Electrochemical metal-air cell and electrically and mechanically rechargeable anodes for use therein
First Claim
1. An electrochemical metal-air cell, for multiple discharge and recharge cycles, comprising:
- (a) a housing having a base, two major surfaces and two minor surfaces defining an interior space for containing therein a replaceable metal electrode having a generally planar electrically conductive skeletal member encompassed by an active metal component, said interior space communicating with an opening opposite said base through which said replaceable metal electrode is selectively removed to enable the mechanical replacement thereof with a freshly charged metal electrode;
(b) at least one generally planar air permeable but liquid impermeable air electrode, each of said at least one air electrode installed in a window opening provided in at least one of said major surfaces;
(c) an electrolyte in contract with the metal and air electrodes; and
further comprising(d) one or more auxiliary electrodes positioned in a spaced-apart relationship with and adjacent to said replaceable metal electrode;
each auxiliary electrode constituting a charging anode which upon application of electrical current thereto is engaged via said electrolyte in a charging circuit with said metal electrode for effecting electrical recharging of said metal electrode by the reduction and regeneration of said active metal component of said metal electrode in an electrical charging mode of operation, during which said air electrode is disengaged with said metal electrode forming an open circuit between said air electrode and said metal electrode;
and each of said auxiliary electrodes is disengaged from said metal electrode while said air electrode is engaged therewith in a discharging mode of operation, whereby said metal electrode is periodically, selectively removed from said interior space via said opening to enable the mechanical replacement thereof and is periodically, selectively electrically recharged in situ by the application of electric current to said auxiliary charging anode to reduce oxidized active metal of said metal electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochemical metal-air cell for multiple discharge and recharge cycles, includes a housing for accommodating a replaceable metal electrode having a generally planar electrically conductive skeletal member encompassed by an active metal component. At least one generally planar, air permeable but liquid impermeable air electrode is installed at at-least one of the sides of the housing. An electrolyte is provided in contact with the metal and the air electrodes. One or more auxiliary electrodes each constituting a charging anode is engaged when electric current is applied thereto for effecting the reduction and regeneration of the active metal component in one mode of operation, during which the air electrode is disengaged. The charging anode is disengaged in another mode of operation. The metal electrode is removed from the housing to enable the mechanical replacement thereof and is recharged in situ when electric current is applied to the auxiliary charging anode to reduce oxidized active metal thereof.
108 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrochemical metal-air cell, for multiple discharge and recharge cycles, comprising:
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(a) a housing having a base, two major surfaces and two minor surfaces defining an interior space for containing therein a replaceable metal electrode having a generally planar electrically conductive skeletal member encompassed by an active metal component, said interior space communicating with an opening opposite said base through which said replaceable metal electrode is selectively removed to enable the mechanical replacement thereof with a freshly charged metal electrode; (b) at least one generally planar air permeable but liquid impermeable air electrode, each of said at least one air electrode installed in a window opening provided in at least one of said major surfaces; (c) an electrolyte in contract with the metal and air electrodes; and
further comprising(d) one or more auxiliary electrodes positioned in a spaced-apart relationship with and adjacent to said replaceable metal electrode; each auxiliary electrode constituting a charging anode which upon application of electrical current thereto is engaged via said electrolyte in a charging circuit with said metal electrode for effecting electrical recharging of said metal electrode by the reduction and regeneration of said active metal component of said metal electrode in an electrical charging mode of operation, during which said air electrode is disengaged with said metal electrode forming an open circuit between said air electrode and said metal electrode; and each of said auxiliary electrodes is disengaged from said metal electrode while said air electrode is engaged therewith in a discharging mode of operation, whereby said metal electrode is periodically, selectively removed from said interior space via said opening to enable the mechanical replacement thereof and is periodically, selectively electrically recharged in situ by the application of electric current to said auxiliary charging anode to reduce oxidized active metal of said metal electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An electrochemical metal-air cell for multiple discharge and recharge cycles, comprising:
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(a) a housing having a base, two major surfaces and two minor surfaces defining an interior space for containing therein a replaceable metal electrode having a generally planar electrically conductive skeletal member encompassed by an active metal component, said interior space communicating with an opening opposite said base through which said replaceable metal electrode is selectively removed to enable the mechanical replacement thereof with a freshly charged metal electrode; (b) at least one generally planar air permeable but liquid impermeable air electrode, each of said at least one air electrode installed in a window opening provided in at least one of said major surfaces; (c) an electrolyte in contact with the metal and air electrodes, wherein said air electrode is a bi-functional electrode capable of accepting a charge upon reversal of current flow in said cell and application of electric current to said electrode and effects via said electrolyte the reduction and regeneration of the active metal component of said replaceable metal electrode in a first mode of operation, and wherein the metal electrode is periodically, selectively removed from the interior space to enable the mechanical replacement thereof and is recharged in situ by the application of electric current to said bi-functional air electrode to reduce oxidized active metal of said metal electrode.
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Specification