Primary electrochemical cell capable of high discharge rates

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In referring to the various figures of the drawings hereinbelow, like reference numerals will be utilized to refer to identical parts of the apparatus.
Referring initially to FIG.
1 of the drawing, a primary electrochemical cell embodying the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10.
The primary electrochemical cell 10 is comprised of a cylindrical outer casing 12 which is closed at one end and which serves to contain the desired electrochemical system.
In many configurations, the outer casing 12 is formed of a conductive material and acts as a first terminal of the primary electrochemical cell 10.
In this embodiment of the invention, a layer of anode material 14 is disposed in mechanical and electrical contact with a conductive outer casing 12 throughout the major portion of the internal length and circumference of the casing 12.
In certain configurations, the anode may also be in contact with the bottom of the casing 12.
A thin porous separator 16 of nonconductive material is disposed internally of and coextensive with the annulus of anode material 14 to insure electrical isolation between the cathode and anode materials.
In the center of the primary electrochemical cell 10, there is located a cathode structure comprising a plurality of layers of cathode material globules 18 which are interposed between alternating layers of a cathode current collector material 20.
The layers of the cathode current collector 20 are formed of a porous metallic material and are electrically interconnected.
A top portion 24 of the cathode current collector 20 is specially provided for affixing the cathode current collector 20 to a metallic cathode terminal cap 22.
The cathode terminal cap 22 is fitted within the open end of the outer casing 12 and is insulated electrically therefrom by means of an insulating ring 30.
The ring 30 supports the cathode terminal cap 22 by receiving a radially extending lower rim 26 of the cap 22 in an internal groove 28