Abstract: A battery pack is disclosed, in which terminal members can be fixed to cases, and which its entire volume can be reduced. The battery pack comprises a pair of battery cells electrically connected in series to each other, a pair of cases receiving the battery cells and including a lid, a cell receiving portion, and a connecting portion respectively, and a pair of terminal members connected to electrodes of the battery cells and fixed to a case so that they are externally exposed. According to the battery pack, as the battery cells are received so as to be exposed outside the cases, its total volume can be reduced. In addition, it has another advantage of fixing the terminal members to the cases positively and easily.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolytic secondary battery has a seal whose transparency and permeability with respect to external gas or moisture can be suppressed to a low level and which has high reliability. The nonaqueous electrolytic secondary battery has an electrolytic solution injection port (32) for injecting a nonaqueous electrolytic solution and an expansion plug (4) for air-tightly sealing the electrolytic solution injection port. A metal seal (2) is arranged between the electrolytic solution injection port (32) and the expansion plug (4). The metal seal (2) is of a metal containing aluminum as a main component, or a stainless steel, and the expansion plug (4) is of stainless steel.

Abstract: A low cost, lanthanide-substituted, dimensionally and thermally stable, gas permeable, electrically conductive, porous ceramic air electrode composition of lanthanide-substituted doped lanthanum manganite is provided which is used as the cathode in high temperature, solid oxide electrolyte fuel cells and generators. The air electrode composition of this invention has a much lower fabrication cost as a result of using a lower cost lanthanide mixture, either a natural mixture or an unfinished lanthanide concentrate obtained from a natural mixture subjected to incomplete purification, as the raw material in place of part or all of the higher cost individual lanthanum. The mixed lanthanide primarily contains a mixture of at least La, Ce, Pr, and Nd, or at least La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm in its lanthanide content, but can also include minor amounts of other lanthanides and trace impurities. The use of lanthanides in place of some or all of the lanthanum also increases the dimensional stability of the air electrode.

Abstract: A non-aqueous secondary battery comprises a positive electrode-active material, a negative electrode material and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein an electrode mixture for positive electrode containing the positive electrode-active material comprises a compound in which anions can be inserted at a voltage of not less than 3.9 V (with respect to an Li.sup.+ /Li electrode). Moreover, the electrode mixture for positive electrode may further comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of transition metals, elements of Group IIIB and IVB (except for C) and carbides thereof. The non-aqueous secondary battery can ensure safety against any overcharge and has a high discharge voltage.

Abstract: A battery pack device which can be removably attached to a SPH-4 helmet and used to power an ANVIS night vision goggle device which is mounted on the helmet. The battery pack device includes a battery pack assembly with a bent-shaped housing that enables the battery pack assembly to conform to the shape of the helmet. The housing of the battery pack assembly is adapted to hold only two replaceable AA battery sets to minimize the weight of the battery pack device. The battery pack assembly also includes electrical circuitry for selecting one of the two battery sets to power the night vision device. A support assembly adapted to be permanently fastened to the helmet is provided for removably attaching the battery pack assembly to the rear of the helmet.

Abstract: A battery separator for use in flooded cell type lead acid batteries comprising a backweb of a porous, acid resistant, embossable material with a plurality of ribs extending from at least one planar surface of the backweb. The ribs are located across the width of the backweb and extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the backweb. Each rib is an embossed corrugated structure comprised of alternating ridges and furrows. The ridges and furrows are in non-parallel alignment to the longitudinal dimension of the separator, and preferably perpendicular thereto. The ribs are formed on a substantially flat battery separator backweb by passing the backweb through the nip formed by a pair of opposed embossing rollers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium secondary cell containing a positive electrode including a material which occludes and exudes lithium; a negative electrode containing a negative material including graphite; and a separator disposed between the positive and negative electrodes; wherein the quantity of lithium occluded in the negative material in a fully-charged state is less than 55% of the theoretical lithium occlusion capacity of the negative electrode.

Abstract: Non-aqueous solid electrochemical cells with improved performance can be fabricated by employing intercalation based carbon anodes comprising a mixture of carbon particles having different morphologies and selected from platelet-type, microbead-type and/or fiber-type structures. The anodes exhibit good cohesion and adhesion characteristics. When employed in an electrochemical cell, the anode can attain a specific electrode capacity of at least 300 mAh/g. The electrochemical cell has a cycle life of greater than 1000 cycles, and has a first cycle capacity loss of only about 5-15%.

Abstract: A method of fabricating electrochemical cells and batteries wherein the successive anode and cathode layers are separated by a polymeric electrolyte layer having a protruding polymer edge around its perimeter which reduces the likelihood of inadvertent contact between the anode and cathode current collectors is provided. The polymer edge functions as a non-conducting physical barrier positioned between adjacent current collectors.

