Rechargeable metal-air battery
First Claim
1. A rechargeable metal-air battery, comprising:
- metal anode means;
porous anode separator means for retaining liquid electrolyte having first and second layers which sandwich the anode means therebetween and at least one edge which interconnects the first and second layers and said separator means extends in a continuous wrap around the anode means;
air cathode means; and
a liquid electrolyte completely entrained in the porous anode separator means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A zinc anode plate is completely wrapped in a cloth anode separator containing liquid electrolyte. A hydro-gel material packed in an inert mesh separator is sandwiched between the wrapped anode and an air cathode which is in the form of a carbon membrane. The gel material is sufficiently permeable to oxygen to allow oxygen flow therethrough during charging and discharging cycles of the battery, and provides chemical reactive communication between the air cathode and the electrolyte in the anode separator without allowing electrolyte to pass therethrough. The permeability of the gel material is selected such that during charging of the battery, oxygen generated by the anode exerts sufficient pressure at the interface of the anode separator and gel material to cause electrolyte to be recirculated through the edges of the cloth anode separator to the opposite layer thereof, thereby preventing depletion of electrolyte to the anode.
123 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A rechargeable metal-air battery, comprising:
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metal anode means; porous anode separator means for retaining liquid electrolyte having first and second layers which sandwich the anode means therebetween and at least one edge which interconnects the first and second layers and said separator means extends in a continuous wrap around the anode means; air cathode means; and a liquid electrolyte completely entrained in the porous anode separator means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An anode for a metal-air battery comprising in combination:
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a metal anode element comprising a substrate containing a gas permeable layer of metal anode material; and a continuous wrap of porous eletrolyte separator material having first and second layers and edges connecting said layers surrounding said element, said separator material being wettable by liquid electrolyte, absorbent and oxidation-resistant under conditions of operation of a metal-air battery. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A rechargeable metal-air battery comprising:
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metal anode means; porous separator means having a first layer and a second layer and a set of edges connecting said layers and forming a continuous wrap surrounding said metal anode means, said first layer being adjacent to the anode means; air cathode means; cathode gel means sandwiched between the air cathode means and the anode means; a liquid electrolyte entrained in the anode separator means; and a container absent a liquid electrolyte reservoir having a top wall, side walls and a bottom wall which encloses and resiliently presses the anode means, separator means, air cathode means, cathode gel means, and liquid electrolyte together, said bottom wall being in contact with said second layer. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A rechargeable metal-air battery, comprising:
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metal anode means; porous anode separator means having first and second layers which sandwich the anode means therebetween and at least one edge which interconnects the first and second layers; said anode means and anode separator means each comprise a plurality of respective separate sections which are interconnected together; air cathode means; and a liquid electrolyte entrained in the anode separator means. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A rechargeable metal-air battery, comprising:
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metal anode means comprising an electrically conductive mesh screen substrate and a zinc material packed in the mesh in a semi permeable density, said zinc material being selected from the group consisting of zinc powder flakes, granules, capsules and fiber; porous anode separator means having first and second layers which sandwich the anode means therebetween and at least one edge which interconnects the first and second layers; air cathode means; and a liquid electrolyte entrained in the porous anode separator means.
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Specification