Nilar International Ab

Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation

Gylling Optima Batteries Ab

Neil H Puester

Lars Fredriksson

David W Hock

Larry K Ching

Gerrit Van Ommering

Charles W Koehler

Richard Howlett

Lars Frederiksson

An electrode for a biplate assembly includes an active material made from a compressed powder, and a non-metal carrier. A biplate assemblyincludes electrodeseach having a non-metal carrier. A method is disclosed for manufacturing an electrodehaving a non-metal carrier. An apparatusis disclosed for manufacturing such an electrode. A bipolar battery includes at least one such an electrode. The non-metal carrieris preferably a non-conductive carrier.

Method for manufacturing electrode

Electrode, method for manufacturing electrode, biplate assembly and bipolar battery

A gasket is for use in a starved electrolyte bipolar battery. The gasket may be made from a hydrophobic material in the shape of a frame to prevent the creation of an electrolyte path between adjacent cells when mounted in a battery. The frame may be designed to at least partially encompass a biplate when mounted in a bipolar battery, and include a device or way to permit gas passage through the gasket. The gasket may be made from a material with deformable properties to provide a sealing to a biplate and/or endplate when mounted in a bipolar battery, whereby an outer pressure tight seal of the battery may be obtained. A starved bipolar battery and a method for manufacturing a starved bipolar battery are also disclosed.

Method for manufacturing a bipolar battery with a gasket

The present invention relates to a battery stack arrangement () comprising at least one bipolar battery. Each bipolar battery comprises a plurality of battery cell arranged between endplates (). Each battery cell is provided with a seal () arranged around the entire periphery of each cell, and a sealing pressure Fseal is applied over the seal to prevent electrolyte leakage between adjacent cells. The battery stack arrangement further comprises a mounting frame () including: at least two mounting units () and at least one tie unit () holding said mounting units together. The bipolar battery is arranged between the mounting units (), and the battery stack arrangement further comprises at least one spacing element () arranged between the mounting units () and each spacing element () abuts against at least one endplate () and is held in place by said mounting frame () to create a stack pressure Fstack, independent of the sealing pressure Fseal. The stack pressure is controlled by the tie unit.

Battery stack arrangement

A gasket for a bipolar battery comprises a structural part in the shape of a frame having an upper surface and a lower surface, and at least one channel to permit gas passage through the gasket. The structural part may be made from a first material having hydrophobic properties. The gasket further comprises at least a first sealing surface arranged in a closed loop projecting from the upper surface, and at least a second sealing surface arranged in a closed loop projecting from the lower surface. The first and the second sealing surfaces are provided on at least one sealing part, are made from a second material, and the first material of the structural part has a higher elastic modulus than an elastic modulus of the second material of the sealing parts. A bipolar battery and a method for manufacturing a gasket are also disclosed.

Method for manufacturing a gasket

A gasketfor use in a starved electrolyte bipolar battery comprises a structural partin the shape of a frame having an upper surfaceand a lower surface, and at least one channelto permit gas passage through the gasket. The structural part is made from a first material having hydrophobic properties. The gasketfurther comprises at least a first sealing surfacearranged in a closed loop projecting from the upper surface, and at least a second sealing surfacearranged in a closed loop projecting from the lower surface. The first and the second sealing surfaces are provided on at least one sealing part, are made from a second material, and the first material of the structural parthas a higher elastic modulus than an elastic modulus of the second material of the sealing parts. A starved electrolyte bipolar battery and a method for manufacturing a gasket are also disclosed.

Gasket and a bipolar battery

A biplate assembly may include a biplate, a negative electrode and a positive electrode. A method for manufacturing the biplate assembly may involve selecting the size of the biplate and arranging the positive electrode, which is formed by a compressed first powder, to a first side of the biplate. The first powder contains positive active material. The method may also involve arranging the negative electrode, which is formed by a compressed second powder, to a carrier arranged within the biplate assembly. The second powder contains negative active material. The carrier may be a side opposite to the first side of the biplate. The biplate assembly may be implemented in a bipolar battery.

Method for manufacturing a biplate assembly, a biplate assembly and a bipolar battery

The present invention relates to a bipolar battery having at least two battery cells comprising: a negative end terminal, a positive end terminal and at least one biplate assembly arranged in a sandwich structure between the negative and positive end terminals. The battery also comprises a separator, with electrolyte, arranged between each negative and positive electrode forming a cell. An inner barrier of a hydrophobic material is arranged at least around one electrode on a first side of the biplate. An outer sealing, e.g. a frame, is provided around the edge of each biplate assembly and each end terminal and a hole is arranged through each biplate interconnecting each cell with adjacent cell(s) to create a common gas space for all cells in the battery. The invention also relates to a biplate assembly.

Bipolar battery and a biplate assembly

The present invention relates to a bipolar battery having at least two battery cells comprising: a sealed housing, a negative end terminal, a positive end terminal, at least one biplate assembly arranged in a sandwich structure between said negative and positive end terminals, and a separator, including an electrolyte, arranged between each negative and positive electrode forming a battery cell. The biplate assembly is provided with an inner barrier of a hydrophobic material around the negative and the positive electrode, respectively, and an outer seal around the edge of each biplate. Each end terminal is provided with a terminal seal. The edge of each biplate is positioned close to the sealed housing to provide means to conduct heat from each biplate assembly to the ambient environment. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a bipolar battery and a biplate assembly.

Method for manufacturing a bipolar battery and a biplate assembly

Gasket, a bipolar battery and a method for manufacturing a bipolar battery with such a gasket

The present invention relates to a bipolar battery, especially a NiMH battery, having: a sealed housing, a negative end terminal, a positive end terminal, and at least one biplate assembly comprising a biplate, a positive and a negative electrode. A separator is arranged between each negative and positive electrode forming a battery cell, said separator includes an electrolyte. An inner barrier of a hydrophobic material is arranged around at least one electrode, whereby said inner barrier prevents an electrolyte path from one cell to another cell, and a frame is present to provide predetermined cell spacing between each biplate and/or biplate and end terminal. The frame is attached in such a way to each biplate to permit ambient gas to pass between adjacent cells, thereby creating a common gas space for all cells in the battery. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a bipolar battery.

Bipolar battery and a method for manufacturing a bipolar battery

Bipolar battery and biplate assembly

A terminal connector assembly provided for conducting electrical current from an electrolytic device through the wall of a case containing the device for preventing leakage of electrolyte from the case. The terminal connector includes a terminal insert mounted within the case wall. The insert contains a first end portion projecting through the wall forming an exterior connection member. A second end portion is laterally spaced from the first end portion and forms an interior connection member remote from the exterior connection member. A mechanism is provided for substantially reducing the transmittal of mechanical loads from the first end potion to the second end portion. A member is provided for electrically interconnecting the interior connection member with the electrolytic device within the case. Finally, a mechanism seals the connection between the electrically interconnecting member and the interior connection member to prevent leakage of electrolyte from the device.

Battery terminal and case structure

An active cooling system (40, 41) for cooling electrochemical cells (11) that are arranged in a stack (9) in a fuel cell or battery (3). The cooling system (40, 41) comprises cooling panels (15, 16) carrying a cooling fluid that flows adjacent to, and parallel to the plane of, each cell (11). The rate of cooling fluid flow past each cell (11) is made to be substantially equal, so that each cell (11) experiences substantially the same cooling environment, adding to the longevity of the fuel cell or battery (3). This can be accomplished by equalizing the resistance to cooling fluid flow for each cooling path (12), e.g., by using pressure equalizing, monotonically increasingly sized orifices (28) in an input manifold (25). Dual cooling panels (15, 16) are preferably employed, in a counterflow mode. The panels (15, 16) may be divided into parallel channels (33). Heat pipe panels (35) containing a two-phase fluid may be used in lieu of panels (15, 16) that contain cooling fluid in a single state.

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Aurora, CO, United States of America

Neil H Puester