Abstract: Self-protecting current collector, with lateral collection an insulating plastic support film having a thickness between about 1 and 30 microns, and a conductive metallic coating, of a thickness lower than about 10 microns, adhering to at least one face of the insulating support film, compatible with the corresponding material of the electrode of the generator, and wherein its conductive surface is divided into a plurality of adjacent distinct areas, each area being electrically insulated by means of non-conductive borders except for at least one conductive bridge of small cross-section connected to a lateral common conductive margin enabling a lateral collection of the entire distinct areas; the nature and electrical resistance of the conductive bridges enabling on the one hand, passage of currents corresponding to maximum currents provided for each of the individual collection areas of the generator to be produced, and limiting on the other hand, in case of an accidental short-circuit inside an area, the ma

Abstract: The invention is related to hermetically sealed dry accumulators having significantly larger power output per units of mass in a proportionately smaller volume. The accumulator includes one electrode comprising copper, cadmium, zinc, nickel, or iron, and another electrode of lead dioxide. An immobilized electrolyte containing a silica gel and sulfuric acid is in contact with the electrodes. A method for producing a novel silica gel which is especially suited for use in the immobilized electrolyte is also described.

Abstract: A process for cutting a moving strip to form a series of plates, such as battery plates, includes the initial step of transporting the strip past a rotary divider including a cutter having radial blades configured to cut the strip into the plates. The cutter further has a set of blades for cutting individual pieces from the strip, which pieces are not part of the plates. As the cutter blades cut the strip to form the plates and pieces, a vacuum system applies suction to draw the pieces cut from the strip inwardly into the cutter through holes in the cutter, and then out of the cutter. The holes are each located adjacent each one of the corresponding blades and are shaped and positioned to permit the cut-away piece to pass through. In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum system includes a pair of vacuum manifolds that apply suction at opposite ends of the cylindrical cutter. An apparatus for carrying out the foregoing process accordingly includes a rotary divider as described above provided with a vacuum system.

Abstract: A method for making porous lead dioxide electrodes having a relatively large active surface area and long service life is disclosed. The electrodes employ a grid which is coated first with a thin layer of nickel and then with a thin layer of lead. A paste containing a halogenated lead compound is applied over the lead and successively reduced and oxidized to form an active mass of porous lead dioxide. The finished porous lead dioxide electrode is suitable for use in storage batteries.

Abstract: A bipolar battery comprising a plurality of bipolar electrodes stacked together, each bipolar electrode comprising a conductive septum having positive and negative active material on opposite faces thereof. Each electrode has a nonconductive frame formed thereabout, and a mesa-like lattice which is integral with the frame, overlays the faces of the septum and is defined by an annular shoulder formed between the border of the lattice and the frame. Discrete spacer frames interjacent the electrode frames separate the electrodes from each other and define a region thereabout for retaining the battery's electrolyte. The faces of the spacer include an annular recess contiguous an inner rim thereof which receives, in nesting fashion, the mesa-like lattices for interlocking the several frames together.

Abstract: An electrode matrix with hollow or fibrous structure made of metallized and, optionally, subsequently removed plastic fibers, and a current-collector lug welded-on on one side for electrochemical storage cells. The current-collector lug overlaps the electrode matrix at the periphery on one side, the latter being compressed in the vicinity of the overlap in such a way that the current-collector lug remains within the nominal thickness of the electrode matrix. The current-collector lug has, in the overlap region, a plurality of material projections which project in the direction of the electrode matrix, whose diameters correspond at least approximately to the material thickness of the current-collector lug and which are pressed into the electrode matrix, each material projection pressed into the electrode matrix still remaining, however, completely inside the electrode matrix even at the point of its highest elevation.

Abstract: An assembled battery including a plurality of bipolar cells is disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery a plurality of conduits for introducing electrolyte into the bipolar cells, each of the conduits acting to introduce electrolyte into a different one of the bipolar cells. In another embodiment, the battery comprises at least one spacer element acting to maintain the spacing between plates and/or electrodes in the battery.

Abstract: Collector support for lead/lead oxide batteries is made of a screen of electrolyte-resistant polymer coated with a conductive underlayer and a layer of lead or a lead rich alloy having a mass per surface comprised between 30 and 40 g/dm.sup.2 relative to the projected surface area of the collector support. The dimensions of the screen are such that no point inside the screen pattern is located at a distance greater than 2.5 mm from any strand of the screen.

Abstract: A battery system is disclosed which includes folded grids of expanded metal inserted through non-conductive substrates and pasted with electrochemically active materials. In the most preferred embodiment, a frame is provided with a plastic insert, and slots are provided in the latter to receive the expanded metal grid. After suitable coinage of the grid and insertion through the plastic film, the grid is sealed and pasted on opposite sides with positive and negative active material. A battery is assembled using one or a plurality of the resulting electrode elements, with separators, to produce a high-power, lead-acid battery. The folded grid provides many of the design benefits of standard bipolar construction.

Abstract: A fiber structure electrode plaque for accumulators made from a needle felt web made of synthetic fibers which, after activation, is chemically metallized, and galvanically reinforced by being metal-plated. The needle felt web has a weight per unit area of between 50 and 150 g/m.sup.2 with a porosity of from 60 to 96%, the synthetic fibers having a diameter of from 10 to 30 .mu.m, and the length of the staple fibers amounting to from 20 to 40 mm. Over its whole surface, the needle felt web is needled from both sides and has a nominal thickness of from 0.5 to 1.0 mm.

Abstract: A negative electrode for lead-acid storage batteries comprises a grid plate (11) serving as the carrier for the active material and for current supply and return. The grid plate (11) is a network of plastic threads produced by a weaving process which is rendered electrically conductive by coating it, with a highly conductive thin layer of metal and additionally metallized with at least one coating of a lead-tin alloy or of lead. The grid plate (11) is subdivided into storage zones (12) produced by deep-drawing for receiving the active material and into current conducting zones (14) for current supply and return.

Abstract: A modular multicell battery is disclosed which is assembled from a plurality of pairs of terminal and floater frames, each pair separated by a separator frame, that are welded together. The terminal and floater frames include a mesh grid made using a lead-based alloy having, based upon this total weight of the alloy, a calcium content of 0.02-0.04% and a tin content of 0.3-0.5%.

Abstract: An electrode for primary or secondary electric cells comprises a support and an active material, the support being an electrically conductive network material which extends skeletally throughout the active material.

Abstract: An electrode for a lead acid flow through battery, the grids including a plastic frame, a plate suspended from the top of the frame to hang freely in the plastic frame and a paste applied to the plate, the paste being free to allow for expansion in the planar direction of the grid.

Abstract: A new class of composites results from a matrix of carbon fibers, including graphite fibers, interwoven in a network of fused metal fibers. The composites can be fabricated to have varying surface area, void volume, and pore size while maintaining high electrical conductivity. Composites are readily prepared from a preform of a dispersion of carbon fibers, metal fibers, and an organic binder such as cellulose, by heating the preform at a temperature sufficient to fuse the metal fibers and to volatilize at least 90% of the binder with a loss of less than about 25%, and usually under 10%, by weight of carbon fiber.

Abstract: A quasi-bipolar lead-acid battery construction includes a plurality of bipolar cells disposed in side-by-side relation to form a stack, and a pair of monoplanar plates at opposite ends of the stack, the cell stack and monopolar plates being contained within a housing of the battery. Each bipolar cell is loaded with an electrolyte and composed of a bipolar electrode plate and a pair of separator plates disposed on opposite sides of the electrode plate and peripherally sealed thereto. Each bipolar electrode plate is composed of a partition sheet and two bipolar electrode elements folded into a hairpin configuration and applied over opposite edges of the partition sheet so as to cover the opposite surfaces of the opposite halves thereof.

Abstract: A high tensile strength fibrous material is coated with an extruded, corrosion-resistant metal to form a composite wire which is used in the formation of a grid element for a battery.

Abstract: In a method for producing a battery element useful as at least a positive plate in a lead-acid battery, the element comprising a fluid impervious, electrically conductive matrix having mutually opposing first and second surfaces and positive active electrode material associated with the first surface of the matrix, the improvement which comprises:conditioning the first surface to enhance the association of the positive active electrode material and the first surface; andapplying and associating the positive active electrode material to the first surface.

