Bipolar battery construction
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsWally E. Rippel, Dean B. Edwards
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lightweight, bipolar battery construction for lead acid batteries in which a plurality of thin, rigid, biplates each comprise a graphite fiber thermoplastic composition in conductive relation to lead stripes plated on opposite flat surfaces of the plates, and wherein a plurality of nonconductive thermoplastic separator plates support resilient yieldable porous glass mats in which active material is carried, the biplates and separator plates with active material being contained and maintained in stacked assembly by axial compression of the stacked assembly. A method of assembling such a bipolar battery construction.
Claims31
In a bipolar battery construction, the combination of:
- a plurality of spaced conductive composite thermoplastic biplates having opposite flat side surfaces;
- a plurality of spaced parallel lead stripes bonded to each side surface in conductive relation thereto;
- a nonconductive coating covering nonstriped areas of at least one side surface of the biplate;
- a plurality of thermoplastic microporous separator plates, each positioned between spaced adjacent biplates;
- each separator plate having means for carrying active material on opposite faces of the separator plate;
- and
- means to retain said biplates and said separator plates in assembly and under selected compression for maintaining said active material in conductive contact with the lead stripes on said biplates.
In a stiff, thin, lightweight, composite, conductive biplate, the provision of:
- a battery plate substrate of thermoplastic material including graphite fibers embedded in the thermoplastic material for conductivity therethrough and strength;
- and
- spaced lead stripes plated on said side surfaces of said substrate in conductive relation with said graphite fibers.
In a bipolar battery construction, the combination of:
- a biplate of conductive composite plastic material having lead stripes on opposite faces in conductive relation to said conductive material;
- a separator plate supporting active material in contact with the biplate;
- and
- means for applying and maintaining said biplate in pressure contact with said active material.
A biplate for a battery comprising:
- a sheet of nonconductive, synthetic organic resin binder material having randomly dispersed therein conductive fibers;
- a plurality of spaced, parallel lead stripes applied to opposed faces of the sheet and in electrical contact with said fibers;
- the facial areas between said stripes on one of said faces being coated with a corrosion resistant resin;
- and
- the facial areas between said stripes on the opposed face being coated with a resin impermeable to electrolyte.
A separator plate for a battery comprising:
- a microporous sheet of synthetic organic resin;
- a porous layer bonded to opposed surfaces of the sheet;
- a layer of positive active material being present on the outer surface of one of said porous layers;
- and
- a layer of negative active material being present on the outer surface of the other of said porous layers.
In a bipolar battery construction the combination of:
- casing means of thermoplastic material;
- a plurality of spaced biplates of thermoplastic material having lead stripes on opposite faces of each biplate;
- said casing means and said biplates being bonded together and providing chambers for containing electrolyte fluid;
- a plurality of separator plates received in said chambers;
- each separator plate having porous mats on opposite faces;
- active material carried by said porous mats;
- and
- tension means for retaining said casing means, biplates, separator plates and active material under selected compression and in assembled operable relation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.