Abstract: Electrode including a paste containing particles of electrochemically active material and a conductive support consisting of a three-dimensional porous material comprising strands delimiting contiguous pores communicating via passages, characterized in that the average width L in .mu.m of said passages is related to the average diameter .O slashed. in .mu.m of said particles by the following equation, in which W and Y are dimensionless coefficients:(W.times..O slashed.)+X.gtoreq.L.gtoreq.(Y.times..O slashed.)+ZwhereinW=0.16Y=1.69X=202.4 .mu.m andZ=80 .mu.

Abstract: The primary object of the present invention is to provide an electrode for an alkali secondary battery, the electrode being capable of exhibiting high binding power and showing a high electrical conductivity without use of a binder. An electrode for an alkali secondary battery, the electrode comprising a molded product molded from a mixture containing an active material-containing powder and a flaky nickel powder which has lowered strain.

Abstract: Proposed is an improvement in the method for the preparation of a battery electrode consisting of a spongy metal sheet to serve as a substrate having a three-dimensional skeletal structure with intercommunicating open pores and an active material filling the open pores of the skeletal structure of the substrate.

Abstract: Nickel-metal hydride batteries and electrodes capable of increased power output and recharge rates. The positive and negative electrodes may be formed by pressing powdered metal-hydride active materials into porous metal substrates. The porous metal substrates are formed from copper, copper-plated nickel, or a copper-nickel alloy. The electrode tab are directly attached to the porous metal substrate via a low electrical-resistance connection which includes welding, brazing, or soldering.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode for batteries, especially a pasted electrode, and a process for producing the same which is improved in the adhesiveness between the active material and the electrode core material, utilization of the active material, discharge characteristics and in the charge and discharge cycling life. The resultant electroconductive core material comprises a perforated or non-perforated metal sheet such as punched metal sheet having sintered hollow nickel members separately or entangled fixed on the surfaces thereof. The hollow of the sintered nickel members is formed due to the thermal decomposition and evaporation of the resin fibers which have been applied to the electroconductive core material.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte type secondary battery comprises a negative electrode capable of occluding and releasing lithium, a positive electrode capable of occluding and releasing lithium, a non-aqueous electrolyte which contains a lithium salt, and a container for accommodating the negative electrode, the positive electrode, and the electrolyte. The negative electrode is formed by pressing a foam metal or a fibrous sintered metal which contains nickel as a principal component thereof and which is filled with a mixture of a binder and a carbon material capable of occluding and releasing lithium. The negative electrode has a thickness of not less than 0.1 mm and a porosity of 20 to 50%.

Abstract: An improved zinc anode for use in a high density rechargeable alkaline battery is disclosed. A process for making the zinc electrode comprises electrolytic loading of the zinc active material from a slightly acidic zinc nitrate solution into a substrate of nickel, copper or silver. The substrate comprises a sintered plaque having very fine pores, a high surface area, and 80-85 percent total initial porosity. The residual porosity after zinc loading is approximately 25-30%. The electrode of the present invention exhibits reduced zinc mobility, shape change and distortion, and demonstrates reduced dendrite buildup during cycling of the battery. The disclosed battery is useful for applications requiring high energy density and multiple charge capability.

Abstract: Lightweight current collectors for use in electrochemical cells which are formed of a carbon or graphite fibrous net upon which a thin metallic coating is deposited upon the individual fibers providing a coating thereon, with voids between the fibers which can hold active materials if deposited therein.

Abstract: An electrode plate including an active portion pasted with active material and a plate head including a connection tab. The plate head is constituted by the same metal foam as the plate support, but the density of the metal foam in the plate head is not less than 2.5 times the density of the metal foam in the remainder of the electrode plate, the higher density of the plate head coming from an operation in which the foam of the support is compressed, the tab of the plate head emerging from the middle of the thickness of the plate and being derived from compression of the support in two directions: compression firstly in the direction of its height; and compression secondly in the direction of its thickness. Such an electrode plate is made from a plate of metal foam whose top edge is compressed so as to form the plate head.

Abstract: An electrode substrate, for a battery, as a support for an active material used in a collector for a battery, comprising a metallic porous structure possessing interconnecting pores with a porosity of not less than 90% and a number of pores per cm of not less than 10 and having an Fe/Ni two-layer structure wherein Fe constitutes the interior of a skeleton of a porous body constituting the porous structure with the surface portion of the skeleton coated with Ni. Preferably, Fe constituting the interior of the skeleton has a purity of not less than 98% by weight, and the thickness of the nickel coating layer having an Fe content of not more than 10% by weight is 0.1 to 10 .mu.m. The ratio of thickness of the Fe-diffused layer to the thickness of the Ni coating layer is regulated to not more than 0.65 by forming a metallic porous body of Fe using a porous resin as a substrate, plating the metallic porous body with Ni, heat treating the plated body.

Abstract: A three-dimensional substrate material for use in constructing battery electrodes comprises a sintered matrix material selected from the group consisting of reticulated metal foams, conductive fibers and metal powder compacts, and a porous covering layer of a polymeric mesh material, flexible metal screen or metal fibers, bonded to at least one surface of the matrix material to retain the sintered matrix material substantially within the planar surface of the surface of matrix material during spiral-wounding of the chemically loaded matrix material.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a nickel electrode comprising a nickel-based hydroxide which satisfies at least one of the following criteria:an intensity ratio of the ?103! line to the ?200! line in the X-ray diffraction diagram of 1.05.+-.0.10;a coherence length L of 13.+-.3 nm,a ratio of the sum of the surface areas of the peaks at 3687.+-.10 cm.sup.-1 and 3600.+-.10 cm.sup.-1 to the surface area of the peak at 3580.+-.10 cm.sup.-1 of the Raman spectrum of 0.11.+-.0.03;a ratio of the surface area of the peak at 511.+-.10 cm.sup.-1 to the surface area of the peak at 460.+-.10 cm.sup.-1 in the Raman spectrum of 1.1.+-.0.1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an alkaline secondary battery improved in the structure of the plate substrate, and provides an alkaline secondary battery which uses a three-dimensional porous substrate which is inexpensive, improved in stability in electrolyte and inhibited from shrinkage at sintering. The battery has such a construction comprising a sealed case containing positive electrodes mainly composed of a nickel oxide, negative electrodes mainly composed of a hydrogen-absorbing alloy or a cadmium oxide, an alkaline electrolyte containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide and separators, the substrate used for at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode being a three-dimensional porous iron sintered body on the surface of which is provided a nickel coating layer.

Abstract: An improved nickel electrode plate for an alkaline storage battery in which a paste-like active material is filled. The plate has a porous structure comprising one non-woven fabric or two or more such fabrics made of metal fibers each having a diameter of 10 .mu.m or more and a length of at least 10 mm and a framework made of nickel wires each thicker than the metal fiber to support the non-woven fabric or fabrics. The metal-fiber non-woven fabric or fabrics and nickel wires are sintered together to form the porous structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lead-provided porous metal sheet comprises the steps of: forming a porous metal material having a metal layer on a surface of a framework of a porous base material comprising a foamed sheet and the like, by plating the porous base material and/or applying fine metal powders thereto; passing the porous metal material through a pair of rolls having a plurality of projections formed thereon to compress the porous metal material against the projections and reduce or eliminate pores so as to form one or more recesses extending; and forming solid metal portions by applying fine metal powders to the entire recesses.

Abstract: A porous metal body is produced by forming a coating film of one or more metal capable of forming a eutectic alloy at temperatures not higher than the melting point of Al on a foamed resin skeleton having a three-dimensional network structure according to the plating, vapor deposition, sputtering, CVD or other vapor phase process, impregnating the foamed resin having the coating film formed thereon with a paste comprising powdery Al, a binder and an organic solvent as principal components to thereby obtain a paste-coated composite and heating the composite at a temperature ranging from 550.degree. C. to 750.degree. C. in a nonoxidizing atmosphere. The resultant porous metal body has a large effective surface area and a high space utilization factor and exhibits excellent performance in uses in filters and battery plates.

Abstract: An improved battery plate and method of making for an electric storage battery. The battery plate comprises a plurality of metallic fibers of a single or plural diameters randomly oriented and sintered to provide a conductive battery plate with a multiplicity of pores defined therein. The metallic fibers are formed by cladding and drawing a plurality of metallic wires to provide a fiber tow. The fiber tow is severed and the cladding is removed to form metallic fibers. The metallic fibers are arranged into a web and sintered to form the battery plate.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrode plate which includes an active portion pasted with active material and a plate head which includes a connection tab. The plate head is constituted by the same metal foam as the plate support, but the density of the metal foam in the plate head is not less than 2.5 times the density of the metal foam in the remainder of the electrode plate, the higher density of the plate head coming from an operation in which the foam of the support is compressed, the tab of the plate head emerging from the middle of the thickness of the plate and being derived from compression of the support in two directions: compression firstly in the direction of its height; and compression secondly in the direction of its thickness. Such an electrode plate is made from a plate of metal foam whose top edge is compressed so as to form the plate head.

