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US4455358A
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Electrochemical cells having a gelled anode-electrolyte mixture
Assignee: Duracell Inc USA
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Filing: 1979-12-26
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Granted: 1984-06-19
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Expires: 1999-12-26
Abstract
Abstract An electrochemical cell having an anode, a cathode and an aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution. The anode is an intimate gelled mixture of a powdered metal, an aqueous electrolyte solution and an agent capable of gelling the mixture. The agent is a material capable of absorbing water and having a carbohydrate backbone which has a water soluble side chain grafted thereon. A preferred agent is a water insoluble salt of an aqueous alkali saponified gelatinized starch having a water soluble side chain grafted thereon. The gelling of the intimate mixture of the powdered metal anode and electrolyte solution with the agent is a method of improving the discharge characteristics of the cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Teresita O. Graham
- 👤 John T. Goodman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:05
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/22; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/06; H01M4/62; H01M4/621; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
An electrochemical cell comprising an anode, an aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution, a separator and a cathode, said anode comprising an intimate gelled mixture of a powdered metal, aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution and an agent capable of gelling said mixture, said agent comprising a material capable of absorbing water, said agent comprising a carbohydrate backbone having water soluble side chains grafted thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electrochemical cell comprising an anode, an aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution, a separator and a cathode, said anode comprising an intimate gelled mixture of a powdered metal, aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution and an agent capable of gelling said mixture, said agent comprising a material capable of absorbing water, said agent comprising a carbohydrate backbone having water soluble side chains grafted thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The cell of claim 1 wherein said side chains are ionized.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The cell of claim 1 wherein said anode metal comprises zinc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The cell of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate comprises starch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cell of claim 1 wherein said side chain is selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile, acrylamide, acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid ester, vinylacetate, N-vinyl-2 pyrrolidone, salts of alginic acid, gluconic acid, and mixtures of these.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cell of claim 1 wherein the side chain has been chemically grafted to said carbohydrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
An electrochemical cell comprising an anode, an aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution, a separator, and a cathode, said anode comprising an intimate gelled mixture of powdered metal, aqueous electrolyte solution, and an agent capable of gelling said mixture, said agent comprising a water insoluble salt of an aqueous alkali saponified material comprising a gelatinized starch backbone having water soluble side chains grafted thereon, and containing gelatinized starch and saponified side chain in molar ratios of from about 1:1 to 1:9.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
An electrochemical cell comprising an anode, an aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution, a separator, and a cathode, said anode comprising an intimate gelled mixture of powdered metal, aqueous electrolyte solution, and an agent capable of gelling said mixture, said agent comprising a water insoluble salt of an aqueous alkali saponified material comprising a gelatinized starch backbone having water soluble side chains grafted thereon, and containing gelatinized starch and saponified side chain in molar ratios of from about 1:1 to 1:9.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cell of claim 7 wherein said side chain is selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile, acrylamide, acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid ester, vinylacetate, N-vinyl-2 pyrrolidone, salts of alginic acid, gluconic acid, and mixtures of these.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The cell of claim 8 wherein said side chain comprises acrylonitrile.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cell of claim 7 wherein said electrolyte solution comprises an aqueous solution of a hydroxide having a cation selected from the group consisting of alkali and alkaline earth metals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cell of claim 7 wherein the water insoluble salt comprises an alkaline salt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A powder-gel anode comprising a major portion of a consumable zinc anodic material, a minor amount of a starch-graft copolymer in which the copolymer contains carboxylate units, and an aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A powder-gel anode comprising a major portion of a consumable zinc anodic material, a minor amount of a starch-graft copolymer in which the copolymer contains carboxylate units, and an aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The powder-gel anode of claim 12 wherein the consumable zinc anodic material is a powder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The powder-gel anode of claim 13 wherein the starch graft copolymer is present in an amount between about 0.6 and about 11% by weight of the anodic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The powder-gel anode of claim 14 wherein the starch graft copolymer is present in an amount between about 0.6 and about 4% by weight of the anodic material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The powder-gel anode of claim 12, 13, 14, or 15 wherein the electrolyte solution is aqueous potassium hydroxide.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
An alkaline-MnO 2 cell employing an aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution and a powder-gel anode comprising a major portion of a consumable zinc anodic material, a minor amount of a starch graft copolymer in which the copolymer contains carboxylate units, and an aqueous electrolyte solution.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
An alkaline-MnO 2 cell employing an aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution and a powder-gel anode comprising a major portion of a consumable zinc anodic material, a minor amount of a starch graft copolymer in which the copolymer contains carboxylate units, and an aqueous electrolyte solution.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The alkaline-MnO 2 cell of claim 17 wherein the electrolyte solution is aqueous potassium hydroxide.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The alkaline-MnO 2 cell of claim 17 or 18 wherein the starch graft copolymer is present in an amount between about 0.6 and about 11% by weight of the anodic material in the cell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The alkaline-MnO 2 cell of claim 17 or 18 wherein the starch graft copolymer is present in an amount between about 0.4 and about 6.4% by weight of the total electrolyte solution.
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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) | 1987-06-19 | 1987-12-19 | 1988-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-19 | 1991-12-19 | 1992-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-19 | 1995-12-19 | 1996-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |