US4119769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal battery having iron pyrite depolarizer
Assignee: Saft America Inc
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Filing: 1977-10-31
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Granted: 1978-10-10
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Expires: 1997-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A thermal battery comprising at least one cell, and preferably a plurality of stacked cells wherein each cell comprises an anode of a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and alloys thereof. Positioned against each cell anode is a homogeneous mixture, preferably in wafer form, of the electrolyte, depolarizer, and binder. The active depolarizer species of the present invention comprises iron pyrite (FeS2) which provides a lower internal resistance to the battery and improves start times over conventional depolarizers used in thermal batteries.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan Arthur Schneider
- 👤 George C. Bowser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:36
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/30; H01M6/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A thermal primary battery comprising at least one cell element including an anode which melts at the operating temperature of the battery and which comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and alloys thereof, and a homogeneous mixture of a fusible electrolyte, a depolarizer consisting essentially of iron pyrite and a bonder, and a combustible heat generating pellet for melting the anode and fusing said electrolyte.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A thermal primary battery comprising at least one cell element including an anode which melts at the operating temperature of the battery and which comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and alloys thereof, and a homogeneous mixture of a fusible electrolyte, a depolarizer consisting essentially of iron pyrite and a bonder, and a combustible heat generating pellet for melting the anode and fusing said electrolyte.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A thermal primary battery as set forth in claim 11 wherein said anode is a metal selected from the group consisting of lithium, calcium and alloys thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A thermal primary battery as set forth in claim 1 wherein said battery comprises a plurality of recurring stacked cell elements having combustible heat generating pellet positioned between each of said stacked cell elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
A thermal primary battery comprising a plurality of stacked cell elements including an anode assembly having a fusible metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and alloys thereof melting below the operating temperature of the battery, a porous insulator member positioned against said fusible metal, a fused solidified eutectic electrolyte salt positioned to overlie said porour insulator, and a metal housing covering said fusible metal and the sides of said metal, insulator and solidified salt; a homogeneous mixture of fusible electrolyte, depolarizer consisting of iron pyrite and a binder; and a combustible heat generating pellet positioned between each of said cell elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
A thermal primary battery comprising a plurality of stacked cell elements including an anode assembly having a fusible metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and alloys thereof melting below the operating temperature of the battery, a porous insulator member positioned against said fusible metal, a fused solidified eutectic electrolyte salt positioned to overlie said porour insulator, and a metal housing covering said fusible metal and the sides of said metal, insulator and solidified salt; a homogeneous mixture of fusible electrolyte, depolarizer consisting of iron pyrite and a binder; and a combustible heat generating pellet positioned between each of said cell elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a thermal primary battery as set forth in claim 4 wherein said electrolyte and depolarizer comprise two layers, said first layer consisting of electrolyte and binder and said second layer consisting of a major portion of iron pyrite and a minor portion of electrolyte and binder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a thermal primary battery having an anode comprising a fusible metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alloys thereof, a homogeneous mixture of electrolyte, depolarizer and binder, and a combustible heat generating pellet, the improvement comprising in combination therewith the depolarizer consisting essentially of iron pyrite within said homogeneous mixture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a thermal primary battery having an anode comprising a fusible metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alloys thereof, a homogeneous mixture of electrolyte, depolarizer and binder, and a combustible heat generating pellet, the improvement comprising in combination therewith the depolarizer consisting essentially of iron pyrite within said homogeneous mixture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
In a thermal primary battery as set forth in claim 6 wherein said homogeneous mixture of electrolyte, depolarizer and binder comprises a wafer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a thermal primary battery as set forth in claim 6 wherein said homogeneous mixture of electrolyte and binder comprise a first layer of a wafer and wherein a second layer comprises a homogeneous mixture of iron pyrite, electrolyte and binder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a thermal primary battery as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second layer comprises approximately 75% by weight iron pyrite and 25% by weight electrolyte and binder.
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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) | 1981-10-09 | 1982-04-10 | 1982-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-09 | 1986-04-10 | 1986-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-09 | 1990-04-10 | 1990-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |