Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery capable of making behavior of the battery calm at a time of battery abnormality to secure safety is provided. In a lithium-ion secondary battery 20, an electrode group 6 is accommodated in a cylindrical battery container 7 having a bottom. A positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are wound via separators W5 to form the electrode group 6. The positive electrode plate has an aluminum foil W1 as a positive electrode collector. A positive electrode mixture including a lithium transition metal complex oxide as a positive electrode active material is applied to both surfaces of the aluminum foil W1 to form a positive electrode mixture layer W2. A flame retardant layer W6 containing a flame retardant is formed at a surface of the positive electrode mixture layer W2. The negative electrode plate has a rolled copper foil W3 as a negative electrode collector.

Abstract: An acid liquid leakage sensor quickly detecting liquid leakage from a device, such as a battery or the like, containing an acid liquid includes a first conductive member, a second conductive member, and an electrically insulating material which establishes an electrically insulating state between these first and second conductive members. The electrically insulating material includes a macromolecular compound having a basic functional group, and an electrical insulation characteristic or high resistance characteristic that decreases upon reaction with an acid liquid. It is possible to detect leakage of acid liquid, such as battery fluid, by detecting the change of conductive state between the first conductive member and the second conductive member which accompanies a decrease of the electrical insulation characteristic or high resistance characteristic of the electrically insulating material, when acid liquid leaks out and drips down the electrically insulating material.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery capable of maintaining for a long time fire resistance of a nonaqueous electrolytic solution at a time of battery abnormality to secure safety is provided. In the lithium ion battery, two kinds of organic solvent, EC and DEC, are used for mixed organic solvent which forms the nonaqueous electrolytic solution, and liquid flame retardant formed by phosphazene A having a boiling point closely to that of EC and phosphazene B having a boiling point closely to that of DEC is added to the electrolytic solution. At battery abnormality, when the battery temperature goes up due to internal short circuit of positive and negative electrodes caused by melting of separators to decompose each of EC and DEC, the phosphazene A and B, each having the boiling point closely to that of EC and DEC, decompose timely to function, thereby fire resistance of the electrolytic solution can be maintained for a long time to secure safety of the battery at the time of battery abnormality.

Abstract: A manganese non-aqueous electrolyte battery having safety at a time of battery abnormality and having a long life span is provided. A battery 20 has a cylindrical container 7 having a bottom. An electrode group 6 where a positive electrode plate that a spinel-related lithium manganese complex oxide is used as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode plate that a carbon material is used as a negative electrode active material are wound via separators W5, is accommodated in the container 7. The electrode group 6 is infiltrated by an electrolytic solution in which LiBF4 is added as an electrolyte to organic solvent. Further, a phosphazene flame retardant is added at 10 wt % to the electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution hardly catches fire at a time of battery abnormality and manganese elution can be prevented.

Abstract: A remaining-battery-capacity estimating apparatus estimates the remaining capacity of a battery used as a backup. The apparatus reduces the voltage output from a rectifier to an actual load, measures current flowing from the rectifier and the battery to the actual load and a dummy load device provided separately from the actual load, controls the load of the dummy load device such that the measured current is a predetermined value, and calculates the remaining capacity of the battery based on the terminal voltage of the battery and the discharging time of discharging the battery to the actual load and the dummy load device, by referring to battery data indicating the relationship among the discharging time of the battery, the terminal voltage of the battery, and the remaining capacity of the battery, at a predetermined current of the battery.

Abstract: A secondary-battery management apparatus calculates the possible discharge duration of a secondary battery correctly even after a load current changes. The secondary-battery management apparatus calculates the remaining capacity and the remaining lifetime of the secondary battery in accordance with a measured temperature of the battery in a standby state, calculates the remaining capacity of the battery in accordance with a measured discharging current of the battery while the battery is in a discharging state, and calculates the remaining capacity of the battery in accordance with a measured charging current while the battery is in a charging state. When discharging from the battery is required by means of a reduction of an output voltage of a rectifier, the deterioration of the battery is checked by discharging to a load device. A battery capacity is checked by measuring the discharge duration of the battery in the discharge by the load current pattern.

Abstract: A charging device including an assembled battery having plural secondary batteries serially connected, a charge power source unit which supplies charging current to both ends of said assembled battery having plural secondary batteries serially connected, and plural charge controllers which connect to both ends of each secondary battery among said plural secondary batteries; wherein said charge power source unit includes a charging current output unit which outputs charging current to said assembled battery, and a control unit which controls the current of said charging current output unit based on notification of the bypass current from said charge controllers; and wherein each of said plural charge controllers includes a current control unit which bypasses the current that flows to said secondary battery when the terminal voltage of said secondary battery has reached a preset voltage value, and a notification unit which notifies the control unit of said charge power source unit of said bypass current.

