Alkali metal battery structure

A structure for containing an alkali metal battery which comprises:

• a first substantially closed metal housing for containing an electrode reaction zone, said first metal housing including a flange, said flange having an opening therethrough;
• a first ceramic member of ring shape bonded to a portion of said flange on an exterior surface of said first metal housing, said first ceramic member encircling said opening through said flange and defining a passageway which is an extension of said opening;
• a second ceramic member of ring shape bonded to a portion of said flange on an interior surface of said first metal housing, said second ceramic member encircling said opening through said flange and defining a passageway which is an extension of said opening;
• a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer, said barrier defining an interior volume and its outer surface defining an exterior surface area;
• means for connecting said cation-permeable barrier to said first ceramic member in such a manner that the interior volume of said first metal housing, said passageways defined by said first and second ceramic members and said interior volume of said cation-permeable barrier form a first closed electrode reaction zone;
• a second substantially closed metal housing bonded to said first ceramic member for containing an electrode reaction zone, said second metal housing including a flange having an opening therethrough which is larger in dimension than said opening through said flange of said first metal housing, said opening of said second metal housing encircling said portion of said first ceramic member defining said passageway which is an extension of said opening in said first metal housing;
• and
• a third ceramic member of ring shape bonded to a portion of said flange on an interior surface of said second metal housing,
• whereby a volume between an interior surface of said second metal housing and said exterior surface area of said cation-permeable barrier form a second closed electrode reaction zone.

A structure for containing an alkali metal battery which comprises:

• a substantially closed metal housing for containing an electrode reaction zone, said metal housing including a flange, said flange having an opening therethrough;
• a first ceramic member of ring shape bonded to a portion of said flange on an exterior surface of said metal housing, said first ceramic member encircling said opening through said flange and defining a passageway which is an extension of said opening;
• a second ceramic member of ring shape bonded to a portion of said flange on an interior surface of said metal housing, said second ceramic member encircling said opening through said flange and defining a passageway which is an extension of said opening;
• a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer, said barrier defining an interior volume and its outer surface defining an exterior surface area;
• means for connecting said cation-permeable barrier to said first ceramic member in such a manner that the interior of said metal housing, said passageways defined by said first and said second ceramic members and said interior volume of said cation-permeable barrier form a first closed reaction zone;
• and
• a ceramic container bonded to said first ceramic member and defining a closed container which encloses said exterior surface of said cation-permeable barrier, a volume defined between an interior surface area of said ceramic container and said exterior surface area of said cation-permeable barrier forming a second closed electrode reaction zone.