CA1116692A - Sea water activatable electric storage battery - Google Patents
Sea water activatable electric storage batteryInfo
- Publication number
- CA1116692A CA1116692A CA000331955A CA331955A CA1116692A CA 1116692 A CA1116692 A CA 1116692A CA 000331955 A CA000331955 A CA 000331955A CA 331955 A CA331955 A CA 331955A CA 1116692 A CA1116692 A CA 1116692A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- storage battery
- electric storage
- partitions
- box
- partition
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M6/00—Primary cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M6/30—Deferred-action cells
- H01M6/32—Deferred-action cells activated through external addition of electrolyte or of electrolyte components
- H01M6/34—Immersion cells, e.g. sea-water cells
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M10/04—Construction or manufacture in general
- H01M10/0413—Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
- H01M10/0418—Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes with bipolar electrodes
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
- Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Sealing Battery Cases Or Jackets (AREA)
- Cell Separators (AREA)
- Supply Devices, Intensifiers, Converters, And Telemotors (AREA)
- Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERIES
An electric storage battery has electrodes (20,21) connected through thin sheet partitions (23), which are nested in a preformed box (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) as a tight fit therein but are not sealed to the box.
ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERIES
An electric storage battery has electrodes (20,21) connected through thin sheet partitions (23), which are nested in a preformed box (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) as a tight fit therein but are not sealed to the box.
Description
:111669Z
The pres.ent inyention relates to electric storage batteries: and particularly b.ut not exclusively to sea water activatable batteries and describ.es an improved form of con-tainer construction, and an improved form of separator arrange-ment.
Bri~ish patent specification No. 1172517 shows a battery~, which is activatable b.y sea water, having the cells spaced apart by barriers of flexible sheet material, the top, the bottom, and the two side walls of the battery being adhes-ively fastened to the opposing end walls and to the b.arriers.This is a difficult construction to assemble and does not lend itself readily to mass production.
An object of the pres:ent invention is to produce a simpler container construction than hitherto available, and a separator arrangement which simplifies assembly of the battery.
According to one aspect of the present invention a sea water actiyatable electric storage battery which is made up of a stack of intercell partitions, with pairs of separated positive and negative electrodes. between adjacent partitions, the partitions having at least one pair of opposed edges, referred to herein as the top and bottom edges, being located within compartments formed by the partitions and a preformed box in which th.e stack of intercell partitions and electrodes is enclosed, the top and bottom edges of the intercell partitions being located within a distance, A, of not more than 20 thou.
(0.5 mm) from the inside face of the top and bottom walls of the b.ox over subs:tantially the full width of the box, the length of the path around each of the top and bottom ed~es of each inter-cell partition from the end of an electrode on one side of the partition to the end of the electrode on the other side of the partition being at least 5 mms, the top and bottom ends of the electrodes each being spaced a distance, B, of at least 3 mms from the inside face of the top and bottom walls of the pre-formed box, and the opposed side edges of the intercell parti-tions extending out beyond the dimensions required merely for a close fit in the said preformed box so that the edge of each partition is folded over and overlaps at least the adjacent partition.
The partitions are preferably of thin sheet form e.g.
0.01 inches or less, e.g. 0.001 to 0.01 inches thick. They may be made of film-forming polymeric material resistant to the electrolyte involved. For sea water electrolyte, cellulose acetate is suitable.
The partitions preferably extend beyond the side edges of the electrodes sufficiently for them to be folded over so as to overlap the adjacent partition.
The battery preferably has also structural end walls e.g. of preformed sheet material within which the intercell partitions~ and electrodes are sandwiched.
In a preferred form of the invention the stack of intercell partitions and electrodes is enclosed within a close fitting preformed box, the top and bottom edges of the intercell partitions and the opposed side edges being located within a distance, A, of not more than 20 thou. (0.5 mm~ and especially ~, .
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:
11~6692 within lO thou. (0.25 mm) Erom the inside face of the top and bottom walls of the box over substantially the full width of the box, and the length of the path arouncl each of the top and bottom edges of each intercell partition from the end of an electrode on one side of the partition to the end of the elect-rode on the other side of the partition being at least 5 mms and preferably at least 5.5 mms. The top and bottom ends of the electrodes are preferably each - 3a -~1~669Z
4.
spaced a distance, B, of at least 3 mms from the inside face of the top and bottom walls of the preformed box.
