Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-16
2001-10-23
Kalafut, Stephen (Department: 1745)
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation
C429S068000, C429S239000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06306534
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improved methods and systems for optimally discharging metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) systems and devices, as well as improved methods and systems for optimally recharging the same in a quick and efficient manner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/944,507, Applicant discloses several types of novel metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) systems. During power generation, metal-fuel tape is transported over a stationary cathode structure in the presence of an ionically-conducting medium, such as an electrolyte-impregnated gel. In accordance with well known principles of electro-chemistry, the transported metal-fuel tape is oxidized as electrical power is produced from the system.
Metal-air FCB systems of the type disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 08/944,507 have numerous advantages over prior art electro-chemical discharging devices. For example, one advantage is the generation of electrical power over a range of output voltage levels required by particular electrical load conditions. Another advantage is that oxidized metal-fuel tape can be repeatedly reconditioned (i.e. recharged) during battery recharging cycles carried out during electrical discharging operation, as well as separately therefrom.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,370, Applicant discloses an improved system and method for recharging oxidized metal-fuel tape used in prior art metal-air FCB systems. By integrating a recharging head within a metal-air FCB discharging system, this technological improvement theoretically enables quicker recharging of metal-fuel tape for reuse in FCB discharging operations. In practice, however, there are many contemplated applications where metal-fuel in the form of tape may not be desirable by virtue of the fact that special mechanisms are typically required to transport the metal-fuel tape through the system, during discharging and recharging modes of operation.
Thus there is a great need in the art for an improved method and apparatus for discharging and recharging metal-fuel in a manner which overcomes the limitations of prior art technologies.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus of discharging and recharging metal-air fuel cell batteries (FCB) in a manner which avoids the shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art technologies.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for discharging a supply of metal-fuel cards or plates.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system, wherein the metal-fuel cards or plates are supplied from a cassette storage cartridge or like device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system, wherein each metal-fuel card or plate is automatically loaded from the cassette cartridge into the discharging bay of the system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for recharging metal-fuel cards or plates that have been oxidized during the discharging mode of operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system, wherein each oxidized metal-fuel card or plate is manually loaded into the recharging bay of the system, and after recharging (i.e. reducing) is completed, the card is ejected from the recharging bay in a semi-automatic manner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system, wherein each oxidized metal-fuel card or plate is automatically loaded into the recharging bay of the system, and after recharging (i.e. reducing) is completed, the card is automatically ejected from the recharging bay, and another oxidized metal-fuel card is automatically loaded thereinto for recharging.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system, wherein a plurality of oxidized metal-fuel cards or plates are automatically transported into the system for high-speed discharging.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for electrochemically generating electrical power across an electrical load by discharging metal-air fuel cell batteries in a manner which allows for optimal recharging of the same during recharging cycles.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a metal-air FCB system, wherein a plurality of metal-fuel cards can be loaded within a metal-fuel card discharging bay and simultaneously discharged within its metal-fuel card discharging subsystem in order to generate and deliver electrical power across an electrical load connected thereto.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a metal-air FCB system, wherein a plurality of metal-fuel cards can be loaded within a metal-fuel card recharging bay and simultaneously recharged in order to convert metal-oxide along the metal-fuel card into its primary metal fuel for reuse in discharging operations.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a metal-air FCB system, wherein both the metal-fuel card discharging and recharging subsystems can be operated simultaneously as well as under the management of a system controller associated with a resultant system, such as an electrical power management system.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent hereinafter.
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Faris Sadeg M.
Tsai Tsepin
Brill Gerow D.
Crispino Ralph J.
Kalafut Stephen
Perkowski Thomas J.
Reveo Inc.
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