Abstract: The present invention provides a valve-regulated lead-acid battery in which the theoretical capacity (Ah) of the negative active material in the battery is less than that of the positive active material, the amount of a conductive additive, such as carbon, added into the negative active material is in the range of 0.5 weight % to 7.5 weight % of the negative active material, and the conductive additive is carbon, acetylene black, polyaniline, tin powder, tin compound powder, etc. having an average particle diameter of 100.mu. or less.

Abstract: A galvanic cell type gas sensor which utilizes the respective merits of galvanic cell type and polaro type gas sensors so that a plurality of gasses can be detected by one sensor. One working electrode is utilized in conjunction with two or more counter electrodes which are different in kind from each other. Each of the electrodes are individually selected corresponding to a type of gas to be detected. Also, drift in the measurement of one of the detected gasses can be corrected based upon the measurement of another of the detected gasses.

Abstract: A prismatic sealed alkaline storage battery with a nickel hydroxide electrode comprising a nickel substrate having a porosity of from 86 to 98% and containing as an active material from 10 to 20% by weight of cobalt based on the sum of nickel and cobalt; the alkaline storage battery using the same as a positive electrode and a mixed solution as an electrolyte comprising sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. The battery has a high Ah efficiency in a wide temperature range, a higher energy density and a longer operating life in a low termperature of 0.degree. C. or less and a high temperature of 50.degree. C. or more, thereby providing a prismatic sealed alkaline storage battery for the power sources including cycle service use, such as electric vehicles.

Abstract: A mixture of rare earth elements, in which La is comprised from 75 to 90 wt % of rare earth elements, with the balance being Ce, Nd, Pr and other rare earth elements (the mixture being referred to as a highly lanthanum-rich misch metal, and is hereinafter designated Lm), is used to produce a hydrogen absorbing alloy having a composition represented by LmNi.sub.x-A-B Co.sub.A Al.sub.B, Lm.sub.1-x Zr.sub.x Ni.sub.Y-A-B Co.sub.A Al.sub.B, or Lm.sub.1-x Zr.sub.x Ni.sub.Y-A-B-C Co.sub.A Mn.sub.B Al.sub.C. By using these hydrogen absorbing alloys as negative electrode materials, nickel metal hydride secondary batteries can be fabricated that have a large discharge capacity and that also have excellent cycle life and high rate discharge characteristics. Such electrode characteristics that are balanced between the aspects of discharge capacity and cycle life have heretofore been unattainable by either La alone or a misch metal having a relatively low La content or a conventional lanthanum-rich misch metal.

Abstract: A stirring device for the electrolytic solution in a storage battery. A solution circulating tube having open opposite ends is disposed in the electrolytic solution. The open top opens to a gas reservoir having an inverted J shape and opening downward in the upper part of the solution. A gas collecting chamber collects gas bubbles generated by the electrode plates and this gas enters an inverted U-shaped siphon strap which opens at one end to the chamber and at the other end to the tube via a small hole in the tube at a middle portion thereof. The gas in the siphon strap forces solution and gas from the upper part of the tube and gas reservoir into the upper part of the electrolytic solution via the gas reservoir opening.

Abstract: The invention discloses an oxygen concentration monitor using a Galvanic cell type oxygen sensor. An automatic calibration circuit always calibrates the maximum output of the sensor as the value corresponding to an oxygen concentration of 21%, based on the fact that the oxygen concentration in a fresh air never exceeds 21%.

Abstract: A sealed lead-acid battery is improved in manufacturability by providing a container with a major side left open, and being sealed by a laminated sheet heat-bonded to side edges of the opening after the battery components have been inserted. The laminated sheet may include a metal layer to improve rigidity.

Abstract: A sealed lead-acid battery formed by joining two halves of a battery container. Before joining, the separate halves have grids placed in adjacent recesses, separated by partition walls integral with the wall of the container half. Pairs of adjacent grids are electrically connected through the partition wall. The recesses are alternately filled with positive and negative active materials. Then the halves are joined with a porous separator in each cell of the combined halves separating positive and negative active materials.

Abstract: A specific gravity detecting apparatus for a lead-acid battery having two electrodes adapted to be immersed in an electrolyte to provide a potential difference therebetween which is indicative of the specific gravity of the electrolyte. One of the two electrodes is a lead electrode composed of a collector 6 made of lead and a lead alloy and a porous lead body 4 covered by an acid resistant porous sleeve 3; the other is a lead dioxide electrode composed of a collector 6' made of lead and a lead alloy and a porous lead dioxide body 5 covered by an acid- and oxidation-resistant porous sleeve 3'. The two electrodes are charged normally or as required while there is no necessity of obtaining specific gravity data, and later discharged with another lead electrode as an opposite electrode so that, in the open-circuit state, the potential difference between the lead electrode and the lead dioxide electrode is accurately determined.

Abstract: A retainer type lead-acid battery having an electrolyte impregnated and retained only in a separator and positive and negative active materials, the battery having an improved high discharge rate performance at low temperatures. In accordance with the invention, the separator is made of chopped glass fibers having an average diameter of no more than 5.0 microns. The battery is fabricated such that applied pressure to an assembled element in the dry state prior to electrolyte filling is kept at a pressure of 5 to 50 Kg/dm.sup.2. The positive active material is composed of a lead powder blended with anisotropic graphite in an amount of at least 0.1% of the weight of the lead powder. Preferably, the battery is assembled with unformed positive and negative plates into an assembled element, which is subsequently filled with an electrolyte and subjected to formation in a container.

Abstract: A sealed lead-acid battery of the absorption-at-the-negative-electrode type employing an immobilized liquid electrolyte in which stratification of the electrolyte is eliminated. In accordance with the invention, a lower part of the positive and negative plates is supplied with water formed by a reaction or phase change of substances contained within the container of the battery. In a preferred embodiment, this is done by producing a temperature difference within the container. Also, water may be provided to the lower part of the positive and negative plates by increasing the speed of certain reactions at the lower part of the negative plate relative to the upper part thereof.

Abstract: When the discharging of a battery is suspended, its open-circuit voltage or a voltage corresponding to the open-circuit voltage is detected, and with the voltage thus detected, as a start point an imaginary voltage curve having a certain decreasing rate is set for instance (by discharging a capacitor which has been charged by the voltage). When the discharging of the battery is suspended, the voltage detected at that time is used to correct the start point voltage of the imaginary voltage curve. According to the voltage obtained from the imaginary voltage curve, the number of LEDs turned on is changed or one of the LEDs is selected or liquid crystal display means is operated to display the remaining capacity of the battery.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery is described including a positive electrode comprising as an active material a cobalt hydroxide base containing from about 15 to 65 wt % nickel hydroxide and a negative electrode comprising zinc or cadmium as an active material; the alkaline storage battery can be charged rapidly, has a high energy density, and the residual capacity of the battery can be easily measured by detection of the electromotive force of the battery.

Abstract: A sealed lead-acid secondary cell of the type that absorbs oxygen by the negative electrode, is characterized in that a porous member impregnated with a liquid substance is disposed within or outside of a safety valve, or in contact with the bottom of said safety valve.

Abstract: A connecting piece structure for connecting the plates of an alkaline battery to the battery terminals and a method of welding the connecting piece structure to the plates. The connecting piece is designed to have two slanting surfaces which intersect along a ridge line, the connecting piece having a V-shaped configuration in cross section. The method uses welding electrodes, having bottoms with recessed surfaces which conform to the connecting piece configuration, to weld the connecting piece to the plates.

Abstract: In the invention, an electrochemical cell including an oxygen reducing cathode, an oxygen generating anode and an electrolyte, and having both a deoxygenating function and an oxygen generating function is coupled to a chamber in such a manner that, when the oxygen concentration in the chamber is much higher than a predetermined value, the deoxygenating function is utilized to decrease the oxygen concentration and when the oxygen concentration in the chamber is much lower than the predetermined value, the oxygen generating function is utilized to increase the oxygen concentration so that the oxygen concentration in the chamber is maintained at the predetermined value.

Abstract: A galvanic cell type oxygen sensor comprising a galvanic cell comprised of a cathode made up of metal effective for the electrolytic reduction of oxygen, an anode made up of lead material and an electrolyte made up of an aqueous mixed solution of organic acid and organic acid salt, which has a long life and a high output voltage, is not at all affected by carbon dioxide and which can prevent the generation of hydrogen from the cathode, is disclosed.

Abstract: A pasted type lead-acid battery comprising positive plates plated with a paste material containing anisotropic graphite, the graphite having such characteristics that the spacing d.sub.(002) of (002) plane is given by d.sub.(002) .apprxeq.3.35 .ANG.; the size Lc.sub.(002) of crystal in (002) plane is given by Lc.sub.(002) >100 .ANG.; and the size La.sub.(110) of crystal in (110) plane is given by La.sub.(110) >100 .ANG., and that it has the diffraction line of (112) plane, is disclosed. The pasted type lead-acid battery of the invention is excellent in initial performance and good in cycling life performance.

Abstract: A method of storing foodstuffs and an apparatus for practicing the same, in which an electrolytic cell includes a gas diffusion cathode capable of reducing oxygen electrolytically and an oxygen liberating anode, and a DC voltage is applied to the electrolytic cell while the gas in a food storage chamber is brought into contact with the cathode to remove oxygen from the storage chamber, whereby the oxygen concentration in the storage chamber is controlled to a desired value.