Abuse resistant cells containing fluid depolarizers

Claim 1

An abuse resistant electrochemical cell comprising an active metal anode selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, berylium, magnesium, calcium, and aluminum electrically connected to a terminal therefor, and an inactive conductive cathode, with said anode and cathode having surfaces thereof respectively which face each other, said cell further comprising a fluid depolarizer/electrolyte solvent selected group consisting of inorganic oxyhalides, inorganic thiohalides, nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), and sulfur trioxide (SO 3 ) with electrolyte salt dissolved therein with said anode and cathode being immersed in said fluid depolarizer, characterized in that said active metal anode and said fluid depolarizer/electrolyte solvent are each present in excess of the dischargeable capacity of said cell, with said excess active metal anode being of an amount sufficient such that a surface thereof remains substantially facing said initially facing surface of said cathode, with said excess active metal anode remaining electrically connected to said terminal; and said excess fluid depolarizer/electrolyte solvent being of an amount sufficient to substantially wet said excess anode and said cathode, whereby current may be conducted therethrough without heat concentration within said cell, and wherein said excess fluid depolarizer/electrolyte solvent contains sufficient electrolyte salt dissolved therein whereby said fluid depolarizer, with dissolved salt, retains a conductivity sufficiently high such that current may be carried therethrough without resistance heat buildup.