Abstract: An acid liquid leakage sensor quickly detecting liquid leakage from a device, such as a battery or the like, containing an acid liquid includes a first conductive member, a second conductive member, and an electrically insulating material which establishes an electrically insulating state between these first and second conductive members. The electrically insulating material includes a macromolecular compound having a basic functional group, and an electrical insulation characteristic or high resistance characteristic that decreases upon reaction with an acid liquid. It is possible to detect leakage of acid liquid, such as battery fluid, by detecting the change of conductive state between the first conductive member and the second conductive member which accompanies a decrease of the electrical insulation characteristic or high resistance characteristic of the electrically insulating material, when acid liquid leaks out and drips down the electrically insulating material.

Abstract: A secondary-battery management apparatus calculates the possible discharge duration of a secondary battery correctly even after a load current changes. The secondary-battery management apparatus calculates the remaining capacity and the remaining lifetime of the secondary battery in accordance with a measured temperature of the battery in a standby state, calculates the remaining capacity of the battery in accordance with a measured discharging current of the battery while the battery is in a discharging state, and calculates the remaining capacity of the battery in accordance with a measured charging current while the battery is in a charging state. When discharging from the battery is required by means of a reduction of an output voltage of a rectifier, the deterioration of the battery is checked by discharging to a load device. A battery capacity is checked by measuring the discharge duration of the battery in the discharge by the load current pattern.

Abstract: A charging device including an assembled battery having plural secondary batteries serially connected, a charge power source unit which supplies charging current to both ends of said assembled battery having plural secondary batteries serially connected, and plural charge controllers which connect to both ends of each secondary battery among said plural secondary batteries; wherein said charge power source unit includes a charging current output unit which outputs charging current to said assembled battery, and a control unit which controls the current of said charging current output unit based on notification of the bypass current from said charge controllers; and wherein each of said plural charge controllers includes a current control unit which bypasses the current that flows to said secondary battery when the terminal voltage of said secondary battery has reached a preset voltage value, and a notification unit which notifies the control unit of said charge power source unit of said bypass current.

Abstract: A remaining-battery-capacity estimating apparatus estimates the remaining capacity of a battery used as a backup. The apparatus reduces the voltage output from a rectifier to an actual load, measures current flowing from the rectifier and the battery to the actual load and a dummy load device provided separately from the actual load, controls the load of the dummy load device such that the measured current is a predetermined value, and calculates the remaining capacity of the battery based on the terminal voltage of the battery and the discharging time of discharging the battery to the actual load and the dummy load device, by referring to battery data indicating the relationship among the discharging time of the battery, the terminal voltage of the battery, and the remaining capacity of the battery, at a predetermined current of the battery.

Abstract: A solar power generation device includes a power generation assembly having a light receiving surface and a reflector having a reflection surface. The power generation assembly generates power by receiving sunlight by means of the light receiving surface and the reflection surface of the reflector reflects sunlight toward the light receiving surface. The reflection surface of the reflector is disposed so as to be inclined downwardly toward the light receiving surface of the power generation assembly at a predetermined angle of inclination. The length of the reflection surface is defined by the angle of inclination and the height of the receiving surface of the power generation assembly as variables.

Abstract: A cage for ball bearing having pockets 7 the inner surface of which comprises a spherical surface portion 15 and a pair of cylindrical surface portions 16 on the opposite sides of the spherical surface portion 15 connected continuously to the opposite edges of the spherical surface portion 15, the spherical surface portion 15 having a radius of curvature slightly larger than the radius of curvature of the rolling contact surface of the balls to be held in the pockets 7, wherein the area of the spherical surface portion 15 in sliding contact with the rolling surface of the balls is decreased to smoothly supply the pockets 7 with lubricant to decrease the cage sound caused due to friction.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell which includes a substrate having therein a plurality of gas supply passages and a plurality of gas return passages. The gas supply passages have inlet ports on a surface of the substrate and the gas return passages have outlet ports on the same surface of the substrate. A header is interposed between the gas supply and gas return passages so that gas enters the header from the gas supply passages and then enters the gas return passages. The flow rate of the gas in the gas supply passages is less than the flow rate of the gas in the gas return passages. A solid electrolyte is formed on a first surface of the substrate, an electrode is formed on the solid electrolyte, and an interconnector is formed on a second surface of the substrate.