Abstract: A battery pack includes a cell group, a spacer, a plurality of bus bars, and a bus bar holder. The cell group includes stacked unit cells, each including a cell body having a power generation element and an electrode tab having distal end portions bent along the stacking direction. The spacer is disposed between adjacent electrode tabs. The bus bars electrically connect the electrode tabs to each other. The bus bar holder that holds the bus bars. The bus bar holder includes a restricting member disposed between adjacent electrode tabs, and extends along the stacking direction to restrict the electrode tabs by sandwiching the electrode tabs with the spacer. Portions of the electrode tabs are welded to a surface of the bus bars facing the unit cells when the stacking direction positions of the portions of the electrode tabs are restricted by the restricting member and the spacer.

Abstract: A method for assembling a battery pack having a cell group includes stacking the plurality of the unit cells such that distal end portions of the electrode tabs of the unit cells are bent along a stacking direction, disposing a pair of first cover members both ends of the unit cells in the stacking direction, disposing a pair of second cover members on both ends of the unit cells in a direction that intersects with the stacking direction, welding the first and second cover members while the cell group is pressurized using the first cover members. The welding of the first cover members and the second cover members is performed prior to electrically connecting the unit cells by a bus bar. The method further includes laser-welding the bus bar to distal end portions of the electrode tabs after the first cover members and the second cover members are welded.

Abstract: A positive electrode tab and negative electrode tab of a battery pack are configured by stacking a plurality of single cells each of which has positive electrode tab and negative electrode tab drawn outward and formed of metals different from each other in kind. In a welding method, clad material is disposed between positive electrode tab of second single cell and negative electrode tab of first single cell. Next, with a laser welder, focal point is aimed at interface between negative electrode tab and clad material, and laser is applied thereto from the side of negative electrode tab. Then, focal point is aimed at interface between positive electrode tab and clad material, and laser is applied thereto from the side of positive electrode tab.

Abstract: A positive electrode tab and negative electrode tab of a battery pack are configured by stacking a plurality of single cells each of which has positive electrode tab and negative electrode tab drawn outward and formed of metals different from each other in kind. In a welding method, clad material is disposed between positive electrode tab of second single cell and negative electrode tab of first single cell. Next, with a laser welder, focal point is aimed at interface between negative electrode tab and clad material, and laser is applied thereto from the side of negative electrode tab. Then, focal point is aimed at interface between positive electrode tab and clad material, and laser is applied thereto from the side of positive electrode tab.

Abstract: The present invention has been made to provide a battery pack having multiple battery modules each housing a stacked body in which multiple secondary batteries are stacked, and a method of manufacturing such a battery pack, which are capable of reducing the number of voltage detection wires for detecting voltages of the respective secondary batteries housed in the battery modules forming the battery pack. The battery pack includes: multiple battery modules (10A, 10B) each including a stacked body (20) in which multiple secondary batteries (30) are stacked, a pair of output terminals (60, 70), and a voltage detection terminal (80) which is used to detect terminal voltages of the secondary batteries and which has a rated current equal to or larger than a rated current of the pair of output terminals; and a bus bar (930) electrically connecting the voltage detection terminals of the multiple battery modules to each other.

Abstract: A method for preparing active carbon, which comprises:(a) a pulverization step of pulverizing a non-caking coal to pulverized particles having an average particle size of not larger than 10 .mu.m;(b) a granulation step of granulating the resulting pulverized particles to granules;(c) a carbonization step of carbonizing the resulting granules; and(d) an activation step of activating the resulting carbonized granules.

Abstract: A process for producing coal fillers, which comprises the steps of:(a) carbonization step, which comprises carbonizing crushed coal particles having a particle size of not more than 10 mm and an ash content of not more than 10% by weight by thermal decomposition at a temperature of 500.degree. to 2,000.degree. C.; and cooling the carbonized solids;(b) ultrafine pulverization step, which comprises preparing a slurry of the carbonized solids having a solids content of 10 to 50% by weight by adding a dispersion medium to the carbonized solids; and ultrafinely pulverizing the carbonized solids dispersed in the slurry to reduce the average particle size to not more than 5 .mu.m;(c) agglomeration step, which comprises adjusting the solids content of the slurry to 1 to 20% by weight by further adding water to the slurry of the ultrafinely pulverized solids; adding an oil having a boiling point of not more than 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A coffee roasting apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a coffee roasting drum which is operatively connected to a driving mechanism to cause the drum to rotate. The drum comprises a cylindrical element having an upper opening, a bottom opening and a bottom plate placed below the bottom opening to control the opening and closing of the bottom opening. An infrared heater is placed above the upper opening of the drum and an electrical heating element is placed below the drum at a position slightly above the lowermost portion of the drum. Coffee beans which are roasted by the radiation hearing of the infrared heater and the air which passes through the electrical heat element are discharged into a box through a gap defined between the bottom opening of the cylindrical element and the bottom plate.

Abstract: A process for upgrading the characteristics of moisture containing coal which comprises drying coal until the water content reaches substantially zero, rapidly heating the dried coal to a molding temperature of from 200.degree. to 400.degree. C. within a time of from 1 to 10 minutes, compression molding the dried coal under elevated pressure, oxidizing the molded coal and then steaming said oxidized molded coal in saturated moisture at from 80.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. from 2 to 8 hours to provide a dry upgraded coal having a decreased tendency to self-ignite.

Abstract: A process for improving low quality coal is disclosed, comprising subjecting a crushed low quality coal to a press treatment and a heat treatment. The process of the invention permits the production of improved coal from low quality coal, said improved coal having a high mechanical strength and a high density, and so forth, which realize the ease of handling in storage and transportation without a danger of spontaneous combustion.