Battery Grid Pasting Patents (Class 141/32)
  • Patent number: 11384419
    Abstract: A web coating platform for depositing molten metal on flexible substrates is provided. The web coating platform can be used for manufacturing solid lithium anodes for use in energy storage devices, for example, rechargeable batteries. The coating platform can be designed for double-sided coating of a continuous flexible substrate (e.g., a copper foil) with molten lithium followed by double-sided lamination or passivation. The coating platform integrates novel coating elements unique to handling and processing molten metals. For example, some implementations of the present disclosure incorporate double-sided molten metal coating elements, which include at least one of a molten metal application assembly (e.g., kiss roller, slot-die, Meyer bar, and/or gravure roller), a primary melt pool assembly, a secondary melt pool assembly, and an engagement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: MICROMAIERIALS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard Frey, Subramanya P. Herle
  • Patent number: 10777779
    Abstract: A leveling apparatus used in a cutting process after forming process of a pouch-type secondary battery, and the leveling apparatus includes: a roller assembly having pairs of upper rollers and lower rollers arranged in at least two rows for rolling in contact with upper and lower surfaces adjacent to both rim edges of the pouch-type secondary battery; and a support frame supporting the roller assembly, wherein the roller assembly applies rolling with respect to the upper and lower surfaces adjacent to both rim edges of the pouch-type secondary battery to thereby remove stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Tae Kim, Byung-Heon Shin, Woo-Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 10069136
    Abstract: A microporous lead-containing solid material is produced, which can serve as a carrier for desired materials into a reaction for various desired purposes. For example, if the microporous solid is impregnated with borax it tends to inhibit the growth of unduly large crystals of tetrabasic lead, which is useful in producing batteries having improved functional qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: George E. Mayer
  • Patent number: 9960457
    Abstract: A system and method are described permitting a sophisticated control of a battery composed of a multiplicity of three-terminal electrochemical cells. Each cell has first and second terminals, connected with respective electrodes, one of which is a positive terminal and one of which is a negative terminal. Each cell has a third terminal connected with a grid electrode. A battery is composed of N cells. For each of the N cells, there is provided a respective capacitor switchably coupled to the second and third terminals thereof. A controller is connected through a switching matrix to the capacitors. In operation, the controller is connected sequentially to each capacitor among the multiplicity of capacitors, during which time the capacitor is momentarily uncoupled from its respective cell. When the controller is connected to one of the capacitors, it measures the voltage thereupon. The controller can then charge up or discharge the capacitor to drive it to a desired voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Sendyne Corporation
    Inventors: Yannis Tsividis, Carl Oppedahl
  • Patent number: 9065131
    Abstract: A battery case is disposed in a decompression chamber. An electrolyte in an aeration tank is injected into the battery case in the decompression chamber using a liquid injection nozzle. By exposing the electrolyte to an ambient pressure in the decompression chamber within the aeration tank before supplying the electrolyte to the liquid injection nozzle, a pressure of the electrolyte is regulated to a pressure in the decompression chamber, and gas molecules in the electrolyte are separated therefrom. By providing the aeration tank, an efficiency with which the gas molecules are separated from the electrolyte is improved, and as a result, the electrolyte is injected into the battery case smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Takada
  • Publication number: 20150132682
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an electrochemical cell, such as in particular a secondary battery, a double-layer capacitor, an electrolytic capacitor or a fuel cell, in which a cell vessel containing two electrodes of one-piece or multi-part design and at least one separator is filled with free-flowing electrolyte. The object of the invention is to match the quantity of electrolyte in an electrochemical cell as exactly as possible to the free volume actually present. The object is achieved in that, before the filling with the electrolyte, the quantity of electrolyte to be put in is determined at least while taking into account the actual thicknesses and the actual weights of the electrodes in the cell vessel and of the separator in the cell vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Evonik Litarion GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Hecht
