FR2533372A1 - ELECTRODES NETWORK FOR ACCUMULATORS, IN PARTICULAR FOR LEAD ACID BATTERIES - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A NETWORK OF ELECTRODES FOR ACCUMULATORS, IN PARTICULAR FOR LEAD ACCUMULATORS. THIS ELECTRODES NETWORK 1 HAS A HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE INCLUDING SEVERAL SENSITIZLY IDENTICAL 7 REGULAR CELLS, EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY, ORIENTED, OBLIQUE AND OF SQUARE OR POLYGONAL SHAPE. THE LONGITUDINAL AXES 10, 11, 12 AND THE POINTS 46 OF THESE CELLS ARE SENSITIVELY ORIENTED TOWARDS A CURRENT CONDUCTING TERMINAL 4 OR ARE AT LEAST INCLINED WITH RESPECT TO THIS TERMINAL. THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF SAID CELLS ARE ORIENTED TOWARDS SECONDARY CONDUCTORS CONNECTED TO A MAIN CURRENT CONDUCTOR. APPLICATION TO ACCUMULATORS, ESPECIALLY LEADED ACCUMULATORS.

Description

The present invention relates to a network

  electrodes for accumulators, in particular for accumulators

  lead batteries, intended to receive the active masses and

  having a conductive terminal of the current.

  Electrode arrays of this type are described, for example, in patent applications DE-B-2,500,977,

  DE-B-2,363,759, DE-G-5,991 and in US-4,320,183.

  The electrode networks described in these documents

  require a relatively large amount of

  reuse constituting the electrodes, their electrical resistance as well as the losses in the lines are relatively large, and the electric stress of the active masses, and thus the stress of the individual zones of the electrode array

  are very different and increase considerably in

tion-of the conductive terminal.

  In general, such an array of electrodes must fulfill the following functions: a) the active mass must be securely held firmly in place under different operating conditions, b) the electric current must be delivered and discharged

(loading unloading); -

  (c) the electrode network, which is also qualified

  mass support, must be sufficiently stable mechanically

  cally; d) the material constituting this network of electrodes

  must be sufficiently resistant to the aggression of electro-

  lyte, active mass and possible secondary products; e) a good mechanical connection must be established between the electrode array and the active mass;

  (f) the electrical contact between the electricity supply

  trodes and the active mass must be the best possible g) the conduction of the electric current between the electrode array and the conductive terminal must be the best possible

  (h) no substance liable to impede

  electrochemical effects of current accumulation, or else

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  to provoke undesirable side reactions, must not be released; i) such arrays of electrodes must be able to be made in a simple manner and the least expensive possible; and

  (k) the electrical stress of the active mass

  held in place in the electrode array must be as uniform as possible and not increase significantly in the vicinity

of the conductive terminal.

  In known electrode arrays, in most cases a regular rectangular arrangement of the individual elements constituting such a network is provided. As a result, the current must be evacuated continuously at right angles, the paths traversed by the current are elongated to the square root of 2, as well as the ohmic resistance of such an array of electrodes The currents carried

  increase considerably near the terminal con-

  leading to an unfavorable solicitation

  the electrode network and the active masses that are

kept in place.

  It has already been proposed, to improve the ohmic resistance of a conventional rectangular array of electrodes

  having a large number of mutually perpendicular members

  to a certain extent in a star,

  to the conductor terminal, the ribs extending parallel

  In this way, however, the individual elements of the active masses are enlarged in the regions remote from the conductive terminal, so that the ohmic resistance even tends to increase in these regions. ohmic resistance is hardly noticeable, since no orientation of the individual elements occurs towards the conductive terminal, but only a certain orientation

  of one of the parallel arrangements of the chopsticks

locating the electrode array.

  It has also been attempted to take into account

  the increased current which manifests itself near the

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  conductive terminal, by reinforcement, in this region

  terminal, chopsticks constituting the network and possibly

  This also exerts an influence on

  neither a more uniform distribution of the current nor a more uniform electrical stress of the individual areas of the electrode array. The square structure of an electrode array of this type uses a large quantity of electrodes. matter and the very long paths traveled by the current require relatively large sections for

  obtain a lower determined ohmic resistance.

  The object of the invention is therefore to provide an array of electrodes of the aforementioned type, in such a way that

  the evacuation of the current is more favorable and the resistance

  ohmic resistance thus becomes weaker within

  network, that it is possible to achieve an

  more uniform mass of active masses and that the use of

  matter is at the same time reduced.

  According to the invention, this object is reached by a honeycomb-shaped structure formed by

  a large number of regular square or poly-shaped cells

  gonale, which are substantially identical, extend longitudinally, are oriented obliquely and whose longitudinal axes and points are substantially oriented towards the conductive terminal or are at least inclined with respect to the latter, in which case the longitudinal axes of the cells are oriented towards secondary conductors

  connected to a main conductor of electric current.

  According to other features of the invention: the cells may consist of regular hexagons, in particular hexes with identical sides whose tips are directed towards the conductive terminal and whose ratio between their width and the distance from one to the other. at the other of their points is between 1 to 1.5 and 1 to 4;

  these cells may consist of parallels

  grams; said cells may consist of diamonds

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  whose tips are oriented towards the conductive terminal, ratios of diagonals between 1 to 2 and 1 to 8 are then preferably provided in this case, the ratio between the sides of the cells can be between about 1 to 2 and 1 to 6, the acute angle between adjacent sides being between 22.50 and 60

  the honeycomb structure can be subdivided

  several areas in which the longitudinal axes

  Individual cell numbers are mutually parallel and partly coaxial; the honeycomb structure may comprise

  one or more main conductors, preferably

  lines that extend diagonally inside said

  structure in the direction of the terminal conductor and which subdi-

  are aimed at this structure-in substantially identical angular regions, the walls of the cells contiguous with the main conductors being electrically connected to or coinciding with these main conductors, the numerous main conductors may extend to the boundaries between the numerous zones, the section main conductors in the direction of the conductor terminal may increase proportionally to the square root of the current intensity

  from each side, secondary drivers

  Preferably, the straight conductors, arranged uniformly and mutually parallel, can be connected to the main conductor so that the short sides of each cell are formed by these secondary conductors or the sides of the electrode network frame, the sections of the secondary conductors and the sides of the frame which are adjacent to the conductive terminal may be enlarged, in the direction of this conductive terminal, in proportion to the square root of the intensity of the current transmitted; and the dimensions of the cells inside the honeycomb structure and / or the increase in section of the main conductors, the secondary conductors and the

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  adjacent sides of the conductive terminal may be chosen such that the electrical stress imposed on the active masses is substantially identical in each region and in particular the dimensions of said cells decrease with the distance. The electrode array according to the present invention therefore consists of a honeycomb structure or polygonal structure comprising a large number of cells which are

  essentially identical, extend in the long

  tudinal, are oriented obliquely, are of regular square or polygonal configuration and whose longitudinal axis

  is substantially directed to the current conducting terminal.

  In this way, a preferential direction of the conduction of the current towards the conductive terminal is obtained. Since the honeycomb structure consists of substantially identical and relatively small cells which are distributed over the entire electrode array, it is possible to obtain a uniform electrical stress of the masses

  actively held in place in the indi-

vidual.

  Thanks to the longitudinally extending configuration

  at the oblique, the preferred direction is

  conduction of the current to the conductive terminal.

  In an exemplary embodiment, the cells indi-

  viduals have the shape of a hexagon, in particular of a hexagon with equal sides whose tips are turned towards the conductive terminal. The ratio between the width of these hexagons and the distance from one to the other of their

  peaks is preferably between 1 to 1.5 and 1 to 4.

  According to another exemplary embodiment, the cells may have the shape of parallelograms, for example the shape of lozenges whose ratio between the diagonals

is between 1 to 2 and 1 to 8.

  The cells may, however, also take the form of parallelograms whose sides are of different lengths, in a ratio of, for example, between 1 to 2 and 1 to 6, the acute angles facing each other measuring between

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about 22.50 and about 60.

  Advantageously, the honeycomb structure

  subdivided into several zones, so as to give birth to

  In this case, within a zone, the longitudinal axes of the individual cells are parallel to one another and within a rectangular electrode array.

also partially coaxial.

  The honeycomb structure may have one or more main conductors, preferably rectilinear,

  extending, within said structure, diagonally

  in the direction of the conductive terminal and which subdivide said structure into substantially equal angular or superficial regions. In this case, cell walls

  contiguous to the main conductors are in electrical connection

  Whether with these conductors or coincide directly with them Conveniently, the main conductors along the boundaries between the many aforementioned areas, within which the longitudinal axes of the cells

  Individuals are mutually parallel.

  In a particular embodiment, the section of the main conductors increases, in the direction of the conductive terminal, in proportion to the square root of the intensity of the current. In this way, and in view of the desired objective, good results are obtained. better than those of the conventional processes used up to now, in which the section of the conductors increased linearly with the intensity of the current considered. This resulted in an optimum ratio between the conductive mass and

specific conductivity.

  According to another exemplary embodiment in which

  it is only foreseen a main conductor, conductors

  additional secondary devices are arranged on this

  main and are preferably arranged rectilinearly, regularly and parallel to each other In this way, we obtain a regular spacing of each cell network

  electrodes relative to the neighboring secondary conductor.

