Projections Are Deformed Portions, Of A Sheet Material, I.e., Corrugations, Etc. Patents (Class 429/147)
  • Patent number: 11942655
    Abstract: A separator for a lead acid battery is a porous membrane having a positive electrode face and a negative electrode face. A plurality of longitudinally extending ribs, a plurality of protrusions or a nonwoven material may be disposed upon the positive electrode face. A plurality of transversely extending ribs are disposed upon the negative electrode face. The transverse ribs disposed upon the negative electrode face are preferably juxtaposed to a negative electrode of the lead acid battery, when the separator is placed within that battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Daramic, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, J. Kevin Whear
  • Patent number: 11742550
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are improved separators for lead acid batteries. The separators may include a porous membrane, a rubber, and at least one performance enhancing additive, positive and/or negative ribs, and/or lowered acid leachable total organic carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Daramic, LLC
    Inventors: J. Kevin Whear, Eric H. Miller, Naoto Miyake, Joerg Deiters
  • Patent number: 11233271
    Abstract: A method of making a passively impact resistant composite electrolyte and separator layer includes providing a suspension composition including electrically non-conducting particles that enable shear thickening. The particles can have a polydispersity index of no greater than 0.1, an average particle size in a range of from 50 nm to 1 um, and an absolute zeta potential of greater than ±40 mV. A particle suspension solvent is provided for suspending the particles. The suspension composition is applied to a porous separator material. A portion of the particles and suspension solvent penetrate the pores and the remainder of the particles in the suspension composition are distributed across the surface of the separator material. The suspension solvent is evaporated from the separator material to provide a shear thickening particle loaded separator. A separator assembly and a passivated battery are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Beth L. Armstrong, Gabriel M. Veith, Sergiy Kalnaus, Hsin Wang, Katie L. Browning, Kevin M. Cooley
  • Patent number: 10833306
    Abstract: A separator for a lead acid battery is a porous membrane having a positive electrode face and a negative electrode face. A plurality of longitudinally extending ribs, a plurality of protrusions or a nonwoven material may be disposed upon the positive electrode face. A plurality of transversely extending ribs are disposed upon the negative electrode face. The transverse ribs disposed upon the negative electrode face are preferably juxtaposed to a negative electrode of the lead acid battery, when the separator is placed within that battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Daramic, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, J. Kevin Whear
  • Patent number: 10559843
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes an electrode group including positive, negative and bipolar electrodes and separators interposed between these electrodes. In the positive electrode, positive electrode active material layers are formed on both side surfaces of a current collector. In the negative electrode, negative electrode active material layers are formed on both side surfaces of a current collector. In the bipolar electrode, positive and negative electrode active material layers are formed on both side surfaces of a current collector respectively. In the group, these electrodes are stacked with the interposed separators. The group includes current collecting tabs for these electrodes. Connecting portions of these tabs are arranged in different positions on an outer periphery of the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sasakawa, Kazuomi Yoshima, Yasuhiro Harada, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 9935302
    Abstract: A separator for a lead acid battery is a porous membrane having a positive electrode face and a negative electrode face. A plurality of longitudinally extending ribs, a plurality of protrusions or a nonwoven material may be disposed upon the positive electrode face. A plurality of transversely extending ribs are disposed upon the negative electrode face. The transverse ribs disposed upon the negative electrode face are preferably juxtaposed to a negative electrode of the lead acid battery, when the separator is placed within that battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Daramic, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, J. Kevin Whear
  • Patent number: 9905369
    Abstract: Provided is an energy storage device including a container with high productivity and satisfactory corrosion resistance. In the energy storage device including the container housing an electrode assembly having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and electrolyte solution, the container is made of stainless steel including 0.09% by weight or more aluminum and has welded portions and where the stainless steel is welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Ioka, Keisuke Anami, Shinya Kitano, Noriyoshi Munenaga, Taku Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9698401
    Abstract: An improved, new, modified, or more robust embossed battery separator for a storage battery, a method for its production, an envelope embossed separator, batteries including the embossed separators and/or envelopes, and/or related methods for the production and/or use of the embossed separators, embossed envelopes, and/or batteries including such embossed separators and/or envelopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Daramic, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Jeffrey K. Chambers, John R. Timmons
  • Patent number: 9559384
    Abstract: An exterior body of a secondary battery includes an insertion portion for insertion of a third electrode including metal lithium. An injection and expelling portion through which an electrolyte solution can be replaced is further provided. Specifically, a nonaqueous secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte solution, a separator, and an exterior body covering the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the electrolyte solution. The exterior body includes a positive electrode terminal to which the positive electrode is electrically connected, a negative electrode terminal to which the negative electrode is electrically connected, and an insertion portion for insertion of a third electrode including metal lithium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Minoru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9461291
    Abstract: An improved, new, modified, or more robust embossed battery separator for a storage battery, a method for its production, an envelope embossed separator, batteries including the embossed separators and/or envelopes, and/or related methods for the production and/or use of the embossed separators, embossed envelopes, and/or batteries including such embossed separators and/or envelopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Daramic, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Miller, Jeffrey K. Chambers, John R. Timmons
  • Patent number: 9415569
    Abstract: A method of bonding a first substrate to a second substrate includes providing a glass, applying the glass in a layer between the first and second substrates to form an assembly, and heating the assembly to a bonding temperature above a glass transition temperature of the devitrifying glass, selected to cause the glass to bond the first substrate to the second substrate. The devitrifying glass has constituents that include various amounts of group A in a molar concentration of 70-95%, group B in a molar concentration of 5-20%, group C in a molar concentration of 1-20%, group D in a molar concentration of 0-6%; and group E in a molar concentration of 0-10%. The group A, B, C, D and E groups are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Mohammad Masyood Akhtar, Samuel B. Schaevitz, Michael C. Bradford, Zachary Byars, Joseph C. Tucker
  • Patent number: 9023504
    Abstract: A secondary battery module and a battery spacer, the secondary battery module including a plurality of unit cells; and a battery spacer between the unit cells, the battery spacer including a base portion, the base portion including a portion contacting a large side surface of a unit cell, a wing portion projecting from the base portion toward an adjacent battery spacer and enclosing at least a portion of a small side surface of the unit cell, and a fastening portion on the wing portion, the fastening portion being for coupling the battery spacer to an adjacent battery spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Miso Kim
  • Patent number: 8916284
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery cell including an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure mounted in a receiving part of a battery case (cell case). The cell case is provided, at a predetermined region of the cell case corresponding to the upper end interface of the electrode assembly while the electrode assembly is mounted in the receiving part, with a small groove for pressing against the upper end of the electrode assembly to prevent the upward movement of the electrode assembly. The small groove is continuously formed in parallel with the upper end of the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Hwan Jang, Byungjin Choi, Hyang Mok Lee
  • Patent number: 8900739
    Abstract: An electrode layered product for a cell includes a first electrode plate having a shape of a strip, a first separator having a shape of a strip, a second separator having a shape of a strip, a second electrode plate having a pectinate, tooth shape, and a third electrode plate having a pectinate, tooth shape. The first separator is stacked on one surface of the first plate. The second separator is stacked on the other surface of the first plate. The second plate is stacked on an opposite side of the first separator from the first plate. The second plate includes tooth sections and a joining section. The third plate is stacked on an opposite side of the second separator from the first plate. The third plate includes tooth sections and a joining section. The first and second separators and the first, second and third plates are bent in a zigzag manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Yamamoto, Teruhiko Kameoka, Katsunori Kubota
  • Patent number: 8855922
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying a location of a mobile computing device. A first location estimate of a mobile computing device and an accuracy of the first location estimate is determined at a mobile computing device based on wireless signals received from one or more beacons. A time period based on the accuracy of the first location estimate is determined. One or more subsequent location estimates of the mobile computing device and respective accuracies are determined. The determination of the subsequent location estimates is stopped at an end of the time period. A preferred location estimate from the determined location estimates is determined at the mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Starenky, Alex Kennberg
  • Patent number: 8728649
    Abstract: A battery system with at least one cell having an adjacent temperature-equalizing structure that is provided alternately with the cells and is designed for a medium that carries heat and/or cold to pass through. The cells are individual cells (1, 1?, 1?), and the temperature-equalizing structures are conventional corrugated board (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2?a, 2?b, 2?c, 2?d, 2?e) having two cover layers and at least one corrugation arranged between them for the air to pass through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ralf Bauer
  • Patent number: 8560160
    Abstract: A maintenance system for generating maintenance instructions for at least one system, the maintenance system having a plurality of system components set up to receive operating data for a system from a central control unit of the system, to use said data to identify a fault of a system component, to compare the fault with predefined known faults and to retrieve maintenance operations which have already been carried out or are predefined and are correlated with the known faults from a main memory and to select a maintenance operation which correlates with the identified fault in order to rectify the fault and to output the operation as a maintenance instruction. A method for planning maintenance operations has steps of monitoring the systems for faults and generating a maintenance instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Holzer
  • Patent number: 8498795
    Abstract: A method and cruise control system for controlling a vehicle cruise control includes driving the vehicle with the cruise control active and set to maintain a vehicle set target speed, and registering a current vehicle condition, which includes at least a current vehicle position, a currently engaged gear ratio, available gear ratios, current vehicle speed, available maximum propulsion torque and road topography of coming travelling road comprising a next coming uphill slope. Based on the current vehicle condition a downshift is predicted at a coming vehicle position in the coming uphill slope due to vehicle speed decrease and at least one activity is selected which results in that the downshift can be postponed or avoided. The cruise control is controlled according to the selected activity in order to postpone or avoid, for example a downshift from a direct gear and thereby saves fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Anders Eriksson, Johan Bjernetun
  • Patent number: 8442765
    Abstract: A method for collaborative navigation comprises initializing a conditionally independent filter on a local platform, propagating the conditionally independent filter forward in time, and when a local measurement has been made, updating the conditionally independent filter with the local measurement. When a common measurement has been made, the conditionally independent filter is updated with the common measurement, and a determination is made whether a remote conditioning node has arrived from a remote platform. If a remote conditioning node has arrived, a determination is made whether the remote conditioning node needs to be fused with a local conditioning node of the conditionally independent filter. If the remote conditioning node needs to be fused, a node-to-node fusion is performed in the conditionally independent filter to merge the remote conditioning node with the local conditioning node to produce a merged conditioning node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Ingvalson
  • Patent number: 8298703
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery module including at least one battery cell constructed in a structure in which an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure is mounted in a battery case such that electrode leads of the electrode assembly protrude outside, wherein, when external impacts are directly or indirectly applied to the battery cell, with the result that the electrode leads move toward the electrode assembly of the battery cell, the external impacts are absorbed by the deformation of the electrode leads or the deformation of predetermined regions (‘electrode lead facing parts’) of the module in direct contact with or adjacent to the electrode leads, whereby the occurrence of a short circuit due to the contact between the electrode assembly and the electrode leads is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junill Yoon, Seung-Taek Hong, Seung-Jin Yang
  • Publication number: 20120219843
    Abstract: A positive electrode composition is provided. The positive electrode composition includes at least one electroactive metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, manganese, silver, antimony, cadmium, tin, lead, iron, and zinc. The composition further includes sodium iodide, present in an amount in a range from about 0.1 weight percent to about 0.9 weight percent, based on the weight of the positive electrode composition; a first alkali metal halide; and an electrolyte salt comprising a reaction product of a second alkali metal halide and an aluminum halide, wherein the electrolyte salt has a melting point of less than about 300 degrees Celsius. Related devices, such as a UPS device, also form embodiments of this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Charles Bogdan, JR., Michael Alan Vallance, Richard Louis Hart
  • Patent number: 8133605
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a power storage device which enables facilitation of manufacturing of the power storage device while a plurality of terminal portions are prevented from overlapping one another when viewed from a stacking direction. The method of manufacturing the power storage device including a plurality of electrode elements stacked with electrolyte layers interposed between them, the method includes a first step of forming the electrode element which has a generally rotationally symmetric outer shape when viewed from a stacking direction and includes a terminal portion protruding in an outward direction of the power storage device in an area of the outer shape, and a second step of stacking the plurality of electrode elements formed in the first step with the electrolyte layers interposed between them at varying angles in a stacking plane such that the terminal portions do not overlap one another when viewed from the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Murata
  • Patent number: 7989107
    Abstract: A lithium-ion secondary battery where a current collecting member and a foil are joined to each other securely while damage of the foil is suppressed is provided. The lithium-ion secondary battery is provided with a winding group obtained by winding a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate via a separator. An end portion of a positive electrode mixture non-application portion and an end portion of a negative electrode mixture non-application portion project at an upper portion and a lower portion of the winding group, respectively. Current collecting disks 7 are disposed so as to face both end faces of the winding group, respectively. The current collecting disk 7 has projecting ridge portions 8 on a face thereof opposite to the winding group and flat face portions facing the winding group at positions corresponding to the projecting ridge portions 8. The projecting ridge portions 8 are formed radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakai, Akinori Tada, Seiichi Sato, Masatsugu Arai
  • Patent number: 7960050
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode group 5 formed by winding a positive electrode plate 1 and a negative electrode plate 2 with a separator 3 interposed therebetween. Each of the positive and negative electrode plates 1 and 2 includes a current collector 1 and mixture layers 8 and 9 each containing an active material and formed on the surface of the current collector 1. A plurality of trenches 30 are formed in the surfaces of the mixture layers 8 and 9 of at least one of the positive electrode plate 1 and the negative electrode plate 2. The trenches 30 have curvature portions at side edges 30b and bottom centers 30a thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kumakiri, Seiichi Katou
  • Patent number: 7910037
    Abstract: A fuel cell manufacturing method is provided by which an unbroken strip of sheet material is sent through a molding process, an MEA assembly process and a modularization process, and is separated into individual modules in a batch process. In the molding process, separators are sequentially molded on the strip of sheet material, and a separator strip is produced in which the separators are connected together by runners. In the MEA assembly process and the modularization process, MEAs are sequentially assembled on the separator strip in which a series of the separators are connected together by the runners, and a module strip is produced in which a series of the modules are connected together by the runners. In the batch process, the series of modules is separated into the individual modules by cutting and removing the runners from the module strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Itoh, Nobuhira Abe, Satoshi Ohnuma
  • Patent number: 7687183
    Abstract: An electrically conductive element and a related assembly are provided for use in an electrochemical cell. The electrically conductive separator plate has an upper boundary and a lower boundary. The upper boundary has at least one land formed therein, where the land has a surface defining a first plane and the lower boundary defines a second plane. The first plane extends towards said second plane, so as to intersect with said second plane at an angle greater than zero. An assembly further comprises a compliant layer which substantially conforms to the angled land surfaces, thereby enhancing contact pressure between and across a plurality of components in the compliant layer. A method of assembling such a separator assembly in a fuel cell is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventor: Yeh-Hung Lai
