US4192911A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sodium sulfur battery seal
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1978-11-01
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Granted: 1980-03-11
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Expires: 1998-11-01
Abstract
Abstract This invention is directed to a seal for a sodium sulfur battery in which a flexible diaphragm sealing elements respectively engage opposite sides of a ceramic component of the battery which separates an anode compartment from a cathode compartment of the battery.
Inventors
- 👤 Armenag Topouzian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M50/00; H01M10/00; H01M10/36; H01M10/39; H01M10/3909; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
In a sodium sulfur battery an improved seal for sealing against a ceramic member which acts as a separator between an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, which improved seal includes the following structure: an outer metal can member of circular cross section having an open end; a ring-shaped flexible diaphragm seal having an inner circumferential edge and an outer circumferential edge, said flexible diaphragm seal having a generally "U" shaped cross section between its circumferential edges to provide resiliency thereto, said outer circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm being bonded in a gas tight relationship to said open end of said outer can member; a ring-shaped ceramic member having a smooth, inner facing surface and a smooth, outer facing surface, said inner circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm seal being slightly less in diameter than the diameter of said outer facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member whereby said inner circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm forms an interference fit with said smooth, outer facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member to provide a gas tight seal therebetween; and a disc-shaped inner flexible diaphragm seal having a curved cross section and an outer diameter slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of said smooth, inner facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member whereby said outer circumferential edge of said inner flexible diaphragm forms an interference fit with said smooth, inner facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member to provide a gas tight seal therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a sodium sulfur battery an improved seal for sealing against a ceramic member which acts as a separator between an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, which improved seal includes the following structure: an outer metal can member of circular cross section having an open end; a ring-shaped flexible diaphragm seal having an inner circumferential edge and an outer circumferential edge, said flexible diaphragm seal having a generally "U" shaped cross section between its circumferential edges to provide resiliency thereto, said outer circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm being bonded in a gas tight relationship to said open end of said outer can member; a ring-shaped ceramic member having a smooth, inner facing surface and a smooth, outer facing surface, said inner circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm seal being slightly less in diameter than the diameter of said outer facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member whereby said inner circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm forms an interference fit with said smooth, outer facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member to provide a gas tight seal therebetween; and a disc-shaped inner flexible diaphragm seal having a curved cross section and an outer diameter slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of said smooth, inner facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member whereby said outer circumferential edge of said inner flexible diaphragm forms an interference fit with said smooth, inner facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member to provide a gas tight seal therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The seal of claim 1, wherein said ring-shaped ceramic member is the electrolyte of the battery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
292 words
In a sodium sulfur battery an improved seal for sealing against a ceramic member which acts as a separator between an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, which improved seal includes the following structure: an outer metal can member of circular cross section having an open end; a ring-shaped flexible diaphragm seal having an inner circumferential edge and an outer circumferential edge, said flexible diaphragm seal having a generally "U" shaped cross section between its circumferential edges to provide resiliency thereto, said outer circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm seal being bonded in a gas tight relationship to said open end of said outer can member; an as sintered ring-shaped ceramic member having an inner facing surface and an outer facing surface; a thin coating of a soft metal formed on both said inner facing surface and said outer facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member to define a smooth surface on both said inner facing surface and said outer facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member, said inner circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm seal being slightly less in diameter than the diameter of said coated, facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member whereby said inner circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm forms an interference fit with said coated, outer facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member to provide a gas tight seal therebetween; and a disc-shaped inner flexible diaphragm seal having a curved cross section and an outer diameter slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of said coated, inner facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member whereby said outer circumferential edge of said inner flexible diaphragm seal forms an interference fit with said coated, inner facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member to provide a gas tight seal therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
292 words
In a sodium sulfur battery an improved seal for sealing against a ceramic member which acts as a separator between an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, which improved seal includes the following structure: an outer metal can member of circular cross section having an open end; a ring-shaped flexible diaphragm seal having an inner circumferential edge and an outer circumferential edge, said flexible diaphragm seal having a generally "U" shaped cross section between its circumferential edges to provide resiliency thereto, said outer circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm seal being bonded in a gas tight relationship to said open end of said outer can member; an as sintered ring-shaped ceramic member having an inner facing surface and an outer facing surface; a thin coating of a soft metal formed on both said inner facing surface and said outer facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member to define a smooth surface on both said inner facing surface and said outer facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member, said inner circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm seal being slightly less in diameter than the diameter of said coated, facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member whereby said inner circumferential edge of said flexible diaphragm forms an interference fit with said coated, outer facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member to provide a gas tight seal therebetween; and a disc-shaped inner flexible diaphragm seal having a curved cross section and an outer diameter slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of said coated, inner facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member whereby said outer circumferential edge of said inner flexible diaphragm seal forms an interference fit with said coated, inner facing surface of said ring-shaped ceramic member to provide a gas tight seal therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The seal of claim 3, wherein said ceramic member is the electrolyte of the battery.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1983-03-11 | 1983-09-10 | 1984-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-11 | 1987-09-10 | 1988-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-11 | 1991-09-10 | 1992-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |