Fluid depolarized electrochemical battery with automatic valve

A battery comprising:

• at least two terminals protruding outwardly from an airtight, non-polarized case with at least one inlet means therein for funneling depolarizing gas into at least one gas depolarized electrochemical cell which is enclosed by said case, wherein each of said at least one cell have at least two electrodes wherein at least one of said at least two electrodes is an active cathode;
• at least one resealable, electrically activated and thermally responsive valve means located inside said battery for allowing entry of depolarizing gas into said cell through said inlet means into said cell's interior only when said cell is operating to supply energy to an electrical device which said cell is connected to as a power source, said valve means being comprised of shunt resistance means between two terminals located on means for deforming upon application of power to said shunt resistance means, said at least one valve means by closing an electrical circuit which includes said battery to permit entry of depolarizing gas to said cell inside said battery.

A method of regulating fluid flow into a battery having at least one gas depolarized electrochemical cell comprising:

• positioning within said battery at least one resealable, micromachined, electrically activated and thermally responsive valve means for regulating flow of depolarizing gas into said battery's interior and said cell's interior through inlet means in said battery and said cell, respectively, and through said valve means only when said battery is operating to supply energy to an electrical device which said battery is connected to as a power source;
• and
• electrically connecting said at least one valve means to an actuator means for sealing said inlet means in said battery to prevent depolarizing gas from entering said battery and said at least one cell when said battery is not operating to supply energy to a device to which said battery is connected as a power source.

A battery comprising:

• a single fluid depolarized electrochemical cell having at least two electrodes and a container means wherein at least one of said at least two electrodes is an active cathode and said at least two electrodes are separated from each other by a plurality of gaskets, said at least two electrodes and said container means cooperating to from an interior chamber wherein a metal-anode mixture and a porous cathode member are housed separated from contacting each other by separator means, one of said at least two electrodes having at least one air vent hole so that depolarizing fluid may enter said interior chamber to contact said porous cathode member, a resealable, electrically activated and thermally responsive valve means placed inside said cell to connect said at least one air vent hole to said interior chamber for regulating flow of depolarizing fluid into said battery in order for said valve means to cooperate with actuator means to allow depolarizing fluid to enter said interior chamber of said cell only when said cell is operating to supply energy to an electrical device which said battery is connected to as a power source.

A battery comprising:

• a case having a valve means therein and at least two terminals which protrude outwardly therefrom and wherein said case encloses a plurality of fluid depolarized electrochemical cells, each of said cells having at least two electrodes and a container with inlet means and enclosing an interior chamber which houses a metal-anode mixture and a porous cathode member separated from contacting each other by separator means, said inlet means in said container of each of said cells for allowing entry of depolarizing fluid into said interior chamber of said cell to contact said porous cathode member, said valve means of said case including a resealable, electrically activated and thermally responsive valve and actuator means for regulating flow of depolarizing fluid into said battery in order for said valve means cooperating with said actuator means in order to control the flow of depolarizing fluid into said battery and thus into said interior chamber of said cell only when said battery is operating to supply energy to an electrical device which said battery is connected to as a power source.