An electrochemical cell including a current collector which extends between end caps of the cell so as to impart structural rigidity to the cell. The current collector may extend through an apertured anode of the cell and engage the anode so as to serve as its current collector.
A chemical source of current, comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode coaxially arranged in a casing, the electrodes being separated by an ion-conducting diaphragm. A metal lid which is in contact with the tap of the negative electrode and is provided with holes is covered by a plastic gasket and a sealing coupling, at least one end of the negative electrode tap having at least one groove to receive the material of the sealing coupling.
An elongate, generally tubular, air depolarized electrochemical cell (10) comprising a cathode (14), including an air cathode assembly (26), extending about the tubular circumference, and along the tubular length, of the cell (10), an anode (12), a separator (16) between the anode (12) and the cathode (14), electrolyte, a top closure member (177, 200), and a bottom closure member (114, 202). The cathode assembly (26) is fixedly held, by a friction fit, in a slot (116) at the bottom of the cell. The slot can be developed, for example, by inner (110) and outer (114) walls of a cathode can (28), by inner (226) and outer (224) walls of a bottom closure member (202), or by an outer wall (114) of a cathode can (28) and an opposing outer wall of a plug (128) on the interior of the cell. Preferably, bottom closure structure of the cell (10) and receives a bottom edge portion (44) of the cathode current collector (32), and makes electrical contact with the bottom edge portion (44), preferably at an inner surface (60) of the cathode current collector. A diffusion member (36) of the cathode assembly (26) is preferably compressed as a seal, at the bottom of the cell (10), between an outer side wall (39) of the cell and the remainder of the cathode assembly (26). The diffusion member (36) is also used at least as an assist in sealing the cell (10) against electrolyte leakage from the anode cavity (137) and past the cathode assembly (26). An embodiment may provide a stop ledge (106) in grommet (18j) facing a stop groove (102) in a cathode can (28). The cathode assembly (26) can extend into a slot (174) at an outer edge of the grommet (18). A top grommet (204) can have an upwardly extending leg (210A) overlain by a top closure member (206). The air diffusion member (36) may control the rate of entry of air to the reaction surface, depending on density of the air diffusion member (36), whereby the air diffusion member (36) controls the limiting current of the cell (10). The air cell (10) can be free from adhesive bonding the separator (16) to the cathode assembly (26). The bottom of the cathode current collector (32) may be in a bottom slot (116), in a path of flow of current between a reaction surface and a positive electrode terminal (30). A method of fabricating cells can including crimping a top washer (206) and an outer leg (2100) of a top grommet (18) at the same time, including closing a slot 211).
An elongate, generally tubular, air depolarized electrochemical cell (10) comprising a cathode (14), including an air cathode assembly (26), extending about the tubular circumference, and along the tubular length, of the cell (10), an anode (12), a separator (16) between the anode (12) and the cathode (14), electrolyte, a top closure member (177, 200), and a bottom closure member (114, 202). The cathode assembly (26) is fixedly held, by a friction fit, in a slot (116) at the bottom of the cell. The slot can be developed, for example, by inner (110) and outer (114) wars of a cathode can (28), by inner (226) and outer (224) walls of a bottom closure member (202), or by an outer wall (114) of a cathode can (28) and an opposing outer wall of a plug (128) on the interior of the cell. Preferably, bottom closure structure of the cell (10) and receives a bottom edge portion (44) of the cathode current collector (32), and makes electrical contact with, the bottom edge portion (44), preferably at an inner surface (60) of the cathode current collector. A diffusion member (36) of the cathode assembly (26) is preferably compressed as a seal, at the bottom of the cell (10), between an outer side wall (39) of the cell and the remainder of the cathode assembly (26). The diffusion member (36) is also used at least as an assist in sealing the cell (10) against electrolyte leakage from the anode cavity (137) and past the cathode assembly (26). Various embodiments comprehend a variety of bottom seal members (140, 142) between the bottom wall (37) and the electroactive anode material (20), typically in combination with a bottom slot (116) receiving the cathode assembly (26) adjacent an outer side wall (39) of the bottom closure member (30, 202).
