Abstract: This invention relates to a mechanism for effecting the synchronized rotation of a rotary anvil employed in a heat sealing operation on thermoplastic sheet material with the linear movement of the thermoplastic sheet moving under the rotating anvil. One specific application of the invention is the heat sealing of the lateral edges of a thermoplastic sheet wrapped around a battery plate. The linear movement of the mechanism carrying the wrapped battery plate is utilized to rotate the rotary heat sealing anvil in exact synchronism with the movement of the wrapped battery plate beneath the anvil.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in a machine and method for enclosing battery plates within a pouch or envelope of sheet separator material. In such machines a length of such sheet is positioned in spanning relationship to a folding aperture or slot and a plate injector shuttle is mounted for reciprocating movement into and out of the folding aperture so that when a battery plate is mounted on the injector shuttle the movement of the injector shuttle into the folding aperture effects the folding of the sheet about the leading edge of the injector shuttle and the battery plate mounted thereon. This invention provides two pairs of grasping tongs mounted in laterally spaced positions on an extractor shuttle which in turn is mounted for reciprocating movement along a path parallel to the injector shuttle and on the opposite side of the folding aperture.

Abstract: A composite mold construction for casting on the connector straps, posts, and terminals for lead acid electrical storage batteries according to the techniques of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,718,174 and 3,802,488 wherein the mold cavity areas are alternately heated by direct flame on one face and then chilled by a coolant on their opposite face to freeze metal in the cavities without freezing molten metal flowing in adjacent flow channels. A plurality of mold cavity partition inserts are arranged to be interchangeable in the main mold assembly to enable a single mold assembly to be utilized for several arrangements of battery cells, strappings, and terminals. Thermal distortion of the mating parts is minimized to maintain the cavities free of leaks by interfitting under cuts and pinned or otherwise keyed couplings between the relatively thin inserts and the more massive primary portions of the mold assembly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mold assembly for casting posts and plate connector straps onto stacks of plates of lead acid type batteries wherein molten metal is circulated through one or more channels in the assembly and selectively damned to overflow into adjacent mold cavities. Cycle time and properties of the posts and connector straps are improved by constructions which impart a large thermal mass to the channel walls and a small thermal mass to the mold cavity walls. Thermal isolation of the mold cavity walls from the channel walls further enhances these conditions whereby the molds can be elevated in temperature prior to the casting operation and rapidly cooled during that operation. Cooling of the post mold cavities earlier and at a faster rate than the strap mold cavities increases post strength. A mold frame construction containing the molten metal flow channel and one or more inserts for the frame provide the desirable thermal properties while lending flexibility to the apparatus.

Abstract: A tube coupling having an arcuate grip surface which engages with and secures tubing with minimum scarring and distortion of the tubing. The grip surface is rotatable to successively present arcs of smaller radius to the tube whereby the gripping engagement tends to occur over a long line of contact. One embodiment employs a right-circular cylindrical cavity only slightly larger than the tube to be coupled for reception of the tube and a rotatable locking element mounted normal to the cavity and intersecting with the cavity to present a gripping surface to the cavity which upon rotation in a biased direction presents a groove defining in the cross-section of the cavity a succession of arcs of progressively smaller radius to the cavity and a tube therein until an arc conforms to and grippingly engages the tube as it bears against an opposing cavity wall. Various seal structures of elastomeric material are accommodated within the coupling body.