US5387477A — Air manager system for metal-air battery

Claim 1

Independent Claim 125 words

An air manager system for a metal-air battery pack including a pair of metal-air cells each including an air cathode positioned along one side of the cell and an anode positioned adjacent to the opposite side of the cell, comprising: means for defining a reactive air plenum adjacent to each of said air cathodes: means for directing a reactant air flow through said reactive air plenums; means for defining a cooling air passageway adjacent to each of said anodes: means for directing a cooling air flow through said cooling air passageways; means for positioning said cells with the cathode side of one cell facing the anode side of the other cell; and a heat-exchanging material separating said reactive air plenum from said cooling air passageway.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 125 words

An air manager system for a metal-air battery pack including a pair of metal-air cells each including an air cathode positioned along one side of the cell and an anode positioned adjacent to the opposite side of the cell, comprising: means for defining a reactive air plenum adjacent to each of said air cathodes: means for directing a reactant air flow through said reactive air plenums; means for defining a cooling air passageway adjacent to each of said anodes: means for directing a cooling air flow through said cooling air passageways; means for positioning said cells with the cathode side of one cell facing the anode side of the other cell; and a heat-exchanging material separating said reactive air plenum from said cooling air passageway.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 125 words

An air frame for a metal-air battery pack including a pair of metal-air cells each including an air cathode positioned along one side of the cell and an anode positioned adjacent to the opposite side of the cell, comprising: a housing positioned between said cells with the cathode side of one cell adjacent to a first side of said housing and the anode side of the other cell adjacent to a second side of said housing; and a heat-exchanging partition dividing said housing into two chambers, a reactant air chamber in communication with the cathode of said one cell, and a cooling air chamber in communication with the anode side of said other cell; said chambers each defining entry and exit openings for airflow therethrough.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 125 words

An air frame for a metal-air battery pack including a pair of metal-air cells each including an air cathode positioned along one side of the cell and an anode positioned adjacent to the opposite side of the cell, comprising: a housing positioned between said cells with the cathode side of one cell adjacent to a first side of said housing and the anode side of the other cell adjacent to a second side of said housing; and a heat-exchanging partition dividing said housing into two chambers, a reactant air chamber in communication with the cathode of said one cell, and a cooling air chamber in communication with the anode side of said other cell; said chambers each defining entry and exit openings for airflow therethrough.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 75 words

The air frame of claim 2, wherein said housing includes a first pair of frame members supporting opposite edges of said partition and defining a plurality of entry and exit openings on one side of said partition, and a second pair of frame members supporting opposite edges of said partition not supported by said first pair of frame members, and defining a plurality of entry and exit openings on the other side of said partition.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The air frame of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of load bearing spacers positioned on both sides of said partition.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 97 words

An air manager system for a metal-air battery pack including a pair of metal-air cells each including an air cathode positioned along one side of the cell and an anode positioned adjacent to the opposite side of the cell, comprising: means for defining a cooling air passageway adjacent to each of said anodes; means for directing a cooling air flow through said cooling air passageways; means for defining a reactive air plenum adjacent to each of said air cathodes; means for recirculating a reactant air flow through said reactive air plenums independent of said cooling air flow.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 97 words

An air manager system for a metal-air battery pack including a pair of metal-air cells each including an air cathode positioned along one side of the cell and an anode positioned adjacent to the opposite side of the cell, comprising: means for defining a cooling air passageway adjacent to each of said anodes; means for directing a cooling air flow through said cooling air passageways; means for defining a reactive air plenum adjacent to each of said air cathodes; means for recirculating a reactant air flow through said reactive air plenums independent of said cooling air flow.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 60 words

The system of claim 5, wherein said battery pack includes two groups of said cells, and wherein said means for recirculating said reactant air flow comprises means for repeatedly in sequence directing said reactant air flow through the reactive air plenums of said first group of cells, and then through the reactive air plenums of said second group of cells.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 5, further comprising heat exchange means for cooling said recirculating reactant air flow.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 7, further comprising means for admitting fresh air into said recirculating reactant air flow.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for humidifying said recirculating reactant air flow.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 103 words

An air manager system for a metal-air cell having an air cathode, comprising: a housing in which the cell is positioned; means for directing a reactant air flow through a reactant air inlet to an air cathode chamber, means for exhausting the reactant air flow from the cell; means for directing a cooling air flow through a cooling air inlet adjacent to a portion of the cell isolated from the air cathode; and means for exhausting the cooling air flow from the housing; the reactant air inlet being separate from the cooling air inlet and being isolated from the exhausted cooling air flow.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 103 words

