US4913983A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal-air battery power supply
Assignee: DREISBACH ELECTROMOTIVE Inc A CORP OF OHIO
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Filing: 1988-09-13
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Granted: 1990-04-03
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Expires: 2008-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A metal-air battery power supply for powering a device includes an enclosed container having an air inlet, an air outlet, and an array of connected metal-air battery cells therein. The container is sealed during non-use. When a power switch is turned on, the air inlet and air outlet are opened. At the same time, the residual low power of the battery cells is used to start a fan positioned near the air inlet. The fan initiates an air flow across the battery cells to further increase the power supply output. The power supply output is limited to the use requirement of the device by varying the fan speed in response to instructions from the device. Precise control of the battery cells' exposure to air extends the lifetimes of the cells.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael C. Cheiky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; H01M8/04082; H01M8/04089; H01M12/00; H01M12/04; H01M12/06; H01M6/00; H01M6/50; H01M6/5038; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A metal-air battery power supply for powering a device, comprising: an enclosed power supply container, including: an air inlet for allowing air to flow into the power supply container; an air outlet for allowing air to flow out of the power supply container; baffle means for alternately opening and closing the air inlet and the air outlet; at least one metal-air battery cell located inside the power supply container for generating electrical power, said battery having a low level of residual power when said outlet is closed and the container is depleted of oxygen; a switch means for controlling the operation of the baffle means; a fan located near the air inlet that causes air to flow into the power supply container when the air inlet is open and the fan is running said fan being capable of start-up at the low, residual power level of said cell; fan starting means, in circuit connection with the fan and the switch means, for starting the operation of the fan solely by means of the low residual power in said cell in response to said switch means; and a first output means, in circuit connection with said battery cell, for outputting electrical power generated by the battery cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A metal-air battery power supply for powering a device, comprising: an enclosed power supply container, including: an air inlet for allowing air to flow into the power supply container; an air outlet for allowing air to flow out of the power supply container; baffle means for alternately opening and closing the air inlet and the air outlet; at least one metal-air battery cell located inside the power supply container for generating electrical power, said battery having a low level of residual power when said outlet is closed and the container is depleted of oxygen; a switch means for controlling the operation of the baffle means; a fan located near the air inlet that causes air to flow into the power supply container when the air inlet is open and the fan is running said fan being capable of start-up at the low, residual power level of said cell; fan starting means, in circuit connection with the fan and the switch means, for starting the operation of the fan solely by means of the low residual power in said cell in response to said switch means; and a first output means, in circuit connection with said battery cell, for outputting electrical power generated by the battery cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The metal-air battery power supply of claim 1, further comprising: determining means for determining the power required by said device and outputting a control signal corresponding to the power required; and control means, in circuit connection with said fan, for controlling said fan in response to said control signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The metal-air battery power supply of claim 1, further comprising: storage means in said device for storing fan control instructions; and a second output means, in circuit connection with said fan control means, for outputting said fan control instructions to said fan control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
The metal-air battery power supply of claim 3, wherein said stored fan control instructions include: low power instructions that direct said fan control means to operate said fan at a low speed when relatively low power is required by the device; normal power instructions that direct said fan control means to operate said fan at a medium speed when the device requires a normal amount of power; and high power instructions that direct said fan control means to operate said fan at a high speed when the device requires a relatively high amount of power.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of supplying electrical power to a device, comprising: turning on a power switch; opening an air inlet and an air outlet in an enclosed sealed, oxygen depleted power supply container in response to the turning on of the power switch, the container having at least one metal-air battery cell having a low level of residual power therein; starting a fan positioned near the air inlet in response to the turning on of said switch using only the residual low power output by the battery cell, said fan creating an air flow into said container to increase the power output by the battery cell; and outputting the increased power output by the battery cell to the device to power the device.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of supplying electrical power to a device, comprising: turning on a power switch; opening an air inlet and an air outlet in an enclosed sealed, oxygen depleted power supply container in response to the turning on of the power switch, the container having at least one metal-air battery cell having a low level of residual power therein; starting a fan positioned near the air inlet in response to the turning on of said switch using only the residual low power output by the battery cell, said fan creating an air flow into said container to increase the power output by the battery cell; and outputting the increased power output by the battery cell to the device to power the device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising: determining the power required by the device; and controlling the speed of the fan to vary the power output by the battery cell so that the power output by the battery cell is substantially equal to the determined power required by the device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
25 words
The method of claims 5 or 6, further comprising: closing the air inlet and the air outlet when the power supply is not in use.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A metal-air batter power supply according to claim 1 in which the metal-air battery cell includes a metal anode, an aqueous electrolyte and an air cathode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A metal-air battery power supply according to claim 8 in which the metal-air cathode contains additive oxidizer in an amount sufficient to provide residual power to start operation of said form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A metal-air battery power supply according to claim 8 in which the electrolyte contains a metal hydroxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A metal-air battery power supply according to claim 8 in which a plurality of metal-air battery cells are interconnected into an array.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A metal-air battery power supply according to claim 11 in which each cell contains an air duct.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 5 in which the metal-air battery cell includes a metal anode, an aqueous electrolyte and an air cathode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 13 in which the metal-air cathode contains additive oxidizer in an amount sufficient to provide residual power to start operation of said form.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 13 in which the electrolyte contains a metal hydroxide.
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) | 1993-04-02 | 1993-10-02 | 1994-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-02 | 1997-10-02 | 1998-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-02 | 2001-10-02 | 2002-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |