GB1020682A - Flexible batteries - Google Patents

Abstract

1,020,682. Primary cells. ULTRA ELECTRONICS Ltd. Sept. 30, 1964 [July 18, 1963], No. 28442/63. Heading H1B. A flexible electric cell of the type activated by immersion in water has the positive plate constructed from copper mesh dipped in a melt of cuprous chloride, the negative plate from thin magnesium sheet and the separator from a flexible insulating material, e.g. a coarse knitted mesh of polypropylene strands, the two plates and the separator being enveloped in a plastic case, e.g. of polyethylene, perforated to permit ingress of water, e.g. sea-water, to activate the cell. A filter paper is folded around the positive plate while another is laid upon the negative plate. This latter filter paper may be sprinkled with anhydrous magnesium chloride which constitutes a catalyst on immersion of the cell in water. A plurality of such cells may be connected in series and wound into a coil, each cell layer being separated from the next by a strip of plastic material, e.g. polystyrene or resinimpregnated paper, and glass tubes inserted between the cell layers to permit the flow by convection of electrolyte between the layers to dissipate the heat produced by exothermic reaction in the electrolyte. Instead of being wound into a coil, the series-connected cells may be folded repeatedly through 180 degrees at the connections between adjacent cells to form a compact rectangular battery.