Environmentally safe water-activated battery

• US 5,395,707 A
• Filed: 05/07/1993
• Issued: 03/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ACR Electronics, Inc. (Drew Marine USA, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ACR Electronics, Inc. (Drew Marine USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Flood, John F., McCarter, Walter K., Fischer, Jorgen T.
• Primary Examiner(s): KALAFUT, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/058,927
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 429/119, 429/128, 429/130
• US Class Current: 429/119
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/34 Immersion cells, e.g. sea-water cells

Abstract

A water-activated, primary reserve battery for use in an environment, such as the ocean, that provides an environmentally safe battery, especially useful in sonobuoys. The battery includes the use of cuprous iodide as a cathode and magnesium as the anode in an array to provide voltage, amperage, and operational time equivalent to conventional lead chloride batteries. Once the sonobuoy is no longer useful as it deteriorates in the environment, no lead will be presented into the ocean. The structural frame members protect the cuprous iodide which is brittle in a rigid array and provides for proper venting of gas and sludge formation to insure efficient operation of the battery.

Claims

1. A water-activated, primary reserve battery that is safe for environmental use, comprising:

a battery housing, including first, second and third frame members;

a first cuprous iodide pellet mounted between said first and second frame members;

a second cuprous iodide pellet mounted between said second and third frame members;

first and second magnesium plates mounted to the respective sides of said first and second frame members and separated from said first cuprous iodide pellet;

third and fourth magnesium plates mounted to the respective sides of said second and third frame members and separated from said second cuprous iodide pellet;

a waterproof flexible barrier disposed between said first, second and third frame members for separating adjacent magnesium plates;

first means for electrically connecting said first pellet means to said second pellet means; and

second means for electrically connecting said first, second, third, and fourth magnesium plates so that said first means for electrically connecting said first and second cuprous iodide pellets and the second means for electrically connecting said first, second, third and fourth magnesium plates function as battery electrodes.

2. A water-activated, primary reserve battery, comprising:

a rigid non-conductive frame including a plurality of support members having a planar profile;

a plurality of individual cells, each formed having three separate cuprous iodide pellets mounted in said frame;

first and second magnesium plates mounted within said frame, each respective plate being separated from said pellets and being on opposite sides of said frame;

circuit board means for electrically connecting said first, second, and third cuprous iodide pellets, said circuit board means including gas vent holes and an electrical conductor, said conductor connecting the anodes of the cuprous iodide pellets in parallel; and

at least one aperture means located in the bottom of said frame for permitting the removal of sludge formed during the operation of the battery.

3. A battery as in claim 2, further comprising:

means for providing an impervious barrier between each of said cells for preventing the escape of fluid introduced into said housing and surrounding each of said cells;

an upper housing member having a plurality of channels for receiving gas vented from each of said pellets; and

a lower rigid member for providing at least one sludge disposing channel;

said channel attached to an outlet at the bottom of each respective cell.

4. A battery as in claim 3 further comprising:

means for electrically connecting at least six cells in a series arrangement for producing a potential of approximately 12 volts.