Gates Energy Products, Inc.

Eveready Battery Company, Inc.

Orville G Prickett

Kenneth R Richardson

Guy G Rampel

Vincent J Puglisi

Robert Czajkowski

Michael R Klein

Nelson C Citta

Peter J Denoncourt

Paul W Galbraith

Guy G Rampe

E Lee Huston

Methods are presented for reclaiming active material used in formation of secondary electrochemical cells and similar electrodes. Active materials such as nickel-metal hydride are removed from cell electrodes together with the binders used to secure the active materials to the electrode substrates. Because the binders and other agents are recovered without loss or degradation, the active materials may be easily and simply reconstituted and reused to form new electrodes. The methods are particularly applicable to electrodes fabricated by deposition of active material on flexible conductive substrates. The reclamation methods include mechanical separation, such as bending and ultrasonic beating, to remove the active materials without adding other chemical agents. The removed active materials are ground and sized. Solvent is added to dissolve binders and form a reconstituted active material paste. This paste may then be introduced to an electrode fabrication process in combination with, or in replace of, virgin paste. Devices are presented for the effective mechanical separation of active material from electrode substrates. One embodiment of these devices includes a pair of bending wheels which bend the electrodes repeatedly into a rough wave form. By bending the electrode repeatedly at adjacent locations, substantially all the active material and other constituents may be recovered. Bending at an angle smaller than a determined critical angle is required for effective separation and recovery.

Reclamation of active material from metal hydride electrochemical cells

A support assembly, including an end plate, for use in metal gas cells. The support assembly inhibits a plate stack which is positioned within a pressure vessel from impinging the walls of the pressure vessel. The support assembly comprises a first and a second weld ring and a first and a second end plate, each of the end plates being attached to a different end of the plate stack. The first and second weld rings mate with the first and second end plates, respectively, and cooperate to support the plate stack. The end plate comprises two plates secured together. A raised portion on one of the plates forming the end plate has a radially extending embossment formed therein to increase the rigidity thereof. The pressure vessel is constructed of generally cylindrical container defining two circumferentially extending lips, each of which is secured to an end portion.

End plate for a metal gas cell

Metal gas cell

A ceramic seal assembly for electrically insulating and hermetically securing a terminal to a housing through which the terminal extends. The housing contains a fluid at a high pressure and an electrical device to which the terminal is connected. An adapter is provided for hermetically securing the seal assembly to the housing. The adapter comprises a generally tubular member defining two end portions and a collar secured to one of the two end portions. The seal assembly and housing are hermetically secured to the tubular member at separate locations. The seal assembly contains at least one annular ceramic member and is oriented such that the high pressure fluid contained within the housing causes the annular ceramic member to be in compression and thereby maintain a seal between the terminal and the housing.

Ceramic seal assembly

Growing community of inventors

Gainesville, FL, United States of America

Orville G Prickett