Metal-air batteries having improved air access valves

• US 5,554,452 A
• Filed: 09/22/1994
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsi Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Matsi Incorporated
• Inventors: Putt, Ronald A., Delmolino, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Bruce F.
• Application Number:
  US08/310,438
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 429/10, 429/27, 429/38, 429/82, 429/96, 429/99, 429/218, 429/229
• US Class Current: 429/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/30 Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A prismatic metal-air battery is provided for having at least one prismatic metal-air cell received in a cell cavity of a prismatic casing. The casing comprises a wall portion which defines a surface. The wall portion has at least one opening in communication with the cell cavity which is adapted to allow the passage of air into the cell cavity. The casing also includes a valve member having a surface bearing on the wall portion surface. The valve member also has at least one opening therein. The wall portion surface and the valve member surface are adapted to allow movement of the valve member across the wall portion surface between a closed position, in which the valve member opening does not overlap with the wall portion opening, and an open position, in which the valve member opening and wall portion opening at least partially overlap. Importantly, the casing also includes means for providing an attractive force between the wall portion and the valve member.

Claims

1. A prismatic metal-air battery having at least one prismatic metal-air cell received in a cell cavity of a prismatic casing, wherein the casing comprises:

a wall portion having at least one opening in communication with the cell cavity and a surface proximate to said wall portion opening;

a valve member having at least one opening therein and a surface proximate of said valve member opening which bears on said wall portion surface, said valve being moveable between a closed position in which the valve member opening does not overlap with the wall portion opening, in which said closed position air is blocked from entering said cell cavity through said wall portion opening by said valve member, and an open position in which the valve member opening and wall portion opening at least partially overlap, in which said open position air may enter said cell cavity through said wall portion opening and said valve member opening; and

means for providing an attractive force between the wall portion and the valve member.

2. The metal-air battery of claim 1, wherein said means for providing an attractive force include structure associated with at least one of the wall portion and the valve member sealing the wall portion and valve member together.

3. The metal-air battery of claim 2, wherein the wall portion and valve member include magnetic materials thereby providing an attractive magnetic force between the wall portion and valve member.

4. The metal-air battery of claim 3, wherein the wall portion and the valve member are at least partially composed of ferromagnetic material.

5. The metal-air battery of claim 3, wherein the wall portion is a composite structure including a permanently magnetized, ferromagnetic elastomeric sheet and the valve member includes a metallic sheet.

6. The metal-air battery of claim 2, wherein the wall portion and valve member include insulator materials having opposite static charges thereby providing an attractive electrostatic force between the wall portion and valve member.

7. The metal-air battery of claim 1, wherein a film of liquid is disposed between the wall portion surface and valve member surface thereby providing an attractive capillary force between the wall portion and valve member.

8. The metal-air battery of claim 1, wherein the attractive force is continuous over the abutting surfaces of the wall portion and valve member.

9. The metal-air battery of claim 1, wherein the wall portion and valve member each have an array of relatively small openings distributed uniformly over the cells.

10. A prismatic metal-air battery comprising a prismatic casing, the casing comprising;

a bottom part having an open top, a bottom wall, and side walls;

an intermediate cover sealed to the top of the bottom part and having at least one opening therein, the bottom part and intermediate cover cooperating to define a cavity receiving at least one prismatic metal-air cell, the intermediate cover opening being in communication with the cell cavity;

a final cover sealed to the top of the bottom part over and spaced from the intermediate cover, the intermediate cover and final cover cooperating to define an upper cavity, the final cover having at least one opening communicating with the upper cavity; and

a valve member slideably disposed in the upper cavity and bearing on the intermediate cover, the valve member having at least one opening therein and being slidable across the intermediate cover between a closed position in which the valve member opening does not overlap the intermediate cover opening and an open position in which the valve member opening and intermediate cover opening at least partially overlap;

wherein the valve member and intermediate cover include magnetic materials providing an attractive magnetic force between the intermediate cover and valve member.

