Rayovac Corporation

Enable Fuel Cell Corporation

Kenneth H Kenyon

Joseph Lynn Passaniti

Janna L Rose

Ronald J Ekern

Patricia S Bennett

Gregory James Davidson

Gregory Stephen Kulibert

Randall L Collien

Matthew M Doeppers

Josie B Wieser

Alane M Boutelle

Samir E Ibrahim

A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes fuel cell units arranged along a common axis in a stack with an inner periphery of the fuel cell units defining a fuel flow channel through which the fuel can flow in an axial direction. Current collectors are electrically connected to the fuel cell units at the top and bottom of the stack. One or more diffusion cell units are stacked below the lower current collector and have an inner periphery defining a continuation of the fuel flow channel. The fuel inlet allows the introduction of hydrogen fuel to the top end of the flow channel while the bottom end of the flow channel below the diffusion cell units is blocked. Water vapor and inert gases collecting at the bottom end of the fuel flow channel diffuse out through the diffusion cell units to maintain the electrical generating efficiency of the active fuel cell units. Diffusion cell units may be mounted in the middle of the stack where fuel is fed in from both ends of the stack.

Passive air breathing fuel cells

The performance characteristics of alkaline manganese dioxide cells are improved by applying a thin, polymeric coating to the inner surface of an unplated steel positive current collector, and including a silicon compound in the coating. The polymeric coating comprises, in combination, a first film forming binder component and a second component comprising an electrically conductive component such as carbon or a filler. The combination of the coating and the silicon compound reduces the internal resistance of the cell, and may be used on unplated steel.

Alkaline manganese dioxide electrochemical cell having coated can

A sodium polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer made by bulk polymerization and characterized as described herein is a superior gelling agent when provided at a suitable concentration in a gelled anode for an alkaline electrochemical cell. Suitable gelled anodes, alkaline electrochemical cells containing such gelled anodes, and methods for making and using same are also described.

Sodium polyacrylate gelling agent for zinc gelled anode

Collector assemblies and methods of making and using them, and electrochemical cells made with such current collector assemblies, are disclosed. The invention provides a current collector assembly which permits safe, effective venting of pressure in the cell; reduces early activation of venting structures in the current collector assembly; contains fewer piece parts than known structurally-robust current collectors; is easy to implement; and provides superior tolerance to outside impact forces. Current collectors of the invention provide a stiffer, more rigid washer, repositioned closer to the bottom plate at its central region while the washer maintains the traditional function of controlling positioning of the seal body of the current collector assembly. Increasing stiffness, rigidity, and the repositioning of the washer is accomplished by a combination of structurally sculpturing the cross-section of the washer, hardening the temper of the washer, and providing a plateau adjacent the center of the bottom plate. Washer vent holes are relocated away from the central region, the bottom plate being most vulnerable to attack in the central region. Overall, the improved washer provides both support to the seal body against outwardly-directed internal pressures within the cell and support to the bottom plate against inwardly directed impact forces from outside the cell.

Current collector assembly

The performance characteristics of alkaline manganese dioxide cells are improved by applying a thin, polymeric coating to the inner surface of an unplated steel positive current collector, and treating the current collector with an aqueous solution of sodium silicate before or after the coating is applied to the inner surface. Silicic acid may also be added to the coating before its application to the inner surface of the current collector. In either embodiment of the invention, sodium silicate or silicic acid may also be added to the cathode mixture. The polymeric coating comprises, in combination, a first film forming binder component and a second component comprising an electrically conductive component such as carbon or a filler. The combination of the coating and the sodium silicate or silicic acid treatment of the current collector reduces the internal resistance of the cell, and may even be used on unplated steel.

A potassium polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer made by modified bulk polymerization and characterized as described herein is a superior gelling agent when provided at a suitable concentration in a gelled anode for an alkaline electrochemical cell. Suitable gelled anodes, alkaline electrochemical cells containing such gelled anodes, and methods for making and using same are also described.

Gelling agent for alkaline electrochemical cells

The leakage of electrolyte from alkaline primary batteries is substantially reduced by improving the seal in such batteries. The novel seal is formed by applying a hard, tackless conductive alkali-resistant plastic coating to the surface of the metal container which forms a bond between the metal container and the sealant covered seal member normally used in such batteries.

Growing community of inventors

Verona, WI, United States of America

Kenneth H Kenyon