  • Publication number: 20150096645
    Abstract: A battery plate grid strip pasting assembly can include an orifice plate, a support structure, and a belt. The orifice plate has an opening through which battery paste material is dispensed out of a hopper. The support structure underlies a battery plate grid strip and supports the battery plate grid strip upstream of the opening. The belt traverses beneath the orifice plate and carries the battery plate grid strip downstream of the opening and downstream of the support structure. The support structure supports the battery plate grid strip above the belt and a gap is provided between a bottom surface of the battery plate grid strip and a top surface of the belt. Battery paste material is dispensed into the gap, through the battery plate grid strip, and overpastes the bottom surface of the battery plate grid strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Roel Mendoza, John O. Wirtz
  • Patent number: 8910671
    Abstract: An apparatus that supplies electrolyte inside a battery case disposed inside a reduced pressure chamber includes: a measuring unit where a piston moves in a first direction in a measuring space (S) inside a cylinder, a dispenser that injects electrolyte from above into a battery case, a first pipeline that connects an upper end portion of the measuring space (S) of the measuring unit and the dispenser, and a back pressure valve disposed on the first pipeline. The dispenser includes a discharge nozzle disposed inside the battery case or in a periphery of an upper end of the battery case, a needle valve that is disposed inside the discharge nozzle and opens and closes the discharge nozzle, and an actuator that drives the needle valve up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Nagano Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Yamaura, Kenichi Hirai
  • Publication number: 20140083562
    Abstract: A battery grid pasting system includes a battery grid pasting machine, a sensing station, and a controller. The battery grid pasting machine includes a conveying apparatus confronting a hopper's dispensing end across a space, and includes a motor actuatable to cause variance of the space and hence variance of the amount of battery paste received on carried battery grids through the space. The sensing station senses a value of a property of a pasted battery grid. And the controller receives the sensed value of the property and controls actuation of the motor based in part or more on the received value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Roel Mendoza, John O. Wirtz
  • Publication number: 20140023912
    Abstract: At least one of holes is formed at a position that is at a higher level than a surface of an electrolyte in use of a nonaqueous secondary battery, and that is not overlapped with an electrode laminate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Koji OHIRA, Hiroshi OKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8550126
    Abstract: An automatic acid filling apparatus includes a base with at least one acid filling tank pivotably connected thereto. The filling tank has an opening and a gate respectively connected to each end thereof. A first activating device is pivotably connected to the base and the acid filling tank, and a second activating device is pivotably connected to the acid filling tank. The second activating device controls the gate to be opened so that the assembled horizontal batteries can be placed into the acid filling tank. The gate is then closed. A suction device sucks air out of the acid filling tank from the opening, and then the acid is filled into the acid filling tank via the opening by using an acid filling device. The first activating device activates the acid filling tank to rotate to an inclined position for fully absorbing the acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventors: Lung Kuo, Chia-Shou Kuo
  • Patent number: 8453594
    Abstract: A device for applying a suspension to which particles, in particular corundum particles, have been added onto a base plate, with a roller mill comprising an applicator roll and a metering roll interacting with the applicator roll. An application groove with two groove halves project laterally and tilt downwards at an angle a to the horizontal with slots on the base side arranged above the roller mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Flooring Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Frank Oldorff, Christoph Menier
  • Patent number: 8375997
    Abstract: An apparatus and method operations are provided for battery plate fabrication, in particular for applying paste to battery plate grids. A conveyer-type pasting machine includes a conveyer belt for moving battery plate grids under a new type of paste dispensing hopper, which includes closely spaced knurled rollers and an angled paste deflector member, which cooperate to generate a pressurized stream of paste for extrusion thru the battery plate grid. The apparatus also includes a specialized grid support sheet that also enables a consistent layer of paste to be applied to both exterior sides of a manufactured battery plate grid by enabling application of paste to one side of the grid and facilitating transmission of the paste through to and past the opposite, exterior side of the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: MAC Engineering and Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy A. Fredrickson
  • Publication number: 20130025741
    Abstract: An apparatus that supplies electrolyte inside a battery case disposed inside a reduced pressure chamber includes: a measuring unit where a piston moves in a first direction in a measuring space (S) inside a cylinder, a dispenser that injects electrolyte from above into a battery case, a first pipeline that connects an upper end portion of the measuring space (S) of the measuring unit and the dispenser, and a back pressure valve disposed on the first pipeline. The dispenser includes a discharge nozzle disposed inside the battery case or in a periphery of an upper end of the battery case, a needle valve that is disposed inside the discharge nozzle and opens and closes the discharge nozzle, and an actuator that drives the needle valve up and down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Nagano Automation Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Seiji Yamaura, Kenichi Hirai
  • Patent number: 8272408
    Abstract: An apparatus and method operations are provided for battery plate fabrication, in particular for applying paste to battery plate grids. A conveyer-type pasting machine includes a conveyer belt for moving battery plate grids under a new type of paste dispensing hopper, which includes closely spaced knurled rollers and an angled paste deflector member, which cooperate to generate a pressurized stream of paste for extrusion thru the battery plate grid. The apparatus also includes a specialized grid support sheet that also enables a consistent layer of paste to be applied to both exterior sides of a manufactured battery plate grid by enabling application of paste to one side of the grid and facilitating transmission of the paste through to and past the opposite, exterior side of the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Mac Engineering and Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy A. Fredrickson
  • Publication number: 20120018033
    Abstract: A hydrogen filling system to fill a hydrogen fuel tank with hydrogen includes a high-pressure water electrolysis device capable of electrolyzing water to produce oxygen and the hydrogen. A hydrogen pipe connects the high-pressure water electrolysis device and a filling mechanism to fill the hydrogen fuel tank with the hydrogen. At least one hydrogen storage tank is provided to the hydrogen pipe to store the hydrogen produced by the high-pressure water electrolysis device at substantially a same pressure as a maximum filling pressure of the hydrogen fuel tank. A first valve mechanism is arranged downstream of the at least one hydrogen storage tank. A bypass pipe is provided to the hydrogen pipe and connects the high-pressure water electrolysis device and the filling mechanism to bypass the at least one hydrogen storage tank and the first valve mechanism. A second valve mechanism is arranged on the bypass pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji NAKAZAWA, Masanori OKABE, Jun TAKEUCHI
  • Publication number: 20110253254
    Abstract: An activation mechanism for a reserve battery cell generally includes a housing with a chamber containing an electrolytic solution and a delivery device configured to discharge the electrolytic solution from the housing. The delivery device includes a compressed spring configured to be released in response to an external force to initiate the discharge of the electrolytic solution from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: James Anthony DeGruson, David Andrew Timothy Darch, Michael Parrot, Greg Miller, Michael Scott Reeves, William Studyvin
  • Publication number: 20100243102
    Abstract: A method and device for producing a battery electrode (5) by: pouring a powder mixture quantity (6a) into a cavity (2), laying an electrically conductive diverter (4) on powder mixture (6a), pouring a further quantity (6b) of same powder mixture (6) into same cavity (2), and compressing the two powder mixture quantities (6a, 6b). The device has a filling cavity (2) for powder mixture (6), at least one compression means (1) for compressing powder mixture (6), and support (7) and fixing means (8) for positioning and fixing an electrically conductive diverter (4). The diverter (4) is situated so that partial quantities (6a, 6b) of powder mixture (6) are located above and below diverter (4). The support means (7) and fixing means (8) are situated in such a way that a ratio of the partial quantities (6a, 6b) of powder mixture (6) above and below the diverter (4) remains essentially maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Gerd Fehrmann, Thomas Fischer, Thomas Hucke, Roland Staub, Jürgen Drews, Tim Traulsen
  • Publication number: 20090314383
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a plant for the forming of lead-acid battery cells, comprising plugs to be fitted to the openings of the cells, each plug comprising a first inlet duct, a second outlet duct to set up a circulation of electrolyte inside the cell and supply and balancing elements to dilute with air the inflammable gases formed in the cell and to favor the balancing of the pressure inside the cell with the external atmospheric pressure; the supply and balancing elements comprise a third supply and balancing duct connecting the upper part of the plug with a part of the supply tank at atmospheric pressure which introduces the electrolyte into the cell; the plant comprises a fan which forms a vacuum in the suction header, drawing the electrolyte and the inflammable gases from the cells and, through the third duct, ventilating the cells without forming a vacuum inside them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: Massimiliano IANNIELLO
  • Publication number: 20090255604
    Abstract: An apparatus and method operations are provided for battery plate fabrication, in particular for applying paste to battery plate grids. A conveyer-type pasting machine includes a conveyer belt for moving battery plate grids under a new type of paste dispensing hopper, which includes closely spaced knurled rollers and an angled paste deflector member, which cooperate to generate a pressurized stream of paste for extrusion thru the battery plate grid. The apparatus also includes a specialized grid support sheet that also enables a consistent layer of paste to be applied to both exterior sides of a manufactured battery plate grid by enabling application of paste to one side of the grid and facilitating transmission of the paste through to and past the opposite, exterior side of the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: MAC ENGINEERING AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Roy A. Fredrickson
  • Patent number: 7481252
    Abstract: A check valve for an air-packing device comprises upper and lower check valve films that are placed between upper and lower packing films that form the air-packing device contour. The check valve can be advantageously used for the air-packing device having a multiplicity of air containers. A common air duct that allows compressed air to flow into each air container through the check valve is formed between the upper and lower check valve films independently from other films such that the check valve can be placed flexibly in the air-packing device. Peeling agents are applied between the upper and lower check valve films to create the common air duct by preventing heat-sealing between the films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Air-Paq, Inc.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 6973947
    Abstract: A combination fuel tank and cab floor for a truck tractor utilizes a deck plate over a multi-reservoir base pan. The pan is configured both to divide the fuel storage area and to provide a frame for supporting seats and bunks to be installed on the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph T. Penaloza, Rodney J. Klinger, James C. Bradley
  • Patent number: 6886439
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously producing pasted positive and negative electrode plates from pasted lead or lead alloy expanded, punched or cast metal mesh strip for use in lead-acid batteries without the use of paper barriers. The heating of cutting devices such as roll-mounted die-cutters to a predetermined temperature range of at least about 150° C., preferably about 160 to 300° C., and more preferably about 180 to 210° C., eliminates sticking of the paste on the pasted metal mesh strip to the cutting devices and obviates the need for the paper barriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Teck Cominco Metals Ltd.
    Inventors: John V. Marlow, Thomas Lester Oswald, Rajindra Singh, Albert M. Vincze
  • Patent number: 6857171
    Abstract: The method for producing plates for batteries according to the present invention comprises: allowing X-rays to penetrate through a supplied core material, thereby calculating the weight of the core material; filling the core material with an active material; then again allowing X-rays to penetrate through the core material, thereby calculating the weight of the filled active material and the core material; calculating the weight of the active material based on the difference in these weights measured; if this weight of the filled active material deviates from a given weight, adjusting the amount of the active material to be filled in the core material, thereby inhibiting variation in the amount of the filled active material; and then drying the core material filled with the active material to make an electrode plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kawaguchi, Hitoshi Mikuriya, Yoshinori Itou, Hiromasa Nishijima
  • Patent number: 6675842
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing system has a flexible bag filled with a dispensable material, a dispensing opening adjacent a receiving socket, the dispensing opening including a push valve. A dispensing coupling is removably located in the receiving socket and has an actuating end which engages the push valve to initiate flow. A flow regulator is incorporated with the dispensing conduit for controlling the flow of the material from the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Johan C. Fitter
  • Patent number: 6656232
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a battery electrode from foamed metal electrode material includes first and second rollers which are parallel to each other at a shaft center, and rotatable in directions opposite to each other, and a guide bar which is between the first and second rollers. A method for manufacturing a battery electrode includes supplying a foamed metal electrode material including voids, and having a filled portion filled with active material and an unfilled portion without the active material, and a boundary line between the filled and unfilled portions. Part of the unfilled portion is folded in parallel to the boundary line passing through the unfilled portion, and at right angle against the unfilled portion. A lead welding portion is formed along the direction of the longer side, by applying, to the unfilled bent portion, a force in the direction perpendicular to the filled portion in a way to crush the voids, and compress the bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Usui, Tsuneo Ando, Ikuo Katsumata, Hiroki Takeshima
  • Patent number: 6617071
    Abstract: A grid plate for high power lead acid battery having a plate (14) covered with a conductive polymeric matrix (10) of preferably polyaniline and its derivatives, which is then coated with nanoscale particles of active material (14) such as lead sulfate and basic lead sulfate complexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rongrong Chen, Wellington Y. Kwok
  • Patent number: 6588460
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for filling at least one cell of an accumulator (12) with electrolyte is described, having a vacuum pump (14) for evacuating the cell of the accumulator (12), and having a filler device (16) for introducing the electrolyte into a fill opening (32) of a cell, and having a container (18) for receiving the entire accumulator (12), the container (18) communicating with the vacuum pump (14) via a connection stub (20), so that the accumulator (12) can be put in its entirety under a vacuum, and the filler device (16) has at least one delivery line (22) for the electrolyte, which line is extended in vacuum-tight fashion into the container (18). The delivery line (22) on each end has a respective filler head (34) with an outlet stub (36), and the outlet stub (36) engages the inside of the fill opening (32) of a cell with play (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: CMW Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Wipperfurth, Markus Rompel
  • Patent number: 6397901
    Abstract: A powder material supply device is able to supply powder material to a mold system equally and accurately to produce a fuel cell separator of high surface accuracy, thereby producing a high performance fuel cell. The powder material supply device includes a material supplier which is provided with a plurality of supply openings in a downward direction, a slide plate provided at the lower part of the material supplier and is slidable between a location where all of the supply openings are closed and another location where all the supply openings are opened, and a base to support the material supplier and the slide plate. The base has a single opening with a size substantially corresponding to a size of all of the supply openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc
    Inventors: Kazuo Saito, Atsushi Hagiwara, Takashi Maki
  • Patent number: 6390146
    Abstract: A battery acid filler apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus and method utilize a single, relatively large diameter tube to both fill and retract excess acid from a battery, at a single station by means of controlling the time of filling and the opposing pressures of acid pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Tiegel Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ralph G. Tiegel, Wade F. Galloway
  • Patent number: 6385829
    Abstract: A lead-acid battery electrode plate is manufactured by consecutively supplying a lead or lead alloy sheet; leaving a part in the vicinity of the center of the sheet as a non-expansion portion and expanding both sides like mesh to form a grid body; filling active material paste into the grid body; and cutting the grid body to predetermined dimensions. In the lead-acid battery electrode plate, the non-expansion portion forms a current collector part of the electrode plate along an expansion portion in an up and down direction of the electrode plate. One or more openings are made in a part of the non-expansion portion. A part of the non-expansion portion is projected above the position of an upper margin of the cut expansion portion as a current collector lug part. When the current collector lug part is placed upside, the expansion direction is the width direction of the electrode plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Omae, Akira Kamada, Masashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6338368
    Abstract: A gravity refilling system for adding water to wet cell batteries. The system is for one or more batteries and utilizes apparatus mounted to the underside of a golf car seat. The apparatus includes a reservoir tank, a valve assembly, a disconnect assembly and cell plugs that will automatically prevent overfilling of battery cells. The valve assembly has mechanism for individually controlling a plurality of refilling operations. The system does not require the operator to have any physical contact with the batteries as they can be acidic and potentially hazardous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Inventor: Donald S. Hassell
  • Patent number: 6314638
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode plate of a nonaqueous secondary battery comprises means for moving a sheet conductive base material in a first direction, a die nozzle for injecting an electrode material composition onto the sheet conductive base material, a pump disposed in supplying pipes, a valve disposed at the pipes between the pump and the die nozzle, a suction system disposed at the pipes between the valve and the die nozzle, and means for drying the electrode material composition. To form uncoated areas, either the die nozzle or sheet conductive base material may be configured to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to one another, or the die nozzle may be configured to move along the first direction. Additionally a coated amount of the electrode material composition per unit area along the first direction may be continuously increased or decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Toshiba Battery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kaido, Kouichi Matsumoto, Minoru Hashimoto, Mitsuru Furuichi
  • Patent number: 6182711
    Abstract: A multi-station machine for filling storage batteries has an unloading station, a loading station and a filling station. At the unloading station, a filled battery case is removed from a pivotally mounted cradle assembly including an acid container. At the loading station, adjacent the unloading station, the battery case is loaded in the cradle assembly in a vertical orientation and then tilted to and latched in an angular orientation. At the filling station, the battery case and acid container are further tilted to a horizontal orientation, the container is filled with acid and then returned to the tilted and latched orientation. When all of the cradle assemblies are filled with battery cases and acid container are filled with acid, the cradle assemblies, are spun at a speed sufficient to rotate the assemblies to a more tilted orientation to cause centrifugally induced flow of the acid into the battery case while simultaneously unlatching the cradle assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl DeWayne Wallace, Clarence Alfred Meadows, Thomas Kent Lacy, Charles Cletis Montgomery
  • Patent number: 6019144
    Abstract: In a system for applying material to a substrate, a first material is applied to the substrate and the substrate coated with the first material is drawn between a pair of rollers to form a material layer. The roller which contacts the first material is grounded and an electrostatic charging device sprays electrostatically charged particles of a second material onto the roller such that the particles are evenly dispersed on the surface of the roller. The particles of the second material on the roller tend to prevent the first material from adhering to the roller and are preferably incorporated into the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Valence Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell D. Moulton
  • Patent number: 5776209
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for applying an electrode paste onto a substrate for use in an electrolytic cell. The apparatus includes a mixing device which mixes, and then dispenses, predetermined amounts of an electrode paste and a polymerization initiator onto a substrate. The mixing device is constructed so as to substantially preclude polymerization of the electrode paste during such mixing, as well as to preclude polymerization prior to application of the mixture onto the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Denis G. Fauteux, Martin Van Buren, Arthur A. Massucco
  • Patent number: 5746782
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for applying an electrode paste onto a substrate for use in an electrolytic cell. The apparatus includes a mixing device which mixes, and then dispenses, predetermined amounts of an electrode paste and a polymerization initiator onto a substrate. The mixing device is constructed so as to substantially preclude polymerization of the electrode paste during such mixing, as well as to preclude polymerization prior to application of the mixture onto the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur A. Massucco, Denis G. Fauteux, Martin Van Buren
  • Patent number: 5730192
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling a battery with electrolyte has an electrolyte feeding unit pivotally mounted on a body, an electrolyte filling port slidably installed within each of longitudinal holes of the case receiving unit, and a valve unit for opening the filling nozzle of the electrolyte filling port. A bias member is installed between the shoulder of the filling port and the upper end of the case receiving unit. A filling valve is located at the upper edge of the filling nozzle. When the rotation speed of the body reaches a predetermined speed, the filling port overcomes the biasing force of the bias member and slides down towards the case, so that the filling nozzle is opened. When the rotation speed of the body is less than the predetermined speed, the filling nozzle is closed by the valve. Thus, the electrolyte in the filling port does not leak outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co.,Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo-Jin Park
  • Patent number: 5727604
    Abstract: Weight of the paste (21) per area is measured continuously without contact by irradiating the belt-shaped paste-coated punched metal electrode (41) with .beta. ray (51), during running of the electrode (41) on a production line, then trapping dosage of the .beta. ray radiation transmitted through the electrode (41) by an ionization chamber (4b, 50), followed by processing the measured value in a micro-processor unit (6) on the basis of comparing with a previously determined reference value. BY means of the output signal from the processor (6), the gap of slit (24) between the blades (23a and 23b) is feedback-controlled, so as to control thickness, hence weight per unit area of the pasty mixture uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Koike, Chitoshi Hara, Masao Nakamura, Mitsuyoshi Kio, Tetsushiro Torigoe
  • Patent number: 5651399
    Abstract: A slurry loading apparatus for automatically loading a slurry into a substrate, the substrate having a front surface, a back surface opposite said front surface and an interior with voids between the front and back surfaces, the apparatus including a device for introducing the slurry onto the front surface and into the voids where excess slurry passes through the substrate and exits the back surface, and a device for repeatedly forcing the excess slurry back onto the back surface and into the voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Holland, Douglas Lilburn, Donn Fillmore, Edward Wood
  • Patent number: 5544681
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating cored structures are provided. The cored structures may particularly find usefulness as cored battery plates for use in lead/acid batteries. A pre-formed core element is provided, and on its surfaces there is placed a thin layer of an active surface material. That active surface material is one which may enter into a chemical or electrochemical process when in use and in the presence of an electrolyte or other agent which will promote such chemical or electrochemical process. In the case of lead/acid batteries, the active surface is lead or lead oxide. The core element is generally one which does not bond with the active surface material, but will if the active surface material is ion bombarded or neutral atom embedded into the surface of the core, and where the amount of bombardment or embedment is determined by controlling the accelerator voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Derafe, Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert S. Feldstein
  • Patent number: 5487417
    Abstract: This invention provides an electrolyte injection apparatus capable of injecting an electrolyte accurately into a battery which does not contain an electrolyte yet and in which an electrode group consisting of a laminated structure formed by interposing a separator between positive and negative electrodes is accommodated in a case such that a lamination plane of the electrode group is parallel to the direction of depth of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Toshiba Battery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Kasahara, Kiyoshi Sueoka, Gen Takayama, Shingo Satoh, Hidemi Houjyou
  • Patent number: 5467805
    Abstract: A spreading machine has a first conveyor belt, with a high friction rest surface for carrying a grid to be covered with paste; a paste spreading chamber towards which the first conveyor belt advances, where paste is spread on an upper and a lower face of the grid; apparatus for spreading paste on the grid at the spreading chamber; a paste loading hopper which feeds the spreading chamber; a second conveyor belt moving away from the spreading chamber, having an uncompressible rest surface; a calibrator for regulating breadth of paste spread on one face of the grid; a paste recycling chamber communicating with the spreading chamber and the loading hopper to remove excess paste from the spreading chamber; and a paste pressure regulator inside the spreading chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Sovema S.r.l.
    Inventor: Pietro Farina
  • Patent number: 5427158
    Abstract: An aqueous cadmium oxide paste of high flowability for the vibration filling of foam-structure and fiber-structure electrode plaques is characterized by a cadmium oxide content of about 25 to 35% by volume, a pH of about 10 to 12.5, a content of about 0.5 to 2.5% by weight, based on cadmium oxide, of one or more dispersants from the group comprising the water-soluble salts of polyphosphoric acids, di- and polyphosphonic acids and their derivatives, gluconic acid or of antimonyl tartrate. The paste has a plastic viscosity of about 0.1 to 1 Pa.s and also a yield value of between about 10 and 120 Pa. This cadmium oxide paste makes it possible to fill foam-structure and fiber-structure electrode plaques completely in one operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Deutsche Automobilgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Klaus von Benda, Gabor Benczur-Urmossy, Gerhard Berger
  • Patent number: 5385587
    Abstract: An apparatus for pasting a battery collector assembly having a current collector and enlarged members having a top surface and a bottom surface and a thickness greater than the current collector is provided. The current collector has at least one predetermined area into which paste is to be filled. The apparatus comprises a paste-dispensing nozzle having an orifice located in a dispensing end of the nozzle. The nozzle is mounted to dispense paste in at least one paste area of the collector assembly. The nozzle dispensing end is adapted to size a first level of paste dispensed in the paste area on one side of the current collector, and a surface is provided opposite the dispensing end of the nozzle which is adapted to size a second level of paste dispensed in the paste area on the other side of the current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: GNB Battery Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Lund, Donald W. Groff, James J. Bonk, Kenneth S. Rumsey
  • Patent number: 5339873
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating cored structures are provided. The cored structures may particularly find usefulness as cored battery plates for use in lead/acid batteries. A pre-formed core element is provided, and on its surfaces there is placed a thin layer of an active surface material. That active surface material is one which may enter into a chemical or electrochemical process when in use and in the presence of an electrolyte or other agent which will promote such chemical or electrochemical process. In the case of lead/acid batteries, the active surface is lead or lead oxide. The core element is generally one which does not bond with the active surface material, but will if the active surface material is ion bombarded or neutral atom embedded into the surface of the core, and where the amount of bombardment or embedment is determined by controlling the accelerator voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Derafe, Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert S. Feldstein
  • Patent number: 5332634
    Abstract: A method for making porous lead dioxide electrodes having a relatively large active surface area and long service life is disclosed. The electrodes employ a grid which is coated first with a thin layer of nickel and then with a thin layer of lead. A paste containing a halogenated lead compound is applied over the lead and successively reduced and oxidized to form an active mass of porous lead dioxide. The finished porous lead dioxide electrode is suitable for use in storage batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Kamina, Ltd.
    Inventors: Georgi T. Stoilov, Vladimir G. Stoilov, Boiko G. Stoilov, Christo T. Chervenkov, Pavel A. Lazov
  • Patent number: 5238028
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling fibrous-structure electrode plaques for rechargeable batteries with an active compound paste, with simultaneous sizing of the plaque. The fibrous-structure electrode plaque is fed by means of a conveyor device to a roll mill whose roll nip is uniformly filled with a flowable active compound paste over the nip width. As the plaque passes through the roll nip, it is filled with active compound paste from both sides, simultaneously sized for thickness, its surface is smoothed and excess paste is removed from the main surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Deutsche Automobilgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Otwin Imhof, Holger Kistrup
  • Patent number: 5146958
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for pasting a porous structure, such as a battery support plate, which provides for inserting pasty material from a vibrating hopper continuously and evenly as a sandwich filling of controlled thickness between two conveyer strips driven at the same speed to deliver pasty material with a predefined thickness and with a flat translational motion onto a substantially horizontal platen; removing the conveyor strip opposite that in contact with the platen to uncover the upper face of the pasty material; bringing the porous structure level with the platen onto the upper surface of the pasty material; pressing the pasty material into the porous structure; and removing the pasted porous structure from the lower strip. The porous structure can be simultaneously pasted on its upper side using a secondary conveyer strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Sorapec S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Bugnet, Denis Doniat, Robert Rouget
  • Patent number: 5119852
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for vibration-filling electrodes in a paste bath. A holding tool connected to a vertical rotary shaft carries the electrode and, arranged above it, a vibration reflection body. The electrode and vibration reflection body are immersed in the paste bath, filling of the electrode is carried out, and the holding tool, electrode and reflection body are withdrawn from the paste path. Above the paste bath, the excess paste is spun off the electrode by rotating the vertical rotary shaft, the reflection body also being cleaned of the paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Deutsche Automobilgesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Kalus von Benda