Abstract: An improved liquid filtration system is provided which comprises, in combination, a tank or other vessel having a central cavity and a liquid inlet tube and liquid outlet tube spaced apart. A porous self-supporting filter is arched over the liquid outlet tube and forms part of the system. The filter comprises granules cemented together by organic resin. For example, fine aggregate stone particles are cemented together by an epoxy resin so that the filter is both porous and strong. Preferably, the upstream portion of the filter contains a first layer of fine aggregate while the downstream portion of the filter contains a layer of larger aggregate. The system also includes a connector releasably securing the filter over the outlet tube. The filter is relatively small, occupies only a small portion of the bottom of the tank, can be removed for cleaning and replacement and is light in weight. Preferably, the filter has an upstream cover portion of a porous metal plate material in domed configuration.

Abstract: An improved method of making a silver chloride and copper chloride-containing electrode comprises forming a minimum melting point mixture of about 47% by weight of silver chloride and about 53% by weight of cuprous chloride and melting this mixture e.g. at about 255.degree. C., cooling the resulting eutectic, as by casting the same, to form solid pieces, and then grinding the eutectic to a powder of e.g. about 100 mesh. This powdered eutectic is then uniformly mixed with a predetermined desired amount of additional particulate cuprous chloride and the resulting mixture is heated in a mold to above the melting point of the eutectic therein to cause the eutectic to melt and bind the particles of cuprous chloride together. Normally the eutectic is in a concentration of about 10% by weight and the additional particulate cuprous chloride is in a concentration of about 90% by weight of this mixture.

Abstract: The improved valve assembly comprises, in combination, a housing having an elongated central passageway and a plurality of spaced ports in the sidewall thereof along the length thereof in communication with the passageway, an elongated drive shaft disposed in the passageway and movable between a resting position and an actuated position, first biasing means biasing the shaft into the resting position, a plurality of valve openings along the length of the passageway and providing communication between adjacent ones of said ports, a plurality of free floating valve sealing elements disposed transversely on, secured to and spaced along the shaft in the housing, each said element being disposed between two adjacent valve openings, second biasing means in the housing around the shaft biasing the valve elements apart on the shaft, and actuator means connected to the housing for hydraulic pressure movement of the shaft between the resting position wherein a first spaced set of the valve openings is closed by the val

Abstract: The improved method of the invention comprises electrochemically depositing nickel hydroxide into the pores of a clean sintered nickel plaque cathode from heated aqueous electrolyte at acid pH in a treating zone containing an anode, while minimizing corrosion of the plaque. The electrochemical deposition is continued only until a loading level of about 2 grams per cubic centimeter of void volume in the plaque is obtained. This is in order to avoid thickening, swelling and stressing of the plaque. The method is carried out without the need for a wetting agent in the electrolyte. The plaque should be sufficiently clean so as to be readily wetted throughout by the electrolyte. Such a clean condition can be produced by heating the plaque to at least about 700.degree. C. Plaque corrosion is minimized by polarizing the plaque cathode as by the use of a sacrificial cadmium cathode. Plaque corrosion can also be minimized by maintaining an electric current in the electrolyte whenever the plaque is present therein.

Abstract: The method of the present invention comprises coating the surface of particles, such as glass beads, with a first coating, placing the coated particles in spaced relationship within a die so as to expose a portion of that coating, contacting that exposed portion with a second coating of material which forms an adhesive, and pressing the particles while still in the die against an electrode surface for a time and at a pressure sufficient to deform that surface and to bond the particles to that surface by the second coating without crushing the particles. The particles may be imbedded up to about 35% of their average diameter. The second coating is applied by a kiss coating technique utilizing a roller or the like. The electrode is thus provided with strongly adherent, discrete spaced particles which act as a separator to space the electrode from another electrode or the like. The method is simple, inexpensive, rapid and efficient.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in a valve having a valve housing defining first and second valve openings and a valve sealing element in the housing. The improvement comprises a three-piece valve sealing element. That valve sealing element comprises a first hard retainer of metal or the like, a second generally cup shaped hard retainer of metal or the like and a resilient plastic component disposed between the first and second retainers and having an exposed sloped peripheral sealing surface which surface is adapted to engage the first valve opening defined within the valve housing. The second retainer has a curved peripheral surface engageable with the second valve opening within the valve housing, the two valve openings being spaced longitudinally from each other. The valve includes a valve stem connected to the valve sealing element for movement of said valve sealing element in the housing between the two valve openings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making an improved catalyst useful for hydrogenation of organic compounds and in other reactions. The method comprises mixing a porous particulate refractory support material with a hydrophobic polymeric binder to form an essentially homogeneous mixture and then catalyzing this mixture by introducing into the pores of the mixture a salt of a metal of the eighth group of the Periodic Table in a non-polar solvent in which the salt is ionizable. Further in accordance with the method, the salt is reduced to the catalytic metal within the pores of the mixture, specifically within the pores of the support material, by contacting with a selected reducing agent, for example, hydrazine or sodium bis (2-methoxyethoxy) aluminum hydride, preferably in solution. A porous structure is formed from the mixture either before or after the catalysis. Preferably, the structure is sintered as a final step.

Abstract: The improved method of the present invention comprises mixing zinc particles comprising zinc metal and/or zinc oxide with a concentration of bonding agent sufficient to bond the particles together when subject to mechanical roller pressure so as to form a continuous film but insufficient to totally encapsulate the particles, treating the resultant mixture to form a freely flowable doctorable powder of mesh size below about 40 mesh, doctoring the powder to a desired thickness on a conveyor, rolling the doctored powder in a nip between pressure rollers to form a continuous film, combining the film with a current collector and then dividing the resultant film into zinc electrodes of predetermined size.In carrying out the method, the current collector may be passed into the pressure nip along with the doctored powder during formation of the film.

Abstract: The improved method of the present invention comprises charging a vented alkaline electrolyte-containing electrochemical cell employing an electrode pair selected from the group consisting of nickel-zinc, nickel-cadmium, silver-zinc and silver-cadmium and at least periodic measuring the charging efficiency of the cell by determining the rate of gas evolution from the cell. The charging of the cell is terminated when the charging efficiency substantially decreases, signifying the cell having reached an about full charge. The charging efficiency at that point normally substantially decreases to a value of about 0.5.+-.0.2. In the alkaline electrolyte-containing cells, the charging efficiency is determined according to the formula E=1-(15.8/I) v wherein E is the charging efficiency, I is the current in amperes and v is the gas generation rate in the cell in cc per second. The improved method prevents overcharging of the cell and accurately determines when an about full charge is reached.

Abstract: An improved hydrogen electrode comprising a porous sheet of carbon particles catalyzed by platinum or palladium and bonded together with a hydrophobic binder, preferably Teflon, so that the sheet is wetproofed. A conductive metallic screen coated on one side with a hydrophobic binder is laminated on the coated side to the sheet. A battery comprising a stack of the improved hydrogen electrodes, preferably with conductive metallic spacers between the screen of each cell and the cathode of the next adjacent cell forming a bipolar duplex electrode with hydrogen flow passageways to the screen covered face of each anode, is stacked together with an electrolyte filled separator provided between the bipolar relectrodes. The improved hydrogen anode is the anode of the duplex electrode while the cathode of the duplex electrode may be a material such as a porous sintered nickel or silver plaque. The conductive means joining the anode and cathode comprises the metallic screen with or without the metallic spacer present.

Abstract: The method of the present invention comprises coating the surface of particles, such as glass beads, with a first coating, placing the coated particles in spaced relationship within a die so as to expose a portion of that coating, contacting that exposed portion with a second coating of material which forms an adhesive, and pressing the particles while still in the die against an electrode surface for a time and at a pressure sufficient to deform that surface and to bond the particles to that surface by the second coating without crushing the particles. The particles may be imbedded up to about 35% of their average diameter. The second coating is applied by a kiss coating technique utilizing a roller or the like. The electrode is thus provided with strongly adherent, discrete spaced particles which act as a separator to space the electrode from another electrode or the like. The method is simple, inexpensive, rapid and efficient.

Abstract: The conductive diluent is a combination of powdered carbon (preferably graphite) and nickel flakes. It is admixed with the active electrode material and a binder in the pressed nickel electrode so that the diluent is substantially homogeneously mixed with the active electrode material and is mixed in proportions (by weight) sufficient to provide between about 4% to about 10% of nickel flake and between about 5% to about 10% of powdered carbon within a preferred total conductive diluent range of 10-15%, with the remainder of the nickel electrode admixture essentially comprising active electrode material with a small amount of binder.

