Rubber Or Thermoplastic Resin Patents (Class 429/254)
  • Publication number: 20090176160
    Abstract: A separator for a battery that includes a first polymer to provide structural support and a second polymer mixed with the first polymer. The second polymer provides an open channel for ionic transport through the separator. The separator also includes a third polymer interspersed with the first polymer and the second polymer. The third polymer is an insulator when a potential in the battery is less than a switching voltage, and is a conductor when the potential in the battery is greater than the switching voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventor: Aron Newman
  • Patent number: 7556886
    Abstract: According to the present invention an improved insulator cup, or case liner, enhances electrode coil insertion by reducing the possibility of damage to the coil during insertion, protects electrode and separator from laser radiation during welding, and eases manual inspection of partially assembled components, among other advantages. The improved insulator cup includes a mechanical joint, or hinge-like feature, which pivotably couples opposing parts of the cup and greatly enhances coiled electrode insertion and subsequent component inspection prior to sealing a cover member over an electrode assembly disposed within a housing. The mechanical joint can comprise additional parts that adhere to a divided insulator cup or can be formed as an integral part of an insulator cup (e.g., a linear area of reduced thickness, of apertures, and/or perforations, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul B. Aamodt, Karl E. Hokanson, Stephanie L. Breimon
  • Publication number: 20090087750
    Abstract: A microporous membrane having a structure in which its pore size distribution curve obtained by mercury intrusion porosimetry has at least two peaks, which is produced by extruding a combination of a diluent or solvent and a polyolefin resin composition comprising (a) from about 74 to about 99% of a first polyethylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of from about 2.5×105 to about 5×105 and a molecular weight distribution of from about 5 to about 100, (b) from about 1 to about 5% of a second polyethylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of from about 5×105 to about 1×106 and a molecular weight distribution of from about 5 to about 100, and (c) from 0 to about 25% of a polypropylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of from about 3×105 to about 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Shintero Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20090081543
    Abstract: A microporous polyolefin membrane having a structure in which its pore size distribution curve obtained by mercury intrusion porosimetry has at least two peaks, which is produced by extruding a melt-blend of a polyolefin composition comprising (a) high density polyethylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of from about 2.5×105 to about 5×105 and a molecular weight distribution of from about 5 to about 100, (b) polypropylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of from about 3×105 to about 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Shintaro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7498369
    Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) mixed with a processing oil and a lubricant selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters, ethoxylated fatty acid esters, glycol esters, PEG esters, glycerol esters, ethoxylated esters, sorbitol esters, ethoxylated sorbitol esters, aromatic ethoxylates, alcohol ethoxylates, mercaptan ethoxylates, modified ethoxylates, amide surfactants, phosphate esters, phosphonate esters, phosphite esters, alkyl sulfates, fatty acid ethers, alkyl ether sulfates, alkylaryl ether sulfates, sulfonates, naphthalene sulfonates, sulfosuccinates, sulfonated esters, sulfonated amides, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkylaryl ether carboxylates, quaternary amines, amino quaternary amines, ethoxylated amines, imidazoline derivatives, betaines, sultaines, aminopropionate, catechol derivatives, saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and combinations thereof. The method for making those articles is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Daramic LLC
    Inventors: J. Kevin Whear, Joseph G. Yaritz
  • Publication number: 20090029262
    Abstract: The invention provides a separator characterized by a constitution wherein a porous sheet formed of a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point of 200° C. or lower is incorporating a thin sheet material comprising an organic compound substantially having no stable melting point, which is useful for secondary batteries or capacitors having both the shutting-down function and the high temperature shape stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Shinji Naruse
  • Patent number: 7435511
    Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a spirally wound electrode group including: (a) a positive electrode including an active material layer containing nickel hydroxide and a positive electrode core material; (b) a negative electrode including an active material layer containing a hydrogen storage alloy and a negative electrode core material; and (c) a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, wherein the separator includes a hydrophilicity-imparted non-woven fabric including polyolefin or polyamide and has a thickness of 0.04 to 0.09 mm, and the percentage occupied by the cross section “SS” of the separator in the transverse cross section “S” of the electrode group is not greater than 25%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichiro Tsuji, Haruya Nakai, Yoshiyuki Muraoka
  • Patent number: 7432014
    Abstract: The invention provides an anode capable of relaxing stress due to expansion and shrinkage of an anode active material layer associated with charge and discharge, or an anode capable of reducing structural destruction of the anode active material layer and reactivity between the anode active material layer and an electrolyte associated with charge and discharge, and a battery using it. The anode active material layer contains an element capable of forming an alloy with Li, for example, at least one from the group consisting of simple substances, alloys, and compounds of Si or Ge. An interlayer containing a material having superelasticity or shape-memory effect is provided between an anode current collector and the anode active material layer. Otherwise, the anode current collector is made of the material having superelasticity or shape-memory effect. Otherwise, a thin film layer containing the material having superelasticity or shape-memory effect is formed on the anode active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Isamu Konishiike, Tomoo Takada, Kenichi Kawase, Yukio Miyaki
  • Patent number: 7413685
    Abstract: A method and composition is disclosed for making conductive flow field separator plates having reduced resistivity, lower weight and lower cost. The plates are made by blending from about 0.5 wt % to about 40 wt %, preferably from about 1 wt % to about 30 wt %, most preferably from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt %, of the liquid crystal polymer; from about 0.5 wt % to about 40 wt %, preferably from about 1 wt % to about 30 wt %, most preferably from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of the poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride); and from about 20 wt % to about 99 wt %, preferably from about 60 wt % to about 98 wt %, most preferably from about 70 wt % to about 90 wt % of the conductive filler. The blend is then moulded to form the conductive flow field separator plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont Canada Company
    Inventors: Yuqi Cai, Divya Chopra, John Fisher
  • Patent number: 7407728
    Abstract: An alkaline cell or battery having at least one positive and one negative electrode which are separated by a separator and which are disposed, along with an alkaline electrolyte, in a housing, the separator being a non-woven fabric, a microporous foil, or a web made of one or a plurality of polymers, which are formed by copolymerization or grafting through reactive extrusion, and which have functional groups in the molecule or form them in the alkaline electrolyte, the functional groups being active as Lewis acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Wolffried Wenneis, Harald Hoffmann, Birgit Severich, Hartwig Höcker, Helmut Keul
  • Patent number: 7399555
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising: an electrode plate assembly; a non-aqueous electrolyte; and an outer jacket accommodating the electrode plate assembly and the non-aqueous electrolyte therein, the electrode plate assembly comprising a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate and a separator interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, the separator comprising a polyolefin resin, wherein (1) the separator comprises at least one layer comprising a polypropylene resin, (2) the layer comprising a polypropylene resin contains an antioxidant with a melting point of 60° C. or higher, and (3) the layer comprising a polypropylene resin and the positive electrode are in contact with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Sano, Masaya Sugafuji, Norihiro Yamamoto, Masaki Kitagawa, Kiyomi Kato, Hiroshi Matsuno, Jun Nunome, Yutaka Kawatate
  • Patent number: 7381500
    Abstract: A method of preparing a lithium secondary battery including a multi-phase separator having a gelled polymer uniformly impregnated therein, includes surface-treating a porous separator to provide a coated weight of a gelled polymer less than or equal to 20 mg/cm2, by impregnating the porous separator into a gelled polymer solution containing less than or equal to 5 wt % of the gelled polymer based on a weight of an organic solvent. The separator is interposed between a cathode and an anode to prepare an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly is placed into a housing, an electrolytic solution is injected into the housing, followed by sealing and curing a resultant structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-won Oh, Su-jin Han, Hyun-jei Chung
  • Publication number: 20080118826
    Abstract: A lithium ion battery with cell elements includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte layer between the cathode and the anode. The electrolyte layer includes an arrangement of insulating particles with a plurality of interstitial spaces therebetween, with electrolytes occupying at least some of the interstitial spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Shimamura, Taketo Kaneko, Takamitsu Saito, Kenji Hosaka, Hideaki Horie
  • Patent number: 7374843
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microporous membrane, which is provided with high safety even under a condition that the interior temperature of a battery becomes high, and which has high permeability and high mechanical strength at the same time. The polyolefin microporous membrane is characterized by a membrane thickness of 5 to 50 ?m, a void content of 30 to 60%, a gas transmission rate of 40 to 300 sec/100 cc/20 ?m, a piercing strength of not less than 2.5 N/20 ?m and a break through temperature of not lower than 110° C. The separator in accordance with the present invention is used to exhibit high safety under a high temperature condition as well as high permeability, and therefore it is particularly useful as a separator for miniaturized high capacity batteries of a non-aqueous electrolytic solution type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporations
    Inventors: Masayuki Adachi, Takashi Ikemoto, Hiroshi Sogo
  • Publication number: 20080057400
    Abstract: A separator is made by using a copolymer for the separator including a monomer component derived from an olefin compound containing a fluorine atom and a monomer component derived from a polymerizable organic compound containing an oxygen atom in its molecule. This separator is excellent in resistance to oxidation and wettability to electrolytes. Therefore, by making a non-aqueous electrolyte battery using this separator, charge and discharge cycle life and storage characteristics of the battery improve. Further, similar effects can be obtained by using this separator, even in the case of a non-aqueous electrolyte battery using a high-potential positive electrode active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuo NANNO, Masaki DEGUCHI
  • Patent number: 7335441
    Abstract: A method of forming an electrochemical cell is disclosed. The method comprises contacting a negative pole layer and a positive pole layer one with the other or with an optional layer interposed therebetween. The pole layers and the optional layer therebetween are selected so as to self-form an interfacial separator layer between the pole layers upon such contacting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Power Paper Ltd.
    Inventors: Shalom Luski, Ehud Shchori, Zvi Nitzan
  • Patent number: 7311994
    Abstract: A separator for a lithium ion secondary battery, comprising a porous base material containing polyolefin, and a porous layer containing a vinylidene fluoride resin as a main component provided on at least one surface of the porous base material is excellent in electrolytic solution retention properties, adhesion and bondability to electrodes, and dimensional stability, and also has high and uniform ionic conductivity, reduced interfacial resistance to electrodes, and shutdown properties. A lithium ion secondary battery having excellent capacity characteristics, charge and discharge characteristics, cycle characteristics, safety and reliability can be provided by using the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Tomoegawa Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahide Sugiyama, Hiroki Totsuka, Shuuji Mitani, Masanori Takahata
  • Patent number: 7267909
    Abstract: A battery separator having a thermal shutdown mechanism and exhibiting excellent mechanical properties and low electrical resistance includes a water-scavenging and/or acid-scavenging material having reactive functional groups that chemically react with water or acid in the battery to remove the water or acid and thereby improve battery performance. The battery separator preferably includes a first polyolefin providing mechanical integrity and a second polyolefin including the water-scavenging or acid-scavenging reactive functional groups. The battery separator is preferably a microporous film including a polymer matrix throughout which the water-scavenging or acid-scavenging material is dispersed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Amtek Research International LLC
    Inventor: Richard W. Pekala
  • Publication number: 20070196729
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a prismatic battery includes an electrode group 10 contained in a prismatic metal outer can. The electrode group 10 has a positive electrode substrate exposed part 11 at one end and a negative electrode substrate exposed part 12 at the other end. The positive and negative electrode substrate exposed parts 11 and 12 are bundled and welded to positive and negative electrode current collectors 13 and 14, respectively. The positive electrode substrate exposed part 11 and positive electrode current collector 13 and the negative electrode substrate exposed part 12 and negative electrode current collector 14 are covered with an insulating frame 16 having an angled U-shaped cross section and an angled U-shaped outline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Naoya Nakanishi, Toshiyuki Nohma
  • Patent number: 7226675
    Abstract: A very low emission hybrid electric vehicle incorporating an integrated propulsion system which includes a fuel cell, a metal hydride hydrogen storage unit, an electric motor, high specific power, high energy density nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, and preferably a regenerative braking system. The nickel-metal hydride battery module preferably has a peak power density in relation to energy density as defined by: P>1,375?15E, where P is greater than 600 Watts/kilogram, where P is the peak power density as measured in Watts/kilogram and E is the energy density as measured in Watt-hours/kilogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Robert C. Stempel
  • Patent number: 7214444
    Abstract: Battery separators made of a wettable, uniform mat of melt blown fibers. The melt blown fibers are thermally bonded to one another. These fibers are made of a thermoplastic material. The fibers have a diameter in the range of 0.1 to 13 microns (?) and lengths greater than 12 millimeters (mm). The mat has a basis weight ranging from 6 to 160 grams per square meter (g/m2), a thickness of less than 75 microns (?), and an average pore size of 0.3 to 50 microns (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Daramic, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Zucker
  • Patent number: 7160968
    Abstract: The invention relates to solid polyelectrolyte membranes and processes for their production. As solid polyelectrolyte materials, there have been known fluoropolymers which have perfluoroskeletons and side chains bearing sulfonic acid groups and heat-resistant resins which have hydrocarbon skeletons and contain alkylsulfonic acid or alkylphosphoric acid groups introduced thereto. The fluoropolymers are excellent in heat resistance and chemical resistance but have the problem of being expensive, while the heat-resistant resins have the problem of being poor in chemical resistance. Further, solid polyelectrolyte materials having higher electric conductivities have been desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iko Ito, Masahiro Rikukawa
  • Patent number: 7138207
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which achieves satisfactory low temperature characteristics and high safety against overcharging in combination. The cell includes a lithium-containing cathode, an anode capable of doping and undoping lithium, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a separator. The separator is made up by a plurality of layers of a porous material or materials presenting micro-sized pores. The layers of the porous material or materials is formed of micro-porous separator materials representing different combinations of the porosity, melting point or material/compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi, Atsuo Omaru, Masayuki Nagamine
  • Patent number: 7118694
    Abstract: A mixture Ia which comprises a composition IIa consisting of a) 1 to 95% by weight of a solid III, preferably a basic solid III, having a primary particle size of 5 nm to 20 microns, and b) 5 to 99% by weight of a polymeric mass IV obtainable by polymerizing b1) 5 to 100% by weight, based on the mass IV of a condensation product V of ?) at least one compound VI which is capable to react with a carboxylic acid or a sulfonic acid or a derivative thereof or a mixture of two or more thereof, and ?) at least one mole per mole of the compound VI of a carboxylic acid or a sulfonic acid VII which exhibits at least one radically polymerizable functional group, or a derivative thereof or a mixture of two or more thereof and b2) 0 to 95% by weight, based on the mass IV, of a further compound VIII having an average molecular weight (number average) of at least 5000 and having polyether segments in the main or side chain, wherein the proportion by weight of the composition IIa in the mixture Ia is 1 to 100% by weigh
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Bronstert, Helmut Möhwald
  • Patent number: 7105253
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium secondary cell capable of preventing an active material layer from oxidation and moisture absorption is obtained. This method of manufacturing a lithium secondary cell comprises steps of forming an active material layer on a collector by a method supplying raw material through discharge into a vapor phase and holding the collector formed with the active material layer at least under an inert atmosphere or under a vacuum atmosphere up to preparation of the cell. Thus, the collector formed with the active material layer is prevented from exposure to the atmosphere, whereby the active material layer is prevented from oxidation and moisture absorption. Consequently, a lithium secondary cell having excellent characteristics can be prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daizo Jito, Hisaki Tarui
  • Patent number: 7070884
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nonwoven composite fabric for use on batteries or fuel cells comprising one or more layers of fine denier spunbond filaments and at least one layer of barrier material, wherein said nonwoven composite fabric has an improved barrier performance as measured by an increase in the hydrostatic head to barrier layer basis weight ratio. In the present invention, a first fine denier layer is formed, comprising continuous spunbond thermoplastic filaments, with the size of the continuous filaments between about 0.7 and 1.2 denier, preferably less than or equal to 1 denier. A barrier layer is deposited onto the first fine denier layer. The barrier layer preferentially comprises microfibers of finite length, wherein the average fiber diameter is in the range of about 1 micron to about 10 microns, and preferably between about 1 micron and 5 microns, said layers being consolidated into a composite fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Julia A. Thompson, Richard Ferencz, Nick Mark Carter
  • Patent number: 7063917
    Abstract: A nonwoven material having a laminated construction and including a first layer of nonwoven fibers defining a first surface of the material; a second layer of nonwoven fibers defining the opposite surface of the material; and a third layer of nonwoven fibers located between the first and second layers. The layers are bonded together to form a laminate. At least one of the nonwoven layers comprises a nonwoven web of meltblown fibers. Additionally, one or more of the layers has been rendered permanently hydrophilic by forming the nonwoven web from meltspun fibers of a normally hydrophobic polymer having a hydrophilic melt additive incorporated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Mount Holly Springs, LLC
    Inventors: Larry L. Kinn, Clement J. Haley, Gregory N. Henning
  • Patent number: 7060387
    Abstract: A secondary cell capable of ensuring thermal and mechanical stabilities required for a high-capacity cell with a simple structure is provided. The secondary cell includes: a can; and an electrode jelly-roll wound with two different electrodes and a separator interposed between the electrodes therein and accommodated in the can, the outer surface of the electrode jelly-roll being wound around one more turn with the separator. Only the separator is wound at the core of the electrode jelly-roll to form a rod-like stability member which is cured by absorbing heat generated from the cell. The separator wound at the core of the electrode jelly-roll is continuous from a portion of the separator which is stacked with the two different electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: You-Mee Kim, Jeong-Soon Shin
  • Patent number: 7033704
