Abstract: A tubelet panel of fabric face sheets and parallel, continuous film, partition strips normal to the face sheets and having their longitudinal edges fused into the fabric of the face sheets is formed by thermal fusion by applying heat and pressure to the outer surfaces of the face sheets in the regions in registry with the partition edges. The partition material is chosen to have a lower melting temperature than the face sheet material and the applied heat is at a temperature above the melting temperature of the partition material and below the melting temperature of the face sheet material.

Abstract: In an electrode for an electrochemical cell, the solid active electrode material is accomodated in a plurality of electrolyte-permeable hollow fibres, preferably of yieldable plastic.An electrochemical cell comprises at least one such electrode.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for filling tubular plate positive electrodes for use in lead-acid secondary cells with lead oxide particulate material in a highly fluid slurry form wherein tubular plate positive electrode assemblies comprising a plurality of substantially lead spines aligned on a conductive bar, each spine enveloped by a porous tubular sheath, are footed prior to being filled with lead oxide particulate material in a highly fluid slurry form. The foot according to the present invention comprises a plurality of aligned projections extending from a base portion and slurry access ports penetrating the foot. Each projection engages a spine within its spine recess and is itself engaged within a tubular sheath, and each projection is provided with at least one slurry access port. Lead oxide particulate material in a highly fluid slurry form is introduced into the annular space between each spine and its corresponding tubular sheath through the slurry access ports penetrating the foot.

Abstract: A lead acid recombination cell of motive power type comprises a sealed container containing negative plates alternating with tubular positive plates comprising a plurality of parallel tubes of porous material which contain active material and along the interior of each of which a conductive spine extends. Adjacent plates are separated by compressible fibrous absorbent material and the cell contains substantially no free unabsorbed electrolyte whereby substantially all the electrolyte is absorbed in the plates and separator material.

Abstract: Sealed lead-acid storage cells are described, characterized by positive electrode means comprising one or more positive electrode assemblies. Each electrode assembly in turn comprises two positive electrode members lying in spaced apart relationship to one another and having an electrolyte reservoir located therebetween. In this manner it may be insured that sufficient electrolyte is present in the cells to more fully utilize the active material of the positive and negative electrodes, while still allowing the separators lying between the positive and negative electrodes to be as thin as possible and to be less than fully saturated with electrolyte. This less than fully saturated condition provides paths for oxygen transport between the positive and negative electrodes, thus facilitating recombination of oxygen, which may be evolved at the positive electrodes during charging, at the negative electrodes.

Abstract: Improved positive electrodes for lead-acid batteries are disclosed, in which the said electrodes are initially fabricated such that:(1) the ratio between a calculated weight of formed, dry active material filled into a tube member and the weight of its corresponding lead spine is restricted to a maximum value of 1.5:1;(2) the ratio between the lateral cross-sectional area enclosed by a tube member and the lateral cross-sectional area of its corresponding lead spine is restricted to a maximum value of 5:1; and(3) the distance between the inner surface of a tube wall and the surface of its corresponding lead spine is restricted to a maximum value of 2.5 mm; for electrodes designed for use at the 5-hour discharge rate or greater, this distance is restricted to a maximum value of 1.8 mm.Thereafter the electrodes are subjected to a deliberate electro-chemically-induced corrosion of outer surface of the spines, to produce zones of high-density PbO.sub.

Abstract: A lead-acid battery construction comprises a casing, electrolyte means received in the casing and positive and negative electrode means mounted in the casing in contact with the electrolyte and being spaced apart by separator means. The positive electrode means includes a shaped grid structure having a top bar, a lug and depending spine portions, and further includes active material contained within tube means held in contact with the spines. An enclosure body is located around portions of the shaped grid structure in a position to selectively prevent flow of current from surfaces of the grid structure not in contact with active material. The enclosure body consists of self-registering plastic grid complement means and is formed with depending parts which are engaged inside distended upper ends of the tube means.A further inventive aspect resides in a method of engaging grid complement means with shaped grid structure means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tubular electrode for an electrochemical accumulator in the shape of an electrode plate with a number of electrolyte-permeable tube casings essentially parallelly arranged adjacent each other, containing an active material and conductors connected to a common collecting bar.

Abstract: A device for sealing the tubes (4) in a tubular electrode plate of an electrochemical lead cell comprising a top and a bottom part. The top part consists of separate sleeves (10) for each tube (4), which optionally are arranged on a connecting strip (14), each sleeve (10) having a bottom with a central through hole with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the spine (2), which is to protrude therethrough, and a wall, the periphery of which corresponds to the periphery of the tubular casing (4) to butt thereagainst FIG. 2.

Abstract: Improved positive electrode means for use in a lead-acid battery includes a shaped grid structure, a self-registering plastic grid complement member selectively overlying portions of the shaped grid structure, tube means engaged around depending portions of the grid complement member and active material confined within the tube means. Assembly of these constituent parts is characterized by a first insertion of the shaped grid structure into the grid complement member thereby to produce an angular displacement of self-registering side portions of the grid complement member; further advancement of the shaped grid structure into the grid complement member enables the angularly displaced side portions of the grid complement to revert to their normal position in self-registering relationship to the grid structure.

Abstract: A photocurable tubular electrode (10) and means (30) for fabricating same is disclosed. In one embodiment, a glass braid (66), saturated with a photocurable resin, is partially cured in the presence of visible light. The still flexible braid (66) is then shaped into a sheath (28) and fully photocured. The now rigid sheath (28) is disposed about spaced spines (14) comprising the tubular electrode (10) to form tubes (18) whereupon active material (20) is introduced into the tubes (18). In an alternative embodiment, the partial curing step is eliminated. The resulting sheath (28) displays superior battery performance while simultaneously reducing pollution effluents and energy requirements.

Abstract: A storage battery is constructed with a casing in which is contained an electrolyte and positive and negative plate means. The positive plate means includes a grid structure having a top bar and depending spines, active material, and braided or woven tubular bodies for locating the active material around the spines. A molded thermoplastic bonding element and a thermoplastic bonding material are combined in the positive plate in fused relationship to one another. The bonding element and the bonding material may, in one embodiment of the invention, be of the same chemical composition, and in another embodiment may be of differing chemical composition but fusible with one another within ranges of fusing or melting point temperatures which are common or close to one another.

Abstract: The present invention will provide storage batteries, which may be solid electrolytic batteries, and an ionically conductive crystalline solid separator useful in electrical devices. The present invention is characterized by the use of partitioning membranes formed in a honeycomb structure of a plurality of unit tubes arranged in close configuration, the cross-sectional shape of the unit tubes being polygonal. In one preferred embodiment, oxygen transmissive electrodes are provided to yield an oxygen pump.

Abstract: A tubular plate for electrical lead acid accumulators comprises tubes formed of porous fibrous material having a shape such that the ratio of volume to surface area of active material is no greater than 0.20 times the thickness of the tube taken in a direction between the sides of the plate which face the negative electrodes. At least one side of each tube has a concave surface. The tubes are formed with integral rigid flanges formed by weld joints between the tubes. The flanges support the tubes and aid in shaping of the tubes.

Abstract: An improvement in the production of tube electrodes for lead storage batteries comprising mixing a small amount (0.1 to 3 weight percent) of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with lead powder, the mixture is heated and shear stresses are applied thereto sufficient to convert substantially all of the PTFE in the mixture to fibrous form and to form a non-powdery dough. The dough is then granulated and the doughy granules about 100.mu. to 500.mu. in major dimension are used for filling tube elctrodes of a lead-acid storage battery.

Abstract: A tubular support sleeve for tubular storage battery plates comprises a seamless helical tubular lattice structure of fusible flat reinforced thermoplastic tapes, the tapes being fused to one another at their points of intersection. The tapes may be in the form of a laminate consisting of a central strength member having a fusible material on either side thereof. The support sleeve may be used alone or it may be used to contain a braided or felted retaining sleeve. Fusible flat reinforced thermoplastic tapes and staple fiber strands may be braided or woven together to produce a sleeve having combined support and retaining capabilities.

Abstract: A tubular plate comprising oval tubes aligned parallel to one another, each containing two spaced grid rods of a corrosion-resistant lead alloy as current conductors. The rods of the individual tubes are joined to form a grid having a connecting part at the top. Near the bottom, each two lead rods are connected by a crosspiece.

Abstract: A woven fabric cell plate for alkaline cell accumulators, which alternates in at least one of the warp and weft directions between areas of double layer and areas of combined single layer. The active mass of the accumulator is retained between the layers of the double layer areas. At least one of the warp and weft may be formed of metal wire, or one of the layers of the double layer areas may be formed of metal wire while the other layer is formed of a second material.

Abstract: A high power, low total energy storage battery is disclosed. The basic portion of the battery is a honeycomb separator which defines a plurality of rather small compartments. Alternate compartments throughout the separator are made to be anode compartments or cathode compartments by inserting electrodes, electrolyte and electrochemical materials in the various compartments. A preferred honeycomb separator is the honeycomb structure used as a support for an automotive exhaust catalyst.

Abstract: A sheath for a storage battery electrode comprises a braid or weave of inorganic fiber threads and a plurality of axial threads extending along the axial length of the sheath and forming crossing points with the inorganic threads. The axial threads comprise a mixture of at least two thermoplastic materials having different softening temperatures. Fabrication of the sheath involves tensioning the sheath and heating it to a temperature sufficient to soften the thermoplastic fiber having the lower softening temperature to bond the latter to the inorganic fibers at the crossing points. The heating is sufficient to weaken the thermoplastic fibers having the higher softening temperature to enable the latter to be only slightly elongated under tension, to enable internal stresses of the axial threads to be substantially equalized.

Abstract: A tubelet pocket construction for holding the positive electrodes of accumulators and a method for making same comprises two pieces of a textile sheet material which are connected together by parallel longitudinal seams which define a plurality of parallel tubelets. The textile sheet material comprises an electrolyte-resistant nonwoven fabric which is reinforced by a woven or laid fabric of electrolyte-resistant fibers.

Abstract: A cylindrical electric cell which includes at least one positive electrode, at least one negative electrode disposed coaxially therewith and a device for maintaining the distance between these electrodes during discharge. In accordance with the invention, said device is constituted by the combination of a cylinder constituted by practically inextensible wires braided helically and by a spring which maintains this braid resiliently applied against the innermost or the outermost electrode of the electric cell.

Abstract: An improvement in the preparation of dry lead powder mixtures for the production of tube electrodes for lead storage batteries to reduce the dust binding problem during filling of the tube electrodes is disclosed. A small amount (0.1 to 3 weight percent) of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is mixed with the lead powder, the mixture is heated and shear stresses are applied thereto sufficient to convert substantially all of the PTFE in the mixture to fibrous form. The resulting mixture can be utilized in a dry powder process for the filling of tube electrodes with a substantial reduction or elimination of the dust binding problem.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved tubular battery plate comprising a porous envelope enclosing a current collector comprising an array of members extending perpendicularly from an end member which affords a current take off lug with active material disposed between the perpendicular current collector members and the inside face of the porous envelope the ratio of the length of the tubes in cms to the free cross sectional area in sq. cms being in the range 100.1 to 295.1 and the degree of stratification of the active material in the tubes being less than 5%.

Abstract: A sheath for a storage battery electrode comprises a braid or weave of inorganic fiber threads and a plurality of axial threads extending along the axial length of the sheath and forming crossing points with the inorganic threads. The axial threads comprise a mixture of at least two thermoplastic materials having different softening temperatures. Fabrication of the sheath involves tensioning the sheath and heating it to a temperature sufficient to soften the thermoplastic fiber having the lower softening temperature to bond the latter to the inorganic fibers at the crossing points. The heating is sufficient to weaken the thermoplastic fibers having the higher softening temperature to enable the latter to be only slightly elongated under tension, to enable internal stresses of the axial threads to be substantially equalized.

Abstract: Tube plate type electrode for a storage battery where the metal rod of said tube is held centrally in a surrounding sheath by spacing fins. The surface of the spacing fins is coated with a lacquer to reduce the peak effect caused by high current density to prolong the life of the tube sheath.

Abstract: A battery electrode includes a plurality of sheaths. The base portion of a bottom strip is secured to bottom, open ends of the sheaths. The bottom strip also includes movable closure sections which can be swung open to allow filling of the sheaths with active material, and which can be swung closed to close the bottom ends of the sheaths.

Abstract: A tube plate for a storage battery is formed from a grid of conductive rods that are surrounded by active material held in place by a sheath of insulating material. The conductive rods are centered in their respective sheaths by centering fins solely lying in the plane of the electrode. The conductive rods are centered in the perpendicular direction by placing the electrode in a jig which has cylindrical channels for receiving the sheaths. In each channel, two rows of needle-like elements are provided which penetrate the sheath and engage the rod surface during the period when the active material in powder form is loaded into the electrode.