Bipolar battery

• US 4,551,399 A
• Filed: 05/31/1984
• Issued: 11/05/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aleksandar Despic
• Original Assignee: Aleksandar Despic
• Inventors: Despic, Aleksandar
• Primary Examiner(s): Hearn, Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/615,917
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 429/27, 429/209, 429/210, 429/149
• US Class Current: 429/404
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/065 with plate-like electrodes or stacks of plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/024 Insertable electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/46 Alloys based on magnesium or aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/96 Carbon-based electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/48 with bipolar electrodes

Abstract

This invention relates to a bipolar battery with self-perpetuating semi-wedge anodes where electric contact is established between the anode of one cell and the cathode of the adjacent cell through the wall which separates the two cells. The self-perpetuating semi-wedge anodes each have a rectangular triangle as a base, and the self-perpetuation of the wedge is effected by dissolving the anode from one side only, the side where the cathode is placed at the appropriate angle.

Claims

1. A bipolar storage battery employing a number of cells between a pair of parallel end walls and a pair of parallel side walls normal to the plane of said end walls, each of said cells formed between opposed cells walls each having a first and second face, said battery including:

a removable-replaceable anode including a wall contacting side and cell facing side, said wall contacting side being coplanar and abutting the first face of said one wall, said cell facing side having an upper portion generally parallel with said wall contacting side and a lower tapered portion angled inwardly and downwardly forming a wedge;

a cathode member contacting the second face of said other wall, said member including projections and spaces for air to act as an oxidant, and a face opposite said projections angularly disposed thereto toward said tapered portion and generally parallel with said lower tapered portions of said anode;

each of said side walls including slots therethrough complimentary with the projections of said cathode member and receiving said projections, said projections extending through said wall into an adjacent cell and bearing against said wall contacting side of said anode;

said wedge portion of said anode gravitationally biasing said cathode against said wall;

spacer means separating said anode and said cathode member in the same cell;

contact means interconnecting said anodes and passing to the exterior of said bettery forming one contact; and

contact means interconnecting said cathodes and passing to the exterior of said battery forming another contact.

2. A bipolar storage battery as defined in claim 1 wherein said opposed side walls have groove means to guide and hold said anodes when inserted in said battery.

3. A bipolar storage battery as defined in claim 1 wherein the projections are a series of contacts vertically aligned one above the other.

4. A bipolar storage battery as defined in claim 1 wherein the projection of each of said cathodes is a continuous elongated knife contact adapted to bear against the anode.