Abstract: A method of forming a separator for a cylindrical battery comprising: disposing a cylindrical or columnar electrode on a metal mold having a circular groove through one or more layers belt-shaped separator being wider than the length of said electrode, pushing said electrode into said groove to contact said separator to a part of the periphery of said electrode, pressing residual both ends of said separator along the residual periphery of said electrode, and continuously or discontinuously welding an overlapped portion of both ends of said separator.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell of the type characterized by an essentially constant operating voltage essentially independent of the degree of cell discharge is disclosed, which in its output voltage exhibits one or more step changes of predetermined and fully adjustable magnitudes at any predetermined point or points during the life of the cell. This enables timely replacement of the cell under non-critical circumstances, and also can be used to indicate state of discharge of the cell. In essence, the anode of the cell comprises a plurality of anode elements which become depleted at mutually different degrees of cell discharge. As each anode element becomes depleted, the internal resistance of the cell increases to cause a drop in the operating voltage of the cell as the remaining active anode elements are required to supply the required current.

Abstract: In a liquid fuel cell including a plurality of series-connected unit cells each including a fuel electrode and an oxidizer electrode disposed opposite to each other with an electrolyte layer being interposed therebetween, a fuel chamber disposed adjacent to the fuel electrode, and an oxidizer chamber disposed adjacent to the oxidizer electrode, and fuel tanks supplying liquid fuel to the fuel chambers, at least two vertically-spaced passages permitting communication of the fuel tanks with all of the fuel chambers are provided so that one of them serves as a passage for liquid fuel while the other serves as a passage for gas produced at the fuel electrodes, the liquid fuel in an amount smaller than the tank volume is charged in each of the fuel tanks to leave a non-charged space, and gas vent ports provided with gas-liquid separating means are disposed midway of the passages and/or on the tank wall portions corresponding to the non-charged spaces defined in the fuel tanks.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of protecting an electrochemical cell which has a molten sodium anode, a chloride-ion containing sodium aluminum halide molten salt electrolyte, an iron-containing cathode in contact with the electrolyte and a solid conductor of sodium ions which separates the anode from the electrolyte, from the adverse effects of overcharging. The method comprises operating the cell, to prevent oxidation of iron to FeCl.sub.3 in the cathode, by connecting it in parallel with a protective cell having an open circuit charging plateau at a voltage less than the open circuit voltage of the Fe/FeCl.sub.3 //Na plateau of the cell being protected, and greater than the open circuit voltage, in its fully charged state, of the cell being protected. The invention also provides a cell of this type protected in this fashion, a battery including one or more such protected cells, and a cathode for such cells.

Abstract: A high capacity lithium inorganic oxyhalide electrochemical cell is provi including lithium as the anode, carbon as the cathode, and a solution of a quaternary ammonium salt in an inorganic oxyhalide solvent as the electrolyte.

Abstract: In a combination of an electric storage battery and a device for making an external electrical connection to the battery, the connecting device includes a conductive member secured to a conductive battery terminal exposed at an external surface of the battery and a conductive cable connected to the conductive member and surrounded by an insulating sheath. In addition, the terminal and the conductive member are encapsulated in an electrically insulating material which is substantially self-sealing when punctured by a needle-pointed, electrical testing probe.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery casing comprising a diametrical can, a recoverable sealing ring, sealing material and a central member. The diametrical can has a flange portion which defines a can opening to be sealed. The can opening is filled by insertion of the central member and sealing material into the can opening. The recoverable sealing ring, which surrounds the flange portion, applies a compressive force so as to decrease the space between the flange portion, sealing material and central member and seal the can opening.

Abstract: A solid state electrochemical cell comprises an anode having at least one alkali metal as its active material, a cathode and an electrolyte comprising an anion and a cation comprising at least one electrolytically active alkali metal ion.The anion is at least partially immobilized by it constituting part of a polymer, chain, e.g. as the poly (methacryloyl-oxy-benzoate) or poly (2-(4-carboxyhexafluorobutanoyl-oxy-)ethylmethacrylate ions, thereby to overcome problems associated with mobile anions. The cation is preferably Li.sup.+ and a polymer such as poly (ethylene oxide) may be blended into the electrolyte to improve its mechanical properties.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve is provided for venting gas from the interior of an electrochemical cell when the pressure of the gas within the cell is excessive. The valve effects sealing or the interior of the cell from the atmosphere when the pressure in the cell is not excessive. Within the relief valve first and second seals are disposed in series in a fluid path and serve not only to enhance the sealing function but also cooperate with resilient means to avoid substantial variations in valve opening pressure if the resilient means are misaligned during assembly of the valve.

Abstract: A connecting piece structure for connecting the plates of an alkaline battery to the battery terminals and a method of welding the connecting piece structure to the plates. The connecting piece is designed to have two slanting surfaces which intersect along a ridge line, the connecting piece having a V-shaped configuration in cross section. The method uses welding electrodes, having bottoms with recessed surfaces which conform to the connecting piece configuration, to weld the connecting piece to the plates.

