Rubber Or Thermoplastic Resin Patents (Class 429/254)
  • Publication number: 20030049539
    Abstract: An alkaline cell or battery having at least one positive and one negative electrode which are separated by a separator and which are disposed, along with an alkaline electrolyte, in a housing, the separator being a non-woven fabric, a microporous foil, or a web made of one or a plurality of polymers, which are formed by copolymerization or grafting through reactive extrusion, and which have functional groups in the molecule or form them in the alkaline electrolyte, the functional groups being active as Lewis acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Wolffried Wenneis, Harald Hoffmann, Birgit Severich, Hartwig Hocker, Helmut Keul
  • Patent number: 6527955
    Abstract: A novel microporous membrane comprising a hot-melt adhesive and an engineering plastics, the methods of preparing such microporous membrane and the uses of the microporous membrane in, e.g., batteries, super capacitors, fuel cells, sensors, electrochromic devices or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Policell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Luying Sun
  • Patent number: 6528205
    Abstract: A separator for sealed cells is provided which attains a high degree of intimate contact with electrode plates, enables the cell to have reduced internal resistance, is less apt to suffer a fatigue phenomenon even upon repetitions of charge/discharge, and improves the life of the cell. Fine rubber particles are adhered to the surface of fibers of a non-woven fabric constituting the separator so that the fine rubber particles are present among the fibers. These fine rubber particles function as elastic bodies to absorb relative positional changes of the fibers and improve the compressive repulsion of the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignees: Yuasa Corporation, Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Kishimoto, Toshio Kitami, Masaaki Sasaki, Tsuyoshi Kameda, Makoto Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20030031924
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high crystalline polypropylene microporous membrane and a preparation method of the same, and it provides a preparation method of a polypropylene microporous membrane comprising the steps of preparing a precursor film using high crystalline polypropylene having a crystallinity of 50% or more and a very high isotacticity, annealing, stretching at a low temperature, stretching at a high temperature, and heat setting, and a polypropylene microporous membrane having superior permeability and mechanical properties prepared by the preparation method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Sang-Young Lee, Byeong-In Ahn, Sung-Gap Im, Soon-Yong Park, Heon-Sik Song, You-Jin Kyung
  • Publication number: 20030017386
    Abstract: A separator, used for a lithium ion secondary battery that produces electromotive force by lithium doping/dedoping, which is composed of a porous film comprising an organic polymer (component A) which can swell in an electrolyte solution to retain it, surrounding a nonwoven fabric which cannot swell in the electrolyte solution, the porous film including an electrolyte solution non-swelling organic polymer with a melting point of 210° C. or above (component B) and an electrolyte solution non-swelling organic polymer with a melting point of 180° C. or below (component C), wherein component B is incorporated in the fiber composing the nonwoven fabric. The separator is highly safe and exhibits low reduction mechanical properties with respect to organic solvents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Takahiro Daido, Satoshi Igarashi, Satoshi Nishikawa, Hiroyuki Honmoto, Hiroyoshi Minematsu
  • Publication number: 20030017400
    Abstract: Non-woven fabrics are disclosed comprising substantially unbonded fibers and vinyl monomers which are capable of reacting with an acid or a base to form a salt directly or indirectly by a reaction involving exposure to ultraviolet radiation while impregnated with a solution of the vinyl monomer copolymerized to the surface of the fibers. Laminates of these non-woven fabrics as well as electrochemical devices employing them as a separator, and methods of treating such non-woven fabrics are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: ROBERT HAMILTON MCLOUGHLIN, GIOVANNI GENTILCORE, JOHN ANTHONY COOK
  • Publication number: 20030017393
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery contains an electrode body obtained by winding a positive electrode and a negative electrode via a separator, a non-aqueous electrolytic solution, and a battery case accommodating the electrode body and the non-aqueous electrolytic solution. A lid and a metal foil are adhered to each other with a resin to form a pressure-releasing valve and make air-tight the inside of the battery case. This secondary battery is easy to produce and has excellent operational safety and excellent reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nemoto, Shinji Ohtubo, Toshihiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6509118
    Abstract: A valve-regulated lead-acid cell utilizes an absorptive glass mat separator having a glass fiber surface which is modified by treatment with at least one particular polymer, as by treatment with a polymer emulsion to coat at least part of the glass fiber surface and then sintering to dry the coating, the polymers including polyolefins, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylchlorides, polyacrylonitriles, polyesters, amphiphilic block and graft copolymers, hydrophilic and amphiphilic nitrogen-containing polymers and polyorgano-silica compounds such as polysilanes and polysiloxanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventors: Detchko Pavlov, Stefan Ivanov Ruevski, Veselin Bozhidarov Naidenov, Vera Vladimirova Mircheva, Galia Angelova Petkova, Mitko Kolev Dimitrov, Temelaki Vasilev Rogachev, Mariana Hristova Cherneva-Vasileva
  • Publication number: 20030013012
    Abstract: A watermarking method converts a watermark message (108) into a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) signal (305) and embeds the FSK signal in a host signal (308). The spectral properties of the FSK watermark signal facilitate its detection (110), even in applications where the watermarked signal is corrupted. Because of these properties, the FSK watermark signal can perform the dual function of identifying the watermark's presence and orientation (406) in potentially corrupted media, and also conveying a hidden message in the host signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Soon-Ho Ahn, Hyang-Mok Lee, Seung-Jin Lee, Tae-Hyung Kim, Hyung-Keun Lee
  • Patent number: 6506521
    Abstract: A battery element of a lead acid battery including a negative plate, a positive plate and a separator having a metal inhibiting additive that reduces the detrimental effects of at least one impurity on the negative plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Ensci Inc
    Inventors: Thomas J. Clough, Frank X. McGaruey
  • Publication number: 20030008206
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithium secondary cell and a method of fabricating the same. The lithium secondary cell; a plurality of cathode plates having a desired size and adhered on one surface of the separator film while being uniformly spaced apart from one another; a plurality of anode plates having a desired size and adhered on the other surface of the separator film at spaced positions corresponding to the cathode plates; and the separator film attached with the anode plates and the cathode plates being repeatedly folded such that the anode plates and the cathode plates are arranged in an alternating fashion. Thus, the lithium secondary cell has improved performance and particularly safety by preventing a firing caused by high current and excessive voltage charged, while having various shapes and sizes, and a desired capacity and achieving a simplified fabrication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Ji Jun Hong
  • Publication number: 20030008214
    Abstract: A binderless glass fiber mat suitable for use as a separator for valve regulated (“recombinant”) lead acid (“VRLA”) batteries is disclosed. The separator is produced by a dry process by collecting the fibers from fiberizing apparatus, without subjecting them to a wet paper making or other post forming process, and selecting portions of the collected fibers which are sufficiently uniform in thickness and grammage for use as battery separators. The fibers can be entwined to produce a superior separator material. Additives can be introduced during the collection process to enhance the properties of the separator. A battery comprises at least one stack of alternating positive and negative plates, with the separator between adjacent plates. Separators according to the invention are significantly more resilient and have longer fibers than otherwise identical separators made from different samples of the same glass fibers, but by a conventional wet paper making process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: George C. Zguris
  • Publication number: 20030003368
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte is formed by curing a composition prepared by mixing a polymer of compounds of polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylates and/or multi-functional ethyleneoxides; one selected from a vinylacetate monomer, a (meth)acryalte monomer, and a mixture of a vinylacetate monomer and a (meth)acrylate monomer; and an electrolytic solution containing a lithium salt and an organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Kyoung-hee Lee, Ki-ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20020192561
    Abstract: A porous separator for a winding-type lithium secondary battery having a gel-type polymer electrolyte includes a matrix made of polyvinyl chloride, or a matrix made of mixtures of polyvinylchloride and at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidenefluoride, a vinylidenefluoride/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, polymethacrylate, polyacrylonitrileand polyethyleneoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Hyeong-gon Noh
  • Publication number: 20020187400
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the separator for batteries wherein the non-woven cloth comprising fibers mainly composed of polyolefin type resin is provided with hydrophilic property on the fiber surface at least by sulfuric compound and characterized as follows:
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventor: Isao Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20020187372
    Abstract: An electrochemical battery includes at least two electrically interconnected electrochemical cells. Each electrochemical cell has an anode including carbon, and a cathode including a modified lithium metal oxide including at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of nickel, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and combinations thereof. A Schottky diode is connected between the anode and the cathode. The battery is balanced by fully discharging it to a fully discharged state, and then operated in cycles of charging and discharging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: John C. Hall, Anna M. Lackner
  • Publication number: 20020182489
    Abstract: A rechargeable, alkaline, zinc-based battery containing a stack of hydrogen permeable cellulose-based films, each one optionally containing a dispersion of metal salts. A film may contain copper salt that reacts with cellulose to prevent zinc dispersion. A second film may contain fluoride salts that react with silver ions to prevent silver plating. A third optional film contains sulfide salts that react with copper ions to form copper sulfide salts to lower copper ion concentration in the electrolyte. The stack may also contain at least one hydrogen-permeable regenerated cellulose film and at least one hydrogen permeable hydrocarbon film such as polypropylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Cheiky, Wilson Hago
  • Publication number: 20020177046
    Abstract: In an alkaline secondary battery provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator to be interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte solution, the above-mentioned separator has double bond of carbon. Further, an average amount of double bond of carbon in the gram of separator is in the range of 10 &mgr;mol/g to 200 &mgr;mol/g, and an average amount of increased nitrogen in the gram of separator after the separator is immersed in an alkaline aqueous solution having ammonium salt dissolved therein is not less than 140 &mgr;g/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Harada, Tadayoshi Tanaka, Katsuhiko Shinyama, Toshiyuki Nohma, Ikuo Yonezu
  • Publication number: 20020168567
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an active element having an anode including carbon, a cathode including a metal oxide, a separator between the anode and the cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode. The anode, cathode, and separator are preferably in planar form rolled into a spiral. There is a sealed housing having an interior in which the active element is received, and a gas filling a gas space of the sealed housing. The gas has from about 10 to about 100 percent by volume of the conductive gas hydrogen, helium, and/or neon, or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventor: John C. Hall
  • Publication number: 20020160268
    Abstract: A porous film having high strength, homogeneous porous structure, and excellent affinity for electrolytic solutions and suitable for use as a separator for batteries and capacitors; a process for producing the film; and a battery and capacitor each employing the porous film as a separator. The porous film comprises a resin composition including from 70 to 99.9% by weight of an high molecular weight polyolefin resin and from 0.1 to 30% by weight of a polymer having a polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, poly (ethylene oxide), poly (propylene oxide), poly(ethylene propylene oxide), polyphosphazene, poly(vinyl ether) or polysiloxane structure as or in a main chain and having a chain oligo (alkylene oxide) structure in side chains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mutsuko Yamaguchi, Yutaka Yamamura, Shunsuke Noumi, Seiji Nakamura, Masato Tabuchi
  • Publication number: 20020160260
    Abstract: A battery including a separator having a satisfactory ammonia trapping property is speculated to exhibit a less self-discharge and a higher capacity-holding rate. The ammonia trapping property is speculated to be increased with an increasing degree of sulfonation of a constitutive polyolefin fiber. However, a highly sulfonated conventional polyolefin has a deteriorated fiber strength and highly sulfonated portions thereof are peeled or eliminated, and the resulting fiber cannot have a significantly high degree of sulfonation. The invention is therefore intended to provide a separator having an improved ammonia trapping property. The invented separator includes a polyolefin resin fiber having large amounts of introduced sulfonic groups. Specifically, the separator is one containing a fiber obtained by sulfonating a polyolefin resin fiber having an intrinsic viscosity number of 0.2 to 1.0 dl/g, one including a fiber obtained by sulfonating a polyolefin resin fiber and having a BET specific surface area of 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Hiroki Yamaguchi, Naohiko Takimoto, Masahiro Yamashita, Shiro Hamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020155347
