Complete Cells Patents (Class 429/156)
  • Patent number: 6558835
    Abstract: An electric cell module is provided, which enables operations of connecting terminals in one direction and which is, as a whole, highly rigid and has excellent resistance to breakage. A pair of rod bodies 3A and 3B are arranged parallel to each other to be oriented in opposite polarities. Each rod body contains a plurality of electric cells 1 connected in series through cell connector portions 2. An electrical connecting structure 4 is formed on one end face of each rod body. The structure connects the rod bodies electrically to each other. A coupling jig 5 is incorporated to surround at least one juxtaposed pair of cell connector portions present at the same longitudinal position in the rod bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignees: Toshiba Battery Co., Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihito Kurisu, Koji Ishiwa, Tsutomu Matsui
  • Publication number: 20030082439
    Abstract: Cooling air intake port (52), cooling air exhaust port (55), and securing walls (86, 87), which contact and secure the side surfaces of one or more battery cells (72), may be defined within two battery pack housing halves (50, 80). When battery pack (99) is assembled, at least one cooling air passage (91, 92) is defined by the side surfaces of the battery cells, the interior surface of the battery pack housing, and the securing walls. The cooling air passage connects the cooling air intake port to the cooling air exhaust port. Further, the securing walls isolate or physically separate the cooling air passage from battery terminals (72a, 72b). By forcing cooling air through the cooling air passage, the battery cells can be effectively and efficiently cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 6555264
    Abstract: A plurality of cells each encased in prismatic cell cases having short lateral walls and long lateral walls are arranged side by side, with adjacent short lateral walls being integral with each other, thereby constituting an integral battery case. The upper open ends of the plurality of prismatic cell cases are integrally closed by a single lid member. Each of the cells accommodates therein a group of electrodes stacked alternately upon one another parallel to the long lateral walls of the cell cases with intervening separators therebetween. Neighboring cells are connected in series at their abutting lateral opposite ends with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Yoshiaki Ogata, Noriyuki Fujioka, Munehisa Ikoma, Toyohiko Eto
  • Patent number: 6541154
    Abstract: A multi-cell structure battery (1A) comprising: a plurality of columnar cells accommodated in a casing (11); bus bars (23A, 23B) to connect respective terminals of the cells; signal transmitting wires (16) to connect the respective cells to an external device; a cell holder (12) to hold the cells; and a covering (13) fixed to the cell holder so as to oppose against the terminals of the cells, the bus bars being disposed on an inner surface of the covering opposed to the terminals of the cells and the signal transmitting wires being disposed in an outer surface of the covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsuo Oogami, Tatsuo Horiba
  • Publication number: 20030041445
    Abstract: A method for selecting unit cells to make an optimal battery pack improves the performance of the battery pack with primary or secondary batteries connected to one another in series, in parallel, or in a combination of them. The method for selecting unit cells to make the optimal battery pack includes measuring the impedance spectrum of the individual unit cells in a predetermined frequency region, fitting the impedance spectrum to an equivalent circuit model composed of parameters including resistance and capacitance components, calculating total resistances from the fitted parameters, and making the battery pack with unit cells of a similar total resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Jee-Hwan Jang, Hyun-Kyung Sung, Yevgen Barsukov
  • Publication number: 20030031922
    Abstract: A battery for use in various temperature environments includes a plurality of cells arranged in a close packing arrangement and a sleeve that is disposed around the cells. The sleeve is constructed from a material that acts as an insulator at relatively low temperatures and that acts as a conductor at relatively high temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Hossein Maleki, Anaba Anani, Ganesh Venugopal
  • Publication number: 20030017384
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of prismatic batteries including an electrode plate group and electrolyte housed in a prismatic battery case and being arranged in parallel and integrally bound. A metal plate is integrally embedded in the sidewall of the prismatic battery which is in parallel with the electrode plate group. A heat transfer part protruding from the prismatic battery case is provided at least one side of the metal plate. A heat exchanger is provided such that a heat exchanging surface of the heat exchanger is brought into contact with the heat transfer part protruding from the prismatic battery case of the prismatic battery. Then, the battery pack and the heat exchanger are fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO.
