RECHARGEABLE ELECTROCHEMICAL POWER SUPPLY

• US 3,716,413 A
• Filed: 07/15/1970
• Issued: 02/13/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steve Eisner
• Original Assignee: Steve Eisner
• Inventors: Eisner, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Curtis, Allen B.
• Application Number:
  US05/054,887
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 136/86,140,141 204/36,227,217
• US Class Current: 429/406
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4214 Arrangements for moving electrodes or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/08 composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

This invention relates to an improvement in zinc-air and other rechargeable electric storage cells whereby the zinc-electrode surface is mechanically activated allowing the cell to be recharged very rapidly without the growth of dendrites on the zinc plates.

Claims

1. A rechargeable electrochemical power supply comprising:

a. a body of aqueous electrolyte;

b. an electrically conductive cathode permeable to the passage of air and oxygen therethrough while being substantially impermeable to the passage of electrolyte, said cathode having a surface in electrolytic contact with said electrolyte and a means for supplying oxygen-containing gas to the interior of said cathode;

c. a conductive anode material in electrolytic contact with said electrolyte;

d. a supporting medium having a plurality of spaced small hard particles disposed between said anode and said cathode;

e. means for establishing relative motion and contact between the surface on said anode material and the particles supported by said supporting means whereby the said entire surface of said anode material is continuously mechanically activated at least during any recharge cycle;

f. electrical terminal means respectively electronically connected to said anode material and said cathode for interconnection to an electrical load; and

g. means for interconnecting a source of electrical power to said terminals whereby the power supply is recharged for subsequent reuse.

2. A rechargeable power supply as in claim 1 wherein the conductive anode material is zinc.

3. A rechargeable power supply as in claim 2 wherein the supporting medium containing the spaced particles thereon makes contact with the zinc anode only during the recharge cycle and a means is supplied to withdraw said supporting medium from the surface of the zinc anode during the period in which power is supplied to an external load.

4. A rechargeable power supply as in claim 2 wherein said supporting means comprises an electrolyte-permeable matrix having said plurality of small particles adhered to in fixed spaced relationship one to the other.

5. A rechargeable power supply as in claim 4 wherein said matrix comprises a porous non-wOven web.

6. A rechargeable power supply as in claim 4 wherein said matrix comprises an open-weave fabric.

7. A rechargeable power supply as in claim 6 wherein said particles comprise abrasive grains.

8. In a rechargeable electrochemical current generator including a reversible electrode and a counterelectrode, said reversible electrode having a working surface of active material confronting said counterelectrode, said active material being prone to develop growth formations extending toward said counterelectrode during recharge, the combination therewith of a supporting medium having a plurality of spaced small hard particles thereon interposed between said reversible electrode and said counterelectrode, means for imparting relative motion and contact between the working surface on said reversible electrode and the particles on said supporting medium at least during recharge whereby said entire working surface is continuously and repetitively mechanically activated and said supporting means continuously prevents said growth formations from forming on said working surface.

9. A rechargeable generator as in claim 8 wherein the reversible electrode is zinc.