Metal/air cell
First Claim
1. A unitary, compact, and completely self-contained cylinder-like metal/air cell of the flashlight type comprising a consumable metal anode, a pressure deformable cathode having a gas-permeable electrolyte impermeable outer face comprising a hydrophobic polymer and an electrocatalytic inner face, said electrocatalytic inner face being spaced in electrically non-conductive contact from said anode, and said cathode substantially completely enclosing said anode to provide a cylinder-like shape, exposed electrical contact means in electrical contact with said anode at one end of said cell and exposed electrical contact means in electrical contact with said cathode at the opposite end of said cell and an electrolyte material between said anode and cathode, said anode and cathode and both said electrical contact means being constructed and arranged to provide an electrolyte-tight seal between said anode, cathode, and electrical contact means, a substantially rigid protective shield having a plurality of perforations therein and being substantially co-extensive with said cathode, and means for spacing said shield from said cathode over substantially the entire surface area of said cathode, said means including spacer means at opposite ends of said cylinder-like cell constructed and arranged with said protective shield to secure said shield to said cell while providing a space over substantially the entire surface area of said cathode permitting access of air to said cathode through said perforations, said anode includes closure means and said closure means and said spacing means are threadedly engaged.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Primary and secondary lightweight "AA," "C," "D," and the like metal/air cells comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte are described in which the anode comprises a consumable porous metal and the cathode comprises a hydrophobic member in contact at one surface with an electrocatalyst. The aforesaid components of the cell are retained in a substantially rigid protective shield and spaced therefrom permitting access of air to the cathode over substantially the entire cathode surface area. The structural elements which include the protective shield spacers to space the shield from the cathode comprise lightweight materials such as lightweight metals or a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin or the like. The electrolyte can be a solution or paste of an ion-conductive material or a water-activatable solid, such as "dry" potassium hydroxide adhering to or absorbed in the anode and/or cathode and/or a hydrophilic separator between the anode and cathode.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A unitary, compact, and completely self-contained cylinder-like metal/air cell of the flashlight type comprising a consumable metal anode, a pressure deformable cathode having a gas-permeable electrolyte impermeable outer face comprising a hydrophobic polymer and an electrocatalytic inner face, said electrocatalytic inner face being spaced in electrically non-conductive contact from said anode, and said cathode substantially completely enclosing said anode to provide a cylinder-like shape, exposed electrical contact means in electrical contact with said anode at one end of said cell and exposed electrical contact means in electrical contact with said cathode at the opposite end of said cell and an electrolyte material between said anode and cathode, said anode and cathode and both said electrical contact means being constructed and arranged to provide an electrolyte-tight seal between said anode, cathode, and electrical contact means, a substantially rigid protective shield having a plurality of perforations therein and being substantially co-extensive with said cathode, and means for spacing said shield from said cathode over substantially the entire surface area of said cathode, said means including spacer means at opposite ends of said cylinder-like cell constructed and arranged with said protective shield to secure said shield to said cell while providing a space over substantially the entire surface area of said cathode permitting access of air to said cathode through said perforations, said anode includes closure means and said closure means and said spacing means are threadedly engaged.
Specification