Abstract: A bipolar interconnection plate for use between adjacent fuel cell units in a stacked fuel cell assembly. Each plate is manufactured from an intermetallic composition, examples of which include NiAl or Ni.sub.3 Al which can catalyze steam reforming of hydrocarbons. Distributed within the intermetallic structure of the plate is a ceramic filler composition. The plate includes a first side with gas flow channels therein and a second side with fuel flow channels therein. A protective coating is applied to the first side, with exemplary coatings including strontium-doped or calcium-doped lanthanum chromite. To produce the plate, Ni and Al powders are combined with the filler composition, compressed at a pressure of about 10,000-30,000 psi, and heated to about 600.degree.-1000.degree. C. The coating is then applied to the first side of the completed plate using liquid injection plasma deposition or other deposition techniques.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery comprising a negative electrode, a non-aqueous solvent and a positive electrode having LiV.sub.2 O.sub.5 admixed with a conductive material. The conductive material is preferably carbon in an amount ranging from about 2 percent to 20 percent by weight of the positive electrode. Ten percent by weight is preferred. The LiV.sub.2 O.sub.5 is formed by discharging an admixture of V.sub.2 O.sub.5 and the conductive material in an electrochemical reactor with a lithium metal negative electrochemical and having an electrolyte salt in a non-aqueous solvent to reduce by one Faraday per mole of V.sub.2 O.sub.5 the admixture to convert all of the V.sub.2 O.sub.5. The cell is preferably discharged to about 2.8 volts to form the LiV.sub.2 O.sub.5 positive electrode which is then removed and formed into a predetermined electrode configuration for use as a positive electrode in a cell without lithium metal present.

Abstract: An active material for a positive electrode for lithium secondary batteries and composed of a lithium-manganese oxide (Li.sub.x Mn.sub.2 O.sub.4) with a spinel structure is produced by mixing manganese dioxide with lithium formate (HCOOLi) and/or lithium acetate (CH.sub.3 COOLi), heating the resulting mixture for 10 to 100 hours, preferably at a temperature of from 600.degree. C. to 750.degree. C., and if necessary, grinding the heated mixture. The constituents of the mixture contain manganese and lithium in a molar ratio (Mn:Li) of 2:x, where 0.5<x<1.5. The resulting product has an extremely fine crystallinity and exhibits good cycling stability.

Abstract: A simple method is disclosed for preparing LiPF.sub.6 based electrolytes for use in lithium non-aqueous batteries. LiPF.sub.6 is synthesized in a mixture of solvents employed in the electrolyte itself. Using the invention method, residual reactants and by-products of the reaction are easily removed to a required level for practical battery applications while the LiPF.sub.6 remains in solution. The method is suitable for preparing electrolytes for lithium ion batteries wherein solvents such as diethylcarbonate, ethylene carbonate, and propylene carbonate are employed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method comprising: a step in which a polyoxirane derivative of PEGDE or PPGDE having a water-dissolving rate of not less than 95 % by weight is dissolved in a solvent which has a solubility parameter of 13.0-10.1 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2, has a boiling point in a range of 101.degree.-190.degree. C.

Abstract: An improved method to lubricate a metal workpiece at elevated temperatures is described employing a novel polymer lubricant formed in situ. The novel lubricant is provided with a liquid mist of a vaporizable and polymerizable organic reactant being supplied to both workpiece and forming die at the elevated working temperatures.

Abstract: An aqueous top of rail lubricant comprises a synthetic lubricant, a synthetic thickener, propylene glycol and ethanol. The lubricating composition is consumed in 5 to 15 minutes in the heat generated by a passing train. The lubricant is environmentally innocuous.

Abstract: An electrode (40) for a Ni/MHx storage cell (47) is prepared by providing a substrate (62) and providing an active material in a finely divided form. A paste (60) of a mixture of the active material, optionally a finely divided carbon powder, and a solution of a polymer in an organic solvent is formed. The paste (60) is coated onto the substrate (62). The paste-coated substrate (62) is immersed into water to wash away the organic solvent and to precipitate the polymer, completing the anode fabrication. This electrode (40) is assembled with another electrode (44) and as a separator (46) between the electrodes (40 and 44) and provided with an electrolyte (50), to form the electrochemical cell (47).