The opposed side edges must be made at least 5. to fulfill the same requirements for a close fit, but are preferably made with the sides of the intercell partitions extending out beyond the dimensions required merely for a close fit so that in order for the stack to be fitted into the box they have to be folded over 10. so that each portion overlaps at least the partition of the adjacent cell and preferably also the partition of the next cell as well. This reduces the need for accurate control of tolerances for these edges of the intercell partition and also assists in assembly of 15. the stack in the box. Thus the box is preferably made with one side, which will be opposite a face of the stack, open,but in use closed by a wall member, and the stack is inserted sideways through this opening with the overlapped edges of the intercell partitions 20. pointing back towards the said open side. Once the box is full the open side is closed by a wall member clipped, glued or welded or otherwise secured into place.
The compartments in the sea-water activatable 25. embodiments of the invention are interconnected by inlet and outlet ducts. These may be formed in the top and bottom walls referred to above and may be formed either in the thickness of the top and bottom walls or preferably as protruberances extend-30. ing outwardly therefrom and disposed transverse to 5.
the walls and intermediate the ends of the wallse.g. adjacent or on the median line of the walls.
The ducts preferably have a width not in excess of 5B and preferably not more than 20%
5. of the width of the top wall.
The electrodes in adjacent cells may be connected directly through the intercell partition e.g. by a mechanical metallic connection such as a staple or rivet engaging conducting portions of 10. both electrodes.
Instead of the ducts being formed in the preformed bottom and top sheets they may be formed in the means enclosing the opposed faces of the stack or in the means enclosing the other pair of opposed 15. sides of the stack. These ducts permit access of electrolyte to the cells and escape of gas. In a multi-cell battery the ducts must have access to all parts of the cell. This can be achieved directly or by each intercell partition having apertures in 20. their free ends clear of the electrodes.
In one form of cell the electrodes have re-cesses or chamfers in each of their top and bottom ends and the apertures are located opposite and preferably at least partially within or within these 25. chamfers or recesses spaced from the electrodes. The apertures in adjacent partitions may be located in in-line or staggered relationship.
The electrodes in the sea-water activatable embodiment of the invention may consist of a mag-30. nesium anode and a lead chloride or silver chloride 1~1669Z
cathode spaced by suitable separator means e.g.P.V.C. rods or by the preferred separator arrange-ment described below.
The lead chloride cathode active material 5. composition may consist of 1~' to 5~ by weight organic polymer fibre e.g. polyester fibre, 1% to 5% by weight polymeric, preferably elastomeric, binder e.g. neoprene rubber, optionally up to 0.2G/o by weight e.g. 0. 01~o to 0.1% of a wetting 10. agent, the balance of at least 90% being lead chloride.
The lead chloride is preferably present in an amount of 92% to 97%, the fibres in an amount of 1% to 3% and the binder in an amount of 2% to 5%.
15. The fibre preferably has an average fibre length of 1.0 mms and a denier of not thicker than 5.
The anodes may consist of a metal anode, e.g. a magnesium anode, and preferably consist 20 . of 0.05 to 3.5% by weight manganese preferably 0.2 to 2.0% manganese, e.g. 1.3 - 1.7% manganese, at least 96.3% by weight magnesium, and preferably not more than 0.2% impurities.
A preferred form of separator means comp-25. rises separate deposits of electrically non-conducting resin material adhered to discrete localized regions of the metal anode. The resin may be a hot melt adhesive e.g. a polyamide hot melt adhesive. The deposi~ are preferably dis-crete drops having a maximum transverse dimension 1~161~i9~
parallel to the plane of the anode of not morethan 10 times their thickness and preferably in the range 2 to 5 times their thickness. The deposits are preferably substantially circular in 5. plan and have a contact angle, C, of not less than 90, C being the angle between a tangent to the surface of the deposit at its poin-t of contact with the plane on which it rests, and the plane.
The deposits are preferably made by de-10. positing the hot resin composition on the anodewhen it is itself heated so as to prevent chilling of the deposit and to ensure the desired profile and good adhesion.
The invention also extends to any elec-15. tric storage battery having a metal electrodewhich is spaced f~ m the electrode of opposite polarity in its cell merely by a physical spacer and not by a separator in which the spacing is achieved by discrete localized regions of non-20. conducting resin adhered to one of the electrodes.
The invention may be put into practice invarious ways and two specific embodiments will be described to illustrate the invention 25. with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings of a battery in accordance with the invention, in which:-Figure 1 is an exploded perspective viewjust prior to assembly showing a first embodi-30. ment in accordance with the invention;
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Figure 2 is a cross-section after assembly prior to fitting the side wall on the line II of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-section after ~:
5. assembly without the side wall on the line III of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view just prior to assembly showing a second embodi- `
ment in accordance with the invention;
10. Figure 5 .is a cross-section after assembly prior -to fitting the side wall on the '`
line V of Figure 4;
Figure ~,.is a cross section after assembly wi~hout the sidie wall on the line VI o~ Figure 15. 4;
Figure 7' is a perspective view in partial :
cross-section and shows about hal~ the battery, the thickness o.f the electrodes being exag- ¦
gerated for e~ls;ier representation; and 20. Figure 8 is a side view of part of the enode showing the pimp1e spacer.
.
~ . .
,: ' . . . .
The battery shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 has n injection moulded ~hermoplastlc bo~ as i~s container having top and bottom walls 10 and 'l1, side walls 12 and 13 and a back wall 14 all mouldeà in one piece 5. and a separate ~ron~ w211 15 adapted to be welded or glued to the open edges of the walls 10, 11, 12 and 13.
The top and bottom walls are ty~ically 4.4 cms by 8 cms, the side walls 8.5 cms by 4.4 cms and 10. the front and back w211s 8.5 cms by 8 cms. The wall thickness is 1 - ~.5 mm. The front wall 15 has inlet and outlet ducts 17 and ~8 providing for ingress of sea water c~ the bottom of the battery and egress of sea water and gas at the top of the 15. battery.
The active component of the battery comprises a stack of positive and negative electrodes, 20,
The pres.ent inyention relates to electric storage batteries: and particularly b.ut not exclusively to sea water activatable batteries and describ.es an improved form of con-tainer construction, and an improved form of separator arrange-ment.
Bri~ish patent specification No. 1172517 shows a battery~, which is activatable b.y sea water, having the cells spaced apart by barriers of flexible sheet material, the top, the bottom, and the two side walls of the battery being adhes-ively fastened to the opposing end walls and to the b.arriers.This is a difficult construction to assemble and does not lend itself readily to mass production.
An object of the pres:ent invention is to produce a simpler container construction than hitherto available, and a separator arrangement which simplifies assembly of the battery.
According to one aspect of the present invention a sea water actiyatable electric storage battery which is made up of a stack of intercell partitions, with pairs of separated positive and negative electrodes. between adjacent partitions, the partitions having at least one pair of opposed edges, referred to herein as the top and bottom edges, being located within compartments formed by the partitions and a preformed box in which th.e stack of intercell partitions and electrodes is enclosed, the top and bottom edges of the intercell partitions being located within a distance, A, of not more than 20 thou.
(0.5 mm) from the inside face of the top and bottom walls of the b.ox over subs:tantially the full width of the box, the length of the path around each of the top and bottom ed~es of each inter-cell partition from the end of an electrode on one side of the partition to the end of the electrode on the other side of the partition being at least 5 mms, the top and bottom ends of the electrodes each being spaced a distance, B, of at least 3 mms from the inside face of the top and bottom walls of the pre-formed box, and the opposed side edges of the intercell parti-tions extending out beyond the dimensions required merely for a close fit in the said preformed box so that the edge of each partition is folded over and overlaps at least the adjacent partition.
The partitions are preferably of thin sheet form e.g.
0.01 inches or less, e.g. 0.001 to 0.01 inches thick. They may be made of film-forming polymeric material resistant to the electrolyte involved. For sea water electrolyte, cellulose acetate is suitable.
The partitions preferably extend beyond the side edges of the electrodes sufficiently for them to be folded over so as to overlap the adjacent partition.
The battery preferably has also structural end walls e.g. of preformed sheet material within which the intercell partitions~ and electrodes are sandwiched.
In a preferred form of the invention the stack of intercell partitions and electrodes is enclosed within a close fitting preformed box, the top and bottom edges of the intercell partitions and the opposed side edges being located within a distance, A, of not more than 20 thou. (0.5 mm~ and especially ~, .
`:
:
11~6692 within lO thou. (0.25 mm) Erom the inside face of the top and bottom walls of the box over substantially the full width of the box, and the length of the path arouncl each of the top and bottom edges of each intercell partition from the end of an electrode on one side of the partition to the end of the elect-rode on the other side of the partition being at least 5 mms and preferably at least 5.5 mms. The top and bottom ends of the electrodes are preferably each - 3a -~1~669Z
4.
spaced a distance, B, of at least 3 mms from the inside face of the top and bottom walls of the preformed box.
The opposed side edges must be made at least 5. to fulfill the same requirements for a close fit, but are preferably made with the sides of the intercell partitions extending out beyond the dimensions required merely for a close fit so that in order for the stack to be fitted into the box they have to be folded over 10. so that each portion overlaps at least the partition of the adjacent cell and preferably also the partition of the next cell as well. This reduces the need for accurate control of tolerances for these edges of the intercell partition and also assists in assembly of 15. the stack in the box. Thus the box is preferably made with one side, which will be opposite a face of the stack, open,but in use closed by a wall member, and the stack is inserted sideways through this opening with the overlapped edges of the intercell partitions 20. pointing back towards the said open side. Once the box is full the open side is closed by a wall member clipped, glued or welded or otherwise secured into place.
