# US 6,074,774 A · Sealed recharge battery plenum stabilized with state changeable substance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,074,774 A - Document ID: US6074774A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 09/089,977 - Filed: 1998-06-03 - Granted: 2000-06-13 - Earliest claimed: 1998-06-03 - Assignees: Electrosource, Inc. - Inventors: Michael G. Semmens; Ajoy Datta; Fardad Forouzan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6074774A ## CPC - H01M 10/0413: {Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes} - H01M 10/02: Details (of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00) - H01M 10/0468: {Compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators} - H01M 10/16: Suspending or supporting electrodes or groups of electrodes in the case - H01M 10/12: Construction or manufacture - H01M 2200/10: Temperature sensitive devices - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A lead-acid battery including a case, a plurality of negative and positive electrode plates arranged in the case, a plurality of separators interposed between the negative and positive electrode plates, and a plenum stabilization material disposed within the case to maintain the positions of the electrode plates relative to one another and to other components within the case. The plenum stabilization material includes a compound that (i) is solid during normal operation of the battery and (ii) can undergo reversible physical change in state from solid to liquid when the battery is subjected to or is operated under abnormal conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sealed, rechargeable lead-acid battery comprising: a case; a plurality of negative and positive electrode plates arranged in the case; a plurality of separators interposed between the negative and positive electrode plates; and a plenum stabilization material disposed within the case and filling substantially all free space within the case, said plenum stabilization material comprising a compound that (i) is solid during normal operation of the battery and (ii) can undergo reversible physical change in state from solid to liquid when the battery is subjected to or is operated under abnormal conditions; whereby said plenum stabilization material maintains the positions of the electrode plates relative to one another and to other components within the case, inhibits shorts between internal conductors within the case, and substantially increases the rechargeable cycle life of the battery. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery of claim 1, wherein said plenum stabilization material comprises a hydrocarbon compound containing hydrocarbon molecules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The battery of claim 2, wherein said hydrocarbon compound contains long-chain saturated hydrocarbon molecules. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The battery of claim 1, wherein said plenum stabilization material is a compound selected from the group consisting of waxes and thermoplastics. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The battery of claim 4, wherein said waxes comprise petroleum wax. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The battery of claim 1, wherein said electrode plates include monopolar and bipolar lead-pasted grids. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The battery of claim 6, wherein each of said bipolar plates includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode arranged in the same plane as said positive electrode, with at least one conductor connecting the positive and negative electrodes. ### Claim 8 A method of increasing the rechargeable cycle life of a sealed, rechargeable lead-acid battery, comprising the step of filling substantially the entire free space within the internal compartment of the battery with a plenum stabilization material that (i) is solid during normal operation of the battery and (ii) can undergo reversible physical change in state from solid to liquid when the battery is subjected to or is operated under abnormal conditions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said plenum stabilization material comprises a hydrocarbon compound containing hydrocarbon molecules. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said hydrocarbon compound contains long-chain saturated hydrocarbon molecules. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said plenum stabilization material is a compound selected from the group consisting of waxes and thermoplastics. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said waxes comprise petroleum wax. ### Claim 13 A method of inhibiting shorts between internal conductors in a sealed, rechargeable lead-acid battery, comprising the step of filling substantially the entire free space within the internal compartment of the battery with a plenum stabilization material that (i) is solid during normal operation of the battery and (ii) can undergo reversible physical change in state from solid to liquid when the battery is subjected to or is operated under abnormal conditions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein said plenum stabilization material comprises a hydrocarbon compound containing hydrocarbon molecules. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said hydrocarbon compound contains long-chain saturated hydrocarbon molecules. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein said plenum stabilization material is a compound selected from the group consisting of waxes and thermoplastics. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein said waxes comprise petroleum wax.