Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus with entry, filling and sealing, and exit chambers through which a carriage holding alkali metal containers may be transferred. The drive for the carriage in each chamber is cantilevered to facilitate transfer between chambers, and lateral movement of the carriage with the respect to the direction of transfer is restricted in the filling and sealing chamber. A method of filling containers with molten alkali metal is also disclosed in which the ambient gas pressure is reduced and then raised to reduce quantities of unwanted gas in the alkali metal.

Abstract: Apparatus for the fabrication of rechargeable battery cores formed of component layers of electrically conductive layers and inter-leafed electrically insulating layers in a coil-like manner comprising an arbor rotatable about its axis for the receipt and support of the core component layers and for winding such core component layers thereon; associated support roller means located adjacent to the arbor for forming a nip and for feeding the component layers to and around the arbor; tray means positioned adjacent to the arbor and support roller means to feed the component layers to the nip and around the arbor; and a tucker bar operatively associated with the arbor and support roller means adapted to move the leading edge of the insulating component layers for being rotated around the arbor prior to the feeding of the conductive component layers. Also disclosed is the method of fabricating rechargeable battery cores.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resealable vent, reinforced cover assembly for sealing a rechargeable electrochemical cell. Also disclosed herein, is a method of fabricating a reinforced cover assembly for a rechargeable electrochemical cell, a method of employing said cover assembly to seal a rechargeable electrochemical cell, and a vent, rechargeable electrochemical having a hydrogen storage alloy electrode and a resealably vented, reinforced cover assembly.

Abstract: A battery assembly of the consumable metal anode type has now been constructed for ready assembly as well as disassembly. In a non-conductive and at least substantially inert cell body, space is provided for receiving an open-structured, non-consumable anode cage. The cage has an open top for facilitating insertion of an anode. A modular cathode is used, comprising a peripheral current conductor frame clamped about a grid reinforced air cathode in sheet form. The air cathode may be double gridded. The cathode frame can be sealed, during assembly, with electrolyte-resistant-sealant as well as with adhesive. The resulting cathode module can be assembled outside the cell body and readily inserted therein, or can later be easily removed therefrom.

Abstract: A primary cell separator basket is formed from sheet material folded upon itself to form a basket bottom at the fold and bonded along margins in face to face contact extending from the fold. One or both sheet faces between the bonded margins are crowned outwardly to preform the basket and open its top. Basket preforms can be made in strips by longitudinally folding strip sheet material, crowning the material at intervals along the strip length and bonding the material in face to face relationship transverse of the strip length along the strip length in regions which fall between the crowns.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a cylindrical storage cell comprises a main holder accommodating the storage cell, an auxiliary holder accommodating a rod, and a means for rolling-in the housing of the cylindrical storage cell including two shafts secured coaxially in the wall of the auxiliary holder. Mechanically linked with each such shaft are a seaming roller and an element for adjusting the distance between the seaming rollers interconnected therebetween, a stop means for limiting the movement of the seaming roller being in turn connected to the element for adjusting the distance between the rollers.

Abstract: A system for assembling, processing and transferring battery cell elements including a plurality of element assemblers and an exit conveyor having a plurality of element conveying lanes. Each element assembler includes element transfer and processing apparatus comprising an endless chain conveyor having a plurality of longitudinally spaced element carriers adapted to successively engage an element at a loading station, carry the engaged element through a plurality of process stations, and release the element at a discharge station. In the illustrated apparatus, the carriers each engage a loosely assembled element at the loading station, compress the element to final size, and carry the element through an inspection and manual unload station, a plate alignment station, a plate lug brushing station, a plate alignment after brushing station, and a series of tape applicator stations which bind the element in assembled and processed condition.

Abstract: A heat sealing machine for joining a battery casing and battery cover comprising a battery casing heating station and a battery cover preheating station operatively supported on a machine support frame, the battery casing heating station including a battery casing heater support frame pivotally mounted on the machine support frame having a battery casing heater pivotally attached to one end thereof and a counter balance mounted on the opposite end thereof, the battery cover preheating station including a battery support frame having a battery cover preheater pivotally attached to one end thereof and a counter balance mounted on the opposite end thereof, the machine support frame including a plurality of rollers for lateral movement of the individual battery casings thereon to move the heated battery casing laterally from the battery casing heating station to the battery cover preheating station to receive the preheated battery cover, such that the upper periphery of the battery casing is heated by the battery

Abstract: An apparatus for welding through-the-partition intercell connections in a lead-acid battery container wherein each partition has at least two spaced apertures therein for making such intercell connections includes in the exemplary embodiment three weld stations and a crimping station through which the containers are sequentially conveyed, and the containers are aligned and retained at dual positions in each station so that the welding or crimping operation can be carried out. A microprocessor based programmable controller serves as a master control to operate the apparatus, and a slave control is associated with each welding station.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding separator strips and plate blanks to an automatic battery cell winding machine, the apparatus having a frame member, guide means on the frame member for guiding a separator strip, a clamp for clamping the separator strip, feeding means, including an air cylinder, for advancing the clamp and the clamped separator strip, a platform mounted to slide on the frame member for receiving a plate blank, means for pushing the platform along the frame member for feeding the plate blank to the separator strip and a spring tensioned as the platform is advanced along the frame member for retracting the platform when the pushing means is released.

Abstract: A method for automatically installing covers on industrial lead-acid battery cells including the steps of placing cell groups within a cell jar, then automatically straightening the posts of the group. The cover is then placed on the jar containing the group, the cover is sealed to the jar, and the excess flash, which may have been produced during the cover sealing operation, is removed. Next, the posts are welded to bushings mounted in the cover. The sealed cell is then tested to insure that no leaks are present. Those cells passing the seal test will be passed on for further assembly operations while those cells which do not pass the seal test will be automatically shunted aside for subsequent manual inspection and rework where possible. The apparatus comprises a series of interlocked and interrelated conveyors, accumulators and pinchstop mechanisms which automatically convey the cells being sealed to machines which perform the operations delineated in the aforementioned method in the proper sequence.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell of the type having a spirally wound electrode assembly contained within a cell case, wherein the case is provided with inwardly directed deformed wall portions which engage the electrode assembly to restrain it against movement within the case. External electrical terminals are physically affixed to the electrode assembly at predetermined locations relative to the terminal ends of the spirally wound electrodes; such terminals are used to physically align the cells prior to deforming the case to ensure that the deformed wall portions of the case are displaced from the terminal ends of the electrodes, thereby avoiding undue stress upon the electrode assembly.

Abstract: A mandrel useful in the spiral winding of flexible strip members is described including a pair of juxtaposed curvilinear perimetric driving portions which are offset laterally relative to one another and which have a slot or slots for receiving the elements to be wound. A process and winder are also described for the spiral winding of the strip members into a coiled element, e.g., a coiled capacitor or spirally wound battery cell pack.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying and affixing sleeves of dielectric plastic material to galvanic cells. The apparatus includes a carrousel having a cell receiving station, a sleeving station and a discharge station with a tester for testing and rejecting cells between the receiving and sleeving stations. The apparatus further includes feeding means for feeding sleeve length units from a spool supply, gripping means for gripping each fed length, while such length is cut and for opening the cut length, pusher means for pushing the cut length from the gripper onto the cell and heater means for heating and shrinking the cut length on the cell into gripping contact with such cell.

Abstract: An assembly machine, preferably, for winding an electrolytic cell roll, for transporting a roll after winding from the winding station to a roll canning station and for inserting the cell roll into a can at the canning station. The transport is a conveyor with a plurality of nests thereon in which the cell roll is initially wound at the winding station and then carried on the conveyor to the canning station.

Abstract: A battery cell soldering apparatus for coupling a plurality of battery cells within a battery casing comprising a support platform and a battery casing holder wherein the support platform operatively supports a soldering block including a plurality soldering elements coupled to an electrical source together with a cooling means and control panel to selectively control the heating and cooling of the soldering block when the battery cells within the battery casing are held inverted in operative engagement with the plurality of soldering elements by the battery casing holder.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and bending lug strips which are to be attached to seed plates in electrolytic refining plants includes a tool structure capable of bending an initially flat lug strip around a supporting rod in preparation for fixing free ends of the bent lug strip to an edge region of a seed plate. This tool structure is carried by an operating structure which operates the tool structure so as to move it between an initial starting position where the lug strip is in a flat condition and an end position where the lug strip is bent into a substantially U-shaped configuration, the tool structure bending the lug strip during movement between the starting and end positions thereof. In addition a suitable structure is provided for moving the tool structure between a working station where the above operations take place and a receiving station where a flat lug strip is received from a suitable supply.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in connecting adjacent cells of storage batteries electrically and mechanically by passing an electric current through electrical resistance elements to cause a rapid heating of said elements and of battery terminal parts disposed in engagement therewith.

Abstract: An enclosure for an electrochemical device, especially useful for electrochemical cells having an internal pressure above ambient, wherein the enclosure is formed in accordance with techniques based upon aerosol container filling procedures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to current sources and, in particular, to a method for sealing current sources, preferably of a cylindrical shape, with an alkali electrolyte and to devices for carrying same into effect.The method can be realized by a device, comprising a rolling die, a hold-down member adapted to position the plane of the cell cover end face perpendicular to the cell axis and to press said cover towards the cell's central support, a footstep for positioning said cell support during sealing. According to the invention, said footstep is made as a cylindrical socket with a ring projection, or has a shape similar to that of the supporting part of the cell being rolled. The rolling die comprises at least one cone-shaped section and is provided with a stop adapted to limit the motion of the hold-down member into the die.

Abstract: In a method for sealing a substantially straight intercell connector bar passing through an opening in the upper part of an intercell partition of an electric storage battery, a mould is used having a marginal portion fitting against the face of the partition and defining a cavity, the mould comprising a body open at the bottom, and a closure movable horizontally from a closed position in which it extends under the bar to close the bottom of the cavity, to an open position in which it permits removal of the mould. The closure is formed with a cutter portion arranged to gouge or broach a groove in the upper or lower surface of the bar to ensure leak-proof closure of the mould.

Abstract: A spirally wound element comprising opposite polarity plates and interleaved separator is described, for use in electrochemical cylindrically configured cells. The cell pack has a uniform predetermined cross section irrespective of variation in component thicknesses as long as such thicknesses are within specified tolerances. Dual head, belt-driven winder and method are also described for producing the spiral cell pack.

Abstract: A multicell battery case, adaptable for use with a variety of cell-pack sizes, is molded with universal-sized cell compartments and opposing spacer-ribs projecting a predetermined distance into the cell compartments from the compartments' walls so as to provide an inter-rib gap across the compartment substantially equal to the narrowest cell pack useful with that case. The case is thereafter adapted for use with thicker cell packs by trimming back the opposing ribs to increase the gap therebetween to approximately the thickness of the cell pack actually destined for use with that case. Preferably, rib-shaving blades are inserted into the case and guided in spaced relation from the rib-bearing walls to remove distal portions of the ribs. Means are provided to detach the shavings from the container at their roots.