Abstract: An improved electrode for an alkaline storage battery can suppress the reduction of the battery capacity when the battery is used in a high-temperature environment. The electrode is formed by charging or filling a collector, which consists of a porous body of a nickel-boron alloy containing 0.001 to 3 percent by weight of boron, with an active material. The porous body of the nickel-boron alloy can be formed by depositing nickel on a surface of a substrate consisting of a porous polymer by electroless plating with a boron compound serving as a reductant.

Abstract: The electrochemical cell includes an electrode structure having an aluminum current collector in combination with an active cathode material containing polycarbon monofluoride. The electrode structure also includes a polymeric separator and a lithium anode. The electrode structure is spiral wound and mounted within a cylindrical housing formed of conventional stainless steel. Care is taken to ensure that the aluminum foil isolates the polycarbon monoflouride of the cathode material from the stainless steel of the housing. The cylindrical housing is flooded with a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The resulting cell is employed within an implantable medical device. In an alternative embodiment, electrode structures employing the aluminum current collector and the polycarbon monoflouride active cathode material are formed as rectangular plates and are mounted in parallel within a rectangular housing. In another alternative embodiment, the aluminum current collector is employed within a button cell.

Abstract: A nickel anode electrode component comprised of a support member and a porous coherent member formed from a non-sintered nickel alloy constituent. The support member and porous coherent member are laminated together and the nickel anode electrode component is assembled within a fuel cell and formed into an anode electrode in situ within the cell.

Abstract: An improved lithium ion battery is described wherein corrosion of the current collector in contact with the electrode face is greatly reduced. In one embodiment an electrically conductive, ceramic layer is inserted between the current collector and the corresponding major face of the lithium ion battery. In another embodiment the metallic current collector plate is replaced by an electrically conductive laminated organic polymer having electrically conductive particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: Bipolar battery cells, bipolar batteries, and related methods are disclosed. The disclosed bipolar plate comprises a composite of long carbon fibers and a filler of carbon particles and a fluoroelastomer. A fluoroelastomeric sealant for placement between adjacent cells is also disclosed.

Abstract: A battery electrode is provided comprising a porous, pleated metal structure, preferably comprising nickel as its substrate.

Abstract: The electrode plate includes an active portion that is pasted with active material, and a plate head that is made up of three layers of compressed metal foam comprising: a non-pasted portion of height G of the support of the electrode plate; and two strips of non-pasted metal foam of height R on either side of the non-pasted portion of height G of the support and also extending for an overlap height h.sub.2 over the pasted portion of the support. The plate head includes a zone of reduced thickness including a portion that is maximally compressed, and a transitional portion between said maximally compressed portion and the remainder of the electrode which is of thickness e.sub.2. A portion of said plate head forms a connection tab. The method of obtaining the electrode consists in simultaneously rolling all three layers of metal foam in the plate head, and then in cutting matter away from the plates so as to obtain respective connection tabs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite sheet electrode which has high strength, excellent current collecting properties and which is used efficiently as an active material for an electrode. The electrode has excellent discharge capacities and can be easily formed into an electrode terminal. A cell employing this electrode is also disclosed. The invention also provides a composite sheet electrode having a porosity of 20 to 80% containing 5 to 95% by weight of an active material of an electrode, 1 to 50% by weight of a current collecting material and heat fusible short fibers. The present invention also provides a composite sheet electrode having a porosity of 20 to 80%, which is made up of a composite sheet containing 5 to 95% by weight of an active material as an electrode and 5 to 95% by weight of heat fusible short fibers, as well as a current collecting material layer formed on said composite sheet. The present invention further provides a cell employing the latter-mentioned composite sheet electrode.

Abstract: A light weight zinc electrode made of(1) a mat of nickel metal coated graphite fibers; and(2) a composite material of zinc active material and a hydrogel dispersed a solid, impervious, inert polymer matrix,wherein the composite material surrounds the individual nickel metal coated graphite fibers of the sintered mat which support the composite material and provide paths of electrical conductivity throughout the composite material.

Abstract: Cathode for collecting and donating charged particles. The cathode comprises current collector means for collecting charged particles injected into the cathode from an anode. Current conducting means are provided which are electrically interfaced to an ion transporting medium and to the current collector means. The current conductor means transfers charge from the current collector means to the ion transporting medium. The current conducting means comprises a plurality of core members and a charge donor material that donates charge to the ion transporting medium when the current collector means collects charged particles. A battery is also provided comprising the cathode and an anode means for discharging charged particles when the battery is loaded. Methods of manufacturing the cathode comprise coating a plurality of core members with a charge donating material and interfacing the coated core members to an ion transporting medium to provide a subassembly composite.

Abstract: A gas-tight nickel/hydride battery with a high oxygen consumption rate and a correspondingly low internal pressure has a stacked arrangement of positive and negative electrodes wherein the negative electrodes are divided in two with a coarse supporting framework as a space between the resulting partial electrodes. Gas impermeable microporous separators deflect the oxygen stream emerging from the positive electrodes to faces of the negative partial electrodes. The spacer provides an inner space with walls defining an enlarged area for reducing the deflected oxygen stream. Because the micropores are completely filled with electrolyte due to their capillary activity, the microporous separators also permit the construction of nickel/hydride batteries with cell heights which could not otherwise be achieved in alkaline batteries with nonwoven fabric separators.

Abstract: A prismatic sealed alkaline storage battery with a nickel hydroxide electrode comprising a nickel substrate having a porosity of from 86 to 98% and containing as an active material from 10 to 20% by weight of cobalt based on the sum of nickel and cobalt; the alkaline storage battery using the same as a positive electrode and a mixed solution as an electrolyte comprising sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. The battery has a high Ah efficiency in a wide temperature range, a higher energy density and a longer operating life in a low termperature of 0.degree. C. or less and a high temperature of 50.degree. C. or more, thereby providing a prismatic sealed alkaline storage battery for the power sources including cycle service use, such as electric vehicles.

Abstract: There is now provided an improved manufacturing method for increasing the active material filling density in a small DTR reticulated nickel sheet. The nickel sheet has desirable physical properties such as resistance to breakage and crushing, in repeated bending. This resistance can be for both the surface area and the central area, in the thickness direction of the sheet. Such small DTR sheet has not previously been preferred as a battery electrode material because of a smaller filling density using conventional methods. There is now provided a battery electrode having high filling density of active material, high utilization rate of the impregnated active material and high capacity density with long life. Furthermore, a method of producing such small DTR of reticulated nickel sheet in a continuous and economical manner is disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a cathode can, a cathode pellet, a separator, an anode can, an anode pellet, and a non-aqueous electrolytic solution. At the portion in contact with the cathode can of the cathode pellet and the portion in contact with the anode can of the anode pellet, layers containing powder having conductive property are respectively formed. The powder having conductive property is aluminum powder on the cathode side and is copper powder on the anode side. The layers containing powder having conductive property are integrally molded as the result of the fact that they are compression-molded along with a cathode active material and an anode active material.

Abstract: An electrode for a rechargeable electrochemical cell including an electrically conductive substrate, a layer of an electrochemically active material attached to the substrate, the active material comprising a reducible species of a metal, at least one conductive contact area formed of a metallic form of said metal attached to said substrate, said metallic contact area comprising said reducible species in a converted form. A positive electrode is further provided wherein said active material is nickel hydroxide and said metallic form of said metal is nickel metal. The invention further comprises the method for manufacturing electrodes as described above, featuring use of reducing gas to effect conversion.

Abstract: Discrete locations of an electrode web or electrode segment based on a porous metallic carrier framework, which are intended to receive the take-off conductor, are briefly heated to about 450.degree. C. and then cleared of active mass with compressed air. The heating, for which a stream of hot air is particularly suitable, has the effect of destroying the organic binder present in the active material. Following such treatment, a clean metal surface is made available for the welded attachment of the take-off conductor, of a size which is limited to the precise dimensions necessary for the connection.

Abstract: Each bonded electrode of the layered-type manganese dry battery has a conductive carbon coat the surface of which contacts the adjacent positive electrode composition and is provided with protrusions of 0.05 to 0.15 mm in height, which serves to prevent the electrodes from sticking to each other even when the electrodes are punched into a prescribed shape by a press mounted with a chute and transported by pressure with the top and bottom of the electrodes facing the respectively specified sides. The protrusions formed on the surface of the coat stick into the positive electrode composition, which serves to reduce the contact resistance with the positive electrode composition, facilitating the easy maintenance of the low contact resistance. Furthermore, since the contact area with the positive electrode composition facing the coat is increased, the current collecting performance is also improved.

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 electrode for a rechargeable electrochemical cell including an electrically conductive substrate, a layer of an electrochemically active material attached to the substrate, the active material comprising a reducible species of a metal, at least one conductive contact area formed of a metallic form of said metal attached to said substrate, said metallic contact area comprising said reducible species in a converted form. A positive electrode is further provided wherein said active material is nickel hydroxide and said metallic form of said metal is nickel metal. The invention further comprises the method for manufacturing electrodes as described above, featuring use of reducing gas to effect conversion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery provided with a positive electrode having vanadium peroxide as an active material, a negative electrode having niobium pentoxide doped with lithium as an active material, and an electrolyte of an organic solvent in which a lithium salt is dissolved. A corrosion-resistant metal powder is used as a conductive material in the negative electrode. In addition, a corrosion-resistant metal may be used as a current collector of the negative electrode. This battery is excellent in charging and discharging cycle characteristics and storage life, is superior in moldability of the negative electrode composition and can be mass-produced.

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 method for removing NO.sub.x, particularly nitrogen oxide, emissions from the exhaust products of combustion processes is disclosed. An alkyl amine is added to the stream of exhaust products at relatively low temperatures in the range of 350.degree.-650.degree. C. The alkyl amine does not require a catalyst to react with the nitrogen oxides at these temperatures. Monomethyl amine (CH.sub.3 NH.sub.2) is particularly useful.

Abstract: A sealed rechargeable nickel electrode containing electrochemical cell has a pasted negative electrode having paste layers adhered to a nonforaminous conductive substrate, which retards growth (swelling) of the nickel electrode on cycling.

Abstract: A bipolar battery substrate includes overlying layers of binder material containing particulate conductive material. In the most preferred form, one layer includes carbon as the conductive material, while the conductive material for the other layer comprises a conductive form of a transition metal oxide. Electrode structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber-structure electrode support of metallized synthetic fibers with reinforced border and with welded-on, thin current discharge lug is produced by a method in which, after the welding operation, the previously straight current discharge lug having a rectangular cross-section is impressed in a first zone in parallel and strongly into the fiber-structure electrode support. This region is adjoined by a second zone, where the current discharge lug rises at an inclination of 10.degree. to 30.degree. with respect to the first zone running parallel to the lower side of the fiber-structure electrode support, so that the border of the current discharge lug runs out in three directions to the right, downwards and to the left, starting from the surface of the current discharge lug which overlaps the fiber-structure electrode support, in a gradual trasition. At this border 20% to 30% of the current discharge lug is pressed into the fiber-structure electrode support and welded.

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: The invention provides an anode for an electrochemical cell. There is an anode holder containing a molten sodium anode. The holder is a ceramic envelope which is a sodium conductor and the holder has a current collector in contact with the sodium and projection through an opening in the envelope wall. The envelope interior contains a unitary porous solid matrix permeable by and impregnated by sodium. The matrix is bonded to at least part of the inner surface of the wall of the envelope. The invention provides also a holder for the anode which is empty of sodium; and provides an electrochemical cell employing the anode; and it provides a method of making said anode and holder.

Abstract: The invention provides a nickel foam and a method of forming a nickel foam for a nickel containing battery. An open-cell foam structure is placed in a nickel carbonyl gas containing structure. The foam structure is heated to a temperature at which nickel carbonyl decomposes. Nickel from the nickel carbonyl gas decomposes on the foam structure to form a nickel plated foam structure. The nickel plated foam structure is then sintered leaving an open-cell nickel network to form the nickel foam. The open-cells of the nickel foam comprise substantially hollow wires having a substantially uniform transverse cross-section. The nickel foam is further characterized by the conductivity through the nickel foam multiplied by a factor of 3.4 being equal to or greater than the theoretical conductivity of nickel.

Abstract: A reliable positive plate for deep cycle lead-acid batteries is provided by dispersing about 2 percent by volume of fine, short, lead-coated reinforcement fibers such as fiberglass in the positive active paste before being applied to the grid of a battery plate and cured. The fibers improve the structural integrity of the plate and also provide electrical paths in a discharged plate. This results in greater utilization of the lead dioxide active material by preventing charged portions of the plate from becoming electrically isolated.

Abstract: A fiber structure-electrode framework of metallized plastic fibers with reinforced edge and with welded-on current-conducting lug, in which the current-conducting lug is provided with one or several steps on the side abutting at the fiber framework. The electrode framework is so connected with the current-conducting lug that the reinforced edge of the electrode framework is located inside of an area whose boundaries lie at the distance of double the lug thickness on both sides of the step. The fiber structure-electrode framework which is compressed in the stepped area reaches its full thickness continuously approximately to the end of the step.

Abstract: A fiber structure-electrode framework of metallized plastic fibers with reinforced edge and with welded-on current-conducting lug in which the current-conducting lug is provided along the edge abutting at the fiber framework with an essentially steplessly terminating chamfer that forms an angle of 10.degree. to 50.degree. with the lug. The welded connection of the fiber framework with the current-conducting lug starts 1 to 3 mm. above the beginning of the chamfer on the non-chamfered part of the current-conducting lug and the fiber framework starting from the strongly compressed part which carries the welding seam, tapering on both sides approximately continuously to the full thickness of the fiber structure.

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).