CN1031780A - Be used to the alkali metal energy converter to fill and the equipment of sealing electrode containers for alkali metal and be the method for alkali metal energy converter filling electrode containers for alkali metal - Google Patents

Abstract

A kind of equipment that is used to the alkali metal energy converter to fill and seal electrode containers for alkali metal, comprise inlet, filling and closed chamber and downstream chamber, the support that fills the alkali metal container can be transmitted and pass each chamber, in each chamber the drive unit of support is had cantilever and be beneficial to transmission between each chamber, filling and the closed chamber inner support is restricted with respect to the transverse movement of direction of transfer simultaneously.A kind of method for alkali metal energy converter filling electrode containers for alkali metal, wherein container ambient gas pressure is lowered earlier and then improves, to reduce the content of unwanted gas in the alkali metal.

Description

Be used to the alkali metal energy converter to fill and the equipment of sealing electrode containers for alkali metal and be the method for alkali metal energy converter filling electrode containers for alkali metal

The present invention relates to be used to the alkali metal energy converter to fill and seal the equipment of electrode containers for alkali metal.The invention still further relates to using alkali-metal alkali metal energy converter to fill the method for its electrode containers for alkali metal.

This class transducer utilizes a kind of alkali metal as an electrode, sometimes as two electrodes, be placed in the battery, comprising being placed on two sliders between the electrode, or be called electrolyte, and it is made of a kind of solid ceramic materials, and its electronics character insulate, but for alkali-metal cation, it is again a conductor.

An instantiation of this transducer is a sodium-sulphur battery, and it adopts the anode of liquid sodium as battery, and the polysulfides that liquid sulfur/sodium constitutes is as negative electrode, and these two electrodes are separated by beta-alumina (beta alumina) solid electrolyte.

Small lot made sodium-sulphur battery be used for the experiment.Carry out filling operation being full of in the airtight cell of suitable inert gas, can easily fill the sodium container in the battery, sealed before battery shifts out from cell.All operate under the temperature of the fusing point that is significantly higher than sodium and carry out, its representative temperature is 150 ℃.

Yet this technology is unsuitable for producing in a large number battery.Because battery must heat in cell earlier before filling, and then cooling.Moreover, in case the battery of filling cool off, that cell must opening so that battery shifted out and puts into new a collection of battery.Simultaneously, before the next group battery is heated and fills, also must get rid of the air in the cell clean.

GB-A-2061598 has described a kind of method and apparatus of filling sodium-sulphur battery, and it has avoided the part in the above-mentioned difficulties.In described structure, each sodium container (or being called the sodium groove) have one not the metal filled pipe of end opening in container, stretch.Under atmospheric pressure the container of sky is heated one by one and link on the sodium filling head.Filling head is custom-designed, can be inserted in hermetically on the filling pipe of sodium container.Earlier the air in the sodium container is extracted out, in the container of finding time, filled sodium then.Then, the designed first metal tube pinch off of sodium that fills, thus sealed container, so just can not make and fill the tube damage sealing.For making things convenient for this operation, need filling head to have one usually for the sodium pipe, it can extend into the inside of sodium container by the filling pipe of battery, thereby sodium is directly supplied in the container.Require filling head can seal the filling pipe of sodium container, this seems comparatively complicated when the design of filling head is estimated by above-mentioned technical indicator.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the equipment that is used to the alkali metal energy converter to fill and seal electrode containers for alkali metal is made up of following each several part; Inlet, filled chamber and the downstream chamber of mutual UNICOM; Respectively filled chamber with inlet with entrance door and outlet portal that the downstream chamber is airtight can be closed when separating successively; The entrance and exit that can seal in confined conditions that leads to inlet and downstream chamber respectively; Have only and when described entrance door or outlet portal are closed respectively, just allow to open the interlock of described inlet or outlet; Needs are filled and the sealed electrode container is sent into filled chamber and finished the conveyer of again it being sent into the downstream chamber after filling and sealing from inlet successively; Be used for controlling independently inlet, filled chamber and downstream chamber separately the gas inside situation thereby the vacuum extractor of the inert gas pressure of predesignating is provided for each chamber; At least can control the heater of described inlet and filled chamber temperature independently; And the filling and the sealing device that are used to fill and be sealed in the described electrode containers in the filled chamber.Described conveyer comprises: the support that is used for holding at least a described electrode containers, be used for guiding and promote drive unit at each cell of each cell inner support, drive unit in adjacent intercommunication cell is applicable to common support and roof support, and support is delivered in the next cell through the door of opening between the chamber from a cell.Support has enough length in transmission direction, a drive unit is kept always and the support engagement, wait until that at least support and next drive unit have meshed till, thereby guarantee that support is had the support of guiding fully.

By this structure, made in the heating chamber of vacuum or filling with inert gas the work simplification of filling battery, thereby be no longer necessary for of the sodium container single sealing of single filling head being filled.Simultaneously, by means of the inlet that communicates with one another and the downstream chamber that are provided, avoided less efficiently to find time again successively and heated filled chamber.So inlet can be used for heating and emptying battery case, be ready to before filled chamber is finished immediately these containers to be sent into filled chamber behind once filling and the sealing operation.Meanwhile, the downstream chamber can receive the battery of having filled and having sealed from filled chamber immediately, and don't inert gas state and operating temperature in the infringement filled chamber.Then, these batteries can be cooled and deliver to the air ambient from the downstream chamber.Interlock has guaranteed that the overall gas state in filled chamber remains unchanged, and conveyer can transmit single electrode containers or electrode containers in batch the proper time in entire work process between each cell.

Each drive unit is applicable in the transmission course easily for support provides a cantilever, until with next drive unit meshed And and previous drive unit break off relations after till.

In a specific embodiments, the drive unit in filled chamber comprises a long rail, is used for being meshed with the two ends of long rail by the relative pair of rollers on support.Guide rail at neighboring entry door place has been sharpened, so that the engagement between transport process middle guide and the described pair of rollers.Each relative pair roller on the described support preferably settle quite strictly limit bracket perpendicular to the motion on the direction of transfer.The Yun Dong And of support in inlet and downstream chamber do not limit strictly like this, but allows some these type games but for convenience.The engagement of the counter roller when this structure helps that support is sent to filled chamber on the support pair and described long guideway.

Utilize above-described transmitting device structure, support goes for electrode containers is placed on precalculated position on the support, and the drive unit in filled chamber can be designed to can be in filled chamber the electrode containers on the support fill between platform and the sealing platform mobile.This equipment is included in the positioner that can be coupled to each other on the support, can start it in filled chamber, comes electrode containers is accurately determined the position with respect to filling on the sealing platform of filling platform and sealing device respectively.The described positioner that is coupled to each other comprises an alignment pin that is contained on the support or is contained in filled chamber, and it can vertically move when starting, thereby is engaged in the respective aperture on filled chamber or the support.Alignment pin or corresponding jack (perhaps the two) all can be fined away, so that help the successful joint between pin and the hole.

An alignment pin is preferably arranged, and a positioning hole corresponding is respectively arranged at filling platform and sealing platform.But also can also can in filled chamber, load onto two alignment pins respectively not like this, so as successively with support on common hole link, thereby at first electrode containers is positioned at the filling platform, and then be positioned to seal platform.

In an optimum implementation, this equipment can comprise a guider at filled chamber, be used in filled chamber the support and guidance electrode containers fill between platform and the sealing platform mobile, also comprise a lifting device, can start the electrode chamber that it promotes aforementioned guider and is supported, they be operated with filling device and sealing device connect.

According to another aspect of the present invention, provide the electrode containers for alkali metal that is used for alkali metal energy converter fill method, wherein each container is equipped with solid matter, and its alkali metal has bigger wetting angle (wetting angle) with respect to solid matter.This method comprises: using for alkali metal is that inert gasses is filled described container; The alkali metal of predetermined quantity is pumped into container; Thereby reduce the pressure of gas described in the container and then improve gas pressure intensity and increase solid matter by series of steps such as alkali metal infiltration degrees.

Specifically, this container can be the sodium chamber of sodium-sulfur battery; Alkali metal can be sodium, and solid matter can be a graininess aluminium, generally is used as absorbent, avoids polluting to keep sodium.Method of the present invention allows effectively soaking of realization solid matter and significantly reduces the gas content that exists in the alkali metal.

Describe an example of the present invention in detail with reference to accompanying drawing.These accompanying drawings are:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of realizing filling of the present invention and water-tight equipment, and this equipment is specially adapted to fill the sodium container of sodium-sulphur battery;

Fig. 2 is used to load the plan view of ten sodium containers for the support of filling and sealing in the equipment shown in Figure 1, wherein a part has been drawn the cross section;

Fig. 3 is the elevation view that support shown in Figure 2 is looked from an end, and wherein a part has been drawn sectional view;

Fig. 4 is the sectional view of the sodium container of a typical sodium-sulphur battery, and this container can be filled and be sealed by the device that provides among these figure;

Fig. 5 is the upright side view of looking of the inlet in the equipment shown in Figure 1, demonstrates the drive unit that guides and promote Fig. 2 and support shown in Figure 3 in inlet;

Fig. 6 be drive unit shown in Figure 5 from an end along A-A line (Fig. 5) sectional view of doing;

To be that a width of cloth is upright look side view to Fig. 7, expresses drive unit the situation when the drive unit of filled chamber transmit of a support from inlet;

Fig. 8 is the elevation view that the drive unit in the filled chamber is looked from an end, and part is a sectional view;

Fig. 9 is the upright sectional view of looking that passes inlet, makes the people can see the entrance door that leads to filled chamber;

Figure 10 is the sectional view of the entrance door shown in Figure 9 of looking from an end;

Figure 11 is the elevation view of looking from filled chamber one side, expresses indoor filling head and sealing platform especially;

Figure 12 and 13 shows in greater detail out and is used for the electric current collection pin is put into the parts of sodium container hole for airtight container;

Figure 14 and Figure 15 are respectively from a side and the filled chamber of looking from an end, the mechanism that demonstrates especially among the figure is used in filled chamber lift rail so that the sodium container on the support is sent to, and links with filling head, electric current collection pin positioning head and seal head in the filled chamber.

Figure 16 is the filled chamber detail drawing of looking from an end, and wherein part is a sectional view, and the mechanism that demonstrates is used to promote alignment pin and goes a support accurately to determine the position with respect to filling head, electric current collection pin positioning head and seal head in filled chamber;

Figure 17 is the detailed sectional view of bracket component, has drawn the jack that is used to receive alignment pin;

At last, Figure 18 is vacuumizing and the schematic diagram that supplies argon system of this equipment.

With reference to figure 1, this equipment is the airtight container that is made of three cells.The shape of each cell in the container is the garden column on the whole, and these three cells are arranged in co-axial alignment, and wherein Wai Ce two cells are more smaller also slightly shorter than medial compartment diameter.From left to right, these cells are followed successively by inlet 1, filling and closed chamber 2 and downstream chamber 3 in Fig. 1.Entrance door 4 makes inlet 1 communicate with filled chamber 2.Outlet portal 5 is similar to entrance door 4, and filled chamber 2 is communicated with downstream chamber 3.Door 4 and door 5 make filled chamber be air-tight state with respect to inlet 1 and downstream chamber 3.

Inlet has been 6 for inlet 1 provides inlet port, similarly exports 7 and provides outlet for downstream chamber 3.Inlet 6 and outlet 7 also can be closed, make inlet 1 and downstream chamber 3 airtight respectively.

In these three cells 1,2 and 3, drive unit is all arranged in each, they are 8,9 and 10, are used for can placing a collection of sodium container at cell guiding and promotion support 11 on support 11, go to fill and sealing for this equipment.

As the back also to describe in further detail, drive unit 8,9 and 10 and the formation of support 11 can make support 11 when inlet enters filled chamber (this moment entrance door 4 open), still obtain the support of the drive unit 8 the inlet 1 and promotion forward, with till the drive unit 9 of filled chamber connects fully, it just can be again moved to it in the filled chamber by inlet fully by driver 9 like this until support 11.Similarly, the drive unit 9 in the filled chamber 2 is cooperated with the drive unit 10 in the downstream chamber, in needs support is sent to the downstream chamber from filled chamber.In filled chamber, driver 9 promotes support 11 and moves between filling platform 13 and two-position sealing platform, filling platform 13 usefulness sodium filling containers 12, and the sealing platform is used to seal the container of having filled.The sodium container has only covered an aperture for filling usefulness at it, and the first step of sealing operation is exactly that the electric current collection head that uses for the sodium electrode is usually inserted this aperture.This part thing is inserted on the platform 14 at the electric current collection head and is finished.The container that will be filled moves on to welding bench 15 by drive unit 9 then, there the electric current collection head is soldered in the hole of container, thereby has sealed container.

This paper back will further describe the filling and the seal operation process of carrying out in filled chamber.

Heater 16 and 17 also are housed respectively in inlet 1 and filled chamber 2, have drawn in the diagram.These heaters can make to become the infrared heater of electricity, make it to be applicable to be put into heating in each cell and the temperature of maintenance container in whole filling and seal operation process.Preferably sodium is sent into each sodium container with molten state, therefore keeping vessel temp is very important apparently higher than the fusing point of sodium metal.

Vacuum plant 18,19 and 20 is respectively applied for the gas-condition that cell 1,2 and 3 is vacuumized and controls wherein.The filling and the sealing operation that carry out at filled chamber carry out (representative gases is an argon gas) in inert gas environment, and taked measure in case open inlet 6 send into for the new a collection of sodium container of filling after from inlet 1 deaeration.On the other hand, vacuum plant 20 allows to make the air pressure in the downstream chamber 3 equal atmospheric pressure opening outlet 7 so that shift out the container of having filled and having sealed from the downstream chamber before.After closing downstream chamber 3 again, vacuum plant 20 also will be discharged whole air from chamber 3.

The entrance door 4 of filled chamber and outlet portal 5 open the door it by cylinder 21 and 22 remote controls and close the door.Door 4 and door 5 are pressed on the present position when closing airtight to guarantee, this is that mechanism by separately realizes that each mechanism is finished by one group of cylinder, has only drawn one among Fig. 1, and label is 23 and 24.

In case inlet 6 and outlet 7 releases can be used for direct opening and closing.But they each all be locked in make position by separately one group of cylinder, the cylinder that also only drawn in the drawings, reference number is 25 and 26.

Whole operations of equipment shown in Figure 1 are all controlled by a central control unit, represent with square frame 27 among the figure.Specifically, be used to control locking and actuating doors 4, door 5, mouth 6 and mouthful 7 each pneumatic operated valve and all carry out remote control by control unit 27.The structure of control unit 27 provides a kind of interlock function, like this, is in the close position (by cylinder 21 control) and is pressed on the present position by cylinder 23 unless lead to the entrance door 4 of filled chamber 2,6 just can not be opened by cylinder 25 otherwise enter the mouth.Similarly, (22 control) And are pressed on the present position by cylinder 24 by cylinder, otherwise outlet portal 7 just can not come release by cylinder 26 unless filled chamber 2 and outlet portal 5 are in make position.

By this way, just can keep the whole gaseous environment of 2 li of filled chambers needn't consider to open occasionally inlet 6 and outlet 7 to send into when taking out into accurate sodium container to the interior influence that gaseous environment was caused of filled chamber 2.

Come now to have drawn support 11 among the figure in more detail referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, can be with it with a collection of sodium container transport by airtight container shown in Figure 1.The typical structure of the sodium container that can fill with this equipment as shown in Figure 4.The sodium container comprises a solid electrolyte (being generally beta-alumina) cup 30.Electric insulation tool Alpha-alumina (alpha alumina) lid 31 is bonded at the openend of cup 30.It is sealed then that this container of being made up of the lid 31 of cup 30 and stick on top will be used to fill sodium.The sodium container provides one to pass and cover 31 aperture 32 for filling device.Metal washer 33 is bonded at hot pressing adhesion agent usually and cover 31 surface with encirclement aperture 32, as shown in FIG., in the sodium container that is filled and seals, pin 34 constitutes the electric current collection head of sodium electrode and inserts container by aperture 32, make it to contact with wherein steel 34, then pin 34 is soldered on the packing ring 33, makes and receive container and seal fully.

When container being added to the sodium pad device when filling and sealing, pin 34 also is provided with and is inserted in the hole 32, promptly injects the sodium metal by this hole in container in pad device.Usually, before filling sodium, in the sodium container, put into by the sodium container the granular filler of many dryings.For example, this dry granular material can comprise aluminium bits or aluminium powder, and wish in the sodium slot electrode of whole sodium-sulphur battery, all to put this material, because the function that it provides a kind of " absorbent " can the sodium in battery be gone out contaminant removal when battery operated.These granular aluminum materials are sent at container and are filled sodium equipment and put into container before filling sodium.

Referring again to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the support that is drawn can hold ten sodium containers, handles for pad device as a collection of.Support comprises a upper mounting plate 40, has 11 gardens hole 41(to see Fig. 2 on it), be used to the cup 30 of the sodium container accepting to be filled.A middle hole 41 is not to be used to receive the container that will fill, but a room has an illusory container to be used for by pad device the temperature of processing procedure being controlled.

Upper mounting plate 40 is to support skyborne with one group of support bar 44,45 from lower platform 43.Side along a round 41 has one group of support bar 44, and each Kong Youyi pole (see figure 2) wherein has only 5 poles 44 to have the screw thread part, and they pass platform 40 and extend out, and with nut 46 platform 40 are fixed on the pole.That of each pole 44(adjacent central hypothetical hole 42 eradicated outer) all from the upper end along the axial hole of having bored, can see hole on these poles by the holes above the upper mounting plate 40, these holes are used to accept electric current collection pin 52(and see Fig. 3), keep supplying each sodium container that is positioned at contiguous hole 41 on the platform and use.Like this, not only have the sodium container of ten openings to be placed on 41 li in each hole on the upper mounting plate of support, and the electric current collection pin of these containers has been also placed on the adjacent locations of each corresponding container.

Platform 43 on the support has roller (Fig. 3), is used for being meshed with the guide rail of inlet, filled chamber and the downstream chamber of pad device.Roller 47 and 48 rotates around trunnion axis, is placed on the both sides of platform 43, they with the vertically opposite guide rail of inlet and downstream chamber to be meshed (hereinafter will describe in detail).On the other hand, roller 49 and 50 rotates around vertical axis, they be placed on platform 43 below, be used for being meshed with the opposite edges of horizontally extending guide rail in the filled chamber 2.There are three groups of relative roller 49 and 50 length directions of level to distribute along support.

Received on the contiguous block with the line of temperature sensor in the illusory container in the hole 41, it is bonded on the part 53 of platform 43, so form contact pins at the downside of part 53.As hereinafter will as described in, when support in any one the time, can both join with these pads, thereby can monitor the temperature of container continuously in the middle of cell 1,2 and 3.

On the position under each container, just on the position under each hole 41,42 of upper mounting plate 40, there is diminishing hole 51 to be upward through platform 43.This hole 51 of passing platform 43 is applicable to the alignment pin in the filled chamber of this equipment of acceptance, thereby each sodium container is accurately located with respect to indoor filling platform and sealing platform.

Referring to Fig. 5, be installed in transmission in the inlet 1 of this equipment in other words on the drive unit at the support shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.Fig. 5 medium-height trestle code name is that 11(is corresponding to the code name that uses among Fig. 1), the platform 43 of the support that for the sake of clarity in Fig. 5, only drawn.

Left hand one side in Fig. 5 has been drawn the inlet 6 of inlet 1, and support can pass the entrance door (not shown) from inlet and deliver to rightmost Fig. 5.Draw the longitudinal cross-section of support left hand end among Fig. 5, thereby can see the roller 49 of support one side.

More clearly show the mode that is mounted and guides at inlet's 1 medium-height trestle among Fig. 6, Fig. 6 is the sectional view that the A-A line in Fig. 5 is done.As seen from Figure 6, support 11 is being supported by the roller 47 and 48 of horizontal expansion in inlet.Roller 49 and 50(see Fig. 3) in inlet, do not use, for clarity sake, in Fig. 6, they have been removed. Roller 47 and 48 engagement between last lower railway is to 55 and 56 and 57 and 58 respectively.Roller 48 is in a side of support 11, and periphery is fluted, makes it and track 57 and 58 engagements, provides lateral support to support 11.Vertically opposite track preferably makes roller 47 and 48 respectively with last rail or can rotate during the rail engagement down to 55,56 and 57,58 each other spacings.Like this, there is a small gap to guarantee that single roller can not while and two guide rails engagements up and down.

Support 11 is realized friction-driven along guide rail 55 to 58 by driving wheel 59.Driving wheel 59 is driven by electro-motor (not drawing among the figure) by drive chain, and drive chain comprises clutch and brake assembly 60, rotation vacuum sealing 61, flexible drive 62 and mitergear 63 and 64.

At the other end of guide rail 55 to 58, as also have on the pointed position of the bearing among Fig. 5 65 one with wheel 59 corresponding friction driving rollers.This second driving wheel linked on the axle of first driving wheel by rotating band.Figure 6 illustrates the pulley of this rotating band one end.

Position sensor in inlet 1 is used for the position when support 11 is initial when introducing guide rail 55 to 58 monitoring support, in case support stops driving fully in the complete inlet chamber of support the time with guide rail engagement just beginning to drive ， And.When inlet 6 when closing fully and pinning, vacuum extractor 18 is just started working, deaeration and the argon gas of required pressure is provided from (inlet) chamber.Meanwhile, heater 16 is energized, and begins support and sodium container are heated until temperature required.

When reaching temperature required and filled chamber 2 when being ready to receiving tray, just open entrance door 4 and support is sent to filled chamber 2 from inlet 1.

Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 draw the drive unit in the filled chamber 2, and especially the sectional view that provides of Fig. 7 demonstrates support 11 and how transmits by entrance door 4 and be meshed with the drive unit 9 of filled chamber 2.Right-hand side is an inlet in Fig. 7, and the left-hand side is a filled chamber.

When transmitting support by entrance door, support is driven forwards by the drive unit in the inlet, thereby passing entrance door there from drive unit extends in the past, still supporting by at least two group rollers 47 and 48, be engaged to up to the roller 49 and 59 of support till relative one side of horizontal-extending guide rail 70 of filled chamber 2 with cantilevered fashion.Can see guide rail 70 on the sectional view among Fig. 8, its beveled edges is meshed with groove on roller 49 and 50, and support is given laterally and vertical two kinds of guiding are supported.

Support from cell 1 when cell 2 transmits, till first friction driving roller 71 that will continue the driving mechanism in support and filled chamber from the driving to support of cell 1 meshes.Moreover, guide rail 70 in the cell 2 extends to enough approaching with the track 55 to 58 in the cell 1 toward each other, thereby make support from cell 1 drives forwards the process of the roller 49 that is engaged on the track 70 and 50, obtain cantilever type support completely, the result, support obtains the support of at least one pair of roller of pair of rollers 47 and 48 in cell 1, up to the second cover roller 49,50 with cell 2 in guide rail 70 engagement good till.When support was pushed chamber 2 fully, support was supported by guide rail 70 with cantilevered fashion.

Sensor monitors just starts this driving wheel support is continued to push to little chamber interior to enough And far away of 2 foots of support inlet chamber and 71 engagements of first friction driving roller.

See that as Fig. 8 the driver in the cell 2 is driven through gear boxes 73, flexible coupling 74, clutch and brake unit 75, second flexible coupling 76, rotation vacuum sealing 77, another flexible coupling 78 and mitergear 79 and 80 by electro-motor 72.

The length direction of the guide rail 70 in the cell 2 provides and wheel 71 similar some additional friction driving wheels, with guarantee support in whole process of passing this chamber at least with a driving wheel engagement.These additional friction driving rollers are driven via pulley (corresponding to the pulley among Fig. 8 81) by rotating band.

Referring now to Fig. 9 and Figure 10 entrance door 4 and outlet portal 5 to cell 2 are described in more detail.Door in every kind of situation all constitutes by closed dull and stereotyped 85, and it has covered the hole 86 of passing the dividing plate 87 between the filled chamber 2 its corresponding mistress when closing.

Sealing plate 85 is housed, makes it the plane parallel in hole 86 between upper and lower guide rail 88 and 89 is slided, guide rail 88 and 89 is fixed on the dividing plate 87.By the roller 90 and 91 that is installed on the sealing plate 85 sealing plate 85 is installed on guide rail 88 and 89.Roller 90 and 91 is installed to make and can axially slide along stretching axle 92,93 along level, axle 92 is vertical with the sealing plate plane with 93, so sealing plate is subjected to some restrictions to the transverse movement on the plane in this plane and hole 86, this transverse movement is corresponding to roller 90 and 91 slips along axle 92 and 93.Spring 94 and 95 is housed on seal member 85 promotes the outer surface 96 that rollers 90 and 91 make it to leave sealing plate 85, make it to leave around the hole 86 base 97 thereby promote seal member 85.

Elastic sealing ring 98 is housed, so that sealing plate 85 guarantees seal sealing plate the end of with sit between to base pressing spring 94 and at 95 o'clock in the annular groove of sealing plate 85.Yet when sealing plate is not pressed towards the end when sitting, spring 94 and 95 can help block member laterally leave the end and sit 97, decontrols sealing ring 98, thereby makes sealing plate 85 can slide unlatching.

Sliding of block member is that cylinder by being contained in airtight container outside promotes, and realizes by handling a piston rod 100 that passes Follow-up seal cover 101.Piston rod 100 acts on lever 102, and the latter rotates in its lower end around pivot 103.There is an opening 104 upper end of lever 102, and it is meshed with stud 105 on being fixed on sealing plate 85.Like this, the operation cylinder is outwards pulled out piston rod 100 from the balancing gate pit (by sealing shroud 101) vertically, and lever 102 is rotated, and then sealing plate 85 is slided and opens the chamber door.

When the chamber door was in the closed position, as mentioned above, it must be compacted, by tightly spring 94 and 95 toward base 97 being compressed elastic sealing ring 98.The action that compresses block member 85 is realized by one group of four angle lever 106,107.Each lever 106 and 107 all is to be that rotate at the center to be fixed on pillar 108,109 on the locular wall 87.Lever 106,107 is around rotational, and they are parallel to sealing plate 85 plane ， And and have eccentric wheel with roller 110,111 servo-actuateds, and roller 110,111 is positioned at the two ends of the lever of contiguous sealing plate 85.These rollers 110,111 are engaged on the cam surface (inclined-plane in other words) 112,113 that is fixed on the sealing plate 85, so the turning handle roller 110,111 of lever 106,107 with respect to the pressure vessel center to extrapolation, thereby roller 112,113 is scrolled up, along the inclined-plane so sealing plate 85 toward base 97.

Angle lever 106,107 is started by piston rod 115 by cylinder 114 separately, and the two ends relative with roller 110,111 of this piston rod and lever 106,107 link to each other.For clarity sake, only drawn in the drawings and to have promoted the cylinder 114 of angle lever 107 down.

In Figure 10, following angle lever 107 is in the position that discharges, and is in clamped condition and go up angle lever 106 shown in the figure, and it is sealing plate 85 toward base 97.In fact, all angle levers all will move simultaneously, perhaps sealing plate 85 be compressed or decontrol it.

Can also see that in Figure 10 the geometry of angle lever 106,107 and sliding surface 112,113 allows to make angle lever to surpass the maximum compression point of sealing plate 85 slightly, thereby produces an elbow section action when compressing block member 85.When lever 106,107 turns to complete compacted position, just stop at abut 116, push abut 116 to and their geometry makes outward pressure on sealing plate 85 tend to an angle lever 106,107.Like this, have only piston rod 115 to be drawn back just from compacted position and can free its pressuring action with positive acting.

Figure 11 is the sectional view of filled chamber 2, demonstrates support 11(for making clear of the figure platform 43 that draws) be contained on the guide rail 70 and and guide by guide rail 70.Schematically draw 11 sodium container 120(that support 11 supported among the figure and comprise an illusory container).

Filled chamber 2 comprises: fill platform for one, it contains a filling head 121, and a certain amount of fusing sodium that is used for accurately control is seen Fig. 4 by the perforate 32(of container upper cover) be injected among the battery 120.In this equipment running process, support 11 promoted along guide rail 70 after enter by entrance door (left side among Figure 11) up to first container correctly be positioned at fill sodium head 121 places till.Support be pushed to be enough to make next container to arrive to fill the sodium position before, a last battery is just filled sodium first, fill the sodium operation and will proceed, all accepted to fill first sodium up to ten containers.Then, must make each container be full of sodium, therefore with support to pushing back, make first battery get back to position with the filling head being aligned.

After all containers were all filled sodium, support 11 was driven again, first container is taken to electric current collection pin insert head 122(see Figure 11) below the position on.During 122 operations of this insert head containers electric current collection pin (describing as reference Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) from the position of support next-door neighbour container is picked up.Pin is inserted container by Shi And from this position by the hole 32 of container top.Support 11 is pushed again then, next container is arrived insert the position of collecting pin.

Along filling containers 2, a plumb joint 123 is arranged slightly at a distance.When the 4th battery on the support 11 be brought to insert head 122 below so that when inserting the electric current collection pin, also just simultaneously first container is taken to position below the plumb joint 123.Like this, when the collection pin was inserted into the 4th sodium container, the pin that has inserted first container was soldered to packing ring 33(and sees Fig. 4) on, thereby container sealed.Operation will continue always, thus up to ten containers on the support all be full of sodium, inserted electric current collection Zhen And soldered go up seal up container till.

Detailed design and the present invention of filling sodium head 121 and plumb joint 123 are irrelevant, will not be further described at this.But the further details of pin insert head 122 can be clear that by Figure 12 and Figure 13.Similar with plumb joint 123 to filling head 121, insert head 122 is installed on the frame assembly 124 that is fixed in the filled chamber 2.There is a pair of removable vertically and rotatable power transmission shaft 125 and 126 to extend through the ring flange 127 of filled chamber 2 downwards and continue to extend through supporting frame 124.These two power transmission shafts 125 and 126 placed side by side along the filled chamber Width, and Figure 12 is the 123 insert head structure charts of looking along the cell length direction from plumb joint.Guiding bolt 129 supported by pole 128, remain on framework 124 relatively-stationary positions on.This guiding bolt is positioned, thus insert at needs the electric current collection pin the sodium container aperture 32 directly over a pilot hole is provided.

