Air cell

• US 5,462,816 A
• Filed: 10/27/1994
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koa Oil Co. Ltd. (ENEOS Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koa Oil Co. Ltd. (ENEOS Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoshimura, Mitsunori, Sakai, Katsuma, Okamura, Okiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bell, Bruce F.
• Application Number:
  US08/329,880
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 429/12, 429/14, 429/18, 429/27, 429/28, 429/33, 429/34, 429/72
• US Class Current: 429/469
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/065 with plate-like electrodes or stacks of plate-like electrodes

Abstract

An air cell having a single cell or a plurality of cells being aggregated is disclosed, that comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and composed of a water absorbing material that absorbs and holds an electrolytic solution, an electrolytic solution supply member protrusively disposed at a lower edge of the positive electrode and the negative electrode and adapted for supplying the electrolytic solution to the separator, a spacer for covering an outer surface of the positive electrode and the negative electrode and forming an air layer on the front surface thereof, and a cover member for covering surfaces of the electrolytic solution supply member, the cover member having a blank portion that is at least a minimum opening portion for supplying the electrolytic solution to the electrolytic solution supply member.

Claims

1. An air cell having a single cell, comprising:

a positive electrode;

a negative electrode;

a separator disposed between said positive electrode and said negative electrode and composed of a water absorbing material that absorbs and holds an electrolytic solution;

an electrolytic solution supply member protrusively disposed at a lower edge of said positive electrode and said negative electrode and which supplies the electrolytic solution to said separator;

a spacer for covering an outer surface of said positive electrode and said negative electrode and forming an air layer on the front surface thereof; and

a cover member for covering surfaces of said electrolytic solution supply member, said cover member having a blank portion that is at least a minimum opening portion for supplying the electrolytic solution to said electrolytic solution supply member.

2. The air cell as set forth in claim 1, wherein said separator and said electrolytic solution supply member are integrally formed.

3. The air cell as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said separator is made of glass papers, pulp materials, chemical fibers, natural fibers, asbestos, glass fibers or a mixture thereof.

4. The air cell as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover member has an opening portion corresponding to an upper edge of said electrolytic solution supply member.

5. The air cell as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spacer and said cover member are integrally formed.

6. The air cell as set forth in one of claims 1, 2, 4 or 5, wherein the air cell is constructed of a plurality of the cells, each of which is connected through said spacer and said cover member.

7. The air cell as set forth in claim 6, wherein the cells are connected in series or in parallel.

8. The air cell as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a current collector that is in contact with said positive electrode.

9. The air cell as set forth in claim 6, wherein a plurality of cavity portions and protrusion portions are formed on an least one side of said spacer.

10. The air cell as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a current collector that is in contact with said positive electrode.

11. The air cell as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of cavity portions and protrusion portions are formed on at least one side of said spacer.