Abstract: A positive electrode for an alkaline storage battery having a high capacity and facilitating the manufacturing thereof and an alkaline storage battery using the same are provided. The positive electrode utilized includes active material powder containing nickel hydroxide and powder made of cobalt compounds, where a ratio of a cobalt compound with a valence of cobalt being 2.6 or more to the whole of cobalt compounds is 30 weight % or more.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorption alloy electrode includes, as a principal material, particles of a hydrogen-absorption alloy containing a rare earth element, Ni, Co, Al and Mn and leads to reduced deviation in battery characteristics after charging/discharging cycles by having the size distribution of the alloy particles limited such that d90/d10≦8 and d90−d10≦50 &mgr;m, where di (where i varies from 0 to 100) means a particle size at which cumulative size frequency with respect to the entire particles is i%.

Abstract: A negative electrode of a battery, chiefly includes hydrogen absorption alloy particles each having a surface layer. The alloy particles satisfy R2/R1≧0.004 and 5 &mgr;m≦R1≦20 &mgr;m, or preferably 5 &mgr;m≦R1≦12.5 &mgr;m, where R1 is a half of a median diameter of the particles and R2 is thickness of the surface layers.

Abstract: A charge control apparatus for a battery pack having a cooling structure includes: a refrigerant temperature sensor for detecting a refrigerant temperature of a refrigerant which cools the battery pack; a battery temperature sensor for detecting a battery temperature of the battery pack; an ambient temperature sensor for detecting an ambient temperature of the battery pack; and a control section for controlling the charge of the battery pack, based on the refrigerant temperature detected by the refrigerant temperature sensor, the battery temperature detected by the battery temperature sensor and the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor.

Abstract: In an integrated sealed secondary battery 1 in which a plurality of cells 2 are arranged in a row, cooling medium passages 21 are formed on both sides of the row of the cells 2, and cooling medium passages 18 are formed between adjacent cells such as to effect communication between the cooling medium passages 21, 21 on both sides. The cross-sectional areas of the cooling medium passages 21, 21 on both sides are made different so as to generate pressure difference at both ends of the cooling medium passages 18 between the cases. The cooling medium passages 21 on both sides are formed in a meandering manner by the provision of projection strips that extend alternately downwards from the top wall and upwards from the bottom wall of the cooling medium passages 21.

Abstract: An integrated sealed secondary battery in which a plurality of cells are arranged in a row, cooling medium passages are formed on both sides on the row of the cell, and cooling medium passages are formed between adjacent cells such as to effect communication between the cooling medium passages on both sides.

Abstract: A charge control apparatus for a battery pack having a cooling structure includes: a refrigerant temperature sensor for detecting a refrigerant temperature of a refrigerant which cools the battery pack; a battery temperature sensor for detecting a battery temperature of the battery pack; an ambient temperature sensor for detecting an ambient temperature of the battery pack; and a control section for controlling the charge of the battery pack, based on the refrigerant temperature detected by the refrigerant temperature sensor, the battery temperature detected by the battery temperature sensor and the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor.

Abstract: A rectangular alkaline storage battery includes a plurality of rectangular positive electrode plates, negative electrode plates, and separators. The positive and negative electrode plates are layered alternately via the separators, resulting in a group of electrode plates. The group of electrode plates, together with an alkaline electrolyte, is housed in a rectangular container. In the battery, internal resistance is 5 m&OHgr; or less, the electrode plate group thickness is 30 mm or less, and the amount of electrolyte is 1.3 to 8.0 g/Ah. This can achieve a rectangular alkaline storage battery that provides the optimum balance in the quantity of heat generation, heat release, and heat accumulation, high power, and excellent battery characteristics even when charged/discharged repeatedly and used for a long time.

Abstract: A square shaped battery includes: an electrode plate group including a belt-like positive electrode plate, a belt-like negative electrode plate, and a belt-like separator, the belt-like positive electrode plate, the belt-like negative electrode plate, and the belt-like separator being laminated and rolled up to form the electrode plate group; and a pair of power collectors disposed on sides of the electrode plate group for collecting electric power from the electrode plate group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrogen storage alloy electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries that can reduce internal resistance of the battery and can give an excellent output characteristic and a long cycle life to the battery. The electrode comprises an AB5-type hydrogen storage alloy powder, a yttrium compound and a compound of a light rare earth element. The total content of the yttrium compound and the compound of a light rare earth element is in a range of 0.5 to 2.0 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of hydrogen storage alloy powder. Preferable ratios of the yttrium compound and the compound of a light rare earth element selected from La, Ce, Pr and Nd are, respectively, 60 wt % or more and 7 wt % or less in the total amount of the yttrium compound and the compound of the light rare earth element.