Abstract: An electric vehicle cell featuring internal pressure relief and spring disengagement devices which vent various internal pressures to atmosphere to prevent cell bulging or explosion and which also internally interrupt current flow through the cell due to internal overheat, excessive current draw and the like. Internal reconnection of cell members reoccurs subsequent to internal thermal and other abnormalities. The electric vehicle cell contains an electrolyte which is introduced into the cell casing by a method involving the use of apparatus including a filling fixture having an electrolyte fill line and a vacuum line for vacuum assisted filling.

Abstract: A battery pack adapted to be removably inserted into a battery receiving compartment of a portable electronic device for supplying power to the device is disclosed. The battery pack includes a plurality of cylindrically shaped battery cells and an elongated casing having two spaced apart ends and defining an interior region in which the plurality of battery cells are disposed. Outer cylindrical surfaces of first and second cells and an inner surface of the casing define two elongated open regions extending away from the first end of the casing. The battery pack also includes an integrated circuit board disposed intermediate a first end of the casing and negative and positive connector plates of the cells and includes conductive traces electrically coupled to the connector plates of the first and second cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack power bus system which includes a plurality of current collectors mounted to the peripheral edge portion of a fuel cell stack end plate. The current collectors form lapped connections with a layered power bus which can be easily positioned to extend from any side of a fuel cell stack and which has improved heat transfer characteristics.

Abstract: An electrochemical storage cell or battery including as at least one electrode at least one electrically conductive polymer, the polymer being poly (3(2-fluorophenyl)thiophene), poly(3(3-fluorophenyl) thiophene), poly(3(2,4-fluorophenyl) thiophene), poly(3(3,4-difluorophenyl) thiophene), poly(3(3,5-difluorophenyl) thiophene), or poly(3(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)thiophene). These polymeric electrodes have remarkably high charge capacities, and excellent cycling efficiency. The provision of these polymeric electrode further permits the electrochemical storage cell to be substantially free of metal components, thereby improving handling of the storage cell and obviating safety and environmental concerns associated with alternative secondary battery technology.

Abstract: A metal-air electrochemical cell comprising an oxygen reservoir disposed in an air plenum adjacent the air cathode. The oxygen reservoir includes an oxygen binding compound characterized in that the oxygen binding compound reversibly binds oxygen and releases oxygen into the air in the air plenum to power the cell when the partial pressure of oxygen in the air plenum drops due to a load on the cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dry composition of materials to be used n a battery system. The dry composition comprises a mixture consisting of sodium hydroxide and sodium oxide. In a first reservoir in the battery system, the mixture is present in an amount sufficient to form with water a heated sodium hydroxide electrolyte solution having a 15% by weight concentration of sodium hydroxide. In a second reservoir in the battery system, the mixture is present in an amount sufficient to form with water a heated sodium hydroxide electrolyte solution having to up to about 75% by weight concentration of sodium hydroxide. The present invention also relates to a battery system and a method for generating electrical power which utilize the aforementioned dry composition of materials.

Abstract: A power supply system that allows a user to standardize on one or two battery types and use these supported types to power electronic devices designed to use other, non-supported battery types. A battery sleeve is provided to convert the form factor of one battery to that of another battery. The system may also include a battery pack assembly that allows batteries of a supported type to be used to power electronic devices designed to use a conventional, proprietary battery pack design. Such battery pack assemblies allow dedicated, single use battery chargers sold with a given electronic device to be used to charge consumer capped batteries that may be used in other electronic devices. A universal charger/power supply unit may be provided that can used to charge a variety of rechargeable batteries and provide power to a variety of electronic devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell with a current collector, polymeric solid electrolyte in the form of membranes, gas distributor rings and currents distributor as components, all components being made from a thermoplastic basic polymer soluble in a solvent, and in that this basic polymer is so modified for the individual components that the current collectors (1) are electrically conductive, the membranes (4) are ion-conductive, the current distributors (3) are gas-permeable and electrically conductive, and the gas distributor rings (2) are made of unmodified and/or electrically conductive basic polymer, and in that the components are combined by a bonding process without seals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid-electrolyte fuel cell including an anode that is intended to be in contact with a fuel; a cathode that is intended to be in contact with an oxidant for oxidizing the fuel; and a first oxygen-ion-conductive (electrolyte) film and a second oxygen-ion conductive film that are stuck together, are connected with the anode and the cathode, and are arranged in descending order toward the anode, by activation energy of oxygen ion. According to the fuel cell, it becomes possible to increase the open-circuit voltage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a leak resistant battery cover for storage batteries. The battery cover sealably engages a conventional battery housing having multiple cells separated by internal housing walls. The cover has a substantially flat interior area, a portion of which extends over part of each battery cell when the cover is placed upon a battery housing. The cover includes a cell chamber for each battery cell. Drain-back/vents communicate each cell chamber with its corresponding battery cell. The drain-back/vent, whether separate or integrated allows escape of electrolyte gases from the battery cells into the corresponding battery chamber and provide for the return of liquid electrolyte back to the cells from the cell chambers. None of the cell chambers communicate directly through the battery cover to atmosphere.One or more additional chambers are provided in the cover above the central cells of the battery housing.

