Geometry change diffusion tube for metal-air batteries
First Claim
1. A ventilation system for a metal-air battery comprising:
- a housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell;
a ventilation passageway having a collapsible resilient portion, said ventilation passageway at least partially defining a communication path between the exterior and interior of said housing, said resilient portion biased to normally remain in a collapsed position to restrict airflow therethrough, said passageway remaining unsealed when said resilient portion is in said collapsed position, and said resilient portion being expandable into an expanded position; and
means for expanding said resilient portion into said expanded position such that enhanced airflow is permitted through said ventilation passageway when said resilient portion is in said expanded position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A ventilation system for metal-air battery cells having collapsible isolation passageways for controlling ambient airflow to the oxygen electrode of the metal-air battery. The ventilation system has at least one inlet isolation passageway and at least one outlet isolation passageway. The isolation passageways normally remain in a collapsed position to restrict airflow when an air mover is turned off. The isolation passageways may be configured into an expanded position in response to airflow generated by the air mover. In the expanded position, the inlet isolation passageway permits ambient air to flow across the oxygen electrode and the outlet isolation passageway permits oxygen depleted air to be expelled.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A ventilation system for a metal-air battery comprising:
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a housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell;
a ventilation passageway having a collapsible resilient portion, said ventilation passageway at least partially defining a communication path between the exterior and interior of said housing, said resilient portion biased to normally remain in a collapsed position to restrict airflow therethrough, said passageway remaining unsealed when said resilient portion is in said collapsed position, and said resilient portion being expandable into an expanded position; and
means for expanding said resilient portion into said expanded position such that enhanced airflow is permitted through said ventilation passageway when said resilient portion is in said expanded position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A ventilation system for a metal-air battery comprising:
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a housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell; and
at least one collapsible passageway at least partially defining a communication path between the interior and exterior of said housing, said passageway biased to normally remain in a collapsed position to restrict airflow therethrough, said passageway being expandable into an expanded position in response to airflow through said housing. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A ventilation system for providing reactant air to a metal-air battery comprising:
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a housing for enclosing a plurality of metal-air cells and defining openings through said housing;
an air mover cooperating with said openings and generating airflow within said housing; and
a plurality of collapsible resilient isolation passageways coupled to said housing at said openings, each said isolation passageway expandable into an expanded position in response to said air mover generating airflow through said housing, said isolation passageways biased to normally remain in a collapsed position to restrict airflow through said housing, and each said isolation passageway having a length in the direction of airflow therethrough while in said collapsed position that is greater than a width perpendicular to the direction of airflow therethrough while in said collapsed position. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for controlling airflow in a metal-air battery, said method comprising the steps of:
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confining at least one metal-air cell within a housing;
operating an air mover to generate airflow through said housing;
in response to operating said air mover, expanding a collapsible isolation passageway coupled to an openings in said housing;
precluding operation of said air mover such that said air mover does not generate airflow through said housing; and
in response to precluding operation of said air mover, at least partially collapsing said isolation passageway to restrict airflow through said housing. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for controlling reactant airflow to a metal-air battery having an oxygen electrode, said method comprising the steps of:
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confining at least one metal-air cell within a housing;
operating an air mover to generate airflow through said housing;
toggling an isolation passageway that communicates between the exterior and interior of said housing between a collapsed position and an expanded position, said passageway expanding into said expanded position in response to operation of said air mover and said isolation passageway collapsing into said collapsed position in response to said air mover no longer operating;
in response to said isolation passageway being expanded into said expanded position, said air mover providing airflow to the oxygen electrode of the metal-air battery so that the metal-air battery generates an output current, and in response to said air mover no longer operating, said air mover ceasing to provide airflow to the oxygen electrode of the metal-air battery and therefore maintaining said isolation passageway in said collapsed position and in an unsealed state so that the metal-air battery generates a drain current, said drain current being substantially less than said output current.
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39. A ventilation system for a metal-air battery comprising:
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a housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell;
an isolation passageway in a longitudinally extended position to form a first elongated restrictive flow path into said housing, said isolation passageway being longitudinally retractable into a retracted position having a second shorter flow path, said isolation passageway remaining unsealed in said extended and in said retracted positions. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method for controlling airflow in a metal-air battery, said method comprising the steps of:
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confining at least one metal-air cell within a housing;
operating an air mover to generate airflow to an oxygen electrode of said metal-air cell;
in response to operating said air mover, at least partially collapsing isolation passageways communicating with said housing such that airflow through said isolation passageway and into said housing is enhanced;
precluding operation of said air mover such that said air mover does not generate airflow through said isolation passageway or said housing; and
in response to precluding operation of said air mover, longitudinally extending said isolation passageway to increase resistance to airflow therethrough.
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50. A ventilation system for a metal-air battery comprising:
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a housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell, said housing having at least one air opening communicating with outside air;
a collapsible resilient isolation passageway coupled to said opening and biased to normally remain in a partially collapsed position to restrict airflow therethrough, said isolation passageway being expandable into an expanded position, and said isolation passageway remaining unsealed when in said partially collapsed position; and
an actuator operatively associated with said isolation passageway to selectively expand said isolation passageway into said expanded position such that enhanced airflow is permitted through said isolation passageway when said passageway is in said expanded position. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method for controlling airflow in a metal-air battery, said method comprising the steps of:
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confining at least one metal-air cell within a housing;
providing at least one isolation passageway in said housing for communicating with air outside of said housing;
passing a current through a shape memory alloy wire coupled to said isolation passageway;
in response to passing said current through said shape memory alloy wire, expanding said shape memory wire; and
in response to expanding said shape memory alloy wire, expanding said isolation passageway to permit enhanced airflow therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (56)
ceasing the passing of current through said shape memory alloy wire; and
in response to cessation of current through said shape memory alloy wire, collapsing said isolation passageway; and
in response to collapsing said isolation passageway, increasing the resistance of airflow through said isolation passageway.
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Specification