Abstract: An electrode substrate is formed by mechanically processing a nickel foil so as to be made three dimensional through the creation of concave and convex parts, and then, this substrate is filled with active material or the like so that an electrode is manufactured, wherein the above described concave and convex parts are rolling pressed so as to incline in one direction. Furthermore, an electrode for secondary battery is formed by using the above described method.

Abstract: A nickel positive electrode including an active material mixture mainly composed of a nickel oxide and an electrically conductive support, a metal and/or an oxide thereof including elements effective for increasing oxygen overvoltage, preferably at least one element selected from Ca, Ti, Nb, Cr, Y and Yb is contained in a conducting agent such as metallic Co and/or Co oxide added to supplement the electrical conductivity of the active material. By virtue of this construction, the decrease of charging efficiency caused by increase of battery temperature and decrease of the oxygen overvoltage with charging of the battery can be inhibited and the charging efficiency can be improved in a wide temperature atmosphere. Thus, a nickel-metal hydride storage battery of high capacity can be provided.

Abstract: A battery has elements for electromotive-force accommodated in a metal outer can which has a bottom having a cylindrical, prismatic or similar shape. The ratio of the bottom thickness (TA) the side thickness (TB) is 1.5-7.0. The metal outer can contains primarily iron and a layer of nickel is provided on at least the inner face of the battery. Shallow grooves are formed on the nickel layer perpendicular to the bottom face. An iron-based metallic sheet formed with a nickel layer on at least one face is subjected to drawing forming into a tubular shape having a bottom, continuous ironing processing being performed such that the side of the can formed in the tubular shape has an ironing ratio in the range of 20% to 90% and a metal outer can is thereby manufactured having a ratio of a bottom thickness to its side thickness from 1.5 to 7.0, having a cylindrical shape, prismatic shape or shape similar thereto, and with shallow longitudinal grooves formed in a nickel layer provided on the battery inside face.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine including solenoid-operated intake and exhaust valves is operable in a partial operating mode with at least one cylinder being deactivated, without suffering from vibration of the engine. Where particular cylinders are deactivated under cylinder deactivation control, the exhaust valve of each deactivated or inactive cylinder is opened for a certain period of time which starts ahead of the bottom dead center. The timing of opening the exhaust valve is determined so that the pressure within the inactive cylinder is lower than the atmospheric pressure when the exhaust valve is opened. The timing of closing the exhaust valve is determined so that the peak value of the pressure within the inactive cylinder becomes almost equal to the peak value of the pressure within active cylinders.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an electromagnetic valve driving mechanism adjusts an amount of magnetizing current to be applied to the electromagnetic valve driving mechanism in accordance with a temperature or viscosity of a lubricant used in the electromagnetic valve driving mechanism. Accordingly, intake and exhaust valves can be driven with an electromagnetic force corresponding to a viscosity of the lubricant. Therefore, changes in opening-and-closing operation speeds of the intake and exhaust valves resulting from a temperature or viscosity of the lubricant that is supplied to a sliding portion of the electromagnetic valve driving mechanism can be reduced.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine and method are capable of reducing a power consumption required to open an exhaust-side electromagnetic valve at a predetermined time. This internal combustion engine includes an electromagnetic valve drive mechanism that controls an exhaust valve of the internal combustion engine to open and close by using electromagnetic force generated in response to application of a magnetizing current, and a controller that controls the electromagnetic valve drive mechanism. The controller changes, under predetermined conditions, an open timing of the exhaust valve so as to reduce the power consumption of the electromagnetic valve drive mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus controls an internal combustion engine having electromagnetically driven valves. A target cylinder torque required of one of a plurality of cylinders is individually calculated in accordance with a target engine torque, and a timing for opening and closing each of a plurality of intake and exhaust valves in each of the plurality of cylinders is determined in accordance with the target cylinder torque. Thereby the torque of the internal combustion engine is individually controlled for each of the plurality of cylinders.

Abstract: A process for producing positive electrode active material includes feeding an aqueous nickel salt solution, aqueous solutions of different kinds of metals, aqueous solution containing ammonium ions and aqueous alkali solution each independently and simultaneously into a reaction vessel such that the amount of alkali metal is 1.9-2.3 moles relative to 1 mole of the total amount of nickel and different kinds of metals and the amount of ammonium ions is 2 moles or more relative to 1 mole of the total amount of nickel and different kinds of metals, the pH in the vessel is 11-13, the temperature in the vessel is 30-60° C. and the average residence time is 20-50 hours.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes two intake side solenoid driving valve mechanisms for opening and closing intake valves by cooperation of an electromagnetic coil and a spring, and/or two exhaust side solenoid driving valve mechanisms for opening and closing exhaust valves provided on each cylinder. A controller commands a driving circuit to cause the valve-opening timing of the exhaust valves or the intake valves to be different.

Abstract: In control apparatus and method, an ECU detects the positions of intake valves of cylinders when an ignition switch is turned off. Then, the ECU continues supplying exciting current to first electromagnetic coils corresponding to completely closed intake valves to hold those intake valves in the completely closed state. The ECU brings to the intake valves that are not in the completely closed state at the time of determining the turning-off of the ignition switch, to the completely closed state. At the elapse of a predetermined time following the determination of turning-off of the ignition switch, the ECU stops supplying exciting current to the first electromagnetic coils of the intake valves to bring the intake valves to a held-open state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high capacity positive active material for an alkaline storage battery comprising a nickel based multi-metals oxide, wherein the charge characteristic at high temperature is improved. This oxide has a large number of micropores in at least a surface layer. An average composition of the surface layer is different from that of the interior in that at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ti, Zn, Sr, Ba, Y, Cd, Co, Cr, Bi and lanthanoids, in addition to Ni, is contained in the surface layer, or in that the at least one element is contained at a concentration higher than that of the interior.

Abstract: A battery accommodates elements for electromotive-force within a metal case. This metal case is a metal case having a bottom wherein the bottom thickness/side thickness ratio has a value of 1.2-4.0 and has a cylindrical, prismatic or similar shape. The metal case is constructed of a metal material whose chief constituent is aluminum. Furthermore, it is desirable that a multiplicity of shallow grooves perpendicular to a bottom face are formed in at least a battery inside face of the metal case and moreover that a nickel layer is provided on the battery inside face. The metal case is made by DI processing involving drawing and ironing, to have a value of bottom thickness/side thickness ratio which was hitherto unavailable,i.e., 1.2-4.0 can be obtained.

Abstract: A high energy density alkaline storage battery which uses a positive electrode including mainly nickel oxide is provided by increasing the capacities of the positive electrode and negative electrode. For increasing the capacity density of the positive electrode, the active material is incorporated as a solid solution with at least one element selected from manganese, chromium, aluminum and calcium in the range of from not less than 3 mol % to not more than 15 mol % relative to the active material, and the surface and/or the neighborhood of the surface of the active material are coated with a cobalt oxyhydroxide having a high electric conductivity of a specific resistance of 15 &OHgr;·cm or less and a low crystallinity.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material, includes a .beta.-Ni(OH).sub.2 type nickel oxide (including hydroxide) containing Mn in the state of solid solution or coprecipitated state with an average valence of Mn being 3.3 valences or more and preferably with a ratio A2/A1 being 1.25 or less which is a ratio of integrated intensity A2 of a peak present at 2.theta.=18-21.degree. to integrated intensity A1 of a peak present at 2.theta.=37-40.degree. of powder X-ray diffraction using CuK.alpha. ray.

Abstract: The energy density of active materials for a positive electrode comprising an oxide containing Ni as a main metallic element is enhanced, and, moreover, a method for manufacturing them is provided. The oxide includes Ni as a main metallic element and contains at least Mn in the state of solid solution or eutectic mixture, wherein the average valence of Mn is 3.3 valences or more, the tap density is 1.7 g/cc or more, the half width of a peak at around 2.theta.=37-40.degree. of X-ray diffraction using CuK.alpha. ray is 1.2 deg or less, the ratio B/A of integrated intensity B of a peak at around 2.theta.=18-21.degree. to integrated intensity A of a peak at around 2.theta.=37-40.degree. is 1.25 or less, and the volume of pores having a pore radius of 40 .ANG. or less is 60% or more of the total pore volume. The oxide is obtained by growing in the state of keeping the dissolved oxygen concentration in the aqueous solution in the reaction vessel and then oxidizing the oxide.

Abstract: A process for producing positive electrode active material includes feeding an aqueous nickel salt solution, aqueous solutions of different kinds of metals, aqueous solution containing ammonium ions and aqueous alkali solution each independently and simultaneously into a reaction vessel such that the amount of alkali metal is 1.9-2.3 moles relative to 1 mole of the total amount of nickel and different kinds of metals and the amount of ammonium ions is 2 moles or more relative to 1 mole of the total amount of nickel and different kinds of metals, the pH in the vessel is 11-13, the temperature in the vessel is 30-60.degree. C. and the average residence time is 20-50 hours.

Abstract: A jar can for a secondary battery is formed by deep-drawing a clad material prepared by bonding an aluminum sheet and an iron sheet to each other. A nickel layer is formed between the iron sheet and the aluminum sheet. Another nickel layer is formed on another surface of the iron sheet. Thus, a lightweight jar can for a secondary battery having high rigidity is obtained.

Abstract: Active materials for positive electrodes in alkaline storage batteries excellent in capacity density, discharge voltage, and high rate discharge characteristics can be provided by coating the surface of the active material powder with an .alpha.-like Al-substituted Ni(OH).sub.2. Moreover, active materials excellent in capacity density, discharge voltage and high rate discharge characteristics, and besides in high-temperature charging efficiency and/or charge and discharge characteristics can be provided by dissolving in solid state and/or coprecipitated state at least one different metal element selected from Ca, Cr, Y, Ti and Co in the .alpha.-like Al-substituted Ni(OH).sub.2 layer. Furthermore, active materials excellent in capacity density, discharge voltage and high rate discharge characteristics, and besides in charge and discharge characteristics can be provided by coating with a Co oxide the surface of the active material powder coated with the .alpha.-like Al-substituted Ni(OH).sub.2.

Abstract: The present invention provides alkaline storage batteries of which high-rate discharge characteristic at low-temperature, cycle life, and storage performance at high-temperature are improved in good balance and the cost performance is superior even when the content of cobalt is made extremely low by using in the negative electrode consisting of hydrogen absorbing alloy powders based on MmNi system alloys comprising MmNi.sub.5 system alloy which remains mostly crystalline in phase when absorbing hydrogen and Mm.sub.2 Ni.sub.7 system alloy which turns mostly amorphous in phase upon absorbing hydrogen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sealed alkaline storage battery with an increased utilization of a positive electrode active material comprising a nickel oxide and with drastically enhanced capacity density. The positive electrode active material is a nickel based multi-metals oxide containing at least one element such as Mn which promotes the formation of .gamma. phase during charging. The ratio A.sub..gamma. /A.sub..beta. of the integrated intensity A.sub..gamma. of the diffraction peak at d=about 7 angstroms attributed to the .gamma. phase to the integrated intensity A.sub..gamma. of the diffraction peak at d=about 4.5 to 5.0 angstroms attributed to the .beta. phase of the oxide in the completely charged state is not smaller than 0.4. The electrolyte comprises an aqueous solution containing at least one of K.sup.+ and Na.sup.+ as a cationic component and the total concentration of the above-mentioned cationic component in the completely charged state is within a range between 4 and 12 mol/l.