    Abstract: An alkaline storage battery comprises: a positive electrode plate; a negative electrode plate; a separator; and an alkaline electrolyte retained by the positive electrode plate, the negative electrode plate, and the separator, wherein the separator has a large number of pores, such that a total volume A of the pores (per unit mass; cm3/g) is in the range of 1?A?5, and the ratio of the volume B of pores having a diameter of 100 ?m or more (per unit mass; cm3/g) to the total pore volume A is in the range of 7%?B/A?20% (i.e., B/A is between 0.07 and 0.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Sato, Nobuyasu Norishita
  • Patent number: 7022431
    Abstract: A method of forming an electrochemical cell is disclosed. The method comprises contacting a negative pole layer and a positive pole layer one with the other or with an optional layer interposed therebetween. The pole layers and the optional layer therebetween are selected so as to self-form an interfacial separator layer between the pole layers upon such contacting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Power Paper Ltd.
    Inventors: Ehud Shchori, Shalom Luski
  • Patent number: 7022434
    Abstract: In order to obtain a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a long cycle life and a low self-discharge rate, in a nickel-metal hydride storage battery comprising: a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide; a negative electrode containing a hydrogen storage alloy; a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes; and an electrolyte comprising an aqueous alkaline solution, a water absorbent polymer, a water repellent and an aqueous alkaline solution are added into the separator. This battery can be produced with low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiaki Iwakura, Naoji Furukawa, Yoichi Izumi, Yoshio Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 7014948
    Abstract: The present invention provides a electrochemical element, wherein a multi-component composite film comprising a) polymer support layer film and b) a porous gellable polymer layer which is formed on either or both sides of the support layer film of a), wherein the support layer film of a) and the gellable polymer layer of b) are unified with each other without an interface between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Jin Lee, Hyang-Mok Lee, Soon-Ho Ahn, Jin-Yeon Cho, Hyun-Hang Yong, Hyung-Keun Lee, Sang-Young Lee, Heon-Sik Song, Byeong-In Ahn, Soon-Yong Park, You-Jin Kyung
  • Patent number: 6998193
    Abstract: A novel microporous membrane comprising a hot-melt adhesive and an engineering plastics, the methods of preparing such microporous membrane and the uses of the microporous membrane in, e.g., batteries, super capacitors, fuel cells, sensors, electrochromic devices or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Policell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Luying Sun
  • Patent number: 6994935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the separator for batteries wherein the non-woven cloth comprising fibers mainly composed of polyolefin type resin is provided with hydrophilic property on the fiber surface at least by sulfuric compound and characterized as follows: (a) the ratio of atomic mass of sulfur to atomic mass of carbon (S/C) is 5×10?3 to 30×10?3 (b) the tensile strength is not less than 3 kg/cm2 and the preparation method of this separator. The present invention also relates to the secondary batteries using this separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Inventor: Isao Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6955865
    Abstract: A non-woven sheet of polyolefin fibers having opposed major surfaces is disclosed. Some areas of one or both of the major surfaces are hydrophilic as a consequence of an acrylic graft polymerized with the surfaces of the fibers in those areas while the fibers in other areas of that major surface are free of the graft and, as a consequence, remain hydrophobic. A battery separator composed of at least two such non-woven sheets is also disclosed, as well as batteries having a separator composed of at least one such non-woven sheet. Also disclosed is a non-woven sheet of polyolefin fibers where opposed major surfaces of the sheet are hydrophilic as a consequence of such an acrylic acid graft, but the ion exchange coefficients of the two major surfaces are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Hollingsworth & Vose Company
    Inventor: Wai Ming Choi
  • Patent number: 6953492
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for providing purified natural gas wherein a natural gas feed mixture of hydrocarbons, nitrogen, and other permeable gases is provided to a semi-permeable membrane separator having a relatively higher selectivity for methane and other hydrocarbons and a relatively lower selectivity for nitrogen, to thereby provide a gaseous permeate product enriched in hydrocarbons and diminished in nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Enerfex, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Callahan
  • Patent number: 6949305
