Patent US4687553A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4687553A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Unitized electrode-intercell connector module
Assignee: Eltech Systems Corp
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Filing: 1985-05-30
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Granted: 1987-08-18
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Expires: 2005-05-30
Abstract
Abstract A unitized electrode-intercell connector module is prepared for use in a bipolar electrode, especially for use in such electrode of the M-alkaline electrolyte-AgO types. In such special electrode, an imperforate foil, contacted with a conductive foam, is plated to a unitized, electrobonded assembly. Pyrolysis can lighten the assembly and may further provide for subsequent resistance to attack in an electrode environment. For the special electrode the reticulate portion of the assembly can be filled to provide an AgO electrode and the bipolar electrode completed by using a suitable electronegative metal on the foil side opposite from the AgO electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Solomon
- 👤 Charles Grun
- 👤 Donald W. Abrahamson
- 👤 James J. Stewart
- 👤 Marilyn J. Niksa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/64; H01M4/70; H01M4/72; H01M4/04; H01M4/0438; H01M4/044; H01M4/0442; H01M4/24; H01M4/36; H01M4/38; H01M4/381; H01M4/80; H01M2004/026; H01M2004/029; H01M4/043; H01M4/0471; H01M4/049; H01M4/0497; H01M4/48; H01M4/54; H01M4/66; H01M4/663; H01M4/668; H01M4/808; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
The method of producing a unitized electrode-intercell connector module of a bipolar electrode of the M-alkaline electrolyte-AgO types wherein M represents a suitable electronegative metal, which method comprises: contacting an imperforate metal foil intercell connector with a metal platable plastic foam having interconnected pores; electroplating the resulting foil-foam combination, with the plating forming reticulate metal while intermetallically electrobonding said metal to said imperforate metal foil; pyrolyzing the resulting unitized combination, thereby removing plastic foam underlying said reticulate metal plate; establishing a silver active material in the interstices of said reticulate metal plate whereby said plate is loaded with silver filling; and sintering the silver of the loaded reticulate metal plate; thereby forming said electrode-intercell connector module for a bipolar electrode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
The method of producing a unitized electrode-intercell connector module of a bipolar electrode of the M-alkaline electrolyte-AgO types wherein M represents a suitable electronegative metal, which method comprises: contacting an imperforate metal foil intercell connector with a metal platable plastic foam having interconnected pores; electroplating the resulting foil-foam combination, with the plating forming reticulate metal while intermetallically electrobonding said metal to said imperforate metal foil; pyrolyzing the resulting unitized combination, thereby removing plastic foam underlying said reticulate metal plate; establishing a silver active material in the interstices of said reticulate metal plate whereby said plate is loaded with silver filling; and sintering the silver of the loaded reticulate metal plate; thereby forming said electrode-intercell connector module for a bipolar electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a metal foil having a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, steel, stainless steel, copper, silver and alloys and intermetallic mixtures of same, is contacted with a foam having interconnected pores and containing a plastic selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyolefin, polyester, polyamide, vinyl polymers and their mixtures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said metal foil is contacted with a carbonized plastic foam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said foil-foam combination is plated with a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, silver, gold and their mixtures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said foil-foam combination is plated by nickel electroplating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said plating includes a succession of metal platings and the final plating is silver electroplating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said plating provides a discontinuous plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein pyrolyzing is conducted by heating in a step-wise manner at temperatures within the range from about 350° C. to about 700° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the heating is conducted in a non-reducing atmosphere, a reducing atmosphere, or a sequence thereof during said step-wise progression.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a silver active material in the reticulate plate interstices includes loading the interstices with particulate silver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the loading of the reticulate metal plate is a loading with dry silver particulates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the loading of the reticulate metal plate is wet method loading.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the establishing of silver active material in the reticulate plate interstices includes converting silver particulates to AgO.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the silver of said particulates is converted to AgO by anodization.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a silver active material in the reticulate plate interstices includes impregnating same with silver salt solution and precipitating AgO from said solution.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the sintering of the loaded reticulate is conducted at a temperature of below about 500° C. in a reducing atmosphere.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein an electronegative metal electrode is applied to said foil on the face opposite from the AgO electrode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the electronegative metal M of said electrode is selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, zinc, aluminum and their mixtures.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of producing a unitized electrode-intercell connector module of a bipolar electrode, which method comprises: contacting an imperforate metal foil intercell connector with a metal platable plastic foam having interconnected pores; electroplating the resulting foil-foam combination with the plating forming reticulate metal while intermetallically electrobonding said metal to said imperforate metal foil; and processing the reticulate metal plate of the resulting unitized combination to an electrode; which processing includes; filling the interstices of said reticulate metal plate with battery active material; thereby forming said electrode-intercell connector module for a bipolar electrode.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of producing a unitized electrode-intercell connector module of a bipolar electrode, which method comprises: contacting an imperforate metal foil intercell connector with a metal platable plastic foam having interconnected pores; electroplating the resulting foil-foam combination with the plating forming reticulate metal while intermetallically electrobonding said metal to said imperforate metal foil; and processing the reticulate metal plate of the resulting unitized combination to an electrode; which processing includes; filling the interstices of said reticulate metal plate with battery active material; thereby forming said electrode-intercell connector module for a bipolar electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19, wherein processing the reticulate metal plate includes pyrolyzing the resulting unitized combination to remove plastic foam underlying said reticulate metal plate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said foil-foam combination is plated with a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, cadmium, zinc, silver, gold and their mixtures.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19, wherein processing the reticulate metal plate includes filling the interstices of same with particulate silver.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19, wherein processing the reticulate metal plate includes impregnating same with silver salt solution and precipitating AgO from said solution.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19, wherein processing the reticulate metal plate includes sintering of said plate after filling the interstices thereof with battery active material.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
128 words
The method of preparing an openly porous, reticulate metal plate structure from a reticulate metal plate precursor of filiform, open pore plastic foam underlayer and plated metal toplayer, which method reduces said precursor weight while enhancing resistance of said structure to chemical attack, said method comprising: first heating said reticulate precursor at elevated temperature and for moderate time in reducing atmosphere; establishing a non reducing atmosphere while lowering said temperature; second heating the precursor residue from said first heating for a short time at said lower temperature and in said non reducing atmosphere; and continuing said heating at said lower temperature, while conducting same in a reducing atmosphere, with said heating continuing for a time exceeding the total of said first heating time plus said second heating time.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
128 words
The method of preparing an openly porous, reticulate metal plate structure from a reticulate metal plate precursor of filiform, open pore plastic foam underlayer and plated metal toplayer, which method reduces said precursor weight while enhancing resistance of said structure to chemical attack, said method comprising: first heating said reticulate precursor at elevated temperature and for moderate time in reducing atmosphere; establishing a non reducing atmosphere while lowering said temperature; second heating the precursor residue from said first heating for a short time at said lower temperature and in said non reducing atmosphere; and continuing said heating at said lower temperature, while conducting same in a reducing atmosphere, with said heating continuing for a time exceeding the total of said first heating time plus said second heating time.
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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) | 1990-08-17 | 1991-02-16 | 1991-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-17 | 1995-02-16 | 1995-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-17 | 1999-02-16 | 1999-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |