Abstract: A battery and battery container having air-flow passages therethrough. The container includes partitions separating the cells of the battery, the partitions each being comprised of a pair of spaced apart parallel partition walls defining a narrow generally planar air flow passage between the cells of the battery. The spaced apart partition walls are integrally joined together at a location adjacent a central portion which includes an aperture to permit intercell welding of adjacent cells.

Abstract: A deferred action battery including a plurality of stacked electrode plates functional to produce an electrical potential when immersed in seawater, the battery having a bottom port cover including an opening for admitting seawater into the battery and a cavity in communication with the opening and intended to facilitate migration of precipitate waste material from the battery during its operation.

Abstract: A position or mode indicator for a slider mechanism and particularly a slider forming a part of a push button switch. A button type housing is externally fitted to a push button switch and encloses a rotatable member which is secured in the housing in back of a clear lens. Mode indicating means are carried by the rotatable member and actuator means are supported from the body of the push button switch. The actuator means is interconnected with the rotatable member and movement of the button housing effects movement of the rotatable member by means of the actuator means.

Abstract: A partially fluorinated acetylene black composition, represented by the empirical formula CF.sub.x wherein x has a value of from 0.01 to 0.04, is employed as the conductive component in a composite material resistor to form a high resistance value resistor having excellent temperature coefficient of resistivity, voltage sensitivity and Quantech current noise characteristics.

Abstract: A secondary storage battery and process involves combining folded positive and negative battery plates and separators to form battery elements, placing the elements within a battery container having partitions defining a plurality of battery cells, joining adjacent battery elements by an intercell connection through the partition walls by welding a positive and a negative terminal through the battery case into contact with positive and negative battery plate lugs respectively.

Abstract: Apparatus for enveloping battery plates within porous separators and for feeding a separator sheet to form a fold at the approximate midpoint of the separator, simultaneously positioning a battery plate with an edge adjacent to the fold line, passing the plate and separator through rollers to press the separator against both sides of the battery plate, and passing the folded separator and enclosed battery plate through an ultrasonic sealing unit for sealing opposite edges of the separator to form an envelope. The apparatus includes a separator sheet dispenser for dispensing individual separator sheets into an elongated passageway. The end of the passageway is blocked so that a separator reaching the stopping point buckles to form a fold at the approximate midpoint of the separator.

Abstract: A method of reducing the sulfate ion and sulfuric acid contamination of waste water in lead-acid battery manufacturing operations and recovery of the lead in salvageable form is provided which comprises neutralizing aqueous sulfuric acid wastes by treatment with waste battery paste containing lead oxide under controlled pH conditions.

Abstract: A lead chloride cathode suitable for use in seawater batteries comprises a supporting electrically conductive grid to which lead chloride is applied by dipping the grid in a molten lead chloride bath. The grid is preferably made of mesh or expanded metal, and after allowing the lead chloride to solidify, a conductive matrix is formed in the cathode by inserting it in a salt solution and partially discharging it to form electrically conductive lead pathways within the cathode adjacent the points at which the grid material is closest to the surface and the grid itself. The preferred method comprises dipping the mesh or grid material in molten lead chloride, removing the grid and the adhering lead chloride, allowing the lead chloride to solidify, and partially discharging the cathode to form conductive lead portions.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for material handling and more particularly for processing material from a source for use in a material forming apparatus which produces residue material. The system includes storage means, which stores a predetermined amount of materials for use in the apparatus; return means operating cyclically which returns the residue material from the apparatus to the storage means; and a supply means which supplements the residue material with materials from the source, and the methods relate to ways in which such a system can be employed. A unique diverter valve composed of two pieces of substantially rigid material with a hole through each piece forms a part of the system. The two pieces of material are held together with their holes aligned. A piece of slightly deformable plastic, occupying most of the space between the two pieces of rigid material, has an aperture through it which can align with holes in both pieces.

Abstract: A keyboard membrane switch including the standard three layer resilient flexible diaphragm switch construction. Threshold pressure is applied to the membrane prior to engagement of the membrane contact with at least one fixed contact. This phenomenon is achieved by applying variable thicknesses of nonconductive threshold paint or glass to the substrate, flexible membrane, a first layer of threshold material or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Cermet resistors based on ruthenium dioxide and in some instances iridium dioxide have been found to have unusually low Temperature Coefficients of Resistivity (TCR) when a particular glass frit and a vanadium oxide additive are utilized. These unique resistors exhibit TCR's of less than .+-.25 ppm/.degree. C over -55.degree. to .+-.150.degree. C with the extremes of the TCR varying less than 20 ppm. The vanadium, iridium and ruthenium oxides can be used as such or derived from metal resinates.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring freshly pasted battery panels from a battery grid paster and oven to a slitting device while supporting the panels in a generally horizontal additude. The apparatus includes a first sensing device for detecting the entry of individual battery grid panels into a pasting machine, a second sensing device for detecting the position of the pasted panels as they pass through the oven, and a third sensing device for detecting the position of transfer lugs on a conveyor mechanism which receives the pasted panels after leaving the oven. Signals generated by the sensing devices are directed to a control system for adjusting the speed of the conveyor mechanism so that the conveyor lugs for engaging the battery panels are correctly positioned for engaging the panels from the oven.

Abstract: Membrane switch apparatus is disclosed, in its preferred form, as a keyboard including an insulator with an array of individual switching units located thereon. Each individual switching unit includes a plurality of first electrode members and a plurality of second electrode members. A flexible, nonconductive member is disposed in a spaced relation above and adjacent to the level of the top surfaces of the electrode members of the array of individual switching units. The flexible member includes conductive material located thereon in a patterned arrangement to allow sequential bridging first, of the plurality of the first electrode members and, second, of the plurality of second electrode members.

Abstract: A method of forming an insulator and electrode member is disclosed, in its preferred form, as including an insulator having a first face supporting a uniform height conductive layer. A plurality of first electrode members are formed in the conductive layer by etching away or otherwise forming an array of apertures therein. A plurality of second electrode members are simultaneously formed either by printing, screening or other similar approach forming conductive material within and laterally spaced from the array of apertures.

Abstract: A machine for forming elements for storage batteries consisting of alternating layers of positive and negative plates and separators. A plurality of homogeneous feed stacks of negative and positive battery plates and separators are supported on a loading platform located above a moving conveyor. Each individual feed stack is supported on a rotatable disc having an aperture formed therein which may be selectively rotated into and out of alignment with a similar aperture formed in the loading platform. Rotation of the discs results in the depositing of a single battery plate or separator from the individual feed stacks onto the conveyor. As the conveyor traverses beneath the loading platform the discs are pivotally cycled to form individual books of alternating plates and separators on the conveyor belt. A ferris wheel type arrangement may be provided for removing the formed books from the conveyor and combining them into battery elements before removal for further processing.

Abstract: An illuminated push button switch assembly has a self-contained light source and a switch portion having integral conductive terminals eminating therefrom. A removable nonconductive saddle is provided for mounting a pair of auxiliary conductive terminals on the switch assembly and connectors are provided for electrically coupling the light source to the auxiliary terminals when said saddle is in place or for coupling the light source to the switch terminals when said saddle is removed. The removable saddle enables switches to be uniformly constructed while having the flexibility of having the light source function either independently of or in conjunction with the activation of the switch.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the injection of material through two or more gates into the cavity of injection-molding apparatus. In this system, a sensor develops an indication of unbalanced flow conditions produced by the injection of the material into the cavity of the mold. A regulator also forms part of the system and serves to adjust the relative amounts of material passing through the gates. The method includes sensing unbalanced flow conditions produced by the material injected into the cavity and adjusting the relative amounts of materials injected into the cavity through the various gates.

Abstract: An electrical system for controlling the number of positive and negative battery plates contained in a battery element produced by a conventional stacking apparatus. The system includes a detector coupled to a first counter for determining the number of cycles of the apparatus and for activating a dispensing apparatus to provide an additional negative battery plate on the battery element. A second counter is provided for activating a transfer mechanism to transfer a completed battery element having a preselected number of positive and negative plates. The system may be adapted to control the manufacture of battery elements containing an odd number of positive and negative battery plates or an even number of positive and negative plates.

Abstract: A method of producing light emitting diodes of high quantum efficiency in mass production by utilizing an epitaxial deposition from a small size melt such that the substrate itself serves as a saturation source. A silicon doped gallium arsenide wafer is cleaned and etched by normal means and subsequently the wafer is precoated with a properly doped gallium master melt. The coated wafers are inserted into an epitaxial furnace and the gallium master melt effects solution of a portion of the gallium arsenide monocrystal substrate and finally the entire wafer is cooled, maintaining a temperature gradient causing epitaxial growth on the substrate.

Abstract: A fired porous ceramic battery vent having a porosity and particle size distribution which can effectively permit the venting of cell gases in the battery while at the same time impede a flame from entering the battery container. The fired ceramic body is formed with a high melting point inorganic material containing aluminum and silicon oxides having a particle size no larger than about 600 microns. A lower melting point glass is used to fuse the particles together when in the fired state. The particle size of the high melting point material is important and ranges in size from 200 to 600 microns.