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

Abstract: A grid has a grid structure (11) made of acid proof synthetic resin. A grid rib structure constitutes the grid structure and part of the grid rib structure inclusive of at least a connector lug (12) and a portion contiguous thereto is immersed in molten lead or lead alloy to form a lead or lead alloy film (16) coated on the grid structure. The portion to be coated with the lead or lead alloy film includes part of a frame rib (13) and an active material support rib (14, 15) which constitute the grid rib structure, and the active material support rib constituting the grid mesh is partly cut off (18) to enhance the coating of the lead or lead alloy film, the reduction in weight of the grid and ease of working for the coating of the lead or lead alloy film on the grid structure.

Abstract: In this plate electrode for use in alkaline electrochemical elements or disposable batteries and accumulators, the cover-walls are formed by two metal fabric pieces (1, 2) of plate size. A netting (3), made of thermoplastic material, is located in between. The netting apertures form squares (7) for receiving the active composition (6). In production, the plate, constructed in this way, is compressed over the whole surface under the influence of heat, so that the metal fabric pieces are fused into the plastic netting. The active composition is compressed at the same time. The metal fabrics consist of uniform wire material, especially of nickel. In comparison with conventional pocket plates comprising pockets produced or assembled from perforated metal sheet, the present plate electrode possesses advantages with respect to its quality features and production costs.

Abstract: An improved design for an intermediate bus bar for a comb-type cell for a metal-halogen battery system is disclosed. A plastic frame is formed around the periphery of a dense graphite bus bar and has a plurality of straps extending between the top and bottom section of the frame for reinforcing the structural integrity of the bus bar.

Abstract: A sealed lead-acid battery formed by joining two halves of a battery container. Before joining, the separate halves have grids placed in adjacent recesses, separated by partition walls integral with the wall of the container half. Pairs of adjacent grids are electrically connected through the partition wall. The recesses are alternately filled with positive and negative active materials. Then the halves are joined with a porous separator in each cell of the combined halves separating positive and negative active materials.

Abstract: The plate of a storage battery such as a lead acid battery is made from a reinforcing plastic substrate on which a thin layer of active metal is formed. The plastic substrate is stronger than the thin metal layer so that size and weight reduction is possible with concurrent improvement of structural reliability and life expectancy.

Abstract: The invention is an electrochemical article suitable for use in monopolar or bipolar electrochemical cells comprising:an organic, planar plastic member having a plurality of horizontally and vertically spaced-apart shoulders protruding outwardly from opposing generally coplanar surfaces of said planar plastic member;at least one electrically conductive insert extending from an exterior face of a shoulder on a first surface of the planar plastic member, through the planar plastic member, to an exterior face of a shoulder on a second surface of the planar plastic member, wherein each of said shoulders annularly encircles and supports each of said inserts;an electrically conductive, substantially completely hydraulically impermeable protective liner resistant to the corrosive effects of electrolyte matingly contacted with the first surface of said planar plastic member and adapted to minimize contact between the electrolyte and said planar plastic member within the cell; andan electrical connection means electri

Abstract: A metallized synthetic resin fiber electrode structure is described, based on a nonwoven fabric, with a porosity of 85-96% and a fiber thickness of 10-30 .mu.m, determined, respectively, in the nonmetallized condition, wherein the nonmetallized nonwoven fabric is characterized by the following strength properties. The quotient of the flexural stiffness according to DIN 53 362 (cantilever test) and the square of the nonwoven fabric thickness according to DIN 53 855 ranges between 80 and 400 cN. The deformation of a sample stack in the 5th cycle under 200 N in the compression test according to DIN 54 305 amounts to 6-18 mm. The force required to obtain half the achieved deformation amounts to 30-70 N. Polypropylene needle felts are preferred having a metallic coating of 0.1-10 .mu.m, especially 1-6 .mu.m. The electrode structures according to this invention can also be manufactured with larger thicknesses and permit production of rugged electrodes having reproducible properties.

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

Abstract: An electrode for a lead acid battery, comprising a frame of an acid resistant plastic material which holds a current grid and active material covered by a porous previous web or the like, characterized in that the electrode comprises two or more portions, each one constituting a frame portion of plastic material having a grid and surrounding active material disposed in shallow troughs and covered by a web or the like on one side thereof, and adapted to be put together with a similar frame portion, back to back, so as to jointly form the electrode.

