Steven A Weiner

US Patent:

41020421, Jul 25, 1978

Filed:

Mar 11, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/777284

Inventors:

Steven A. Weiner - Farmington Hills MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

H01M 630

US Classification:

296232

Abstract:

A method for preparing a sodium/sulfur cell comprising (A) inserting a solid sodium slug, adapted to be connected to an external circuit, into the anodic reaction zone of a cell subassembly maintained within an inert atmosphere, said cell subassembly comprising a cell container and a tubular cation-permeable barrier disposed within said container such that a first reaction zone is located within cation-permeable barrier and a second reaction zone is located between the outer surface of said cation-permeable barrier and the inner surface of said container, one of said reaction zones being said anodic reaction zone and the other of said reaction zone being a cathodic reaction zone containing a precast composite cathodic reactant comprising a sulfur impregnated porous conductive material connected to said cation permeable barrier and adapted to be connected to said external circuit; and (B) providing closure means for said subassembly and sealing the same to said subassembly at a temperature less than about 100. degree. C. The method of the invention overcomes deficiencies of the prior art methods by allowing preparation of a sodium/sulfur cell without the use of molten reactants and the fill spouts which are required when the cell is filled with molten reactants.

US Patent:

40384659, Jul 26, 1977

Filed:

Nov 11, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/630876

Inventors:

Frank A. Ludwig - Southfield MI
Steven A. Weiner - Farmington Hills MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

H01M 436

US Classification:

429104

Abstract:

An improved secondary battery or cell of the type having: (A) one or more anodic reaction zones containing a molten alkali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit; (B) one or more cathodic reaction zones containing (1) a cathodic reactant comprising a liquid electrolyte which is electrochemically reversibly reactive with said anodic reactant and which, when said battery or cell is at least partially discharged, is selected from the group consisting of (i) a single phase composition comprising molten polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (ii) a two phase composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur saturated polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (2) an electrode in contact with said liquid electrolyte; and (C) a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones, said electrode being in electrical contact with both said cation-permeable barrier and an external circuit. The improvement of the invention comprises including as a part of said secondary battery or cell (A) one or more storage zones for said liquid electrolyte which are separate from said one or more cathodic reaction zones and (B) means for flowing said liquid electrolyte from at least one of said storage zones, through said one or more cathodic reaction zones and out of said cathodic reaction zones to at least one of said storage zones. More particularly, the improvement comprises the use of such storage zones and means for flowing in combination with several preferred types of battery or cell design.

US Patent:

39804968, Sep 14, 1976

Filed:

Jan 29, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/545048

Inventors:

Frank A. Ludwig - Southfield MI
Robert W. Minck - Lathrup Village MI
Steven A. Weiner - Ypsilanti MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

H01M 400

US Classification:

429103

Abstract:

An improved electrical conversion device of the type comprising: (1) an anodic reaction zone containing a molten alkali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit; (2) a cathodic reaction zone containing a cathodic reactant comprising a liquid electrolyte which is electrochemically reactive with said anodic reactant and an electrode of porous conductive material which is at least partially immersed in said cathodic reactant; and (3) a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones, said porous conductive material being in electrical contact with both said cation-permeable barrier and an external circuit; the improvement of the invention comprising a modification of the cathodic reaction zone of the device such that there are a plurality of channels and/or spaces within the zone which are free of the porous conductive material and which in combination with said porous conductive material are adapted to allow flow within said cathodic zone of the said cathodic reactant and cathodic reaction products during operation of the device.