Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode assembly, a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a container. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. The negative electrode is opposed to the positive electrode. The separator is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The container houses the electrode assembly and the nonaqueous electrolyte. The container has a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal. The positive electrode terminal is electrically connected to the positive electrode. The negative electrode terminal is electrically connected to the negative electrode. The container further includes a short-circuiting mechanism that short-circuits the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal if the internal pressure rises. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB).

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a high performance studless tire, which has both good braking force and high handling stability on ice or snow, at higher productivity and at a lower price for customers. The studless tire comprises a tread made of a rubber composition that contains 0.5 to 5.0 parts by mass of a fatty acid and/or a derivative of the fatty acid per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a synthesis system that can synthesize aniline and/or styrene efficiently, a synthesis system that can synthesize butadiene (1,3-butadiene) efficiently, a rubber chemical for a tire which is synthesized from the aniline obtained by the synthesis system, a synthetic rubber for a tire which is synthesized from the styrene and/or butadiene obtained by the synthesis systems, and a pneumatic tire produced using the rubber chemical for a tire and/or the synthetic rubber for a tire. The present invention relates to a synthesis system for synthesizing aniline and/or styrene from an alcohol having two or more carbon atoms via an aromatic compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides rubber compositions for tires which are capable of improving handling stability, fuel efficiency, and processability while sufficiently reducing the dependence on petroleum resources, and pneumatic tires including tire components (e.g. bead apex) formed from the rubber compositions for tires. The present invention relates to rubber compositions for tires, containing a rubber component and a naturally derived phenolic resin.

Abstract: A prismatic secondary battery 10 includes a prismatic hollow outer body having a mouth and a bottom and storing an electrode assembly, a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode collector, and an electrolyte, a sealing plate 20 sealing up the mouth of the prismatic hollow outer body, and a positive electrode terminal 15 and a negative electrode terminal 17 attached to the sealing plate 20; the sealing plate 20 includes a gas release valve 25 at the center between the positive electrode terminal 15 and the negative electrode terminal 17 and includes an electrolyte pour hole 23 on one side of the gas release valve 25 and, on the other side on the front face, a concaved flat face with a height lower than that of the peripheral portion; and the concaved flat face is formed with an identification code 33.

Abstract: A sealing plate for a prismatic secondary battery includes a pair of mouths for attaching a negative and positive electrode terminals, one mouth being formed near one end in a longitudinal direction of the sealing plate, and the other mouth being formed near the other end, coining areas used for positioning of an insulating member and formed around the pair of mouths on a front face of the sealing plate, a gas release valve and an electrolyte pour hole formed between the pair of mouths, and grooves formed between the respective coining areas and the long side edge of the sealing plate. The groove has a smaller depth near the gas release valve than the depth near the coining area. Even when the sealing plate is produced through forging, the front face has good flatness and the coining areas are unlikely to have a sink mark or a shear drop.

Abstract: A prismatic secondary battery 10 includes a prismatic hollow outer body having a mouth and a bottom and storing an electrode assembly, a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode collector, and an electrolyte, a sealing plate 20 sealing up the mouth of the prismatic hollow outer body, and a positive electrode terminal 15 and a negative electrode terminal 17 attached to the sealing plate 20; the sealing plate 20 includes a gas release valve 25 at the center between the positive electrode terminal 15 and the negative electrode terminal 17 and includes an electrolyte pour hole 23 on one side of the gas release valve 25 and, on the other side on the front face, a concaved flat face with a height lower than that of the peripheral portion; and the concaved flat face is formed with an identification code 33.

Abstract: The positive electrode substrate exposed portions or the negative electrode substrate exposed portions, or both, of an electrode assembly is split into two groups, and therebetween is disposed an intermediate member made of a resin material and holding one or more connecting conductive members. Collector members for the substrate exposed portions split into two groups is electrically joined by a resistance welding method to the substrate exposed portions split into two groups, together with the connecting conductive member(s) of the intermediate member. The resin material portion of the intermediate member protrudes, in the extension direction of the substrate exposed portions split into two groups, beyond the ends of the substrate exposed portions split into two groups and the ends of the collector member to a prismatic outer can. This structure enables enhanced resistance between the substrate exposed portions and the collector member and curbs variation in the welding strength.

Abstract: A prismatic secondary battery includes a prismatic hollow outer body having a mouth and a bottom and storing an electrode assembly, a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode collector, and an electrolyte, a sealing plate sealing up the mouth of the prismatic hollow outer body, and a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal attached to the sealing plate; the sealing plate includes a gas release valve at the center between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal and includes an electrolyte pour hole on one side of the gas release valve and, on the other side on the front face, a concaved flat face with a height lower than that of the peripheral portion; and the concaved flat face is formed with an identification code.

Abstract: A sealing plate for a prismatic secondary battery includes a pair of mouths for attaching a negative and positive electrode terminals, one mouth being formed near one end in a longitudinal direction of the sealing plate, and the other mouth being formed near the other end, coining areas used for positioning of an insulating member and formed around the pair of mouths on a front face of the sealing plate, a gas release valve and an electrolyte pour hole formed between the pair of mouths, and grooves formed between the respective coining areas and the long side edge of the sealing plate. The groove has a smaller depth near the gas release valve than the depth near the coining area. Even when the sealing plate is produced through forging, the front face has good flatness and the coining areas are unlikely to have a sink mark or a shear drop.

