Patent US4632890A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4632890A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Anode metal treatment and use of said anode in cell
Assignee: Duracell Inc USA
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Filing: 1985-06-28
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Granted: 1986-12-30
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Expires: 2005-06-28
Abstract
Abstract Gassing is significantly reduced in electrochemical cells having anodes of polycrystalline metals, such as zinc, by heat treatment of the anode metal at a temperature below that of the melting point of the metal for a period of time sufficient to reduce the number of grains in the polycrystalline metal to at least a third of the original number of grains and thereafter using the metal in the formation of the cell anode. With such gassing reduction, the amount of mercury required for amalgamation with the zinc may also be reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 Chih-Chung Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/62; H01M4/628; H01M4/36; H01M4/38; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49108
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for making an electrochemical cell, with reduced gassing, with said cell having a polycrystalline metal anode, comprised of individual particles of said polycrystalline metal, and being subject to gassing, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reducing the number of grains in each of said polycrystalline metal particles to one third or less of the original number of grains without general change in the shape of the individual particles; (b) forming said individual polycrystalline metal particles, with reduced number of grains, into an anode for said cell; and (c) placing said formed polycrystalline metal anode into said cell.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for making an electrochemical cell, with reduced gassing, with said cell having a polycrystalline metal anode, comprised of individual particles of said polycrystalline metal, and being subject to gassing, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reducing the number of grains in each of said polycrystalline metal particles to one third or less of the original number of grains without general change in the shape of the individual particles; (b) forming said individual polycrystalline metal particles, with reduced number of grains, into an anode for said cell; and (c) placing said formed polycrystalline metal anode into said cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polycrystalline metal is heated at an elevated temperature, below the melting point of said metal, for a time sufficient to reduce the number of grains in said polycrystalline metal to one third or less, of the original number of grains.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said polycrystalline metal is selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, nickel, magnesium, aluminum, manganese, calcium, copper, iron, lead, tin and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said polycrystalline metal is zinc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said polycrystalline zinc is comprised of particles and said anode is formed by pouring of said particles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrochemical cell subject to reduced gassing made in accordance with the method of claim 2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrochemical cell subject to reduced gassing made in accordance with the method of claim 1.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for making an electrochemical cell, with reduced gassing, with said cell having a polycrystalline metal anode subject to gassing, said method comprising the steps of: (a) heating said polycrystalline metal at an elevated temperature, below the melting point of said metal, for a time sufficient to reduce the number of grains in said polycrystalline metal to one third or less of the original number of grains, (b) forming a cell having an anode comprising said polycrystalline metal, with reduced number of grains, wherein said polycrystalline zinc is amalgamated with mercury after the step of reducing the number of grains.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for making an electrochemical cell, with reduced gassing, with said cell having a polycrystalline metal anode subject to gassing, said method comprising the steps of: (a) heating said polycrystalline metal at an elevated temperature, below the melting point of said metal, for a time sufficient to reduce the number of grains in said polycrystalline metal to one third or less of the original number of grains, (b) forming a cell having an anode comprising said polycrystalline metal, with reduced number of grains, wherein said polycrystalline zinc is amalgamated with mercury after the step of reducing the number of grains.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said mercury comprises up to 4% by weight of said anode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrochemical cell subject to reduced gassing made in accordance with the method of claim 9.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said polycrystalline zinc is heated at a temperature of between 50° C. to 419.5° C. for a minimum period of time ranging between five minutes and two hours.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said polycrystalline zinc is heated for at least 10 minutes at a temperature of at least 370° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said polycrystalline zinc contains a lead impurity and wherein said polycrystalline zinc is heated at a temperature of at least 100° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said polycrystalline zinc is comprised of sheets.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said anode is convolutely wound within said cell.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrochemical cell subject to reduced gassing made in accordance with the method of claim 8.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cell of claim 16 wherein said cell contains an alkaline electrolyte.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for making an electrochemical cell, with reduced gassing, with said cell having a polycrystalline metal anode subject to gassing and wherein said polycrystalline metal is selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, nickel, magnesium, aluminum, manganese, calcium, copper, iron, lead, tin and mixtures thereof, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reducing the number of grains in said polycrystalline metal to one third or less of the original number of grains wherein said polycrystalline metal is heated at an elevated temperature, below the melting point of said metal, for a time sufficient to reduce the number of grains in said polycrystalline metal to one third or less of the original number of grains; (b) thereafter amalgamating said polycrystalline zinc with mercury; and (c) forming a cell having said polycrystalline metal, with reduced number of grains, as anode.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for making an electrochemical cell, with reduced gassing, with said cell having a polycrystalline metal anode subject to gassing and wherein said polycrystalline metal is selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, nickel, magnesium, aluminum, manganese, calcium, copper, iron, lead, tin and mixtures thereof, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reducing the number of grains in said polycrystalline metal to one third or less of the original number of grains wherein said polycrystalline metal is heated at an elevated temperature, below the melting point of said metal, for a time sufficient to reduce the number of grains in said polycrystalline metal to one third or less of the original number of grains; (b) thereafter amalgamating said polycrystalline zinc with mercury; and (c) forming a cell having said polycrystalline metal, with reduced number of grains, as anode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-29 | 1990-06-30 | 1990-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-29 | 1994-06-30 | 1994-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-29 | 1998-06-30 | 1998-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |