US4173686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sodium sulphur cells
Assignee: Chloride Silent Power Ltd
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Filing: 1978-09-14
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Granted: 1979-11-06
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Expires: 1998-09-14
Abstract
Abstract In a sodium-sulphur cell, a cathode current collector, which extends into the cathodic region to provide a high conductivity current path, is formed of aluminium with a sheath over the surface of the aluminium or with finned elements secured to the aluminium, the sheath or fins being of a corrosion-resistant metal and being secured to the aluminium by bonding through a protective coating over the surface of the aluminium which serves to protect the aluminium from the cathodic reactant.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael P. J. Brennan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/36; H01M10/39; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A sodium sulphur cell in which a solid electrolyte separates sodium from a cathodic reactant, wherein there is provided a cathode current collector in contact with the cathodic reactant, which current collector comprises a substrate of a first metal which, at least on its surface exposed to the cathodic reactant, has a protective coating of a material chemically and electrically inert to the cathodic reactant, and at least one element of a second metal bonded through the protective coating onto the substrate to be in electrical contact therewith, said element being exposed to the cathodic reactant and being formed of a metal which is either chemically and electrochemically resistant to attack by the cathodic reactant or is coated with a corrosion resistant electronically conductive coating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A sodium sulphur cell in which a solid electrolyte separates sodium from a cathodic reactant, wherein there is provided a cathode current collector in contact with the cathodic reactant, which current collector comprises a substrate of a first metal which, at least on its surface exposed to the cathodic reactant, has a protective coating of a material chemically and electrically inert to the cathodic reactant, and at least one element of a second metal bonded through the protective coating onto the substrate to be in electrical contact therewith, said element being exposed to the cathodic reactant and being formed of a metal which is either chemically and electrochemically resistant to attack by the cathodic reactant or is coated with a corrosion resistant electronically conductive coating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cathode current collector comprises a substrate of aluminium or aluminium alloy, said protective coating being of aluminium oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cathode current collector comprises a substrate of aluminium or aluminium alloy, said protective coating being of nickel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein an element of a second metal comprises at least one sheath element extending adjacent at least part of the coated substrate and secured thereto in a plurality of regions by welding through the coating so that said sheath element, at each weld, is in electrical contact with the substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 4 wherein said sheath element is at least partly spaced away from the coated substrate in the unwelded regions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 1 and having the electrolyte in the form of a tube with the cathodic reactant inside the tube wherein the substrate is a rod or tube and wherein said element extends around the cylindrical surface of the rod or tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said element comprises a plurality of fins extending away from the surface of the substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 7 and wherein the cell is of tubular form with the cathodic reactant inside a solid electrolyte tube and wherein the fins lie in planes extending in the axial direction of the cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 8 wherein each fin is formed by a V-shaped portion of metal foil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 9 wherein a single sheet of foil is arranged to form a plurality of fins around the tubular substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second metal is nickel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second metal is a nickel-chromium alloy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second metal is stainless steel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second metal is molybdenum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second metal is titanium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said element of said second metal has an electronically conductive protective coating of a material chemically resistant to the cathodic reactant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
90 words
A sodium sulphur cell in which a solid electrolyte separates sodium from a cathodic reactant, wherein there is provided a cathode current collector in contact with the cathodic reactant, which current collector is formed of aluminium with a protective coating and having fins of another metal heat sealed to the aluminium through the protective coating and extending outwardly into the cathodic reactant, said other metal being a metal which is either chemically and electrochemically resistant to attack by the cathodic reactant or is coated with a corrosion-resistant electronically conductive coating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
90 words
A sodium sulphur cell in which a solid electrolyte separates sodium from a cathodic reactant, wherein there is provided a cathode current collector in contact with the cathodic reactant, which current collector is formed of aluminium with a protective coating and having fins of another metal heat sealed to the aluminium through the protective coating and extending outwardly into the cathodic reactant, said other metal being a metal which is either chemically and electrochemically resistant to attack by the cathodic reactant or is coated with a corrosion-resistant electronically conductive coating.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 17 wherein said current collector is in the form of a rod or tube and has radially extending fins formed of a nickel-chromium or nickel-chromium-iron alloy welded to the aluminium rod or tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in claim 18 wherein the rod or tube is nickel-plated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sodium sulphur cell as claimed in any of claims 17 to 19 wherein the fins are made of thin sheet material.
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) | 1982-11-05 | 1983-05-07 | 1983-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-05 | 1987-05-07 | 1987-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-05 | 1991-05-07 | 1991-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |