more than sufficient to fully discharge said nickel oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said catalyst is disposed in a plastic hydrophobic matrix.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said electrolyte fills less than all of the pores of said porous matrix so that oxygen generated at the positive electrode during charging can diffuse to and combine with hydrogen at the negative electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein the quantity of electrolyte in said cell is insufficient to envelope said positive and negative electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said matrix is made of a material that is electrically non-conductive but is permeable to hydroxyl ions, oxygen and hydrogen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cell according to claim 1 that is pressurized with hydrogen gas while said positive electrode is in a fully discharged state thereby preventing hydrogen depletion damage to the negative electrode on complete discharge of the cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said electrodes have holes to facilitate gas diffusion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said catalyst is platinum, palladium or Raney nickel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said gas diffusion means comprises a porous conductive screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cell according to claim 1 further including pressure transducer means in communication with the inside of said case for determining the state of charge of said 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) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |