Abstract: To provide a power generator capable of replacing thermal generators, which is capable of realizing large amounts of power at low cost while using almost no fossil fuels and without polluting the environment.A solution comprising a solvent, which itself does not dissociate, having added thereto a substance which dissociates in the solvent, stored in the interior of a container having an inner surface possessing corrosion resistance and insulating properties, wherein an anode electrode having a small work function and a cathode electrode having a large work function are immersed in a mutually opposing manner in the solution.

Abstract: An electrical feedthrough apparatus, for an electrochemical cell, is formed by a method that includes forming a feedthrough subassembly by providing a ferrule having an exterior surface and an interior opening about a longitudinal axis therethrough. The interior opening extends along the longitudinal axis of the ferrule from a first end of the ferrule to a second end of the ferrule. An electrical conductor is glassed in the opening of the ferrule. A locating member is positioned onto the ferrule in contact with the exterior surface of the ferrule in proximity to the first end of the ferrule and the locating member has a length extending beyond the second end of the ferrule. The feedthrough subassembly is then located at a position in a mold using the locating member and held in the position with the use of the locating member while insulating material is injected into the mold.

Abstract: The inventions provides a battery which comprises a first electrode, a counter electrode which forms an electrochemical couple with said first electrode, and an electrolyte. The first electrode comprises graphite particles having an interlayer distance spacing of 002 planes (d.sub.002) as determined by x-ray diffraction of 0.330 to 0.340 nanometers (nm), a crystallite size in the direction of c-axis (L.sub.c) being greater than about 90 nanometers (nm) and less than about 1000 nanometers, and at least 90 percent by weight of said graphite particles having a size less than about 24 microns (.mu.m). The electrolyte comprises a solvent mixture and a solute; the solvent mixture comprises (i) ethylene carbonate (EC), and (ii) a solvent selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate (PC), butylene carbonate (BC), and mixtures thereof with the ethylene carbonate being present in an amount by weight which is at least as great as the amount of any other solvent.

Abstract: A removable battery pack for powering a pen-based or portable computer system in which the battery pack blocks its terminals when inserted into an unknown system. The known system includes a power supply microcontroller which passes battery charge data back and forth between a memory located in the battery pack and the power supply microcontroller. A battery microcontroller, located in the battery pack, eavesdrops drops on the communication between the power supply microcontroller and the memory, and when it validates a known signature of this communication, the battery microcontroller then enables the terminals of the battery pack. A trickle discharge current flows from the battery pack whenever the battery pack is out of the known system to allow the power supply microcontroller to power up in the case of a dead auxiliary battery.

Abstract: A battery pack for easy access to, and uniform cooling/heating of, the individual battery modules thereof. The pack comprises stackable housing parts (i.e., top and bottom) housing multiple tiers of battery modules supported by underlying trays having openings/holes therein aligned with gaps/spaces between adjacent battery modules through which cooling/heating air is uniformly flowed in parallel between the modules from an underlying plenum. The battery modules are compressively immobilized in the housing by resilient foam pads which bear down on the tops of the modules.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus of the invention comprises a case 10 which has a cell storing part 11 and has an engaging groove 11a formed in a side wall of an opening of the cell storing part as well as an engaging hollow 11b formed near the opening. A cell cover 20 having an engaging claw 21 formed is engaged with the engaging groove of the cell holding part. A locking plate which is a flexible plate-shaped member is fixed to the cell cover in its one end and is made free in the other end. When the cell cover is fitted onto the cell storing part, this locking plate is engaged with the engaging hollow 11b in its free end. By such a simple construction as this, it is possible to simply and securely lock the cell cover as well as to reduce the number of components and shorten the assembling time.

Abstract: Method for controlling the supply of air to a PROX reactor for the preferential oxidation in the presence of hydrogen wherein the concentration of the hydrogen entering and exiting the PROX reactor is monitored, the difference therebetween correlated to the amount of air needed to minimize such difference, and based thereon the air supply to the PROX reactor adjusted to provide such amount and minimize such difference.

Abstract: A cylindrical battery having a high utilization rate and a high discharge capacity rate is disclosed. It has an electrode group configured by rolling up two sheet electrodes of opposite polarity in spiral fashion interposing a separator therebetween, wherein one of the electrodes is provided with a porous metal substrate having a higher porosity layer and a lower porosity layer which has a considerably smaller thickness than that of the higher porosity layer, and an active material filled substantially in the spaces of the higher porosity layer of the porous metal substrate.

Abstract: An up-and-through battery intercell connection for electrochemical batteries or cells is disclosed featuring battery partition wall extensions formed on battery partition walls located within a battery container through which lead intercell connector nuggets are secured to provide electrical connection between battery intercells. A battery container top is formed with recesses to accept the battery partition wall extensions. The container top is further formed with adhesive channels to accept a paste adhesive that allows the battery container top to be secured to the battery container without having to invert the battery during manufacture.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of electric power assisted bicycles including a battery case arrangement that is comprised of inner and outer cases with the inner case receiving the batteries. In this way, the batteries are protected from the elements and yet can be conveniently and easily detached and carried to a remote location for charging.