Taking arm 130 is connected the lower end of drive link 125.Taking arm 130 has one spring-loaded " gripper " at one end 131, and taking arm is with the head engagement of it and electric current collection pin.In order to insert container to pin, drive link 125 at first will turn to position shown in dotted lines in Figure 13, makes its gripper 131 accurately be positioned at the top of the electric current collection syringe needle that is contained on the support.Then, drive link 125 moves down vertically, makes gripper and syringe needle mechanical engagement, and drive link moves upward then, and pin is mentioned from support.Then,, make 130 to rotate 90 ° by drive link 125, pin accurately move on to aperture 32 on the container cover directly over.Move down drive link 125 then, under the guiding of guiding bolt 129, pin is inserted in the container hole.

What be connected in another drive link 126 lower ends is second lever arm 132, and it is loaded with shirks push rod (strippes pin) 133.In above-mentioned taking arm 130 runnings, shirk push rod 133 retracted fully and turned to the position 132 shown in Figure 13 '.After taking arm inserts container hole to pin, shirk push rod arm 132 and just rotate by drive link 126, take to and grab on the position of the electric current collection syringe needle being aligned in the gripper of taking arm 130 shirking push rod 133.Then by the moving axially shirking push rod 133 of drive link 126, make it to nibble and close And it is released from the gripper of taking arm 130, and it is firmly leaned against on the sodium container cover with the electric current collection syringe needle to transferring.

Then, rotate back on 132 ' position once more from taking arm Chou Hui And shirking push rod.

Come referring to Figure 11, the guide rail 70 that is loaded with support 11 itself is contained on the intermediate supports framework 140 again, and this framework can move both vertically with respect to framework 124 in chamber 2.The middle supporting frame 140 that is loaded with guide rail 70 and support 11 can entirely rise it by means of the vertical axial motion of supporting drive link 141.The axial seal cover that drive link 141 passes in the outer wall 142 of filled chamber 2 stretches out.Figure 14 and Figure 15 show out the structure of this elevating mechanism in greater detail.Support that drive link 141 moves by means of eccentric wheel 143 for two: eccentric wheel 143 acts on eccentric wheel follower rollers 144, and the latter is contained in the lower end of the drive link 141 that extends to pressure chamber wall 142 outsides.Eccentric wheel 143 is contained on the drive link 145, it extend lengthwise into tubular balancing gate pit, garden below.In lever 146 drive link 145 is rotated by cylinder action, support drive link 141 to improve and to reduce, and then improve and reduce framework 141 and be loaded with the guide rail 70 of support 11 thereby rotate eccentric wheel 143.

The lifting action of support 11 can be brought to and filling head 121, pin 122 and plumb joint 123 joining places single sodium container when needed.

Like this, when support is pushed along guide rail 70, thereby when a new container delivered in the middle of operating head 121,122 and 123 one following, support remained on the lower position.In case container correctly is placed on the position of operating head requirement, support just is raised (by eccentric wheel 143, drive link 141), and container is connected with operating head on demand.

Significant be that it is vital that each sodium container is accurately located with respect to operating head 121,122 and 123.For this reason, alignment pin 150,151 is housed in filled chamber 2, they can move vertically in case with support 11 on jack 51(Fig. 3 of platform 43) be meshed.Like this, support at first is pulled to and is similar on the desired position, container to be processed just is being placed on below operating head 121,122 and 123, then, alignment pin 150 and 151 is upwards pushed away, make it with support on one or more holes 51 mesh securely, so support has been placed on the correct position reliably, guaranteed connecting of selected container and action required head.

Figure 16 and Figure 17 have illustrated the travelling mechanism of alignment pin 150,151.The alignment pin 150,151 of each tape label is contained in 152 li on a bearing that fixedly is on the framework 153, thereby can move vertically, and framework 153 is fixed on again in the cell 2.The lower end of each alignment pin 150 connects an end of lever arm 154, and the other end of lever arm 154 links to each other with rotating shaft 155.Rotating shaft 155 interconnects with the drive link 154 that is used for alignment pin 150 and 151, and rotating shaft 155 itself can rotate between the bearing in being fixed in chamber 2 156.Another active lever 157 is connected on the rotating shaft 155, and between lever 154 and lever 157, it stretches out by the wall 142 that the axial seal cover passes chamber 2 by piston rod 158() link to each other with cylinder 159.

Like this, operation cylinder 159 moves up (seeing Figure 16) piston rod 158, rotates rotating shaft 155, so alignment pin 150,151 is moved upward vertically.

Figure 17 demonstrates the cross section of the platform 43 of support 11, demonstrate alignment pin 150,151 especially which can insert wherein hole 51.Be noted that to pass guide rail 70 porose 160, they are also just in time relative with alignment pin 150,151, allow alignment pin pass guide rail again with hole 51 engagements.

In conjunction with Figure 18 the operating process of using above-mentioned accompanying drawing apparatus shown is described again now.Figure 18 is the schematic diagram of pumped vacuum systems, and this system is used for controlling independently three cells of this equipment gaseous environment separately, has constituted the discrete part 18,19 and 20 shown in Fig. 1.Should be appreciated that the repertoire of this equipment can come remote control by control unit 27, this control unit can comprise a programmable controller that makes process automation.

At first, a support has as shown in Figures 2 and 3 been loaded onto foregoing sodium container and electric current collection pin.Before the inlet 6 that leads to inlet was opened, inlet was by opening valve V7(by control unit 27 controls) make room pressure equal atmospheric pressure.When inlet's air pressure and the extraneous entrance door 4 that equates and lead to filled chamber 2 are when closing, by control unit 27 startup door open buttons so that 6 releases that enter the mouth, thereby it can be opened.Then, the support 11 that is loaded with the sodium container just is introduced on the rail system of inlet, and is drawn in inlet fully, just as previously described.

