Liquid activated battery

• US 4,722,876 A
• Filed: 05/13/1987
• Issued: 02/02/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Paduano, Paduano Stephen
• Original Assignee: James Paduano, Paduano Stephen
• Inventors: Hummel, Roger L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/047,514
• Time in Patent Office: 265 Days
• Field of Search: 429/118, 429/119, 429/110, 368/64, 368/203, 368/204
• US Class Current: 429/118
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/00 Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces circuits G04G19/00; mounting, assembling of components of electromechanical watches G04C3/008, of electronic watches G04G17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/96 Carbon-based electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/26 Cells without oxidising active material, e.g. Volta cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/32 activated through external addition of electrolyte or of electrolyte components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An improved long life, liquid activated battery is disclosed which employs a battery cell architecture including a metal electrode and a specially configured, multi-element carbon electrode. The carbon electrode is effected by activated carbon granules embedded in an electrically conductive adhesive in which the conductive component is a myriad of carbon particles. A conductor, which may be a carbon fiber material or a more conventional conductor, is connected to the adhesive and couples the carbon electrode through a barrier which isolates the cell chamber to provide one power input connection to a user device. The activated carbon granules serve the second function of a cell gas scavenger such that the need for providing a separate filter to perform this function is eliminated. Thus, a substantially monolithic carbon electrode within the cell chamber is effectively realized. The other electrode is a metal selected to obtain the desired cell voltage appropriate for the battery load. For such conventional circuits as watch and calculator modules, an alloy of magnesium is preferred to obtain a voltage output typically in the range 1.45 to 1.65 volts d-c.

Claims

1. A battery cell coupled to electrical power utilization structure external said cell, said cell comprising:

(A) a cell chamber having non-conductive internal surfaces;

(B) a metal electrode situated in said cell chamber, said metal electrode being electrically coupled to a first position outside said cell chamber and to the external structure;

(C) a carbon electrode situated in said cell chamber and disposed in physically non-contacting relationship with said metal electrode, said carbon electrode including;

1. a first quantity of conductive, curable paste applied as a layer on a substrate;

2. a plurality of activated carbon granules embedded in said layer of conductive paste; and

3. conductive means electrically coupled to said conductive paste, said conductive means coupling said carbon electrode to a second position outside said cell chamber; and

(D) means for selectively introducing a liquid electrolyte into said cell chamber;

(E) means for flushing out contaminants and other extraneous material which may collect in said cell chamber;

whereby, introduction of a liquid into said cell chamber in sufficient quantity as to establish a path of electrolyte between said carbon electrode and said metal electrode activates said cell.

2. The cell of claim 1 in which said conductive means is a carbon fiber material formed into continuous strands and in which one end of said carbon fiber material is embedded in said conductive paste.

3. The cell of claim 1 in which said conductive paste is impregnated with carbon particles.

4. The cell of claim 2 in which said conductive paste is impregnated with carbon particles.

5. The cell of claim 3 in which said conductive paste is water curable.

6. The cell of claim 4 in which said conductive paste is water curable.

7. The cell of claim 1 in which said substrate is an interior surface of said cell chamber.

8. The cell of claim 2 in which said stranded carbon fiber material extends to said second position outside said cell chamber and which further includes:

(A) a second quantity of conductive, curable paste disposed at said second position; and

(B) a metallic conductor having an end embedded in said second quantity of conductive paste, said metallic conductor being electrically coupled to the external structure;

whereby, a complete conductive path between said carbon electrode and the external structure is established.

9. The cell of claim 1 in which said metal electrode is fabricated from a magnesium alloy selected to provide a cell output voltage, when used in conjunction with a carbon electrode, falling within the range of about 1.45 volts to about 1.65 volts.

10. The cell of claim 1 in which said substrate is a conductive elastomer affixed to an interior surface of said cell chamber.

11. The cell of claim 10 in which said conductive elastomer includes a a prolongation which extends to said second position position outside said cell chamber to effect said conductive means.

12. The cell of claim 11 in which said conductive paste is impregnated with carbon particles.

13. The cell of claim 12 in which said metal electrode is fabricated from a magnesium alloy selected to provide a cell output voltage, when used in conjunction with a carbon electrode, falling within the range of about 1.45 volts to about 1.65 volts.

14. A liquid activated battery for energizing a utilization device by applying a potential across first and second input terminals and supplying current to the device, said battery consisting of at least one cell, each said cell comprising:

(A) a cell chamber having non-conductive internal surfaces;

(B) a metal electrode situated in said cell chamber, said metal electrode being electrically coupled to the first input terminal of the utilization device;

(C) a carbon electrode situated in said cell chamber and disposed in physically non-contacting relationship with said metal electrode, said carbon electrode including;

1. a first quantity of conductive, curable adhesive paste applied as a layer on a substrate;

2. a plurality of activated carbon granules embedded in said layer of conductive adhesive paste; and

3. conductive means electrically coupled to said conductive paste, said conductive means coupling said carbon electrode to the second input terminal of the utilization device; and

(D) means for selectively introducing a liquid electrolyte into said cell chamber;

(E) means for flushing out contaminants and other extraneous material which may collect in said cell chamber;

whereby, introduction of a liquid into all said cell chambers of said battery in sufficient quantity as to establish a path of electrolyte between said carbon electrode and said metal electrode in each said cell activates said battery.

15. The battery of claim 14 in which said conductive means is a carbon fiber material formed into continuous strands and in which one end of said carbon fiber material is embedded in said conductive paste.

16. The battery of claim 14 in which said conductive paste in impregnated with carbon particles.

17. The battery of claim 15 in which said conductive paste is impregnated with carbon particles.

18. The battery of claim 16 in which said conductive paste is water curable.

19. The battery of claim 17 in which said conductive paste is water curable.

20. The battery of claim 14 in which said substrate is an interior surface of said cell chamber.

21. The battery of claim 15 in which said carbon fiber stranded material extends to a position outside said cell chamber and which further includes:

(A) a second quantity of conductive, curable paste disposed outside said cell chamber; and

(B) a metallic conductor having an end embedded in said second quantity of conductive paste, said metallic conductor being electrically coupled to the utilization device second terminal;

whereby, a complete conductive path between said carbon electrode and the second terminal of theutilization device is established.

22. The battery of claim 14 in which said metal electrode is fabricated from a magnesium alloy selected to provide a cell output voltage, when used in conjunction with a carbon electrode, falling within the range of about 1.45 volts to about 1.65 volts.

23. The battery of claim 14 in which said substrate is a conductive elastomer affixed to an interior surface of said cell chamber.

24. The battery of claim 23 in which said conductive elastomer includes a prolongation which extends to said second position position outside said cell chamber to effect said conductive means.

25. The battery of claim 24 in which said conductive paste is impregnated with carbon particles.

26. The battery of claim 25 in which said metal electrode is fabricated from a magnesium alloy selected to provide a cell output voltage, when used in conjunction with a carbon electrode, falling within the range of about 1.45 volts to about 1.65 volts.

27. The battery of claim 14 which comprises a plurality of said cells connected in series.

28. The battery of claim 14 which comprises a plurality of said cells connected in parallel.

29. The battery of claim 14 which comprises a plurality of said cells connected in a series/parallel array.