The compartments in the sea-water activatable 25. embodiments of the invention are interconnected by inlet and outlet ducts. These may be formed in the top and bottom walls referred to above and may be formed either in the thickness of the top and bottom walls or preferably as protruberances extend-30. ing outwardly therefrom and disposed transverse to 5.
the walls and intermediate the ends of the wallse.g. adjacent or on the median line of the walls.
The ducts preferably have a width not in excess of 5B and preferably not more than 20%
5. of the width of the top wall.
The electrodes in adjacent cells may be connected directly through the intercell partition e.g. by a mechanical metallic connection such as a staple or rivet engaging conducting portions of 10. both electrodes.
Instead of the ducts being formed in the preformed bottom and top sheets they may be formed in the means enclosing the opposed faces of the stack or in the means enclosing the other pair of opposed 15. sides of the stack. These ducts permit access of electrolyte to the cells and escape of gas. In a multi-cell battery the ducts must have access to all parts of the cell. This can be achieved directly or by each intercell partition having apertures in 20. their free ends clear of the electrodes.
In one form of cell the electrodes have re-cesses or chamfers in each of their top and bottom ends and the apertures are located opposite and preferably at least partially within or within these 25. chamfers or recesses spaced from the electrodes. The apertures in adjacent partitions may be located in in-line or staggered relationship.
The electrodes in the sea-water activatable embodiment of the invention may consist of a mag-30. nesium anode and a lead chloride or silver chloride 1~1669Z
cathode spaced by suitable separator means e.g.P.V.C. rods or by the preferred separator arrange-ment described below.
The lead chloride cathode active material 5. composition may consist of 1~' to 5~ by weight organic polymer fibre e.g. polyester fibre, 1% to 5% by weight polymeric, preferably elastomeric, binder e.g. neoprene rubber, optionally up to 0.2G/o by weight e.g. 0. 01~o to 0.1% of a wetting 10. agent, the balance of at least 90% being lead chloride.
The lead chloride is preferably present in an amount of 92% to 97%, the fibres in an amount of 1% to 3% and the binder in an amount of 2% to 5%.
15. The fibre preferably has an average fibre length of 1.0 mms and a denier of not thicker than 5.
The anodes may consist of a metal anode, e.g. a magnesium anode, and preferably consist 20 . of 0.05 to 3.5% by weight manganese preferably 0.2 to 2.0% manganese, e.g. 1.3 - 1.7% manganese, at least 96.3% by weight magnesium, and preferably not more than 0.2% impurities.
A preferred form of separator means comp-25. rises separate deposits of electrically non-conducting resin material adhered to discrete localized regions of the metal anode. The resin may be a hot melt adhesive e.g. a polyamide hot melt adhesive. The deposi~ are preferably dis-crete drops having a maximum transverse dimension 1~161~i9~
parallel to the plane of the anode of not morethan 10 times their thickness and preferably in the range 2 to 5 times their thickness. The deposits are preferably substantially circular in 5. plan and have a contact angle, C, of not less than 90, C being the angle between a tangent to the surface of the deposit at its poin-t of contact with the plane on which it rests, and the plane.
The deposits are preferably made by de-10. positing the hot resin composition on the anodewhen it is itself heated so as to prevent chilling of the deposit and to ensure the desired profile and good adhesion.
The invention also extends to any elec-15. tric storage battery having a metal electrodewhich is spaced f~ m the electrode of opposite polarity in its cell merely by a physical spacer and not by a separator in which the spacing is achieved by discrete localized regions of non-20. conducting resin adhered to one of the electrodes.
The invention may be put into practice invarious ways and two specific embodiments will be described to illustrate the invention 25. with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings of a battery in accordance with the invention, in which:-Figure 1 is an exploded perspective viewjust prior to assembly showing a first embodi-30. ment in accordance with the invention;
": ', ~669~
8.
Figure 2 is a cross-section after assembly prior to fitting the side wall on the line II of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-section after ~:
5. assembly without the side wall on the line III of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view just prior to assembly showing a second embodi- `
ment in accordance with the invention;
10. Figure 5 .is a cross-section after assembly prior -to fitting the side wall on the '`
line V of Figure 4;
Figure ~,.is a cross section after assembly wi~hout the sidie wall on the line VI o~ Figure 15. 4;
Figure 7' is a perspective view in partial :
cross-section and shows about hal~ the battery, the thickness o.f the electrodes being exag- ¦
gerated for e~ls;ier representation; and 20. Figure 8 is a side view of part of the enode showing the pimp1e spacer.
.
~ . .
