US4184012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cell reaction barrier
Assignee: Duracell Inc USA
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Filing: 1978-06-05
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Granted: 1980-01-15
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Expires: 1998-06-05
Abstract
Abstract Fragmentation with electrical discontinuity in a consumable electrode of an electrochemical cell is minimized by preventing a portion of said electrode from reacting by means of a reaction barrier.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph N. Barrella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/14; H01M50/00; H01M50/40; H01M50/471; H01M50/474; H01M6/50; H01M50/48; H01M50/483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a consumable electrode, a terminal for said electrode, said terminal and said consumable electrode being discrete elements, and an electrode of opposite polarity, said consumable electrode being connected to said terminal, said cell further comprising means to prevent electrical disengagement from said terminal of remote portions of said consumable electrode, wherein said means to prevent electrical disengagement retards reaction of a continuous portion of said consumable electrode from adjacent said terminal to a locus adjacent said remote portions, whereby said remote portions of said consumable electrode remain electrically connected to said terminal throughout discharge of said cell so that electrical continuity between said consumable electrode and said terminal is maintained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a consumable electrode, a terminal for said electrode, said terminal and said consumable electrode being discrete elements, and an electrode of opposite polarity, said consumable electrode being connected to said terminal, said cell further comprising means to prevent electrical disengagement from said terminal of remote portions of said consumable electrode, wherein said means to prevent electrical disengagement retards reaction of a continuous portion of said consumable electrode from adjacent said terminal to a locus adjacent said remote portions, whereby said remote portions of said consumable electrode remain electrically connected to said terminal throughout discharge of said cell so that electrical continuity between said consumable electrode and said terminal is maintained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said portion extends along substantially the entire length of said consumable electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a consumable electrode, a terminal connection for said electrode, and an electrode of opposite polarity, wherein said consumable electrode is electrically engaged with said terminal connection, and further comprising means for retarding reaction of a portion of said consumable electrode, said portion being electrically connected throughout discharge of said cell to said terminal connection whereby electrical continuity between said consumable electrode and said terminal connection is maintained, wherein said means for retarding reaction comprises electrical insulation between a section of said electrode of opposite polarity, and the current collector thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a consumable electrode, a terminal connection for said electrode, and an electrode of opposite polarity, wherein said consumable electrode is electrically engaged with said terminal connection, and further comprising means for retarding reaction of a portion of said consumable electrode, said portion being electrically connected throughout discharge of said cell to said terminal connection whereby electrical continuity between said consumable electrode and said terminal connection is maintained, wherein said means for retarding reaction comprises electrical insulation between a section of said electrode of opposite polarity, and the current collector thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said means to prevent electrical disengagement comprises a section of said electrode of opposite polarity having reduced ionic flow therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a consumable electrode, a terminal connection for said electrode, and an electrode of opposite polarity, wherein said consumable electrode is electrically engaged with said terminal connection, and further comprising means for retarding reaction of a portion of said consumable electrode, said portion being electrically connected throughout discharge of said cell to said terminal connection whereby electrical continuity between said consumable electrode and said terminal connection is maintained, wherein said means for retarding reaction comprises a section of said electrode of opposite polarity having reduced electronic conductivity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a consumable electrode, a terminal connection for said electrode, and an electrode of opposite polarity, wherein said consumable electrode is electrically engaged with said terminal connection, and further comprising means for retarding reaction of a portion of said consumable electrode, said portion being electrically connected throughout discharge of said cell to said terminal connection whereby electrical continuity between said consumable electrode and said terminal connection is maintained, wherein said means for retarding reaction comprises a section of said electrode of opposite polarity having reduced electronic conductivity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said means to prevent electrical disengagement comprises a section of said electrode of opposite polarity having reduced cell reaction sites.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said means to prevent electrical disengagement comprises an ionic flow impeding barrier positioned between the opposing surfaces of said consumable electrode and said electrode of opposite polarity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 7 wherein said barrier comprises at least one ionically less permeable portion of a separator disposed between said consumable electrode and said electrode of opposite polarity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a consumable electrode, a terminal connection for said electrode, and an electrode of opposite polarity, wherein said consumable electrode is electrically engaged with said terminal connection, and further comprising means for retarding reaction of a portion of said consumable electrode, said portion being electrically connected throughout discharge of said cell to said terminal connection whereby electrical continuity between said consumable electrode and said terminal connection is maintained, wherein said means for retarding reaction comprises an ionic flow barrier disposed within said consumable electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a consumable electrode, a terminal connection for said electrode, and an electrode of opposite polarity, wherein said consumable electrode is electrically engaged with said terminal connection, and further comprising means for retarding reaction of a portion of said consumable electrode, said portion being electrically connected throughout discharge of said cell to said terminal connection whereby electrical continuity between said consumable electrode and said terminal connection is maintained, wherein said means for retarding reaction comprises an ionic flow barrier disposed within said consumable electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said consumable electrode is the limiting electrode of said cell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 10 wherein said limiting electrode is comprised of lithium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 11 wherein said cell contains a sulfur dioxide depolarizer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said portion occupies a volume of less than 20% of the consumable electrode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrochemical cell comprising an elongated consumable metal anode, a terminal for said anode connected thereto at an end thereof, an elongated cathode and at least one elongated separator between said anode and cathode characterized in that means to prevent electrical disengagement from said terminal of remote portions of said elongated anode is positioned between opposing surfaces of said anode and cathode along substantially the entire length of the longitudinal axis of said anode and cathode and wherein said means comprises an ionic flow impeding barrier with a section thereof adjacent the end of said anode connected to said terminal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrochemical cell comprising an elongated consumable metal anode, a terminal for said anode connected thereto at an end thereof, an elongated cathode and at least one elongated separator between said anode and cathode characterized in that means to prevent electrical disengagement from said terminal of remote portions of said elongated anode is positioned between opposing surfaces of said anode and cathode along substantially the entire length of the longitudinal axis of said anode and cathode and wherein said means comprises an ionic flow impeding barrier with a section thereof adjacent the end of said anode connected to said terminal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 14 wherein said anode is comprised of lithium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 15 wherein said ionic flow impeding barrier comprises at least one ionically less permeable portion of at least one of said separators.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 16 wherein said less permeable portion is situated centrally along said longitudinal axis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 17 wherein said cathode comprises a carbonaceous substrate for a sulfur dioxide depolarizer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein said anode, cathode and separators therebetween are wound into a rolled structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 8 wherein said separator is comprised of polypropylene.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrochemical of claim 8 wherein said ionically less permeable portion of said separator comprises a densified portion of said separator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 21 with said separator having been heat treated to form said densified portion thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 16 wherein said ionically less permeable portion of at least one of said separators comprises a densified portion of at least one of said separators.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 23 with said at least one of said separators having been heat treated to form said densified portion thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein said separator is comprised of polypropylene.
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) | 1983-01-14 | 1983-07-16 | 1984-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-01-14 | 1987-07-16 | 1988-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-01-14 | 1991-07-16 | 1992-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |