Battery separator with a conductive layer for extending the cycle life of a battery
View Patent ↗A battery separator for extending the cycle life of a battery has a separator and a conductive layer. The conductive layer is disposed upon the separator. The conductive layer is adapted to be in contact with the positive electrode of the battery thereby providing a new route of current to and from the positive electrode.
1. A battery separator for extending the cycle life of a lead-acid battery comprising:
a separator having ribs with tips; and
a conductive layer being disposed only on said tips, said conductive layer being made of a conductive material being selected from the group consisting of lead, gold, antimony, arsenic, tin, and combination alloys thereof, or carbon fibers, graphite, carbon nanotubes, and buckyballs;
whereby said conductive layer being configured to directly contact a positive electrode of the lead-acid battery thereby providing a route for current to and from said positive electrode when the conductive capability of a positive electrode conductor deteriorates, wherein the shape of said ribs being straight, angled or waved.
2. The battery separator of claim 1 where said conductive layer being strips.
3. The battery separator of claim 1 where said conductive layer being a screen.
4. The battery separator of claim 1 where said conductive layer being a foil.
5. The battery separator of claim 1 where said conductive layer being a thread.
6. The battery separator of claim 1 where said conductive layer being a wire.
7. The battery separator of claim 1 where said conductive layer being a coating.
8. The battery separator of claim 1 where said conductive layer being disposed upon said tips by adhesively bonding said conductive layer on said tips.
9. The battery separator of claim 1 where said conductive layer being disposed upon said tips by hot melting said conductive layer on said tips.
10. The battery separator of claim 1 where said conductive layer being disposed upon said tips by painting said conductive layer on said tips.
11. The battery separator of claim 1 , said conductive layer being lead.
12. The battery separator of claim 1 , said conductive layer being gold.
13. The battery separator of claim 1 , said conductive layer being antimony.
14. The battery separator of claim 1 , said conductive layer being carbon fibers, graphite, carbon nanotubes, or buckyballs.
15. The battery separator of claim 1 , said conductive layer being carbon fibers.
16. In a lead acid battery, the improvement comprising the battery separator of claim 1 .