Rayovac Corporation

Alltrista Zinc Products, L.p.

Jack T West

Terry G Messing

Daniel A Schneider

Randy Beets

Albert H Giles

Johnny Smelcer

James H Annen

Jim Dyer

Marek K Kokoszka

Jon Headrick

Franz Frederick Bonacker

An anode comprises one or more sheets of expanded zinc mesh. The thickness and mesh size of the expanded zinc mesh may vary. A single sheet of zinc mesh may be coiled, forming continuous electrical contact with itself. Alternatively, a single sheet of zinc mesh may be folded into layers, each layer in electrical contact with its adjacent layers. A third alternative is the use of two or more sheets of zinc mesh, layered on top of each other so that each layer is in electrical contact with adjacent layers. These zinc mesh anodes are combined with a casing, a cathode, an electrolyte solution, and a separator between the cathode and anode to manufacture electrochemical cells.

Expanded zinc mesh anode

An electrochemical cell having a negative current collector coated with an alloy of bismuth and tin maintains acceptable performance level and is protected from failure due to vibration. Improved environmental compatibility is achieved by coupling the coated current collector with an anode that contains an alloy powder of bismuth and zinc that is substantially free of mercury, cadmium, calcium, indium, gallium, thallium, lead, and tin. Performance of electrochemical cells can also be improved by providing a soluble bismuth additive in the cell electrolyte.

Electrochemical cell, gelled anode, and coated current collector therefor

This invention pertains to electrochemical cells, and specifically to an inner seal member in an electrochemcical cell. The inner seal member is positioned against, and in intimate contact with that portion of the separator which extends above the cathode mix, or a retaining washer on the cathode mix, and is also in intimate contact with the cathode mix or the retaining washer. The seal member is preferably emplaced as a fluid material and is preferably distributed by centrifugal force, by rotating the cell as the sealant material is dispensed into the cell. The inner seal member is effective to retard loss of battery performance over an extended period of storage time, both at room temperature and at elevated temperature. The seal member is a composition of hydrocarbons or fatty acid ester oils having the capacity to remain in full surface-to-surface contact, as it cools, with the surfaces upon which it is placed warm or hot, in the cell.

Electrochemical cell having an inner seal member

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McFarland, WI, United States of America

Jack T West