Abstract: A lead-acid cell wherein current collectors (1, 5) constituting negative and positive plates opposed to each other with a separator (3) interposed therebetween which separator retains an electrolyte. One surface of each flat plate-like current collector (1, 5) has closely contacted therewith an active material layer (2, 4) having a net-like body embedded therein, and the current collector constituted of the active material layer (2, 4) and the current collector (1, 5) is disposed so that its side where the corresponding active material layer (2, 4) is formed is opposed to the separator (3).

Abstract: An edge seal for a lithium or other consumable metal anode comprises a hydrophobic, chemically inert polymer coating having a high ratio of flexural modulus to flexural strength, a low Izod impact value, and low elongation properties.

Abstract: A reinforced acetylene high polymer shaped article is provided, which is comprised of an acetylene high polymer and 10 to 500 wt. parts, per 100 wt. parts of the acetylene high polymer, of a sheet-form product of a fibrous material. The reinforced acetylene high polymer shaped article is prepared by polymerizing acetylene in the presence of the sheet-form product coated or impregnated with a catalyst solution, or by superposing the acetylene high polymer upon the sheet-form product and then pressing or calendering the superposed assembly. The reinforced acetylene high polymer shaped article is useful particularly as an electrode of a battery.

Abstract: A negative electrode for lead accumulators has the form of a rectangular, expanded metal, grid plate 11 of copper. The grid plate serves as carrier for the active mass and for the supply and extraction of current. The direction of stretching of the expanded metal extends parallel to the edge of the rectangular grid plate at which the connection lug is arranged. A lead strip 13, which is in one piece with the connection lug, is conductively secured to the top edge of the grid plate. The lead strip 13 is cast onto the grid plate 11 (FIG. 1).

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing a plate for a lead storage battery. A plate grid of lead material such as lead or lead alloy is formed by casting and a frame of acid-resisting plastic material is formed by molding which is to surround the plate grid. A plate substrate is formed by placing the plate grid into the frame. The plate substrate is filled with paste of lead oxide on both sides of the plate substrate, and then the paste filled in the plate substrate is partly dried. Thereafter, the plate substrate filled with the paste is covered with an acid-resisting fiber mat which is thermally adhered to the frame of the plate substrate. This invention also relates to a plate for a lead storage battery produced by the aforementioned process.

Abstract: An expanded metal battery grid and process for making same which grid has a supporting border comprising a thermoplastic ribbon folded lengthwise around the grid's edge and ultrasonically bonded to itself through interstices in the grid.

Abstract: An expanded metal battery grid and process for making same which grid has a supporting border comprising a thermoplastic ribbon folded lengthwise around the grid's edge and ultrasonically bonded to itself through interstices in the grid.

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

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing a plate for a lead storage battery. A plate grid of lead material such as lead or lead alloy is formed by casting and a frame of acid-resisting plastic material is formed by molding which is to surround the plate grid. A plate substrate is formed by placing the plate grid into the frame. The plate substrate is filled with paste of lead oxide on both sides of the plate substrate, and then the paste filled in the plate substrate is partly dried. Thereafter, the plate substrate filled with the paste is covered with an acid-resisting fiber mat which is thermally adhered to the frame of the plate substrate. This invention also relates to a plate for a lead storage battery produced by the aforementioned process.

Abstract: A secondary zinc electrode, for example, for a nickel/zinc cell has an electrically conductive support onto each major surface of which is pressed an active zinc material. A grid structure defining a plurality of compartments is pressed into the material on each major surface of the support so as to separate the active material into a plurality of physically separate areas. Such an arrangement mitigates the shape change problem to which secondary zinc electrodes are prone in service.

Abstract: Network preforms for battery grids are prepared from cross-lapped assemblages of spaced bundles of inorganic filaments which are bonded at crossover points.

Abstract: A grid (10) for the plate of an electrical storage cell, eg. a lead-acid accumulator, comprises two orthogonal sets of conductive bars (7, 8) together with a current collector tab (9). The grid is made from a loosely-woven cloth comprising both bundles of conductive threads outlining the bars and the current collector of the plate, and bundles of non-conductive threads (6) serving to position said conductive threads relative to one another and to maintain them in position. Said bundles of conductive threads are embedded in a metal matrix comprising at least one of the metals in the group constituted by: lead, copper, cadmium, and nickel.

Abstract: A method of making composite electrode for use in a storage battery or other accumulator comprises disposing on opposite sides of a metal support provided with throughgoing openings respective synthetic-resin layers adapted to form pockets for the active mass. The synthetic-resin layers, in the form of screens, fabrics, grids or the like, are ultrasonically welded through the openings of the metal support together by the simultaneous application of mechanical pressure and ultrasonic energy. The active mass is then introduced into the pockets formed by the synthetic-resin layers which may be covered, if desired, by fine-porous cover layers applied by heat and pressure so as to weld these cover layers to the first-mentioned synthetic-resin layers.

Abstract: A nickel plaque which may be coated with a suitable metal or compound to make an electrode for a fuel cell or battery is fabricated by directing nickel sensitizer, catalyst and plating solutions through a porous plastic substrate in the order named and at prescribed temperatures and flow rates. A boride compound dissolved in the plating solution decreases the electrical resistance of the plaque. Certain substrates may require treatment in an alkali solution to dissolve filler materials thereby increasing porosity to a required 65%.

Abstract: A laminated metal-polymer support for the active material of an electric storage battery and method of making same. Anchoring tabs punched from a thin metal sheet project into openings between the grid wires of a polymer grid work and are pressed into engagement with the adjacent grid wires to secure the polymer grid work to metal sheet. Porous polymer grid works are particularly useful with deep discharge Pb-acid batteries.

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

Abstract: The electrode is formed from a permeable thin substrate constituted by an inorganic or organic substance whose porous or fibrous texture is such that the ratio between the effective surface and the boundary surface is large. This substrate is metallized over the entire effective surface, throughout its thickness, in order to constitute a charge collector. On this is then formed, over the entire effective surface, that is to say, throughout the thickness of the substrate, a thin deposit of active electrode material so that neither the porosity of the substrate nor the effective surface are substantially reduced.

Abstract: A lightweight, battery construction for lead acid batteries in which biplates are formed from a continuous strip of thermoplastic material, one face of the strip being provided with a plurality of electrically isolated lead strip arrays, each having a transverse axis about which the strip is folded or pleated to provide pleated biplate walls. The pleated continuous strip is sealed along edge longitudinal portions to provide chambers for receiving a plurality of non-conductive thermoplastic separator-plates and to contain electrolyte liquid. Separator-plates support resilient yieldable porous glass mats and scrim fabric in which active material is carried. The assembly of pleated biplates and separator-plates is maintained in pressure relation by exterior resilient means. A method of making such a continuous pleated biplate construction and of assembling one or more battery modules which may be connected in series or in parallel.

Abstract: An electrode for a lead-acid storage cell, electrode containing an active material (8), an active material support and at least one electric conductor which includes a core (10) made of a metal whose electric conductivity is higher than that of lead. Said core is coated with a protective layer (11) made of a substance chosen from the group comprising titanium, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, zirconium and alloys thereof.

Abstract: A battery includes a plurality of frames of plastics material, each frame comprising a perimeter member and one or more division elements together defining two or more active material support spaces. The frames are arranged in a stack and the perimeter member and division elements of each frame are connected to those of adjacent frames. Each support space receives an electrode, and every alternate division element has on one side two connector recesses extending over a minor proportion of its length, connector recesses in adjacent frames being in division elements that are offset from one another. The spaces on each side of each division element receive electrodes which are connected together by connectors which are received in the connector recesses. Preferably that portion of each division element which overlies a connector recess in the adjacent frame has an elongate recess in it, the connector recess and elongate recess containing a sealing material.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of making lead storage battery plates including the steps of notching a lead alloy sheet or other type of thin sheet, spreading the sheet in reticulated portions, expanding the sheet into a grid, and filling pasty active material into the reticulated portions. The strip of long material is cut, respectively, into plates of a given size. The open ends of the openings on the right and left ends produced during the cutting operation are sealed with synthetic resin frame body portions to prevent the slipping out of the active material filled into the reticulated portions. Therefore, lighter and thinner plates are continuously made with better operational efficiency.

Abstract: A negative electrode for lead accumulators has the form of a rectangular, expanded metal, grid plate 11 of copper. The grid plate serves as carrier for the active mass and for the supply and extraction of current. The direction of stretching of the expanded metal extends parallel to the edge of the rectangular grid plate at which the connection lug is arranged. A lead strip 13, which is in one piece with the connection lug, is conductively secured to the top edge of the grid plate. The lead strip 13 is cast onto the grid plate 12 (FIG. 1).