Electrode gap control for electro chemical batteries and heat generation systems

• US 3,920,476 A
• Filed: 09/19/1974
• Issued: 11/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sergius S. Sergev, Stanley A. Black
• Original Assignee: Sergius S. Sergev, Stanley A. Black
• Inventors: Black, Stanley A., Sergev, Sergius S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, John H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefevour, C. F.
• Application Number:
  US05/507,653
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 136/1M,1R,83,6R,6B,111,114 126/263
• US Class Current: 429/68
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/04 Regulation of the inter-electrode distance
• CPC Class Codes: F24V 30/00 Apparatus or devices using heat produced by exothermal chemical reactions other than combustion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0468 Compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/34 Immersion cells, e.g. sea-water cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/50 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for maintaining operating temperature constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/60 Heating arrangements wherein the heating current flows through granular powdered or fluid material, e.g. for salt-bath furnace, electrolytic heating H05B3/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A simple and economical means for controlling the electrode gap in an electrochemical cell that depends on the gap for control of power output. As the anode is consumed, a conical spacer attached to the cathode is allowed to move into a conical hole in the anode, thus controlling the electrode gap.

Claims

1. AN ELECTRODE GAP CONTROL SUSTEM SYSTEM COMPRISING ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY PRODUCING CELLS HAVING A CONDUMABLE ANODE AND AN INERT CATHODE IMMERSED IN A LIQUID ELECTROLYTE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING:

A. AT LEAST ONE ANODE ELECTRODE SPACER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID ELECTRODE;

B. A PLURALITY OF ELECTRODE SPACER MEANS MOUNTED ON AN PROJECTING FROM SAID AT LEAST ONE CATHODE ELECTRODE FROM SAID SPACING SAID AT LEAST ONE CATHODE ELECTRODE FROM SAID AT LEAST ONE ANODE ELECTRODE;

C. THE WIDTH OF EACH SAID PROJECTING SPACER MEANS BECOMING GRADUALLY NARROWER AS IT EXTENDS FROM THE CATHODE ELECTRODE SURFACE UNTIL IT REACHES ITS APEX;

D. A PLURALITY OF CHAMFERED HOLES IN THE ANODE ELECTRODE, EQUAL TOAND MATCHING RESPECTIVE SPACERMEANS ON THE ADJACENT SURFACE OF THE CATHODE ELECTRODE,IN WHICH THE RESPECTIVE APEX ENDS OF SAID SPACER MEANS SEAT;

E. THE INCLUDED ANGLE OF SAID CHAMFERED HOLES BEING GREATER THAN THE INCLUDED ANGLE FORMED BY THE SIDES OF SAID SPACER MEANS;

F. MEANS FOR PROVIDING A LOADING FORCE ON SAID ANODE AND CATHODE ELECTRODES IN A DIRECTION TOWARD EACH OTHER;

G. THE APEX OF SAID SPACER MEANS TRAVELING THROUGH SAID CHAMFERED HOLES AS THE SURFACE OF THE ANODE ELECTRODE IS CONSUMED BY ELECTROLYTE ACTION., RESULTING IN THE CHAMFERED HOLES BECOMING LARGER AND THEREBY AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING THE SPACER BETWEEN SAID ANODE AND CATHODE ELECTRODES.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said spacer means are cone shaped.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said spacer means is made from inert material.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said spacer means is made from a hard plastic material.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein the chamfer angle of said chamfered holes and the spacer means apex angle can be adjusted to provide any of constant, increasing, decreasing, and non-linear control of the spacing between the anode and cathode electrodes.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein the amount and rate of travel over an operating period for a cell is determined by the relationship between the degree of the chamfer angle of said chamfered holes and the degree of the angle of the sides of said spacer means.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein the apex end of said spacer means seat in and extend into said chamfered holes from the narrowest opening therein.

8. A system as in claim 1 wherein said anode and cathode electrodes are electrically short-circuited.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein said spacer elements are made from the cathode material.

10. A system as in claim 1 wherein a plurality of alternating anode and cathode electrodes are stacked together, said cathode electrodes having said spacer means protruding toward said anode electrodes and said anode electrodes having chamfered holes from both sides thereof, the outer electrodes at each end of said stack being cathodes against which said loading forces are applied.