  Under these conditions, it is possible to achieve

  absolutely uniform mass of individual active masses

  of the electrode array Judiciously, the secondary drivers

  daires depart, perpendicular and with equal spacing, on both sides of the frame that are not adjacent to the conductive terminal These secondary conductors meet on the main conductor and they are connected to the latter with a good electrical contact Thus, the arrangement of these secondary conductors with respect to the main conductor takes place so that the tips thus formed are

  also, for the essentieldirigées towards the conductive terminal.

  Like the main driver, secondary drivers

  daires can also be of increasing section towards the conductive terminal, in proportion to the square root of the intensity of the current. It is the same for both sides of the frame of the lead electrode which are adjacent to the conductive terminal and extend perpendicularly to one another, This structure can be manufactured in a particularly easy manner This is also the case for the individual cells in the form of parallelograms

  unequal sides, connecting rods extending parallel

  same time to the main driver with identical spacing

  The short sides of each of these cells are formed by adjacent secondary conductors or by a secondary conductor and the adjacent edge. However, it must be taken into account that the orientation of the points of the individual cells in the form of parallelograms is not not so precise, with respect to the lead terminal, as in the two examples

  embodiments which have just been described.

  In general, the honeycomb structure,

  including the configuration of the sections of the main conductors

  the secondary conductors and on both sides of the frame adjacent to the conductive terminal, is made in such a way that the electrical stress of the active mass is substantially

  identical throughout the electrode array.

  The invention will now be described in more detail by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the drawings.

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  in which FIG. 1 represents an array of electrodes comprising regular hexagons extending longitudinally; Figure 2 illustrates a honeycomb structure having rhombus cells; and-

  Fig. 3 represents another example of

an electrode network.

  Figure 1 shows a grid or array of electrodes

  1 having hexagons or regular honeycomb cells 7 which extend

  tooth in the longitudinal direction and whose tips 46 are oriented towards a current-conducting terminal 4 The axes of connection between the points of the individual cells, identified by the references 10, 11 and 12, are thus also oriented

towards the conductive terminal.

  As is apparent from FIG. 1, the honeycomb structure of the electrode array 1 is subdivided into several zones 19, 20, 21 and 22 in which the axes or

  the diagonals connecting the points are mutually

  parallel and are partially coaxial.

  Identical rationing of one side of the hexagonal cells 7 makes it possible to obtain an uninterrupted realization of the honeycomb structure and in particular the transition without gaps from one zone to another, one side of the tip of the honeycomb. an area being connected to a side forming the width of the neighboring cells of

  the other area, or being in one piece with that side.

  FIG. 2 illustrates a honeycomb structure comprising rhombiform cells 8, in which also all the sides are identical. The axes interconnecting each other

  the points of the individual cells 8 identified by the references

  13,14 and 15, are again directed to a current conducting terminal. Individual zones 23,24,25,26, 27 and 28 are connected to each other by so-called main conductors 31,32, 33, 34 and 35 These main conductors conduct electrical current with an intensity about fifty times greater than that

  is the case inside the active masses proper.

  The main conductors extend star-shaped towards

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  In this way, it is even possible to discharge, towards the terminal 5, the minimum resistance current which circulates in the zones remote from the active masses: Thus, it is possible to reach a more uniform electrical stress of these active masses and, concomitantly, an ohmic resistance

  In FIG. 2, the electrode network

  Overall, it refers to the reference 2.

  Figure 3 represents another example of

  an electrode network 3 having a terminal 6

  Current conductor One and only one main conductor

  pal 30 passes through a frame 42,43,44 and 45 of this network 3 with an angle of about 450 from said terminal 6 This network

  of electrodes consists only of two zones 29 and 47.

  All connecting lines 16, 17 and 18 interconnecting

  the individual cell points 9 in the form of parallele-

  grams are mutually parallel and repeatedly coaxial So-called secondary conductors 36, 37, 38, etc., which meet on the main conductor and are in good electrical contact with the latter, depart with regular intervals of sides 43 and 44 of the frame which are not neighbors of the terminal 6, parallel to the sides 42 and 45 of this frame which are perpendicular to the aforementioned sides The secondary conductors 36,37,38, etc. form

  each a small side of the alveoli 9 in the form of parallel

  Grams of the grating 3, the two sides flattened of a cell -39 bearing the references 40 and-41 On the edges of the electrode array, the sides 42,44 and 45 of the frame fill the

  functions of a secondary driver -

  Preferably, both the sides 42 and 45 of the frame which are adjacent to the conductive terminal 6, the main conductor 30 and the secondary conductors 36,37,

  etc. are widened, towards terminal 6, proportional-

  the square root of the current flowing through it.

