Process for the reactivating sealed liquid electrolyte batteries
AssigneeModern Controls, Inc.
InventorsWilliam N. Mayer, Stephen D. Tuomela
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for reactivating and recovering electrolyte cells by drilling a hole through the battery case and injecting a volume of electrolyte liquid into the case for absorption into the cell separator material. The battery is subjected to multiple charge/discharge cycles while the cell opening remains unsealed, and is subjected to a final charge prior to sealing the drilled hole through the cell outer case.
Claims19
A method of reactivating a spent electrolyte battery cell comprising a top and an outer case enclosing a cell interior having an original electrolyte capacity, and an electrode projecting from the top of the cell, comprising the steps of:
- a) forming an opening into the cell interior and through the outer case of the cell;
- b) injecting a volume of electrolyte into the opening;
- c) absorbing the injected electrolyte into the cell interior for at least six days;
- d) removing accumulated gases from the cell interior by subjecting the cell to repeated substantially equal electrical charge/discharge cycles;
- and
- e) sealing the opening through the outer case of the cell.
A method of reactivating a spent electrolyte battery cell having an outer case and an interior, comprising the steps of forming an opening into the cell interior;
- injecting a quantity of electrolyte liquid into the cell interior;
- absorbing the electrolyte liquid into the cell interior;
- repeatedly electrically charging and discharging the cell at substantially equal rates, and sealing the opening formed in the first step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.