DE2020680A1 - Exchangeable electrolyte container for a metal / oxygen (air) element - Google Patents

Description

ENERGY CONVERSION LIMITED, Britannic House, Moor Lane, London, E.C.2,

England

Interchangeable electrolyte container for a metal / oxygen (air) Element.

The invention relates to electrochemical elements, in particular on metal / oxygen (air) batteries and on replaceable containers therefor. '

In one relationship, a replaceable electrolyte container for a metal / oxygen (air) element is provided which is connected to such an element can be attached and designed to contain a sufficient amount of electrolyte for a full discharge of the element.

The container has a wall or at least part of it made of self-sealing material, e.g. ÖACO rubber, which hollow pins on the element for transferring the electrolyte can accommodate from the container to the element.

009046/1211

202068Q

Ε / ρ 6864 -2- 'April 27, 1970 B / We

According to a further development of the invention, a replaceable anode electrode is provided for a metal / oxygen (air) element, wherein the electrode contains a container which can contain sufficient electrolyte to fully discharge the element.

Preferably the container is sealed so that the electrolyte remains therein and it can be opened to reveal the electrolyte by engaging a metal / oxygen (air) element.

The container may include a housing which a container according to P contains kind of flexible pouch which is pierced by being inserted into the element. The element may have a protruding Part included which comes into engagement with a resiliently mounted pin or nail within the housing, which the bag-like Penetrates container.

Alternatively, the anode can be provided with a housing, which itself forms the container. In this case, part of the housing may be weakened and attached by engagement with a protrusion the element into which the anode can be inserted. If broken, the electrolyte can leak out.

fe The anode can be designed so that it can be inserted into an area of the element is suitable.

In particular, the container may be in the form of a flexible bag contain at least one wick member which extends from the housing for the bag into the active part of the anode, so that the Element into which the anode is inserted can work in different layers.

A conduit or channel in the anode can lead out of the container, the outer end of the conduit or channel is sealed and can be pierced by a corresponding part of the element into which it is to be inserted.

009846/12 61

Ε / ρ 6864 -3- April 27, 1970 B / We

The element can be a bicathode arrangement for receiving the anode contain.

The invention is shown in the drawing, for example.

Figure 1 is a cross section through an anode electrode for a metal / oxygen (air) battery.

Figure 2 shows in side view and section part of an anode and part of a container cooperating therewith, a modified embodiment being shown for piercing the electrolyte container of the anode. i

Figure 3 includes another modified embodiment of a Part of an anode and a cooperating with it Element.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a part of a metal / oxygen ^ (tuft) element and an interchangeable one that works with it Electrolyte container.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section through a penetration point of FIG Figure 4 on an enlarged scale.

In Figure 1 is an anode electrode for a metal / oxygen (air) " Element shown, which has an active electrode part 11, which can for example consist of porous zinc, with an outer circumferential frame 12 has. The electrode part 11 and the frame 12 is Provided at the top with a housing 13 which contains a container 14 for a liquid electrolyte, for example an aqueous solution . of potassium hydroxide in the form of a flexible container.

The bag container 14 is sealed to hold the electrolyte and can be pierced to release the electrolyte by a pin 15, which is carried by an elastic member 16, which is attached to the inside of the housing 13 by rivets or in some other way. The pin 14 is used to pierce the bag-like container operated by a rod 17, which in

0098A6 / 1261

202068Q

Ε / ρ 6864 -4- April 27, 1970 B / We

a channel 18 is arranged, which is provided on one side of the frame 12. The rod 17 is actuated by a projection in an element (not shown) into which the anode is to be inserted, and is shown in its actuated position in FIG. Part of a further similar piercing device is also shown in FIG. 1, with the pin 15 * and the link ¹ in their non-actuated position. Cover pieces or caps (not shown) can be provided over the pins 15 and 15 * in order to prevent unintentional piercing.

Wick members 19 are provided in the housing 13 which extend into the active electrode portion 11 of the anode. These limbs 19 are provided in such a way that an element into which the anode is inserted is shown in the one shown or that which is reversed from FIG Able to work, with the Elektroylt in. The active electrode part 11 runs out of the container housing over the wick members 19. Openings, not shown, which the housing 13 and the active Electrode part 11 interconnecting can be provided so that the electrolyte can flow through when the bag container 14 is pierced.

In Figure 2 is a part of a metal / oxygen (air) anode a container compartment 24 is shown which over the active electrode material 23 is arranged. After the anode / container arrangement has been inserted into an element in the direction of arrow A, it is activated by pressing on a weakened part 2oa of the upper container part 20. An internally projecting member 22 breaks a weakened part 21a of the container housing 21 and allows the electrolyte from the container 24 into the electrode active material 23 flows.

In Figure 3 is part of a metal / oxygen (air) element 30, in which a part of an anode 31 is partially inserted. The anode 31 includes a peripheral frame 32 which has a active electrode part 33 surrounds. A channel 34 is in the frame formed and leads to an electrolyte container, not shown. Dex channel 34 is sealed by a seal 35, which

009846/1261

Ε / ρ 6864 -5- April 27, 197ο B / We

extends across. A channel 36 is open from the channel 34 the side of the seal 35 facing away from the container to the active electrode part 33 is provided. Another channel, not shown can be provided to allow air to escape from the active Part of the electrode escapes.

