SELF-CHARGING BATTERY INCORPORATING A SOLID-GAS BATTERY AND STORAGE BATTERY WITHIN A HONEYCOMB MATRIX

• US 3,607,403 A
• Filed: 11/15/1968
• Issued: 09/21/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank C. Arrance
• Original Assignee: Frank C. Arrance
• Inventors: Arrance, Frank C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Winston A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Skapars, A.
• Application Number:
  US04/776,133
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 136/86,120,30,36,38,37,20,3,100,102,6,120,142-146,164,165,58,59 174/68.5
• US Class Current: 429/9
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/434 Ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/489 Separators, membranes, diaphragms or spacing elements inside the cells, characterised by their physical properties, e.g. swelling degree, hydrophilicity or shut down properties
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/491 Porosity
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5033 used as charging means for another battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A self-charging battery unit incorporating solid-fluid battery cell sections and high energy density storage cell sections formed within a honeycomb matrix which acts to support and separate the electrodes, the solid-fluid cell sections being actuable to charge the storage cell sections when the latter are discharged.

Claims

2. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second electrodes of said battery section are positioned in adjacent cells of said honeycomb matrix and said third and fourth electrodes of said charging section are positioned in adjacent cells of said honeycomb matrix.

3. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 1, said battery including a plurality of said rechargeable battery sections and a plurality of said charging sections.

4. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 1, wherein said first electrodes are formed of a first active electrode material, said second and fourth electrodes are formed of the same second electrode material, said third catalyst electrodes being formed of a third catalyst electrode material.

5. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 4, wherein said first electrode material is positioned in a first series of cells of said honeycomb matrix, said second electrode material is positioned in a second series of cells of said honeycomb matrix, and said third electrode material is positioned in a third series of cells of said honeycomb matrix.

6. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 5, the second series of cells containing said second electrode material being adjacent said first series of cells containing said first electrode material and adjacent said third series of cells containing said third catalyst electrode material.

7. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 6, wherein said second series of cells containing said second electrode material are in alternate juxtaposition with respect to the cells containing said first electrode material, and said second series of cells containing said second electrode material are in alternate juxtaposition with respect to the cells containing said third electrode material, whereby adjacent electrodes of opposite polarity are separated from each other by a single cell wall.

8. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 5, wherein said second series of cells containing said second electrode material is divided so that some of said second series of cells are adjacent said first series of cells containing said first electrode material, and the remainder of said second series of cells containing said second electrode material are adjacent said third series of cells containing said third catalyst electrode material.

9. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 1, the cells containing said third catalyst electrodes also containing a free fluid diffusion space in said cells to permit diffusion of a fluid into said last-mentioned cells for contact of said fluid with said catalyst electrodes.

10. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 1, said honeycomb matrix being porous for retention of an aqueous electrolyte, and having a porosity permitting transfer of electrolyte ions but preventing transfer of electrode ions.

11. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 1, said honeycomb matrix being formed of a porous substantially rigid inorganic material.

12. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 1, said honeycomb matrix being formed of a porous ceramic material.

13. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 1, said honeycomb matrix being an alumina honeycOmb matrix.

14. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 1, said honeycomb matrix being composed of a solid solution of magnesium silicate and iron silicate.

15. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 4, said first electrode material being a silver electrode said second electrode material being a zinc electrode, and said third catalyst electrode material being a platinum catalyst electrode.

16. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 2, said honeycomb matrix being a porous ceramic honeycomb matrix having a substantially continuous wall and having substantial depth in comparison to wall thickness, electrical connections to each of said electrodes, and terminals for said connections, said means for electrically connecting said electrodes of said charging section to said electrodes of said battery section including switch means.

17. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 16, wherein said first electrodes are formed of a first active electrode material, said second and fourth electrodes are formed of the same second electrode material, said third catalyst electrodes being formed of a third catalyst electrode material.

18. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said second electrodes of said battery section being disposed adjacent a plurality of said first electrodes of said battery section, each of said fourth electrodes of said charging section being disposed adjacent a plurality of said catalyst electrodes, said at least one battery section being spaced from said at least one charging section in said honeycomb matrix by a plurality of empty honeycomb cells.

19. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 18, said first electrodes being silver electrodes, said second and fourth electrodes being zinc electrodes, and said third catalyst electrodes being platinum catalyst electrodes.

20. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 17, wherein each of said second electrodes being common to said battery section and to said charging section, each of said second electrodes being disposed adjacent a plurality of said first electrodes of said at least one battery section and adjacent a plurality of third electrodes of said at least one charging section.

21. A self-charging battery as defined in claim 20, said first electrodes being silver electrodes, said common second electrodes being zinc electrodes and said third catalyst electrodes being platinum catalyst electrodes.