  • Patent number: 7674549
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided in which the amount of a reaction product discharged outside the system can be reduced, the reaction product, such as water, being formed by the electrochemical reaction of a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell power generation apparatus and a fuel cartridge which is detachable from a fuel cell. The fuel cell power generation apparatus includes a case containing a fuel cell therein, an air intake port provided in the case, and an emitted material discharge port provided in the case. The air intake port and the emitted material discharge port are arranged in different positions of the case. The fuel cartridge includes a fuel storage unit storing fuel, a fuel supply port supplying the fuel to the fuel cell, and a removal unit which removes water discharged from the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroko Kanai, Takashi Yasuo, Hiroki Kabumoto
  • Patent number: 7326486
    Abstract: A fuel cell-purposed separator has a gas channel that includes a plurality of stages connected via turnaround portions. A bypass is provided which connects an upstream-side stage to a downstream side stage. After flowing through the downstream-side stage, a gas is let out of a gas outlet. The fuel cell-purposed separator thus constructed curbs a gas concentration drop on the downstream side in the gas channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouetsu Hibino, Toshiyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6878484
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a thin battery separator having an excellent nitrate group trapping performance and a high piercing strength. The inventive separator for a secondary battery, which can accomplish such an object, is made of a resin composition mainly containing a polyolefin having a hydrophilic functional group, wherein the resin composition has a content (ratio to a total resin amount) of a low-density polyethylene of 20 mass % or less, a piercing strength of 5 to 100 N, a Metsuke of 20 to 75 g/m2, a thickness of 15 to 150 ?m, and an unneutralized hydrophilic functional group amount of 1×10?3 to 5×10?2 mol/m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Hiroki Yamaguchi, Naohiko Takimoto, Masahiro Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20040038123
    Abstract: A stack type battery is provided with a plurality of unit cells stacked in a stack direction to be connected in series, and shared voltage measurement tab electrodes formed on the plurality of unit cells, respectively, to allow voltages to be measured for the plurality of unit cells such that the shared voltage measurement tab electrodes are disposed at deviated positions on a side surface of the stack type battery in a direction intersecting the stack direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunari Hisamitsu, Tatsuhiro Fukuzawa, Kouichi Nemoto, Yasuhiko Ohsawa
  • Patent number: 6670066
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell comprises a plate-shaped electrode having a pair of gas diffusion electrode plates and an electrolytic layer held by the gas diffusion electrode plates. The separator being layered on both surfaces of the electrode and forming gas passages cooperating with the gas diffusion electrode plate. The separator comprising: a metallic plate; protrusions made from a material of the carbon type, the protrusion having a projected surface projecting from the metallic plate toward the gas diffusion electrode plate so as to contact therewith and to form the gas passages; and intermetallic compounds precipitated on the projected surface of the protrusion. The gas passage is formed by a surface of the metallic plate and a pair of side surfaces of adjoining protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Tsuji, Masao Utsunomiya, Teruyuji Ohtani, Nobuhiro Saito
  • Patent number: 6656232
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a battery electrode from foamed metal electrode material includes first and second rollers which are parallel to each other at a shaft center, and rotatable in directions opposite to each other, and a guide bar which is between the first and second rollers. A method for manufacturing a battery electrode includes supplying a foamed metal electrode material including voids, and having a filled portion filled with active material and an unfilled portion without the active material, and a boundary line between the filled and unfilled portions. Part of the unfilled portion is folded in parallel to the boundary line passing through the unfilled portion, and at right angle against the unfilled portion. A lead welding portion is formed along the direction of the longer side, by applying, to the unfilled bent portion, a force in the direction perpendicular to the filled portion in a way to crush the voids, and compress the bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Usui, Tsuneo Ando, Ikuo Katsumata, Hiroki Takeshima
