METAL-AIR BATTERIES HAVING IMPROVED AIR ACCESS VALVES

摘要

A prismatic metal-air battery (10) is provided for having at least one prismatic metal-air cell (12) received in a cell cavity (24) of a prismatic casing (11). The casing (11) comprises a wall portion (21, 22) which defines a surface. The wall portion (21, 22) has at least one opening (35) in communication with the cell cavity (24) which is adapted to allow the passage of air into the cell cavity (24). The casing (11) also includes a valve member (40) having a surface bearing on the wall portion surface. The valve member (40) also has at least one opening (45) therein. The wall portion surface and the valve member surface are adapted to allow movement of the valve member (40) across the wall portion surface between the closed positon, in which the valve member opening (45) does not overlap with the wall portion opening (35), and an open position, in which the valve member opening (45) and wall portion opening (35) at least partially overlap. Importantly, the casing (11) also includes means for providing an attractive force between the wall portion and the valve member (40).