Abstract: In the present invention, an organic electrolyte secondary cell of the present invention is comprised of a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a carbon material occluding and discharging lithium ion, and an organic electrolyte. In the cell, at least a part of the carbon material is covered with a lithium alkoxide compound having a molecular weight more than 52.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multicell battery by connecting a plurality of cells in series, with the purposes of improving the charge/discharge characteristics and enhancing the productivity of the manufacturing process. A convex electrode terminal formed in the upper part of one cell is welded to one end of a lead tab, and another cell is disposed above the cell connected to the lead tab so that the center lines of the two cells are parallel. A flat electrode terminal formed in the lower part of the other cell and another end of the lead tab are welded indirectly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a redox battery using two layer, liquid permeable, porous electrodes, each having a porous electrode layer having high surface area comprising carbon fiber at the septum side and a porous electrode layer having low surface area comprising carbon fiber at the bipolar plate side. The battery has excellent properties such as high current density, low pump pressure loss, and high output.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode with lithium as active material, a nonaqueous electrolyte comprising a solute and a solvent, and a separator, the nonaqueous electrolyte further comprising 3.times.10.sup.-4 to 3.times.10.sup.-2 mole/liter, preferably 1.5.times.10.sup.-3 to 6.times.10.sup.-3 mole/liter of a specific calcium salt. This battery, with the nonaqueous electrolyte incorporating the specific calcium in the specific amount, causes little self-discharge during storage, thus having excellent storage stability.

Abstract: A non-aqueous liquid electrolyte secondary battery using a carbon material satisfying predetermined conditions of true density and parameters of crystalline structure as an anode material, a transition metal composite oxide having predetermined ion supply capability as a cathode material, and ethylene carbonate as a non-aqueous solvent, is disclosed. The carbon material has a true density of 2.2 g/cm.sup.3 and greater, an interplanar distance of (002) plane of between 0.375 and 0.338 nm, inclusive a C-axis crystallite size of the (002) plane of 20.0 nm and greater and a G value in Raman spectrum of 2.5 and greater. The transition metal composite oxide contains lithium of an amount equivalent to a charge/discharge capacity of 300 mAh and greater per unit weight of the carbon material. The carbon material forming the anode has a grain diameter of 1 .mu.m and greater. The non-aqueous solvent is a mixed solvent of ethylene carbonate and chain carbonic ester.

Abstract: A gastight, sealed metal oxide/metal hydride storage battery, in particular, a nickel/metal hydride button cell, includes an auxiliary electrode with an active material composed of the same hydrogen storage alloy as that of the negative electrode with which the auxiliary electrode is electrically associated. As a result, the auxiliary electrode can maintain both oxygen consumption as well as hydrogen consumption (in the event of overcharging or polarity reversal of the cell). High gas consumption rates in the event of overcharging and polarity reversal are achieved with a strongly hydrophobic adjustment of the auxiliary electrode and a relatively weakly hydrophobic or hydrophilic adjustment of the negative electrode (by means of hydrophobic or hydrophilic binder additions, respectively), and by adding a highly conductive metal powder (Cu or Ni) to the mass of the negative electrode. Also achieved is a good discharge capacity, even at high currents of up to 2 CA.

Abstract: A package for a flat electrochemical device comprises a flexible circuit board. Building from a base layer (62), the flexible circuit board has a conductor layer disposed on the outermost side of the base layer providing a first and second contact portion (56 and 58), a cover coat layer (50) is disposed over the conductor layer and the base layer over the outermost side of the base layer, a first collector (64) is disposed on the first half (47) on the innermost side of the base layer, and a second collector (66) is disposed on the second half (48) on the innermost side of the base layer. The first collector is electrically connected to a runner by a first plated through-hole (70), and the second collector is electrically connected to the second contact portion through a second plated through-hole (72). And finally, a fringe portion (68) is provided by the base layer about the periphery of the first and second halves.

Abstract: A lithium ion or similar lithium secondary battery pack (10) includes an overvoltage disconnect circuit having an overvoltage disconnect switch (14), a voltage detector (16), and a delay circuit (18). The battery pack is connectable to a recharger which was not designed to accomodate the charge regime of the lithium ion cell or cells (12), such as a nickel system recharger (20). The voltage detector samples the battery voltage and changes its output signal if the battery voltage reaches an upper voltage threshold. The output of the voltage detector will not revert back until the battery voltage drops to a lower voltage threshold, which is below the upper voltage threshold.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel applications of a battery pack, which is detachably attached to specific power-driven tools. A battery holder of the invention is applicable as a separate power source of portable electrical appliances used for and in automobiles. A body (2) of a battery holder (1) is a flat box-like part including an upper housing (3) and a lower housing (4), which are separable from and joined with each other by means of a plurality of bolts (5). A metal hook (6) projected from the lower housing (4) is held and fixed between the upper housing (3) and the lower housing (4). A shoulder belt or hand strap (8) with both ends thereof held by a pair of pins (7,7) extending from the lower housing (4) to the upper housing (3) is attached to the body (2) for making the battery holder (1) handy to carry. A socket element (9) formed on one shorter side of the body (2) is connectable with a cigar lighter plug.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode having lithium as an active material, a nonaqueous electrolyte comprising a solute and a solvent, and a separator. The solvent is a mixed solvent consisting essentially of 5 to 50% by volume of cyclic carbonate, 5 to 50% by volume of chain carbonate and 40 to 80% by volume of ether. The mixed solvent of a specific composition is less likely to cause undesirable surface layer formation on the negative electrode so that the electric resistance of the interface between the negative electrode and nonaqueous electrolyte is kept small. The nonaqueous electrolyte battery of the invention can therefore deliver a large amount of current and provide a high discharge capacity at low temperatures.

Abstract: A battery separator having sodium sulfate incorporated therein in order to reduce and/or eliminate hydration short problems in batteries. The preferred method of adding sodium sulfate directly to the separator is via the use of sodium sulfate-containing silica as a separator filler added during the process of manufacturing the separator. The present invention is also directed to a battery separator containing a relatively high level of sodium sulfate, and to batteries which incorporate such separators.