    Abstract: A battery including a separator having a satisfactory ammonia trapping property is speculated to exhibit a less self-discharge and a higher capacity-holding rate. The ammonia trapping property is speculated to be increased with an increasing degree of sulfonation of a constitutive polyolefin fiber. However, a highly sulfonated conventional polyolefin has a deteriorated fiber strength and highly sulfonated portions thereof are peeled or eliminated, and the resulting fiber cannot have a significantly high degree of sulfonation. The invention is therefore intended to provide a separator having an improved ammonia trapping property. The invented separator includes a polyolefin resin fiber having large amounts of introduced sulfonic groups. Specifically, the separator is one containing a fiber obtained by sulfonating a polyolefin resin fiber having an intrinsic viscosity number of 0.2 to 1.0 dl/g, one including a fiber obtained by sulfonating a polyolefin resin fiber and having a BET specific surface area of 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Hiroki Yamaguchi, Naohiko Takimoto, Masahiro Yamashita, Shiro Hamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020146626
    Abstract: A battery comprising a positive electrode (10), a negative electrode (20) and a separator (31) provided interposed between the positive electrode (10) and the negative electrode (20), characterized in that at least one surface of said separator (31) is bonded to said positive electrode (10) or negative electrode (20) via a porous resin layer (41, 33) containing a solid filler. This battery can provide a battery which exhibits a high energy density and an excellent cycle life performance even if the electricity-storing element is received in a flexible material case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Shigeo Komatsu, Yasushi Harada
  • Patent number: 6461772
    Abstract: A battery diaphragm having superior chemical resistance, low resistance, superior ion selective permeability and high mechanical strength is provided. The battery diaphragm is formed of a composite film including a complex of a porous base substrate (A) with a crosslinked polymer (B1) containing repeated units of a vinyl heterocyclic compound having at least two hydrophilic groups. Alternatively, the battery diaphragm is formed of a composite film including a complex of a porous base substrate (A) with a crosslinked polymer (B2) containing repeated units of a vinyl compound each having a functional group, and thereafter decomposing part of the functional groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Shinichi Miyake, Nobuyuki Tokuda
  • Patent number: 6461724
    Abstract: Microporous material comprising a polypropylene polymer having at least 20 percent crystallinity; and a compatible, amorphous, glassy polymer, wherein said polymers are miscible in a compound when heated above the melting temperature of the polypropylene polymer and wherein a polypropylene polymer phase separates from the compound when cooled below the crystallization temperature of the polypropylene polymer. Microporous material is made by a thermally induced phase separation process using a compound such as mineral oil to form one phase containing both polymers. The pores of the microporous material resist collapse during processing. Membranes made of this material are useful as battery separators having a good combination of strength, porosity, and ionic resistance when imbibed with an electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Philip D. Radovanovic, Mario A. Perez, Scott D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6461755
    Abstract: The present invention provides: an electroconductive resin composition comprising: (A) a liquid crystal polyester resin capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase, in an amount of 100 parts by weight, (B) a carbodiimide compound in an amount of 0.01 to 30 parts by weight, (C) an electroconductive carbon powder in an amount of 50 to 3,000 parts by weight, and (D) a filler in an amount of 0 to 10,000 parts by weight; a fuel cell separator made of the above electroconductive resin composition; a process for producing the above fuel cell separator; and a solid polymer type fuel cell using the above fuel cell separator. The electroconductive resin composition alleviates the problems of the prior art, can be mass-produced, and is superior in high temperature resistance and hydrolysis resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Saito, Atsushi Hagiwara, Fumio Tanno, Yasuo Imashiro, Naofumi Horie, Tsutomu Uehara
  • Publication number: 20020142214
    Abstract: A multi-layer electrode assembly for use in lithium-ion electrochemical cells includes a microporous polymer web, portions of which are coated with a gel-forming polymer material and an adhesive resin material. The presence of the gel-forming polymer material reduces the amount of time required to achieve uniform electrolyte distribution throughout the lithium-ion battery, and the presence of the adhesive resin material promotes adhesion of the separator layer to the anode and cathode layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Richard W. Pekala, Mehrgan Khavari