    Abstract: A method for producing a separator for a fuel cell including, first, mixing carbon particles with thermoplastic resin particles to produce mixed particles, and kneading the mixed particles into pellets. Second, the pellets are extruded and formed into a sheet-form base material. Third, the sheet-form base material is grooved by rolling with a roller having a pattern on a peripheral surface thereof. The pattern on the roller is transferred on the separator to have a predetermined groove pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihisa Terazawa, Shinji Nezu, Masami Ishii
  • Patent number: 6949285
    Abstract: A membrane comprising a composition including (a) 1 to 99 wt-% of at least one polyurethane elastomer comprising at least one hard segment and at least one soft segment, and (b) 99 to 1 wt-% of a solid, wherein said solid is incorporated in said at least one polyurethane elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tekeshi Tobinaga, Klemens Mathauer, Bernd Bronstert, Helmut Möhwald
  • Patent number: 6933079
    Abstract: A separator for an alkaline storage battery includes a plurality of polyolefin resins. The polyolefin resins include a first polyolefin resin that is sulfonated, and a second polyolefin resin that is sulfonated. The degree of sulfonation of the first polyolefin resin is different from that of the second polyolefin resin. Thus, a novel separator having high liquid retention properties and high air permeability, and an alkaline storage battery using the same can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Sato, Katsunori Komori, Nobuyasu Morishita
  • Patent number: 6924065
    Abstract: A porous separator for a winding-type lithium secondary battery having a gel-type polymer electrolyte includes a matrix made of polyvinyl chloride, or a matrix made of mixtures of polyvinylchloride and at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidenefluoride, a vinylidenefluoride/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, polymethacrylate, polyacrylonitrileand polyethyleneoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyeong-gon Noh
  • Patent number: 6893778
    Abstract: In a lithium polymer battery of the present invention, a positive electrode, an negative electrode and a separator respectively contain a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, an electrolyte contains a solvent comprising diethyl carbonate and a solute dissolved in the solvent, and the electrolyte further contains diphenyl ether as an additive. With the use of the above electrolyte, it is possible to improve the thermal stability of the battery containing P(VDF-HFP) in the positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator and to operate the shutdown function surely, thereby ensuring the excellent safety of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Fujino, Shinji Mino, Hiroshi Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 6875534
    Abstract: A rubber composition comprising (A) a polyisobutylene polymer having an allyl radical at an end, (B) an optional organpolysiloxane, (C) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having at least two SiH radicals per molecule, and (D) a platinum group metal catalyst forms a seal member on a periphery of one side of a polymer electrolyte fuel-cell separator. Due to improved acid resistance, weather resistance, creep resistance and gas permeability, the seal member remains effective for a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Nakamura, Noriyuki Meguriya, Hironao Fujiki
  • Publication number: 20040248012
    Abstract: A battery separator having a thermal shutdown mechanism and exhibiting excellent mechanical properties and low electrical resistance includes a water-scavenging and/or acid-scavenging material having reactive functional groups that chemically react with water or acid in the battery to remove the water or acid and thereby improve battery performance. The battery separator preferably includes a first polyolefin providing mechanical integrity and a second polyolefin including the water-scavenging or acid-scavenging reactive functional groups. The battery separator is preferably a microporous film including a polymer matrix throughout which the water-scavenging or acid-scavenging material is dispersed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Richard W. Pekala
  • Publication number: 20040234862
    Abstract: There is described a battery separator comprising: a porous membrane (preferably of a cellulose film) having a mean thickness less than about 25 microns (preferably 15 microns) and optionally with one or more of the following properties: a) a tensile strength when dry (measured in the transverse direction of the membrane web) of greater than about 120 Nmm−2; b) a wet ionic resistance of less than about 20 m&OHgr;.cm2; c) a membrane degree of polymerisation (D.P.) of greater than 350 chain units after being immersed for four hours in a bath of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide; and/or a) a tensile strength when dry (measured in the machine direction of the membrane web) of greater than about 200 Nmm−2. Preferred membranes comprise biopolymeric films, such as films derived from cellulose and/or polylactic acid, more preferably a regenerated cellulosic film made using NMMO as regeneration liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Graham Macglashan, Colin Marshall, Simon Read