,: ' . . . .
The battery shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 has n injection moulded ~hermoplastlc bo~ as i~s container having top and bottom walls 10 and 'l1, side walls 12 and 13 and a back wall 14 all mouldeà in one piece 5. and a separate ~ron~ w211 15 adapted to be welded or glued to the open edges of the walls 10, 11, 12 and 13.
The top and bottom walls are ty~ically 4.4 cms by 8 cms, the side walls 8.5 cms by 4.4 cms and 10. the front and back w211s 8.5 cms by 8 cms. The wall thickness is 1 - ~.5 mm. The front wall 15 has inlet and outlet ducts 17 and ~8 providing for ingress of sea water c~ the bottom of the battery and egress of sea water and gas at the top of the 15. battery.
The active component of the battery comprises a stack of positive and negative electrodes, 20,
2, connected to each other-by a staple 22 (see figure 7) through the centre of zn intercell partition 20. 23, disposed between the two electrodes. A positive electrode is against the bacX wall 14 and a positive terminal 26 is lead out ~hrough a hole 25 in the wall 10 and a negative terminal 27 is lead out through a hole 28 in the same wall, (see Figure 7). These 2~. holes are sealed with resin e.g. eposy resin after the cell is assembled. The positive and negative electrodes in a cell are separated from each other by P.V.C. rods or preferably by pimples 30 of generally hemispherical shape formed of hot melt 30. adhesive adhered to the metallic anode (see Figures 7 and . = -.... .. .. .... - . ... . . .
1~6692 10.
8).
The intercell partitions 23 are made of sheets of cellulose acetate the top ends 32 and the bottom ends of which are a flush fit to the inside faces 5. of the top and bottom walls 10 and 11 of the box.
~ach OI the top and bottom ends OI the partitions are carefully cut to size and superposed in register so that when the stack is placed in the box the mGY.imu~ spacin~ is no more than 10 thou. t0.25 m~).
10. The c st2~^e ~ from the ends of each of the positive and negat-vC electrodes fro~ ~he inside faces of the walls 10 and 11 is also carelully controlled so as not to be less tnan 3 m s so that the leakage pathway from the end of a positive electrode 20 15. around the end of its partition 23 to the negative electrode is always at least 5.5 mms.
The sides of the partitions 23 extend out so that in order for the stack to be fitted into the box they have to be bent over as shown in Figure 2 and 20. Figure 7 and Figure 6 and Figure 7. The bent over portionS33 preferably overlap bent over portions of at least the cell above and pre~erably two cells above.
The electrodes have opposite corners cut away 25. in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3. A small hole 3~ is formed in the triangular portion 35 of each corner of each partition 23 which is thus eft open. These holes 34 register with the inlet and outlet ducts 17 and 18 int,he front face 15 of 30. the box. This is the sole means of electrolyte access .... ........... ............ ...... .... .... - - ~ . .......... .. . .. . ........ ..... ..................
1~6692 10.
8).
The intercell partitions 23 are made of sheets of cellulose acetate the top ends 32 and the bottom ends of which are a flush fit to the inside faces 5. of the top and bottom walls 10 and 11 of the box.
~ach OI the top and bottom ends OI the partitions are carefully cut to size and superposed in register so that when the stack is placed in the box the mGY.imu~ spacin~ is no more than 10 thou. t0.25 m~).
10. The c st2~^e ~ from the ends of each of the positive and negat-vC electrodes fro~ ~he inside faces of the walls 10 and 11 is also carelully controlled so as not to be less tnan 3 m s so that the leakage pathway from the end of a positive electrode 20 15. around the end of its partition 23 to the negative electrode is always at least 5.5 mms.
The sides of the partitions 23 extend out so that in order for the stack to be fitted into the box they have to be bent over as shown in Figure 2 and 20. Figure 7 and Figure 6 and Figure 7. The bent over portionS33 preferably overlap bent over portions of at least the cell above and pre~erably two cells above.
The electrodes have opposite corners cut away 25. in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3. A small hole 3~ is formed in the triangular portion 35 of each corner of each partition 23 which is thus eft open. These holes 34 register with the inlet and outlet ducts 17 and 18 int,he front face 15 of 30. the box. This is the sole means of electrolyte access .... ........... ............ ...... .... .... - - ~ . .......... .. . .. . ........ ..... ..................
3 il~6~2 1 1 .
to the cells and from one cell -to another.
Depending on the orientation in which the battery enters the water either the hole 17 or 18 will be the inlet for the sea water while air will 5. escape from the other hole.
The arrangement shown in Figures 4 to 8 is closely similar except that in order to save space electrolyte access to the cells is achieved in a different way. Instead of each electrode having 10. a triangular portion removed from opposed corners and holes 34 being formed therein~electrolyte access is from the walls 10 and 11. The holes 17 and 18 in the front wall 15 are dispensed with.