  • Patent number: 6458491
    Abstract: The invention provides a separator for an energy cell which includes a compressible web made from a blend of elastomeric material and cross-linking agent, the elastomeric material being selected from natural rubber and a mixture of natural rubber and synthetic rubber. The blend is expanded, cast and cured to form a web containing micropores so that the resulting web comprises an open cell structure having a thickness ranging from about 40 to about 150 mils, an alcohol porosity of from about 45 to about 90% and a compressibility of at least about 20%. Lead-acid battery cells containing the separators have the advantage of significantly improved life as a result of the improved strength and resiliency of the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Microporous Products, LP
    Inventors: Robert A. Wimberly, Michael E. Gilchrist
  • Patent number: 6447958
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery separator comprising a heat-resistant nitrogen-containing aromatic polymer and a ceramic powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shinohara, Yoshifumi Tsujimoto, Tsuyoshi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20020122987
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium polymer secondary battery having at least a basic battery cell including a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a polymer electrolyte in an outer can, wherein the battery has a suitable structure to use the polymer electrolyte polymerized in the battery and has excellent cycle characteristics. One of the electrodes is U-shaped and the other electrode is inserted in the U-shaped electrode. The polymer electrolyte includes a polymer containing a polyalkylene oxide structure and a solvent and is polymerized in the battery. The thickness of the battery is not greater than 2 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Noriyuki Tamura, Maruo Kamino, Shin Fujitani
  • Patent number: 6444356
    Abstract: A secondary battery separator comprises a fibrous core coated with a polymer having improved electrode adhesion properties in unitary laminated construction. Vacuum removal of plasticizer without solvent extraction prevents brittleness and results in microporosity in a thin layer of enhanced ion conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventors: Jackson C. Ma, El-Sayed Megahed, Timothy J. Stachoviak, Shirley A. Craanen, Daniel A. Schneider, Joseph P. Nestler
  • Patent number: 6444355
    Abstract: A lithium ion battery comprising a positive electrode 1, a negative electrode 4 and a separator 7 for retaining an electrolyte, characterized in that as an adhesive 8 for bonding said positive electrode 1 to said separator 7 and said negative electrode 4 to said separator 7 there is used a thermosetting adhesive comprising a mixture of at least one organic vinyl compound containing two or more vinyl groups per molecule, a reaction catalyst and a volatile organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Kouji Hamano, Hisashi Shiota, Shigeru Aihara, Syo Shiraga
  • Patent number: 6444367
    Abstract: A battery separator material comprising a nonwoven web of a wettable fiber matrix, wherein the wettable fiber matrix are thermoplastic polymeric fibers blended with at least one. hydrophilic melt additive. In alternate embodiments, the nonwoven web further includes binder fibers which may be wettable or non-wettable or combinations of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Mount Holly Springs, LLC
    Inventors: Larry L. Kinn, Ashish Mathur, Gregory Neil Henning, Timothy L. Ritter
  • Publication number: 20020117394
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a separator which is excellent in sticking and adhesion capability with the solid electrolyte, physically strong and highly heat-resistive and to provide a solid electrolyte condenser which is excellent in the impedance characteristic and leak current characteristic. In a solid electrolyte condenser comprising an anode foil, a cathode foil, a separator, the separator is made of a nonwoven fabric containing polyester resin or its derivative manufactured by the wet method. The condenser element is formed by rolling the anode foil and the cathode foil together with the separator between them. The solid electrolyte is provided between the anode foil and the cathode foil of the condenser element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Munehiro Morokuma, Yukihiro Nitta, Taiji Mizobuchi, Teruyuki Jinzenji, Masaaki Yanase
  • Patent number: 6440611
    Abstract: A battery separator, for placement between conductive plates within a battery, includes a non-woven fiber mat made up of one or more nonwoven fibers, which have a specific cross-sectional shape and exhibit a microcapillary action. The fibers are preferred to be made of a thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, fluoropolymers, polyimides, polysulfones, polyesters, polyamides, and mixtures thereof Each of the fibers includes an outer surface, a hollow internal cavity, and an extended slot. The hollow internal cavity communicates with the outer surface by way of the extended slot. Capillary forces within the fibers are greater than those on the fiber surface, such that a liquid electrolyte readily moves through the interior of the fiber via a wicking action. As a result, the battery separator tends to direct fluid to adjacent battery plates even when an electrolyte level, within the battery, drops below the tops of the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth O. MacFadden, Gordon W. Jones, Lixin L. Xue, Ronald P. Rohrbach, Daniel E. Bause, Peter D. Unger, Gary B. Zulauf
  • Patent number: 6423445
    Abstract: An alkaline battery separator comprising a gas-permeable sheet which contains a hydrophilic portion carrying a methacrylic/ethylene copolymer component having a crystallinity of 25% or more on at least a part of a surface of said hydrophilic portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Vilene Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Kato, Kazuya Sato, Masanao Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20020086191
    Abstract: A battery cell 10 is attached in an apparatus loaded in a revolving body etc., such that the negative electrode 2 side of the battery cell 10 is oriented, within a prescribed angular range, in the direction in which centrifugal force acts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Sano, Fumio Daio, Daisuke yoshida
  • Patent number: 6410189
    Abstract: This invention provides a polymer rechargeable battery, which is obtained by integrally holding a separator, which comprises a polymer and a plasticizer, between positive and negative electrodes and then replacing the plasticizer with an electrolyte solution. The positive and negative electrodes are provided with current collectors obtained by etching metal-foil base materials, respectively. This invention also provides such current collectors. The polymer rechargeable battery according to this invention is excellent in impedance characteristic, load characteristic and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Tokai Aluminum Fiol Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Yamada, Toshiaki Watanabe, Shuhel Kubota, Shizuo Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20020076615
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a thin battery separator having an excellent nitrate group trapping performance and a high piercing strength. The inventive separator for a secondary battery, which can accomplish such an object, is made of a resin composition mainly containing a polyolefin having a hydrophilic functional group, wherein the resin composition has a content (ratio to a total resin amount) of a low-density polyethylene of 20 mass % or less, a piercing strength of 5 to 100 N, a Metsuke of 20 to 75 g/m2, a thickness of 15 to 150 &mgr;m, and an unneutralized hydrophilic functional group amount of 1×10−3 to 5×10−2 mol/m2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Hiroki Yamaguchi, Naohiko Takimoto, Masahiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6403265
    Abstract: A battery including a separator having a satisfactory ammonia trapping property is speculated to exhibit a less self-discharge and a higher capacity-holding rate. The ammonia trapping property is speculated to be increased with an increasing degree of sulfonation of a constitutive polyolefin fiber. However, a highly sulfonated conventional polyolefin has a deteriorated fiber strength and highly sulfonated portions thereof are peeled or eliminated, and the resulting fiber cannot have a significantly high degree of sulfonation. The invention is therefore intended to provide a separator having an improved ammonia trapping property. The invented separator includes a polyolefin resin fiber having large amounts of introduced sulfonic groups. Specifically, the separator is one containing a fiber obtained by sulfonating a polyolefin resin fiber having an intrinsic viscosity number of 0.2 to 1.0 dl/g, one including a fiber obtained by sulfonating a polyolefin resin fiber and having a BET specific surface area of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Hiroki Yamaguchi, Naohiko Takimoto, Masahiro Yamashita, Shiro Hamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020045091
    Abstract: A heat-resistant separator composed of a non-woven fabric of high-melting resin, 1 to 20 &mgr;m in average fiber diameter, 5 to 300 g/m2 in basis weight, 1 to 200 cc/cm2/sec in air permeability, and 0.01 to 1.0 mm in thickness, or a laminated heat-resistant separator composed of a laminate having a melt-blown, non-woven fabric layer of high-melting resin, 1 to 20 &mgr;m in average fiber diameter, 5 to 300 g/m2 in basis weight, 1 to 200 cc/cm2/sec in air permeability, and 0.01 to 1.0 mm in thickness is more resistant to heat, and hence safer, and is suitable for batteries and electrical double-layer capacitors serviceable at high temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kamei, Masaki Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20020034689
    Abstract: Provided is a porous film obtained by melt-kneading a high-molecular-weight polyolefin having a weight-average molecular weight of not less than 5×105, a thermoplastic resin having a weight-average molecular weight of not more than 2×104 and fine particles, molding the kneaded matter into a sheet, and then stretching the sheet. The porous film can be easily and simply prepared, and has a high piercing strength, and hence can be advantageously used as a separator for a battery, particularly for a lithium secondary battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Daijiro Hoshida, Tsutomu Takahashi, Takeshi Yamada, Yasuo Shinohara
  • Patent number: 6355375
    Abstract: An alkaline battery separator comprising a nonwoven fabric containing one or more mixture layers of entangled short fibers and entangled long fibers, wherein a fiber length of the short fibers is from 1 mm to less than 25 mm, a fiber length of the long fibers is 25 mm or more, and a total thickness of all of the mixture layers accounts for not less than one-third of a whole thickness of the nonwoven fabric is disclosed. The alkaline battery separator according to the present invention exhibits an excellent electrolyte-holding capacity, tensile strength, tear strength and bending resistance, and can be used to stably prepare a battery. Electrode flash rarely penetrate the separator, to thereby cause a short circuit between electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Vilene Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanao Tanaka, Nobutoshi Tokutake
  • Publication number: 20020025472
    Abstract: An alkaline storage battery having excellent self-discharge characteristics even after a number of charge-discharge cycles is provided. The alkaline storage battery is provided with a case and an electrode group enclosed in the case, and a separator that is included in the electrode group retains at least 15 mg/cm2 of an electrolyte at least in a period after assembling the battery, from the time the separator is impregnated with the electrolyte to the time the battery is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Katsunori Komori, Naoto Sato, Akihiro Taniguchi, Munehisa Ikoma, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Takashi Ito
  • Patent number: 6350541
    Abstract: A battery element of a lead acid battery including a negative plate, a positive and a separator having a metal inhibiting additive that reduces the detrimental effects of at least one impurity on the negative plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Ensci Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Clough
  • Publication number: 20020018930
    Abstract: To obtain a lithium ion secondary battery having excellent charge and discharge characteristics in which electric connection between electrodes can be maintained without requiring a strong armor metal case, so that it can be made into thin forms having large energy density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouji Hamano, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Hisashi Shiota, Shou Shiraga, Shigeru Aihara, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka
  • Publication number: 20020015893
    Abstract: A lithium battery including an electrode assembly having a cathode, and anode and a seperator interposed between the cathode and the anode, a gel-state electrolyte solution having a crosslinking product of prepolymer for forming epoxy resin and amine, a lithium salt and an organic solvent, and a case accommodating the electrode assembly and the electrolyte solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventor: Hyung-gon Noh
  • Patent number: 6342320
    Abstract: A laminate structure or precursor paste thereof characterized by being formed from a composition comprising a polymeric material and a plasticizer. The plasticizer being at least one compound represented by the following general formula where R is a low alkyl selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, butyl, pentyl and hexyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Valence Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peikang Liu, Porter Mitchell, Jeffrey Swoyer, Jeremy Barker
  • Publication number: 20020009648
    Abstract: A fuel cell battery is described which has a liquid cooling. The fuel cell battery has a primary cooling circuit and a secondary cooling circuit with a heat exchanger connected between them. The heat exchanger is structurally integrated into the battery, so that the length of the primary cooling circuit is minimized and the primary cooling circuit requires no external lines, i.e. lines that lead out of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Peter Buchner, Rittmar Von Helmolt
  • Publication number: 20020009651
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel electrolyte solvent which is usable with a variety of carbonaceous and metal oxide electrode active materials, providing improved performance over a broad temperature range, and which is stabilized to maintain cell capacity over a number of cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: JEREMY BARKER, FENG GAO, ARNOLD STUX