Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrode for an alkaline electrolyte secondary cell, comprising a current collector supporting a paste containing an electrochemically active material and a binder, characterized in that said binder is a copolymer selected from copolymers of maleic anhydride and a vinyl monomer, said binder being cross-linked after said electrode has been formed.

Abstract: A current interrupt mechanism for electrochemical cells is disclosed. A thermally activated current interrupt mechanism is integrated into an end cap assembly for an electrochemical cell. The thermally responsive mechanism preferably includes a free floating bimetallic disk which deforms when exposed to elevated temperature causing a break in an electrical pathway within the end cap assembly. This prevents current from flowing through the cell and effectively shuts down an operating cell. Alternatively, the thermally responsive mechanism may include a meltable mass of material which melts when exposed to elevated temperature to break an electrical pathway within the end cap assembly. The end cap assembly may also include integrated therein a pressure responsive current interrupt mechanism.

Abstract: A beta-alumina solid electrolyte for use in a sodium-sulfur battery is composed of beta-alumina crystals having a degree of orientation toward the C axis thereof, of 0.2-0.4 and an aspect ratio of 4.0 or less. The beta-alumina solid electrolyte is composed of the beta-alumina crystals having a degree of orientation toward the C axis thereof, of 0.2-0.4 and has such a particle diameter distribution that the average particle diameter is 3 .mu.m or less, the proportion of the particles having a particle diameter of 5 .mu.m or less is 90% or more, and the maximum particle diameter is 300 .mu.m or less. A process for producing a beta-alumina solid electrolyte using an alumina source material, a magnesium source material and a sodium source material, uses a magnesium-aluminum spinel as the magnesium source material and subjects all materials to mixing, granulation, molding and firing to obtain a beta-alumina solid electrolyte without subjecting the materials to calcination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a battery formed of stacked flat cells comprising an anode and a cathode, e.g. comprising a zinc anode, an alkaline electrolyte and a manganese dioxide carbon cathode, the casings of said cells being formed of upwardly open plastic trays (10) stacked to form a unit, the upwardly facing edge (11a,11b) of a subjacent tray in the stack being sealingly connected with a circumferential edge portion (12a,12b) of the bottom of the superjacent tray along the entire periphery, the upper edges (11a) of the trays (10) and the circumferential edge portions (11b) thereof coacting with complementary guiding and joining faces (12a,12b) in the bottom of the superjacent tray. The circumferential edge portion (12a) in the bottom and/or the upper edge (11a) of the tray 10 is provided with fluid permeable means to facilitate intrusion of the solvent by capillary effect at fusion of the trays.

Abstract: A stepped insulating ring having a large-diameter upper portion, a small-diameter foot portion, and a step portion formed on the inside is inserted from a top opening of a bottomed cylindrical can containing a plate group and electrolyte and the small-diameter foot portion is set onto the plate group,a peripheral portion of a cover in which a safety valve is incorporated is set onto the step portion of the stepped insulating ring, and the areas to be sealed where an inside wall of top opening of the bottomed cylindrical can faces an outside wall of the large-diameter upper portion of the stepped insulating ring and an inside wall of the large-diameter upper portion faces a peripheral portion of the cover is formed, andwhen crimping operation on said areas to be sealed is performed from the outside of the upper part of the bottomed cylindrical can to form a closed construction,a sealing compound consisting of oily bitumen, organic solvent, and paraffin base oil is applied to the areas where an inside wall of t

Abstract: A system is provided for operating a solid oxide fuel cell generator on diesel fuel. The system includes a hydrodesulfurizer which reduces the sulfur content of commercial and military grade diesel fuel to an acceptable level. Hydrogen which has been previously separated from the process stream is mixed with diesel fuel at low pressure. The diesel/hydrogen mixture is then pressurized and introduced into the hydrodesulfurizer. The hydrodesulfurizer comprises a metal oxide such as ZnO which reacts with hydrogen sulfide in the presence of a metal catalyst to form a metal sulfide and water. After desulfurization, the diesel fuel is reformed and delivered to a hydrogen separator which removes most of the hydrogen from the reformed fuel prior to introduction into a solid oxide fuel cell generator. The separated hydrogen is then selectively delivered to the diesel/hydrogen mixer or to a hydrogen storage unit.

Abstract: Provided is a novel lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode including a compound capable of occluding and discharging lithium, a negative electrode composed mainly of a carbon material which includes a graphite as an only or as a principal component, a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an electrolyte solution of an electrolyte solute dissolved in a solvent including at least one specific cyclic compound.The lithium secondary battery has a large capacity, small self-discharge rate and excellent cycle characteristics and high charge-discharge efficiency.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for constructing a stress resistant battery which allows the use low modulus materials through end wall rib reinforcements and a cover having a plurality of integral bosses which vertically project and connect to cast on straps. A plurality of baffles adapted to snap fit into the inner bottom portion of the cover and augment stress resistance through rigid contact against the battery plates. A plurality of cast on straps welded back to back in pairs through each of said electrochemical cell walls each having a seating boss so as to connect with each of the cover bosses.The battery of the present invention also includes means of affixing terminal connectors in a scalloped configuration thereby preventing over-torquing and failure of the cover during electrical-mechanical connection.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a leak resistant battery cover for storage batteries. The battery cover provides a labyrinth of passages which provide a path from each cell vent to the atmospheric vent. The labyrinth is configured to provide a portion of each path above a level in which the electrolyte in the respective cells attains when the battery is tipped on any one of its sides or rotated ninety (90) degrees from an upright position. The labyrinth configuration prevents electrolyte from reaching the atmospheric vent and spilling out of the battery.

Abstract: An electrode support in a multilayer cell, comprises an electrode material coating portion and an electrode lead portion which are formed integrally from a metal sheet, wherein a plurality of electrode lead portions are formed integrally with said metal sheet. In such electrode support, the process for joining each of the electrode lead portions is accomplished by folding the sheet in an extremely easy manner.

Abstract: A safe and controllable method of treating a secondary battery having at least one component containing alkali metal, comprises the steps of opening the battery casing, and introducing a gas containing at least one of water vapor and alcohol vapor into a closed chamber containing the battery thereby to form alkali metal hydroxide. To control hydrogen concentration, the rate of introduction of water and/or alcohol vapor may be varied. Apparatus for carrying out this method is also described.

Abstract: This invention provides compacted carbon that is useful in the electrode of an alkali metal/carbon electrochemical cell of improved capacity selected from the group consisting of:(a) coke having the following properties:(i) an x-ray density of at least 2.00 grams per cubic centimeters,(ii) a closed porosity of no greater than 5%, and(iii) an open porosity of no greater than 47%; and(b) graphite having the following properties:(i) an x-ray density of at least 2.20 grams per cubic centimeters,(ii) a closed porosity of no greater than 5%, and(iii) an open porosity of no greater than 25%.This invention also relates to an electrode for an alkali metal/carbon electrochemical cell comprising compacted carbon as described above and a binder.

Abstract: In a non-aqueous lithium ion secondary battery comprising a positive electrode sheet which comprises a lithium-containing transition metal oxide film, a negative electrode sheet which has a film of material capable of receiving and releasing a lithium ion, a non-aqueous electrolyte which contains a lithium salt, and a container which seals the electrodes and electrolyte therein, the lithium-containing transition metal oxide film comprises at least two layers, one of which expands during discharging while shrinks during charging, and another of which shrinks during discharging while expands during charging.

Abstract: A method of forming a button-type battery terminal housing member sheet includes, a) providing an electrically conductive sheet having an exposed surface, the conductive sheet being divisible into a plurality of individual button-type battery terminal housing member regions; b) masking portions of the respective regions of the exposed sheet surface with a masking material; c) applying an uncured and flowable gasket material onto unmasked portions of the respective regions of the exposed sheet surface; d) allowing the applied uncured gasket material to at least partially cure; and e) after at least partially curing the gasket material, removing the masking material from the masked portions of the respective regions of the exposed sheet surface. The sheet is preferably utilized in formation of a plurality of button-type batteries. A plurality of discrete first terminal housing members are cut and formed from the electrically conductive sheet regions.

Abstract: The cycling stability and capacity of li-ion rechargeable batteries are improved by the use of lithium manganese oxy-fluoride electrode component intercalation materials having the general formula, Li.sub.1+x M.sub.y Mn.sub.2-x-y O.sub.4-z F.sub.z, where M is a transition metal, e.g., Co, Cr, or Fe, and x.ltoreq.0.4, y.ltoreq.0.3, and 0.05.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.0.

Abstract: Cation exchange membranes incorporating a thin layer of polymer having having a high ratio of backbone carbon atoms to cation exchange groups provide improved performance in direct methanol fuel cells.

Abstract: A battery connection comprises a battery post protruding from a battery and a battery terminal for clamping connection with the battery post. The battery post has a base and a shaft extending therefrom, and the battery terminal has a clamping ring for surrounding the shaft and a flange extending from the lower edge of the clamping ring for contacting the upper surface of the base. Alternating grooves and ridges are formed on the underside of the flange to provide increased frictional engagement with the base and so inhibit rotation of the terminal relative to the base. Alignment tabs project downwardly from the flange to engage receptacles formed in the surface of the base when the terminal is in a desired angular alignment with the base.

Abstract: An energy storage system (10) including a first energy storage device (12), such as a secondary or rechargeable battery, and a second energy storage device (14), such as an electrochemical capacitor. The electrochemical capacitor provides intermittent energy bursts to satisfy the power requires of, for example, pulsed power communication devices. Such devices typically require power pulses in excess of those which conventional battery cells can easily provide for numerous cycles. The system (10) further includes circuitry (16) for coupling the capacitor (14) to a load in response to changes in the battery (12).

Abstract: A material for a negative electrode of a cell, which is prepared according to a process of the present invention, can provides a cell having a high true specific gravity, a high charging capacity and an excellent cycle characteristic. The process of the present invention comprises the steps of carbonizing an organic compound to form a carbide thereof, pulverizing said carbide to form a powder having an average particle size of 10 .mu.m to 2 mm, and sintering said powder of the carbide at a temperature of 2,000.degree. C. or higher to produce a graphite. In addition, in accordance with the present invention, there is also provided non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell comprising a negative electrode, which is prepared by carbonizing an organic compound to form a carbide thereof, pulverizing the carbide to form a powder having an average particle size of 10 .mu.m to 2 mm, and sintering the powder of the carbide at a temperature of 2,000.degree. C. to form a graphite.

Abstract: The method of forming the battery electrode includes providing two complementary half-frames of plastic material each having a substantially flat face delimited by an outer closed line and an inner closed line, where the inner and outer closed lines enclose the perimeter of the plate. Next, a plate is placed within a pressure forming mold between the two half-frames so as to enclose the perimeter of the plate between the outer closed lines and the inner closed lines. Then the mold is closed and heated to a temperature causing the plastic material of the half-frames to fuse and adhere continuously along the entire perimeter of the plate.