Wilson Greatbatch Ltd.

Eleanor & Wilson Greatbatch Foundation

Norbert W Frenz

Ralph T Mead

Frank W Rudolph

Wilson Greatbatch

Robert L McLean

A lithium-iodine cell comprising a casing of electrically conducting material, an anode including a lithium element within the casing, an electrical conductor operatively connected to the lithium element and extending out from the casing, and a cathode comprising iodine-containing material in operative contact with both the casing and the lithium element. The anode electrical conductor is completely sealed from the rest of the cell, and the casing serves as the cathode current collector. The anode operative surface is provided with a coating of an organic electron donor material. The anode conductor is enclosed within the combination of an insulator element within the casing, an isolator element between the insulator and the conductor, and a ferrule having one end within the insulator and the other end extending from the casing. During assembly, the cathode material is introduced in heated form and a filling element is employed which serves to keep the edge of the casing open end clean to facilitate subsequent welding of a lid to the casing.

Method of making a lithium-iodine cell

A lithium-iodine cell comprising a casing of electrically conducting material, an anode including a lithium element within the casing, an electrical conductor operatively connected to the lithium element and extending out from the casing, and a cathode comprising iodine-containing material in operative contact with both the casing and the lithium element. The anode electrical conductor is completely sealed from the rest of the cell, and the casing serves as the cathode current collector. The lithium anode element is shaped in a manner increasing the area of the operative surface thereof and enhancing the bond to the anode conductor, and the anode operative surface is provided with a coating of an organic electron donor material. The anode conductor is enclosed within the combination of an insulator element within the casing, an isolator element between the insulator and the conductor, and a ferrule having one end associated with the insulator within the casing and the other end extending from the casing. After assembly, the cathode material is introduced in heated form by means of a filling element through an opening in the lid of the casing which subsequently is closed.

Lithium-iodine cell

A lithium-iodine cell comprising a casing of electrically conducting material, an anode including a lithium element within the casing, an electrical conductor operatively connected to the lithium element and extending out from the casing, and a cathode comprising iodine-containing material in operative contact with both the casing and the lithium element. The anode electrical conductor is completely sealed from the rest of the cell, and the casing serves as the cathode current collector. The anode operative surface is provided with a coating of an organic electron donor material. The anode is enclosed within an insulator element within the casing and a ferrule having one end within the insulator and the other end extending from the casing.

Methods for making lithium-iodine cell

A lithium-bromine cell comprising a casing which can be of electrically conducting material and containing a lithium anode element from which a sealed conductor extends through the casing. A filling element which can be of electrically conducting material and which has a passage therethrough is fixed to the sealed casing with one end of the passage in communication with the interior of the casing and the other end externally exposed. Bromine is introduced through the passage to the interior of the casing into operative relationship with the lithium anode whereupon the passage is closed to complete the cell. The electrically conducting casing serves as a cathode current collector in operative contact with the bromine cathode, and after closing of the passage the electrically conducting filling element serves as an electrical terminal for the cell. An electrical potential difference exists between the terminal and the anode conductor during operation of the cell.

Method of making a lithium-bromine cell

A lithium-iodine cell comprising a region of iodine-containing cathode material having at least two surface portions, a current collector element operatively contacting one of the surface portions and a lithium anode element operatively contacting the other cathode surface. The lithium anode element is embraced by a holder in a manner exposing a surface of the element to the cathode material and sealing the corresponding anode current collector element from exposure to the cathode material, the holder being of a material which does not exhibit electronic conduction when exposed to iodine. The anode and cathode current collectors have extending lead portions, and the cathode lead is insulated from the lithium anode element. A pair of cells are combined, being heat sealed together around the peripheries, with the corresponding cathode regions contacting opposite surfaces of a separator sheet to form a battery.

Lithium-iodine battery

Lithium-bromine cell

A solid electrolyte primary cell comprising a lithium anode, a bromine cathode and a lithium bromide electrolyte. A solid lithium element operatively contacts the cathode material, and one form of cathode material is a charge transfer complex of an organic donor component material and bromine. The organic donor component material can be poly-2-vinyl pyridine. Another cathode material is liquid bromine. The surface of the lithium anode element which operatively contacts the cathode material can be provided with a coating of an organic electron donor component material. When the lithium anode operatively contacts the bromine cathode, a solid lithium bromide electrolyte begins to form at the interface and an electrical potential difference exists between conductors operatively connected to the anode and cathode.

A lithium-iodine cell comprising a pair of cup-shaped container elements each having a peripheral flange and each containing a lithium anode element and iodine-containing cathode material. The container elements are of material which is heat sealable and which does not exhibit electronic conduction when exposed to iodine. The container elements are juxtaposed with the cathode material of each container being in operative contact with a cathode current collector, and the peripheral flanges of the container elements are heat sealed together. The cell is encapsulated in potting material which is non-reactive with iodine, and the encapsulated cell is contained in an hermetically sealed metal casing having rounded surfaces.

An enclosure for a lithium-iodine cell including a frame of a material which is non-reactive with iodine and containing a cell comprising a lithium anode, iodine-containing cathode material and a lithium iodine electrolyte, a pair of closure elements sealing opposite ends of the frame and folded onto the peripheral surface of the frame, and a band of iodine impermeable material overlying the abutting edges of the closure elements and embracing the frame. The enclosure is encapsulated in a polyester material for electrical insulation and sealing against iodine migration. The encapsulated enclosure is contained in an hermetically sealed outer casing of metal.

Enclosure for lithium-iodine cell and method of making the same

A lithium cell comprising a cathode including a region of iodine-containing material having a pair of operative surfaces and a cathode current collector in the region between the surfaces, a pair of lithium anode elements operatively contacting corresponding cathode surfaces and each having a current collector, and electrical conductors connected to the cathode and anode current collectors. Each anode element is fitted in a holder in a manner exposing a surface of each lithium element to the cathode material and sealing the anode current collector from exposure to the cathode material, the holders being of a material which does not exhibit electronic conduction when exposed to iodine. A pair of separator elements insulate the cathode conductor from the lithium anode elements. A pair of cells electrically connected in series and encapsulated in a single body provide a battery having an output of about 5 volts.

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North Tonawanda, NY, United States of America

Norbert W Frenz