Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a battery case, a cover that closes an open end of the battery case, and a power collection terminal arranged on the cover to supply power from a power generating element to an external terminal. The power collection terminal extends through a gasket arranged on a lower surface of the cover, an insulator arranged on an upper surface of the cover, and the external terminal arranged on an upper surface of the insulator. An annular sealing member is held between the lower surface of the cover and the gasket. The insulator is a resin-molded component. The insulator includes a through hole defined by an inner wall that includes a lower open end, an upper open end, and a central portion. At least one of the lower open end and the upper open end has a larger diameter than the central portion.

Abstract: A method for producing a battery resulting from the joining with a plurality of weld nuggets therebetween of a foil layered part, at which foil exposed portions exposing an aluminum foil overlap, and a positive terminal member made of aluminum, includes: a formation step for forming at the foil layered part a foil welded part at which are formed, by welding aluminum foils together by means of ultrasonic welding, a first high-position part at at least a section of a surface to be joined, and a plurality of first low-position parts distributed at scattered points within the first high-position part; and a resistance-welding step for contacting the first high-position part to the positive terminal member, generating weld nuggets at the first low-position part by flowing an electric current, and resistance-welding the foil welded part and the positive terminal member with the weld nuggets therebetween.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a battery case, a cover that closes an open end of the battery case, and a power collection terminal arranged on the cover to supply power from a power generating element to an external terminal. The power collection terminal extends through a gasket arranged on a lower surface of the cover, an insulator arranged on an upper surface of the cover, and the external terminal arranged on an upper surface of the insulator. An annular sealing member is held between the lower surface of the cover and the gasket. The insulator is a resin-molded component. The insulator includes a through hole defined by an inner wall that includes a lower open end, an upper open end, and a central portion. At least one of the lower open end and the upper open end has a larger diameter than the central portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery in which the drop in capacity retention rate is controlled by forming a coating in a more favorable state on the surface of the negative electrode active material.

Abstract: A method for producing a battery resulting from the joining with a plurality of weld nuggets therebetween of a foil layered part, at which foil exposed portions exposing an aluminum foil overlap, and a positive terminal member made of aluminum, includes: a formation step for forming at the foil layered part a foil welded part at which are formed, by welding aluminum foils together by means of ultrasonic welding, a first high-position part at at least a section of a surface to be joined, and a plurality of first low-position parts distributed at scattered points within the first high-position part; and a resistance-welding step for contacting the first high-position part to the positive terminal member, generating weld nuggets at the first low-position part by flowing an electric current, and resistance-welding the foil welded part and the positive terminal member with the weld nuggets therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery in which the drop in capacity retention rate is controlled by forming a coating in a more favorable state on the surface of the negative electrode active material.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material powder for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, wherein an amount of a liquid reagent absorbed by the powder is 20 to 40 ml per 100 g of the powder when the liquid reagent is dibutyl phthalate, and the amount is 20 to 50 ml per 100 g of the powder when the liquid reagent is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or water, the absorption amount is a value measured using a device according to test method A or B regarding DBP absorption based on JIS K6217 (1997), and the measured value is an amount of the liquid reagent added until the viscosity of a mixture of the powder and the liquid reagent reaches a level corresponding to 70% of a maximum torque which is recorded when a change in the viscosity of a mixture of the powder and the liquid reagent is measured by a torque detecting device.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte containing propylene carbonate and 1,3-propanesultone as additives can reduce the amount of a gas evolved during storage at a high temperature of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell comprising the electrolyte, a non-aqueous electrolyte containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of vinylene carbonate, diphenyl disulfide, di-p-tolydisulfide and bis(4-methoxyphenyl)disulfide as comprising the electrolyte, and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a combination of the above-two types of additives can provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell exhibiting excellent retention of capacity and storage stability.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material powder for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, wherein an amount of a liquid reagent absorbed by the powder is 20 to 40 ml per 100 g of the powder when the liquid reagent is dibutyl phthalate, and the amount is 20 to 50 ml per 100 g of the powder when the liquid reagent is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or water, the absorption amount is a value measured using a device according to test method A or B regarding DBP absorption based on JIS K6217 (1997), and the measured value is an amount of the liquid reagent added until the viscosity of a mixture of the powder and the liquid reagent reaches a level corresponding to 70% of a maximum torque which is recorded when a change in the viscosity of a mixture of the powder and the liquid reagent is measured by a torque detecting device.

Abstract: The open end of a battery case (1) that houses an electrode assembly (14) is sealed with a sealing plate (3), the top of the sealing plate (3) is closed off with an insulating plate (11), and inside a concave section formed in the sealing plate (3), a positive electrode lead (12) that extends from a positive electrode plate of the electrode assembly (14) is connected in series to a thermal fuse (8) and a PTC element (9) and then to a positive electrode terminal (+). A two fold safety function is provided so that in the case of an external short-circuit across the positive and negative electrodes, excessive current is regulated by a rapid increase in the resistance of the PTC element (9) accompanying the temperature increase, whereas if a temperature increase occurs that cannot be regulated in this manner, the thermal fuse (8) fuses, breaking the circuit.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte containing propylene carbonate and 1,3-propanesultone as additives can reduce the amount of a gas evolved during storage at a high temperature of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell comprising the electrolyte, a non-aqueous electrolyte containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of vinylene carbonate, diphenyl disulfide, di-p-tolyldisulfide and bis(4-methoxyphenyl)disulfide as an additive can improve cycle characteristics of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell comprising the electrolyte, and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a combination of the above two types of additives can provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell exhibiting excellent retention of capacity and storage stability.

Abstract: A method for managing a back-up power source capable of maintaining the discharge capacity of a nickel metal-hydride storage battery for a long-term at a low cost, and is suitable for the management of the back-up power source for the guidance lights, the emergency lights, the information telecommunication systems, and the like is disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are alkaline storage batteries which are higher in active material utilization as compared with conventional batteries and which can maintain the high utilization even after long-term charge-discharge cycle. Cobalt hydroxide having a BET specific surface area of 20-30 m.sup.2 /g and obtained by neutralization reaction of a cobalt salt solution and an aqueous alkali solution in the presence of a reducing agent is added to a positive electrode active material.

Abstract: There is provided a method of making uniform porous fluoroplastic membranes having a high Gurley number and a narrow permeability range, this method comprising closing the pores on part of the surface of a fluoroplastic film by compression or by application of an ink. Also provided is a button type air depolarized battery having stable, long-term discharge characteristics over a wide range of load, by employing therein the foregoing porous fluoroplastic membrane having a high Gurley number. The battery structure is similar to that of a conventional battery, but is equipped with the foregoing improved fluoroplastic membrane.

Abstract: This invention relates to a battery pack composed of a plurality of flat type gas depolarizable galvanic cells such as the zinc-air battery system and its packaging method for such battery pack. More specifically, projections of a certain value of height are formed on at least one of the outer surfaces of the positive and negative terminals of the flat type gas depolarizable galvanic cells and a hydrophobic membrane of a certain value of Gurley number is employed in each cell in the battery pack.