Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary electrolytic battery comprising an electricity-generating element formed by spirally winding a laminate of a positive electrode plate, a separating material and a negative electrode plate, and an electrolytic solution with which the separating material, if it is a separator, is impregnated. The electricity-generating element is sealed in a battery case formed by a resin-laminated sheet comprising a metal layer as a barrier layer. Only a pair of lead terminals are drawn to the exterior of the battery case. The resin sheet comprises an oriented resin layer laminated on both surfaces of the metal layer. The inner heat-fused layers are opposed and heat-fused to each other. A molten and solidified resin mass is formed protruding from the inner end of the welded portion toward the inner space of the battery by 0.1 mm or more. Alternatively, the welded portion is formed thinner at the outer end thereof than at the inner end thereof.

Abstract: The high rate discharge performance and cyclability are improved. A battery having a hich capacity density and excellent cyclability and safety performance can be produced. A composite active material provided with a polymer on the surface of a carbon-based active material in an amount of from 0.01% to 5% by weight is used. Further, a composite active material provided with a polymer on the surface of a carbon-based active material in an amount of from 0.04 to 4% by weight is used. In particular, the former composite active material is used as a positive active material while the latter composite active material is used as a negative active material to obtain a non-aqueous electrolyte battery.

Abstract: Catalyst material containing two or more kinds of metal elements or/and silicon are mainly carried in proton conductive passages of a solid polymer electrolyte and the surface of each of carbon particles which abut on each the proton conductive passages.

Abstract: An arc tube 6 of discharge lamp comprises a main tube body 11 of translucent ceramic sealed with a terminal plate 13 at both ends thereof. The main tube body 11 comprises integrally a large diameter portion 11A, a tapered portion 11B which is disposed at both sides of the large diameter portion 11A and has a smaller diameter toward the forward end thereof, and a small diameter portion 11C connected to the forward end of the tapered portion 11B. The curvature radius R of the border of the tapered portion 11B with the small diameter portion 11C is not smaller than 2 mm.

Abstract: A prismatic (18) having a square cross-section is provided in a rotation shaft (16) to which plug terminals (14) are fixed. The rotation shaft (16) is sandwiched between a pair of elastic pieces (17a), (17a) of an elastic holder (17), so that the respective elastic pieces (17a), (17a) are brought into contact with plane surfaces of the prismatic bar (18) parallel to each other. Therefore, an interval between the two elastic pieces (17a), (17a) of the elastic holder (17) is increased when the square bar (18) rotates, so that a firm and steady touch of a click can be provided.

Abstract: The positive active material for secondary battery according to the invention comprises O, Fe in an amount of higher than 25% by weight, and V in an amount of from higher than 0% by weight to less than 35% by weight. The positive active material, when it is free of lithium, exhibits the following main peaks by the X-ray diffractometry using CuK&agr; rays: a peak within a 2&thgr; range of from greater than 26° to less than 29° and a peak within a 2&thgr; range of from greater than 29° to less than 32°. The non-aqueous secondary battery having a positive electrode comprising this positive active material exhibits a high capacity and good cycle life performance and is inexpensive and environmentally friendly.

Abstract: It is to provide a brush-equipped motor enabled to be used for a long time without performing operations and without interruption even when the brush wears out. When a rotor is caused to perform a turning operation, cam projections similarly start to perform a turning operation. Then, an abutting part, at which each of the cam projections contacts with a spring piece part of a corresponding one of the first brushes, gradually moves to an end of the first brush. Thus, the spring piece part of each of the first brushes is gradually and elastically deformed in a direction in which brush bodies come away from a commutator. When the turning operation continues still more, an end of each of the second brushes comes off a corresponding one of the cam projections, so that the brush bodies thereof contact with the surface of the commutator.

Abstract: An insulating sleeve 6 made of ceramic hermetically fixed into an opening in a terminal supporting plate 7 in a battery sheath made of metal, a positive terminal 4 made of an aluminum alloy or negative terminal 5 made of a copper alloy is inserted in the insulating sleeve, and a metallic ring is fitted over the positive terminal 4 or negative terminal 5. The inner edge of the metallic ring 11 and the positive terminal 4 or negative terminal 5 are hermetically fixed to each other by an aluminum-based brazing metal 8 or copper-based brazing metal 9, and the outer edge of the metallic ring 11 and the insulating sleeve 6 are hermetically fixed to each other by an aluminum-based brazing metal 8 or copper-based brazing metal 9.

