Abstract: An electrochemical device includes at least one carrier substrate, and a stack of functional layers including at least one electrically conducting layer that includes metal oxide(s), and a multicomponent electrode including at least one electrochemically active layer, at least one higher-conductivity material and at least one network of one of conducting wires and conducting strips. The higher-conductivity material has a surface resistance that is lower than a surface resistance of the electrically conducting layer. The stack of functional layers is arranged between two substrates, and each may be rigid, of glass type or rigid polymer or semi-rigid or flexible of PET type.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multifunctional battery for supplying power to an electrical circuit, and the related method of making the same. Use of the multifunctional battery permits structural integrity and versatility, while maximizing power output of the cells and minimizing the overall weight of the structure. The multifunctional battery includes an open cell interconnected structure comprised of a plurality of open cells so as to provide a structural electrode. The structural electrode is configured to be a load bearing member. The battery also includes interstitial electrodes that are counter electrodes to the structural electrode. The interstitial electrodes are at least partially received within a predetermined number of the cells of the interconnected structure. Additionally, a separator portion is disposed between the structural electrode and interstitial electrodes to serve as an electrical insulator.

Abstract: An alkaline cell having an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising manganese dioxide wherein the cathode is located annularly along the inside surface of the cell housing and has a plurality of indentations on the inside of its surface facing the cell interior. Each indentation has a wall defining a channel with an opening thereto running preferably in the direction of the cell's length. The channel and opening facing the cell interior filled with anode material. The cell can have an anode current collector, typically of metal, with at least a portion of its surface extending into the cathode indentation channel. The anode current collector can have a portion of its surface extending from a point within the anode and into the cathode indentation channel through said opening. The cell can include a cathode current collector comprising a sheet of conductive material such as a sheet of metal or graphite placed within the cathode, particularly within thick regions of the cathode.

Abstract: An alkaline cell having an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising manganese dioxide wherein the cathode is located annularly along the inside surface of the cell housing and has a plurality of indentations on the inside of its surface facing the cell interior. Each indentation has a wall defining a channel with an opening thereto running preferably in the direction of the cell's length. The channel and opening facing the cell interior filled with anode material. The cell can have an anode current collector, typically of metal, with at least a portion of its surface extending into the cathode indentation channel. The anode current collector can have a portion of its surface extending from a point within the anode and into the cathode indentation channel through said opening. The cell can include a cathode current collector comprising a sheet of conductive material such as a sheet of metal or graphite placed within the cathode, particularly within thick regions of the cathode.

Abstract: A fuel cell is fitted with a current collector situated between a ribbed separator and an electrode. The current collector is comprised of a plurality of flat wires which span the peaks of the ribs of the separator. The flat wires are of sufficient thickness, width, and frequency to support the electrode against the compressive load of the fuel cell stack The width and frequency are alterable to suppress or enhance reactant access to the electrode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a third electrode for use in a metal-air tricell comprising a support structure coated with a layer of a lanthanum nickel compound and at least one metal mixture, wherein the mixture is adhered to the support structure without the use of an adhesive. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a metal-air tricell comprising: an air electrode; a metal electrode; and a third electrode, wherein the third electrode comprises a support structure coated with a mixture of a lanthanum nickel compound and at least one metal, wherein the mixture is adhered to the support structure without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: A battery comprises a substrate having a cathode with a lower surface contacting the substrate and an opposing upper surface. A cathode current collector comprises conducting lines that contact the upper surface of the cathode. An electrolyte at least partially extends through the cathode current collector and contacts the cathode. An anode contacts the electrolyte, and optionally, an anode current collector contacts the anode. Also, because the cathode is formed on the substrate before the cathode current collector, the cathode current collector advantageously does not have to be fabricated out of a metal that is capable of withstanding further processing of the cathode, such as annealing of the cathode.

Abstract: An electrode comprises a porous three-dimensional conductive support and at least one reinforcing metal band fixed along a longitudinal edge portion of the support and having a coefficient of elongation to rupture equal to at least 20% in a direction parallel to the edge portion of the support. Two longitudinal edge portions of the band are bent against the same face of the band, at least part of whose surface is pressed against the support.

Abstract: A sealed alkaline-zinc storage battery includes a battery can, a hollow positive electrode disposed within the battery can in electrical contact therewith and containing a positive active material including nickle hydroxide, a negative electrode disposed inwardly of the positive electrode and containing a negative active material including zinc, a separator disposed between the positive and negative electrodes, a negative current collector inserted into the negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte filled in the battery can and impregnated into the positive electrode, negative electrode and separator. The positive electrode, negative electrode, separator, negative current collector and electrolyte together account for at least 75% of an internal volume of the battery can. The alkaline electrolyte is in the 30 to 45 mass % concentration range and has a total water content in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 g for each theoretical capacity of the negative electrode expressed as 1 Ah (ampere-hour).

Abstract: A sodium-sulfur battery in which sulfur and/or sodium polysulfide are used as cathode active materials, and an electronic conductor, which are arranged in a cathode chamber between a cathode container operating concurrently as a cathode electric collector and a solid electrolyte tube, and a layer, made of a material having a superior corrosion resistance against sulfur and sodium polysulfide, is provided between said solid electrolyte tube and said electronic conductor, wherein the cathode electric collector as the electronic conductor has been improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel non-aqueous battery comprising a spirally wound electrode assembly comprising a cathode, an anode and a separator which are spirally wound so that the cathode and anode active material layers are arranged opposite to each other through the separator, wherein the battery has a cathode-equipotential metallic segment provided in association with the cathode, wherein the segment has on at least one side thereof a portion free of a cathode active material layer to provide a cathode-equipotential, exposed metallic portion (.alpha.) longitudinally extending over a length of one wind or more of the spirally wound structure, the portion (.alpha.) being positioned opposite to an anode-equipotential, exposed metallic portion (.beta.) which is provided, in association with the anode, over a length of one wind or more of the spirally wound structure.

Abstract: A battery electrode (12) for use in an electrolytic bipolar battery (10) comprises a structurally rigid and electrically conductive core member (18), at least one corrosion resistant layer (20), an interface layer (22), a positive-side active layer (14) and a negative-side active layer (26). The corrosion resitant layer (20) is in intimate contact with and is interposed between one surface of the core member (18) and the interface layer (22). The corrosion resistant layer is comprised of a material which can participate in a corrosive electrochemical reaction with the material of the positive active layer, but does so less effectively than does the interface layer. The interface layer (22) is in intimate contact with and is interposed between the corrosion resistant layer (20) and the positive-side active layer (14). The negative-side active material (26) is in intimate contact with the surface of the core member opposite the core member surface carrying the corrosion resistant layer.

Abstract: A lead-acid cell includes a case, positive and negative plates within the case, microporous separator material between adjacent plates and electrolyte in a starved amount, with the case having jar and covers joined by a weldment along overlapping cover and jars. The positive plates include a grid frame with an intermediate member extending between spaced apart generally peripheral portions of the frame, with pasted active material on the grid frame separated substantially into two portions by the intermediate member. Compressive force is adjustably continuously applied to the positive and negative plates within the case. The plates are suspended within the case at positions removed from the wall of the case, while plate growth is permitted in a manner that plate shorting is avoided.

Abstract: A battery of this invention is equipped with a positive electrode having a following structure. A resin sheet is bonded to one side or both sides of a metal sheet, a large number of through holes are made at least on the resin sheet, and an active material is filled in the through holes.

Abstract: A high-storage-capacity electrical storage battery (20) includes a plurality of fiber anodes (22), a plurality of fiber cathodes (28) bundled together and interspersed with the fiber anodes (22), and an electrolyte in the interstices (40) between the fiber anodes (22) and the fiber cathodes (28). The fiber anodes (22) and the fiber cathodes (28) include anode fibers (24) and cathode fibers (30) that are each preferably of a diameter of 0.010-0.050 inches. A tubular compliant lateral casing (44) laterally surrounds the fiber anodes (22), the fiber cathodes (28), and the electrolyte. A compliant end plate (46) is sealed to the lateral casing (44) at each end thereof with an end of each fiber anode (22) extending out of a first end plate at a first end of the battery (20), and an end of each fiber cathode extending out of a second end plate at a second end of the battery (20). A protective metallic housing (45) overlies the compliant lateral casing (44).

Abstract: This invention relates to galvanic seawater cells and batteries and in particular to cathodes which are suitable for use in galvanic cells that use an oxidant dissolved in the electrolyte as depolarizer. An example of such cells are seawater cells which use the oxygen dissolved in the seawater as oxidant. The cell has an inert electrode which consists of a number of conducting fibers (1,3,14) connected to a conducting body (2,4,15). The fibers (1,3,14) have different orientations relatively to each other and to the body (2,4,15). In a preferred embodiment the electrode body (2,4) consists of two or more wires which are twisted together to constitute an electrode stem while clamping the fibers (1,3) in a fixed position between the wires, as in a laboratory bottle brush.

Abstract: An electrode suitable for use as a lead-acid battery plate is formed of a paste composition which enhances the performance of the plate. The paste composition includes a basic lead sulfate, a persulfate and water. The paste may also include lead oxide and fibers. An electrode according to the invention is characterized by good strength in combination with high power density, porosity and surface area.

Abstract: A storage battery of the lead-acid type has unipolar electrodes (6) and bipolar electrodes (7), having a tubular shape fastened preferably perpendicularly to walls (3, 4) made of an insulating material, which divide container into two or more adjacent cells (1) containing the electrolyte. In a preferred embodiment, each tubular electrode (6, 7) is formed by an axial bar (8) of lead or an alloy thereof, having a circular section, surrounded by active material (9), either positive or negative, in its turn enclosed by a coaxial tubular sheath (10) in porous synthetic and insulating material, and end plates (11, 12) of plastic material. The exteriorly extending ends (13), of the bars (8) of the unipolar tubular electrodes (6) of each of the end cells are connected to a respective external bus bar (14) for the current. The external bus bar (14) constitutes a pole of the storage battery.

Abstract: An improved tubular sealed lead-acid battery is proposed which has superior cycle life performance by providing a gap A between adjacent tubes which gap is expressed by the following equation, in which constant X is within the range of 0.29-0.75:A=B.times.constant X.times.(1.1-0.1.times.E)-2.times.C.times.DwhereA: the gap between the tubes (mm)B: the inside radius of the tube (mm)C: the thickness of the tube (mm)D: the porosity of the tube (%).times.0.01E: the inter-electrode distance (mm).

Abstract: A multitubular bag for electrodes of electric batteries, made of a one-piece double fabric (1a) establishing a plurality of parallel pipes (3) in its inside, the double fabric (1a) of bag (1) showing transversal high tenacity and high tensile strength multifilament yarns (4) laid in a direction transversal to the main development direction of pipes (2), and longitudinal high porosity yarns (5) obtained starting from synthetic fiber staple laid in longitudinal direction, that is laid in a direction parallel to the main developement direction of pipes (2).

Abstract: A negative electrode for lead accumulators has the shape of a rectangular planar grid plate (11) consisting of expanded copper metal which serves as a carrier for the active mass and for the supply and extraction of current. The grid plate (11) consists of two side regions of expanded copper metal (14) and a copper strip (12) which is arranged between them in one piece therewith, and which projects at one end beyond the regions of expanded copper metal in order to form the connection lug (13). A current conducting strip is formed at the upper edge of the regions (14) of the expanded metal grid by the appropriately cut-off webs (15) which are bent towards one another into mutual contact at the edge (16) of the expanded copper metal regions (14) at the connection lug side.

