Patent ID: 6436571
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
An elongate air depolarized electrochemical cell, having a positive end and a negative end, and a transverse cross-section disposed along a length of said cell, said elongate air depolarized electrochemical cell comprising:(a) a cathode, including an air cathode assembly extending along the length of said cell; (b) an anode, including an anode cavity, and electroactive anode material in the anode cavity, the anode cavity having an open end and a closed end; (c) a separator, having an inner side wall thereof defining a side wall of the anode cavity between said electroactive anode material and said cathode assembly; (d) electrolyte dispersed in said anode, said cathode, and said separator; (e) a closure member electrically connected to said cathode assembly and forming a an end wall of said air depolarized electrochemical cell; and (f) an electrically insulating seal member extending generally across that portion of the transverse cross-section which spans the anode cavity at the closed end of the anode cavity, said seal member separating said electroactive anode material from said end wall, and providing a seal about the side wall of the anode cavity at said separator, said seal member comprising an in situ melt plug extending generally across the anode cavity at the closed end of the anode cavity, electrically separating said electroactive anode material from said end wall, said melt plug resulting from placing one or more particles of thermoplastic material at the closed end of the anode cavity, and subsequently melting the one or more particles in situ and thereby activating melt flow of the thermoplastic material thus to cover the transverse cross-section at the closed end of the anode cavity.