US4626335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lithium alloy anode for thermal cells
Assignee: Eagle Picher Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1985-08-26
•
Granted: 1986-12-02
•
Expires: 2005-08-26
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an anode for a thermal cell wherein particles of a lithium alloy are compacted under pressure with particles of an inactive metal which binds the alloy particles together but does not alloy with them. Strength and workability of the anode alloy are thereby improved, with no or surprisingly little loss of electrochemical performance.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl B. Cupp
- 👤 D. Robert Cottingham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:54
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/13; H01M4/36; H01M4/38; H01M4/40; H01M2004/026; H01M2004/027; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0048; H01M4/04; H01M4/043; H01M4/405; H01M4/46; H01M4/62; H01M4/621; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
The method of making a thermal cell which comprises, preparing an alloy of lithium and an alloying metal to form a high melting electrochemically active lithium anode alloy, comminuting said alloy to particles, blending the particles of said alloy with a powdered metal binder which is conductive and inactive at cell operating conditions, said binder being particulate, unalloyed iron, copper, nickel, or manganese, or a mixture of particles thereof, the particles of said binder being mixed with but distinct from the particles of said alloy the resulting blend being a mixture of such particles; compacting said mixture under pressure to form an anode wafer therefrom, without melting said alloy, so that the wafer comprises a cohered mass of alloy particles and binder particles; the use of said metal binder enabling said mixture to be compacted to a thinner wafer shape than without it; and assembling a thermal cell wherein one or more of said wafers comprises the anode of the cell.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
The method of making a thermal cell which comprises, preparing an alloy of lithium and an alloying metal to form a high melting electrochemically active lithium anode alloy, comminuting said alloy to particles, blending the particles of said alloy with a powdered metal binder which is conductive and inactive at cell operating conditions, said binder being particulate, unalloyed iron, copper, nickel, or manganese, or a mixture of particles thereof, the particles of said binder being mixed with but distinct from the particles of said alloy the resulting blend being a mixture of such particles; compacting said mixture under pressure to form an anode wafer therefrom, without melting said alloy, so that the wafer comprises a cohered mass of alloy particles and binder particles; the use of said metal binder enabling said mixture to be compacted to a thinner wafer shape than without it; and assembling a thermal cell wherein one or more of said wafers comprises the anode of the cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of operating said cell at a temperature of at least 400° C. but lower than the temperature at which said wafers would melt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alloy is a lithium-aluminum alloy; a lithium silicon alloy; or a lithium-boron alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said metal binder is metallurgical grade iron, copper, nickel, manganese, or a mixture of particles of such metals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said lithium anode alloy comprises, about 18-33 wt. % lithium and the balance aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said binder metal is iron.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said lithium anode alloy comprises, about 30-60 wt. % lithium and the balance silicon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alloy is mixed with said binder metal in the proportion of about 25-75 wt. % alloy and the balance said binder metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said thermal cell is a primary cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said metal binder is metallurgical grade iron.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said compacting is carried out as a dry-pressing step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
As an article of manufacture, an anode wafer for a thermal cell, said anode wafer comprising particles of a lithium anode alloy bonded with particles of a metal binder, said lithium anode alloy being of the class consisting of lithium-aluminum alloys; lithium-silicon alloys; and lithium-boron alloys, said metal binder being of the class consisting of unalloyed iron, copper, nickel, manganese; and mixtures thereof, and wherein substantially all said metal binder in said wafer remains present as a discrete phase, unalloyed with said lithium alloy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
84 words
As an article of manufacture, an anode wafer for a thermal cell, said anode wafer comprising particles of a lithium anode alloy bonded with particles of a metal binder, said lithium anode alloy being of the class consisting of lithium-aluminum alloys; lithium-silicon alloys; and lithium-boron alloys, said metal binder being of the class consisting of unalloyed iron, copper, nickel, manganese; and mixtures thereof, and wherein substantially all said metal binder in said wafer remains present as a discrete phase, unalloyed with said lithium alloy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3301711A
Cited
US3891460A
Cited
US3930888A
Cited
US4013818A
Cited
US4053011A
Cited
US4119769A
Cited
US4048395A
Cited
US4162352A
Cited
US4130500A
Cited
US4158720A
Cited
US4233376A
Cited
US4221849A
Cited
US4346152A
Cited
US4358513A
Cited
US4461816A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-01 | 1990-06-02 | 1990-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-01 | 1994-06-02 | 1994-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-01 | 1998-06-02 | 1998-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |