Fluid consuming battery with fluid regulating system
First Claim
1. A battery comprising a fluid regulating system and at least one fluid consuming cell;
- the cell comprising a first fluid consuming electrode, a second electrode, and a cell housing comprising one or more fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell;
wherein the fluid regulating system comprises;
at least one valve for adjusting the rate of passage of the fluid into the fluid consuming electrode; and
at least one actuator for operating the valve, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a component that is capable of a nonuniform dimensional change due to a change in an electrical charge distribution within the component when an electrical potential applied across the component changes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is an electrochemical battery cell with a fluid consuming electrode, such as an oxygen reduction electrode, and a fluid regulating system. The fluid regulating system includes a valve for adjusting the rate of passage of the fluid to the fluid consuming electrode. It is operated by an actuator that responds (e.g., by deforming) to changes in a potential applied across the actuator to open or close the valve. The applied potential can be the cell potential or an adjusted potential. The potential applied across the actuator can vary according to the need for more or less fluid in the fluid consuming electrode. The valve can be contained within the cell housing, for example between the fluid consuming electrode and one or more fluid entry ports in the cell housing, or it can be located outside the cell housing.
80 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A battery comprising a fluid regulating system and at least one fluid consuming cell;
- the cell comprising a first fluid consuming electrode, a second electrode, and a cell housing comprising one or more fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell;
wherein the fluid regulating system comprises;
at least one valve for adjusting the rate of passage of the fluid into the fluid consuming electrode; and
at least one actuator for operating the valve, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a component that is capable of a nonuniform dimensional change due to a change in an electrical charge distribution within the component when an electrical potential applied across the component changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- the cell comprising a first fluid consuming electrode, a second electrode, and a cell housing comprising one or more fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell;
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12. A battery comprising a fluid regulating system and at least one fluid consuming cell;
- the cell comprises a first fluid consuming electrode, a second electrode, and a cell housing comprising one or more fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell; and
the fluid regulating system comprises at least one valve for adjusting the rate of passage of the fluid into the fluid consuming electrode and at least one actuator for operating the at least one valve;
wherein;
the at least one actuator comprises a component that is capable of a nonuniform dimensional change due to a change in an electrical charge distribution within the component when an electrical potential applied across the component changes;
the at least one valve comprises a first and a second plate, each plate having opposing first and a second major surfaces, the plates disposed adjacent each other with the first major surface of the first plate facing the first major surface of the second plate;
the valve has a closed position and an open position; and
the first and second valve plates are held against each other by magnetic force when the valve is in at least the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- the cell comprises a first fluid consuming electrode, a second electrode, and a cell housing comprising one or more fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell; and
Specification