Abstract: A charge indicator for a battery functioning to accurately indicate the residual capacity corresponding to changes of the discharge rate of the battery uses a timer output voltage of a timer circuit and is changed corresponding to the discharge rate of the battery by a pulse-period-setting part. The timer output voltage and the voltage corresponding to the residual capacity are differentially amplified in the corresponding voltage of the discharge rate-varying part to change the corresponding voltage of the discharge rate. When the sensed voltage exceeds a predetermined value, the reset part resets the voltage to a corresponding voltage of the fully charged battery.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved uninterruptible power system used as a back-up power supply for a computer or communication equipment. The system comprises a rectifier for rectifying AC power from a power line, such as the utility line, an inverter for converting the DC power from the rectifier to AC power, a sealed lead-acid battery connected with the junction of the rectifier and the inverter via a first switch, a charger for supplying charging power from a power line to the battery via a second switch, and a control signal generator. The generator monitors the voltage of a power line and the closed circuit voltage of the battery. Usually, the two switches are opened. In the event of the failure of a power line, the generator closes the first switch to supply the load with electric power. After a power line has been recovered, the second switch is closed to charge the battery via the charger only for a calculated short time.

Abstract: A molten lead alloy is supplied from a melting furnace to a casting machine through a feed pipe having a pair of ends connected with the furnace and the machine, respectively, and an intermediate portion situated at a level which is higher than the higher of the two levels of the molten alloy located adjacent to the ends, respectively, of the feed pipe by a distance exceeding the height of a column of the molten alloy which atmospheric pressure can support. An apparatus for supplying the molten alloy in such a way is also disclosed.

Abstract: A charging control apparatus comprising a switching circuit for controlling a charging current from a charging power source to a storage battery. A reference voltage is provided which increases with a ramp corresponding to a value equal to, or more than, the maximum ramp value of the charging characteristic of the battery and a reference voltage is also provided which increases with time with a ramp corresponding to a value equal to, or less than, the minimum ramp value of the charging characteristic. The terminal voltage of the battery is sensed by a voltage sensor. A first comparator compares the reference voltage and a first sensed voltage from the voltage sensor. The ramp of the reference voltage is switched in accordance with the output of the first comparator. A second comparator compares the reference voltage and a second sensed voltage from the voltage sensor. The switching circuit is controlled by the output of the second comparator.

Abstract: A nickel electrode for an alkaline battery includes a porous alkali-proof metal fiber substrate as a current collector and an active material principally formed of a nickel hydroxide powder is precluded from formation of the higher oxide, .gamma.-NiOOH, is improved in the ratio of utilization of the active material, and is provided with a high energy density and a long service life when the nickel hydroxide powder employed therein possesses a pore radius in the range of 15 to 30 .ANG., a total pore volume of not more than 0.05 ml/g, and a specific surface area in the range of 15 to 30 m.sup.2 /g. An alkaline battery is also provided by the invention which uses the nickel electrode described above.

Abstract: The invention involves a sealed lead-acid battery comprising a cell element having positive plates, negative plates and separators, and electrolyte retained within micropore of the cell element.The micropores of both the plates is substantially filled with the electrolyte, while the micropores of the separators are not completely filled with the electrolyte.The voids formed partially in the micropores of the separators permit transport of the oxygen gas from the positive plates to the negative plates.Such a sealed lead-acid battery has long service life, and excels in ability to O.sub.2 absorb gases and reproduce water during overcharging and to recover by charging after a long overdischarged-state storage.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing battery plate groups by forming folding habits in a soft, continuous separator at regular intervals so that the folding directions may be alternated, and then alternately inserting positive plates and negative plates between the separator portions.

Abstract: A plate group is formed of positive and negative plates and separators formed mostly of glass fibers of a diameter not thicker than 1.0 micron and is inserted into a container. Then, a sulfuric acid electrolyte of a concentration of a viscosity increasing agent of 0 to 3.0% by weight is first poured in an amount smaller than the total pore volume of the plate group and a sulfuric acid electrolyte of a concentration of the viscosity increasing agent higher than in the above poured sulfuric acid electrolyte is then poured in so that the total poured amount may be the same as or larger than the total pore volume of the plate group.The sealed lead-acid battery obtained as mentioned above has an excellent discharge characteristic and gas recombining performance, is low in the internal resistance, is long in the service life and does not leak the electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to multilayer heat insulators wherein gas-impermeable layers each made of a metal foil of one member selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel and stainless steel and gas-containing layers each made of at least one member selected from the group consisting of glass fiber, asbestos fiber, mineral fiber, ceramic fiber, carbon fiber, silica powder, alumina powder and zirconia powder in the form of wool, paper or mat are laminated alternately so that the same layers do not contact each other. The thickness of the gas-impermeable layer is 10 to 20 .mu.m, the thickness of the gas-containing layer is 0.3 to 1.8 mm and its porosity is 0.98 to 0.95 to make the thermal conductivity of this laminated multilayer heat insulator about 0.02 kcal/mh.degree. C. (200.degree. C.) so that the behavior of the contained gas may be as small as possible, the thermal conduction may be prevented and the heat insulating performance may be improved.

Abstract: An optical instrument for measuring the specific gravity of a solution, particularly the specific gravity of the acid in a lead acid battery, which incudes a base part and a transparent member, the transparent member including an incident light surface and reflector. The instrument further includes a light source arranged in the base part of the transparent member which is capable of radiating a straight-lined ray into the transparent member parallel to the axis of the member, and a photosensitive element for receiving light reflected by the incident light surface and the reflector. During use the instrument is positioned such that the transparent member is in contact with the solution whose specific gravity is to be measured.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for automatically stacking plate groups for storage batteries. It comprises a plate separating means of separating plates one by one from a hopper and delivering them to the next step, a separator supplying means of supplying separators so as to rectangularly cross the delivered plates, a separator sealing means of sealing the side portions of the separators folded into two and coating the plates, a plate group unit assembling means for overlapping the plates coated with the separator with the opposite plate so as to be a unit, a plate group block assembling means for stacking a predetermined number of plate group units so as to be a block and a conveying means of conveying the plate group blocks to the next step and the respective means are so formed as to be operatively connected with one another.

Abstract: In method and apparatus for making continuous strips for lead acid batteries, a strip of lead is advanced through a plurality of successive stations such that zigzag slits are formed on the strip, either in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the strip, between belt-shaped unslitted edge portions and a central unslitted portion. The strip is then stretched by application of a continuous force substantially simultaneously to the entire width of the slit portion of the strip by successively larger vertical components normal to the plane of the strip between both unslitted edge portions and the central unslitted portion. Simultaneously therewith, frictional resistance is applied to the zigzag slits so that the strip forms a substantially V-shaped cross-section vertical to the advancing direction of the strip to form the grid cells. The V-shaped strip is then leveled and flattened.

Abstract: The invention involves to a maintenance-free type sealed lead-acid batteries. In such battery, a combined separator is of a double layer made by double laminating a sheet-shaped separator formed by entangling glass fibers of a diameter not larger than 1 micron as a base with glass fibers of a diameter not smaller than 5 microns or preferably of 10 to 30 microns and a porous member having a maximum pore diameter larger than of the sheet-shaped separator and the electrolyte consists of an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid in which a small amount of a viscosity increasing agent is present.The thus formed batteries are low in the cost and are high in the gas absorbing performance and life performance.

Abstract: The invention involves storage batteries and, more particularly a storage battery wherein a battery container cover has a specially improved structure.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in a battery can forming a container or cover of a sealed type battery, a cruciform incision is made on a metal plate forming the battery can. Said incision being V-shaped in cross-section and the cruciform intersection point being constructed to present an X-shaped, wedge-shaped tip as seen in the view plan forming a thin part in the metal plate so that, when the internal pressure of the battery becomes abnormally high, before the sealed part is opened, by the pressure the thin part may tear and open to let the abnormal pressure escape and prevent the explosion and bursting of the battery.By such construction, the fluctuation of the pressure resisting the tearing and opening of the above mentioned thin part can be reduced and a safe and positive operation can be made.

Abstract: This invention relates to a plate wrapping machine for storage batteries. It comprises an embosser for embossing a flat microporous sheet pulled from a supply reel to obtain a storage battery separator, a plate projector for separating and projecting plates one by one out of a hopper, a separator supplier for supplying the above mentioned embossed separator so as to intersect rectangularly with the projected plate and a separator sealing means for sealing the side parts of the embossed separator folded into two to wrap the plate, and wherein the respective components are operatively connected with one another in an on-line operation.The present invention has an advantage that a storage battery plate can be wrapped with an embossed separator quickly at a high efficiency by saving labor so that the cost of the product may be reduced.

Abstract: Separators for storage batteries, particularly separators for sealed lead-acid storage batteries, comprise glass fibers entangled in the shape of a sheet without the use of a binder, a first portion being glass fibers having a fiber diameter smaller than 1 micron and a second portion being glass fibers having a fiber diameter larger than 5 microns, preferably larger than 10 microns, as well as an average fiber length of at least 5 mm. The inventive separators have high electrolyte retention, good mechanical strength, and good shape recovery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high performance lead-acid storage battery having a special microporous separator between a positive and a negative plate in a cell of the battery. The separator is comprised of a microporous embossed thin sheet having many small projecting embossed parts which provides unique characteristics in a cell including low electric internal resistance in the cell, sufficient electrolyte between the plates in the cell and sufficient elasticity of the separator to prevent active material shedding, thereby giving a high performance at a high rate of discharge and long life.

Abstract: This invention relates to storage batteries and more particularly to a storage battery having an improved terminal construction in which a cover and a synthetic resin portion surrounding a terminal post are best sealed together, the post passing through an opening in the cover and being electrically connected with a positive and negative plate group located in the battery container. The synthetic resin portion has a dish-shaped section with an upwardly open cavity, and has projections for the reception within recesses provided in ribs located on the inner wall and on the partition wall of the container. Thus, a storage battery is provided which avoids leakage of electrolyte from the terminal, is high in performance, is long lasting, easy to make, adapted for mass production and is economical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high performance lead-acid storage battery having a special microporous separator between a positive and a negative plate in a cell of the battery. The separator is comprised of a microporous embossed thin sheet having many small projecting embossed parts which provides unique characteristics in a cell including low electric internal resistance in the cell, sufficient electrolyte between the plates in the cell and sufficient elasticity of the separator to prevent active material shedding, thereby giving a high performance at a high rate of discharge and long life.