An air manager system for a metal-air cell having an air cathode, comprising: a housing in which the cell is positioned; means for directing a reactant air flow through a reactant air inlet to an air cathode chamber, means for exhausting the reactant air flow from the cell; means for directing a cooling air flow through a cooling air inlet adjacent to a portion of the cell isolated from the air cathode; and means for exhausting the cooling air flow from the housing; the reactant air inlet being separate from the cooling air inlet and being isolated from the exhausted cooling air flow.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 10, wherein the means for directing the reactant and cooling air flows comprise a barrier defining the reactant air inlet and the cooling air inlet.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 11, wherein the barrier further comprises means for selectively closing and opening the reactant air inlet.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 78 words

The system of claim 11, wherein the means for exhausting the reactant air flow includes at least one reactant air exhaust opening in the barrier through which the reactant air flow passes in leaving the cell, and wherein the means for exhausting the cooling air flow includes at least one cooling air exhaust opening through which the cooling air flow passes in leaving the cell, the exhaust openings being separate from each other and from the inlet openings.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 13, wherein the barrier further comprises means for selectively closing and opening the reactant air inlet and exhaust openings.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 69 words

The system of claim 14, wherein the means for selectively closing and opening comprises a baffle slidably positioned adjacent to the barrier, the baffle being movable between a first position in which baffle openings defined in the baffle communicate with the reactant air inlet and the reactant air exhaust opening, and a second position in which the baffle blocks the reactant air inlet and the reactant air exhaust opening.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system of claim 15, wherein the baffle further defines baffle cooling openings which communicate with the cooling air inlet and cooling air exhaust opening in both positions of the baffle.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 16, wherein the means for directing the reactant air and cooling air flows includes a fan and a duct connecting the fan with the reactant air and cooling air inlets of the barrier.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 232 words

An air manager system for a metal-air cell having an air cathode, comprising: a housing divided into a battery section and a fan section by a barrier, the cell being located in the battery section of the housing adjacent to the barrier; at least one reactant air inlet defined in the barrier and positioned to communicate with a reactant air plenum adjacent to the air cathode; at least one reactant air exhaust opening defined in the barrier and positioned to communicate with the reactant air plenum; at least one cooling air inlet defined in the barrier and positioned to communicate with a cooling air channel adjacent to a portion of the cell isolated from the air cathode; at least one cooling air exhaust opening defined in the barrier and positioned to communicate with the cooling air channel; the reactant air inlet and exhaust opening and the cooling air inlet and exhaust opening each being a separate passageway through the barrier; a duct positioned in the fan section of the housing and joining the barrier at one end of the duct so as to surround the reactant air and cooling air inlets and to isolate such inlets from the reactant air and cooling air exhaust openings; and a fan positioned to direct air from outside the housing along the duct toward the barrier, through the inlets and out of the respective exhaust openings.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 232 words

An air manager system for a metal-air cell having an air cathode, comprising: a housing divided into a battery section and a fan section by a barrier, the cell being located in the battery section of the housing adjacent to the barrier; at least one reactant air inlet defined in the barrier and positioned to communicate with a reactant air plenum adjacent to the air cathode; at least one reactant air exhaust opening defined in the barrier and positioned to communicate with the reactant air plenum; at least one cooling air inlet defined in the barrier and positioned to communicate with a cooling air channel adjacent to a portion of the cell isolated from the air cathode; at least one cooling air exhaust opening defined in the barrier and positioned to communicate with the cooling air channel; the reactant air inlet and exhaust opening and the cooling air inlet and exhaust opening each being a separate passageway through the barrier; a duct positioned in the fan section of the housing and joining the barrier at one end of the duct so as to surround the reactant air and cooling air inlets and to isolate such inlets from the reactant air and cooling air exhaust openings; and a fan positioned to direct air from outside the housing along the duct toward the barrier, through the inlets and out of the respective exhaust openings.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

The air manager system of claim 18, further comprising means for selectively opening and closing the reactant air inlet and reactant air exhaust opening.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-02-06	1998-08-08	1999-02-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-02-06	2002-08-08	2003-02-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-02-06	2006-08-08	2007-02-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Air manager system for metal-air battery

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