US4579791A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cell anode
Assignee: Duracell Inc USA
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Filing: 1984-10-01
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2004-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A method for making single crystals of metal or other crystallizing materials whereby powders of irregular shaped single crystal particles (as small as 325 mesh or about 50 microns) may be readily and economically made. Said method comprises the steps of: (a) forming thin individual coatings on each of said particles such as oxides of metals on metal particles; (b) melting the particle material within said coatings which function as individual particle crucibles; (c) cooling the melted particles within the coatings to form individual single crystals each within its own coating; and (d) removing the coating such as by solvation with a solvent or by chemical reaction. The single crystal particles conform to the original shape of the particles which may be irregular. Such irregular shaped single crystals, such as of zinc, when used in electrochemical cell anodes enables the utilization of reduced amounts of mercury for amalgamation thereof without significant increase in cell gassing.
Inventors
- 👤 Chih-Chung Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:45
CPC Classifications
C; C30; C30B; C30B11/00; C30B11/002; C30B29/00; C30B29/10; C30B29/52; C30B29/60; H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/36; H01M4/38; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
20 words
An anode for an electrochemical cell comprising an anode active material consisting essentially of irregularly shaped single crystal metal particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
An anode for an electrochemical cell comprising an anode active material consisting essentially of irregularly shaped single crystal metal particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The anode of claim 1 wherein said metal is zinc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The anode of claim 2 wherein said single crystal zinc particles are amalgamated with mercury.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The anode of claim 1 wherein said anode further comprises a gelling agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An anode for an electrochemical cell comprised of single crystal metal particles having a particle size up to about -20 mesh.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An anode for an electrochemical cell comprised of single crystal metal particles having a particle size up to about -20 mesh.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The anode of claim 5 wherein said metal is zinc.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The anode of claim 6 wherein the average particle size of said single crystal zinc particles is between about -100 and +200 mesh.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The anode of claim 6 wherein the average particle size is between -60 and +100 mesh.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The anode of claim 6 wherein said singles crystal zinc particles are amalgamated with mercury.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The anode of claim 5 wherein said anode further comprises a gelling agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The anode of claim 9 wherein said mercury comprises up to about 4% by weight of said anode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
165 words
An anode for an electrochemical cell comprised of single crystal metal particles, said particles having been made by the steps comprising: (a) forming individual substantially continuous coatings on the external surfaces of each of the individual particles of a particulate metal material which is capable of being crystallized, said coatings being of a material having higher melting and decomposition temperatures than the melting temperature of said particulate metal material and wherein said coatings are each of a thickness and composition with sufficient mechanical strength to act as self-supporting shape retaining crucibles for said metal particles when such metal particles are melted; (b) raising the temperature of said coated particulate metal material to above the melting point thereof but below the lower of the melting point or the decomposition temperature of said coating material whereby substantially all of the particulate metal material is melted within said coating; and (c) slowly cooling said particulate metal material whereby substantially all of said particles become individual single metal crystals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
165 words
An anode for an electrochemical cell comprised of single crystal metal particles, said particles having been made by the steps comprising: (a) forming individual substantially continuous coatings on the external surfaces of each of the individual particles of a particulate metal material which is capable of being crystallized, said coatings being of a material having higher melting and decomposition temperatures than the melting temperature of said particulate metal material and wherein said coatings are each of a thickness and composition with sufficient mechanical strength to act as self-supporting shape retaining crucibles for said metal particles when such metal particles are melted; (b) raising the temperature of said coated particulate metal material to above the melting point thereof but below the lower of the melting point or the decomposition temperature of said coating material whereby substantially all of the particulate metal material is melted within said coating; and (c) slowly cooling said particulate metal material whereby substantially all of said particles become individual single metal crystals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
The anode of claim 12 wherein said metal is zinc.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The anode of claim 13 wherein said single crystal zinc particles are amalgamated with mercury.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The anode of claim 12 wherein said anode further comprises a gelling agent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The anode of claim 12 wherein said single crystal metal particles have a particle size up to -20 mesh.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
10 words
The anode of claim 16 wherein said metal is zinc.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The anode of claim 17 wherein the average particle size of said single crystal zinc particles is between about -100 and +200 mesh.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The anode of claim 17 wherein the average particle size is between -60 and +100 mesh.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The anode of claim 17 wherein said single crystal zinc particles are amalgamated with mercury.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The anode of claim 20 wherein said anode further comprises a gelling agent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The anode of claim 21 wherein said mercury comprises up to about 4% by weight of said anode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
An electrochemical cell having the anode of any of claims 1-22.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a manganese dioxide cathode, an alkaline electrolyte and an anode consisting essentially of mercury amalgamated single crystal zinc particles.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a manganese dioxide cathode, an alkaline electrolyte and an anode consisting essentially of mercury amalgamated single crystal zinc particles.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cell of claim 24 wherein said anode further contains a gelling agent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a manganese dioxide cathode, an alkaline electrolyte and an anode comprising mercury amalgamated single crystal zinc particles, wherein said single crystal zinc particles have a particle size of -20 mesh.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrochemical cell comprising a manganese dioxide cathode, an alkaline electrolyte and an anode comprising mercury amalgamated single crystal zinc particles, wherein said single crystal zinc particles have a particle size of -20 mesh.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cell of claim 26 wherein said anode further contains a gelling agent.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for retarding gassing in an aqueous electrochemical cell having a mercury amalgamated zinc anode wherein said mercury comprises up to about 4% by weight of said anode, said method comprising the step of forming said anode with zinc particles consisting essentially of irregularly shaped single crystals.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for retarding gassing in an aqueous electrochemical cell having a mercury amalgamated zinc anode wherein said mercury comprises up to about 4% by weight of said anode, said method comprising the step of forming said anode with zinc particles consisting essentially of irregularly shaped single crystals.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said mercury amalgamated zinc anode is gelled with a gelling agent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3844838A
Cited
US3853625A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-31 | 1989-09-30 | 1990-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-31 | 1993-09-30 | 1994-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-31 | 1997-09-30 | 1998-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |