Battery and method of battery control for enhancing electrochemical reactions

• US 5,512,384 A
• Filed: 05/18/1995
• Issued: 04/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald F.H. Wallach
• Original Assignee: Biocybernetics Laboratories, Inc.
• Inventors: Celeste, Salvatore, Cucinotta, Anthony, Panora, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US08/445,211
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 429/14, 429/27, 429/50-52, 429/67, 429/68, 429/72, 429/110, 429/113, 429/127
• US Class Current: 429/51
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/024 Insertable electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/77 with external circulating path
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/181 with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/38 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/385 by insertion of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/22 Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elements; Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The battery includes an anode and cathode structure spaced a fixed distance apart, a movable conveyor having electrolyte impregnated therein and means for advancing the conveyor to engage the anode and/or cathode at the anode and/or cathode interface with electrolyte. In the preferred arrangement the moving conveyor containing the electrolyte is progressively advanced through the interface spacing between the anode and cathode while the interface spacing is maintained substantially constant even as the anode is consumed. Battery operation is terminated by separating the engaging surfaces of the anode and/or cathode from the moving conveyor and is reestablished by reengaging the anode and/or cathode surfaces with the moving conveyor.

Claims

1. A battery comprising an anode structure having an anode surface and a cathode structure having a cathode surface with said anode and cathode surfaces spaced a fixed distance apart to form an interface, a movable conveyor containing electrolyte, means for advancing said conveyor through said interface so as to physically engage said anode and/or cathode surface with the electrolyte contacting said anode for causing an electrochemical reaction and means for adjusting the position of said anode and cathode structures relative to one another to maintain the spacing of said interface between said anode and cathode surfaces substantially constant even as the anode is consumed.

2. A battery as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable conveyor is connected to itself to form an endless belt.

3. A battery as defined in claim 2 wherein said movable conveyor is an endless belt having a fixed relatively short length.

4. A battery as defined in claim 3 further comprising a source of supplemental electrolyte.

5. A battery as defined in claim 4 wherein the electrolyte contained on said movable conveyor comprises aqueous electrolyte.

6. A battery as defined in claim 5 further comprising means for removing spent aqueous electrolyte from said endless moving conveyor belt at a first location, means for filtering said spent electrolyte and means for reimpregnating said endless moving conveyor belt with filtered electrolyte at another location downstream of said first location.

7. A battery as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for controlling said interface spacing comprises spring means in biased engagement with either said anode or said cathode or both to continuously adjust the interface spacing as anode material is consumed.

8. A battery as defined in claim 2 further comprising means for disengaging the surfaces between said anode or cathode or both relative to said moving conveyor so as to terminate the operation of said battery.

9. A battery as defined in claim 8 wherein said disengagement means is a manual retractable member connected to either said anode or cathode structure.

10. A battery as defined in claim 8 wherein said disengagement means is electronically controlled.

11. A method for dynamically controlling the operation of a battery having an anode and cathode structure and a relatively fixed interface spacing between a predetermined anode and cathode surface comprising the steps of:

impregnating a movable conveyor with electrolyte;

advancing the conveyor through the interface spacing so as to physically engage said anode and/or cathode surface at the interface with said electrolyte so as to cause an electrochemical reaction while simultaneously adjusting the position of said anode and cathode relative to one another to maintain said interface spacing substantially constant even as the anode is consumed.