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US4758288A
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Encapsulated lithium granules and method of manufacture
Assignee: Dodge Ronald T Co
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Filing: 1987-06-08
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Granted: 1988-07-19
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Expires: 2007-06-08
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to fuel granules of lithium having multiple coatings thereon and to the method of making the coated granules.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald J. Versic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:59
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J13/00; B01J13/02; B01J13/04; C; C06; C06B; C06B45/00; C06B45/18; C06B45/30; C06B45/32; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982; Y10T428/2991; Y10T428/2998
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
Encapsulated lithium based fuel comprising a plurality of granules, each of the granules comprising: (a) a core of metallic lithium having a nominal diameter in the range from about 0.1 mm to about 25 mm; and (b) first and second layers of encapsulation material formed thereon, one of the layers comprising a thin layer of predominantly fluorine substituted telomeric reactive material that reacts exothermally with lithium at temperatures above approximately the melting point of lithium, and the other of the layers being a thin barrier layer of material that has better structural integrity than the layer of reactive material and is substantially less chemically reactive with lithium than is the reactive material and is free of pinholes, whereby at least the lithium core of each of the granules is entirely isolated from at least the lithium core of any of the other granules.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
Encapsulated lithium based fuel comprising a plurality of granules, each of the granules comprising: (a) a core of metallic lithium having a nominal diameter in the range from about 0.1 mm to about 25 mm; and (b) first and second layers of encapsulation material formed thereon, one of the layers comprising a thin layer of predominantly fluorine substituted telomeric reactive material that reacts exothermally with lithium at temperatures above approximately the melting point of lithium, and the other of the layers being a thin barrier layer of material that has better structural integrity than the layer of reactive material and is substantially less chemically reactive with lithium than is the reactive material and is free of pinholes, whereby at least the lithium core of each of the granules is entirely isolated from at least the lithium core of any of the other granules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The lithium based fuel of claim 1 in which the barrier layer is poly-para-xylylene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The lithium based fuel of claim 2 in which the barrier layer has a thickness in the range of about one micron to about six microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The lithium based fuel of claim 2 in which the barrier layer is dichloro-polypara-xylylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The lithium based fuel of claim 1 in which the reactive material comprises a tetrafluoroethylene telomer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The lithium based fuel of claim 5 in which the metallic lithium core constitutes about 60-86 weight percent, the reactive material constitutes about 40-14 weight percent and has a nominal thickness of about 0.060 inches or less, and the barrier layer constitutes about 0.1 to about 3 weight percent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The lithium based fuel of claim in which the metallic lithium core constitutes about 60-86 weight percent of each of the granules.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The lithium based fuel of claim 1 in which the reactive material comprises Vydax® 550.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The lithium based fuel of claim 1 in which the first one of the encapsulation layers formed on the metallic lithium core is the barrier layer, and the layer of reactive material is formed on top of the barrier layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The lithium based fuel of claim 9 comprising, in addition, a second barrier layer of material that has better structural integrity then the layer of reactive material formed on top of the layer of reactive material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The lithium based fuel of claim 1 in which the first one of the encapsulation layers formed on the metallic lithium core is the layer of reactive material, and the barrier layer is formed on top of the layer of reactive material.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of multiply encapsulating granular base material comprising lithium core granules, said method comprising: (a) forming a barrier layer on the granular base material by the steps of: (i) vaporizing dipara-xylylene dimer material, (ii) pyrolyzing the resulting vapors to form reactive monomeric radicals, (iii) passing the monomeric radicals to a vacuum deposition zone, (iv) tumbling the granular base material in the deposition zone, (v) sifting the granular base material during such tumbling, and (vi) depositing the monomeric radicals on the granular base material to cause the radicals to be adsorbed and polymerized on the surfaces of the granular base material; and (b) forming a reactive telomeric layer on the granular base material by the steps of: (i) contacting the granular base material with a liquid carrier containing a predominantly fluorine substituted telomeric material, and (ii) evaporating the carrier.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of multiply encapsulating granular base material comprising lithium core granules, said method comprising: (a) forming a barrier layer on the granular base material by the steps of: (i) vaporizing dipara-xylylene dimer material, (ii) pyrolyzing the resulting vapors to form reactive monomeric radicals, (iii) passing the monomeric radicals to a vacuum deposition zone, (iv) tumbling the granular base material in the deposition zone, (v) sifting the granular base material during such tumbling, and (vi) depositing the monomeric radicals on the granular base material to cause the radicals to be adsorbed and polymerized on the surfaces of the granular base material; and (b) forming a reactive telomeric layer on the granular base material by the steps of: (i) contacting the granular base material with a liquid carrier containing a predominantly fluorine substituted telomeric material, and (ii) evaporating the carrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 in which the reactive telomeric layer is formed after the barrier layer is formed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 13 comprising the additional steps of: (a) vaporizing more dipara-xylylene dimer material; (b) pyrolyzing the resulting vapors to form reactive monomeric radicals; (c) passing the monomeric radicals to a vacuum deposition zone; (d) tumbling the granular base material in the deposition zone; (e) sifting the granular base material during such tumbling; and (f) depositing the monomeric radicals on the granular base material to cause the radicals to be adsorbed and polymerized on the exposed surfaces of the previously formed layers encapsulating the granular base material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 12 in which the reactive telomeric layer is formed on the surfaces of the lithium core granules, and the step of contacting the granular base material with a liquid carrier containing a predominantly fluorine substituted telomeric material is performed in an environment inert to lithium, and the barrier layer is formed thereafter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 15 in which the granular base material is kept at a temperature substantially below the melting point of lithium during the tumbling, sifting and depositing steps.
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) | 1991-07-19 | 1992-01-18 | 1992-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-19 | 1996-01-18 | 1996-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-19 | 2000-01-18 | 2000-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |