Patent GB-849659-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in electric batteries
Inventor: JONES KENNETH
IPC: H01M6/34
Filed: 1956-03-27
Abstract: 849,659. Batteries. BURNDEPT Ltd. March 20, 1957 [March 27, 1956; Sept. 11, 1956], Nos. 9590/56 and 27805/56. Class 53 A battery for activation by immersion in water has inlet and outlet vents which are automatically closed when the battery has been activated so that the electrolyte in the battery is isolated from that outside. The battery shown in Figs. 1 and 3 consists of inter-fitting cells each of which has an inverted U-shaped inlet 15 and a capillary outlet 13. Water enters the battery till air or gas trapped in the bend of the inlet 15 prevents further entry, air remaining in the outlet 13 by capillarity. The air in the vents 13, 15 isolates the liquid in the battery from that outside. The inlet 15 may extend to the bottom of the cell and to ensure an initial gas bubble in the inlet 15 a pellet of sodium bicarbonate or other substance which produces gas on contact with the electrolyte may be fixed in the inlet 15. The outlet 13 may also be made in the form of an inverted U. In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the battery comprises a casing divided into cells having partitions having communicating openings 35. The entrance for water is of inverted U-shape and the exit is covered by a screen 39 which while dry allows the passage of air to the opening 34. When the cells have become filled with water it wets the screen 39 which then becomes impermeable to gas and air. In operation the battery generates gas which forces the electrolyte through the openings 35 and expels it through the inlet so that the electrolyte in each cell is isolated from that in adjacent cells. A second screen 44 permeable to gas and not to liquid prevents any water which may enter the opening 34 from reaching the screen 39 and wetting it before the battery has become filled with water. In another modification, Fig. 6, the screens 39, 44 are omitted and the opening 34 terminates in a flat surface 46 covered by a screen 45 placed at a small distance above the surface 46. The screen 45 allows gas to pass through but not liquid. When the battery has become filled with water, gas evolved from the operation of the battery forces out the electrolyte through the entrance as in Fig. 5, but a film of liquid remains by capillarity between 45 and 46 to form a gas trap. In a further modification the exit chamber 41, Fig. 5, with its two screens in placed horizontally above the battery. The screen 39 may be made of filter paper or bonded fibre fabric, and the screen 44 of woven fabric impregnated with a silicone, or of impregnated porous ceramics, sintered metal, or glass fibre mats. The electrodes may consist of magnesium and the chlorides of silver, copper or mercury. Silver chloride electrodes may be made by clamping together a sheet of silver chloride and thin silver foil and heating the two till the chloride melts and adheres to the foil. Copper chloride electrodes may comprise a copper or brass tray 22, Fig. 3, in which cuprous chloride is compressed or melted. Graphite, copper powder, or copper wire or gauze may be incorporated to lower the resistance. The cells are connected in series by the magnesium plate 24 of one cell being copper-plated and soldered to the tray 22 or the silver foil of the adjacent cell, the bi-polar electrodes being moulded or cemented into the cell walls 25 or into the partition walls of the container shown in Fig. 5.