Abstract: Insertion compounds having the formula Li.sub.x+y M.sub.z Mn.sub.2-y-z O.sub.4 wherein the crystal structure is spinel-like, M is a transition metal, 0.ltoreq.x<1, 0.ltoreq.y<0.33, and 0<z< about 1, can reversibly insert significant amounts of lithium at potentials greater than about 4.5 volts versus Li/Li.sup.+. In particular, M can be Ni or Cr. The reversible amount of lithium at such voltages can be greater for greater values of z. Such insertion compounds are suitable cathode materials for high voltage lithium batteries.

Abstract: In an expanded mesh of this invention, a latitude skeletal element composing a mesh has a length which is substantially not elongated from a state of a sheet-shaped material. For this reason, the expanded mesh is not bulged like a barrel. Namely, it is flat. Since a longitudinal skeletal element is inclined acutely relative to straight portions as compared with a conventional expanded mesh, the expanded mesh will become a grid with good current collecting efficiency when a lug of current collector plate is formed on an inclining direction side.

Abstract: A modular battery pack (10) is described having several embodiments. In general, the modular battery pack has a battery cell cartridge (12), a circuit cartridge (14), and a housing (16). In conventional battery packs these three elements are combined into one single unit. The invention modularizes these components such that portions may be reused and shared. This results in a more cost effective power system for a portable electrical or electronic device (40) since, once the battery cell or cells (48) have expired, they can be replaced without having to replace the other components, in particular the circuitry.

Abstract: A separator insert used in addition to the main separator in an electrochemical cell, is described. A preferred material for the separator insert is a woven or nonwoven fluropolymeric material such as tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer (PETFE). This polymeric material is chemically inert to the components used in alkali metal cells, is corrosion resistant and does not decompose at normal battery temperatures. Preferably, the separator insert covers at least each side of the cathode means in a spirally wound electrode stack and extends less than one-half the total length thereof. This provides additional protection against internal short circuit conditions due to tearing or puncture of the traditional separator cause by exposed electrode screens.

Abstract: A secondary battery is comprising an organic electrolytic solution contained in a casing and, disposed therein, a positive electrode comprised of a lithium-containing composite metal oxide as a cathode active material and a negative electrode comprised of a carbonaceous material as an anode active material, wherein the positive and negative electrodes are separated through a separator disposed therebetween and wherein the organic electrolytic solution has a water content of from 5 ppm to 450 ppm.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a low manufacturing cost and a high energy density and being excellent in the high rate charge/discharge characteristic and in the characteristics in operation at high temperature provided by an improvement on its positive electrode active material is disclosed. The positive electrode active material comprises a specific compound wherein a part of nickel or lithium in LiNiO.sub.2 is substituted with another element in a specified range. The element for the substitution comprises Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al Cr, B and Co which may be employed solely or in combination.

Abstract: An electrode post connection structure for connecting a connection conductor to an electrode post of a battery through a connection fitting, which includes a lock stage portion formed on a circumference of the electrode post, a tapered portion formed at a top portion of the electrode post, a lock spring inserted in the connection fitting so as to engage with the lock stage portion to thereby lock the electrode post and the connection fitting with each other, and a hollow elastic body accommodated in the connection fitting so as to press the connection conductor to thereby connect the electrode post and the connection conductor to each other. Thus, work for connecting a connection conductor to an electrode post of a battery is simplified, and the electric characteristic and reliability of the connection are improved greatly.

Abstract: A heat insulating pad material, particularly for use in a battery shield, is made of a molded foam with a rough surface produced by in-mold expansion molding of expandable resin beads, a facing of a high-melting resin film, and an intermediate layer of a low-melting resin film. The foam and the facing are laminated together by melting the low-melting resin film in a manner that the rough surface is transparent through the facing. Upon lamination, heat may be applied onto the facing under pressure to emboss the rough surface of the molded foam, thus imparting a textured pattern. A heat insulating assembly for a battery comprises a battery case having outer surface walls and a pad of a one-piece pad member or pad members fayed and secured to the walls in a covering manner. The pad may be of the aforementioned pad material as well as molded foams produced by in-mold expansion molding or extrusion molding.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing lithium containing oxides represented by a formula LiNi.sub.x Co.sub.(1-x) O.sub.2, or a formula LiNi.sub.x Mn.sub.(1-x) O.sub.2, having almost single phase, through completely replacing a part of the Ni with Co or Mn. The single phase structure has the advantage that Li mobility in the crystal is high, the positive active materials having almost single phase show a large capacity and excellent cycle characteristics. According to the method, the positive active materials of lithium containing oxides are prepared by burning lithium compounds and composite hydroxides comprising Ni and Co, or Ni and Mn. The composite hydroxides are obtained through co-precipitation of nickel and cobalt hydroxides, or nickel and manganese hydroxides by adding caustic alkali aqueous solutions to mixed solutions containing nickel and cobalt salts or nickel and manganese salts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a general purpose non-aqueous electrolyte cell of high performance, capable of long-term use and/or storage even in high-temperature environments by separating the positive and the negative electrodes with a separator. The separator is made of glass-fiber non-woven cloth having a defined fiber diameter, fiber weight per unit area, and average pore size. The present invention also provides a gasket made of polyphenylene sulfide resin only or substantially of polyphenylene sulfide on which a sealant layer made substantially of blown asphalt is disposed.