The element 30 is provided with a projection 37 which engages in the channel 34 of the anode 31, and when the anode 31 is fully engaged with the element 30, the projection 37 breaks the seal 35 and electrolyte flows through the channel, 34 and channel 36 to the active electrode part 33 of the anode 31 and activates the element. · Ä

In FIGS. 4 and 5, an exchangeable container 40 arranged on the housing 41 of a metal / oxygen (air) element is shown. The element housing 41 carries pins 42 at a distance which protrude outwardly from the housing and which engage in openings 43 through the wall of the container 40. The pins 42 have solid, pointed outer ends and are hollow along the remainder of their length and provided with an opening 44 (FIG. 5) which runs transversely to the longitudinal axis of the pins and is in communication with the hollow interior. The pins 42 are formed by a Qlektrolytbeständigen material, which may consist of nickel, if the electrolyte is an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, and, in the element housing 41 during the Gisßens to form the housing 41 arranged to be I.

The openings 43 in the wall of the container 40 are each through a. Disk 45 made of self-sealing material such as GACO-Gumrai or ethylene propylene, and the disks 45 are held by a ring 46 made of synthetic plastic material, which can be connected to the inside of the wall of the container 40 by pressing or heat sealing. The container 40 is made of a synthetic plastic material, which opposite. 'Resistant to the electrolyte which should be contained in it.

009846/1261

Ε / ρ 6864 ■ -6- '27. April 1970 B / We

in operation, when an element is to be activated, it becomes a container 40 arranged on the element housing 41 so that the pins 42 push through the openings 43 and washers 45. Electrolyte then flows through the pins 42 from the container 40 into the element housing 41. The container 40 is sized to contain sufficient electrolyte to completely discharge the element. When the element is discharged, the container 40 is removed and a new sealed container is attached to the element, when its anode, not shown, has been replaced. When the used container 40 is removed from the element housing 41 is, the discs 45 return to their original position and seal the container 40 to ensure that everyone is still inside remaining electrolyte is retained in the container 40.

By including a special electrolyte container, independently or in the anode of the metal / oxygen (air) element The storage time and life of the element are increased as the electrolyte is retained in a sealed container until the item is to be used. Even when the element has been completely discharged, a new anode is inserted into the element, which carries a freshly measured amount of electrolyte for the next discharge, or it will be a new container with the measured amount of electrolyte attached to the element.

009846/1261

Claims (13)

202068Q Ε / ρ 6864 -7- April 27th 70 B / We Claims Θ '"Interchangeable electrolyte container for a metal / oxygen ♦ (Air) element, characterized in that the container (40) can be attached to such an element and is designed in such a way that it contains sufficient electrolyte for a full discharge of the element. 2. Electrolyte container according to claim 1, characterized by a wall (45) or at least a part thereof, which or which made of self-sealing material and attached to the element hollow pins (42) for transferring the electrolyte from the container (40) to the element (41). " 3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the self-sealing Material (45) consists of rubber, in particular GACO rubber. 4. Replaceable anode electrode for a metal / oxygen (air) Element, characterized in that the electrode is a container (13, 14, 24), which can hold sufficient electrolyte for a full discharge of the element. 5. Anode according to claim 4, characterized in that the container (, 13 24) is sealed to keep the electrolyte and can be actuated loading similar to the electrolyte by engagement with a metal / oxygen (air) release element. 6. Anode according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the container contains a housing (13) which has a container (14) in the form of a flexible pouch which can be pierced by being inserted into the element. 7. Anode according to claim 6 in combination with a metal / oxygen (Air) element, characterized in that the element contains a protruding part (17) which is flexible with one stored pin or mandrel (15, 15 ') within the container 009846/1261 Ε / ρ 6864 -3- April 27 70 B / We housing (13) in engagement, which the bag-like container " (14) pierces. 8. Anode according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the anode is provided with a housing (24) which itself the Contains container. 9. Anode according to claim 8, characterized in that part of the Housing (21a) is weakened and is arranged so that it pierced by engagement with a projection (22) on an element W is so that the electrolyte can flow out. 10. / uiode according to one of claims 4 -9, characterized in that it is designed so that it can be inserted into a surface of the element. 11. Anode according to one of claims 4-10, characterized by at least one wick member (19) which extends from the housing (13) to the active part of the anode (11), so that the element i into which the anode is inserted , can work in different positions. ^ 12. Anode according to claim 4, 5, 8 or 9 or 10, characterized that a conduit or channel (34) in the anode from the container leads out, the outer end of the conduit or channel is sealed at 35 and of a cooperating therewith Part (37) of the element into which it is to be inserted can be pierced. 13. Anode according to one of claims 4-12, characterized in that it is combined with a metal / oxygen (air) element wherein the element includes a bicathode for receiving the anode. 009846/1261 Le e rs e ite