US3928075A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Consumable fuel element for battery applications
Assignee: 555794 ONTARIO Inc
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Filing: 1974-07-15
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Granted: 1975-12-23
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Expires: 1994-07-15
Abstract
Abstract The fuel element comprises an alkali metal consumable anode of elongated shape and which is highly reactive with water, a consumable cathode in intimate contact with at least a portion of the surface of the anode and which corrodes in aqueous solutions of alkali metal hydroxide of pH higher than 9 which is formed by the electrochemical reaction of water with the alkali metal of the anode, and an insulating layer separating the anode from the cathode along the contact area of anode and cathode and which is capable of being dissolved in aqueous solutions of alkali metal hydroxide. The insulating layer is of a minimum thickness to insure intimate contact but no electrical short-circuit between the anode and the cathode. The thicknesses of the anode, cathode and insulating layer are selected to assure constant mean rate of consumption of all parts of the fuel element as long as the element is in contact with water. One end of the elongated fuel element is provided with two electric contacts, one to the anode and the other to the cathode for withdrawing electric energy from the fuel element and sealed. The opposite end of the fuel element is open so as to permit water to contact the alkali metal anode and so create and maintain the working environment of the fuel element.
Inventors
- 👤 Dieter Bass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:03
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/06; H01M6/00; H01M6/26; H01M6/30; H01M6/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A WATER-ACTIVATED FUEL ELEMENT COMPRISING: A. AN ALKALI METAL CONSUMABLE ANODE; B. AN CONSUMABLE CATHODE OF ALUMINUM OR ALUMINUM ALLOYS IN INTIMATE CONTACT WITH AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SURFACE OF SAID ANODE, SAID CATHODE CORRODING IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF ALKALI METAL HYDROXIDE OF A PH HIGHER THAN 9 WHICH ARE FORMED BY THE ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTION OF SAID ALKALI METAL WITH WATER; C. AN INSULATING LAYER SEPARATING SAID ANODE FROM SAID CATHODE ALONG THE CONTACT AREA OF ANODE AND CATHODE AND WHICH IS DISSOLVED IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF SAID ALKALI METAL HYDROXIDE, SAID INSULATING LAYER BEING OF A MINIMUM THICKKNESS TO INSURE INTIMATE CONTACT BUT NO ELECTRICAL SHORT-CIRCUIT BETWEEN SAID ANODE AND CATHODE, AND THE THICKNESS OF SAID ANODE, CATHODE, AND INSULATING LAYER BEING SELECTED TO ASSURE CONSTANT MEANS RATE OF CONSUMPTION OF ALL PARTS OF THE FUEL ELEMENT AS LONG AS THE ELEMENT IS IN CONTACT WITH WATER; AND D. ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO SAID ANODE AND CATHODE FOR WITHDRAWING ELECTRIC ENERGY FROM THE FUEL ELEMENT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A WATER-ACTIVATED FUEL ELEMENT COMPRISING: A. AN ALKALI METAL CONSUMABLE ANODE; B. AN CONSUMABLE CATHODE OF ALUMINUM OR ALUMINUM ALLOYS IN INTIMATE CONTACT WITH AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SURFACE OF SAID ANODE, SAID CATHODE CORRODING IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF ALKALI METAL HYDROXIDE OF A PH HIGHER THAN 9 WHICH ARE FORMED BY THE ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTION OF SAID ALKALI METAL WITH WATER; C. AN INSULATING LAYER SEPARATING SAID ANODE FROM SAID CATHODE ALONG THE CONTACT AREA OF ANODE AND CATHODE AND WHICH IS DISSOLVED IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF SAID ALKALI METAL HYDROXIDE, SAID INSULATING LAYER BEING OF A MINIMUM THICKKNESS TO INSURE INTIMATE CONTACT BUT NO ELECTRICAL SHORT-CIRCUIT BETWEEN SAID ANODE AND CATHODE, AND THE THICKNESS OF SAID ANODE, CATHODE, AND INSULATING LAYER BEING SELECTED TO ASSURE CONSTANT MEANS RATE OF CONSUMPTION OF ALL PARTS OF THE FUEL ELEMENT AS LONG AS THE ELEMENT IS IN CONTACT WITH WATER; AND D. ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO SAID ANODE AND CATHODE FOR WITHDRAWING ELECTRIC ENERGY FROM THE FUEL ELEMENT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 1, wherein said alkali metal anode is made of lithium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 2, wherein said cathode is made of a layer of aluminum or aluminum alloy of predetermined thickness.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the thickness of the aluminum layer is in the range of 5 to 15 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the thickness of the insulating layer varies between 50 A and 1 micron.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the insulating layer is the naturally formed oxide of aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the anode is in the shape of a cylindrical rod and surrounded by a cathode shell of corrosive material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the anode is in the shape of a thin strip and surrounded by a cathode shell of corrosive material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the anode is in the shape of a cylindrical rod having a cross sectional area in the range of 0.02 to 0.2 cm2, and wherein the thickness of the aluminum material is in the range of 5 to 15 microns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the anode is in the shape of a thin strip having a cross sectional area in the range of 0.02 to 0.2 cm2, and wherein the thickness of the aluminum material is in the range of 5 to 15 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the cathode is an integrated matrix of corrosive shell material forming a plurality of channels which are filled with alkali metal anode material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the cathode is an integrated matrix of corrosive shell material forming a plurality of channels which are filled with alkali metal anode material, each channel having a cross-sectional area in the range of 0.02 to 0.2 cm2.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the anode is in the shape of a hollow tube, the inside of the tube being cladded with a cathode shell, and the outside of the tube being covered with an insoluble insulating material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the anode is in the shape of a hollow tube, the inside of the tube being cladded with a cathode shell and the outside of the tube being covered with an insoluble insulating material, said insoluble insulating material being metallized on the side facing the anode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the anode is a plate, one side of which is cladded with a cathode shell and the other side covered with an insoluble insulating material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
A water activated fuel element as defined in claim 3, wherein the anode is a plate, one side of which is cladded with a cathode shell and the other side covered with an insoluble insulating material, said insoluble insulating material being metallized on the side facing the anode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A water activated primary battery consisting of a plurality of fuel elements as defined in claim 3, said fuel elements being electrically connected in series, or in parallel, or both.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |