Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation
Patent
1990-12-04
1993-08-31
Bell, Mark L.
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation
429 28, 429142, 429247, 429255, H01M 400
Patent
active
052407853
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air cell, particularly to an all-surface open type air cell which is lightweight and exhibits excellent electric power generation.
Conventional air cells are constituted basically from a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte, and the containers of the cells are sealed to avoid the effluence of the electrolyte from the air cells.
For such conventional air cells, a firm sealed contained is used, so that the weight of the container occupies a considerable proportion of the total weight of the air cell. Thus, the air cell is rather heavy. Further, conventional air cells are designed on the assumption that they will only be mounted in such an orientation that the electrolyte will collect downwardly. Accordingly, if the air cell is laid or is used in an inclined orientation, the electrolyte will not be supplied properly to the cathode or the anode, and thus the generation of electric power may be reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an open type air cell in which the electrolyte will not flow from the cell in any orientation, which is lightweight, and exhibits excellent electric power generation.
The air cell according to the present invention is a substantially all-surface open type air cell and is basically characterized in that it comprises a water-absorbing material which can absorb and retain the electrolyte.
More particularly, the air cell according to the present invention comprises a case through which a plurality of ventilating windows are provided, a plurality of single cells disposed within the case, an electrolyte bath which is provided at the bottom of the case and in which an absorbing material capable of absorbing and retaining electrolyte is disposed.
In preferred embodiment of the present invention the single cell has a structure in which a cathode and an anode are integrated by a separator, which comprises a water-absorbing material capable of absorbing and retaining an electrolyte. Absorbing material in said electrolyte bath and said separator contact at least partly with each other. The electrolyte in the electrolyte bath is properly supplied to the separator by a capillary phenomenon. Furthermore, both the electrolyte and the separator comprise absorbing materials, so that the electrolyte charged is retained within the absorbing materials and the effluence of the electrolyte from the cell can be prevented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken-away, of an embodiment of the air cell according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view which illustrates the case 10 of the air cell;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partly broken-away, of a single cell 30 of the air cell;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spacer 40 of the air cell;
FIG. 5A is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line V--V of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5B is a plan view of the spacer shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6A is a transverse sectional view taken along line VI--VI of FIG. 4 and FIG. 6B is a right side view of the spacer shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a schematic of another embodiment of the present invention in which the single cells are connected in series and two compartments are provided for receiving electrolyte;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of only a lower part of the case 10 in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7;
FIG. 9 is a schematic of another embodiment of the present invention in which the single cells are connected in series and four compartments are independently provided for receiving electrolyte;
FIG. 10 is a schematic of an example of an air cell in which electrolyte is shared by a plurality of cells connected in series; and
FIG. 11 is a graph which shows the variation of an output voltage while a load current is kept at 1A.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, water-absorbing material for absorbing and retaining the electrolyte (electrolytic solution) of an air cell is provided in a bath of the cell so that th
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Nakaura Kazuaki
Okamura Okiyoshi
Tamanoi Yoshihito
Bell Mark L.
Green Anthony J.
Koa Oil Company Limited
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