11. The metal-air battery of claim 10, wherein the intermediate cover and the valve member are at least partially composed of ferromagnetic materials.

12. The metal-air battery of claim 10, wherein the intermediate cover includes a permanently magnetized, ferromagnetic elastomeric sheet and the valve member includes a metallic sheet.

13. The metal-air battery of claim 10, wherein at least one of the intermediate cover and valve member has a polymeric film adhered thereto which reduces the translational resistance between the intermediate cover and valve member.

14. The metal-air battery of claim 13, wherein the polymeric film is a mylar film.

15. The metal-air battery of claim 10, wherein the valve member is a sheet.

16. The metal-air battery of claim 10, wherein the intermediate cover, final cover, and valve member each have an array of relatively small openings distributed uniformly over the cells.

17. A prismatic metal-air battery having at least one prismatic metal-air cell received in a cell cavity of a prismatic casing, wherein the casing comprises:

a wall portion having at least one opening in communication with the cell cavity; and

a valve member mounted on the casing for movement between a closed position in which the valve member covers the wall portion opening and an open position in which the valve member does not cover the wall portion opening;

wherein the wall portion and valve member include magnetic materials thereby providing an attractive magnetic force between the wall portion and valve member.

18. The metal-air battery of claim 17, wherein the valve member includes a surface bearing on a surface on the wall portion and having at least one opening therein, which valve member opening, when the valve member is in the closed position, does not overlap with the wall portion opening and, when the valve member is in the open position, at least partially overlaps the wall portion opening.

19. The metal-air battery of claim 17, wherein the wall portion defines a flat surface and the valve member is a sheet abutting the wall portion and having at least one opening therein, which valve member opening, when the valve member is in the closed position, does not overlap with the wall portion opening and, when the valve member is in the open position, at least partially overlaps the wall portion opening, the valve member being slidable across the wall portion surface between the closed and open positions.

20. In a metal-air battery having at least one metal-air cell received in a cell cavity of a casing, the casing including at least one opening in communication with the cell cavity and a valve member which is moveable between an open position in which said valve member allows air to pass through said casing opening and a closed position in which said valve member blocks air from passing through said casing opening, the improvement comprising means for providing an attractive force between the casing and the valve member.

21. A prismatic metal-air battery comprising a prismatic casing, the casing comprising:

a bottom part having an open top, a bottom wall, and side walls;

an intermediate cover sealed to the top of the bottom part and having at least one opening therein, the bottom part and intermediate cover cooperating to define a cavity receiving at least one prismatic metal-air cell, the intermediate cover opening being in communication with the cell cavity;

a final cover sealed to the top of the bottom part over and spaced from the intermediate cover, the intermediate cover and final cover cooperating to define an upper cavity, the final cover having at least one opening communicating with the upper cavity; and

a valve member slidably disposed in the upper cavity and bearing on at least one of the intermediate cover or final cover, the valve member having at least one opening therein and being slidable across the cover between a closed position in which the valve member opening does not overlap the cover opening and an open position in which the valve member opening and cover opening at least partially overlap;

wherein a film of liquid is disposed between the cover and the valve member thereby providing an attractive capillary force between the cover and the valve member.

22. The metal-air battery of claim 21, wherein the valve member bears on the intermediate cover and the film of liquid is disposed between the intermediate cover and the valve member.

23. The metal-air battery of claim 21, wherein the valve member is a sheet abutting a flat surface on at least one of the intermediate cover or final cover.

24. The metal-air batter of claim 23, wherein the valve member is a sheet abutting a flat surface on the intermediate cover.

25. A valve for controlling air flow through a port in a casing in a prismatic metal-air battery, the valve comprising:

a valve member mounted on the casing for movement between an open position in which the valve member allows air to pass through the port; and

means for providing an attractive force between at least a portion of the casing proximate to the port and the valve member.