Abstract: The improved method of the invention comprises electrochemically depositing cadmium hydroxide into the pores of a sintered nickel plaque cathode from a heated electrolyte at acid pH and at controlled density in a treating zone containing an anode, at least periodically contacting the electrolyte during the electro chemical deposition with neutralizing agent selected from cadmium oxide and cadmium hydroxide to neutralize acid generated at the anode, and continuing the electrochemical deposition until an improved loading level of cadmium hydroxide within the cathode is obtained. The acid pH preferably is between 2 - 5 and the electrolyte preferably is in a concentration of 2 - 3 M and at an average temperature of about 85.degree. - 105.degree. C. Preferably, the current density is maintained at a level of less than one ampere per square inch in order to improve the loading level, which may be as high as about 2.6 grams of cadmium hydroxide per cubic centimeter of void volume in the cathode.

Abstract: The improved self-supporting electrode of the present invention comprises a uniform mixture of cuprous chloride, preferably in major proportion and silver chloride, preferably in minor proportion. The electrode may also include a minor proportion of copper metal uniformly dispersed therein. The electrode is primarily used as a cathode, particularly in cells employing sea water as the electrolyte. The cathode preferably is formed by mixing the ingredients together and melting at least the cuprous chloride and silver chloride of the mixture and then casting the mixture and solidifying it so as to cause it to adhere to a current collector such as expanded copper metal. The current collector preferably is at or near the surface of the electrode and helps to support the electrode. The electrode is less expensive than one fabricated solely of silver chloride and yet is more resistant to degradation by humidity and has better electrical properties than conventional cuprous chloride electrodes.

Abstract: A mercury-free negative zinc electrode is described for use in secondary alkaline electrochemical cells. It contains an active zinc material and lead acetate or cadmium acetate substantially homogeneously dispersed in a non-ionic binder which is an hydroxy alkyl cellulose. The aforementioned constituents are typically admixed to form a paste which is compressed against opposing sides of a current collector to form a zinc electrode.

Abstract: The improved system of the present invention comprises a plurality of electrically interconnected power modules, each module comprising a sealed pressure vessel containing a volume of hydrogen and a plurality of batteries connected in parallel and disposed in a removable rack. Each battery comprises a stack or pile of series connected metal-hydrogen cells. Means are provided for recirculating the hydrogen in the vessel around and between the cells and for cooling the hydrogen. The cooling operation for the modules may be carried out internally or externally of the vessel. A blower or the like may facilitate the recirculation of the hydrogen.The modules are series connected to supply a desired large amperage, for example to take care of peak load requirements for a commercial power generating station or the like. The system is capable of rapidly absorbing power from the station during periods of low demand and rapidly releasing the power during peak loads so as to level the load requirements.

Abstract: Semi-permeable silver-impregnated cellulosic materials for use as electrochemical cell separators are provided with a titanium-silver complex content by subjecting a cell in which the silver-impregnated cellulosic material is employed as a separator and which contains an ionizeable titanium-containing compound, to a series of discharge/charge cycles.

Abstract: An improvement in the discharge capacity of pressed nickel electrodes which comprise a NiO.sub.x /Co/binder admixture pressed into a current collector is obtained by heating the NiO.sub.x to a temperature on the order of 125.degree. C. to 175.degree. C. either before or after incorporating the NiO.sub.x in the electrode.

Abstract: An improved active electrode material for use in pressed nickel electrodes is made by first chemically co-oxidizing nickel and cobalt salts in an aqueous alkaline medium to form the respective NiO.sub.x and CoO.sub.x compounds and thereafter co-precipitating the latter compounds. After the co-precipitated NiO.sub.x and CoO.sub.x compounds are recovered, they are combined with a binder (and other electrode constituents if desired) and pressed into an apertured current collector at elevated pressures to form the pressed nickel electrodes.

Abstract: Improvements in cell capacity maintenance and reductions in electrode shape change are obtained in rechargeable zinc (-) cells by the inclusion of limited amounts of a titanate compound in the negative zinc electrode.