Diffusion vent for a rechargeable metal-air cell
First Claim
1. A system for venting gas from within a case housing an electrochemical metal air cell having an anode and a cathode with a separator positioned therebetween, said case having, an interior surface and an exterior surface, comprising:
- at least one recess defined on the interior surface of said case on the anode side of said separator, said recess extending towards the exterior surface of said case, so as to define a gas collection area; and
at least one gas exit hole communicating with the atmosphere, having a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said recess, extending from the exterior surface of said case to said recess.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vent system for exhausting gas generated within a battery case is provided. The vent system exhausts gas from the battery case while maintaining the hermetic seal of the case. The vent system provides a small gas exit hole that is sufficiently small to prevent electrolyte leakage and also intake of excess carbon dioxide or excess water vapor from the atmosphere. Also, various combinations of gas-permeable, hydrophobic membranes and diffuser material may cover the gas exit hole to provide humidity control for the battery while exhausting gases from the battery. A recess may be provided within the case such that the gas exit hole communicates between the atmosphere and the recess. Also, various combinations of gas-permeable, hydrophobic membranes and diffuser material may cover the recess and gas exit hole to provide humidity control for the battery while exhausting gases from the battery case. The present invention also provides a vent system in which gas-permeable, hydrophobic membranes and diffuser material may fill an opening so as to exhaust gas from the case. The present invention also provides an electrode lead which extends along the battery case and through the seam of the battery case in a manner in which a hermetic seal is provided around the lead. The manufacturing process for the seal around the lead is relatively simple.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A system for venting gas from within a case housing an electrochemical metal air cell having an anode and a cathode with a separator positioned therebetween, said case having, an interior surface and an exterior surface, comprising:
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at least one recess defined on the interior surface of said case on the anode side of said separator, said recess extending towards the exterior surface of said case, so as to define a gas collection area; and at least one gas exit hole communicating with the atmosphere, having a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said recess, extending from the exterior surface of said case to said recess. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 46)
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14. A system for venting gas from within a case housing an electrochemical metal air cell having an anode and a cathode with a separator positioned therebetween, said case having an interior surface and an exterior surface, comprising:
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at least one recess defined on the interior surface of said case on the anode side of said separator, said recess extending towards the exterior surface of said case, so as to define a gas collection area; at least one gas exit hole communicating with the atmosphere, having a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said recess, extending from the exterior surface of said case to said recess; and a gas-permeable, hydrophobic membrane attached to the surface of said case within said recess and covering said gas exit hole. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for venting gas from within a case housing an electrochemical metal air cell having an anode and a cathode with a separator positioned therebetween, said case having an interior surface and an exterior surface, comprising:
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at least one gas exit hole defined from the exterior of said case to the interior of said case on the anode side of said separator, said gas exit hole being sufficiently small to prevent excessive carbon dioxide intake from the atmosphere and to prevent excessive water loss from said cell; and at least one gas diffuser, having a plurality of pores, attached along the interior surface of said case and covering said gas exit hole. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 47)
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30. A system for venting gas from within a case housing an electrochemical metal air cell having an anode and a cathode with a separator positioned therebetween, said case having an interior surface and an exterior surface, comprising:
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an opening defined in said case and extending through the exterior surface of said case to the interior surface of said case on the anode side of said separator; and a gas diffuser having a plurality of pores and having a diffuser exterior surface, a diffuser interior surface, and a diffuser peripheral surface therebetween, said diffuser being positioned to fill said opening with said diffuser exterior surface facing outwardly. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for venting gas from within a case housing an electrochemical metal air cell, said case having an interior surface and an exterior surface and said case defining a volume, comprising:
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an electrolyte partially filling the volume of said case, thereby defining a fluid volume and a gas volume within said case; a plurality of gas exit holes, communicating with the atmosphere, defined from the exterior of said case to the interior of said case so as to exhaust gas from said gas volume, said case having an initial horizontal position defined by the position in which said gas exit holes located on a surface of said case face upward, said exit holes being spaced apart such that at least one of said gas exit holes is located above the maximum fluid level of said fluid volume for any position of orientation of said case from said horizontal position to at least a 90°
vertical orientation of said case so that at least said one of said gas exit holes communicates with said gas volume; andeach of said gas exit holes being covered by a gas-permeable, hydrophobic membrane attached to said case. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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48. A system for venting gas from within a case housing a rechargeable electrochemical metal-air cell having an anode and a cathode with a separator positioned therebetween, said case having an interior surface and an exterior surface, comprising:
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at least one recess defined on the interior surface of said case on the anode side of said separator, said recess extending towards the exterior surface of said case, so as to define a gas collection area; and at least one gas exit hole communicating with the atmosphere, having a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said recess, extending from the exterior surface of said case to said recess.
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49. A system for venting gas from within a case housing a rechargeable electrochemical metal-air cell having an anode and a cathode with a separator positioned therebetween, said case having an interior surface and an exterior surface, comprising:
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at least one gas exit hole defined from the exterior of said case to the interior of said case on the anode side of said separator, said gas exit hole being sufficiently small to prevent excessive carbon dioxide intake from the atmosphere and to prevent excessive water loss from said cell; and at least one gas diffuser, having a plurality of pores, attached along the interior surface of said case and covering said gas exit hole.
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Specification