As previously mentioned, an illusory sodium container is arranged on the central container position on the support, temperature sensor wherein is housed, after support is drawn in inlet fully, this temperature sensor is linked to each other with control unit 27 by the switch contact of operated by solenoid.In this optimum implementation, when the heavy burden arm rotates in inlet and makes the Elastic Contact of arrangement refer to that contact pins (as previously mentioned) with rack platform 43 downsides when being meshed, has promptly constituted these switch contacts.When support is pushed into inlet, the heavy burden arm by operated by solenoid from the contacting points position turn-off.After support was in the tram, solenoid can be disconnected power supply, allowed the heavy burden arm swing get off, and contact finger is pressed on the contact pins.

When inlet 6 was closed subsequently and pins, the heater 16 in inlet just was coupled with power supply, and beginning is brought up to the temperature of sodium container temperature required, for example 150 ℃.Meanwhile, valve-off V7, it is 1 * 10 that inlet is evacuated to pressure by valve V1 and pump RP1 ²Millibar (mbarAbs).After finding time, inlet can open valve V8 and fill with argon gas, and pressure is gone back up to about 1 crust (barAbs).

Then, inlet maintains this argon repoussage and required 150 ℃ temperature, when filled chamber is ready to receive next group and loads till.

When filled chamber can use, it must be that the container of last consignment of being filled has been sent into the downstream chamber, and itself is among the argon gas of pressure a little more than 1 crust (barAbs), and its temperature is in 150 ℃.

So the entrance door gim peg is unlocked under the control of control unit 27, this is to realize under control unit detects the situation of the locking that enters the mouth certainly.Because the pressure in filled chamber is a little more than the pressure in the inlet, the hermetic unit of door 4 is just taken the end of from when separating slip bolt to push away, and opens so can slide.

Then, the heater in the inlet is switched off; By powering up the heavy burden arm is pulled, thereby the temperature sensor in the illusory container is cut off to solenoid.Then, the drive unit in the inlet is connected, and support is pushed away forward, by entrance door, makes the drive unit engagement in support and the filled chamber again, and the latter then draws in support in the filled chamber fully.After support entered filled chamber 2 fully, entrance door 4 was closed again and is compressed and puts in place.When support was waited in inlet, pump RP1 may be called the downstream chamber is vacuumized.At this moment valve V1 closes, and the pressure in inlet is then by opening valve V5 and process pump RP2 keeps.In case support is sent into filled chamber and close again after the entrance door 4, i.e. valve-off V5, valve valve V7 reopens, and allows inlet return to atmospheric pressure, so that receive next support.

In filled chamber 2, the temperature sensor in the illusory container is switched on, thereby can monitor the temperature of container all the time.As in inlet, the connection of transducer realizes that by a heavy burden arm when a solenoid outage, the heavy burden arm is released, thereby makes the contact contact.Yet, at the mounting structure of the heavy burden arm in the filled chamber it can be parallel on the support travel direction along an indoor guide rail and slide.Adding the osculum that refers to on rack platform 43 downsides at one on the heavy burden arm is meshed, like this, thereby when the heavy burden arm is decontroled when contact finger and contact pad are linked, this additional finger, just be meshed with osculum, slides along its guide rail so the later motion of support just hauls the heavy burden arm.A scroll lead-in wire links to each other with the heavy burden arm, and electric lead-out wire is provided, and can keep continuously connecting with temperature sensor like this when support is back and forth driven in the chamber.

Air pressure in filled chamber 2 is kept through valve V4 and V6 by pump RP2.Drive unit in inlet is brought support into filled chamber, and first container is placed on the filling head place, and the action of alignment pin (150 among Figure 11,151) makes first container correctly be determined the position.Support is enhanced (as reference Figure 14 and Figure 15 are described) then, thereby the filling mouth that fills the sodium head is inserted in the hole on first container cover.Fill the sodium head then and inject first's Liquid Sodium to first battery.

After this, support is lowered, and alignment pin 150 and 151 is withdrawn, and starts drive unit support is pushed away forward, and next container is put in place, so second container repeated filling process.After whole ten containers had received first's liquation sodium, control unit made cell be evacuated to 1 * 10 ^-1Millibar (mbarAbs), the operation of finding time are to use auxiliary pump MB1 and fore pump RP1 to realize that allow valve V6 close and valve V4 and V2 unlatching this moment.Then, filled chamber pressurizes with argon gas again by opening valve V9, makes pressure return to 1 crust.

This step is necessary, and this is to go in order to force sodium in the sodium container to penetrate in the granular aluminium filler absorbent in the container.The sodium that can add q.s, Powdered or clastic alumina particles can be topped by sodium fully when pressurizeing again like this.Then these ten containers are repeated filling process, make in each container, to add sodium again until filling up container.Usually the sodium amount of injecting for the second time is less than what inject for the first time.

In case finished this last filling process, valve V4 and V2 open heavily again, make filled chamber pressure be reduced to 880 millibars with pump MB1 and RP2, valve V4 and V2 close heavily again then.Support is driven then, first container is taken to pin plug 14(see Fig. 1) below, restart alignment pin simultaneously, make support be put into suitable position.Raise before support resembles then, start pin plug first container on the electric current collection pin insertion support.

Then, support descends once more and is pushed forward, and second container on the support repeated this process.

When the electric current collection pin is inserted into the 4th container on the support, has inserted first container of pin and will just in time see Fig. 5 at plumb joint 15() below, like this, carry out simultaneously inserting the electric current collection pin on the welding of first container and the 4th container.

Successively each container is continued welding and contact pin action along support, the illusory container in the middle of skipping inserts the 10th container up to pin, welds the 7th container simultaneously.Then the the 8th, the 9th and the 10th container being delivered to plumb joint successively finishes welding and seals whole containers.

Whole 10 containers should be finished under 150 ℃ of temperature in 880 millibars of ar gas environments and fill sodium and suitably sealing.After whole containers were finished, support returned initial position, the there the temperature sensor line disconnection.Then, turn off the heater 17 in the filled chamber, when downstream chamber 3 was ready, support was pushed outlet portal 5.When downstream chamber's pressure is lower than 880 millibars and export 7 when being blocking just, outlet portal 5 can be unlocked and open.Support is released from filled chamber then, and it and downstream chamber's drive unit 10 are meshed, and the latter draws in the downstream chamber fully to support, and at this moment door 5 is closed again and compressed, and at this moment filled chamber 2 is prepared to receive new support from inlet immediately.

