Bipolar catalytic cells

Abstract

An environmentally responsible and non-toxic alkaline cell, both catalytically and electrically rechargable, consisting of one or more iron anodes, as well as a zinc cathode, all immersed in an aquaous solution of potassium hydroxide in a plastic container. The cathodic material is cast zinc and is preferably wrapped in a special sheet of studded rubber provided with either a semi-perforated edge or a specially serrated edge on both sides to permit ionic communication between anodes and cathode. This rubber sheet should also be equipped with diagonal grooves on at least one side of the material. The anodes consist of thin, mild steel stampings, made to a special pattern, and are preferably blued to resist rust. The tips of these anodes are then coated with a paste prepared from one part 100 mesh iron powder to one part 100 mesh activated carbon powder. To form the paste, the powders are first thoroughly mixed dry and then properly wetted with distilled water. After both sides of the anode tips have been properly coated with the paste, they are then covered with tightly woven nylon sacks which are made to snugly fit over the tips. These anodes, being perforated, are then folded and tightly closed, thus forming dual anodic configurations which can be, by varying the length of the connective strip between them, readily doubled, tripled or even quadrupled. They are mounted in saddlebag fashion around the zinc cathode. The plate separator consists of a hard rubber ring with a flat bottom, supplied with one or more vertical notches, corresponding to the one or more anodes designed to rest in them. When the cell is fully assembled with a hard rubber cover,properly sealed and provided with a vent, filler opening and plug, the electrolyte is then added and is topped off with a special oil mixture. The cell thus made, having been thoroughly activated by electrical charging, will tend to resist most of the chemical reactions of discharge by catalysis until saturation and its resultant crystaline product must be reversed by electrical charging.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.