Air managing systems and methods for gas depolarized power supplies utilizing a diaphragm

• US 6,824,915 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2000
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Pedicini, Christopher S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Bruce F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLS, MONIQUE M
• Application Number:
  US09/602,187
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 429/1, 429/4, 429/7, 429/10, 429/72, 429/34, 429/83, 429/121, 429/71, 429/27, 429/3, 429/38, 429/39, 417/413.3, 417/413.2, 417/322, 417/413.1, 310/17, 310/15, 310/334, 310/800, 335/229
• US Class Current: 429/72
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04783 Pressure differences, e.g. between anode and cathode
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Air managers for power supplies such as metal-air batteries or fuel cells are described. In some embodiments, the air managers can include a diaphragm, the movement of which can cause air to be exchanged, for example, between the interior and exterior of the casing of a metal-air battery or fuel cell.

Claims

1. A system for manipulating a diaphragm air mover, the system comprising:

a resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm formed from a resilient ferromagnetic material and having two sides, the diaphragm having a first position; and

a coil positioned in proximity to the diaphragm, the coil operative to attract the diaphragm and thus move the diaphragm from the first position to the second position when an electrical current passes through the coil,

wherein the diaphragm returns to the first position when the current no longer passes through the coil.

2. A system for controlling the manipulation of a diaphragm air mover, the system comprising:

a resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm having two sides, wherein the diaphragm is in a first position;

a coil positioned in proximity to the diaphragm;

an electrical circuit having an electrical current source and directing electrical current through the coil thus creating an electromagnetic magnetic field operative to attract the diaphragm and cause the diaphragm to move from the first position to a second position when a level of electrical current that is higher than a predetermined level of electrical current passes through the coil; and

a pair of contacts in the circuit, one of the contacts being connected to the diaphragm, and the contacts being closed when current flow through the coil is less than the predetermined level such that the presence of current flow through the coil greater than the predetermined level moves the diaphragm, breaking the circuit, de-energizing the coil, and allowing the resiliency of the diaphragm to return the diaphragm to the first position, remaking the circuit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm comprises a resilient diaphragm with a ferromagnetic plate attached to one side.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm is formed of a resilient ferromagnetic material.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the electrical circuit is reestablished when the contacts are closed after the resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm has returned to its first position thus recreating an electromagnetic magnetic field operative to attract said resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm and causing the oscillation of said resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm while the electrical current available to said coil is greater than said predetermined level.

6. A method for manipulating a diaphragm air mover, the method comprising:

positioning a coil in proximity to a resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm in a first position and formed of a resilient ferromagnetic material, the coil being operative to attract the diaphragm; and

moving the diaphragm from the first position to a second position when an electrical current passes through the coil;

wherein the diaphragm returns to the first position when the electrical current no longer passes through the coil.

7. A method for controlling the manipulation of a diaphragm air mover, the method comprising:

positioning a coil in proximity to a resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm, the resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm having two sides and being in a first position;

providing an electrical circuit having an electrical current source;

directing electrical current from the electrical current source through the coil, thus creating an electromagnetic magnetic field operative to attract the diaphragm and cause the diaphragm to move from the first position to a second position when a level of electrical current that is higher than a predetermined level of electrical current passes through the coil;

providing a pair of contacts in the circuit, one of the contacts being connected to the diaphragm, and the contacts being closed when current flow through the coil is less than the predetermined level; and

moving the diaphragm when the presence of current flow through the coil is greater than the predetermined level, thus breaking the circuit, de-energizing the coil, and allowing the resiliency of the diaphragm to return the diaphragm to the first position and remake the circuit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm comprises a resilient diaphragm with a ferromagnetic plate attached to one side.

9. The method of in claim 7, wherein the resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm is formed of a resilient ferromagnetic material.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the electrical circuit is reestablished when the contacts are closed after the resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm has returned to the first position, thus recreating an electromagnetic magnetic field operative to attract the resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm and causing the oscillation of the resilient ferromagnetic diaphragm while the electrical current available to the coil is greater than the predetermined level.

11. A system for manipulating a diaphragm gas mover to provide a flow of air to an air-fueled device, the system comprising:

an electrically activated diaphragm in a first position;

a first electrical contact in contact with the diaphragm; and

a second electrical contact in contact with the first electrical contact through the diaphragm when the diaphragm is in the first position,

wherein when electrical current is passed through the diaphragm, the current deforms the diaphragm into a second position in which the first electrical contact no longer contacts the second electrical contact through the diaphragm, such that the diaphragm returns to the first position,

wherein the movement of the diaphragm provides a flow of air to the air-fueled device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the electrically activated diaphragm is comprised of a piezoelectric material.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the electrically activated diaphragm comprises a resilient diaphragm with a strip of piezoelectric material attached to one side.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the electrically activated diaphragm is comprised of an electrostatic material.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the electrically activated diaphragm comprises a resilient diaphragm with a strip of an electrostatic material attached to one side.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the air-fueled device is a metal-air cell.

16. A system for controlling the manipulation of a diaphragm gas mover, the system comprising:

an electrically activated diaphragm in a first position and having two sides;

an electrical circuit having an electrical current source and directing electrical current through the electrically activated diaphragm operative to deform the diaphragm and cause the diaphragm to move from the first position to a second position when a level of electrical current that is higher than a predetermined level of electrical current passes through the electrically activated diaphragm; and

a pair of contacts in the circuit, one of the contacts being connected to the electrically activated diaphragm, and the contacts being closed when current flow through the electrically activated diaphragm is less than the predetermined level such that the presence of current flow through the electrically activated diaphragm greater than the predetermined level deforms the electrically activated diaphragm, causing the electrically activated diaphragm to move from the first position to the second position, breaking the circuit, de-energizing the current through the electrically activated diaphragm, and allowing the electrically activated diaphragm to return to the first position and remake the circuit.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the electrically activated diaphragm is comprised of a piezoelectric material.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the electrically activated diaphragm comprises a resilient diaphragm with a strip of piezoelectric material attached to one side.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the electrically activated diaphragm is comprised of an electrostatic material.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the electrically activated diaphragm comprises a resilient diaphragm with a strip of an electrostatic material attached to one side.

22. The system of clam 11, wherein the air-fueled device is a fuel cell.