    Inventors: Shuhei Marukawa, Ko Watanabe, Toyohiko Eto
  • Publication number: 20030017387
    Abstract: A battery pack comprises a plurality of rectangular shaped batteries, wherein each of the plurality of rectangular shaped batteries is formed into a thin rectangular-parallelepiped shape, and wherein the plurality of rectangular shaped batteries are stacked side-by-side in a thickness direction, and a pair of pressurizing plates, wherein one of the pressurizing plates is located at each end of the stacked rectangular shaped batteries oriented in the thickness direction, wherein the pressurizing plates are elastically pushed against each other to pressurize the plurality rectangular shaped batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Shuhei Marukawa, Ko Watanabe, Toyohiko Etoh, Keiji Shukuya, Shogo Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20030013009
    Abstract: A battery pack comprises: a battery unit (12) including a plurality of batteries (1) arranged flatly and electrically connected with one another by either series or parallel connection, or a combination thereof; a pair of heat transfer plates (8a, 8b) made of a material exhibiting excellent thermal conductivity and arranged in parallel to a surface where the battery unit (12) is arranged, of which one makes surface contact with a top-surface side of each of the batteries (1) of the battery unit (12), and the other makes surface contact with a back-surface side of each of the batteries (1) of the battery unit (12); and a housing (2) made of a material exhibiting excellent thermal conductivity, the housing accommodating the battery unit (12) and the pair of heat transfer plates (8a, 8b) and making surface contact with the pair of heat transfer plates (8a, 8b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Dansui, Hideki Kasahara
  • Patent number: 6495282
    Abstract: In a method for arranging cells, a plurality of cells each configured in an substantially elliptic cylindrical shape having a major axis and a minor axis in its sectional shape, and the sectional surface including the major axis of each of the lid wall and the bottom wall of each of the cells, is arranged to be inclined with respect to a vertical line perpendicular to an arrangement reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yoshida, Masanao Terasaki
  • Patent number: 6455190
    Abstract: The battery module comprises a plurality of cells encased in prismatic cell cases having short lateral walls and long lateral walls coupled together as one piece. Each of the cells accommodates therein a group of electrode plates and liquid electrolyte, wherein collector plates are connected respectively to the groups of positive and negative electrode plates at opposite lateral edges thereof. Connection holes are formed at upper edge portions of the short lateral walls of the cell cases, and the collector plates are formed with connection bosses that fit into the connection holes, so that the connection bosses of the collector plates in neighboring cells are abutted each other and welded together, whereby two adjacent cells are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inoue, Nobuyuki Matsunaka, Hiromi Kajiya
  • Publication number: 20020102454
    Abstract: A battery pack for an electric/hybrid vehicle including a cooling system that provides a substantially uniform cooling of the batteries within the pack. The battery pack includes a base that supports the batteries stacked in layers one atop the other. Each battery includes a plurality of cells with cooling air channels between them. A retention frame overlays and is affixed to the batteries to restrict the movement of the batteries within the pack. The batteries are held in spacers disposed above and below each layer of batteries. The spacers provide air passages above and below the batteries to allow cool air to flow across the batteries and through the cooling channels. An inlet admits cool air into the pack and an outlet releases the air from the pack after it is has passed through the stack of batteries. A front manifold is connected to the inlet and includes a plurality of separate runners for evenly splitting the air between the spacers below each layer of batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Shijian Zhou, Jeffrey C. Waters, David R. Price, Robert L. Stinefield
  • Patent number: 6410184
    Abstract: The power source holds a plurality of parallel oriented power modules in a holder-case. The holder-case is provided with cover-casings on both sides and intermediate-casings between them. Holder ribs project from the insides of cover-casings and from both sides of intermediate-casings for arranging power modules in a plurality of rows and retaining them in fixed positions. Cover-casings on both sides and intermediate-casings are joined to sandwich and hold the plurality of rows of power modules in fixed positions via the holder ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhito Horiuchi, Yoshiharu Takasaki
  • Patent number: 6406812
    Abstract: This direct current power supply for electric vehicles includes a modular set of electrical storage batteries (16) which are electrically interconnected. The batteries are disposed in battery boxes (18, 20) which can be stacked to constitute a stack of modules (12, 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Oldham France S.A.
