Abstract: The present invention concerns a fire safety arrangement for a battery. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns a fire safety arrangement for a metal ion battery, for example a lithium ion battery. A metal ion battery cell comprises a plurality of electrodes and an electrolyte encased within a housing. The housing comprises a safety valve or vent configured to allow gas build up within the housing to vent outside the housing. A fabric band surrounds the housing, such that the fabric band covers the safety valve or vent. This may allow gas to pass through the fabric band, but contain sparks generated by the battery cell within the fabric band.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a fire safety arrangement for a battery. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns a fire safety arrangement for a metal ion battery, for example a lithium ion battery cell. The metal ion battery cell comprises a plurality of electrodes and an electrolyte encased within a housing. The housing comprises a safety valve or vent to allow gas build up within the housing to vent outside the housing, and a fabric envelope surrounding the housing. Any sparks generated by the battery are contained within the fabric envelope, thereby reducing or eliminating the chances of fire or explosion.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a fire safety arrangement for a battery. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns a fire safety arrangement for a metal ion battery, for example a lithium ion battery cell. A metal ion battery cell comprises a plurality of electrodes and an electrolyte encased within a housing. The housing comprises a safety valve or vent configured to allow gas build up within the housing to vent outside the housing, and a felt filter covering the safety valve or vent, such that gas may pass through the felt filter, but sparks are contained within the felt filter.

Abstract: Bidirectional electrical power systems are provided that include versatile battery packs. For example, a battery pack is introduced which may have both a first interface or port for high voltage fast charging and discharging, and a second interface or port for low voltage supply of power to present equipment without requiring modification or retrofitting. The battery pack may include, for example, a first battery module within the battery pack; a second battery module within the battery pack; and a switching matrix within the battery pack and configured to connect the first and second battery modules in series or in parallel.

Abstract: A method of controlling a roll gap between first and second work rolls (102, 104) that includes defining a plurality of work surface locations spaced apart along the first work roll (102) in the longitudinal direction; obtaining a radius of the work surface (102a) of the first work roll (102) at each of the work surface locations; based on the radii of the work surface locations, obtaining a longitudinal profile of the work surface (102a); based on the longitudinal profile, tilting the first work roll (102) relative to the second work roll (104) in the common plane in order to reduce a difference in the average size of the gap either side of a centerline (CL), which bisects the longitudinal axes of the first and second work rolls (102, 104).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a lead acid battery which undergoes discharging phases and charging phases in a cyclical fashion. The method involves monitoring the current discharged from the battery during a discharging phase and recording information relating to that current flow, such as the charge lost from the battery. During the subsequent charging phase, a desired amount of charge to be supplied to the battery is calculated based upon the recorded information, and then supplied to the battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a lead acid battery which undergoes discharging phases and charging phases in a cyclical fashion. The method involves monitoring the current discharged from the battery during a discharging phase and recording information relating to that current flow, such as the charge lost from the battery. During the subsequent charging phase, a desired amount of charge to be supplied to the battery is calculated based upon the recorded information, and then supplied to the battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a lead acid battery in which the battery is monitored during the discharging and charging of the battery, and information relating to the discharging and/or charging history of the battery, such as the total charge supplied to the battery over its lifetime, is recorded, and the voltage applied during the charging of the battery is adjusted in dependence upon that information.

Abstract: An electrode plate (Ib) for a lead acid battery comprises an electrode material supported on a metal support in which the metal support comprises a body portion and a tab portion (4c) which extends from the periphery of the body portion. The body portion comprises a region of grid (2b) and a conduction rail (3c, 3d) which has at its widest part a width of at least 5 mm and which extends in a direction generally parallel to the direction in which the tab portion (4c) extends from the periphery of the body portion. Preferably, the metal support comprises two conduction rails (3c, 3d) which are tapered in opposite directions.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for making an electrode for a lead acid battery in which a continuous metal support (26) is pasted with active material to make a continuous strip of electrode material and electrode portions (27) are cut from that strip in which the electrode portions (27) each comprise a body portion (28) and at least one tab portion (29a, 29b) which extends from an edge of the body (28) in a longitudinal direction along the length of the strip of the electrode material (26).

Abstract: A process for making a battery includes providing a lid (31) having a least one metal insert (22) containing an aperture or apertures (26) for the plate lugs. During assembly of the battery the lid (31) is placed over the plate stack such that the plate lugs of the battery plates extend into the aperture or apertures (26). Heat is then applied to the outer surface of the metal insert (22) to weld the plate lugs to the insert (22).

Abstract: Devices include a plurality of batteries connectable in series and arranged in vertically stacked configurations. Each of the batteries includes opposite first and second lateral faces and a positive terminal and a negative terminal adjacent the first face. The first and second lateral faces each have nesting topography thereon. A first substantially vertically oriented sideplate has nesting topography thereon configured to receive the nesting topography of the first faces of the batteries and an electrical connector connected to a positive terminal of one battery and a negative terminal of an adjacent battery. A second substantially vertically oriented sideplate has nesting topography configured to receive the nesting topography of the second faces of the batteries.

Abstract: Devices include a plurality of batteries connectable in series and arranged in vertically stacked configurations. Each of the batteries includes opposite first and second lateral faces and a positive terminal and a negative terminal adjacent the first face. The first and second lateral faces each have nesting topography thereon. A first substantially vertically oriented sideplate has nesting topography thereon configured to receive the nesting topography of the first faces of the batteries and an electrical connector connected to a positive terminal of one battery and a negative terminal of an adjacent battery. A second substantially vertically oriented sideplate has nesting topography configured to receive the nesting topography of the second faces of the batteries.