Abstract: A combustion chamber for use in gas turbine engines is provided with a liner formed of a high temperature material. The liner includes a plurality of panels of the material mounted by means of a lost motion mounting arrangement upon a high strength structural frame. As a result of this mounting arrangement, the liner is substantially isolated from structural forces associated with the combustion chamber, while the frame is substantially isolated from thermal stresses associated with the liner. For the purpose of supplying cooling air to the liner panels and frame and cooling air is passed into a plenum to cool the radially outward side of the panels. Transfer means are provided for directing the same air from the plenum to the liner inner surfaces in a cooling film. The liner mounting arrangement disclosed herein is particularly useful with difficult-to-weld liner materials (e.g., oxide dispersion strengthened materials), but its advantages commend its use with other materials also.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system for maintaining an aircraft battery at its optimum operating temperature. A continuous air flow around the batteries is provided. When cooling the batteries, the system operates in a flow-through mode. When heating the batteries, the system may operate in either a flow-through mode or in a closed loop recirculating mode. A thermostat may determine the crossover point between cooling and heating. Several valve and thermostat arrangements are disclosed to convert the air flow from a flow-through system to a recirculating system.

Abstract: Charging apparatus having visual indicating means, e.g., a light emitting diode, responsive to the delivery of charging current to rechargeable cells having different physical sizes and/or electrical charging characteristics. The apparatus includes at least two sets of terminals for connecting cells requiring different respective charging current in one of two parallel charging paths. A first charge rate path supplies part of the charging current to cells of high current demand and a second charge rate path supplies charging current to cells of low current demand.

Abstract: An improved battery of the type having a spiral wound core (32) surrounded by a container (38) is disclosed in which an improved terminal tab (10-32, 44-50) is attached to the end of the core inserted into the container, the terminal tab comprising an outwardly extending tab member (24) bent back over the base (12) of the terminal tab and along the side of the core. A protrusion (46) on the base contacts the bent tab member to minimize compression by the tab member of the circumferential edge of the end of the battery core when the core has been inserted into the container. An improved method of assembling such a battery also is disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprises a spirally wound assembly, the assembly including a negative plate; a porous polyester layer disposed on each major surface of the negative plate; a porous, electrically non-conductive separator disposed on each of the polyester layers; and a positive plate disposed on one of the separators. The cell further includes a housing for enclosing the assembly and an electrolyte such that the electrolyte comes in contact with the plates, polyester layers and separators. The housing includes a pair of external terminals each of which being connected to one of the plates.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for providing a circumferential groove in a thin-walled cylindrical metal object such as the can or container (A) for a battery cell. As each object moves along a path (51, 90) defined between guide rails (42, 44, 46, 48, 88) and star wheels (56, 58, 78), it is supported on a spring-biased plunger (102-112) positioned in a rotatable support table (96-100). In the preferred embodiment, a groove-forming mandrel (132-138) is gradually inserted into the object as it moves along the path so that a radially extending shoulder (134) of the mandrel engages the lip of the open end of the object before the object is contacted by a groove-forming wheel (158, 160) which is rotated adjacent the path. A tapered surface (138) on the grooving mandrel and a radially extending flange (160) on the grooving wheel cooperate to form a circumferentially extending groove in the wall of the object while the object rotates. Following formation of the groove, the mandrel is withdrawn from the object.

Abstract: A charger supplies a battery of sealed electrochemical cells with fast rate charging current in a controlled manner. A controllable circuit element is connected between the charge current source and the battery. This element is caused to modulate the charge current in a manner so as to initially fast charge the sealed battery, but to limit its subsequent rise in temperature above the ambient to a predetermined small differential and to maintain that differential. This temperature rise limit brings about a reduction of charge rate as the battery approaches the full charged condition resulting in an acceptable current level for long term overcharge operation.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and a method are disclosed for extruding an improved type of small part of the type having a body portion (12) of extrudable material and a fixture (18, 20; 54, 56) of harder material captured at the surface of the body. A female die element (22, 24) is provided with a bore (26) which extends into a downwardly opening cavity (28) having a geometry corresponding to the desired geometry of the body portion of the part. A male die member (36) is positioned within the bore and includes at its lower end a threaded socket (50) or protrusion (52) for holding the fixture of harder material during extrusion. Thus, when a billet of extrudable material (48) is placed in the cavity and the male die member is moved downward, the material extrudes around a portion of the fixture held at the lower end of the male die element.

Abstract: A direct plug-in electrical device, such as a charging system including a transformer in a housing, is provided with fastening means adapted to engage anchoring means on a conventional outlet, thereby enhancing the load-carrying capability of the outlet.