Abstract: In a prismatic secondary battery, an internal negative electrode terminal is electrically connected to a collector through through-holes formed in a sealing plate, a gasket, and an insulating member in a manner electrically insulated from the sealing plate. The sealing plate has one face on which a protrusion is formed, an insulating plate has a face that is on the sealing plate and on which a concave portion fitted to the protrusion is formed, each of the protrusion and the concave portion of the insulating plate is provided at one position on respective sides of the through-hole, and at least one of the protrusions has a top face on which a concave portion is formed. The battery having such a structure is unlikely to cause rotary displacement between the insulating plate and the sealing plate even when a rotary torque is applied to the internal terminal.

Abstract: A current interruption mechanism for prismatic secondary battery includes a tubular conductive member electrically connected to a positive electrode external terminal, an inversion plate, and a positive electrode collector connected to the inversion plate. The positive electrode collector has a first region that is parallel to a sealing body and a second region that is connected to a positive electrode plate. The boundaries between the first and second regions are disposed further outward than the inner surface of the tubular conductive member, and at least one of the edge portions, other than the boundaries between the first region and second region, is located further outward than the inner surface of the tubular portion of the conductive member. The current interruption mechanism is unlikely to be damaged even if the battery is subjected to shock due to vibration, falling, etc.

Abstract: The positive electrode substrate exposed portions or the negative electrode substrate exposed portions, or both, of an electrode assembly is split into two groups, and therebetween is disposed an intermediate member made of a resin material and holding one or more connecting conductive members. Collector members for the substrate exposed portions split into two groups is electrically joined by a resistance welding method to the substrate exposed portions split into two groups, together with the connecting conductive member(s) of the intermediate member. The resin material portion of the intermediate member protrudes, in the extension direction of the substrate exposed portions split into two groups, beyond the ends of the substrate exposed portions split into two groups and the ends of the collector member to a prismatic outer can. This structure enables enhanced resistance between the substrate exposed portions and the collector member and curbs variation in the welding strength.

Abstract: A crimped portion of a positive electrode external terminal is crimped on its upper end side to be electrically connected to a positive electrode terminal plate. This crimped portion is welded to the positive electrode terminal plate by applying high energy beams. The negative electrode side has a configuration similar to that of the positive electrode side. The contact area between the positive electrode terminal plate and the crimped portion of the positive electrode external terminal is set smaller than the corresponding contact area on the negative electrode side, and the volume of the crimped portion of the positive electrode external terminal is set larger than that of the corresponding crimped portion on the negative electrode side. Thus, a prismatic secondary battery is provided that shows strong joining strength between the external terminal and the terminal plate, suppressed internal resistance variations, and improved reliability.

Abstract: In a prismatic sealed secondary battery provided with an outer can made of a metal, the ability of inserting the electrode assembly into the outer can is improved to restrain the displacement and damages of the insulation member when inserting the electrode assembly into the outer can. The prismatic sealed secondary battery of the present invention includes an insulation member having a bottomed box shape which is a shape obtained by eliminating the upper surface from the surfaces of a hexahedron having a cuboid form, wherein each width of at least a pair of side surfaces facing each other in the insulation member is smaller than the width of the electrode assembly facing the pair of side surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a rubber composition for a studless tire that contributes to both good braking force and high handling stability on ice or snow, and a high performance studless tire using the rubber composition. The rubber composition for the studless tire contains: a mixture of a zinc salt of an aliphatic carboxylic acid and a zinc salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid; an oil or a plasticizer; and a rubber component that comprises 40% by mass or more of a butadiene rubber relative to 100% by mass of a total amount of the rubber component.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a tire rubber composition excellent in performances such as silica dispersibility and processability. The present invention relates to a tire rubber composition, comprising: a rubber component that contains an epoxidized natural rubber; silica; and a silane coupling agent, wherein the amount of the epoxidized natural rubber in 100% by mass of the rubber component is 15% by mass or more, the silica has a CTAB specific surface area of 180 m2/g or more and a BET specific surface area of 185 m2/g or more, and the silane coupling agent contains a mercapto group.

Abstract: There is provided a prismatic secondary battery having high reliability and including a connecting part, wherein a terminal member and an external conduction member are connected by a swaged part and a welded part. The terminal member includes a flange, a first connecting part formed on a first surface side of the flange, and a second connecting part formed on a second surface side of the flange. The flange and the second connecting part are disposed on a battery exterior side than a sealing body. The first connecting part penetrates a through-hole formed in the sealing body. The second connecting part penetrates a through-hole formed in an external conduction member. The second connecting part includes a tip part swaged on the external conduction member. An abutting part of a tip of the swaged part of the second connecting part and a protruding part of the external conduction member is weld-connected.

Abstract: A prismatic nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a convex portion on a stepped portion of a stepped through hole of a positive electrode external conduction member. An upper end side of a caulked portion of a positive electrode terminal member is caulked by being inserted from a side of a small-diameter portion into the stepped through hole of a positive electrode external conduction member, and a convex portion of the positive electrode external conduction member is covered with a tip side of the caulked portion. Therefore, a terminal member and an external conduction member have a great bond strength, and rarely rotate with respect to each other. Thus, there is less concern that a conductivity decreases even when the battery is used under an environment including a lot of vibrations.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolytic solution comprising a non-aqueous solvent and an electrolyte, which further contains a combination of a nitrile compound and an S?O group-containing compound (or a dinitrile compound) in an amount of 0.001 to 10 wt. % imparts improved cycle performance and storage property to a lithium battery, particularly a lithium secondary battery.