    Inventors: Claude Maurice Pierre Dreulle, Pierre Georges Gerard Lenain
  • Publication number: 20020064707
    Abstract: Arrangement for a compact battery and cooling system therefore is disclosed. The arrangement includes a plurality of elongate battery cells, each battery cell having a longitudinal axis and a hexagonal cross-sectional shape in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cells are parallelly oriented, each to the others, within a battery housing. Preferably, the cells are arranged in a honeycomb configuration with opposed faces of adjacent battery cells proximately located one to the other in face-to-face relationship. At least one substantially hexagonally shaped cooling channel is provided at an interior location within the plurality of battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Bjorn Wessman
  • Publication number: 20020028375
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for cooling assembled batteries comprising rechargeable batteries and intends to avoid temperature dispersion among single cells and hence avoid dispersion of battery performance. A module battery 10 is so constructed that convex portions 8 provided on the battery container 2 of the single cells 7 come in contact with each other creating by recessed portion 9 a space 11 in the vertical direction between single cells 7. The module battery 10 is banded by means of aluminum plates 12 and iron bands 13 with the single cells 7 at both ends forced inwardly. The module batteries are placed sideways with the terminals facing the same direction and the cooling medium flows toward the surface where the electrode poles are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Morishita, Kenji Sato, Hiroshi Inoue, Munehisa Ikoma
  • Publication number: 20020012833
    Abstract: A monoblock battery case and a monobock battery. The monoblock battery case comprises a first and a second container each having partitions that divide the containers into cell compartments. The first container is attached to and co-operates with the second container to form one or more coolant channels disposed between the first and second containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Philippe Gow, Anthony Osgood, Subhash K. Dhar, Dennis A. Corrigan, Stanford R. Ovshinsky
  • Publication number: 20020006545
    Abstract: The combined battery of the present invention includes two end plates and a plurality of general cells stacked adjacent each other and bound by two end plates. The general cells are provided with a battery container made of resin, and bound by two end plates with a binding force equal to or lower than a threshold value determined based on the number and the compressibility of the cells and the stiffness of the battery container, in such a manner that no more than a predetermined amount of irreversible deformation will be caused in the battery container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Shuhei Marukawa, Ko Watanabe, Toyohiko Eto, Masayoshi Iwase, Tomokazu Yamauchi, Takahiko Miki
  • Publication number: 20020006541
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery modules electrically connected together, each battery module acting as a secondary battery and including an electrode group, an electrolyte, a container for housing the electrode group and the electrolyte, and a safety valve operating in accordance with the internal pressure of the container. The working pressure of each safety valve is set so that the safety valve of at least one battery module is opened when the at least one battery module has its maximum internal pressure or less during the charge equalization. It is possible to provide a battery assembly that can improve the reliability of the container strength by keeping the working pressure of each safety valve lower than the pressure that the container resists even under elevated temperature conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Naoto Arai, Shinji Hamada, Munehisa Ikoma, Masayoshi Iwase, Tomokazu Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6335116
    Abstract: A battery device designed so that a plurality of battery modules (1) are arranged in rows at given spaces in a enclosure (2). Turbulence accelerators (5), such as dummy battery units or the like, are provided in a position on the uppermost-stream side of the enclosure in which air flows in the direction of arrangement of the battery modules. The heat transfer ability for the battery modules in the upper-stream position is enhanced by the turbulence accelerators which disorders the airflow introduced into the enclosure. Auxiliary coolant intake ports (7) for the introduction of a coolant are provided in the middle of an airflow path, whereby the heat transfer ability on the lower-stream side is enhanced, so that battery temperature differences between the battery units arranged in the enclosure can be restrained. Thus, a simple-construction battery device is realized enjoying improved quality and operation stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignees: Toshiba Battery Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yamane, Katsumi Hisano, Tsutomu Matsui, Kei Matsuoka, Hideo Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 6326103
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modular system for accommodating batteries therein, which has a simple structure and a high reliability and prevents a difference in properties between the batteries included therein. The modular system includes a plurality of single batteries 1, which are arranged side by side between the beams of a top plate 21 and a bottom plate 22 to locate covers of the batteries 1 with terminals on a front side of the top plate 21 and the bottom plate 22. The single battery 1 has a plurality of ribs 12 that are formed on a specific pair of opposite outer surfaces in such a manner as to extend in a longitudinal direction of the single battery 1, and have concaves formed at regular intervals. The plurality of ribs 12 formed on each outer surface of each single battery 1 are in contact and joined with the plurality of ribs 12 formed on a matching outer surface of an adjoining single battery 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Ido, Takashi Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20010046624
    Abstract: The present invention provides a battery structure for an electric vehicle which has an excellent cooling performance, which can fix battery cells securely, and which can improve work efficiency in assembling. A battery module 1 is provided with a battery case main body comprising an upper cover 4, a middle cover 5 and a lower cover 6, and two side covers covering exposed side surfaces of battery cells held in the battery case main body in a horizontal state. The upper cover 4 and the lower cover 6 are respectively formed with discharging side ventilating holes 14a and introducing side ventilating holes 14b which allow cooling air to flow upwardly and total aperture area of the discharging side ventilating holes 14a is set to 1/2 of total aperture area of the introducing side ventilating holes 14b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Applicant: SHIN-KOBE ELECTRIC MACHINERY CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyuki Goto, Tsunemi Aiba, Toshiaki Onuki
  • Publication number: 20010010878
    Abstract: A battery module has a plurality of electrically connected unit cells fixed in a container. A buffer member is provided at the void between the inner wall of the container and the unit cell. By virtue of the buffer member in the battery module formed of a heat conductive elastic body, the requirement of vibration resistance can be met by the buffer member while the heat generated by the unit cell can be easily discharged via the buffer member. Thus, a battery module suppressed in degradation of the performance of the unit cell caused by heat can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoya Nakanishi, Kouichi Satoh, Yoshito Chikano, Kazunari Ohkita, Ikuo Yonezu, Koji Nishio
  • Patent number: 6261719
    Abstract: A battery-connecting plate for connecting batteries in series. The batteries, each with a positive and a negative electrodes at opposite ends, are assembled in a row with the positive and negative electrodes reversed in an alternating manner. The battery-connecting plate includes a base plate of synthetic resin; connection portions each having a busbar provided on the base plate, the busbar having a predetermined number of holes for passing therethrough of a corresponding number of the electrodes for connection therewith; and a pitch adjusting means provided on the base plate at every predetermined number of the connection portions for adjusting a deviation in position between the electrodes and the holes of the busbars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignees: Yazaki Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ikeda, Satoshi Saito
  • Patent number: 6255015
    Abstract: A multiple cell monoblock battery in which a plurality of electrochemical cells are disposed in a plastic or metal case and each of the cells includes an enclosure providing for gas to exit while preventing electrolyte to exit the enclosure. A novel integral system of flow channels allows liquid coolant to flow between adjacent cells. Other special features, such as cell interconnections are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Corrigan, Philippe Gow, Lin R. Higley, Marshall D. Muller, Anthony Osgood, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Joshua Payne, Rajeev Puttaiah
  • Publication number: 20010002298
    Abstract: The battery has two legs of equal voltage (expressed as Volts DC or VDC) and equal electrochemical capacity (expressed as Ampere-Hours or AH). Each leg has one or more hinged and electrically connected modules. Both legs are hinged to each other but are not electrically connected. The modules of the battery can be folded into four basic prismatic shapes and an infinite number of non-prismatic shapes. Each shape is basically two batteries because the equal voltage legs can be connected to the load equipment in electrical series or electrical parallel. An adapter can be connected to the battery to provide additional battery footprints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Fee Chan Leung, Mary A. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 6238818
    Abstract: The invention relates to a housing which receives dry cells in an in-line or end to end orientation. The invention includes features which prevent the incorrect orientation by preventing dry cell terminals making contact with the necessary components. In this way, it prevents premature dissipation of dry cells or their impairment. The mechanism by which these features do this is to recess one terminal namely that terminal which would be contacted by the positive terminal of a dry cell. In this way, the negative terminal of a dry cell can never make electrical connection. Another feature of the invention is the provision of an aperture having a profile of a silhouette of a dry cell, which has advantages in low light situations, saves material, and allows for relatively easy extraction of dry cells from the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Dalton
  • Patent number: 6139987
    Abstract: A bipolar battery includes a plurality of anodes and cathodes alternately stacked and isolated by separators with a through hole being formed at a center portion of each, and with a plurality of insertion holes being formed at peripheral portions of each, an anode connection member and cathode connection member inserted into the insertion holes of the anodes and cathodes, an anode insulation member formed at the bottom of the anode connection member, a cathode insulation member formed on the top of the cathode connection member, an anode contact member facilitating electrical connection of the anodes and an anode connection member, a cathode contact member facilitating electrical connection of the cathodes and a cathode connection member, an outer support member supporting the stacked anodes and cathodes, an electrolyte injection member inserted into the through holes of the anodes, cathodes, and separators for enabling injection of an electrolyte into the stacked anodes and cathodes, and a collector being sh
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Agency for Defense Development
    Inventors: Bon-Soon Koo, Heesook Park Kim, Sung-Baek Cho, Jeong-Ja Choi, Jong-Myong Kim
  • Patent number: 6117585
    Abstract: A hybrid energy storage device (10) including first, second, and third electrodes (20, 25, 30), a first electrolyte (35) disposed between the first and second electrodes (20, 25), and a second electrolyte (40) disposed between the second and third electrode (25, 30). The first electrode (25), the first electrolyte (35), and the second electrode (25) form a battery, and the second electrode (25), the second electrolyte (40), and the third electrode (30) form a capacitor. The first and third electrodes (20, 30) are directly connected together so that the battery and capacitor are in parallel within the hybrid energy storage device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Anaba A. Anani, Han Wu, Keryn Ke Lian
  • Patent number: 6114060
    Abstract: Thin-profile battery circuits and constructions, and in particular button-type battery circuits and constructions and methods of forming the same are described. In one implementation, a substrate is provided having an outer surface with a pair of spaced electrical contact pads thereon. At least two thin-profile batteries are conductively bonded together in a stack having a lowermost battery and an uppermost battery. The batteries include respective positive and negative terminals. The lowermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals adhesively bonded to one of the pair of electrical contact pads while the uppermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrical contact pads. The batteries can be provided into parallel or series electrical connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 6051328
    Abstract: Provided are metal-air cells for connecting to one another to form a battery stack. Two or more of the cells are joined by heat or chemical fusing to create the battery stack. Each of the metal-air cells have a case with an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines a chamber that contains an anode and an air cathode. The case defines air openings that extend between the exterior surface and the interior surface for supplying air from the environment exterior to the case to the air cathodes within the chamber. In one embodiment, each metal-air cell includes a plurality of protruding connector members and a plurality of protruding mechanical stops. Two cells are joined by fusing connector members of one cell to connector members of the other cell. During the fusing of the connector members, the mechanical stops of the cells being joined abut one another to arrest movement of the cells toward one another. The arresting causes a plenum to be uniformly defined between the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: AER Energy Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Witzigreuter, Christopher S. Pedicini