Abstract: A rechargeable electrochemical cell pack is provided having improved resistance to impact and vibration. The cell pack includes a plurality of rechargeable electrochemical cells integrally combined with a cell pack casing. A casing cover is provided having a plurality of interior cover lug projections selectively positioned for registration with the individual electrochemical cell top covers. The casing cover is united to the individual cells and to the casing base by a sonic welding procedure.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method are disclosed for winding into a spiral roll the positive (186) and negative (241) plates of small cylindrical batteries. The originally flat positive and negative pasted plates are conveyed through stations at which they are automatically wrapped with strips of separator material (24, 84). Then the wrapped plates are stacked in a staggered pattern and conveyed to a winding station (78). There the stack of plates is wound into a spiral roll around an arbor (332) surrounded by three driven rolls (322, 324, 326) over which a guide belt (366) is run. As the spiral roll is formed, the driven rolls move radially outwardly from the arbor under the control of a mechanism (362, 402-430) which ensures that the final roll diameter will be within desired tolerances. The outermost layer of plate wrapping material is thermally sealed (104, 105) to the roll to prevent its unwinding; and then a further mechanism (432-478) automatically ejects the completed roll from the arbor.

Abstract: A liquid crystal indicator label and method for making same includes a liquid crystal material, adapted to change color in response to a change in temperature within a predetermined range, which is adhered to a predetermined surface portion of a transparent substrate and a black background adhered at least behind the liquid crystal material, with an adhesive adhered behind the black background and any portion of the substance not covered by the black background. The liquid crystal is preferably confined to a surface area substantially smaller than the entire surface of the substrate, and a border member is positioned either between the liquid crystal and the substrate or between the liquid crystal and the black background to overlap at least some of the edge portions of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A system and method for washing flexible strip material using low amounts of fresh rinse water. The system comprises a wash tank having cascaded compartments and means for passing strip material into the tank and in serpentine fashion through the compartments. In the method the strip material in passing from one compartment to the next is raised above the wash liquid permitting wash liquid to drain back into the wash compartment from which it emerged.

Abstract: Terminal structure is disclosed for use in electrolytic devices such as batteries, in which a deformable, electrically conductive material (14) is caused to seal around an opening (26) in a container (10, 12) of resilient material by means of a fastener (24, 30) which extends through the opening into the electrically conductive material and a wedging element such as a chamfered surface (34) associated with the fastener which compresses the resilient material surrounding the opening. A method of assembling such a terminal structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: An indicator of full charge for secondary sealed cells and like cells which become heated when subjected to overcharge current, or batteries of such cells, undergoing a charging operation includes a heat sensitive mechanism adapted to change a perceivable characteristic in response to the rise in temperature of the cell or battery as the charging operation continues beyond full charge. Part of the heat sensitive mechanism is thermally coupled to the battery or cell and another part is maintained at ambient temperature so that the perceivable characteristic of the portion maintained at ambient temperature and that of the portion at the raised temperature of the overcharged battery or cell can be readily observed to signify that full charge has been attained. As preferably embodied, the heat sensitive mechanism is a liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A method for rapidly testing rechargeable electrochemical cells following assembly which enables the testing of cells to be carried out in a substantially uncharged condition. Cells in the assembly line are energized with a constant current pulse applied to their electrodes via the cell terminals, the current being of sufficient magnitude and duration so as to develop an increased charge voltage between the cell terminals. The charge voltage so developed during the application of the current and while the electrodes of the cell are incompletely charged is then measured and compared with a predetermined zone of acceptable values for cell performance. Preferably, the developed charge voltage is permitted to stabilize prior to measurement. In addition, measurements of open circuit voltage are taken immediately before and after application of the current pulse.

Abstract: A battery charger with an indicator to indicate full charge of secondary sealed cells and like cells which become heated when subjected to overcharge current, or batteries of such cells, the indicator comprising a heat sensitive mechanism which is mounted to the charger housing and is adapted to change a perceivable characteristic in respone to the rise in temperature of the cell or battery as the charging operation continues beyond full charge. Part of the heat sensitive mechanism is thermally coupled to the battery or cell and another part is maintained at ambient temperature so that the perceivable characteristic of the portion maintained at ambient temperature and that of the portion at the raised temperature of the overcharged battery or cell can be readily observed to signify that full charge has been attained. As preferably embodied, the heat sensitive mechanism is a liquid crystal material.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding separator strips and plate blanks to an automatic battery cell winding machine, the apparatus having a frame member, guide means on the frame member for guiding a separator strip, a clamp for clamping the separator strip, feeding means, including an air cylinder, for advancing the clamp and the clamped separator strip, a platform mounted to slide on the frame member for receiving a plate blank, means for pushing the platform along the frame member for feeding the plate blank to the separator strip and a spring tensioned as the platform is advanced along the frame member for retracting the platform when the pushing means is released.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting and seating an insulator disc in an electrochemical cell container, the apparatus including a carousel having a plurality of receptacles, an actuator station, an index for moving a receptacle with a container therein to the actuator station, a plunger assembly in the actuator station for receiving, holding and releasing an insulator disc feed thereto and for aligning such disc with the open end of the container at the actuator station, shuttle means for feeding an insulator disc to the plunger assembly and means for feeding the discs to the shuttle including means for rejecting discs which are upside down.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for cutting strip material is disclosed in which a strip (16) such as flattened plastic tubing is intermittently fed across a cutting edge (64, 66) mounted on a rotatable platform (34). A cutting element (84098) is moved back and forth along the cutting edge to sever the strip into segments having a leading edge at one angle to the axis o- the strip and a trailing edge at another angle.