Bipolar battery electrode

• US 5,326,656 A
• Filed: 06/21/1993
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Bish, James R., Adams, Robert E., Meadows, Clarence A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US08/079,029
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 429/210, 429/178, 429/234, 429/247, 429/246
• US Class Current: 429/178
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/18 with bipolar electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/14 Electrodes for lead-acid accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A bipolar battery comprising a plurality of bipolar electrodes stacked together, each bipolar electrode comprising a conductive septum having positive and negative active material on opposite faces thereof. Each electrode has a nonconductive frame formed thereabout, and a mesa-like lattice which is integral with the frame, overlays the faces of the septum and is defined by an annular shoulder formed between the border of the lattice and the frame. Discrete spacer frames interjacent the electrode frames separate the electrodes from each other and define a region thereabout for retaining the battery'"'"'s electrolyte. The faces of the spacer include an annular recess contiguous an inner rim thereof which receives, in nesting fashion, the mesa-like lattices for interlocking the several frames together.

Claims

1. In a bipolar battery comprising a stack of bipolar electrodes each comprising a substantially planar, electrolyte-impervious, electrically conductive septum having a positive polarity face and a negative polarity face on opposite sides thereof, and a monopolar electrode at each end of said stack, the improvement comprising:

a nonconductive electrode frame engaging the periphery of each of said bipolar electrodes;

a pair of mesa-like, nonconductive lattices integral with and on opposite sides of said electrode frame, said lattices each laying inboard the periphery of, and standing in relief from, said electrode frame so as to overlay and provide a plurality of pockets extending across said face,

a shoulder formed between said frame and said lattice and surrounding said lattice;

active material filling said pockets;

discrete spacer frames interjacent said electrode frames for spacing said electrodes from each other, said spacer frames each having a pair of faces on opposite sides thereof confronting said electrode frames, and an internal rim defining an electrolyte retention region between adjacent electrodes in said stack;

an annular recess in each of said faces contiguous said rim receiving a said shoulder such that a said lattice nests within said spacer frame; and

terminal means engaging said monopolar electrodes for electrically connecting said battery to external electrical circuitry.

2. A battery according to claim 1 wherein said frames are sealed one to the other forming a housing for the battery.

3. A battery according to claim 1 wherein said stack is contained in a separate housing.

4. A battery according to claim 1 wherein said terminal comprises a metal blade embedded in an end wall of the stack, said blade having at least one tang projecting out of said end wall and fused to a said monopolar electrode.

5. A battery according to claim 4 wherein said monopolar electrode comprises a conductive metal plate having active material on only one face thereof and said tang is fused to the opposite face thereof.

6. A battery according to claim 5 wherein said tang is fused to said opposite face by induction welding after said stack has been formed.

7. A battery according to claim 1 wherein said spacer frame embeds the peripheral edges of a microporous, dendrite suppressing, interelectrode separator positioned in said region.

8. A battery according to claim 1 wherein said spacer frame has at least one opening therein for admitting electrolyte into said region.

9. A battery according to claim 1 wherein said spacer frame has at least one opening therein for venting gases from said region.