  • Patent number: 6607859
    Abstract: An alkaline battery separator which enables the preparation of a battery with a good yield and workability is provided. The alkaline battery separator of the present invention comprises a fiber sheet mainly comprising hydrophilicity-imparted polyolefin fibers having a fiber diameter of 8 &mgr;m or more, and a part of the hydrophilicity-imparted polyolefin fibers is composed of high-strength fibers having a tensile strength of 5 g/d or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Japan Vilene Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanao Tanaka, Masaki Hirooka, Toshiaki Takase
  • Patent number: 6531245
    Abstract: Separators for unit cells of a fuel cell each have a plurality of through holes extending therethrough and a recessed portion formed in a surface thereof. In a fuel cell incorporating such separators, the recessed portion of each separator forms an in-cell oxidative gas passage, together with an adjacent cathode. An oxidative gas, supplied from an external device into the fuel cell, is distributed from an oxidative gas supply manifold formed by holes of the separators, to the in-cell oxidative gas passages. The oxidative gas is then collected in an oxidative gas discharge manifold formed by holes of the separators, and conveyed out of the fuel cell by the discharge manifold. During the passage through each in-cell oxidative gas passage, the oxidative gas flows via an oxidative gas transit manifold formed by holes of the separators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Mizuno, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Mikio Wada
  • Patent number: 6379831
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel assembly is made, wherein rows (14, 24) of fuel cells (16, 18, 20, 26, 28, 30), each having an outer interconnection (36) and an outer electrode (32), are disposed next to each other with corrugated, electrically conducting expanded metal mesh (22) between each row of cells, the corrugated mesh (22) having top crown portions (40) and bottom shoulder portions (42), where the top crown portion (40) contacts outer interconnections (36) of the fuel cells (16, 18, 20) in a first row (14), and the bottom shoulder portions (42) contacts outer electrodes (32) of the fuel cells in a second row (24), said mesh electrically connecting each row of fuel cells, and where there are no metal felt connections between any fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Draper, Ronald F. Antol, Paolo R. Zafred
  • Patent number: 6132899
    Abstract: A battery separator for use in flooded cell type lead acid batteries comprising a backweb of a porous, acid resistant, embossable material with a plurality of major ribs and submini-ribs extending from at least one planar surface of the backweb and a lesser plurality of stop-ribs extending from the other planar surface. Each major rib overlies at least one submini-rib and a number less than all of the major ribs overlies the stop-ribs. Each major rib is an embossed corrugated structure comprised of alternating ridges and furrows. The ridges and furrows are in non-parallel alignment to the longitudinal dimension of the separator, and preferably perpendicular thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Amtek Research International LLC
    Inventors: James Young, Francis E. Alexander, Daniel E. Weerts
  • Patent number: 6045949
    Abstract: A battery grid has a thickness which is greater at the top than at the bottom to achieve a uniform compressive force on a grid stack exerted by the side walls of a battery container.A plastic wedge is disposed between the side walls of the battery container and the stack of grids to improve the distribution of compressive forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Kuipers, Patrick Kwok-Yeung Ng
  • Patent number: 5985484
    Abstract: A battery separator for use in flooded cell type lead acid batteries comprising a backweb of a porous, acid resistant, embossable material with a plurality of major ribs and submini-ribs extending across the width of the backweb from at least one planar surface of the backweb. The submini-ribs extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the backweb. The major ribs extend in a direction that is diagonal to the longitudinal axis of the backweb. Each major rib is an embossed corrugated structure comprised of alternating ridges and furrows. The separator is particularly useful in a flooded cell type lead acid battery having tubular plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: AMTEK Research International LLC
    Inventors: James Young, Francis E. Alexander, Daniel E. Weerts
  • Patent number: 5981107
    Abstract: To obtain a lithium ion secondary battery having excellent charge and discharge characteristics in which electric connection between active material layers and a separator can be maintained without requiring a strong armor metal case, so that it can be made into thin forms having large energy density. Convex parts and concave parts are formed on at least two surfaces among surfaces of a positive electrode active material layer 7 and a negative electrode active material layer 9 both adjacent to a separator 4 and surfaces of the separator 4 facing both of the active material layers 7, 9, and these three means are bonded and closely adhered by an adhesive resin layer 11 and electrically connected by keeping a lithium ion-containing electrolytic solution in the separator 4 and voids 12 formed by a bonded surface 11a of the convex parts and the concave parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Hamano, Hisashi Shiota, Shou Shiraga, Shigeru Aihara, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 5894055
    Abstract: A battery separator for use in flooded cell and recombinant type lead acid batteries. The separator has a relatively thin backweb (between about 0.002 inch and about 0.008 inch). A plurality of submini-ribs extend from one or both planar faces of the backweb. The submini-ribs are substantially parallel to the longitudinal side edges of the backweb and are substantially evenly spaced across the width of the backweb. The submini-ribs are relatively short in height (between about 0.003 inch and about 0.009 inch above the adjacent planar surface of the backweb) and relatively closely spaced together (between about 0.025 inch and about 0.050 inch).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Amtek Research International LLC
    Inventors: James Young, Francis E. Alexander, Daniel E. Weerts
  • Patent number: 5789103
    Abstract: A battery separator for use in flooded cell type lead acid batteries comprising a backweb of a porous, acid resistant, embossable material with a plurality of major ribs and submini-ribs extending from at least one planar surface of the backweb. The ribs are located across the width of the backweb and extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of the backweb. Each major rib overlies at least one submini-rib and is an embossed corrugated structure comprised of alternating ridges and furrows. The ridges and furrows are in non-parallel alignment to the longitudinal dimension of the separator, and preferably perpendicular thereto. The major ribs are formed on a battery separator backweb having a plurality of submini-ribs extending from at least one planar surface thereof by passing the backweb through the nip formed by a pair of opposed embossing rollers and embossing the backweb in the area of at least one submini-rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: AMTEK Research International LLC
    Inventors: James Young, Francis E. Alexander, Daniel E. Weerts
  • 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: 5679479
    Abstract: A battery separator for use in flooded cell type lead acid batteries comprising a backweb of a porous, acid resistant, embossable material with a plurality of ribs extending from at least one planar surface of the backweb. The ribs are located across the width of the backweb and extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the backweb. Each rib is an embossed corrugated structure comprised of alternating ridges and furrows. The ridges and furrows are in non-parallel alignment to the longitudinal dimension of the separator, and preferably perpendicular thereto. The ribs are formed on a substantially flat battery separator backweb by passing the backweb through the nip formed by a pair of opposed embossing rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Amtek Research International LLC
    Inventors: James Young, Francis E. Alexander
  • 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: 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: 5558952
    Abstract: A pocket separator which contains positive or negative plates in an electric storage battery, which has a closed bottom, left and right sides, and an open top. The pocket is formed of a porous separator sheet, with the facing inner surfaces of the pocket having a plurality of continuous vertical ribs, and a plurality of short, inclined ribs at the side edges, with a plurality of broken vertical ribs in the center, which engage a positive or negative plate in the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: East Penn Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: Davis J. Knauer
  • 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: 5554464
    Abstract: An elongated, rigid, porous, ceramic separator for a rechargeable battery assembly, the separator having a honeycomb structure in which open cells are separated from adjacent cells by thin, porous, ceramic walls, the open cells and separating walls running lengthwise of the honeycomb, the cell walls being porous and the open cells and wall pores being adapted to be filled with an electrolyte to permit ion flow between electrodes in a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: John L. Stempin, Ronald L. Stewart, Dale R. Wexell
  • Patent number: RE41203
    Abstract: An alkaline battery separator which enables the preparation of a battery with a good yield and workability is provided. The alkaline battery separator of the present invention comprises a fiber sheet mainly comprising hydrophilicity-imparted polyolefin fibers having a fiber diameter of 8 ?m or more, and a part of the hydrophilicity-imparted polyolefin fibers is composed of high-strength fibers having a tensile strength of 5 g/d or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Japan Vilene Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanao Tanaka, Masaki Hirooka, Toshiaki Takase