Method and apparatus for providing a sealed container containing a detectable gas

Abstract

An apparatus for making a hermetic device containing a detectable gas and comprising a surface having a fill port comprising a vacuum pump in communication with the hermetic device through a vacuum conduit; a liquid reservoir for containing liquid to be delivered to the hermetic-device; a gas reservoir for containing a detectable gas to be delivered to the hermetic device; a transfer vessel for transferring a selected quantity of liquid and gas to the hermetic device; and a block for passing the selected quantity of liquid and gas through a fill port of the hermetic device, and disposing a seal into the fill port. A method for making a hermetic device containing a detectable gas, and an exemplary hermetic device comprising an electrochemical cell or a capacitor are also disclosed.

1 . An apparatus for making a hermetic device containing a detectable gas, the hermetic device comprising a surface including a fill port therethrough, and the apparatus comprising: 
 a) a vacuum pump in communication with the hermetic device through a vacuum conduit;    b) a liquid reservoir for containing liquid to be delivered to the hermetic device;    c) a gas reservoir for containing a detectable gas to be delivered to the hermetic device;    d) a transfer vessel comprised of a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner bore; a piston disposed in the inner bore and operatively connected to a linear actuator by a rod extending through the proximal end; a discharge port disposed in the distal end of the housing and connectable to the hermetic device through a discharge conduit; a first inlet port in the housing in communication with the liquid reservoir through a liquid conduit, and a venting port in the housing;    e) a block comprising a sealing surface contactable with the surface of the hermetic device including the fill port therethrough; a gasket disposable between the sealing surface and the surface of the device; a discharge passageway formed in the sealing surface and connectable with the fill port of the hermetic device; a transfer port in communication with the discharge passageway and in communication with the discharge port of the transfer vessel; a seal holding cavity alignable with the fill port of the hermetic device; a ramrod alignable with the fill port of the hermetic device, the ramrod having a distal end disposed in the seal holding cavity, a central region extending through a bore in a wall of the block, and a proximal end outside of the block; and    f) a fastener adapted to secure the block to the hermetic device.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the gas reservoir is in communication with the transfer vessel through a gas conduit connected to a second inlet port provided in the housing of the transfer vessel.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the vacuum pump is in communication with the transfer vessel.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a three way valve connected to the discharge conduit of the transfer vessel, the vacuum conduit, and a common conduit in communication with the transfer port of the block.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the liquid reservoir comprises a receiver vessel including a wall, a bottom, and a sharp conduit stub in communication with the liquid conduit; and a sealed container containing a pre-selected amount of liquid to be delivered to the hermetic device, the sealed container adapted to be fit in the receiver vessel and comprising a wall, an upper sealing membrane, and a lower sealing membrane puncturable by the sharp conduit stub when the sealed container is fitted in the receiver vessel.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a programmable controller.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further comprising means for contacting and dissolving the detectable gas in the liquid to be delivered to the hermetic device.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for making a hermetic device containing a detectable gas, the apparatus comprising: 
 a) a vacuum pump in communication with the hermetic device through a vacuum conduit;    b) a liquid reservoir for containing liquid to be delivered to the hermetic device;    c) a gas reservoir for containing a detectable gas to be delivered to the hermetic device;    d) means for transferring a selected quantity of liquid and gas to the hermetic device; and    e) means for passing the selected quantity of liquid and gas through a fill port of the hermetic device, and disposing a seal into the fill port.    
   
   
       9 . A method for making a hermetic device containing a detectable gas, the hermetic device comprising a surface including a fill port therethrough, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an apparatus comprising a vacuum pump in communication with the hermetic device through a vacuum conduit; a liquid reservoir for containing liquid to be delivered to the hermetic device; a gas reservoir for containing a detectable gas to be delivered to the hermetic device; means for delivering a selected quantity of liquid and detectable gas to the hermetic device; and means for passing the selected quantity of liquid and the detectable gas through a fill port of the hermetic device, and discharging a seal disposed therein into the fill port;    b) fastening to the hermetic device the means for passing the selected quantity of liquid and the detectable gas and discharging the seal;    c) evacuating the hermetic device;    d) delivering the selected quantity of liquid and the detectable gas into the hermetic device; and    e) disposing the seal in the fill port of the hermetic device.    
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9  wherein the means for delivering a selected quantity of liquid and gas to the hermetic device comprises a transfer chamber.  
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising the step of evacuating the transfer chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising the step of delivering a selected quantity of liquid to the transfer chamber prior to delivering the selected quantity of liquid to the hermetic device.  
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  further comprising the step of delivering a selected quantity of the detectable gas to the transfer chamber prior to delivering the selected quantity of liquid and selected quantity of the detectable gas to the hermetic device.  
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 9  further comprising the step of dissolving the detectable gas in the liquid prior to delivering the selected quantity of liquid and gas into the hermetic device.  
   
   
       15 . An electrical energy storage device, which comprises: 
 a) a container comprised of: 
 i) an enclosing container side wall having a thickness and defining an interior space;  
 ii) a surface including an opening in the container side wall, the opening defined by an opening perimeter; and  
 iii) a seal sealing the opening;  
   b) an anode;    c) a cathode;    d) an electrolyte contacting the anode in electrochemical association with the cathode housed in the interior space of the container; and    e) a detectable dissolved in the electrolyte, detectable gas being selected from the group consisting of helium, argon, neon, krypton, xenon, and mixtures thereof.    
   
   
       16 . The electrical energy storage device of  claim 15  wherein the detectable gas is dissolved in the electrolyte to its saturation point.  
   
   
       17 . The electrical energy storage device of  claim 15  wherein the detectable gas is not dissolved in the electrolyte.  
   
   
       18 . The electrical energy storage device of  claim 15  wherein the detectable gas is comprised of at least about 99.9 weight percent helium.  
   
   
       19 . The electrical energy storage device of  claim 15  wherein the seal is comprised of a sealing member in a sealing relationship with the opening perimeter to block the opening.  
   
   
       20 . The electrical energy storage device of  claim 15  wherein the seal is comprised of a portion of the container side wall that has been rendered molten and then cooled to fuse the side wall material together to block the opening.