Abstract: Apparatus operable to charge a controlled volume of an electrolyte through a filling opening into a battery case is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an electrolyte charging station, a manifold head having a vacuum outlet and a vacuum passageway connected to the vacuum outlet, an electrolyte reservoir and an electrolyte passageway connected to the reservoir, a manifold positioner operable to move the manifold head to and to support the head in a first position, in a second battery case evacuating position, and in a third battery case filling position, and a valve having a fluid discharge which is surrounded by a tube and is in fluid communication with the filling opening of a battery in the charging station when the manifold is in the second position and when the manifold is in the third position, and is spaced from the battery in the charging station when the manifold is in the first position.

Abstract: A terminal cap for a cylinder type non-aqueous secondary cell, the terminal cap having a projection and a flange integrally formed, a side wall of the projection being formed with openings, each opening is defined by the following equation:P=(Ro-Ri)/Rowhere P is set in the range of -0.1.ltoreq.P.ltoreq.+0.3, Ro is a diameter of a circle composed of sides of the openings on the side of the top surface of the projection and Ri is a diameter of a circle composed of sides of the openings on the side of the flange, respectively when the sides are projected along the direction vertical to the surface of the flange.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for storing and utilizing hydrogen comprising a liquefied hydrogen storage container 1 to be filled with liquefied hydrogen 2, a fuel cell 5 operable by a supply of hydrogen gas and serving as a hydrogen utilizing device, hydrogen gas piping 37 interconnecting the storage container 1 and the fuel cell 5, a hydrogen absorbing alloy container 3 connected to an intermediate portion of the piping 37 and having a hydrogen absorbing alloy 4 accommodated therein, a heat accumulator 6 having a heat storage medium 7 accommodated therein, piping 25 and a pump 22 for circulating the heat storage medium 7 between the fuel cell 5 and the heat accumulator 6, and piping 24 and a pump 21 for circulating the heat storage medium between the alloy container 3 and the heat accumulator 6.

Abstract: A method of improving the structural integrity of polymer electrolytes of electrochemical cell by employing lithiated zeolites, and optionally, inorganic fillers selected from SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2 and ZrO is provided.

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: A heat sensitive jacket label for a battery is disclosed. It comprises a base made of a heat-shrinking film, a metal layer provided on a back surface of the base, a heat-resistant insulating layer provided on the metal layer, and a heat sensitive adhesive on the insulating layer. The base heat-shrinks at a temperature at least 15.degree. C. higher than a temperature for effecting adhesion of the heat sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: A direct methanol type fuel cell comprises at least one fuel cell unit including an anode and a cathode and a plurality of separators. Each of the separators comprises an aqueous methanol solution flow-adjusting plate having grooves formed in parallel to a direction of gravity, and an oxygen containing gas flow-adjusting plate having grooves formed. A methanol tank and a water tank are connected to a supply passage through pumps respectively. The supply passage communicates through a passage to the aqueous methanol solution flow-adjusting plate. The aqueous methanol solution flow-adjusting plate is formed of a porous conductive material. Therefore, the aqueous methanol solution can be stably supplied at a uniform concentration to the entire operating surface of the anode.

Abstract: There is provided a disulfide type electrode material that can realize a remarkably improved energy density if used in a secondary battery as well as a secondary battery that shows a remarkably improved energy density. Such an organic electrode material comprises two or more than two but not more than six continuous S--S bonds.

Abstract: A novel processing method provides a separator or electrode film demonstrating good physical properties and excellent conductive properties. Specifically, a binder of a suitable polymer, such as a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVdF) homopolymer, and a filler material such as silica or alumina are homogenized, such as by ball milling, to form a mixture free of solvents or plasticizers. An appropriate plasticizer, such as dimethyl adipate, is mixed into the binder and filler materials, and the resulting material is formed into a sheet. The sheet is hot pressed or melt processed at a temperature greater than the softening point but less than the melting point of the polymer mix. Electrode films can also be made using the method herein.

Abstract: A battery which can reduce the manufacturing steps, reduce the waste of material, and prevent a short during the winding process, and a manufacturing method of the winding assembly of the above battery, are disclosed. A metal sheet having an expanded metal and an electrode lead, which is integrally formed with the expanded metal is provided. A reactive material which reacts with an electrolyte to generate current, is applied to recesses of two mold blocks. Then, a first electrode section is formed by positioning the metal sheet between the mold blocks, pressure-molding the metal sheet, and applying the reactive material to the expanded metal. A stacked structure obtained by interposing a separator, which is a thin metal plate having a same size as the expanded metal, between the first electrode section and a second electrode section. The structure is then wound outwards to obtain a winding assembly.