  • Patent number: 6033800
    Abstract: A battery container for containing battery elements includes large thickness sections formed on the outer rims of walls that compose the container and small thickness areas formed in the areas surrounded by the large thickness sections. A spacer that is formed of straight-line ribs, a combination of latticed ribs and projections, cylindrical projections or the like is disposed on the small thickness areas and the outer surface of the spacing means protruded out of the outer surfaces of the large thickness sections, thereby ensuring the mechanical strength and durability of the container and at the same time allowing cooling air to circulate efficiently along the walls of the battery envelope. This facilitates the transfer of heat produced inside of the battery to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ichiyanagi, Manabu Kakino, Kenji Sato, Shinji Hamada, Munehisa Ikoma
  • Patent number: 5993992
    Abstract: A battery pack and method for connecting battery modules to optimize current sharing and charging of the modules. The battery pack comprises a number of battery modules, each module having respective positive and negative terminals. Interconnecting cables are provided for connecting the respective positive terminals and the respective negative terminals. The interconnecting cables have equal electrical lengths so that the Ohmic resistance is the same for the cables. The battery modules are also arranged in close proximity to form an isothermal zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Norvik Traction Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Field, Vladimir S. Pavlovic
  • Patent number: 5993983
    Abstract: A personal portable power supply containing first and second different types of cells or batteries of cells. The capacity and discharge rate of the power supply is such that it is capable of starting automobile engines on several different occasions without needing to be electrically recharged. The capacity is also such that it can power personal devices for relatively long periods of time. The first cell or battery of cells is chosen to have a high discharge rate and high peak amperage or cold cranking amperage. The second type of cell or battery of cells is chosen to have a high energy density and a low cost. The electrical characteristics of each cell or battery of cells is chosen so that the second type of cell is able to recharge the first type of cell during periods of non-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Century Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: Paul Rozon
  • Patent number: 5879833
    Abstract: A power supply unit of the present invention comprises a group of batteries including plural rows of cells arranged in parallel, each row of cells including plural cylindrical cells connected in series. The power supply unit further comprises refrigerant passages comprising main refrigerant passages exposed to the cells arranged in each row of cells and auxiliary refrigerant passages, the upstream sides of the auxiliary refrigerant passages being isolated from the rows of cells, and the downstream sides thereof being connected to the main refrigerant passages at positions corresponding to the midstream or downstream sides of the rows of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiko Yoshii, Tadao Kimura, Munehisa Ikoma, Manabu Kakino, Takao Matsunami
  • Patent number: 5806618
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an operation and handling system for batteries of an electric car, in which a fastening strap (20) has been arranged around the battery or batteries (15), by which strap (20) the battery or batteries have been made into one entity and secured to a battery box (10). The batteries have been secured to the car by means of the fastening strap (20) of the batteries (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Imatran Voima Oy
    Inventor: Voitto Luode
  • Patent number: 5768906
    Abstract: An electrochemical heat exchanger including a housing, at least one electrochemical cell within the housing with a first electrode and a hydrogen electrode at least partially immersed in a liquid electrolyte, and positive and negative terminals of the electrochemical cell connected through the housing to respective positive and negative ends of a power supply. The housing includes a gas space which is in communication with a heat exchange chamber. The heat exchange chamber can be a flexible chamber capable of expanding in response to an increase in pressure in the electrochemical cell and contracting in response to a decrease in pressure in the electrochemical cell or it can be a conduit whereby an element to be cooled is placed in thermal contact with either hydrogen gas or a liquid coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Borst, Inc.
    Inventor: Boris Tsenter
  • Patent number: 5746064
    Abstract: An electrochemical heat exchanger including a housing, at least one electrochemical cell within the housing with a first electrode and a hydrogen electrode at least partially immersed in a liquid electrolyte, and positive and negative terminals of the electrochemical cell connected through the housing to respective positive and negative ends of a power supply. The housing includes a gas space which is in communication with a heat exchange chamber. The heat exchange chamber can be a flexible chamber capable of expanding in response to an increase in pressure in the electrochemical cell and contracting in response to a decrease in pressure in the electrochemical cell or it can be a conduit whereby an element to be cooled is placed in thermal contact with either hydrogen gas or a liquid coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Borst, Inc.
    Inventor: Boris Tsenter
  • Patent number: 5663007
    Abstract: A sealed storage battery has a rectangular casing (3) and a lid (2) of synthetic resin, which are connected by welding so as to seal an opening of the rectangular casing (3), and protruded portion on the outer welded portion (5) is removed and smoothed so that air as a cooling module is smoothly flown in spaces formed by ribs (4) on the battery casing (3) and the lid (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehisa Ikoma, Akinori Yokota, Shinji Hamada, Hiromu Matsuda, Kanji Takata
  • Patent number: 5591546
    Abstract: The present invention provides nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cells capable of withstanding severe overdischarge to obtain nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries having satisfactory cycle characteristics. A spinel-type lithium-containing metallic oxide represented by LiM.sub.2 O.sub.4 (where M is a transitional metal element) is used as an active substance for each of the positive and negative electrodes of the cell embodying the invention. In an organic electrolyte containing lithium ion, the spinel-type lithium-containing metallic oxide represented by LiM.sub.2 O.sub.4 is capable of reversibly undergoing an electrochemical oxidation reaction involving removal of doping lithium ion and also an electrochemical reduction reaction involving lithium ion doping. Accordingly, when the cell of the invention is overdischarged (.apprxeq.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Hival Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Nagaura
  • Patent number: 5547780
    Abstract: This invention provides a battery precursor for producing a battery through a cutting process, in which a large number of battery elements comprising positive active material layers, separators having electrolytes and negative active material layers are installed in parallel between a plate-like positive current collector plate and a negative current collector plate facing each other, and the respective battery elements are partitioned each other and sealed by insulators. According to this battery precursor, a battery having a voluntary shape can be obtained easily by cutting only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Yuasa Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kagawa, Shiro Kato, Kazuo Murata
  • Patent number: 5510203
    Abstract: A module battery of sealed alkaline storage battery comprises a plurality of cells stacked in one direction each of which comprises a battery casing of a synthetic resin, an electrolyte and an electrode group accommodated in the battery casing and a lid with a safety bent sealingly fitted to the opening of the battery casing; wherein the cells are bound in the direction of stacking by binding members for coupling the end plates at the ends of the stacked battery assembly to each other; the cells are butted to each other by a plurality of parallel ribs formed on the outer surface of the battery casing along the direction of stacking thereby to form spaces for allowing air flow between the cells, a thickness of the side wall of the battery casing along the direction of stacking is 1 to 3 mm, a rib height 1 to 2 mm, a rib interval 10 to 15 mm, and a rib width 3 to 10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Kanji Takata, Akinori Yokota, Hiromu Matsuda, Munehisa Ikoma
  • Patent number: 5486432
    Abstract: A battery assembly is provided with two terminals at one end of a stack of cells. One of the terminals is centrally located upon the end of the stack and is electrically connected to the stack at the same end. The other terminal is spaced apart from the central terminal and is electrically connected to the other end of the stack by an elongated conductor. An insulating sheath holds the stack of cells together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond L. Sharrah, Charles W. Craft
  • Patent number: 5470679
    Abstract: A method of assembling a bipolar lead-acid battery includes assembling the electrochemical components necessary to provide the necessary voltage and capacity, maintaining the electrochemical components under the desired compression and then sealing such electrochemical components as a unit utilizing various assembly components. The resulting bipolar battery in the preferred embodiment includes an electrolyte fill/vent box that seals the top of the electrochemical component unit and a vacuum box that seals the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: GNB Battery Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Lund, William H. Kump, Donald W. Groff
  • Patent number: 5447808
    Abstract: A battery of high temperature cells in a battery casing includes a plurality of rigid metal elements secured to a rigid board of electrical insulating material. The metal elements provide mutually insulated conducting pathways. One end of each of the metal elements connects to either a cell or a bank of cells and an opposite end converges to a location on the board. The board may include one or more of these locations to allow for multiple electrical connections to be made through the casing. In addition, the number of the locations on the board may be less than the number of metal elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Chloride Silent Power Limited
    Inventor: John Molyneux
  • Patent number: 5436089
    Abstract: A battery pack is provided for housing a plurality of fiat cells for portable electronic device applications. The battery pack is sufficiently thin to preserve the desirable thin profile of the fiat cells and yet exhibits surprising structural integrity considering the relatively thin polycarbonate material from which the housing of the pack is fabricated. A plurality of thin cells is laterally arranged side by side in spaced-apart relationship to form a cell subassembly. An adhesive is applied to a polycarbonate sheet. The sheet is then cut to a predetermined form and embossed to form creases along predetermined fold lines. The prepared sheet is then folded at the fold lines and positioned to substantially surround the cell subassembly and form a box-like structure around such subassembly. Adhesive on an upper sheet section adheres to the top planar surfaces of the fiat cells while adhesive on a lower sheet section adheres to the bottom planar surfaces of the flat cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: VST Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent Fedele
  • Patent number: 5422196
    Abstract: A pressure vessel for pressurized secondary cells is disclosed. The vessel includes a generally cylindrical container having both ends closed by substantially flat circular discs. The container has a diameter dimension substantially greater than its axial dimension. A mechanism is provided for supporting a plurality of substantially rectangular stacked electrode plates within the container. A pair of sealed terminal connectors pass through the container, and a terminal assembly mechanism is disposed within the container for directly interconnecting the stacked plates to each terminal connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Saft America, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn C. Klein
  • Patent number: 5330857
    Abstract: High-purity nitrogen gas is generated by reducing at least the residual oxygen content of at least the cathode exhaust gas stream of a fuel cell device. The oxygen reduction is achieved either by controlling the passage of an oxidant gas through the cathode side of the fuel cell device in such a manner as to increase the oxygen utilization at the cathode side of the fuel cell device relative to the optimum electric power generation operating conditions of the fuel cell device, or by removing most of the residual oxygen from the cathode exhaust gas stream exhausted from the cathode side of the fuel cell device, while maintaining both oxygen and nitrogen contained in the cathode exhaust gas in their gaseous states throughout, or both. Moreover, anode exhaust gas can be reacted in a reformer burner with a reduced amount of excess oxygen and/or the reformer burner exhaust gas can be purified to remove combustion products and/or oxygen therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: International Fuel Cells Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Sederquist, John C. Trocciola, Paul J. Farris, Murdo J. Smith, II
  • Patent number: 5240788
    Abstract: Disclosed are blow molded multiple compartment plastic containers having partition members between the compartments that initially form portions of a mold for the container. When molding is complete, the partition members form part of the container, with the molded plastic material of the container substantially surrounding the partition members. Also disclosed are methods for molding the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Inventor: George E. Eales
  • Patent number: 5143803
    Abstract: A high-temperature storage battery is assembled from a multiplicity of electrically interconnected storage cells. A retainer holds the storage cells together to form a storage cell block. The storage cells are embedded in a mixture being formed of at least one coarse-grained material and at least one binder. By melting and subsequent complete curing of the binder, a concrete-like mass is formed, in which the storage cells are undetachably embedded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Andres, Wilfried Flory, Stefan Mennicke