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: 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 recombination cell of motive power type comprises a sealed container containing negative plates alternating with tubular positive plates comprising a plurality of parallel tubes of porous material which contain active material and along the interior of each of which a conductive spine extends. Adjacent plates are separated by compressible fibrous absorbent material and the cell contains substantially no free unabsorbed electrolyte whereby substantially all the electrolyte is absorbed in the plates and separator material.

Abstract: Improved positive electrodes for lead-acid batteries are disclosed, in which the said electrodes are initially fabricated such that:(1) the ratio between a calculated weight of formed, dry active material filled into a tube member and the weight of its corresponding lead spine is restricted to a maximum value of 1.5:1;(2) the ratio between the lateral cross-sectional area enclosed by a tube member and the lateral cross-sectional area of its corresponding lead spine is restricted to a maximum value of 5:1; and(3) the distance between the inner surface of a tube wall and the surface of its corresponding lead spine is restricted to a maximum value of 2.5 mm; for electrodes designed for use at the 5-hour discharge rate or greater, this distance is restricted to a maximum value of 1.8 mm.Thereafter the electrodes are subjected to a deliberate electro-chemically-induced corrosion of outer surface of the spines, to produce zones of high-density PbO.sub.

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: A device for sealing the tubes (4) in a tubular electrode plate of an electrochemical lead cell comprising a top and a bottom part. The top part consists of separate sleeves (10) for each tube (4), which optionally are arranged on a connecting strip (14), each sleeve (10) having a bottom with a central through hole with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the spine (2), which is to protrude therethrough, and a wall, the periphery of which corresponds to the periphery of the tubular casing (4) to butt thereagainst FIG. 2.

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: A secondary, high temperature electrochemical cell especially adapted for lithium alloy negative electrodes, transition metal chalcogenide positive electrodes and alkali metal halide or alkaline earth metal halide electrolyte is disclosed. The cell is held within an elongated cylindrical container in which one of the active materials is filled around the outside surfaces of a plurality of perforate tubular current collectors along the length of the container. Each of the current collector tubes contain a concentric tubular layer of electrically insulative ceramic as an interelectrode separator. The active material of opposite polarity in elongated pin shape is positioned longitudinally within the separator layer. A second electrically conductive tube with perforate walls can be swagged or otherwise bonded to the outer surface of the pin as a current collector and the electrically insulative ceramic layer can be coated or otherwise layered onto the outer surface of this second current collector.

Abstract: A photocurable tubular electrode (10) and means (30) for fabricating same is disclosed. In one embodiment, a glass braid (66), saturated with a photocurable resin, is partially cured in the presence of visible light. The still flexible braid (66) is then shaped into a sheath (28) and fully photocured. The now rigid sheath (28) is disposed about spaced spines (14) comprising the tubular electrode (10) to form tubes (18) whereupon active material (20) is introduced into the tubes (18). In an alternative embodiment, the partial curing step is eliminated. The resulting sheath (28) displays superior battery performance while simultaneously reducing pollution effluents and energy requirements.

Abstract: A storage battery is constructed with a casing in which is contained an electrolyte and positive and negative plate means. The positive plate means includes a grid structure having a top bar and depending spines, active material, and braided or woven tubular bodies for locating the active material around the spines. A molded thermoplastic bonding element and a thermoplastic bonding material are combined in the positive plate in fused relationship to one another. The bonding element and the bonding material may, in one embodiment of the invention, be of the same chemical composition, and in another embodiment may be of differing chemical composition but fusible with one another within ranges of fusing or melting point temperatures which are common or close to one another.

Abstract: An improvement in the production of tube electrodes for lead storage batteries comprising mixing a small amount (0.1 to 3 weight percent) of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with lead powder, the mixture is heated and shear stresses are applied thereto sufficient to convert substantially all of the PTFE in the mixture to fibrous form and to form a non-powdery dough. The dough is then granulated and the doughy granules about 100.mu. to 500.mu. in major dimension are used for filling tube elctrodes of a lead-acid storage battery.

Abstract: A tubular plate comprising oval tubes aligned parallel to one another, each containing two spaced grid rods of a corrosion-resistant lead alloy as current conductors. The rods of the individual tubes are joined to form a grid having a connecting part at the top. Near the bottom, each two lead rods are connected by a crosspiece.

Abstract: A sheath for a storage battery electrode comprises a braid or weave of inorganic fiber threads and a plurality of axial threads extending along the axial length of the sheath and forming crossing points with the inorganic threads. The axial threads comprise a mixture of at least two thermoplastic materials having different softening temperatures. Fabrication of the sheath involves tensioning the sheath and heating it to a temperature sufficient to soften the thermoplastic fiber having the lower softening temperature to bond the latter to the inorganic fibers at the crossing points. The heating is sufficient to weaken the thermoplastic fibers having the higher softening temperature to enable the latter to be only slightly elongated under tension, to enable internal stresses of the axial threads to be substantially equalized.

Abstract: An improvement in the preparation of dry lead powder mixtures for the production of tube electrodes for lead storage batteries to reduce the dust binding problem during filling of the tube electrodes is disclosed. A small amount (0.1 to 3 weight percent) of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is mixed with the lead powder, the mixture is heated and shear stresses are applied thereto sufficient to convert substantially all of the PTFE in the mixture to fibrous form. The resulting mixture can be utilized in a dry powder process for the filling of tube electrodes with a substantial reduction or elimination of the dust binding problem.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved tubular battery plate comprising a porous envelope enclosing a current collector comprising an array of members extending perpendicularly from an end member which affords a current take off lug with active material disposed between the perpendicular current collector members and the inside face of the porous envelope the ratio of the length of the tubes in cms to the free cross sectional area in sq. cms being in the range 100.1 to 295.1 and the degree of stratification of the active material in the tubes being less than 5%.

Abstract: Sheaths for covering battery electrodes are produced by introducing inner and outer layers of sheath material onto a plurality of adjacent mandrels. As the layers pass along connector sections of the mandrels, they are connected together to form interconnected tubes. The connector sections have an elongate cross-sectional configuration to facilitate such connection. Thereafter, the layers pass along reshaping sections of the mandrels which have a cross-sectional configuration that is different from that of the connector sections and which corresponds to the desired final shape of the tubes.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTSThe present invention concerns the manufacture of a type of sheath for tube electrodes used with electrical accumulators or batteries; it comprises two layers. One of the two layers, the actual or inner sheath wall, comprises a layer of fibrous material, preferably glass fiber. The sheaths comprise another layer outside the fibrous material.

Abstract: Tube plate type electrode for a storage battery where the metal rod of said tube is held centrally in a surrounding sheath by spacing fins. The surface of the spacing fins is coated with a lacquer to reduce the peak effect caused by high current density to prolong the life of the tube sheath.

Abstract: A tube plate for a storage battery is formed from a grid of conductive rods that are surrounded by active material held in place by a sheath of insulating material. The conductive rods are centered in their respective sheaths by centering fins solely lying in the plane of the electrode. The conductive rods are centered in the perpendicular direction by placing the electrode in a jig which has cylindrical channels for receiving the sheaths. In each channel, two rows of needle-like elements are provided which penetrate the sheath and engage the rod surface during the period when the active material in powder form is loaded into the electrode.

Abstract: A battery electrode includes a plurality of sheaths. The base portion of a bottom strip is secured to bottom, open ends of the sheaths. The bottom strip also includes movable closure sections which can be swung open to allow filling of the sheaths with active material, and which can be swung closed to close the bottom ends of the sheaths.