Rayovac Corporation

Esb Incorporated

Terry G Messing

Ronald J Ekern

Walter Lee Fong

Jack T West

John W Paulson

Alf Marlov Bredland

Franz Frederick Bonacker

An electrochemical cell having a negative current collector coated with an alloy of bismuth and tin maintains acceptable performance level and is protected from failure due to vibration. Improved environmental compatibility is achieved by coupling the coated current collector with an anode that contains an alloy powder of bismuth and zinc that is substantially free of mercury, cadmium, calcium, indium, gallium, thallium, lead, and tin. Performance of electrochemical cells can also be improved by providing a soluble bismuth additive in the cell electrolyte.

Electrochemical cell, gelled anode, and coated current collector therefor

A low iron zinc anode for a LeClanche cell, and methods of making and using same, are provided for in the invention. The zinc anode contains at least 95% zinc and no more than about 12 ppm iron, and may be configured for use in round or flat LeClanche cells. The zinc anodes of the invention may be used in general purpose and heavy duty batteries containing an electrolyte comprising zinc chloride as a primary component. Cells made in accordance with the invention exhibit improved capacity and other performance characteristics in respect of conventional cells.

Method of making a zinc anode for a reduced environmental hazard

Method of making reduced environmental hazard LeClanche cell having

Zinc anode for reduced environmental hazard LeClanche cell having

Reduced environmental hazard leclanche cell having improved performance

A battery is at least partially enclosed by a wrapper comprising a composite of a gas pervious plastic layer and a gas impervious layer. The gas impervious layer has a fracture wide enough to permit the transmission of gases, and the width of the fracture can be maintained at a predetermined and desired size. The combination of the gas pervious plastic layer and the fracture in the gas impervious layer provides a system for regulating the species of gases that enter and/or exit from the battery, as well as the rate at which such gas transmissions occur. The gas impervious layer may be a thin metal foil, preferably of aluminum.

Battery having venting wrapper comprising gas previous plastic layer and

A battery has a metallic component the inner surface of which is in contact with the battery electrolyte and the outer surface of which is not in contact with the electrolyte. To prevent undesired corrosion a mask is placed over a portion of the inner surface in order to electrochemically inactivate the portion of the inner surface covered by it. Although the metallic component having the mask may be the positive electrode or a terminal, preferably it is the negative electrode and preferably the negative electrode is a metallic foil such as zinc, lead, magnesium, or aluminum or alloys thereof. The outer surface of the metallic component opposite the mask may be exposed to the air. An electrical lead may be connected to the outer surface of the metallic component opposite the mask. Where the mask is applied to the inner surface of an electrode, the mask may contain metal or a metalic compound of a chemical composition compatible with the electrode in order to compensate for the loss in electrochemical activity at the surface of the electrode covered by the mask.

Battery having mask which electrochemically inactivates limited surface

A composite of metal and an insulating material overlays a battery terminal, with openings in the composite exposing the terminal. A portion of the insulating material extends inside the opening in the metal layer, causing the edge of the metal to be set back from the edge of the insulator. Preferably the metal is aluminum foil.

Growing community of inventors

Verona, WI, United States of America

Terry G Messing