Having Members In A Face Plane Of The Grid Being Offset From Members In The Plane Of The Opposite Face Patents (Class 429/243)
  • Patent number: 10700383
    Abstract: Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery that can be produced with high yield, through suppression of breakage of electrode collector portions during production and through suppression of damage to an electrode body during welding. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery disclosed herein is provided with: an electrode body in which a plurality of electrodes are stacked; and a nonaqueous electrolyte. Each electrode has a collector and an active material layer formed on the collector. Each electrode has a collector portion being an active material layer non-forming portion. The collector portions of the electrodes are grouped and are clamped, in the stacking direction of the electrode body, by two or more members of an electrode collector terminal that is made up of the members. The collector portions of the electrodes and the members that clamp the collector portions are welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuura, Yukio Harima, Hiroaki Imanishi, Ichiro Murata, Kiyomi Kozuki
  • Publication number: 20150125756
    Abstract: Provided are a current collector for a battery, including: a base material; adhesive layers positioned on the base material; and metal mesh layers positioned on the adhesive layers, in which the metal mesh layer includes a plurality of metal mesh patterns, and holes positioned between the metal mesh patterns, and a method of manufacturing the same. An active material is applied onto the metal mesh layer through the holes of the metal mesh layer, and thus a contact area of the metal mesh layer and the active material is increased, so that it is possible to restrict the active material from being deintercalated from the current collector and improve a cycle lifespan property of a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF MACHINERY & MATERIALS
    Inventors: Man Kim, Joo Yul Lee, Sang Yeoul Lee, Yong Soo Jeong, Do Yon Chang, Kyu Hwan Lee, Cheol Nam Yang, Chang Rae Lee, Seong Bong Yim, Dong Chan Lim, Jae Hong Lim, Young Sup Song, Sung Mo Moon, Su Sub Cha
  • Patent number: 9023509
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and a separator interposed therebetween, and an electrolyte. A case accommodates the electrode assembly and an electrolyte. A finishing material is attached to an outer surface of the electrode assembly. In the secondary battery, the finishing material has an adhesive property on at least one surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ja-Kyung Cho, Dae-Kyu Kim, Hyo-Jung Song
  • Patent number: 8709664
    Abstract: A grid network for a battery plate is provided. The grid network includes a plurality of spaced apart grid wire elements, each grid wire element having opposed ends joined to one of a plurality of nodes. Each node includes the juncture of one of the opposed ends of a plurality of the grid wire elements to define a plurality of open spaces in the grid network. At least one of the grid wire elements has a first transverse cross-section intermediate its opposed ends that is a different shape than a second transverse cross-section at at least one of the grid wire element's opposed ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Schaeffer, Jeffrey L. Troxel, M. Eric Taylor, Wen-Hong Kao, Christian P. Hansen, Yu-Lin Chen, Dan J. Cantillon, Bart Sauer
  • Patent number: 8586248
    Abstract: A battery plate assembly for a lead-acid battery is disclosed. The assembly includes a plates of opposing polarity each formed by an electrically conductive grid body having opposed top and bottom frame elements and opposed first and second side frame elements, the top frame element having a lug and an opposing enlarged conductive section extending toward the bottom frame element; a plurality of interconnecting electrically conductive grid elements defining a grid pattern defining a plurality of open areas, the grid elements including a plurality of radially extending vertical grid wire elements connected to the top frame element, and a plurality of horizontally extending grid wire elements, the grid body having an active material provided thereon. A highly absorbent separator is wrapped around at least a portion of the plate of a first polarity and extends to opposing plate faces. An electrolye is provided, wherein substantially all of the electrolyte is absorbed by the separator or active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Jeffrey L. Troxel
  • Patent number: 8426068
    Abstract: A metal foil for secondary battery generating less cutting chips at the time of forming an opening and allowed to have a higher aperture ratio without reducing strength and a secondary battery in which short circuit caused by generation of electrode debris can be suppressed are provided. A metal foil 1 for secondary battery is provided with a metal thin plate 2, plural first convex portions 3A formed on a first principal surface 2a of the thin plate 2 by plastic forming and plural second convex portions 3B formed on a second principal surface 2b opposite to the first principal surface 2a by the plastic forming, wherein the convex portions 3A and 3B each have an opening 31 of which aperture plane 31a is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the principal surfaces 2a and the 2b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Finecs Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Matsuda, Hiroshi Furuki, Hideya Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8347468
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a current collector comprising embossing a sheet comprising lead thereby forming an embossed grid comprising rows of raised portions and lowered portions, and slots comprising edges of the raised portions and lowered portions; creating areas for tab creation by pressing or stamping areas of the embossed grid to a flattened state, thereby forming a sheet comprising embossed grid sections and flat sections; applying paste to the top and bottom of the embossed grid sections; and stamping current collectors out of the sheet such that at least one tab is created from a flat section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Axion Power International Inc.
    Inventor: Edward R. Buiel
  • Patent number: 8334009
    Abstract: An electrode producing method by an electrode producing apparatus has an inclining step of pressing a surface of a current collector sheet with projections extending outwardly from the surface, which is conveyed in a definite direction, to incline the projections in a direction opposite to the definite direction of the current collector sheet; and an applying step of applying a coating solution onto the current collector sheet, the projections of which have been inclined in the inclining step and which is conveyed in the definite direction, by a slit die. After the surface of the current collector sheet is pressed to incline the projections on the sheet surface in the opposite direction to the conveyance direction, the coating solution is applied onto the surface. Therefore, the coating solution can be uniformly applied onto the current collector sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Emoto, Katsuo Naoi, Kiyonori Hinoki, Masahiro Saegusa, Masayoshi Hirano
  • Patent number: 8252464
    Abstract: A method of forming battery grids or plates that includes the step of mechanically reshaping or refinishing battery grid wires to improve adhesion between the battery paste and the grid wires. The method is particularly useful in improving the past adhesion to battery grids formed by a continuous batter grid making process (such as strip expansion, strip stamping, continuous casting) that produces grid wires and nodes with smooth surfaces and rectangular cross-section. In a preferred version of the method, the grid wires of battery grids produced by a stamping process are deformed such that the grid wires have a cross-section other than the rectangular cross-section produced by the stamping process. The method increases the cycle life of a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Schaeffer, Jeffrey L. Troxel, M. Eric Taylor, Wen-Hong Kao, Christian P. Hansen, Yu-Lin Chen, Dan J. Cantillon, Bart Sauer
  • Patent number: 8247115
    Abstract: A positive electrode sheet including a positive electrode mixture layer formed on one surface is provided at one of the outermost layers of an electrode sheet group, while a positive electrode sheet including a positive electrode mixture layer formed at one surface is provided at the other outermost layer of the electrode sheet group. A negative electrode sheet including negative electrode mixture layers formed on both surfaces is provided between the positive electrode sheets. A lithium electrode sheet including metal lithium foils formed on both surfaces is overlapped onto the electrode sheet group formed by stacking the three sheets. When a wound-type electric storage device is produced, the electrode sheet group is wound together with the lithium electrode sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Yanagita, Kunio Nakazato
  • Patent number: 8202653
    Abstract: An electrode includes a current collector comprising a grid, said grid comprising a plurality of planar, parallel rows disposed between interleaved rows having raised and lowered segments, and a tab portion extending from a side of the current collector. Raised and lowered segments are disposed horizontally relative to the tab portion, thereby providing substantially uninterrupted conductive ribbons extending from the bottom of the current collector to the tab portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Axion Power International, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward R. Buiel, Joseph E. Cole
  • Patent number: 8182945
    Abstract: A current collector includes a substrate, a plurality of projections formed on a first portion of the substrate, and at least two adjacent minute projections formed on a second portion of the substrate. The substrate is a metal sheet. The first and second portions are formed on the surface of the substrate. The second portion includes 2 to 100 of minute projections. The minute projections have a height of below 35% of the average height of the plurality of projections. By forming an electrode active material layer on the face of the current collector where the plurality of projections are formed to make an electrode, the detachment of the electrode active material layer, and the spread of the detachment are significantly curbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutaka Kogetsu, Tatsuki Hiraoka, Takuhiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8142935
    Abstract: A method where two disk cutter rolls are used to form slits in a staggered pattern in a metal sheet; disk cutters are part of the disk cutter rolls; ridges are arranged in a peripheral edge of the disk cutters; and valleys are arranged between the ridges, where an axis-to-axis distance L (mm) of the rolls satisfies a relationship of 2r?0.3?L<2r when a radius of a reference circumferential face made with the valleys is r (mm). The method can include a carrying procedure for passing the sheet between the rolls, then carrying the sheet along a peripheral face of one of the rolls, and then pulling out the sheet from the peripheral face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiomi Fujiwara, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Tadashi Nishida
  • Patent number: 8034488
    Abstract: A grid network for a battery plate is provided. The grid network includes a plurality of spaced apart grid wire elements, each grid wire element having opposed ends joined to one of a plurality of nodes. Each node includes the juncture of one of the opposed ends of a plurality of the grid wire elements to define a plurality of open spaces in the grid network. At least one of the grid wire elements has a first transverse cross-section intermediate its opposed ends that is a different shape than a second transverse cross-section at least one of the grid wire element's opposed ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Schaeffer, Jeffrey L. Troxel, M. Eric Taylor, Wen-Hong Kao, Christian P. Hansen, Yu-Lin Chen, Dan J. Cantillon, Bart Sauer
  • Patent number: 7799463
    Abstract: A method of forming battery grids or plates that includes the step of mechanically reshaping or refinishing battery grid wires to improve adhesion between the battery paste and the grid wires. The method is particularly useful in improving the paste adhesion to battery grids formed by a continuous battery grid making process (such as strip expansion, strip stamping, continuous casting) that produces grid wires and nodes with smooth surfaces and a rectangular cross-section. In a preferred version of the method, the grid wires of battery grids produced by a stamping process are deformed such that the grid wires have a cross-section other than the rectangular cross-section produced by the stamping process. The method increases the cycle life of a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Schaeffer, Jeffrey L. Troxel, M. Eric Taylor, Wen-Hong Kao, Christian P. Hansen, Yu-Lin Chen, Dan J. Cantillon, Bart Sauer
  • Patent number: 7763084
    Abstract: A method of making a plurality of battery plates includes forming a strip including a plurality of battery grids. Each battery grid includes a grid network bordered by a frame element and includes a plurality of spaced apart grid wire elements. Each grid wire element has opposed ends joined to one of a plurality of nodes to define a plurality of open spaces in the grid network. The method also includes deforming at least a portion of a plurality of the grid wire elements such that the deformed grid wire elements have a first transverse cross-section at a point intermediate their opposed ends that differs from a second transverse cross-section taken at least one of their opposed ends. The method also includes applying a lead alloy coating to the strip, applying battery paste to the strip, and cutting the strip to form a plurality of battery plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Yu-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 7601464
    Abstract: An electrode core material has a substrate and at least one porous material layer diffusion-bonded to the substrate. The substrate is made of a metal foil processed into a three-dimensional structure which is substantially deformed from a major plane of the metal foil, preferably having bulge portions which protrude from at least one side of the metal foil, the bulge portions preferably having a curved, strip-shaped form between laterally spaced slits in the metal foil. The porous material layer is made of metal fine particles diffusion-bonded to each other, and the porous material layer has a three-dimensional structure which is substantially uniform in thickness and porosity. Methods are provided for producing the electrode core material by diffusion bonding the porous material layer to the substrate either before or after deforming the metal foil. The electrode core material may be used for the positive and/or negative electrode of an alkaline storage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Muraoka, Yoichiro Tsuji, Masaharu Miyahisa
  • Patent number: 7425385
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including: an electrode group in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are spirally wound with a separator interposed therebetween; and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode plate has at least one exposed portion of the positive electrode current collector, the negative electrode plate has at least one exposed portion of the negative electrode current collector, and a metal that dissolves into the non-aqueous electrolyte when the battery voltage exceeds a predetermined level is provided on a surface of the exposed portion of positive electrode current collector facing the exposed portion of negative electrode current collector. This battery is extremely safe because it prevents overcharge and internal short-circuit at an area where the positive and negative electrode active materials and the non-aqueous electrolyte exist together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Okamura, Keiko Nagata
  • Patent number: 7332245
    Abstract: An electrode according to the present invention employs the metal plate having the specified structure as the electrode substrate. The metal plate 51 has a plurality of protuberances 54 that are alternately protruded on both front and back sides thereof. Each of the protuberances 54 is formed in a pyramid shape in which an area of upper bottom 52 (a protruded part) thereof is smaller than that of a lower bottom 53. The upper bottom 52 in each of the protuberances 54 is formed with an aperture 56 having blanking burr 55 blinked in a substantially pyramid shape along a direction from the upper bottom 52 to the lower bottom 53 so that an opening 52a of the upper bottom part is formed in a polygon shape. Further, the size of each portions is set in accordance with c>s?0.1 mm2 and 0.2?h/d?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kishimi, Hiroshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7297446
    Abstract: A negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery which is obtained by sintering under a non-oxidizing atmosphere, in the form of a layer on a surface of a metal foil current collector, an anode mix containing a binder and particles of active material containing silicon and/or a silicon alloy; the negative electrode being characterized in that the metal foil current corrector has projections and recesses on its surface, the projection is shaped to have a recurved side face portion that curves more outwardly as it extends closer to a distal end of the projection, and the binder penetrates into spaces defined by the recurved side face portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukui, Mariko Torimae, Yasuyuki Kusumoto, Hisaki Tarui
  • Patent number: 7270686
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a fuel cell, comprising a step of forming a plurality of holes (10) in at least two substrates (9); each hole is in the seat of an individual fuel cell, the said holes having a particular geometry, such as a shape of a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid shape. The various individual cells are then electrically connected by networks of electrical connections (11, 12) and are supplied via a reactant distribution network, the assembly formed by a substrate (9), the cells and the networks constituting a base module (9?). Finally, at least two base modules (9?) are assembled, the individual cells of each base module being positioned facing the individual cells of the adjacent base module(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean Arroyo, Didier Bloch, Jean-Yves Laurent, Didier Marsacq
  • Patent number: 7029797
    Abstract: An electrode plate for an alkaline storage battery of the present invention includes a conductive core material as a current collector, in which a plurality of through-holes are linearly provided in the core material so as to be parallel to a longitudinal direction of the core material, each through-hole having an aperture area of 10 mm2 or less and at least two pairs of opposite sides parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Sato, Nobuyasu Morishita
  • Patent number: 6979517
    Abstract: The battery electrode plate includes a core member (1) which is densely coated with a mixture paste chiefly including an active material (2). The core member (1) is made of a metal sheet (3), which is formed with rows (8) of first and second bowed portions (4, 7) arranged along one direction (X) of the metal sheet so as to protrude alternately on the front and back sides of the metal sheet, the rows (8) of bowed portions arranged along the direction (Y) orthogonal to the direction (X) with flat parts (9) of a predetermined width interposed between each two rows. The battery electrode plate is produced by any of a reciprocating type continuous press method, a rotary type molding method, and an electrolytic deposition method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Goda, Toru Inagaki, Akihiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 6921611
    Abstract: A method of making a battery includes forming a strip of interconnected grids from a grid material by feeding a continuous strip of the grid material along a linear path aligned with the longitudinal direction of the strip and punching grid material out of the strip. Each interconnected grid includes a plurality of wires, with each wire having opposed ends joined to one of a plurality of nodes to define a plurality of open spaces. The method also includes modifying at least one of the wires at a position intermediate the opposed ends of the wire such that a first transverse cross-section taken intermediate the opposed ends of the wire differs from a second transverse cross-section of the wire taken at one of the opposed ends of the wire. The method further includes applying paste to the strip and cutting the strip to form a plurality of plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Schaeffer, Jeffrey L. Troxel, M. Eric Taylor, Wen-Hong Kao, Christian P. Hansen, Yu-Lin Chen, Dan J. Cantillon, Bart Sauer
  • Patent number: 6878173
    Abstract: A battery electrode plate (19) is produced via an active material impregnation step for impregnating an entire porous core substrate shaped like a thin plate (1) with an active material (3), a pressing step for performing press working on the core substrate to form a plurality of rail shaped protrusions (8), an active material removal step for removing the active material to form core substrate exposed sections (13) by applying ultrasonic vibrations to the rail shaped protrusions, a flattening step for compressing the core substrate exposed sections down to an identical level with the other sections, and a cutting step for cutting predetermined sections including the core substrate exposed sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Miyahisa, Hideyuki Kumakiri, Takehiko Matsunaga, Koichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 6833218
    Abstract: A method of making a lead alloy grid for use in a plate for a lead acid battery that enables thin battery plates with a high surface area. The method of the present invention includes forming the lead alloy, such as by direct casting, to a very small thickness, then work hardening the cast strip to create a grid by forming indentations and protrusions in the thinly cast alloy strip, which in addition to strengthening the strip, provides a desirable surface topography for paste adhesion and interface characteristics. The work hardening, for example embossing, may further include splitting the strip at a high point of the protrusions and indentations to create perforated protrusions and indentations. The grid may then be used to make a plate by pasting an active mass onto the grid, steaming the pasted grid, and curing the pasted grid to provide a plate having a thickness of about 0.05 inch or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gamdur Singh Mann
  • Patent number: 6800399
    Abstract: An electrode substrate is formed by mechanically processing a nickel foil so as to be made three dimensional through the creation of concave and convex parts, and then, this substrate is filled with active material or the like so that an electrode is manufactured, wherein the above described concave and convex parts are rolling pressed so as to incline in one direction. Furthermore, an electrode for secondary battery is formed by using the above described method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Isao Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6790561
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrochemical cell having at least one of its electrodes produced by coating a slurry mixture of an active material, possibly a conductive additive, and a binder dispersed in a solvent and contacted to a perforated current collector foil. It is particularly important that the active slurry does not move through the perforations of the current collector. For this reason, a barrier is placed against the opposite side of the current collector to block the perforations as the current collector is being coated with the slurry. After volatilizing the solvent, a second, different active material is coated to the opposite side of the current collector, either as a slurry, a pressed powder, a pellet or a free standing sheet. An example of this is a cathode having a configuration of: SVO/current collector CFx. The opposed active materials on the current collector can also be of the same chemistry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Gan, Esther S. Takeuchi, Robert S. Rubino
  • Publication number: 20040161670
    Abstract: An anode, an anode current collector, an anode active material and a battery using the anode are provided. The anode includes the anode current collector and the anode active material. The anode current collector has a projection. The anode active material layer is formed via at least one of a vapor deposition method, a liquid-phase deposition method, a sintering method and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Kenichi Kawase, Tomoo Takada, Yukio Miyaki
  • Patent number: 6740454
    Abstract: An organic electrolytic cell having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte comprising a solution of a lithium salt in an aprotic organic solvent, wherein a positive electrode collector and a negative electrode collector have pores that penetrate from the front surface to the back surface, a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material can reversibly carry lithium, and, when the lithium derived from the negative electrode or the positive electrode is in electrochemical contact with the lithium disposed opposite the negative electrode or the positive electrode, the whole or part of the lithium passes through at least one layer of the positive electrode or the negative electrode and is carried. The opposing area of the lithium is not larger than 40 % of the area of the negative electrode and the porosity of each current collector is not less than 1 % and not more than 30 %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Kanebo Limited
    Inventors: Nobuo Ando, Masaki Yamaguchi, Yukinori Hato
  • Patent number: 6689507
    Abstract: A battery comprising powdered active materials and capable of storing a large power, and equipment or device having the battery as parts of its structure, wherein an anode cell (2) of two vessels connected via an ion-passing separator (1) is filled with an anode powdered active material and an electrolytic solution (4), a cathode cell (3) is filled with a cathode powdered active material and an electrolytic solution (5) and conductive current collectors (6, 7) in contact with the powdered active materials are provided in the two vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Tsutsumi, Toshio Atsuta, Chikanori Kumagai, Mitsuharu Kishimoto, Atsushi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 6682852
    Abstract: Concave portions and convex portions are formed on a peripheral surface of a thin metal sheet by applying a pressing force thereto while the metal sheet is being embossed; pores are each formed on an apex of each of the concave portions and convex portions and burrs each projecting outward from a peripheral edge of each of the pores are generated by the pressing force; the metal sheets having the concave portions and convex portions formed thereon are layered on each other; the burr at the apex of each convex portion of a lower-layer metal sheet is interlocked with the burr at the apex of each concave portion of an upper-layer metal sheet adjacent to the lower-layer metal sheet to integrate the metal sheets with each other; and an active substance is charged into spaces between the upper-layer metal sheet and the lower-layer metal sheet through an aperture at the apex of each of the concave portions and convex portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Katayama Special Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Sugikawa
  • Patent number: 6673494
    Abstract: An anode comprises one or more sheets of expanded zinc mesh. The thickness and mesh size of the expanded zinc mesh may vary. A single sheet of zinc mesh may be coiled, forming continuous electrical contact with itself. Alternatively, a single sheet of zinc mesh may be folded into layers, each layer in electrical contact with its adjacent layers. A third alternative is the use of two or more sheets of zinc mesh, layered on top of each other so that each layer is in electrical contact with adjacent layers. These zinc mesh anodes are combined with a casing, a cathode, an electrolyte solution, and a separator between the cathode and anode to manufacture electrochemical cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Alltrista Zinc Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Jack T. West, Jim Dyer, Albert H. Giles, Jon Headrick, Johnny Smelcer, Randy Beets
  • Patent number: 6605388
    Abstract: In a first process, an electrically conductive thin metal plate 7 is subjected to a press molding process employing a plurality of punches 3 in a primary molding block 1 and a plurality of dies 4 in a secondary molding block 2, so as to form therein a plurality of hollow projections 9 that project from one side of the metal plate 7, and bulges 14 that bulge out in a direction opposite to that of the projections 9, positioned between the projections 9. In a second process, the metal plate 7 on which have been formed the plurality of projections 9 and bulges 14 is subjected to either chemical etching or electrolytic etching, so as to form through holes 17 by corrosively removing thin-walled portions 11 from the tips of the projections 9, and, at the same time, to corrosively form innumerable fine irregularities 18 over the entire surface of the metal plate 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Goda, Mamoru Iida, Takeo Takayanagi, Masahiko Ogawa, Yoshio Moriwaki, Saburo Nakatsuka
  • Publication number: 20030148186
    Abstract: An electrode core material has a substrate and at least one porous material layer diffusion-bonded to the substrate. The substrate is made of a metal foil processed into a three-dimensional structure which is substantially deformed from a major plane of the metal foil, preferably having bulge portions which protrude from at least one side of the metal foil, the bulge portions preferably having a curved, strip-shaped form between laterally spaced slits in the metal foil. The porous material layer is made of metal fine particles diffusion-bonded to each other, and the porous material layer has a three-dimensional structure which is substantially uniform in thickness and porosity. Methods are provided for producing the electrode core material by diffusion bonding the porous material layer to the substrate either before or after deforming the metal foil. The electrode core material may be used for the positive and/or negative electrode of an alkaline storage battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Muraoka, Yoichiro Tsuji, Masaharu Miyahisa
  • Patent number: 6528213
    Abstract: An electrode includes an expanded grid and an active material provided on the grid, the thickness of the grid is the same as the strand and connecting sections of the strand, presenting a waveform as a whole. When this grid is used in the electrode as a current collector, the connecting sections are located near the center of the thickness direction of the electrode and strand are arranged by projecting upward and downward, respectively, from the boundary where the connecting sections are situated. Accordingly, a lead-acid storage battery having long life characteristics is made available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Yoshihara, Kazuyoshi Yonezu, Go Kashio, Fumiaki Seta
  • Patent number: 6492045
    Abstract: A fuel cell corrugated current collector having successive spaced rows of corrugations, with the corrugations in a given row establishing successive peak and valley regions along the given row and the spaced rows of corrugations being adapted so that corresponding peak regions from row-to-row establish through passages for receiving and supporting solid catalyst elements. The spaced rows of corrugations are such that there is a given pitch between successive peak regions. The corrugations in the rows are also such that corresponding peak regions from row-to-row have a finite off-set which is less than 50 percent of the pitch. This establishes a plurality of through passages in the current collector each extending from row-to-row for receiving and supporting the solid catalyst elements. Also, the off-set is based on the catalyst dimensions and is set such that the corrugations engage the catalyst elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Blanchet, Joel Doyon, Lawrence Novacco
  • Patent number: 6479179
    Abstract: Microthin sheet technology is disclosed by which superior batteries are constructed which, among other things, accommodate the requirements for high load rapid discharge and recharge, mandated by electric vehicle criteria. The microthin sheet technology has process and article overtones and can be used to form corrugated thin electrodes used in batteries of various kinds and types, such as spirally-wound batteries, bipolar batteries, lead acid batteries, silver/zinc batteries, and others. Superior high performance battery features include: (a) minimal ionic resistance; (b) minimal electronic resistance; (c) minimal polarization resistance to both charging and discharging; (d) improved current accessibility to active material of the electrodes; (e) a high surface area to volume ratio; (f) high electrode porosity (microporosity); (g) longer life cycle; (h) superior discharge/recharge characteristics; (i) higher capacities (A·hr); and (j) high specific capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Bipolar Technolgies Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. LaFollette
  • Publication number: 20020025475
    Abstract: An electrode substrate is formed by mechanically processing a nickel foil so as to be made three dimensional through the creation of concave and convex parts, and then, this substrate is filled with active material or the like so that an electrode is manufactured, wherein the above described concave and convex parts are rolling pressed so as to incline in one direction. Furthermore, an electrode for secondary battery is formed by using the above described method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventor: Isao Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20020015892
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery includes an internal electrode body including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are wound or laminated via the separator so that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are not brought into direct contact with each other. At least a plurality of tabs for current collecting were provided to have a total cross-sectional area of the tabs be not less than a constant area in accordance with the quality of the material to be used for the tabs so that the tabs to be connected to each of the positive and negative electrodes may not respectively fuse when at least 100 A current has flown through the lithium secondary battery. The lithium secondary battery maintains a good charge-discharge cycle characteristics, and safety may be secured with electricity being cut off when an excess current has occurred due to external short circuit, etc., so that the battery may not be exploded nor be ignited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventor: KENSHIN KITOH
  • Patent number: 6338918
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Georges Caillon, Rémi Najean, Christian Pineau, Christian Dupuy, Jérôme Mazalrey, Jean-Yves Kerybin
  • Patent number: 6274274
    Abstract: A method of forming battery grids or plates that includes the step of mechanically reshaping or refinishing battery grid wires to improve adhesion between the battery paste and the grid wires. The method is particularly useful in improving the paste adhesion to battery grids formed by a continuous battery grid making process (such as strip expansion, strip stamping, continuous casting) that produces grid wires and nodes with smooth surfaces and a rectangular cross-section. In a preferred version of the method, the grid wires of battery grids produced by a stamping process are deformed such that the grid wires have a cross-section other than the rectangular cross-section produced by the stamping process. The method increases the cycle life of a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Schaeffer, Jeffrey L. Troxel, M. Eric Taylor, Wen-Hong Kao, Christian P. Hansen, Yu-Lin Chen, Dan J. Cantillon, Bart Sauer
  • Patent number: 6238819
    Abstract: A metal foam support, plus an electrode comprising same, as well as methods of making both, are disclosed, in which there is provided for both the support and the electrode a metal foam member with at least one stacked edge. The stacked edge has a plurality of layers to which a metal connection tab member can be secured. Such an electrode can serve as a negative electrode for a secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Stork, N.V.
    Inventors: Michael F. Cahill, Greg S. Shaw
  • Patent number: 6228537
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an electrode grid for lead batteries with a rectangular grid frame, pasting accessory rails arranged on it, and a group of grid cross members which form the skeleton to hold the active mass, the pasting accessory rails extending on both sides of the electrode grid solely in the pasting direction and, especially on the front and back side of the electrode grid, are arranged offset from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: VB Autobatterie GmbH
    Inventors: Gerolf Richter, Joachim Illmann, Peter Streuer
  • Patent number: 6110622
    Abstract: A current collector in the form of a conductive substrate subjected to a special chemical etch on both major surfaces to provide a "basket weave" structure, is described. The basket weave structures has a lattice construction surrounded by a frame and comprising first strand structures intersecting second strand structures to provide a plurality of diamond-shaped openings or interstices bordered by the strands. The strand structures intersect or join with each other at junctions thereby forming the current collector as an integral unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Christine A. Frysz, Dominick J. Frustaci, Joseph M. Probst, William C. Thiebolt, III, William M. Paulot
  • Patent number: 6096455
    Abstract: A plate-like current collector and the method of producing the same, said collector comprising a metal foil having a plurality of bowl-like projections, each projection projecting downwardly from the front side thereof to the reverse side thereof and having a penetrated hole in the center of the projection, a turning peripheral portion of the central penetrated hole formed to curve upwardly to a level positioning beneath the front side of the metal foil, wherein the penetrated hole may be enlarged or contracted using the elastic deformation of the turning peripheral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignees: Nippon Seihaku Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippaku Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Satake, Koichi Ashizawa, Kazuo Tahara
  • Patent number: 6087045
    Abstract: A primer material for use with an electrode. The primer includes a fluid medium and electrochemically inert particulate having a dimensional thickness greater than the dimensional thickness of the fluid medium after the fluid medium is at least partially dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Denis G. Fauteux, Michael McLin
  • Patent number: 5989741
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell system including an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a membrane and electrode structure. This structure has an anode surface with a plurality of anodes in a side-by-side arrangement exposed to the anode compartment and a cathode surface with a plurality of cathodes in a side-by-side arrangement exposed to the cathode compartment. The anodes and cathodes are separated by a layer of ion exchange polymer and register with each other so that opposing pairs of anodes and cathodes form cells. The membrane and electrode structure further includes a plurality of current collector screens. The current collector screens have an anode contact area in contact with the anode, a cathode contact area in contact with the cathode and a feed through area extending between cells and crossing from the anode contact area to the cathode contact area to connect the anode and cathode of adjacent cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: David P. Bloomfield, Shoibal Banerjee, Olga Y. Polevaya, James J. Ferris
  • Patent number: 5981107
    Abstract: To obtain a lithium ion secondary battery having excellent charge and discharge characteristics in which electric connection between active material layers and a separator can be maintained without requiring a strong armor metal case, so that it can be made into thin forms having large energy density. Convex parts and concave parts are formed on at least two surfaces among surfaces of a positive electrode active material layer 7 and a negative electrode active material layer 9 both adjacent to a separator 4 and surfaces of the separator 4 facing both of the active material layers 7, 9, and these three means are bonded and closely adhered by an adhesive resin layer 11 and electrically connected by keeping a lithium ion-containing electrolytic solution in the separator 4 and voids 12 formed by a bonded surface 11a of the convex parts and the concave parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Hamano, Hisashi Shiota, Shou Shiraga, Shigeru Aihara, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 5766798
    Abstract: A prismatic galvanic cell having a large number of electrode pairs separated by separators is provided with electrode plates having current tapping lugs which extend from upper or lateral edges of the plates, and which include flexible tongues extending along and parallel to the plate edges. The flexible tongues of grouped electrode plates of the same polarity are connected to the terminal posts of the cell in a manner which precludes short circuiting and which accommodates the increased bending stresses typical of such cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Varta Batterie Atkiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dieter Bechtold, Klaus Brandt, Dietrich Bartke, Jorg Kumpers, Frank Mengel, Jurgen Vollbert