US3922176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrochemical cells having a liquid alkali metal electrode
Assignee: Electricity Council
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Filing: 1974-01-02
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-01-02
Abstract
Abstract In an electrochemical cell, such as a sodium-sulphur cell, having a liquid metal electrode and a solid electrolyte, capillary means are provided to draw the liquid metal over one face of the electrolyte, so enabling the whole surface of the electrolyte to be in contact with the metal despite reduction in volume of the metal in the anodic compartment. The capillary means may be constituted by a narrow space between the electrolyte and another member, e.g. a housing, or by fibrous or porous material forming a wick.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham Robinson
- 👤 Ivor Wynn Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/14; H01M6/18; H01M6/20; H01M10/00; H01M10/36; H01M10/39; H01M10/3909; H01M10/3945; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
AN ELECTRIOCHEMICAL CELL HAVING A SOLID ELECTROLYTE BETWEEN A LIQUID ALKALI METAL ANODE ELECTRODE IN AN ANODE CHAMBER AND A CATHODIC REACTANT IN A SECOND CHAMBER,WHEREIN THE ANODE CHAMBER INCLUDES MEANS PROVIDING A SURFACE ADJACENT TO AND SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY SPACED FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID ELECTROLYTE TO FORM A CAPILLARY REGION BETWEEN SAID SURFACES, SAID ANODE CHAMBER FURTHER INCLUDING A RESERVOIR FOR SAID LIQUID ALKALI METAL, SAID RESERVOIR BEING LOCATED ADJACENT TI
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
AN ELECTRIOCHEMICAL CELL HAVING A SOLID ELECTROLYTE BETWEEN A LIQUID ALKALI METAL ANODE ELECTRODE IN AN ANODE CHAMBER AND A CATHODIC REACTANT IN A SECOND CHAMBER,WHEREIN THE ANODE CHAMBER INCLUDES MEANS PROVIDING A SURFACE ADJACENT TO AND SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY SPACED FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID ELECTROLYTE TO FORM A CAPILLARY REGION BETWEEN SAID SURFACES, SAID ANODE CHAMBER FURTHER INCLUDING A RESERVOIR FOR SAID LIQUID ALKALI METAL, SAID RESERVOIR BEING LOCATED ADJACENT TI
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means providing a surface comprises a wall of said anode chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein locating means are provided between said surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
112 words
An electrochemical cell having a solid tubular electrolyte between a liquid metal anode electrode in an anode chamber and a cathodic reactant in the second chamber, wherein the cathodic reactant is sealed within the electrolyte tube and wherein the anode chamber comprises an outer cylindrical housing around and concentric with said electrolyte tube, the housing having an inner surface close to the electrolyte tube to form a capillary region around the outside of the electrolyte tube, said housing extending axially beyond at least one end of said electrolyte tube to form a reservoir open to said capillary region, said electrolyte tube having a closed end separating the reservoir from the cathodic reactant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
An electrochemical cell having a solid tubular electrolyte between a liquid metal anode electrode in an anode chamber and a cathodic reactant in the second chamber, wherein the cathodic reactant is sealed within the electrolyte tube and wherein the anode chamber comprises an outer cylindrical housing around and concentric with said electrolyte tube, the housing having an inner surface close to the electrolyte tube to form a capillary region around the outside of the electrolyte tube, said housing extending axially beyond at least one end of said electrolyte tube to form a reservoir open to said capillary region, said electrolyte tube having a closed end separating the reservoir from the cathodic reactant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cell as claimed in claim 4 wherein porous wick material is provided in said capillary region, said wick material being arranged to locate the electrolyte tube concentrically in said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cell as claimed in claim 5 wherein said wick is formed of fibrous material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cell as claimed in claim 5 wherein said wick if formed of metal mesh material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cell as claimed in claim 4 and having metal locating means in said capillary region to locate the electrolyte tube concentrically in said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
An electrochemical cell having a solid electrolyte tube between a liquid metal anode electrode in an anode chamber and a cathodic reactant in a second chamber, wherein the electrolyte tube is closed at one end and wherein said second chamber is constituted by a sealed housing around said electrolyte tube and wherein the anode chamber is within the electrolyte tube and wherein capillary means are provided within said electrolyte tube comprising an element having a generally cylindrical surface concentrically located within the electrolyte tube but spaced from the surface thereof to form a capillary region between the electrolyte tube and said element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
An electrochemical cell having a solid electrolyte tube between a liquid metal anode electrode in an anode chamber and a cathodic reactant in a second chamber, wherein the electrolyte tube is closed at one end and wherein said second chamber is constituted by a sealed housing around said electrolyte tube and wherein the anode chamber is within the electrolyte tube and wherein capillary means are provided within said electrolyte tube comprising an element having a generally cylindrical surface concentrically located within the electrolyte tube but spaced from the surface thereof to form a capillary region between the electrolyte tube and said element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A cell as claimed in claim 9 wherein said element is a sheet element of resilient metal rolled to be resiliently located inside the electrolyte, said sheet element having projections on its outer face to space the sheet material from the electrolyte.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cell as claimed in claim 10 wherein the sheet metal is apertured.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electrochemical cell having a solid electrolyte between a liquid alkali metal anode electrode in an anode chamber and a cathodic reactant in a second chamber, wherein the anode chamber includes means providing a surface adjacent to and substantially uniformly spaced from the surface adjacent to and substantially uniformly spaced from the surface of said electrolyte to form a capillary region between said surfaces, and anode chamber further including a reservoir for said liquid alkali metal, said reservoir being located adjacent to and opening into said capillary region along at least one edge of the capillary region, said cathodic reactant in said second chamber being adjacent the solid electrolyte opposite To the said capillary region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electrochemical cell having a solid electrolyte between a liquid alkali metal anode electrode in an anode chamber and a cathodic reactant in a second chamber, wherein the anode chamber includes means providing a surface adjacent to and substantially uniformly spaced from the surface adjacent to and substantially uniformly spaced from the surface of said electrolyte to form a capillary region between said surfaces, and anode chamber further including a reservoir for said liquid alkali metal, said reservoir being located adjacent to and opening into said capillary region along at least one edge of the capillary region, said cathodic reactant in said second chamber being adjacent the solid electrolyte opposite To the said capillary region.
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) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |