US 5,567,544 A · Battery

Abstract

A battery assembled in the form of a lightweight structural panel and including isolated battery cells. Each of the cells includes a honeycomb structure wherein each film-like layer in the honeycomb structure is an electrode stack. Each of the electrode stacks includes an elongated cathode, an elongated separator, and an elongated anode. The separator is wetted with an electrolyte solution to facilitate the electrochemical reaction. The electrochemical reaction may be that of an NiMH2 battery, an NiH battery, an Li.sup.+ battery, an NiCd battery, a Lead-acid battery, or any other suitable electrochemical reaction. Alternatively, the battery cell could be composed of a foam-like cathode, foam-like separator, and a foam-like anode. With either embodiment, the invention achieves the storage of electrochemical energy in a structure with a multitude of voids defined therein so that the structure is relatively stiff, yet light weight.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A battery for supplying power to an electrical circuit having a first terminal and a second terminal, comprising:

an elongated anode including a first reagent, the anode being connectable to the first terminal of the circuit;
an elongated cathode positioned adjacent and in spaced-apart relation to the anode, the cathode including a second reagent and being connectable to the second terminal of the circuit;
a separator positioned between the anode and the cathode which provides electrical insulation between the anode and the cathode yet permits an electrochemical reaction to occur involving the transfer of ions between the anode and cathode, the transfer of ions allowing electrical current to flow from the cathode through the circuit to the anode of the battery;
wherein the anode, the separator, and the cathode form an elongated electrode stack;
and
wherein a plurality of elongated electrode stacks are connected together in a honeycomb structure.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Battery

Life of this patent

Battery

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30