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US 4,397,083 AGranted
Cathode structure and method
OwnerVincent O. Catanzariteinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrochemical cell is disclosed herein and includes a casing arrangement which defines a fluid sealed inner compartment and which includes means defining first and second electrically insulated, external terminals. The cell also includes an anode, a cathode and electrolyte located within the compartment for producing a voltage drop across the terminals. The cell efficiency is improved by having a cathode of pure unbindered carbon which is compacted into pellet form and acts as a spring to insure an intimate relationship between anode and cathode throughout the life of the cell.
Claims13
In a method of assembling an electrochemical cell having (i) a casing arrangement including a top member and a bottom cup-shaped member which defines a fluid sealed inner compartment and which includes means defining first and second electrically insulated terminals, and (ii) means located within said compartment for producing a voltage difference across said terminals, said voltage difference producing means including a plurality of solid components including a binder-free carbonaceous material and a liquid electrolyte, said method comprising:
- (i) forming said carbonaceous material into a pellet having a weight and density thereby forming one of said solid components;
- (ii) stacking said solid components in said bottom cup-shaped member, said solid components extending up from the top edge of said bottom cup-shaped member a predetermined distance
- (iii) positioning the top member on top of said solid components;
- (iv) compressing said top and bottom members together to compress said solid components within said compartment;
- (v) attaching said member together;
- (vi) immersing said casing arrangement including said solid components in a bath of said liquid electrolyte;
- (vii) subjecting said bath including said immersed casing arrangement to a vacuum, whereby said liquid cathode fills said compartment to the exclusion of substantially all gases therein;
- and
- (viii) after filling said compartment with said liquid electrolyte fluid sealing said compartment.
6 more elements
A method of assembling an electrochemical cell including
- (i) a casing arrangement having top and bottom covers which define a fluid sealed inner compartment and which includes means defining first and second electrically insulated terminals, and
- (ii) means including solid components located with said compartment for producing a voltage difference across said terminals, said voltage difference producing means including a solid cathode collector including a binder-free carbonaceous material and a liquid electrolyte, said method comprising:
- (a) preforming said cathode collector into a binder-free carbonaceous solid component;
- (b) stacking said solid components including said cathode collector in said bottom cover, said solid components extending up from the top edge of said bottom cover a predetermined distance;
- (c) positioning the top cover on top of said solid components;
- (d) compressing said covers together whereby said cathode collector is compressed sufficient to increase in density about threefold;
- (e) attaching said covers together;
- (f) introducing said liquid electrolyte into said compartment;
- and
- (g) sealing said compartment.
7 more elements
A method of assembling an electrochemical cell including
- (i) a casing arrangement having top and bottom covers which are connected together to define a fluid sealed inner compartment and which includes means defining first and second electrically insulated terminals, and
- (ii) means located within said compartment for producing a voltage difference across said terminals, said voltage difference producing means including a liquid electrolyte and a plurality of solid components including a solid cathode collector including binder-free acetylene black which is in powder form, said method comprising:
- (a) forming said acetylene black into a pellet of predetermined weight and density thereby forming one of said solid components;
- (b) prebaking said cathode collector to remove substantially any moisture therein;
- (c) prior to sealing said casing arrangement, placing said solid components of said voltage difference producing means in said compartment, including
- (i) stacking said solid components on said bottom cover, said solid components extending up from the top edge of said bottom cover a predetermined distance,
- (ii) positioning the top cover on top of said solid components,
- (iii) compressing said cover together to compress said solid components within said compartment, said cathode collector being compressed sufficient to increase in density least about threefold,
- (iv) attaching said covers together, and
- (v) heating all of said solid components including said prebaked cathode collector for a predetermined period of time, at a predetermined temperature and under a predetermined vacuum;
- (d) immersing said unsealed casing arrangement including said solid components in a bath of said liquid cathode;
- (e) subjecting said bath including said immersed casing arrangement to a vacuum, whereby said liquid cathode fills said compartment to the exclusion of substantially all gases therein;
- and
- (f) after filling said compartment with said liquid cathode, fluid sealing compartment.
11 more elements
In a method of assembling an electrochemical cell including
- (i) a casing arrangement which defines a fluid sealed inner compartment and which includes means defining first and second electrically insulated terminals, and
- (ii) means located within said compartment for producing a voltage difference across said terminals, said voltage difference producing means including a solid cathode collector including a binder-free carbonaceous material and a plurality of other solid constituents, said method comprising:
- (a) baking said binder-free cathode collector to substantially completely remove any moisture therein;
- (b) placing said voltage difference producing means including said baked cathode collector in said compartment;
- (c) enclosing said voltage difference producing means in said casing;
- (d) subjecting said incased voltage difference producing means to a predetermined elevated temperature for a predetermined time;
- and
- (e) introducing and sealing fluid within said casing subsequent to the step of subjecting said incased voltage difference producing means to said elevated temperature.
