Abstract: The evaluation method of a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte battery according to the present invention includes: placing opposite an upper jig 21 serving also as a conductive electrode and a lower jig 23 serving also as a conductive electrode in both sides of the separator sample 22; and measuring the relationship between an applied voltage and a passed current between the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23 while applying a pressure to between the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23 to evaluate the separator. At this time, by fitting a foreign material 28 in any shape between the separator sample 22 and one of the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23, an evaluation of the separator simulating the presence of a foreign material affecting adversely the separator can be performed.

Abstract: Provided is a technology for detecting abnormal temperature rise of a battery regardless of the number of batteries, and preventing a trouble caused by abnormal temperature rise. A battery production facility (30) for producing a secondary battery (1) comprises an abnormality detector (40) for detecting abnormal state (especially, abnormal temperature rise) of a plurality of secondary batteries (1, 1, . . . ), and a detector (45) for generating a control signal in order to take a predetermined step according to the detection result from the abnormality detector (40).

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a system for automatically manufacturing thermal batteries. In the present invention, thermal batteries are manufactured using a press system, a stacking system and an enclosing system. The present invention uses a tracking, storage, and/or retrieval system to track various components used in the manufacturing process to improve manufacturing quality and to track the various components throughout the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrode for a battery is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate. A plurality of clusters of lithium containing compound is formed over the substrate, with each cluster having a plurality of sub-structures of lithium containing compound that exhibit nanocrystalline structure. The plurality of sub-structures of lithium containing compound are transformed to exhibit cation ordering structure. In some embodiments, a protective layer is disposed over the cluster of Li containing compound. An electrode for a battery and a system for processing the substrate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A core pack manufacturing apparatus for preventing or substantially preventing an iron from contacting a cell or a protective circuit part in a process of soldering a connection tab of the cell to a connection terminal of the protective circuit part. A core pack manufacturing apparatus for soldering a connection tab connected to a cell to a connection terminal of a protective circuit part includes a cap including a first cover configured to cover the cell, and a second cover extending from a side of the first cover and configured to cover the protective circuit part, the second cover having an opening part configured to expose the connection tab and the connection terminal through the second cover for soldering.

Abstract: A reconstituted battery pack producing method comprises an obtaining process for obtaining, by use of one of a first charged-state control device having ever controlled a charged state of a used battery pack when it was used before and a second charged-state control device arranged to control the charged state of the used battery pack as with the first charged-state control device, a reference-time charge amount charged in each used secondary battery constituting the used battery pack; a selecting process for selecting more than one of the used secondary batteries close to each other in the reference-time charge amount from a group of the used secondary batteries whose reference-time charge amounts have been obtained; and an assembling process for combining and assembling the selected used secondary batteries into a new reconstituted battery pack.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus and a method for assembly of electrochemical cells. The stacking apparatus includes at least one stacking head having an adjustable holding member adapted to hold an electrochemical laminate of a pre-determined length and means for adjusting the shape of the electrochemical laminate of the pre-determined length during stacking of a plurality of electrochemical laminates. The electrochemical laminates are assembled in a way that prevents air entrapment between the electrochemical laminates.

Abstract: A battery module for accommodating a plurality of batteries connected to each other in a battery unit, the battery module including a pair of end plates facing each other; a restrainer coupled to the pair of end plates, the restrainer being configured to restrain expansion of the battery unit; and a coupling unit for coupling the end plates and the restrainer to each other, wherein a portion of the coupling unit that contacts the end plate and the restrainer is free of any screw surface.

Abstract: A mandrel for an electrochemical cell includes an elongated hollow tube. At least one drive member is provided at an end of the hollow tube and is configured to receive a driver in order to rotate the mandrel. The drive member is configured to electrically insulate the hollow tube from an electrode that is wound around the hollow tube.

Abstract: In order to allow a standardized high-capacity cell to selectively have high-output or high-capacity characteristics, a secondary battery includes a can for accommodating an electrode assembly and an electrolyte; a cap assembly mounted on the can; first metal foil attached on a top surface of the cap assembly or a bottom surface of the can; a circuit protection element attached on the first metal foil; and second metal foil attached on the circuit protection element, wherein a size and a shape of the second metal foil is determined such that a portion of the second metal foil does not overlap the circuit protection element.

Abstract: By way of example, the present subject matter provides a method, including stacking a plurality of substantially planar electrodes into a stack, in alignment, encapsulating the stack by pressing a first beveled edge of a first cup-shaped housing piece against a second beveled edge of a second cup-shaped housing piece, with the first beveled edge of the first cup-shaped housing piece encouraged into substantially coextensive alignment with the second beveled edge of the second cup-shaped housing piece and joining the first beveled edge of the first cup-shaped housing piece to the second beveled edge of the second cup-shaped housing piece.

Abstract: A combined battery and device apparatus and associated method. This apparatus includes a first conductive layer, a battery comprising a cathode layer; an anode layer, and an electrolyte layer located between and electrically isolating the anode layer from the cathode layer, wherein the anode or the cathode or both include an intercalation material, the battery disposed such that either the cathode layer or the anode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, and an electrical circuit adjacent face-to-face to and electrically connected to the battery. Some embodiments further include a photovoltaic cell and/or thin-film capacitor. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a polymer having a melting point substantially below 700 degrees centigrade. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a glass. For example, some embodiments include a battery deposited directly on the back of a liquid-crystal display (LCD) device.

Abstract: An automated system and method for manufacturing a thermal battery is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a press system, a stacking system, and an enclosing system to automate the manufacturing process of thermal batteries. A method of manufacturing a thermal battery using the system is also disclosed. An automated tracking, storage, and retrieval system for pellets used in the manufacturing process and a pellet pairing system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An automated system and method for manufacturing a thermal battery is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a press system, a stacking system, and an enclosing system to automate the manufacturing process of thermal batteries. A method of manufacturing a thermal battery using the system is also disclosed. An automated tracking, storage, and retrieval system for pellets used in the manufacturing process and a pellet pairing system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved lead foil operation procedure for photovoltaic module manufacture is disclosed. The procedure includes lift, cut, and fold lead foil.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating continuous cathode collecters for use in lithium/thionyl chloride and lithium/sulfuryl chloride cells is described. The preferred electrically conductive material is acetylene black mixed with a polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) binder in a dry, powderized form. The collector substrate is a nickel or stainless steel foil that has been expanded into a mesh or otherwise provided with perforations. A centering adjustment of the collector substrate controls loading of the electrically conductive mixture onto each side thereof. The dry, powdered electrically conductive mixture is then continuously fed into the calender and formed into a collector structure by locking to itself through the collector substrate perforations before being cut to size.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a battery pack of a plurality of bare cells is disclosed. The method comprises: preparing a protective circuit module comprising N pads, wherein each pad comprises a first half pad and a second half pad, N is a natural number greater than 1, the plurality of bare cells comprises M tabs, and M is a natural number equal to N; connecting first through Mth tabs to the first half pads of first through Nth pads, respectively; and electrically connecting the first half pads to the second half pads in a sequential order of potential.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making an electric energy storage assembly (1) including a cylindrical coil member (10) having a current collecting section at each end thereof, wherein the method comprises the step of radially coating at least one current collecting section at the end thereof from the centre to the periphery of the end of the collecting section. The invention also relates to a device for implementing said method and to a storage assembly obtained by said method.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a system for automatically manufacturing thermal batteries. In the present invention, thermal batteries are manufactured using a press system, a stacking system and an enclosing system. The present invention uses a tracking, storage, and/or retrieval system to track various components used in the manufacturing process to improve manufacturing quality and to track the various components throughout the manufacturing process.

Abstract: An automated system and method for manufacturing a thermal battery is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a press system, a stacking system, and an enclosing system to automate the manufacturing process of thermal batteries. A method of manufacturing a thermal battery using the system is also disclosed. An automated tracking, storage, and retrieval system for pellets used in the manufacturing process and a pellet pairing system are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a vacuum container (2), a bag-shaped laminate film (12) containing a battery element (11) and having an opening (12a) is pinched at positions corresponding to two principal surfaces (11a) of the battery element (11), the battery element (11) having a positive layer and a negative layer stacked via a separator. Pressure in the vacuum container (2) is reduced. An electrolytic solution (20) is poured from an electrolytic-solution supply line (4) into the bag-shaped laminate film (12) through the opening (12a) with pressure in the vacuum container (2) kept reduced until the entire battery element (11) is immersed in the electrolytic solution (20). The reduced pressure in the vacuum container (2) is increased to make the battery element (11) absorb the electrolytic solution (20) by the difference in pressure.

Abstract: A press apparatus for assembly of a battery pack includes a tooling table having an aperture formed therein. The tooling table includes a plurality of index pawls disposed adjacent the aperture. The index pawls militate against the components passing upwardly through the aperture after the components have passed downwardly through the aperture. A first press is disposed on a first side of the tooling table and configured to advance the components downwardly through the aperture and past the index pawls on the tooling table. A second press is disposed on a second side of the tooling table. The second press is configured to retract a distance that the components are pressed downwardly through the aperture and maintain a substantially constant upward force on the components. A third press is disposed on the first side of the tooling table and configured to compress the battery pack to a desired size and load.

Abstract: A battery module of the present invention is adaptable to be utilized in various configurations including and not limited to an overlapping battery cell packaging configuration and a vertical stack battery cell packaging configuration used in an automotive and non-automotive applications. The battery module has a plurality of battery heatsink assemblies with the cells disposed therebetween. A plurality of rods extend through the each heatsink assemblies to secure the heatsink assemblies and the cell with one another to form the battery module.

Abstract: The invention relates to polyolefin membranes and membrane precursors comprising polyethylene and polypropylene. The polyolefin membrane can be a microporous polyolefin membrane comprising a first microporous layer and at least one second microporous layers where the first and second layers contain polypropylene and polyethylene, and the amount of polyethylene in the first layer is at least about 80 wt. % and the amount of polyethylene in the second layer is at least about 50 wt. %. The amount of polyethylene is higher in the first microporous layer than in the second microporous layer, and the total amount of the polyethylene in the first and second microporous layers is at least about 61 wt. %, based on the weight of the multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane.

Abstract: A selectively expandable vehicle battery container. The selectively expandable vehicle battery container includes a first modular body section at least partially defining a cavity for storing at least a portion of a battery, the cavity having a first open end and a second open end. At least the first open end includes an attachment structure adapted to couple to a second modular body section shaped substantially identical to the first modular body section such that the cavity can be selectively expanded in volume by coupling the second modular body section to the first modular body section.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes components that are welded from an external source after the components are assembled in a cell canister. The cell canister houses electrode tabs and a core insert. An end cap insert is disposed opposite the core insert. An external weld source, such as a laser beam, is applied to the end cap insert, such that the end cap insert, the electrode tabs, and the core insert are electrically coupled by a weld which extends from the end cap insert to the core insert.

Abstract: Improved plant for the electrochemical formation of lead-acid batteries, which comprises a circuit for circulating the electrolytic solution for the purpose of controlling its temperature and electrolytic concentration, provided with supply means for conveying into the cells via a first distribution header a first flow of electrolytic solution at a constant piezometric pressure and return means for removing under a vacuum by means of a suction header the first flow of electrolytic solution from the cells. A cap, which comprises an inlet pipe connected via a first connecting line to the first distribution header and an outlet pipe, is removably mounted in a sealed manner on each cell. Each cap also comprises at least one ventilation pipe which connects the internal environment of the cell, present underneath the lid, to the external environment which is at atmospheric pressure, so as to dilute the formation of inflammable gases inside said cell.

Abstract: Methods and systems for energy management system for a vehicle are provided. The system includes a first power source configured for cranking an engine wherein the first power source includes a switch configured to electrically couple the first power source to a starter for the engine and wherein the first power source is electrically isolated from auxiliary onboard loads. The system further includes a second power source configured for supplying auxiliary on board loads, a charging subsystem electrically coupled to the first and the second power sources. The charging subsystem is configured to supply charging current to the first and the second power sources. The system further includes a controller configured to maintain the first power source in a substantially fully charged condition and supply the auxiliary loads from the second power source.

Abstract: A method for the production of a fuel cell stack, involving the following steps: a) piling up the fuel cell stack (1) and (b) putting together the fuel cell stack (1) while heating and compressing the piled fuel cell stack (1). At least one regulated force is applied to the piled fuel cell stack (1) during the compression thereof.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a case, an electrode group, positive electrode tabs and negative electrode tabs. The electrode group comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator. The positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator are spirally coiled in a flat form. The positive electrode tabs are electrically connected to at least two positions among tab positions Pn of the positive electrode and projected from one end surface of the electrode group. The negative electrode tabs are electrically connected to at least two positions among tab positions Nn of the negative electrode and projected from the one end surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to: a fuel cell which includes a stack part (21) formed by stacking a membrane electrode assembly and a separator, and in which the membrane electrode assembly and the separator each include a communication passage part to form a communication passage for allowing fuel gas or oxidant gas to flow, the communication passage formed by the communication passage parts is opened at a positive end portion and a negative end portion of the stack part (21), and one end of the communication passage is sealable; and a method and an apparatus for assembling the fuel cell. The fuel cell has a problem of not being easy to manufacture, for example. This is because positive and negative polarities of the fuel cell are determined when the stack is assembled; to dispose stacks having the same configuration with their polarities inverted, the stack whose polarities are inverted and the stack whose polarities are not inverted need to be assembled individually.

