Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Paul F Schisselbauer

William J Eppley

Kurt F Garoutte

Warren E Hawkins

A reserve activated electrochemical cell with a cell condition checking apparatus uses a sealed electrolyte storage reservoir having an expandable pressurized capsule within the reservoir for pressurizing the electrolyte. The reservoir is provided with a rupturable diaphragm providing a fluid-tight seal across an opening in a wall of the electrolyte reservoir. The reservoir is formed integrally with a container for a reserve cell electrode assembly or stack with the wall therebetween containing the rupturable diaphragm. A selectively operable lance is arranged with a pointed first end adjacent to the diaphragm and a second or opposite end projecting out of the cell stack container. A resilient bellows is attached externally of the cell stack container to cover the projecting end of the lance while providing a fluid-tight seal to the external wall of the cell stack container. The bellows provides a deformable cap covering the projecting end of the lance to enable the lance to be selectively operated by an operator to penetrate the diaphragm to activate the cell by enabling the electrolyte to reach the cell stack. A pressure transducer is arranged within the cell stack container to contact the rupturable diaphragm adjacent to the lance to provide an output signal indicative of the pressure imposed on the electrolyte by the pressurized capsule. A pair of output leads from the pressure transmitter are arranged to extend through respective fluid-tight seals in a wall of the cell stack container to enable a cell condition check to be made based on the pressure within the electrolyte.

Reserve activated electrochemical cell with a cell condition checking

A reserve activated electrochemical cell has a sealed electrochemical fluid, e.g., an electrolyte, storage reservoir having an expandable free-floating capsule within the reservoir for selectively pressurizing the fluid. The reservoir is provided with a rupturable diaphragm arranged as a fluid-tight seal across an opening defining a fluid conduit through a wall of the reservoir. The reservoir is formed integrally with a container for a cell electrode assembly or stack, e.g., opposite polarity battery electrodes, with a wall therebetween containing the rupturable diaphragm. A selectively operable gas generator within the reservoir is connected to one end of the expandable capsule for providing a gas pressure therein to expand the capsule. The gas generator is operated by a signal applied to the gas generator by electrical connecting leads passing through fluid-tight seals in a wall of the reservoir. In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid is an electrolyte, and the fluid control apparatus is used in a reserve activated battery housing to store the electrolyte until it is desired to activate the battery. Energization of the gas generator is effective to expand the free-floating capsule to pressurize the electrolyte and ultimately rupture the diaphragm. The pressurized electrolyte is subsequently delivered through the ruptured diaphragm to the cell stack to activate the battery.

Reserve activated electrochemical cell

A fluid control apparatus for selectively providing a stored fluid to a working environment for the fluid includes a container for storing the fluid. The container is arranged as a metal thimble with longitudinal score lines evenly spaced about its diameter. A weight is attached to one end of the thimble to provide a force on the thimble in a longitudinal direction as a result of a corresponding acceleration of the thimble. The scoring lines produce stress concentrations and serve to weaken the thimble in its radial direction. The longitudinal force produced by the weight during acceleration results in a collapse of the thimble and a rupture of the walls of the thimble along the score lines to produce exit orifices for the fluid stored in the thimble. In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid is an electrolyte, and the fluid control apparatus is used in a reserve activated battery housing to store the electrolyte until the acceleration induced collapse of the thimble. The electrolyte is delivered from the ruptured thimble to adjacent electrodes to activate the battery.

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Southampton, PA, United States of America

Paul F Schisselbauer