Air assisted alkaline cells

Claim 2

A cathode for an air assisted alkaline cell comprising: a mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 having a packing density gradient when shaped into a cathode with the lowest packing density predominating at the portion of said cathode intended to be contacted by air during the operation of the cell.

Claim 3

A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell comprising: a mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 wherein said mixture is predominantly solid MnO 2 in order to provide a cell with a high ampere hour output in the absence of air.

Claim 4

A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell comprising: a mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 wherein said mixture is predominantly solid MnO 2 in order to provide a cell with a high ampere hour output in the absence of air.

Claim 5

A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 is in an approximate ratio by weight of 1:5 of porous MnO 2 to substantially solid MnO 2 .

Claim 6

A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said porous MnO 2 is chemically prepared MnO 2 and said substantially solid MnO 2 is electrolytically prepared MnO 2 .

Claim 7

A cathode for an air assisted alkaline cell comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with said porous MnO 2 being present in an effective amount to provide air paths into the cathode and thereby recharge the cell in the presence of air.

Claim 8

A cathode for an air assisted alkaline cell comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with said porous MnO 2 being present in an effective amount to provide air paths into the cathode and thereby recharge the cell in the presence of air.

Claim 9

A cathode for an air assisted alkaline cell comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with the porous MnO 2 being present in an amount effective to enable recharging of a cathode prepared from said mixture when used in an air assisted alkaline cell in the presence of air and with the substantially solid MnO 2 being present in an amount to produce an acceptable alkaline cell in the absence of air.

Claim 10

A cathode for an air assisted alkaline cell comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with the porous MnO 2 being present in an amount effective to enable recharging of a cathode prepared from said mixture when used in an air assisted alkaline cell in the presence of air and with the substantially solid MnO 2 being present in an amount to produce an acceptable alkaline cell in the absence of air.

Claim 11

A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 is in an approximate ratio by weight of 1:5 porous MnO 2 to substantially solid MnO 2 .

Claim 12

A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 6 wherein: said mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 is predominantly substantially solid MnO 2 .

Claim 15

A method for preparing a cathode as set forth in claim 9, wherein an impact extrusion machine is used to subject said cathode to pressure.

Claim 16

An air assisted alkaline cell comprising: a conductive container for supporting the components of said cell and for forming an external terminal for said cell; a cathode electrode in contact with the inner wall of said container, said cathode comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with said porous MnO 2 being present in an effective amount to recharge the cell in the presence of air; an anode electrode, said anode electrode comprising metallic zinc, a binder and an electrolyte; a separator for electrically isolating said cathode electrode from said anode electrode; an anode current collector in electrical contact with said anode electrode; an external terminal for said cell in contact with said anode current collector; an aqueous alkaline electrolyte for facilitating the electrochemical reaction in said cell; and an air permeable seal for closing said conductive container and for allowing oxygen to enter the cell and come in contact with said cathode electrode.

Claim 17

An air assisted alkaline cell comprising: a conductive container for supporting the components of said cell and for forming an external terminal for said cell; a cathode electrode in contact with the inner wall of said container, said cathode comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with said porous MnO 2 being present in an effective amount to recharge the cell in the presence of air; an anode electrode, said anode electrode comprising metallic zinc, a binder and an electrolyte; a separator for electrically isolating said cathode electrode from said anode electrode; an anode current collector in electrical contact with said anode electrode; an external terminal for said cell in contact with said anode current collector; an aqueous alkaline electrolyte for facilitating the electrochemical reaction in said cell; and an air permeable seal for closing said conductive container and for allowing oxygen to enter the cell and come in contact with said cathode electrode.

Claim 18

An air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said cathode has a packing density gradient with the lowest percentage of solids predominating at the portion of the cathode contacted by air during the operation of said cell.

Claim 19

An air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said cathode is a 1:5 mixture by weight of porous MnO 2 to substantially solid MnO 2 .

Claim 20

An air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said porous MnO 2 is chemically prepared MnO 2 and said substantially solid MnO 2 is electrolytically deposited MnO 2 .

Claim 21

An air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said aqueous alkaline electrolyte is an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide.

Claim 24

A method for preparing an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 is mixed in a ratio which is predominantly substantially solid MnO 2 .

Claim 25

A method for preparing an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 is mixed in a 1:5 ratio by weight of porous MnO 2 to substantially solid MnO 2 .

Claim 26

A method for preparing an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said anode composition comprises a mixture of zinc powder and a binder.