Abstract: A negative electrode for lead accumulators has the form of a rectangular, expanded metal, grid plate 11 of copper. The grid plate serves as carrier for the active mass and for the supply and extraction of current. The direction of stretching of the expanded metal extends parallel to the edge of the rectangular grid plate at which the connection lug is arranged. A lead strip 13, which is in one piece with the connection lug, is conductively secured to the top edge of the grid plate. The lead strip 13 is cast onto the grid plate 11 (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A secondary battery (10) of high energy density and long cycle is achieved by coating the separator (18) with a film (21) of cationic polymer such as polyvinyl-imidazoline. The binder of the positive electrode (14) such as an ethylene-propylene elastomer binder (26) containing particles (28) of TiS.sub.2 chalcogenide can also be modified to contain sulfone functional groups by incorporating liquid or solid sulfone materials such as 0.1 to 5 percent by weight of sulfolane into the binder. The negative lithium electrode (14), separator (18) and positive electrode (16) are preferably spirally wound and disposed within a sealed casing (17) containing terminals (32, 34). The modified separator and positive electrode are more wettable by the electrolytes in which a salt is dissolved in a polar solvent such as sulfolane.

Abstract: A cell which employs an active metal anode such as lithium and a liquid organic electrolyte that is improved by the use of a cathode comprised of carbon fluoride chloride is described.The cathode comprises a carbon fluoride chloride of the general formula (C.sub.y F.sub.x Cl.sub.z).sub.n wherein y is 1 to 2, x is greater than 0 to 1.2, z is .ltoreq.0.1 and n defines the number of repeating units occurring in the carbon fluoride chloride molecule of high molecular weight. The resulting battery has improved discharge and shelf-life characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flat cell comprising a positive electrode metal plate, a negative electrode metal plate confronted with said positive electrode metal plate, and an adhesive sealing member for sealing the peripheral edge portions of said metal plates, characterized in that said sealing member has a three-layer structure in which ionomer resin pieces are disposed on the opposite sides of a polyethylene piece or an ethylene copolymer piece.

Abstract: A solid state electrochemical cell comprises an anode having lithium as its active material, a polymeric electrolyte, and a cathode comprising a composite of an insertion electrode material or similarly active material and a polymeric material.One of the electrolyte and the cathode possesses an ionically conducting phase at ambient temperature and the other of the electrolyte and the cathode lacks such a phase. Ionic conductivity can be induced in said other of the electrolyte and cathode at elevated temperature thereby to render the cell operable and give rise to improvements in comparison with cells where such phases are present ab initio.

Abstract: The unitary electrode (10) comprises a porous sheet (12) of fiberglass the strands (14) of which contain a coating (16) of conductive tin oxide. The lower portion of the sheet contains a layer (18) of resin and the upper layer (20) contains lead dioxide forming a positive active electrode on an electrolyte-impervious layer. The strands (14) form a continuous conduction path through both layers (16, 18). Tin oxide is prevented from reduction by coating the surface of the plate facing the negative electrode with a conductive, impervious layer resistant to reduction such as a thin film (130) of lead or graphite filled resin adhered to the plate with a layer (31) of conductive adhesive. The plate (10) can be formed by casting a molten resin from kettle (60) onto a sheet of glass wool (56) overlying a sheet of lead foil and then applying positive active paste from hopper (64) into the upper layer (68).

Abstract: High-temperature storage battery with at least two or more storage cells of the alkali metal and chalcogen type, with each cell bounded by a metallic housing, and wherein a defined number of storage cells forming a module are combined. The housing of each storage cell is formed by at least two concentrically arranged housing elements, which are separated from each other by electrical insulation, and the storage cells of each module are arranged in a defined manner, and adjacent storage cells are connected to each other at least in some regions via their outer housing elements.

Abstract: A nickel electrode including a conductive support and a layer on the support including a mixture of a nickel active material and a graphite diluent containing a spinel type oxide, the spinel type oxide having the formula M.sub.2 Co.sub.2 O.sub.4, where M.sub.2 is Co, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn or Cd, or combinations thereof, and having a weight which is in the range of 1-30 percent of the weight of the diluent.

Abstract: A battery having electrodes, at least one of which is made of a polymeric compound having conjugated double bonds in the main chain, is described. The organic solvent of an electrolytic solution in the battery is selected from nitrile compounds of the formulae (I) and (II):R--CN (I)wherein R is a C2-7 alkyl, a saturated alicyclic C3-7 hydrocarbon residue, CH.sub.3 --(CH.sub.2).sub.x --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.y or NC--CH.sub.2).sub.z (x, y and z are 0 or a positive integer of up to 5), and ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --CN, --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.q --CN or ##STR2## in which R.sub.3 is a C1-5 alkyl and p, q and r are 0 or a positive integer of up to 5, R.sub.2 is C1-5 alkyl, C1-5 alkoxy or --CH.sub.2).sub.l --CN in which l is 0 or a positive integer of up to 3, and m is a positive integer of up to 3, and n is 0 or a positive integer of up to 3.

Abstract: The electrochemical cell comprises an outer conductive housing, a cathode material within the housing and in direct electrical contact with the housing, and at least one anode material within the housing. The anode material includes first and second major surfaces and is separated from the cathode material by porous insulating separators, and an electrolyte is contained within the housing and within the porous insulating separators. A resistive strip member is positioned within the anode material and extends generally diagonally therethrough and has an insulative layer thereon for insulating the strip member from the anode material. The insulative layer has conductive passageways therethrough for electrically connecting the anode materalial with the resistive strip member. An electrical conductor connected to the proximal end of the strip member extends out of and is insulated from the conductive housing whereby an initial voltage potential is developed between the electrical conductor and the housing.