Air cell

Abstract

An air cell includes a plurality of electrode structures each including a filling chamber for an electrolyte liquid interposed between an air electrode and a metal negative electrode; an electrode housing portion individually housing the plural electrode structures; and a liquid supply unit which supplies the electrolyte liquid to the plural electrode structures. The electrode housing portion includes a plurality of liquid injection holes to inject the electrolyte liquid into the filling chambers of the respective electrode structures and a plurality of liquid junction prevention portions each dividing a space between the liquid injection holes adjacent to each other. The liquid supply unit includes a liquid injection device allowing the electrolyte liquid to flow into the plural liquid injection holes.

1 . An air cell comprising:
 plural electrode structures each including a filling chamber for an electrolyte liquid interposed between an air electrode and a metal negative electrode;   an electrode housing portion individually housing the plural electrode structures; and   a liquid supply unit which supplies the electrolyte liquid to the plural electrode structures,   wherein the plural electrode structures are arranged in series in the electrode housing portion,   the electrode housing portion includes plural liquid injection holes to inject the electrolyte liquid into the filling chambers of the respective electrode structures and plural liquid junction prevention portions each dividing a space between the liquid injection holes adjacent to each other,   the liquid supply unit includes a storage tank for the electrolyte liquid and a liquid injection device allowing the electrolyte liquid in the storage tank to flow into the plural liquid injection holes, and   the liquid injection device and the liquid injection holes are separated from each other and there is no interposition between the liquid injection device and the liquid injection holes.   
     
     
         2 . The air cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrode housing portion is further provided with liquid junction prevention portions located towards arrangement end portions with respect to the liquid injection holes for injecting the electrolyte liquid into the filling chambers of the electrode structures located at the arrangement end portions. 
     
     
         3 . The air cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the plural liquid junction prevention portions each have a protruding structure. 
     
     
         4 . The air cell according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plural liquid junction prevention portions has a surface inclined downward to the liquid injection hole adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         5 . The air cell according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the plural liquid junction prevention portions has a triangular cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The air cell according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the plural liquid junction prevention portions has a trapezoidal cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The air cell according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plural liquid junction prevention portions has a downward step towards at least one liquid injection hole adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The air cell according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plural liquid junction prevention portions has a concave curved surface inclined downward at least one liquid injection hole adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The air cell according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plural liquid junction prevention portions has a convex curved surface inclined downward at least to one liquid injection hole adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         10 . The air cell according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plural liquid junction prevention portions includes plural projections arranged at predetermined intervals in an arrangement direction of the plural electrode structures. 
     
     
         11 . The air cell according to  claim 10 , wherein the plural projections have a common height. 
     
     
         12 . The air cell according to  claim 10 , wherein the plural projections have different heights. 
     
     
         13 . The air cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid injection device includes a switching body which controls a flow of the electrolyte liquid. 
     
     
         14 . The air cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid injection device is placed to allow the electrolyte liquid to concurrently flow into the plural liquid injection holes. 
     
     
         15 . The air cell according to  claim 1 , wherein more than one liquid injection device is provided to correspond to the respective liquid injection holes. 
     
     
         16 . The air cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid injection device is placed at a position separate from the plural liquid junction prevention portions. 
     
     
         17 . The air cell according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a peripheral surface of the liquid injection device has water repellency. 
     
     
         18 . The air cell according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of top surfaces of the plural liquid junction prevention portions has water repellency. 
     
     
         19 . The air cell according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of peripheries of openings of the plural liquid injection holes is a hydrophilic region having hydrophilicity. 
     
     
         20 . The air cell according to  claim 19 , wherein an outer side of at least one of the peripheries of the openings of the plural liquid injection holes has a water-repellent region having water repellency.