Abstract: Secondary batteries and methods of manufacture thereof are provided. A secondary battery can comprise an offset between electrode and counter-electrode layers in a unit cell. Secondary batteries can be prepared by removing a population of negative electrode subunits from a negative electrode sheet, the negative electrode sheet comprising a negative electrode sheet edge margin and at least one negative electrode sheet weakened region that is internal to the negative electrode sheet edge margin, removing a population of separator layer subunits from a separator sheet, and removing a population of positive electrode subunits from a positive electrode sheet, the positive electrode sheet comprising a positive electrode edge margin and at least one positive electrode sheet weakened region that is internal to the positive electrode sheet edge margin, and stacking members of the negative electrode subunit population, the separator layer subunit population and the positive electrode subunit population.

Abstract: Embodiments of secondary batteries having electrode assemblies are provided. A secondary battery can comprise an electrode assembly having a stacked series of layers, the stacked series of layers having an offset between electrode and counter-electrode layers in a unit cell member of the stacked series. A set of constraints can be provided with a primary constraint system with first and second primary growth constraints separated from each other in a longitudinal direction, and connected by at least one primary connecting member, and a secondary constraint system comprises first and second secondary growth constraints separated in a second direction and connected by members of the stacked series of layers. The primary constraint system may at least partially restrain growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction, and the secondary constraint system may at least partially restrain growth in the second direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A substantially continuous tube-pulling operation is performed through the use of a plurality of pulling deivces, each of which is designed to partially pull a tube from its associated holder. By operating the pulling devices in a consecutive and repetitive fashion, the tube can be completely stripped from the holder in a single continuous operation.

Abstract: Tube-pulling apparatus include expandable gripping jaws and an expansion rod adapted to expand the gripping jaws so that they grip an inner wall of a tube to be pulled from a tube sheet. A first piston, which is connected to the expansion rod, moves the expansion rod relative to the gripping jaws to effect their expansion. After the gripping jaws are fully expanded, the first piston cooperates with a second piston, which is connected to the gripping jaws, to conjointly retract the expansion rod and the gripping jaws, thereby extracting the tube. If the gripping jaws are misadjusted resulting in their complete expansion before the first piston assumes its cooperative relationship with the second piston, retraction of the second piston is prevented, thereby automatically aborting the tube-pulling operation to prevent damage to the tube sheet.