5 more elements
A method of assembling an electrochemical cell including
- (i) a casing arrangement having top and bottom covers which define a fluid sealed inner compartment and which includes means defining first and second electrically insulated terminals, and
- (ii) means located within said compartment for producing a voltage difference across said terminals, said voltage difference producing means including a solid cathode collector incuding a carbonaceous material, said method comprising:
- (a) preforming said cathode collector into a binder-free carbonaceous solid component;
- (b) stacking said solid components including said cathode collector in said bottom cover, said solid components extending up from the top edge of said bottom cover a predetermined distance;
- (c) positioning to top cover on top of said solid components;
- (d) compressing said covers together whereby said cathode collector is compressed sufficient to increase in density about threefold;
- (e) attaching said covers together;
- and
- (f) sealing said compartment.
6 more elements
In a method of assembling an electrochemical cell having (i) a casing arrangement including a top member and a bottom cup-shaped member which defines a fluid sealed inner compartment and which includes means defining first and second electrically insulated terminals, and (ii) means located within said compartment for producing a voltage difference across said terminals, said voltage difference producing means including a plurality of solid components including a compressible material and a liquid electrolyte, said method comprising:
- (i) forming said compressible material into a pellet having a weight and density thereby forming one of said solid components;
- (ii) stacking said solid components in said bottom cup-shaped member, said solid components extending up from the top edge of said bottom cup-shaped member a predetermined distance;
- (iii) positioning the top member on top of said solid components;
- (iv) compressing said top and bottom members together to compress said solid components within said compartment;
- (v) attaching said members together;
- (iv) immersing said casing arrangement including said solid components in a bath of said liquid electrolyte;
- (vii) subjecting said bath including said immersed casing arrangement to a vacuum, whereby said liquid cathode fills said compartment to the exclusion of substantially all gases therein;
- and
- (viii) after filling said compartment with said liquid electrolyte fluid sealing said compartment.
6 more elements
A method of assembling an electrochemical cell including
- (i) a casing arrangement having top and bottom covers which define a fluid sealed inner compartment and which includes means defining first and second electrically insulated terminals, and
- (ii) means including solid components located with said compartment for producing a voltage difference across said terminals, said voltage difference producing means including a solid cathode collector including a binder-free carbonaceous material and a liquid electrolyte, said method comprising:
- (a) preforming said cathode collector into a binder-free carbonaceous solid component;
- (b) stacking said solid components including said cathode collector in said bottom cover, said solid components extending up from the top edge of said bottom cover a predetermined distance;
- (c) positioning the top cover on top of said solid components;
- (d) compressing said covers together whereby said cathode collector is compressed sufficient to increase in density;
- (e) attaching said covers together;
- (f) introducing said liquid electrolyte into said compartment;
- and
- (g) sealing said compartment.
7 more elements
In a method of assembling an electrochemical cell including
- (i) a casing arrangement which defines a fluid sealed inner compartment and which includes means defining first and second electrically insulated terminals, and
- (ii) means located within said compartment for producing a voltage difference across said terminals, said voltage difference producing means including a solid cathode collector and a plurality of other solid constituents, said method comprising:
- (a) baking said cathode collector to substantially completely remove any moisture therein;
- (b) placing said voltage difference producing means including said baked cathode collector in said compartment;
- (c) enclosing said voltage difference producing means in said casing;
- (d) subjecting said incased voltage difference producing means to a predetermined elevated temperature for a predetermined time;
- and
- (e) introducing and sealing fluid within said casing subsequent to the step of subjecting said incased voltage difference producing means to said elevated temperature.
5 more elements
A method of assembling an electrochemical cell including
- (i) a casing arrangement having top and bottom covers which define a fluid sealed inner compartment and which includes means defining first and second electrically insulated terminals, and
- (ii) means located within said compartment for producing a voltage difference across said terminals, said voltage difference producing means including a solid cathode collector including a carbonaceous material, said method comprising:
- (a) preforming said cathode collector into a binder-free carbonaceous solid component;
- (b) stacking said solid components including said cathode collector in said bottom cover, said solid components extending up from the top edge of said bottom cover a predetermined distance;
- (c) positioning to top cover on top of said solid components;
- (d) compressing said covers together whereby said cathode collector is compressed sufficient to increase in density a predetermined amount;
- (e) attaching said covers together;
- and
- (f) sealing said compartment.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.