Abstract: In a battery having a aluminum or aluminum alloy casing welded to and aluminum or aluminum alloy cover, a film of a synthetic resin and a corrosion preventing agent is formed on the outer surface of the battery raising and an electrolyte comprising hydrofluoric acid is placed in the casing. The film is capable of absorbing hydrofluoric acid. In an alternative embodiment, the exterior film may be a ceramic material capable of absorbing hydrofluoric acid.

Abstract: In a process for producing an electrode of a nonaqueous electrolyte battery, an electrode and a polymer paste are prepared. The electrode is made of a metal as a current collector and an active material layer thereon. The polymer paste has a polymer dissolved in a solvent soluble in water. The polymer paste is allowed to be held in the electrode. Thereafter, the solvent is extracted from the polymer paste with an aqueous solution containing an alcohol, phosphorous or phosphorous compound.

Abstract: For charging a secondary battery, at least two operation modes including first and second operation modes, in which the secondary battery is charged to predetermined charge end voltages different from each other, are established. Both life and capacity of the battery can be maximized by a user selecting either of the two operation modes, or switching between the two operation modes automatically with a timer device, or according to a temperature of the battery, state of health thereof, or internal pressure thereof.

Abstract: A battery comprising an electricity-generating element comprising a strip-form positive electrode, a strip-form negative electrode, and a strip-form separator, said positive electrode and said negative electrode being spirally wound through said separator and said positive electrode and said negative electrode respectively having current collecting lugs protruding from a side thereof, wherein the pitches of the current collecting lugs become longer toward the outer periphery side, and the at least one current collecting lug that located on the outer side has a larger width than that located on the inner side. In this battery, the electricity-generating element has at least one current collecting lug which has a larger width than the adjacent current collecting lug located on the inner side thereof.

Abstract: A battery has a battery case body made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, and a battery cover fitted into the battery case body made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The battery case body and said battery cover have bonding areas, respectively, which are connected by laser welding. In the battery, the thickness of each of bonding areas of a battery case body and a battery cover is smaller than that of the remaining areas.

Abstract: A lead acid battery can be obtained which exhibits excellent life properties while keeping the level of self-discharging and electrolyte loss equal to that of those comprising a Pb—Ca alloy collector. In other words, the present invention lies in a positive collector for lead acid battery comprising a substrate and a surface layer made of an alloy composition different from that of the substrate formed on at least a part of the surface of the substrate, characterized in that the substrate is a Sb-free lead alloy or lead and said surface layer is a lead alloy layer comprising one or more metals selected from the group consisting of alkaline metals and alkaline earth metals.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery of the invention comprises a non-aqueous electrolyte which contains a chain carbonic ester having a hydrocarbon group with carbon number varied from 4 to 12 and a hydrocarbon group with carbon number varied from 1 to 12, a non-aqueous solvent and a lithium salt; wherein the non-aqueous solvent contains ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate or gamma-butyrolactone, and the sum of volume ratios of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate and gamma-butyrolactone in the non-aqueous solvent is 80% or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous secondary battery and a separator to be used therein. The separator comprises a polyolefin membrane containing one or more conjugated polyene compounds provided on the surface thereof. The nonaqueous secondary battery having this arrangement performs improved cycle life characteristics and shelf characteristics at high temperatures.

Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a gas diffusion electrode and a catalyst layer, characterized in that the catalyst layer is provided with a catalytic substance and an ion exchange resin having pores. In this arrangement, a three-phase boundary can be provided also inside the catalyst layer while maintaining sufficient electron conductivity, capability of supplying reaction gas and protonic conductance, making it possible to enhance the polarization characteristics and power density.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for producing a grid for a battery plate which can improve the life performance of a lead storage battery, and in which a lead sheet 4 is prevented from being undulated or causing vibrations in a carrying-out portion of disk cutter rolls 2 and 3, and also a method of producing such a grid.