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly includes a plurality of fuel cells. Each cell has a solid electrolyte plate, an oxygen electrode attached on one side of the electrolyte plate, a fuel electrode attached on the other side of the electrolyte plate and an electrically conductive flow-channel forming member disposed in opposition to the oxygen electrode for forming an oxygen-bearing gas channel or in opposition to the fuel electrode for forming a fuel gas channel. The fuel cells are stacked one on another with a predetermined space therebetween for forming the oxygen-bearing or fuel gas channel, in which an elastic electrically conductive member is provided for allowing electrical conduction as well as elasticity and gas permeability between the adjacently stacked fuel cells.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing electrical energy as chemical energy and recovering electrical energy from stored chemical energy. A solid oxide electrolyte electrochemical cell is operated in two modes. The first, energy storage, mode comprises steps of: (A) supplying electrical energy and steam to a solid oxide electrolyte electrochemical cell operating between 600.degree. C. and 1200.degree. C. as an electrolysis cell, to produce H.sub.2 and O.sub.2 ; (B) passing the H.sub.2 gas so produced into an energy storage reactor containing iron oxide, to produce iron metal and steam; (C) recirculating the steam produced in the energy storage reactor to the cathode of the electrolysis cell; and (D) repeating steps (A) to (C) until the iron oxide is converted to iron metal, for chemical storage of electrical energy. The second, energy recovery, mode comprises steps of: (E) supplying steam to the energy storage reactor containing iron metal, to produce iron oxides and H.sub.2 gas; (F) passing this H.sub.

Abstract: .beta.-Aminonitriles of the following formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having alkyl side groups and a number average molecular weight of from 250 to 5,000 and R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, independently of one another, are each hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl and R.sup.2 or R.sup.4 is also phenyl, and alkylpropylenediamines prepared from the .beta.-aminonitriles by hydrogenation are used as additives in fuels and lubricants.

Abstract: A high-storage-capacity electrical storage battery (20) includes a plurality of fiber anodes (22), a plurality of fiber cathodes (28) bundled together and interspersed with the fiber anodes (22), and an electrolyte in the interstices (40) between the fiber anodes (22) and the fiber cathodes (28). The fiber anodes (22) and the fiber cathodes (28) include anode fibers (24) and cathode fibers (30) that are each preferably of a diameter of 0.010-0.050 inches. A tubular compliant lateral casing (44) laterally surrounds the fiber anodes (22), the fiber cathodes (28), and the electrolyte. A compliant end plate (46) is sealed to the lateral casing (44) at each end thereof with an end of each fiber anode (22) extending out of a first end plate at a first end of the battery (20), and an end of each fiber cathode extending out of a second end plate at a second end of the battery (20). A protective metallic housing (45) overlies the compliant lateral casing (44).

Abstract: A method for lubricating engine parts, in which kerosene is added to engine lubricating oil. Upon running the engine, the kerosene is circulated through the engine, acting as a solvent to remove any deposits within the engine and cause the deposits to be expelled through the exhaust system.

Abstract: Tanning agents containing an .omega.,.omega.-dialdehyde as as the active tanning substance, optionally in a deactivated form, in combination with a polymer containing hydroxyl groups, and methods for using such tanning agents in the preparation of leather, particularly in pickling, tanning, and retanning.

Abstract: Petroleum fuels are tagged with markers having the formula: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from H, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, halogen, cyano and nitro and R.sup.3 is selected from methyl, methoxy methoxyethoxy and morpholino.

Abstract: This invention is directed to solid electrolytes containing an ion salt which function as a source of ions for producing conductivity. The anion portion of the ion salt is an organometallic structure which is capable of enhancing the ion conduction of electrolytic cells incorporating the solid electrolytes.

Abstract: Solid-state rechargeable secondary batteries comprise a composite cathode selected from the group consisting of LiNiO.sub.2, LiCoO.sub.2, and LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, a separator composed of a solid polymer electrolyte with propylene carbonate as a plasticizer, and a composite anode consisting of graphite, a solid polymer electrolyte containing propylene carbonate and 12-crown-4 ether.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite sheet electrode which has high strength, excellent current collecting properties and which is used efficiently as an active material for an electrode. The electrode has excellent discharge capacities and can be easily formed into an electrode terminal. A cell employing this electrode is also disclosed. The invention also provides a composite sheet electrode having a porosity of 20 to 80% containing 5 to 95% by weight of an active material of an electrode, 1 to 50% by weight of a current collecting material and heat fusible short fibers. The present invention also provides a composite sheet electrode having a porosity of 20 to 80%, which is made up of a composite sheet containing 5 to 95% by weight of an active material as an electrode and 5 to 95% by weight of heat fusible short fibers, as well as a current collecting material layer formed on said composite sheet. The present invention further provides a cell employing the latter-mentioned composite sheet electrode.

Abstract: A selectable connection battery housing apparatus includes a central wall assembly which defines a battery receiving region. A first housing cap assembly is selectively connectable to and removable from a first end portion of the central wall assembly, and a second housing cap assembly is selectively connectable to and removable from a second end portion of the central wall assembly. Each housing cap assembly includes a first surface which includes a first conductive strip adapted to connect to at least three first ends of three batteries retained in the battery receiving region inside the central wall assembly. The first housing cap assembly includes a second surface opposite to the first surface. The second surface includes a second conductive strip adapted to contact first ends of two of the at least three batteries and includes a third conductive strip adapted to contact a first end of one of the at least three batteries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a material for the purification of fluids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a material for flocculating and separating organic substances or surface active agents contained in waste water.