The top and bottom walls have transverse 15. channels 17 and 18 protruding outwardly but with an inwardly opening face providing slots 19, 40, 6 mms e.g. 3 - 9 mms wide opening into the battery and extending across the ends of the intercell partitions. The ends of the channels 19 and 40 are 20. closed at the rear face and open at the front face of the battery. The channels are 3 e.g. 1 - 6 mms deep.
The cell next to the wall 14, which optionally (see figure 7) may be spaced therefrom by a sheet of cellulose acetate, consists of a cathode 20, 7.6 cms 25. square and then a sheet 7.6 cms square, of magnesium 0.025 inches thick as the anode 21~ separated by four rows of five pimples of hot melt adhesive 30, each 1,5 mms thick, and 6 mms across, from the lead chloride cathode-20, which is 1.4 ~m thick. This cathode 30. is separated from the next anode 21 by the cellulose `
.
:
6~Z
12.
acetate sheet 23 which is 0.004 inches thick.
Each cathode consists of an expanded copper mesh current collector 37 to which is adhered the active material composition which can be any suitable 5. lead chloride composition.
A series connection between each cathode 20, except the first one, and each anode 21 is made by removing a patch of active material from the centre of the cathode 20 and stapling the mesh 37 10. through the sheet 23 to the anode 21. Stapling without removing the patch of active material is also effective. This is done for each pair of cathodes and anodes. The anode terminal 27 is welded to one corner of the anode 21 nearest the wall 15 and 15. passes out of the box through the hole 28 and the cathode terminal 26 is welded to the mesh 37 bared at one corner of the cathode 20 nearest the back wall 14 at the same or opposite cornerS and passes out of the box through the hole 25.
20. Example 1 below illustrates a suitable lead chloride cathode active material.
Example 1 The active material consists of 96% by weight lead chloride (99.9% pure), 1.~% polyester fibre 25. and 2.5% neoprene rubber.
The lead chloride powder, polyester fibre and neoprene rubber, added as an aqueous latex, are then mixed together. The dry crumbly composition is spread in a mould and has the mesh 37 pressed 30. into it. The assembly is then dried at 40C.
.. . ..
13.
Example 2 The anodes are preferably made of a magnesium alloy containing 1.5~/o manganese, remainder magnesium and impurities of less than 0.055%.
5. The battery is assernbled as follows:
The spacers 30 are formed on each anode 21 bv heating the anode to 80 - 90C and then depositing molten drops of hot melt adhesive e.g. at 360F, 150-160C on the anode whereby circular pi~ples about 1 mm thick are 10. formed which adhere well to the anode having a large surface of contact but which interfere very little with electrolyte flow through the cell as compared with conventional P.V.C. rods. Preheating the anode is thought to assist in achieving a good shape ~or 15. the spacer 30 and good contact. The cellulose acetate intercell partitions are cut to size, each cathode stapled through a partition 23 to an anode having its spacers 30 facing outwardly, care being taken to ensure that the components are correctly positioned 20. as discussed above.
The cathode terminal is welded onto the first cathode which is placed in the cell against the inside face of the back wall 14. The stack of electrode pairs are then placed in the box with the side portions 25. 33 of the partitions 23 folded up against the inside face of the side walls 12 and 13 of the box. The remaining electrode pairs are then pushed down into the box so that each pair is overlapped at its edges by the folded over portion 33 of the partition of the 30. previous pair. If desired they can be preassembled ........................................................................................ . .
11~6692 14.
into a pack with the overlapped portions welded together e.g. by application of a solvent such as acetone.
The anode terminal is then formed. Finally the front face 15 is secured in place e.g. by welding or adhesive and the terminal holes 25 and 28 sealed.
The invention is par-ticularly but not exclusively applicable to electric storage batteries activatable by sea-water and with small cells which are used at current drains of up to 30 mA/sq.cm or even 100 mA/sq. cm. for such uses as life jackets where they are stored in a dry condition and are activated by immersion in sea-water.
to the cells and from one cell -to another.
Depending on the orientation in which the battery enters the water either the hole 17 or 18 will be the inlet for the sea water while air will 5. escape from the other hole.
The arrangement shown in Figures 4 to 8 is closely similar except that in order to save space electrolyte access to the cells is achieved in a different way. Instead of each electrode having 10. a triangular portion removed from opposed corners and holes 34 being formed therein~electrolyte access is from the walls 10 and 11. The holes 17 and 18 in the front wall 15 are dispensed with.
