Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical element, specifically an electrochemical element with improved energy density comprising multiply stacked electrochemical cells. In order to achieve such objects, the present invention provides an electrochemical element comprising electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked, said electrochemical cells formed by stacking full cells having a cathode, a separator layer, and an anode sequentially as a basic unit, and a separator film interposed between each stacked full cell wherein, said separator film has a unit length which is determined to wrap the electrochemical cells and folds inward every unit length to wrap each electrochemical cell starting from the center electrochemical cell to the outermost electrochemical cell continuously.

Abstract: A method for placing an edge piece on a battery plate includes bending a thin strip of bendable plastic material into an open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then cut into an edge piece having a length which is substantially equal to the edge of the battery plate which is to be covered. The edge piece is supported with this open top oriented towards a battery plate that is transported toward it in a manner such that the battery plate edge will be inserted into it. Once the edge of the battery plate has been inserted into the edge piece the edge piece is released so that the battery plate can be carried out of the apparatus. An apparatus for accomplishing this includes a feed mechanism which transports the strip of bendable plastic material. A bending mechanism forms this strip into the open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then fully inserted into an assembly station where a first sensor stops the feed mechanism and a cutter cuts the channel into the proper-sized edge piece.

Abstract: On the delivery side of a device in which tubular sleeves (25) for battery plates are produced from web-shaped separator material, there is a compartmented star (40) with several compartments (41). After a sleeve (25) has been inserted into the compartment (41), the compartmented star (40) is turned to move the compartment (41) with the sleeve (25) into the insertion position. In the insertion position the sleeve (25) in the compartment (41) is pushed by a stop (52) so far that its insertion-side end is pushed over the legs (56) of the spreading elements (55). Through the end of the sleeve (25) held open by the spreading elements (55) a plate is inserted until it rest against the stop (52). Then the sleeve (25) with the plate pushed into it is pulled out of the compartment (41) laterally by rollers (60) and delivered for further use.

Abstract: A metal-gas cell storage battery, such as a zinc-air cell battery, has one or more battery cells wherein each battery cell comprises a metallic anode sandwiched between a pair of gas cathodes. Each gas cathode is disposed within a rigid retaining structure. The retaining structures of each gas cathode are attached to one another by an expandable soft pocket capable of holding an electrolyte. The anode is disposed within the soft pocket. The cell is mechanically refueled by expanding the soft pocket to allow easy removal from the cell of the spent anode and easy insertion into the cell of a fresh anode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sleeve separator for a lead plate (2) of a lead-acid accumulator. The sleeve separator surrounds the front and rear sides and lower and bottom edges of said lead plate. The invention is characterised in that the separator material (6) on the top edge of the lead plate (2) and the sleeve is folded away from the lead plate on one side approximately at right angles, so that it projects sideways; in that the separator material (8) on the other, opposite sleeve side is also folded over the upper edge of the lead plate at right angles and also projects sideways from the side of the sleeve; and in that the two separator sections which project sideways at approximate right angles from the side of the sleeve and which are superimposed, are interconnected by a joint (7).

Abstract: A battery separator for a lead acid battery which comprises a porous sheet having a center area and side areas and which is provided with a plurality of studs on at least one side of the sheet and additionally comprises at least one continuous vertical rib in the center area of the same side of the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a lithium secondary battery and more particularly, to a method for producing a lithium secondary battery comprising steps of unwinding a separation film for insulating electrodes by a roller, simultaneously coating an adhesive by an air injector on both surfaces of the separation film at regions where cathode plates and anode plates are to be attached to the separation film, simultaneously bonding the cathode plates and the anode plates respectively on the surfaces of the separation film while allowing the electrode plates on each surface of the separation film to be uniformly spaced apart from one another, laminating the bonded cathode plates and anode plates, and laminating the separation film bonded with the cathode plates and the anode plates so that the cathode plates and the anode plates are arranged alternately. According to the present invention, a lithium secondary battery can be made readily and efficiently.

Abstract: A battery module is constructed of an integral battery case which is constituted by forming a plurality of prismatic cell cases into a unitized body, wherein positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates laminated alternately upon one another with intervening separators are respectively accommodated in each of the cell cases, thereby constituting a plurality of cells, these cells being electrically connected in series. A plurality of such battery modules are arranged in a direction in which the electrode plates within each cell are laminated in a condition with coolant passages formed between the battery modules, and bound tightly together with end plates arranged at both ends in the direction of adjacent arrangement of the battery modules.

Abstract: A battery module is constructed of an integral battery case which is constituted by forming a plurality of prismatic cell cases into a unitized body, wherein positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates laminated alternately upon one another with intervening separators are respectively accommodated in each of the cell cases, thereby constituting a plurality of cells, these cells being electrically connected in series. A plurality of such battery modules are arranged in a direction in which the electrode plates within each cell are laminated in a condition with coolant passages formed between the battery modules, and bound tightly together with end plates arranged at both ends in the direction of adjacent arrangement of the battery modules.

Abstract: A starved electrolyte battery utilizes resilient fibrous mat electrode plate separators. The resilient electrode plate separators extend beyond the peripheral edges of the electrode plates in the plate stack(s) of the battery and a) encapsulate, at least the major surfaces and certain portions, preferably all, of the electrode plate edges, and b) form electrolyte reservoirs within the battery external of the plate stack(s). Preferably, the resilient fibrous mat separators are made of microfibers and may be essentially uniform in density throughout their thicknesses or may include one or two relatively high density, high tensile strength fibrous surface layer(s) and a relatively low density, more resilient fibrous layer integral with and, in one embodiment, intermediate the two surface layers.

Abstract: The invention concerns a battery separator comprising at least one microporous polymer layer and at least one fibrous layer, wherein said microporous polymer layer comprises micropores with an average pore size of less than 1 &mgr;m and a number of holes with a diameter which is greater than the average diameter of the pores of the fibrous layer.

Abstract: A sealed lead-acid battery includes a separator made from hydrophilic treated sheet made from synthetic fiber wraps at least either one of positive electrode and negative electrode, and a mat type separator made from fine glass fiber is disposed between the wrapped electrode and its opposite electrode. This structure is adopted in a battery which uses a paste type electrode where an expanded grid having no outer frame on both edges is used, thereby prolonging cycle life even after cycling of charge and deep discharge.

Abstract: Electric accumulator battery, which comprises a receptacle (1) with cover, of a size which fits in the compartment traditionally reserved for this purpose in a motor vehicle. This receptacle is subdivided internally into a series of cells (2) that are distributed in two or more parallel rows between which are formed intermediate ventilation ducts (3), which are open to the outside through the bottom and the cover.

Abstract: A sealed lead-acid battery includes a separator made from hydrophilic treated sheet made from synthetic fiber which wraps at least either one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode. A mat type separator made from fine glass fiber is disposed between the wrapped electrode and its opposite electrode. This structure is adopted in a battery which uses a paste type electrode where an expanded grid having no outer frame on both edges is used, thereby prolonging cycle life even after cycling of charge and deep discharge.

Abstract: A pocketed electrode plate for use in a lithium ion secondary battery, its manufacturing method and a lithium ion secondary battery using the same. The pocketed electrode plate of the present invention comprises: an electrode plate which has a coating layer of an electrode active material and a non-coated projection portion, the electrode active material being capable of reversibly insderting and extracting lithium ions; separating membranes which cover both sides of the electrode plate while exposing only the non-coated projection portion; and an insulating polymer film which contains an adhesive component and is placed between the separating membranes at least on the portion of the external edge of the electrode plate in order to bond and fix the separating membranes. A plurality of pocketed electrode plates may be mass produced by using a pressing roll. These pocketed electrode plates are used to manufacture ultra-slim lithium ion secondary batteries.

Abstract: A method for producing a battery separator from a slurry of fibers which are resistant to the chemicals which are found in a battery, and a thermoplastic binder for the fibers. The method comprises the steps of casting the slurry onto a screen, draining the liquid of the slurry from fibers and binder which collect on the screen, and drying the fibers and binder without softening the binder. Subsequently, usually after the it has been rolled, packaged and shipped, the separator is cut to size and heated to soften the binder. In a preferred embodiment, the fibers are glass fibers having an average diameter less than 3 &mgr;m. In another preferred embodiment, the fibers are organic.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lead acid storage battery keeping sufficient cycle life even under vibrating conditions. The lead acid storage battery of the present invention includes an assembly element that is obtained by alternately laying positive electrode plates, each positive electrode plate having an expanded grid, and negative electrode plates, each negative electrode plate being accommodated in a bag-like separator, one upon another. The separator is provided by folding a fine porous synthetic resin sheet and sealing left and right overlapping sides of the folded sheet to have a bag-like shape. The separator has a plurality of vertical ribs that are formed in parallel to one another on an outer surface of the separator and that are located in a central portion of the separator occupying a most part of its width. The separator further has small rib areas that extend along a length of the bag-like separator and that are arranged on left and right sides thereof.

Abstract: A metal-gas cell storage battery, such as a zinc-air cell battery, has one or more battery cells wherein each battery cell comprises a metallic anode sandwiched between a pair of gas cathodes. Each gas cathode is disposed within a rigid retaining structure. The retaining structures of each gas cathode are attached to one another by an expandable soft pocket capable of holding an electrolyte. The anode is disposed within the soft pocket. The cell is mechanically refueled by expanding the soft pocket to allow easy removal from the cell of the spent anode and easy insertion into the cell of a fresh anode.

Abstract: A battery pack that reduces thickness and lightens weight as required for battery power sources of portable electronic equipment. A battery pack is constituted by accommodating a battery and battery protection device between a top case and bottom case forming a pack case. Since the battery is formed accommodated within an external casing wherein positive and negative electrode plates are formed by laminated sheet, reduced thickness and reduced weight of battery pack can be achieved. Also, since the face of bottom case opposite the battery is formed as a resiliently deformable face which is formed of small thickness, when expansion takes place such that the thickness of the battery as a whole increases, resiliently deformable face deforms maintaining a planar condition by resilient deformation, so that there is no possibility of an adverse effect on the equipment due to drum-shaped swelling being produced in battery pack, by such swelling.

Abstract: A battery separator assembly for use in a high-power recombinant battery has increased puncture resistance, mechanical integrity, and oxygen inhibition and includes an absorptive non-woven layer of material adhered to a microporous polymeric layer. The absorptive non-woven layer of material preferably includes absorbent glass mat (AGM), and the microporous polymeric layer preferably includes ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). In a first preferred embodiment, the absorptive non-woven layer of material is positioned adjacent to an electrode of a positive type. In a second preferred embodiment, the microporous polymeric layer is positioned adjacent to an electrode of a negative type.

Abstract: A battery separator for use in enveloping the plates of a flooded cell type lead acid battery. The separator has improved puncture resistance in the shoulder areas provided by a plurality of improved mini-ribs located therein. The mini-ribs have substantially flat upper surfaces, and the space between adjacent mini-ribs is less than about 0.0225 inch. The separator may also have a plurality of micro-ribs located on the backside.

Abstract: An environmentally responsible and non-toxic alkaline cell, both catalytically and electrically rechargable, consisting of one or more iron anodes, as well as a zinc cathode, all immersed in an aquaous solution of potassium hydroxide in a plastic container. The cathodic material is cast zinc and is preferably wrapped in a special sheet of studded rubber provided with either a semi-perforated edge or a specially serrated edge on both sides to permit ionic communication between anodes and cathode. This rubber sheet should also be equipped with diagonal grooves on at least one side of the material. The anodes consist of thin, mild steel stampings, made to a special pattern, and are preferably blued to resist rust. The tips of these anodes are then coated with a paste prepared from one part 100 mesh iron powder to one part 100 mesh activated carbon powder. To form the paste, the powders are first thoroughly mixed dry and then properly wetted with distilled water.

Abstract: A metal-gas cell storage battery, such as a zinc-air cell battery, has one or more battery cells wherein each battery cell comprises a metallic anode sandwiched between a pair of gas cathodes. Each gas cathode is disposed within a rigid retaining structure. The retaining structures of each gas cathode are attached to one another by an expandable soft pocket capable of holding an electrolyte. The anode is disposed within the soft pocket. The cell is mechanically refueled by expanding the soft pocket to allow easy removal from the cell of the spent anode and easy insertion into the cell of a fresh anode.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell and corresponding electrode assembly are described in which an alkali metal anode and a cathode assembly are wound together in a unidirectional winding having substantially straight sides such that the winding will fit into a prismatic cell. The anode and cathode are preferably arranged in the winding to provide for even utilization of reactive material during cell discharge by placing cathode and anode material in close proximity throughout the electrode assembly in the proportions in which they are utilized. An anode current collector having a length or height shorter than at least one of the length or height of the cathode current collector or alkali metal strips operatively associated with the anode current collector is also described.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell and electrode assembly are disclosed in which a separator having at least one thermally formed tab slot disposed therein is employed in conjunction with an alkali metal anode and a cathode assembly that are wound together in a unidirectional winding having substantially straight sides such that the winding will fit into a prismatic cell. The separator inhibits tearing or splitting of the material from which it is formed in the region of the tab slot. A tab connected to a current collector projects through the tab slot. The tab slots are formed by folding a separator material around a template, aligning the template with a slot guide, and applying heat to the separator material in the region of the slot(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lead-acid battery cell construction including a container; a plurality of positive plates positioned in the container; and a plurality of negative plates arranged in alternating order with the positive plates. A plurality of separators are provided with the plate separators being wrapped around the positive or the negative plates such that the vertical side walls of the wrapped plates are covered with at least a single layer of separator material.

Abstract: An electrode package includes a pouch having pouch walls forming a sealed pouch enclosure. At least one electrode is within the pouch enclosure and includes an electrode wire having one end connected to the electrode within the pouch, an intermediate portion extending through the pouch walls, and a second end outside the pouch enclosure. A sealing joint is formed at the point where the intermediate portion of the wire extends through the pouch walls. The pouch walls have a plastic layer which surrounds and contacts the intermediate portion of the wire at the sealing joint to form an air tight seal. The invention also includes a method whereby heat and pressure are applied at the sealing joint to cause the plastic layer of the pouch walls to melt and fuse around the wires to create the seal.

Abstract: A microporous polymer battery separator having a puncture-proof corrugated border along the lateral edges thereof.

Abstract: A pocket type separator for an electrode of storage battery, such separator having a bottom, closed left and right side edges and an open top side. The inner surfaces of front and rear sides of the pocket facing each other include a plurality of parallel, vertical, widthwise spaced ribs in middle regions constituting most of the facing surfacer and a plurality of intersectant vertically spaced ribs on the Widthwise left and right side end portions of the facing surfaces and intersecting front and rear corner edge portion of opposite side edges of an electrode plate contained in the packet type separator.

Abstract: A high density cell stack is provided utilizing a flexible cathode material having at least four sections in the form of a rectangle and flexible anode materials folded over each other at right angles. A suitable anode material is lithium and a suitable cathode material is manganese dioxide. The disclosed cell stacks are rapidly manufactured to provide high density cells with good mechanical stability and good stability against shorting.

Abstract: A metal-air battery assembly having plurality of free standing metal-air cells forming a cell group within a battery case assembly. Each free standing cell has flexible, compressible walls capable of containing electrolyte, the walls comprising air cathodes including cathode current distributors. Each cell has a split anode assembly and current. The anode assembly has one or more reactive anode fuel plates and an anode current collector. Each of the cells is free standing and easily replaced. The battery case assembly has a mechanism for compressing the cells when the lid is closed and releasing the cell group for servicing when the lid is open.

Abstract: There is provided a layer-built chemical cell device, comprising a positive electrode including a current collecting material and an active substance, a negative electrode including another current collecting material and another active substance, an electrolyte and a separator both interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. In such a layer-built cell device, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are in a belt-like shape, and are folded upon each other in a manner such that one electrode is always faced on both sides thereof with the other electrode, so as to form an electrode pair.

Abstract: Battery plate envelopes include a sheet of porous film material having a folded widthwise bottom edge and overlapped lateral edges to thereby form a pocket for receiving a battery plate therein. The overlapped lateral edges are joined to one another by a lengthwise extending series of discontinuous joining regions with adjacent ones of the discontinuous joining regions being separated by respective unsealed regions. These unsealed regions thereby establish respective lateral channels through which fluid (e.g., electrolyte employed in a wet storage battery) may pass to the interior pocket, and hence to the battery plate. The discontinuous joining regions are most preferably formed by passing the sheet material through the nip between opposed joining rings, each of which is provided with a series of triangularly-shaped teeth with smooth land areas formed between adjacent teeth series.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lead acid storage battery and provides a lead acid storage battery having a high durability against complicated vibrations such as perpendicular and horizontal vibrations and the combination of these vibrations applied by vehicles or machines on which the battery is installed and having a long shelf life. A polyolefin resin having good fluidity is heat molten and poured into two portions above and near the left and right ends of the plate group comprising positive and negative plates having lugs at nearly the center portion so that the resin reaches at least one of the inner wall or inner partition wall, thereby to form a beam-shaped plate fixing member.

Abstract: A rectangular battery is disclosed. The rectangular battery includes a plurality of cathode plates and anode plates alternately superposed via a separator to face each other. The cathode plates and the anode plates are consecutively packed with the separator, the packed cathode plates or anode plates being folded at a separator fusing portion between the cathode plates or anode plates.

Abstract: A zinc negative electrode comprising a zinc active material, Ba(OH).sub.2 or Sr(OH).sub.2 and a conductive matrix including a metallic oxide which is more electropositive than zinc. The zinc negative electrode is incorporated into a zinc secondary battery having an electrolyte whose electrolyte constituent is a low percentage of the electrolyte. The zinc negative electrode is split into electrode assemblies separated by a porous hydrophobic element.

Abstract: A zinc negative electrode comprising a zinc active material, Ca(OH).sub.2 and a conductive matrix including a metallic oxide which is more electropositive than zinc. The zinc negative electrode is incorporated into a zinc secondary battery having an electrolyte whose electrolyte constituent is a low percentage of the electrolyte. The zinc negative electrode is split into electrode assemblies separated by a porous hydrophobic element.

Abstract: A battery separator formed into an envelope and having improved oxidation resistance is disclosed. The sealed edge along the bottom of the envelope and preferably also along the vertical side edges of the envelope has a greater amount of a processing aid, such that the treated area has from a 5 to 100%, preferably 5 to 20% and more preferably 10 to 100% greater amount of processing aid than the average of the rest of the envelope. One embodiment is to impregnate the treated area with additional processing aid. One embodiment is to impregnate the treated area with additional processing aid. A further embodiment is impregnate a porous layer with additional processing aid and locate that porous layer adjacent and preferably in intimate contact with the treated edge. A third embodiment is to add an amount of processing aid into the battery box before inserting the enveloped plates and allowing the envelopes to absorb the aid.

Abstract: A thin microporous sheet product useful as a battery separator composed of a highly filled polymeric matrix having a porous support sheet encapsulated between the sheet product's first and second major surfaces and to a process of forming the sheet product.

Abstract: Method of enveloping a battery plate in a heat-fusible fibrous separator material (e.g., fibrous glass mat) including the step of tacking the mat to itself by means of an electric arc.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell, such as an alkaline cell, employing at least two separator strips in which the strips have notches appropriately placed so that when the separator is formed into a closed end cylindrical configuration it will have substantially no folds protruding inside and/or outside its wall at the area adjacent its bottom surface.

Abstract: A separator for an electrochemical primary cell of the metal-air type and having an alkaline electrolyte comprises a support based on woven or non-woven fibers, with at least one of the faces of the support being provided with a film of polyvinyl alcohol is insoluble in the alkaline medium.

Abstract: A lead accumulator using dilute sulfuric acid as an electrolyte liquor is disclosed, in which the electrolyte liquor is fixed by absorption or impregnation into an ethylene copolymer resin or a molding thereof comprising from 40 to 90% by weight of an ethylene unit and from 10 to 60% by weight of at least one comonomer unit selected from (A) and ethylenically unsaturated comonomer unit having an amido group and an amino group in the molecule thereof and (B) an ethylenically unsaturated comonomer unit having an ester group and an amino group in the molecule thereof and having an average molecular weight of from 5,000 to 50,000. The lead accumulator can be produced easily and at a low cost without limitations of shape and volume and has high performance reliability.

Abstract: An electrode assembly of an anode, a cathode and insulating separator material between the cathode and the anode characterized in that the entire anode, the entire separator and the entire cathode are laminated together in an accordian fold is disclosed. The assembly is useful in electrochemical cells.

Abstract: A negative electrode for lead accumulators has the shape of a rectangular planar grid plate (11) consisting of expanded copper metal which serves as a carrier for the active mass and for the supply and extraction of current. The grid plate (11) consists of two side regions of expanded copper metal (14) and a copper strip (12) which is arranged between them in one piece therewith, and which projects at one end beyond the regions of expanded copper metal in order to form the connection lug (13). A current conducting strip is formed at the upper edge of the regions (14) of the expanded metal grid by the appropriately cut-off webs (15) which are bent towards one another into mutual contact at the edge (16) of the expanded copper metal regions (14) at the connection lug side.

Abstract: A method for preparing lead-acid battery positive and negative plates for use in lead-acid batteries, comprising (a) providing battery grids, (b) applying wet leady oxide paste to the grids to form plates, (c) optionally wrapping the freshly pasted plates with an absorbent material, and (d) initiating formation of the lead-acid battery plates while the plates contain more than about 5 wt. % free lead in the paste and are generally damp from moisture existing in the paste from the time of plate pasting. Although conventional curing and drying of the plates is obviated and the plate formation is initiated merely hours after plate pasting, instead of a day or more after plate pasting as is the case with conventional battery plate processing, the cells and batteries containing plates prepared in accordance with the present invention exhibit a mechanical strength and deliver an overall electrical performance equivalent or superior to cells and batteries containing conventionally prepared plates.

Abstract: A battery plate wrapper blank comprising a sheet of plate wrapper material is provided with attached longitudinal edge protective strips positioned to overlay the longitudinal sides of a battery plate which it is adapted to envelope and with a bottom edge protective strip attached along the bottom transverse margin of the sheet to overlay the bottom edge of the battery plate. The unitary plate wrapper blank is formed into a plate pouch without need of additional elements. Varients of the plate wrapper blank provide inner, outer or inner and outer longitudinal edge protective strips for the pouch, and a seal strip for the longitudinal seam of the pouch.

Abstract: A battery plate wrapper blank comprising a sheet of plate wrapper material is provided with attached longitudinal edge protective strips positioned to overlay the longitudinal sides of a battery plate which it is adapted to envelope and with a bottom edge protective strip attached along the bottom transverse margin of the sheet to overlay the bottom edge of the battery plate. The unitary plate wrapper blank is formed into a plate pouch without need of additional elements. Varients of the plate wrapper blank provide inner, outer or inner and outer longitudinal edge protective strips for the pouch, and a seal strip for the longitudinal seam of the pouch.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement on a sealed lead storage battery which comprises a case, positive and negative plates alternately disposed in a case, porous separators between the adjacent plates and electrolyte filled in the case so as to be retained at least in the porous separators.The sealed lead storage battery of the invention further comprises additional electrolyte porous retainer means disposed in an unoccupied space in the case so as to have increased amount of electrolyte. The additional electrolyte retainer means may be disposed in at least one of an upper space over the plate group, a lower space below the plate group and side spaces beside the plate group. The additional electrolyte retainer means may be of glass fine fiber mat, glass and synthetic fine fiber mat or gel. It may be integrally formed with the porous separators. Preferably, the positive and negative plates may be so porous that the electrolyte is retained in them.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery comprising a spiral electrode body provided by winding a band-shaped negative electrode plate of a light metal and a band-shaped positive electrode plates through a separator, an arbitrary portion where said positive and negative electrode plates are faced each other being isolated by interposition of a heat resisting insulating member which is made of a material different from said separator.