Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery modules, each of the battery modules comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells having a first end comprising a terminal and a second end opposite the first end, the second end comprising an adapter having at least one aperture and arranged such that at least a portion of the adapter is provided in contact with at least a portion of a terminal of an adjacent electrochemical cell. The battery assembly also includes a device that includes at least one member aligned with apertures in a plurality of the adapters to provide a path for effluent escaping the apertures. The device is configured to route effluent from the plurality of battery modules away from the battery assembly.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery modules, each of the battery modules comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells having a first end comprising a terminal and a second end opposite the first end, the second end comprising an adapter having at least one aperture and arranged such that at least a portion of the adapter is provided in contact with at least a portion of a terminal of an adjacent electrochemical cell. The battery assembly also includes a device that includes at least one member aligned with apertures in a plurality of the adapters to provide a path for effluent escaping the apertures. The device is configured to route effluent from the plurality of battery modules away from the battery assembly.

Abstract: A battery cell includes at a plurality of composite separator/electrode structures, each composite structure including a support member having a plurality of parallel, closely spaced ribs defining a plurality of grooves which extend longitudinally of the support member, alternating ones of the grooves having a positive paste of an active material therein, and the remaining grooves having a negative paste of an active material therein, and a current collector lead wire in each groove embedded in the paste and centrally located in the groove with the terminal ends of the lead wires of the positive electrodes extending out of one end of the composite structure and being interconnected to form a positive termination, and the terminal ends of the lead wires of the negative electrodes extending out of the opposite end of the composite structure and being interconnected to form a negative termination, a plurality of the battery cells being stacked together to form a battery having a desired amp hour capacity.

Abstract: An architecture, arrangement, or construction for battery systems such as monopolar and bipolar batteries is disclosed. The battery system includes a stack of bipolar or monopolar modules having current collectors extending from opposite sides of the battery system. The current collectors are located in cooling channels. The cooling channel is surrounded by an insulating material. The cooling channel contains a fluid which may be air, water, forced air, Freon.RTM. or any other media useful in heating and cooling applications. The battery may be vented or a heat exchanger may be provided in communication with the cooling channels. The thermal management system is particularly useful in applications such as electric vehicles. Heat may be provided through the cooling channels in order to raise the temperature inside the battery system.

Abstract: An electric storage battery according to the invention has a porous explosion attenuating material disposed within a head space of the battery case over the electrode elements. The attenuating material forms a layer or lining on the inner surface of the top wall of the case, and preferably also on the inner surface of the upper ends of each side wall between the electrode elements and the top wall. The interior of the head space remains open. Such an explosion attenuating material is effective to limit pressure build-up resulting from ignition of said gases within the case.

Abstract: A porous compressible plastic material is inserted into the head space above the cells in a storage battery to attenuate the explosion of combustible gases accumulating therein. The attenuation material is distributed to create a unique bimodal pore distribution, including a major proportion of small pores effective in attenuation and a minor proportion of large pores effective in gas and electrolyte management. Both open cell and fibrous materials may be utilized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the environmental stress crack resistance of plastic articles, such as polyethylene terephthalate containers, are provided. In accordance with the method of the invention, the internal chamber of a hollow plastic article is pressurized, the exterior of the base is then exposed to an environmental stress cracking agent, and it is then determined if crazing and/or changes in the base clearance of the plastic article have occurred. Subsequent increases in pressure and subsequent exposures and determinations yield information on the environmental stress cracking characteristics of the container.

Abstract: A plastic container is provided which includes a stabilizing ring attached to the base structure of a blow molded bottle for improving the vertical stability to the container when supported upon a horizontal surface. The container includes a plastic bottle having a tubular sidewall and a base structure closing the bottle at an end of the sidewall. The base structure includes an outer wall having a radially inner lower edge portion, an inner wall within the outer wall which has an axial recessed portion extending upward into the container. The lower edge portions of the inner and outer walls are merged together. The stabilizing ring is attached to the base structure and extends radially outwardly and downwardly forming an annular supporting surface at the lower edge of the ring upon which the container is supported.

Abstract: A dynamic state-of-charge indicator for a storage battery characterized by a discharge curve relating available energy of the battery to a contemporaneous voltage over a range of voltage boundaries having predetermined end points corresponding to fully charged and effectively discharged for one charge cycle. The indicator includes a microprocessor for storing predetermined relationships between the contemporaneous voltage and the state-of-charge of the battery. A voltage sensor and a current sensor are connected to monitor battery voltage and current flow, respectively, and to provide corresponding voltage and current signals to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically computes the internal resistance of the battery, the average voltage and current for a predetermined discharge time period and a corrected voltage as a total of internal resistance voltage loss and average voltage with the state-of-charge being determined as a function of the corrected battery voltage.

Abstract: A porous compressible plastic material is inserted into the head space above the cells in a storage battery to attenuate the explosion of combustible gases accumulating therein. The attenuation material is distributed to create a unique bimodal por distribution, including a major proportion of small pores effective in attenuation and a minor proportion of large pores effective in gas and electrolyte management. Both open cell and fibrous materials may be utilized.

Abstract: A porous compressible plastic material is inserted into the head space above the cells in a storage battery to attenuate the explosion of combustible gases accumulating therein. The attenuation material has a unique bimodal pore distribution, including a major proportion of small pores effective in attenuation and a minor proportion of large pores effective in gas and electrolyte management. Both open cell and fibrous materials may be utilized.

Abstract: A partially fluorinated acetylene black composition, represented by the empirical formula CF.sub.x wherein x has a value of from 0.01 to 0.04, is employed as the conductive component in a composite material resistor to form a high resistance value resistor having excellent temperature coefficient of resistivity, voltage sensitivity and Quantech current noise characteristics.