The top and bottom walls have transverse 15. channels 17 and 18 protruding outwardly but with an inwardly opening face providing slots 19, 40, 6 mms e.g. 3 - 9 mms wide opening into the battery and extending across the ends of the intercell partitions. The ends of the channels 19 and 40 are 20. closed at the rear face and open at the front face of the battery. The channels are 3 e.g. 1 - 6 mms deep.
The cell next to the wall 14, which optionally (see figure 7) may be spaced therefrom by a sheet of cellulose acetate, consists of a cathode 20, 7.6 cms 25. square and then a sheet 7.6 cms square, of magnesium 0.025 inches thick as the anode 21~ separated by four rows of five pimples of hot melt adhesive 30, each 1,5 mms thick, and 6 mms across, from the lead chloride cathode-20, which is 1.4 ~m thick. This cathode 30. is separated from the next anode 21 by the cellulose `
.
:
6~Z
12.
acetate sheet 23 which is 0.004 inches thick.
Each cathode consists of an expanded copper mesh current collector 37 to which is adhered the active material composition which can be any suitable 5. lead chloride composition.
A series connection between each cathode 20, except the first one, and each anode 21 is made by removing a patch of active material from the centre of the cathode 20 and stapling the mesh 37 10. through the sheet 23 to the anode 21. Stapling without removing the patch of active material is also effective. This is done for each pair of cathodes and anodes. The anode terminal 27 is welded to one corner of the anode 21 nearest the wall 15 and 15. passes out of the box through the hole 28 and the cathode terminal 26 is welded to the mesh 37 bared at one corner of the cathode 20 nearest the back wall 14 at the same or opposite cornerS and passes out of the box through the hole 25.
20. Example 1 below illustrates a suitable lead chloride cathode active material.
Example 1 The active material consists of 96% by weight lead chloride (99.9% pure), 1.~% polyester fibre 25. and 2.5% neoprene rubber.
The lead chloride powder, polyester fibre and neoprene rubber, added as an aqueous latex, are then mixed together. The dry crumbly composition is spread in a mould and has the mesh 37 pressed 30. into it. The assembly is then dried at 40C.
.. . ..
13.
Example 2 The anodes are preferably made of a magnesium alloy containing 1.5~/o manganese, remainder magnesium and impurities of less than 0.055%.
5. The battery is assernbled as follows:
The spacers 30 are formed on each anode 21 bv heating the anode to 80 - 90C and then depositing molten drops of hot melt adhesive e.g. at 360F, 150-160C on the anode whereby circular pi~ples about 1 mm thick are 10. formed which adhere well to the anode having a large surface of contact but which interfere very little with electrolyte flow through the cell as compared with conventional P.V.C. rods. Preheating the anode is thought to assist in achieving a good shape ~or 15. the spacer 30 and good contact. The cellulose acetate intercell partitions are cut to size, each cathode stapled through a partition 23 to an anode having its spacers 30 facing outwardly, care being taken to ensure that the components are correctly positioned 20. as discussed above.
The cathode terminal is welded onto the first cathode which is placed in the cell against the inside face of the back wall 14. The stack of electrode pairs are then placed in the box with the side portions 25. 33 of the partitions 23 folded up against the inside face of the side walls 12 and 13 of the box. The remaining electrode pairs are then pushed down into the box so that each pair is overlapped at its edges by the folded over portion 33 of the partition of the 30. previous pair. If desired they can be preassembled ........................................................................................ . .
11~6692 14.
into a pack with the overlapped portions welded together e.g. by application of a solvent such as acetone.
The anode terminal is then formed. Finally the front face 15 is secured in place e.g. by welding or adhesive and the terminal holes 25 and 28 sealed.
The invention is par-ticularly but not exclusively applicable to electric storage batteries activatable by sea-water and with small cells which are used at current drains of up to 30 mA/sq.cm or even 100 mA/sq. cm. for such uses as life jackets where they are stored in a dry condition and are activated by immersion in sea-water.
Claims (11)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A sea water activatable electric storage battery which is made up of a stack of intercell partitions, with pairs of separated positive and negative electrodes between adjacent partitions, the partitions having at least one pair of opposed edges, referred to herein as the top and bottom edges, being located within compartments formed by the partitions and a preformed box in which the stack of intercell partitions and electrodes is enclosed, the top and bottom edges of the inter-cell partitions being located within a distance, A, of not more than 20 thou. (0.5 mm) from the inside face of the top and bottom walls of the box over substantially the full width of the box, the length of the path around each of the top and bottom edges of each intercell partition from the end of an electrode on one side of the partition to the end of the elect-rode on the other side of the partition being at least 5 mms, the top and bottom ends of the electrodes each being spaced a distance, B, of at least 3 mms from the inside face of the top and bottom walls of the preformed box, and the opposed side edges: of the intercell partitions extending out beyond the dimensions required merely for a close fit in the said pre-formed box so that the edge of each partition is folded over and overlaps at least the adjacent partition.
