Abstract: In the formation of a battery, electrodes are connected to connector bars by mounting the electrodes in cassettes on the side of a horizontal rotatable drum. By rotating the drum, the electrodes travel in a vertically oriented, circular travel path between various work stations. Rotary displacement of the electrodes involves forward and rearward movements. All forward movements are of equal distance. All rearward movements are of equal distance. However, the distances of forward movement are different from those of rearward movement. The work stations include an electrode receiving station, a fluxing station, a connector bar casting station, and an electrode removal station. A conveyor travels horizontally through the cylinder, carrying battery containers to receive the electrodes.

Abstract: A pump device for intermittently pumping fluid, comprises a pump house having a primary portion and a secondary portion forming a space therebetween. The pump house includes an inlet opening for admitting fluid into the space and an outlet opening. An elastic membrane is disposed in the space between the primary and secondary parts and includes a secondary side facing the inlet and outlet openings. Pulsating pressure waves are applied against the membrane for displacing the membrane such that the secondary side thereof initially closes the inlet opening and thereafter expresses fluid from the space through the outlet opening.

Abstract: In the formation of a battery, electrodes are connected to connector bars by mounting the electrodes in cassettes on the side of a horizontal rotatable drum. By rotating the drum, the electrodes travel in a vertically oriented, circular travel path between various work stations. Rotary displacement of the electrodes involves forward and rearward movements. All forward movements are of equal distance. All rearward movements are of equal distance. However, the distances of forward movement are different from those of rearward movement. The work stations include an electrode receiving station, a fluxing station, a connector bar casting station, and an electrode removal station. A conveyor travels horizontally through the cylinder, carrying battery containers to receive the electrodes.

Abstract: A process for producing a microporous plastic member useful as a battery separator which comprises(a) forming a coherent dough by mixing a vinyl chloride resin with a plasticizing amount of a first solvent and with finely divided particles of a filler which contains volatilizable constituent releasable therefrom by heating and which shrinks substantially and irreversibly upon release of said volatilizable constituent therefrom, an example of which is hydrated silica;(b) forming the solvent-containing dough into a shaped member;(c) extracting the first solvent from the member before any substantial evaporation of solvent occurs by contacting it with a second solvent in a liquid bath at a temperature substantially below the boiling point of any liquid present, the second solvent being one which is capable of dissolving the first solvent without dissolving the resin and the filler, thereby deplasticizing the member by extractively removing the first solvent from the member; and(d) thereafter heating the member a

Abstract: An improved method for the filling of porous tube electrodes for electric accumulator batteries is disclosed. A paste of the active material and a liquid (e.g., water) is formed and a small amount of surplus liquid is added. The tubes are filled with resulting paste by centrifugation with the surplus liquid being removed through the tubes during filling.

Abstract: A sheath for a storage battery electrode comprises a braid or weave of inorganic fiber threads and a plurality of axial threads extending along the axial length of the sheath and forming crossing points with the inorganic threads. The axial threads comprise a mixture of at least two thermoplastic materials having different softening temperatures. Fabrication of the sheath involves tensioning the sheath and heating it to a temperature sufficient to soften the thermoplastic fiber having the lower softening temperature to bond the latter to the inorganic fibers at the crossing points. The heating is sufficient to weaken the thermoplastic fibers having the higher softening temperature to enable the latter to be only slightly elongated under tension, to enable internal stresses of the axial threads to be substantially equalized.

Abstract: Stiffening material is applied to the end of an elongate battery electrode sheath by spreading the material onto a disc in the form of an apertured circle. The circle is continually rotated in a horizontal plane. The battery sheaths are oriented vertically and are displaced so that the lower end of each sheath is passed into the material at one location thereof such that the material approaches one side of the sheath. The sheath is then passed into the material at another location thereof spaced from the first location so that material approaches another side of the sheath.

Abstract: An improvement in the production of plate type electrodes for use in lead storage batteries from a dry lead powder mixture is disclosed. The lead powder is mixed with a small amount (0.1 to 3 weight percent) of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powder, the mixture is heated and treated to convert substantially all of the PTFE into fibrous form. The mixture is applied to an electrode grid under conditions whereby a coherent, unitary structure is formed. A hot liquid (e.g., water) may be added to the mixture to form a paste.

Abstract: An improved grid for the production of positive electrodes for use in electric storage batteries is disclosed. The grid is formed of a base of lead or a lead alloy which is essentially antimony-free and the base is coated with a lead alloy containing one or more metals whereby the resulting grid achieves charging potentials essentially the same as achieved with conventional lead-antimony alloy grids while minimizing the possibilities of antimony poisoning. The grid may be made by electrically coating the surface alloy onto the support.

Abstract: Storage battery separators with greater security against short circuit due to pinholes are made by using at least two adjacent microporous sheets, each thinner than those normally used when one alone is present. Sawdust may be added to the composition of one or both of the sheets.

Abstract: A sheath for battery electrodes is made by introducing a fibrous tubular material along a mandrel. A perforated thermoplastic material is applied around the outside of the fibrous material. Subsequent to applying the fibrous material, the mandrel is heated, thereby heating the fibrous material. The latter heats and softens the inside of the thermoplastic material at their points of mutual contact. The thermoplastic material is then subjected to external pressing forces and external cooling temperatures to press the thermoplastic material against the fibrous material while cooling the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A holder for holding electrode sets during the manufacture of an electric battery includes a pair of spaced partition holders and a pair of spaced wedge holders. The wedges are coplanar with the partitions and are wider than the partitions. The partition holders and wedge holders are movable toward one another to close around sets of electrodes disposed therebetween. The wedges continue to travel in overlying relation relative to said partitions to hold the electrode sets tightly. The partition holders carry blades which penetrate separator elements of the electrode sets and bear against the electrodes to center the latter. A plurality of holders can be interconnected so as to be driven by a common power source.

Abstract: An improvement in the preparation of dry lead powder mixtures for the production of tube electrodes for lead storage batteries to reduce the dust binding problem during filling of the tube electrodes is disclosed. A small amount (0.1 to 3 weight percent) of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is mixed with the lead powder, the mixture is heated and shear stresses are applied thereto sufficient to convert substantially all of the PTFE in the mixture to fibrous form. The resulting mixture can be utilized in a dry powder process for the filling of tube electrodes with a substantial reduction or elimination of the dust binding problem.

Abstract: The edge of a cover is welded to the edge of a vessel by disposing a multi-section, separable welding tool therebetween so that substantially the entire vessel opening is uncovered. The edges are heated by the welding tool. Thereafter, the edges and tool are separated to allow the sections of the tool to be separated without passing across the vessel opening. Then the edges are joined together. The cover can include a depending lip which bears against an inside wall of the vessel during the heating, displacing and joining steps to maintain proper alignment between the cover and the vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus for welding together a cover and a vessel formed of thermoplastic material comprises a pair of heating cheeks. Each heating cheek has two arms disposed in essentially L-shaped arrangement. The cheeks are adapted to be disposed between the cover and vessel to heat the respective edges thereof. The cheeks are mounted for movement in separate directions from between the cover and vessel without passing across the opening of the vessel. Therefore, the time required to remove the welding apparatus from between the cover and vessel is reduced, and there need be no concern for hitting elements projecting upwards from the vessel.

Abstract: In an electrode storage battery electrodes and separators are secured in predetermined positions relative to one another by inserting cutting edges into the separators and into contacting relation with the sides of the electrodes. The cutting edges can be mounted in the cell vessel carrying the electrodes and separators.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a sheathing material comprises a mandrel containing magnetically conductive material, and a plurality of spaced magnets. The magnets contain aligned circular apertures. The mandrel is centered within the apertures by a magnetic field applied substantially uniformly around the periphery of the mandrel. The mandrel is thus supported in a freely suspended manner. Sheathing material can be inserted onto the freely suspended mandrel and advanced freely therealong so as to be treated while mounted on the mandrel.

Abstract: An improvement in electric accumulator cells having a dissoluble electrode (e.g., a zinc electrode) and a counter-electrode (e.g., nickel electrode) is disclosed. The dissoluble electrode is formed by a central layer having outer layers disposed on either plane side thereof. The outer layers are generally smaller in planar size than the central layer and preferably all of the layers are porous, perforated or netlike. The multi-layer electrode has particular utility in a cell in which the dissoluble electrode and/or separator disposed between the dissoluble electrode and counter-electrode are vibrated in the plane of the electrode. Dendrite growth and shaping of the deposited active material are substantially minimized and improved cell life is obtained.

Abstract: A sheath for a storage battery electrode comprises a braid or weave of inorganic fiber threads and a plurality of axial threads extending along the axial length of the sheath and forming crossing points with the inorganic threads. The axial threads comprise a mixture of at least two thermoplastic materials having different softening temperatures. Fabrication of the sheath involves tensioning the sheath and heating it to a temperature sufficient to soften the thermoplastic fiber having the lower softening temperature to bond the latter to the inorganic fibers at the crossing points. The heating is sufficient to weaken the thermoplastic fibers having the higher softening temperature to enable the latter to be only slightly elongated under tension, to enable internal stresses of the axial threads to be substantially equalized.

Abstract: Sheaths for covering battery electrodes are produced by introducing inner and outer layers of sheath material onto a plurality of adjacent mandrels. As the layers pass along connector sections of the mandrels, they are connected together to form interconnected tubes. The connector sections have an elongate cross-sectional configuration to facilitate such connection. Thereafter, the layers pass along reshaping sections of the mandrels which have a cross-sectional configuration that is different from that of the connector sections and which corresponds to the desired final shape of the tubes.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTSThe present invention concerns the manufacture of a type of sheath for tube electrodes used with electrical accumulators or batteries; it comprises two layers. One of the two layers, the actual or inner sheath wall, comprises a layer of fibrous material, preferably glass fiber. The sheaths comprise another layer outside the fibrous material.