  The elongated side walls of the parallelogram-shaped cells 9 of the electrode array 3 are formed by corresponding connecting rods which extend parallel to the main conductor 30 with

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identical spacings.

  Sharp angles, also formed between

  the main conductor 30 and the secondary conductors

  36, 37, 38, etc. encourage the evacuation of the

  in the direction of the lead terminal 6.

  The electrode array 3 according to FIG.

  extremely easy to manufacture, it is mechanically robust and has particularly favorable

  uniform electrical stresses on the active masses, inde-

  In this way, it is possible to take into consideration the disadvantage of, to a certain extent, in that the orientation of the tips of the individual cells 9 in the direction of the conductive terminal 6 is not as optimal

  than in the other exemplary embodiments.

  All the electrode arrays according to FIGS. 1 to 3 can be manufactured by casting and the consumption of material can be kept very low. As materials, to manufacture an electrode plate of this type, it is possible to use any materials, preferably

  a lead alloy free of antimony.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the electrode array described and shown,

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

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Claims (12)

  1 array of electrodes (1; 2; 3) for accumula-   particularly for lead-acid accumulators, intended   to receive the active masses and having a terminal conduc-   current transformer (4; 5; 6), an electrode array characterized in that it has a honeycomb structure comprising a large number of regular cells (7, 8, 9).   which are essentially identical, extend longitudinally   are oriented obliquely and have a square or polygonal configuration, the longitudinal axes (10,11,12; 13> I 4,16,17,18) and the points (46, etc.) of these cells being substantially oriented towards the conductive terminal (4; 5; 6) or at least being inclined with respect to the latter, in which case the longitudinal axes of said cells are oriented towards secondary conductors (36,37,38, etc.)   connected to a main conductor (30) of electric current.   2 electrode array according to claim 1, characterized in that the cells (7) consist of regular hexagons, in particular hexagons with identical sides, the tips of which are directed towards the conductive terminal (4) and whose the ratio between their width and the distance between their points is between about 1-to 1.5 and 1 to 4.   3 electrode array according to claim 19 characterized in that the cells (8; 9) consist of in parallelograms.   4 electrode array according to claim 3, characterized in that the cells (8) consist of diamonds whose tips are oriented towards the conductive terminal (5), in which case are preferably provided diagonal connections between 1 2 and 1 to 8 electrode array according to claim 3, characterized in that the ratio between the cftés of the cells (9) is between 1 to 2 and 1 to 6, the angle   acute between adjacent sides measuring between 22.5 and 60.   6 Array of electrodes according to any one of   Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the structure 12 2533372   honeycomb is subdivided into a plurality of zones (19-22; 23-28; 29) in which the longitudinal axes of individual cells (7; 9) extend parallel to each other.   others and are partially coaxial -   7 Electrode array according to any one of   Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the structure   the honeycomb has one (30) or more (31-35) main conductors which, preferably rectilinear, extend inside said structure diagonally in the direction of the conductive terminal (6; 5) and subdivide said honeycomb structure into substantially identical angular regions, the walls of the cells which are   contiguous to the main conductors being connected   those drivers or coinciding with them.   Electrode array according to claim 7,   characterized by the fact that the many main drivers   (-31-35) extend to the boundaries of the many areas (23- 28).   9 network of electrodes according to one of the claims   7 and 8, characterized in that the section of the main conductors (30; 31-35) increases, in the direction of the conductive terminal (6; 5), proportionally to   the intensity of the electric current.   An electrode array according to claim 7, characterized in that from each side, preferably rectilinear and arranged parallel-to-parallel secondary conductors (36-38) are connected to the main conductor (30) of such that the short sides (40,41) of each cell (16; 17; 39) are formed by these secondary conductors (36-38) or by the   sides (42-45) of the frame of said electrode array (1).   11 Electrodes network according to one of the claims   7 and 10, characterized in that the sections of the secondary conductors (36-38) and the sides (42, 45) of the frame which are adjacent to the conductive terminal (6) expand in the direction of said terminal. conductive, proportionally   at the square root of the intensity of the transmitted current. 13 2533372   12 Electrode array according to any one of   Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that   dimensions of the cells within the honeycomb structure and optionally, or alternatively, increasing section of the main conductors (30; 31-35), the secondary conductors (36-38) and the sides ( 42,45) of the adjacent frame of the conductive terminal (4; 5; 6) are designed such that the electrical stress of the active masses in each region is substantially identical, and that   In particular, the dimensions of the cells decrease with the gnement.