Method of assembling and sealing an alkali metal battery

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:864501

Elkins, Perry E ^[1]; Bell, Jerry E ^[1]; Harlow, Richard A ^[2]; Chase, Gordon G ^[3]

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1. Santa Ana, CA
2. Newport Beach, CA
3. San Diego, CA

A method of initially assembling and then subsequently hermetically sealing a container portion of an alkali metal battery to a ceramic portion of such a battery is disclosed. Sealing surfaces are formed respectively on a container portion and a ceramic portion of an alkali metal battery. These sealing surfaces are brought into juxtaposition and a material is interposed therebetween. This interposed material is one which will diffuse into sealing relationship with both the container portion and the ceramic portion of the alkali metal battery at operational temperatures of such a battery. A pressure is applied between these sealing surfaces to cause the interposed material to be brought into intimate physical contact with such juxtaposed surfaces. A temporary sealing material which will provide a seal against a flow of alkali metal battery reactants therethrough at room temperatures and is applied over the juxtaposed sealing surfaces and material interposed therebetween. The entire assembly is heated to an operational temperature so that the interposed material diffuses into the container portion and the ceramic portion to form a hermetic seal therebetween. The pressure applied to the juxtaposed sealing surfaces is maintained in order to ensure the continuation of the hermetic seal.

• Research Organization: Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation, Aeronutronic Division, Newport Beach, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: United States Department of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: AM04-79CH10012
• Assignee: Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, MI)
• Patent Number(s): US 4375127
• OSTI ID: 864501
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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alkali
alkali metal
applied
assembling
assembly
battery
brought
ceramic
ceramic portion
contact
container
container portion
continuation
diffuse
diffuses
disclosed
ensure
entire
entire assembly
flow
form
formed
heated
hermetic
hermetic seal
hermetically
hermetically seal
hermetically sealing
initially
interposed
intimate
juxtaposed
juxtaposition
maintained
material
material interposed
metal
metal battery
method
operational
operational temperature
physical
physical contact
portion
pressure
pressure applied
provide
reactants
relationship
respectively
seal
seal therebetween
sealing
sealing material
sealing relation
sealing surface
sealing surfaces
subsequently
surfaces
temperature
temperatures
temporary
temporary seal
therebetween
therethrough