  • Patent number: 6821680
    Abstract: A battery including a separator having a satisfactory ammonia trapping property is speculated to exhibit a less self-discharge and a higher capacity-holding rate. The ammonia trapping property is speculated to be increased with an increasing degree of sulfonation of a constitutive polyolefin fiber. However, a highly sulfonated conventional polyolefin has a deteriorated fiber strength and highly sulfonated portions thereof are peeled or eliminated, and the resulting fiber cannot have a significantly high degree of sulfonation. The invention is therefore intended to provide a separator having an improved ammonia trapping property. The invented separator includes a polyolefin resin fiber having large amounts of introduced sulfonic groups. Specifically, the separator is one containing a fiber obtained by sulfonating a polyolefin resin fiber having an intrinsic viscosity number of 0.2 to 1.0 dl/g, one including a fiber obtained by sulfonating a polyolefin resin fiber and having a BET specific surface area of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Hiroki Yamaguchi, Naohiko Takimoto, Masahiro Yamashita, Shiro Hamamoto
  • Patent number: 6790562
    Abstract: In an alkaline secondary battery provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator to be interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte solution, the above-mentioned separator has carbon-carbon double bonds. Further, an average amount of carbon-carbon double bonds in the separator is in the range of 10 &mgr;mol/g to 200 &mgr;mol/g, and an average amount of increased nitrogen in the separator after the separator is immersed in an alkaline aqueous solution having ammonium salt dissolved therein is not less than 140 &mgr;g/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Harada, Tadayoshi Tanaka, Katsuhiko Shinyama, Toshiyuki Nohma, Ikuo Yonezu
  • Patent number: 6777129
    Abstract: An alkaline storage battery having excellent self-discharge characteristics even after a number of charge-discharge cycles is provided. The alkaline storage battery is provided with a case and an electrode group enclosed in the case, and a separator that is included in the electrode group retains at least 15 mg/cm2 of an electrolyte at least in a period after assembling the battery, from the time the separator is impregnated with the electrolyte to the time the battery is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Tokyo Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Komori, Naoto Sato, Akihiro Taniguchi, Munehisa Ikoma, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Takashi Ito
  • Publication number: 20040157121
    Abstract: For avoiding problems in existent non-aqueous electrolyte cells or electric double layer capacitors of a rectangular pyramidal shape that sealing at high reliability can not be attained unless a bonded portion has a margin of a certain degree in view of electrolytes contained therein, a metal layer comprising a metal ring and a brazing material having a heat expansion coefficient approximate to that of a concave vessel of a non-aqueous electrolyte cell or an electric doceble layer capacitor is disposed to the edge of the vessel, a sealing plate made of a metal having a property similar with the metal ring and having a brazing material layer at the bonded surface is also used for the sealing plate and, further, paired electrodes comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a separator and an electrolyte are contained in the concave vessel, the sealing plate is placed on the vessel and seam welding is conducted by using a resistance welding method thereby capable of attaining sealing at high reliab
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Shunji Watanabe, Yoshibumi Nakamura, Hideharu Onodera, Tsugio Sakai
  • Publication number: 20040142246
    Abstract: An organic electrolytic solution includes a lithium salt and an organic solvent containing a phosphonate compound, and a lithium battery utilizes the organic electrolytic solution. When using the organic electrolyte containing the phosphonate compound to manufacture a lithium secondary battery, the lithium secondary battery has improved stability to reduction-induced decomposition, reduced first cycle irreversible capacity, and improved charging/discharging efficiency and lifespan. In addition, the lithium secondary battery does not swell beyond a predetermined thickness range after formation and standard charging at room temperature and has improved reliability. Even when the lithium secondary battery swells seriously at a high temperature, its capacity is high enough for practical applications. The capacity of the lithium secondary battery may substantially be recovered after being left at a high temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-il Han, Hyo-sug Lee, Han-soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20040137331
    Abstract: A separator for a lithium battery having an elastic modulus of 2.0 kgf/mm2 or less, and a lithium battery employing the separator and a method of manufacture thereof are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Su-Jin Han, Chang-Seob Kim, Yoon-Tai Kwak, Ju-Hyung Kim, Soo-Youn Maeng, Jun-Won Kang