2. An electric storage battery as claimed in claim 1 in which the partitions are of thin sheet form and are made of film-forming polymeric material resistant to the electrolyte involved.
3. An electric storage battery as claimed in claim 1 in which the box is made with one side, which will be opposite a face of the stack, open, but in use closed by a wall member and the stack is inserted sideways through this opening with the overlapped edges of the intercell partitions pointing back to wards the said open side, the open side being closed by a wall member clipped, glued or welded or otherwise secured into place.
4. An electric storage battery as claimed in claim 3 in which inlet and outlet ducts are formed in the top and bottom walls as protruberances extending outwardly therefrom and dis-posed transverse to the walls and intermediate the ends of the walls.
5. An electric storage battery as claimed in claim 4 in which the ducts have a width not in excess of 5B and not more than 20% of the width of the top wall.
6. An electric storage battery as claimed in claim 1 having electrodes consisting of a magnesium anode and a lead chloride or silver chloride cathode spaced by separator means.
7. An electric storage battery as claimed in claim 6 in which the separator means comprise separate deposits of electrically non-conducting resin material adhered to discrete localized regions of the metal anode.
8. An electric storage battery as claimed in claim 7 in which the deposits are discrete drops having a maximum trans-verse dimension parallel to the plane of the anode of not more than 10 times their thickness.
9. An electric storage battery as claimed in claim 8 in which the deposits are substantially circular in plan and have a contact angle, C, of not less than 90°, C being the angle between a tangent to the surface of the deposit at its point of contact with the plane on which it rests, and the plane.
10. An electric storage battery as claimed in claim 8 in which the deposits are made by depositing the hot resin composi-tion on the anode when it is itself heated so as to prevent chilling of the deposit and to ensure the desired profile and good adhesion.
11. An electric storage battery as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 10 in which the resin is a polyamide hot melt adhesive.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB30227/78 | 1978-07-18 | ||
| GB7830227 | 1978-07-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1116692A true CA1116692A (en) | 1982-01-19 |
Family
ID=10498492
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000331955A Expired CA1116692A (en) | 1978-07-18 | 1979-07-17 | Sea water activatable electric storage battery |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0018398A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU4897579A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1116692A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1118134B (en) |
| NO (1) | NO792371L (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1980000285A1 (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA793596B (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3045479C3 (en) * | 1980-12-03 | 1994-11-24 | Vb Autobatterie Gmbh | Electric accumulator and process for its manufacture |
| FR2538442B1 (en) * | 1982-12-23 | 1986-02-28 | Charbonnages De France | SIZE FOR ROTARY JET ASSISTED BY JET |
| FR2689319A1 (en) * | 1992-03-26 | 1993-10-01 | Sorapec | Bipolar electrode for storage battery. |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2040255A (en) * | 1933-10-11 | 1936-05-12 | Gordon Christian Jensen | Electric battery |
| GB549036A (en) * | 1941-09-17 | 1942-11-03 | Gen Electric Co Ltd | Improvements in electric primary batteries |
| NL88833C (en) * | 1951-09-28 | |||
| NL112940C (en) * | 1959-02-10 | |||
| US3129118A (en) * | 1959-05-26 | 1964-04-14 | Servel Inc | Reserve electric battery with combined electrode and separator member |
| US3449820A (en) * | 1964-03-17 | 1969-06-17 | Globe Union Inc | Method of manufacturing battery assemblies |
| US4072801A (en) * | 1977-04-04 | 1978-02-07 | Globe-Union Inc. | Deferred action battery having improved bottom port cover |
-
1979
- 1979-07-17 WO PCT/GB1979/000119 patent/WO1980000285A1/en unknown
- 1979-07-17 AU AU48975/79A patent/AU4897579A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1979-07-17 IT IT49783/79A patent/IT1118134B/en active
- 1979-07-17 CA CA000331955A patent/CA1116692A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-07-17 NO NO792371A patent/NO792371L/en unknown
- 1979-07-17 ZA ZA00793596A patent/ZA793596B/en unknown
-
1980
- 1980-02-25 EP EP79900773A patent/EP0018398A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1980000285A1 (en) | 1980-02-21 |
| ZA793596B (en) | 1981-02-25 |
| AU4897579A (en) | 1980-01-24 |
| NO792371L (en) | 1980-01-21 |
| IT1118134B (en) | 1986-02-24 |
| EP0018398A1 (en) | 1980-11-12 |
| IT7949783A0 (en) | 1979-07-17 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |