Having Electrode Spacing Projections Patents (Class 429/146)
  • Patent number: 5989750
    Abstract: A separator contains thermoplastic synthetic fiber, and acid-resisting oxidation-resisting inorganic filler, wherein the cumulative volume of pores having a pore size not smaller than 1 .mu.m is not larger than 20% of the cumulative volume of all pores, and the maximum pore size is not larger than 10 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: G.S. Kasei Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Katsumi Ohba, Shin Ito
  • Patent number: 5776630
    Abstract: Separators for use in accumulators are provided with integral longitudinal and transverse ribs. The separators have an increased transverse and longitudinal rigidity thus permitting a clear reduction in the sheet thickness. They are preferably provided in the form of rolls with the rib structure preventing a permanent distortion of the separators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Daramic, Inc.
    Inventor: Werner Bohnstedt
  • Patent number: 5773161
    Abstract: A bipolar separator which is formed from a plate having opposing first and second surfaces which are compatible with fuel gas and an oxidant gas, respectively. The plate is formed with a central area, first and second opposing troughs extending from first and second opposing sides of the central area, and third and fourth opposing troughs extending from third and fourth opposing sides of the central area. In the regions of its third and fourth sides, the central area is bent over and around so that the third and fourth troughs face and are adjacent to the central area. The first surface of the separator defines the extent of a first surface of the central area and the extents of the inner surfaces of the troughs of the separator. Similarly, the second surface of the separator defines the extents of a second opposing surface of central area and the extents of the outer surfaces of the troughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Energy Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammad Farooque, Joel David Doyon, Michael Thomas Primerano, G.B. Kirby Meacham
  • Patent number: 5665488
    Abstract: A method of making a battery separator useful in flooded cell type lead acid batteries comprising providing a sheet of microporous polyolefin material having two planar surfaces, forming at least one hollow rib extending from one of the planar surfaces, and wholly or partially filling the hollow rib with a rib core material. The forming of the hollow rib and the filling of the hollow rib with rib core material may be effected in separate steps or simultaneously. Where the formation and filling of the hollow rib take place simultaneously, the process involves applying at least one bead of a rib core material to one planar surface of the sheet of microporous polyolefin material, pressing the bead of rib core material into said microporous polyolefin sheet to thereby displace the microporous polyolefin material located thereunder outwardly from the other planar surface to thereby form a rib member projecting from said other planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: AMTEK Research International LLC
    Inventors: James Young, Gregory T. Humphrey, Daniel K. Lee
  • Patent number: 5665487
    Abstract: The cathode of the water-activated battery is a chloride member with a silver coating on its surface or it is a silver-chloride cathode. The anode is a magnesium plate. The anode and cathode are spaced apart with a rigid spacer member. A battery casing encloses the electrodes. A conductive liquid such as saltwater enters the housing through entry and exit ports formed therein and the water then surrounds the electrodes. Lead wires, e.g. a wire bundle, project through the casing wall and they connect to a light or a similar load. The battery is operated by immersing the housing into the conductive liquid, removing the entry port plug from the entry port to permit the conductive liquid to enter the casing through the entry port, and removing the exit port plug from the exit port to permit the conductive liquid to exit the casing through the exit port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Sartech Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Shiraz Dhanji
  • Patent number: 5650241
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Inventor: Richard L. McGee
  • Patent number: 5645955
    Abstract: A device for a battery with a spacer preventing direct physical contact between first and second batteries arranged in physical series. A resilient conductor providing an electroconductive contact between a center electrode of the first battery and a terminal electrode of the second battery is held by the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Mag Instrument, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Maglica
  • Patent number: 5558958
    Abstract: A flexible spacer for positioning a cell element in a cell compartment of a container of a storage battery includes a sheet member folded over on itself to a U-shaped configuration with the space between opposing surfaces of the sheet member defining a compartment for receiving the cell element, enabling the cell element and the spacer to be inserted as a unit into the cell compartment, the opposing surfaces of the sheet member each including a ribbed section that flexes upon insertion of the spacer and element into the cell, automatically adjusting for differences in cell element thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Globe-Union, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward N. Mrotek, Norbert Schilling
  • Patent number: 5437941
    Abstract: An electrical energy storage device (10). An electrode (12) consisting of a thin film of metal or metal oxide is deposited on a substrate (24), preferably by sputtering. Spherical plastic spacers (16) are uniformly dispersed on the electrode at a maximum density of about 1000 spacers per square millimeter of the electrode area. A second substrate also has an electrode (14) formed of a thin film of metal or metal oxide deposited on it, similar to the first substrate. The first and second substrates are arranged so that the electrodes face each other and are separated by the spherical plastic spacers to form a gap (18) of about 20 microns between the electrodes. An electrolyte (20) is filled in the gap, and the edges of the gap are optionally sealed (22) to form the electrical energy storage device. The device may also be formed by using metal foils, and eliminating one or more of the substrates. In both cases, the use of an electrolyte is optional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Arledge, James L. Davis, Thomas J. Swirbel
  • Patent number: 5264304
    Abstract: A sheet product useful as a battery separator in the form of a microporous base sheet having spaced T-shaped (cross-sectional) ribs extending from one surface of the base sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Eric D. Kragness, Joseph T. Lundquist
  • Patent number: 5250372
    Abstract: An electrolyte-immobilizing mat for a mat-immobilized-electrolyte battery comprising a plurality of randomly oriented resilient fibers resistant to and wettable by sulfuric acid electrolyte, wherein the mat is held in a stressed, precompressed state by a resin which is substantially insoluble in sulfuric acid but is sufficiently degradable therein under battery formation conditions to free the mat from its stressed state during formation and allow it to swell within battery cell element. Thermosetting resins and particularly melamine-formaldehyde are preferred. The invention is particularly useful with mats made from glass fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Norman L. Willmann, Neil R. Eisenhut, Jack L. Limbert
  • Patent number: 5240468
    Abstract: An electrolyte-immobilizing mat for a mat-immobilized-electrolyte battery comprising a plurality of randomly oriented resilient fibers resistant to and wettable by sulfuric acid electrolyte, wherein the mat is held in a stressed, precompressed state by a resin which is substantially insoluble in sulfuric acid but is sufficiently degradable therein under battery formation conditions to free the mat from its stressed state during formation and allow it to swell within battery cell element. Thermosetting resins and particularly melamine-formaldehyde are preferred. The invention is particularly useful with mats made from glass fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Norman L. Willmann, Neil R. Eisenhut, Jack L. Limbert
  • Patent number: 5219673
    Abstract: An electrochemical device comprises a plurality of cells, each cell including a laminate cell membrane, made up of a separator/electrolyte means interposed between alternating positive and negative electrodes, each type of electrode being respectively in common contact to a single current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventor: Thomas D. Kaun
  • Patent number: 5128218
    Abstract: A sealed lead-acid battery which includes a container accommodating an assembled element. The assembled element has at least one electrochemically formed positive plate having a grid of an antimony-free alloy, wherein the plate is made of porous active material. The assembled element also includes at least one electrochemically formed negative plate having a grid of an antimony-free lead alloy, wherein the plate is made of a porous active material. A separator, having a plurality of projections on one or both side thereof, is inserted between the positive and negative plates. A layer of powder is placed between the positive and negative plates and around the assembled element. The powder is composed of a closely packed powder, which is acid-resistant and hydrophilic, and has gas channels within its interior. The powder is immobilized with an acid-resistant porous layer placed above the powder, wherein the porous layer is permeable to gases and liquids, and impervious to particles of the powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Tokunaga, Toshiaki Hayashi, Teruhiro Hatanaka, Masahiko Kosai, Takao Omae
  • Patent number: 5116701
    Abstract: An electrode and separator composite composed of an electrode strip, such as a lithium strip, having a microporous separator secured to its surface in which the separator comprises a layer of insulating microspheres, such as glass microspheres measuring from 5 microns to 0.05 inch in diameter, partially embedded in the surface of the electrode strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Kalisz
  • Patent number: 4781997
    Abstract: The invention concerns a storage battery that is protected against the discharge of acid, with fleece separators which completely fill the space between the electrode plates. It is proposed that spacers be built into the fleece separators during a preliminary production step of the separator material. These spacers have support surfaces which are situated at least on one side of the separator material below the surface of said separator material and which preferably extend approximately parallel to the surface of the separator material. The spacers can be fixed in position by a preferably very thin and wide-meshed screen that has been worked into the separator material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Hagen Batterie AG
    Inventors: Christian Bohle, Eberhard Nann, Ulrich Romling
  • Patent number: 4652504
    Abstract: A secondary battery prevents a localized formation of dendritic metal zinc during a charging and increases a current efficiency as far as possible. The secondary battery includes a negatively active material of a metallic ion, a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator having an metallic-ion-permeable sheet, a plurality of projections formed with a nonsymmetrical shape on opposite sides of the sheet and a diffusing means for diffusing a flow of zinc ion current flowing around the projection, and the diffusing means is provided in a vicinity of a connecting portion of the sheet and the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha
    Inventor: Yasuo Ando
  • Patent number: 4490447
    Abstract: Novel, improved battery separators carrying a plurality of polymeric ribs on at least one separator surface. The battery separators are produced by extruding a plurality of ribs in the form of molten polymeric rib providing material onto the surface of a battery separator to bond the material to the separator surface and cooling the extruded rib material to a solidified state. The molten polymeric rib providing material of this invention includes a mixture or blend of polypropylenes and an ethylene propylene diene terpolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: USM Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Battersby
  • Patent number: 4448862
    Abstract: The coating of the microporous separators of lead storage batteries with a highly porous glass wool mat on the side facing the negative electrode plates promotes the electrolyte exchange at these plates and also counteracts the tendency toward crumbling and toward the formation of spongy lead (mossing). The glass wool mat may be applied in the form of a plate or a slab to conventionally made separators or it may take the form of a pocket into which the negative electrode plate is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Varta Batterie Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz Schulte, Werner Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 4403024
    Abstract: A battery separator having a planar back web and a plurality of ribs on at least one face with the ribs being sinusoidal like in configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.
    Inventors: Geoffrey H. Gordon, John H. Gillespie
  • Patent number: 4400447
    Abstract: This relates to reactive metal cells wherein there is a cathode and a consumable anode. It is necessary to separate the cathode from the anode so that an electrolyte may constantly flow over the face of the anode opposing the cathode. It has been found that this separator may also beneficially function as a current collector. The combined current collector and separator includes a peripheral supporting frame of which a portion may function as a bus-bar. A plurality of bars or ribs extend in parallel relation across the opening defined by the supporting frame and are electrically connected to the bus-bar portion. It is preferred that each bar or rib have a pointed or line edge which will engage and slightly bite into the associated anode to maintain the bar or rib in electrical contact with the anode. This abstract forms no part of the specification of this application and is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: The Continental Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gerenser, Ernest L. Littauer
  • Patent number: 4396689
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell construction features a novel co-extruded plastic electrode in an interleaved construction with a novel integral separator-spacer. Also featured is a leak and impact resistant construction for preventing the spill of corrosive materials in the event of rupture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Patrick G. Grimes, Harry Einstein, Kenneth R. Newby, Richard J. Bellows
  • Patent number: 4360576
    Abstract: Lead accumulator which comprises a plurality of elements each consisting of a negative plate, a positive plate and separating means intercalated between these plates, the said separating means comprising a first and a second microporous separator, between which spacers define channels, characterized in that the thickness of the channels (11) is between 0.5 mm and 2 mm and in that the width of the channels (11) is between 2 mm and 10 mm.Particularly valuable application in traction batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme dite: Compagnie Generale d'Electricite
    Inventors: Claude Pascon, Georges Marcellin
  • Patent number: 4209575
    Abstract: A multi-cell battery is disclosed which comprises a stacked arrangement of frames having a number of side-by-side active paste support areas which form plates. Electrolyte-porous separator members are provided between adjacent plates in adjoining frames. The separator members are spaced from the positive active material by spacer elements which are connected to the frames and extend partly over and project from the faces of the separator members. The spacer elements are preferably inclined upwardly from their points of connection to the frames to define particle-trapping pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1980
    Assignee: Dunlop Austrialia Limited
    Inventors: William L. McDowall, Alan K. Maplesden
  • Patent number: 4113927
    Abstract: A battery separator having ribs on at least one side thereof and formed of a sintered resin, the rib tops having a coating thereon consisting of a low-density polyethylene wax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: Evans Products Company
    Inventors: Peter E. Johnson, Bob G. Rowland
  • Patent number: 4055711
    Abstract: This invention generally relates to a lead-acid storage battery comprising positive plates having the characteristic of both paste type and clad type plates and pasted negative plates which are alternately arranged and separators each disposed between the adjacent positive and negative plates. The positive plates each comprise a grid or substrate having spaced longitudinal members of electrically conducting material and spaced latitudinal members formed integrally with the longitudinal members, the latitudinal members having the thickness smaller than that of the longitudinal members. The latitudinal members may be omitted if the substrate can be filled with active material without any latitudinal members. Each of the positive plates comprises pasted active material filled in the grid; and active material holder composed of porous insulating sheets mounted on active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1977
    Assignee: Masao Kubota
    Inventor: Shinichi Ikari