Abstract: A method and apparatus have been developed to precisely position and distribute an adhesive sealant for the purpose of blocking corrosion paths to electrically conducting surfaces on battery terminals. In order to achieve this objective, the present invention makes use of a rectangular-shaped, sealant-packed laminate with a battery post cut-out that is wrapped around and bonded to the terminal by the user at the work site or, alternatively, by the terminal fabricator for first-time use. In either case, corrosion path gateways are blocked on both top and bottom sides of the terminal's post-hole aperture by the act of seating a thusly wrapped terminal on the battery post and depressing the terminal against the battery plane before tightening the securing bolt. Seating the seal-wrapped terminal thusly positions sealant around the battery post base, effectively denying corrosive elements an entrance to electrically-conducting surfaces.

Abstract: A method for fabricating membrane electrode assembly includes providing an anode side diffusion layer structure and a cathode side diffusion layer structure with a layer of membrane electrolyte therebetween. The diffusion layer structures include diffusion segments, which are coupled to each other by a first engaging member having one or more portions configured for engagement with a feed or aligning mechanism. Also, one or more of the segments of the diffusion layer structures may be connected to other segments or the first engaging member by one or more bridges. Bridges of each diffusion layer structure may be offset to avoid electrical contact with each other in response to diffusion layer structures being assembled with each other and with the layer of membrane electrolyte.

Abstract: A positioning mark (20) has a shape by which a position and a direction can be identified when moved together with a separator (10) along a plane. In other words, the positioning mark (20) is formed, for example, in a cross shape so that a position on the X-axis and a position on the Y-axis and the tilt in the ? direction of the positioning mark (20) can be identified. The positioning mark (20) is optically read by, for example, a sensor, and the positions on the x-axis and the Y-axis of the positioning mark (20) are calculated by, for example, image analysis processing. Based on the calculation result, positioning of the separator (10) is performed.

Abstract: A battery cell interconnect and voltage sensing assembly and a method for coupling a battery cell assembly thereto are provided. The battery cell interconnect and voltage sensing assembly includes a circuit board, electrical interconnect members, and an electrical connector. The circuit board further has slots therethrough for receiving the electrical interconnect members thereon. Electrical terminals from battery cell assemblies are coupled to the electrical interconnect members. The circuit board also has electrical traces for routing voltages at the electrical interconnect members to the electrical connector for sensing voltages of the battery cell assemblies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for sealing tube plates of batteries, preferably lead-acid batteries, comprising a base body, on which projections are arranged, and when the apparatus is arranged in the intended manner, the projections engage at the end in the tubes of the tube plate.

Abstract: A method for forming a fuel cell assembly including the pre-final-assembly step of forming a plurality of fuel cell sub-assembly modules, each module including a predetermined number of individual fuel cell repeating units, for example, ten. Each module may be leak and performance tested and certified prior to inclusion in the final fuel cell stack, thus limiting potential rework to only an individual module and only before assembly of the final stack. Preferably, each module is assembled on an assembly fixture having alignment rods, using a combination of resilient gasketing and RTV to seal between the elements. The assembled module is then placed under compression while the silicone is cured.

Abstract: A method is provided for automated converting of a web of a thin patterned catalyst-coated membrane to separate membrane sheets for fuel cell assembly. The membrane typically has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. Automated web converting involves transporting, with use of a movable vacuum, an end portion of the membrane web from a first location to a second location. With use of respective first and second vacuums at the first and second locations, and after removal of the movable vacuum, the end portion of the membrane web is releasably secured at the first and second locations. The membrane web is cut within a gap defined between a single catalyst pattern of the membrane web end portion and an adjacent catalyst pattern to produce a membrane sheet. The membrane sheet is precisely positioned to a desired orientation to facilitate subsequent processing of the membrane sheet.

Abstract: A battery element is housed and sealed in a package body, and further, packed together with a connecting board and a frame by the package body. A laminate material for sealing the battery element is used as an outer package material of a battery pack. Thus, the increase of volume for the pack is reduced as much as possible.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell sub-assembly and a method for manufacturing same. The electrochemical cell sub-assembly includes a current collector sheet having a pair of opposite surfaces and a pair of opposite edges, each surface being coated with a respective layer of electrode material. A layer of polymer electrolyte envelopes both layers of electrode material and one of the pair of edges of the current collector sheet, thereby encapsulating the one edge of the current collector sheet white leaving exposed the other edge of the current collector sheet.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a plurality of constituent members that constitute the fuel cell. The constituent members have first positioning portions and a second positioning portion that is provided on an outer peripheral portion, which are used for positioning during stacking.

Abstract: An packing apparatus for an automated manufacturing system of a secondary lithium battery is disclosed.

Abstract: A battery pack including an electric coupling assembly. The battery pack includes a top housing, a bottom housing, a cell pad, a plurality of battery cells, a harness, and a circuit board. The harness includes a frame and electric coupler assembly having a plurality of internal and external electric couplings. The internal and external electric couplings include cell couplings and circuit board couplings. The internal and external couplings are held in place during manufacturing by links which are cut after the electric coupler assembly is molded into the frame.

Abstract: A battery support system for supporting at least one battery cell disposed within a battery package is described herein. In one embodiment, the battery support system includes a spacer element having a frame member configured to be proximate to an end of the battery cell. The frame member has first projections extending away from the frame member in a first direction. The first projections are configured to engage a portion of the side surface of the battery cell. In a particular embodiment, the frame member further has second projections extending away from the frame member in a second direction generally opposite the first direction. The second projections are configured or positioned to provide a stand-off between the end of the battery cell and an interior surface of the battery package in which the battery support system is disposed.

Abstract: A reconstituted battery pack producing method comprises an obtaining process for obtaining, by use of one of a first charged-state control device having ever controlled a charged state of a used battery pack when it was used before and a second charged-state control device arranged to control the charged state of the used battery pack as with the first charged-state control device, a reference-time charge amount charged in each used secondary battery constituting the used battery pack; a selecting process for selecting more than one of the used secondary batteries close to each other in the reference-time charge amount from a group of the used secondary batteries whose reference-time charge amounts have been obtained; and an assembling process for combining and assembling the selected used secondary batteries into a new reconstituted battery pack.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of the present invention includes ejecting a melt 61 of a solid electrolyte onto at least one electrode plate selected from a positive electrode plate 20 and a negative electrode plate 30, thereby depositing the melt 61 onto the at least one electrode plate, and compressing the positive electrode plate 20 and the negative electrode plate 30 while sandwiching the melt 61, thereby forming a layered body including the positive electrode plate 20, an electrolyte layer 62 including the solid electrolyte, and the negative electrode plate 30. In accordance with this manufacturing method, a thin lithium secondary battery having excellent characteristics can be manufactured in a highly productive manner.

Abstract: A method and a device for manufacturing a battery having a plurality of electrodes, wherein the method includes the step of forming non-formed active material on each electrode. The invention is distinguished in that the electrodes and thereby initially non-formed active material are held under a mechanical pressure during the formation step in order to limit the volume change of the active material during this step. The invention also concerns a battery.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly comprises a process for preparing a electrolyte membrane and two gas diffusion layers, and a bonding process for forming the membrane electrode assembly by pressing a layered unit in which the electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between each of the two gas diffusion layers in such a way that provided catalyst layers locate in the interfaces between the electrolyte membrane and the two gas diffusion layers, wherein the bonding process is undertaken in a condition in which the surfaces of the electrolyte membrane are temporarily liquefied or softened.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for producing multilayer laminates of polymeric electrolyte material incorporating one of more electrode layers. The apparatus (40) comprises an extrusion apparatus (42) for extruding a polymeric material (76) and a pair of heated rollers (46, 48) between which the material (76) and electrodes (60, 68, 72) are pressed in order to produce a continuous extrudate (80). The method may also include producing a gellable mixture comprising a crystallisable polymer and an aprotic organic liquid, forming the mixture as an elongate tape and contacting the tape with an electrode material. A compression and heating step may be present.

Abstract: A device for assembling a banded fuel cell stack with at least one custom-fit band comprises a frame, a base to support the stack while assembling, a press plate that is movable toward and away from the base to compress the stack under a constant force, band folding means to fold the band around the compressed stack such that the ends of the band overlap and welding means for welding the overlapped ends of the band. A method for assembling the banded fuel cell stack with at least one custom-fit band is also described. The device can be used to fit a plurality of compression bands around the assembled stack.