In the downstream chamber, the temperature sensor in illusory container is switched on again, thereby can monitor their temperature in the container cooling procedure.In case vessel temp has dropped to predetermined value, just open and lead to extraneous breather valve V10, make the outlet constant pressure equal atmospheric pressure by force.Disconnect the temperature sensor in the illusory container then, if at this moment central control unit to detect outlet portal 5 are lockings, just to exporting 7 releases.After outlet 7 was opened, the support that the container that fills sodium and sealed is housed on it just can shift out, so that lay down container and be for further processing.

Downstream chamber and outlet 7 are closed and pin then, close gas valve V10, open valve V3, so with pump RP1 downstream chamber's pressure is reduced to 1 * 10 ^-1Millibar.After this, valve-off V3 opens valve V11, charges into the downstream chamber with argon gas, makes air pressure reach 880 millibars.The downstream chamber just is ready to receive the new a collection of container of having handled from filled chamber again then.

Claims (20)

1, fills and seal the setting of alkali metal container for the alkali metal energy converter, comprising: the inlet of intercommunication, filled chamber and downstream chamber; Can close so as filled chamber respectively with airtight entrance door that separates of inlet and downstream chamber and outlet portal; The entrance and exit that can seal that leads to inlet and downstream chamber respectively; Have only and when described entrance door or outlet portal are closed, just allow to open the interlock of described inlet or outlet; Be used for the alkali metal containers sequentially ground that will fill and seal is sent into filled chamber and after finishing filling and sealing they sent into the conveyer of downstream chamber again from filled chamber from inlet; Independent inlet, filled chamber and the downstream chamber internal gas state separately of controlling is so that cause the vacuum extractor of predetermined inert gas pressure in described each chamber; The heater of enough at least independent described inlet of control and filled chamber temperature; And filling and the sealing device of in filled chamber, filling and seal described container, described conveyer comprises: can support the support of a described electrode containers and the drive unit that is used for guiding and promoting in each chamber support in each described cell at least, drive unit in adjacent intercommunicating chambers is applicable to the cooperation support and promotes support and enters next cell by opening the door between two Room from a described cell, support has sufficient length on direction of transfer, can keep and the engagement that drive unit guides completely and supports before guaranteeing working as the engagement of support and next drive unit at least in transport process.

2, according to claim 1 described equipment, wherein each drive unit is suitable for providing the cantilever support to support in transport process, till support and next drive unit Nie He And and previous drive unit releasing engagement.

3, according to claim 1 described equipment, wherein the drive unit at filled chamber comprises a long rail, be used for counter roller on its both sides and support to being meshed, the end that long rail is adjacent to entrance door is sharpened, and is beneficial to the engagement of transport process middle orbit between described pair of rollers.

4, according to claim 3 described equipment, wherein relative pair of rollers be arranged be enough to can limit bracket perpendicular to the motion on the direction of transfer.

5,, wherein allow support that the motion of predetermined extent is arranged on perpendicular to direction of transfer at the drive unit of inlet and downstream chamber according to claim 4 described equipment.

6, according to claim 1 described equipment, support wherein is applicable to described electrode containers is placed on precalculated position on the support, drive unit in filled chamber can be in filled chamber the filling platform and the sealing platform between promote electrode containers on the support, this equipment include be placed on the support and filled chamber in can intermeshing positioner, can accurately locate electrode containers with respect to the filling and the sealing device of filling on platform and the sealing platform respectively after its starts.

7, according to claim 6 described equipment, wherein saidly can comprise the alignment pin that is contained on the support or in the filled chamber by intermeshing positioner, it can Zong be meshed with respective aperture on filled chamber or the support respectively Xiang Yi Dong And.

8, according to claim 7 described equipment, wherein have at least an alignment pin and described hole to fine away, be beneficial to the positive engagement between pin and the hole.

9, according to claim 7 described equipment, single described alignment pin is arranged wherein, and each filling platform and sealing platform are respectively had the corresponding jack of oneself.

10, according to claim 7 described equipment, wherein rare approximately two alignment pins are contained in the filled chamber, are meshed with public hole on the support successively, thereby earlier electrode containers are positioned to fill platform, and then be positioned to seal platform.

11, according to claim 1 described equipment, in filled chamber, contain guider, be used for the support and guidance electrode containers in filled chamber the filling platform and the sealing platform between move; Contain lifting device, be used to the electrode containers that promotes guider and supported, make itself and filling and sealing device realize that operation connects.

12, fill the method for electrode containers for alkali metal for the alkali metal energy converter.Here each container is equipped with solid matter, and alkali metal has bigger wetting angle for this solid matter.The step of described method comprises: using with respect to alkali metal is that inert gasses is filled described container; In container, pump into the alkali metal of scheduled volume; Reduce the pressure of gas described in the container, and then increase gas pressure intensity to increase the degree of soaking of alkali metal to solid matter.

13, according to claim 12 described methods, wherein container is filled described gas at first under preset air pressure, and after described reduction pressure step, its pressure is brought up to predetermined pressure more again.

14, according to claim 12 described methods, also include another step: after air pressure promotes again, another part scheduled volume alkali metal is pumped into container.

15, according to claim 12 described methods, solid matter wherein is a kind of absorbent.

16, according to claim 15 described methods, absorbent wherein is aluminium powder or aluminium bits.

17, according to claim 12 described methods, wherein said alkali-metal scheduled volume is to improve the gas pressure intensity metapedes with the needed alkali metal amount of complete topped solid matter.

18, according to claim 14 described methods, wherein predetermined alkali metal amount surpasses the alkali metal scheduled volume that charges into once more.

19, according to claim 12 described methods, container wherein is placed in the inside of the balancing gate pit that is full of described gas.

20, according to claim 19 described methods, wherein the variation of gas pressure intensity realizes by gas pressure intensity in the change balancing gate pit in the container.

Images