Load responsive air door for an electrochemical cell

• US 6,350,537 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AER Energy Resources, Inc.
• Inventors: Pedicni, Christopher S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEJANDRO, RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/216,115
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 429/27, 429/34, 429/38, 429/39, 429/22, 429/13, 429/72, 429/61, 429/71, 429/82, 429/83, 429/25, 429/23
• US Class Current: 429/406
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/101 Bimetal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/1537 for hybrid cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/317 Re-sealable arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/38 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/50 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for maintaining operating temperature constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569

Abstract

A metal-air cell having a cell casing, an air electrode positioned within the cell casing, and means for providing air to the air electrode when a predetermined load is placed on the cell and for substantially isolating the air electrode when the load is not placed on the cell.

Claims

1. An electrochemical cell comprising;

an air electrode;

an air plenum;

a cell casing;

a diaphragm positioned adjacent to said cell casing, said diaphragm comprising an air aperture positioned therein, such that when a load is applied to said electrochemical cell, a partial vacuum builds within said air plenum, and said partial vacuum causes said diaphragm to expand and air to pass through said air aperture so that said partial vacuum dissipates.

2. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein said air aperture comprises a plurality of air apertures.

3. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein said air aperture comprises a plurality of isolating air apertures.

4. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein said cell casing further comprises a spring attached to said diaphragm, such that said spring forces said diaphragm to contract after said partial vacuum has dissipated.

5. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein said air aperture comprises a central aperture and wherein said central aperture comprises a disk substantially covering said central aperture.

6. The electrochemical cell of claim 5, herein said cell casing comprises a spring, said spring is attached to said disk such that when a load is applied to said electrochemical cell, a partial vacuum builds within said air plenum, and said partial vacuum causes said disk to pull away from said diaphragm and air to pass through said central aperture.

7. The electrochemical cell of claim 6, wherein said spring forces said disk to cover substantially said central aperture when said partial vacuum dissipates.

8. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

a cell casing;

an air electrode positioned within said cell casing;

said cell casing comprising a disk positioned adjacent to said air electrode, wherein said disk comprises an air aperture therein, and wherein said air aperture comprises one or more air apertures;

a negative terminal in communication with a metallic zinc anode and a positive terminal, in communication with said air electrode; and

load responsive means for providing air to said air electrode in response to a predetermined load being placed on said electrochemical cell and for substantially isolating said air electrode in response to said load not being placed on said electrochemical cell, wherein said load responsive means comprises an air door positioned on said disk and adjacent to said air aperture.

9. The electrochemical cell of claim 8, wherein said air door is sized to cover substantially said air aperture.

10. The electrochemical cell of claim 8, wherein said air door comprises one or more air shutters rotating about a central hub.

11. The electrochemical cell of claim 10, wherein said load responsive means comprises a shape memory alloy wire connected to said disk and to one of said one or more air shutters.

12. The electrochemical cell of claim 11, wherein said shape memory alloy wire comprises a circuit between said positive terminal and said negative terminal such that when a load is applied to said electrochemical cell, said circuit warms said shape memory alloy wire and said shape memory alloy wire rotates said one or more air shutters to expose said air electrode to the ambient air.

13. The electrochemical cell of claim 12, wherein said load responsive means comprises a spring connected to said disk and to said one of said one or more air shutters such that when said load is removed from said electrochemical cell said spring rotates said one or more air shutters back to cover substantially said air aperture.

14. The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein said air door comprises a shape memory alloy plate.

15. The electrochemical cell of claim 14, wherein said shape memory alloy plate comprises a circuit between said positive terminal and said negative terminal such that when a load is applied to said electrochemical cell, said circuit warms said shape memory alloy plate and said shape memory alloy plate changes shape to expose said air electrode to the ambient air.

16. The electrochemical cell of claim 15, wherein said load responsive means comprises a spring connected to said cell casing and to said shape memory alloy plate such that when said load is removed from said electrochemical cell said spring forces said shape memory alloy plate back to cover substantially said air aperture.

17. The electrochemical cell of claim 16, wherein said shape, memory alloy plate comprises a plurality of shape memory alloy plates and wherein said spring comprises a plurality of springs.

18. The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein said air door comprises a pair of air shutters, each of said air shutters connected to said disk by a hinge.

19. The electrochemical cell of claim 18, wherein said load responsive means comprises a shape memory alloy wire connected to each of said pair of air shutters.

20. The electrochemical cell of claim 19, wherein said shape memory alloy wire comprises a circuit between said positive terminal and said negative terminal such that when a load is applied to said electrochemical cell, said circuit warms said shape memory alloy wire and said shape memory alloy wire opens said pair of air shutters to expose said air electrode to the ambient air.

21. The electrochemical cell of claim 20, wherein said load responsive means comprises a pair of springs connected to said pair of air shutters such that when said load is removed from said electrochemical cell said pair of springs forces said pair of air shutters back to cover substantially said air aperture.

22. The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein said air door comprises a bi-metal element.

23. The electrochemical cell of claim 22, wherein said bi-metal element comprises a circuit between said positive terminal and said negative terminal such that when a load is applied to said electrochemical cell, said bi-metal element moves to expose said air electrode to the ambient air.

24. The electrochemical cell of claim 23, wherein said bi-metal element comprises a bi-metal strip.

25. The electrochemical cell of claim 23, wherein said bi-metal element comprises a bi-metal spiral.

26. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

a cell casing;

an air electrode positioned within said cell casing;

an air plenum positioned adjacent to said air electrode; and

load responsive means for providing air to said air electrode in response to a predetermined load being placed on said electrochemical cell and for substantially isolating said air electrode in response to said load not being placed on said electrochemical cell, wherein said load responsive means comprises a diaphragm, and wherein said diaphragm comprises an air aperture therein such that when a load is applied to said electrochemical cell, a partial vacuum builds within said air plenum, and said partial vacuum causes said diaphragm to expand and air to pass through said air aperture until said partial vacuum dissipates.

27. The electrochemical cell of claim 26, wherein said air aperture comprises a plurality of air apertures.

28. The electrochemical cell of claim 26, wherein said air aperture comprises a plurality of isolating air apertures.

29. The electrochemical cell of claim 27, wherein said cell casing further comprises a spring attached to said diaphragm, such that said spring forces said diaphragm to contract after said partial vacuum has dissipated.

30. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

a cell casing;

an air electrode positioned within said cell casing;

an air plenum positioned adjacent to said air electrode; and

load responsive means for providing air to said air electrode in response to a predetermined load being placed on said electrochemical cell and for substantially isolating said air electrode in response to said load not being placed on said electrochemical cell, wherein said load responsive means comprises a diaphragm, wherein said diaphragm comprises a central aperture, and wherein said central aperture comprises a disk substantially covering said central aperture.

31. The electrochemical cell of claim 30, wherein said cell casing comprises a spring, said spring is attached to said disk such that when a load is applied to said electrochemical cell, a partial vacuum builds within said air plenum, and said partial vacuum causes said disk to pull away from said diaphragm and air to pass through said central aperture.

32. The electrochemical cell of claim 30, wherein said spring forces said disk to cover substantially said central aperture when said partial vacuum dissipates.