Apparatus and method for maintaining compression of the active area in an electrochemical cell

Abstract

A method of forming a pressure pad can comprise: disposing a first electrically conductive member at a first compression member to form a first ring assembly; disposing a second electrically conductive member at a second compression member to form a second ring assembly; and arranging the first ring assembly at the second ring assembly in a concentric pattern.

1 . A method of forming a pressure pad for an electrochemical cell, the method comprising: 
 disposing a first electrically conductive member at a first compression member to form a first ring assembly;    disposing a second electrically conductive member at a second compression member to form a second ring assembly; and    arranging the first ring assembly at the second ring assembly in a concentric pattern.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first compression member and the second compression member are dimensioned to correlate to a desired compression of the pressure pad.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the disposing of the first electrically conductive member at the first compression member comprises longitudinally disposing the first compression member within the first electrically conductive member.  
     
     
         4 . A method of forming a pressure pad for an electrochemical cell, the method comprising: 
 disposing an electrically conductive member at a compression member; and    arranging the electrically conductive member and the compression member in a spiral pattern.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the disposing of the electrically conductive member at the compression member comprises longitudinally disposing the compression member within the electrically conductive member.  
     
     
         6 . A method of forming a pressure pad for an electrochemical cell, the method comprising: 
 forming a plate of electrically conductive material; and    disposing a compression member at the plate.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the plate is formed by an operation selected from the group consisting of stamping, casting, and machining.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the disposing of the compression member at the plate comprises molding the compression member at the plate.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the disposing of the compression member at the plate comprises adhesively bonding the compression member to the plate.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising disposing grooves in the compression member.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising disposing an interruption in the plate, the interruption being configured to extend from a central portion of the plate to an outer edge of the plate.  
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a pressure pad for an electrochemical cell, the method comprising: disposing a compressible electrically conductive member on a support member.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising disposing partition members adjacent the compressible electrically conductive member.  
     
     
         14 . A pressure pad for an electrochemical cell, the pressure pad comprising: 
 an electrically conductive member interwoven with a compression member.    
     
     
         15 . A pressure pad for an electrochemical cell, the pressure pad comprising: 
 an electrically conductive member inter-stitched with a compression member.