Battery has a thin-walled polypropylene casing fitting tightly within an outer metal housing, with part of the casing interior being insulated from the housing. The insulation pref. comprises polypropylene webs extending from the casing surface or rectangular walls extending integrally from the casing. Insulation is pref. on the base of the casing and provides improved in sulation while maintaining the light weight and structural integrity of the casing. The housing is e.g. of aluminium.
A stable Pb dioxide coated insoluble anode is produced by (a) covering a graphite substrate with a non-conductive tight fitting inert cloth; (b) electrodepositing a hard, dense Pb dioxide layer on the substrate from an electrolyte in which the Pb level is held at &gt;40 g/l until the mesh is completely coated. The inert material is selected from polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene "Teflon" (RTM) and PVC and is pref. a nonwoven polyester felt. Anode is much better protected against deterioration.
Battery casing is made of copolymer type opaque polypropylene contg. small amount of polyethylene, and includes a thin portion near the upper end. Thickness ratio of the wall thickness of the casing to the thin portion is 5:4 to 4:1.
The method comprises (1) immersing an electrode lattice in a dispersion of 2 to 30 wt.% fluorocarbon resin to impregnate the resin into the lattice and (2) coating an activator paste on the lattice. The fluorocarbon resin bonds the paste to the lattice firmly. The dispersion impregnates the resin effectively in the lattice. The electrode has an improved discharge property.
The mouldings are made from two different materials; and the machine has a bed supporting a fixed plate on which is an injection moulding press. The plate is fixed via four tie rods to a die closing device which drives a mobile plate along the tie rods. Two die halves are mounted on the plates. Between the two die halves is a die block which can be rotated when the dies are closed; and the mobile plate moves synchronously with a second injection moulding press used to provide one of the materials being moulded. A core rod is also provided.
Membrane for alkaline batteries comprises a sheet &lt;0.254 mm thck made from a homogeneous mixt. of 30-70 wt.% of a synthetic polyolefin pulp, 15-65 wt.% of an inorganic alkali-resistant filler, 1-35 wt.% long synthetic fibres 6.4 mm long and 0.02-1 wt.% of an ionic material. The membrane sheets can be made using conventional paper making machines and have a tensile strength of 14.06 Kg/cm2 in the machine direction. They are sufficiently flexible to be formed round the electrode of alkaline batteries. The membranes give improved battery efficiency and provide a reservoir of electrolyte which can be uniformly distributed over the electrode surface, thus giving uniform current density.
Ebonite mixt. comprises (in pts. wt.): synthetic rubber 100, silicic acid gel (contg. 71-77% moisture) 200-225, S 35-45, vulcanisation accelerator 3.7-4.5, hydrolysed lignin 30-40 and (NH4)2SO4 10-20. Inclusion of the latter two components improves the insulation and physical and mechanical stability of the prod. on storage.
Polyamide has mol. wt. 5000-30000. The heterocyclic diamine is e.g. of formula (I). The aliphatic dibasic acid is e.g. HOOC-(CH2)3-COOH, or HOOC-(CH2)5C(C2H5) H(CH2)10COOH. In a conventional alkaline cell e.g. silver oxide, Hg, Mn, or a Ni-Cd cells, an alkaline electrolytic soln. e.g. a caustic soda potash is used. Electrolyte leakage is eliminated by using the sealing agent.
An optically chargeable silver-halogen battery comprises a transparent or semi-transparent electrically conductive layer, a silver halide layer, a thin film of polyacetylene or polythiazyl, and an electrically conductive layer. It is possible to increase capacity of an optically chargeable Ag-halogen battery. In an embodiment, a transparent conductive layer of tin oxide and indium oxide is formed on a glass substrate by sputtering. A AgBr layer of 2 mu thickness is formed on the transparent conductive layer by vacuum deposition. A polythiazyl single crystal layer of 5 mu thickness is deposited on the AgBr layer by vacuum sublimation. A Au layer of 0.5 mu thickness is formed on the polythiazyl layer by vacuum deposition. The transparent electrically conductive layer of the battery is irradiated with light emitted from a 100-watt Hg discharge lamp for 30 minutes. This battery has an open-circuit voltage of 0.92 volt and a short-circuit current of 100 mA.
A solid electrolyte battery uses metallic Mg as anode active material, metallic Li as an anode current collector, and a charge transfer complex of iodine and an organic heterocyclic cpd. as cathode active material. Internal short-circuiting during storage of the battery is avoided. Suitably, a cathode container consists of stainless steel contg. 30 wt.% Cr and 2 wt.% Mo. An anode container consists of stainless steel. An anode current collector of metallic Li and an anode active material of metallic Mg are placed on the inner surface of the anode container. A cathode consists of 5 pts. wt. of charge transfer complex of 1-n-butyl pyridinium and iodine, and 1 pt. wt. of a silica gel. A packing of fluoro-resin is interposed between the cathode container and the anode current collector. A solid electrolyte of MgI2 is formed between the anode and the cathode. This coin-shaped battery has an emf.
A non-aq. electrolyte battery comprises an anode of light metal e.g. Li or Na, a non-aq. electrolyte, and a cathode contg. as active material, a cpd. produced by firing a mixt. of iron sulphide and cuprous oxide. The battery has the improved discharge capacity and a discharge voltage of 1.25 volts. It can be used in place of a Hg battery. Suitably, 80 g of FeS and 90 g of CuO are sufficiently mixed and heat-treated at 500 degrees C in vacuum for 5 hours to produce cpd. masses. These are crushed into active material powder which is mixed with graphite and fluororesin powder, compacted and heat-treated at 300 degrees C in vacuum to fabricate a cathode. An anode is fabricated by punching a Li sheet. A separator of non-woven fabric of polypropylene is impregnated with a non-aq. electrolyte produced by dissolving LiClO4 in a mixed solvent of propylene carbonate and 1,2-dimethoxyethane.
A sealed alkaline storage battery comprises a pasted type anode having an active material mixt. contg. cadmium oxide and reduced Fe powder, a Ni cathode, an alkaline electrolyte and a separator between the anode and the cathode. The capacity of the anode to be charged exceeds that of the cathode. The Fe powder is pref. produced by reducing high-purity oxide e.g. Fe2O3, Fe3O4 or FeOOH. The rate of utilisation of anode active material is improved without precharging the battery. Suitably, Fe powder having a mean particle dia. 2 mu is produced by reducing &gt;99.9% pure FeOOH in an H2 atmos. 80 wt.% CdO, 9 wt.% Ni, 10 wt.% Fe powder and 1 wt.% PVA are mixed with ethylene glycol to produce paste which is coated on both sides of a perforated plate to make an anode.
In a sealed zinc alkaline battery, a porous layer, produced by graft polymerisation of carbon black and plastic monomers, is formed on the surface of a separator to be in contact with a cathode. Internal press. in a sealed zinc alkaline battery is suppressed because the porous layer absorbs hydrogen gas generated during self-discharging of zinc and overcharging. Also generation of dendrites of zinc during charging is prevented.
Alkaline zinc sec. battery has a zinc electrode comprising a zinc active material layer having a surface layer consisting of a mixt. of alkaline earth metal hydroxide and bismuth oxide. Mechanical strength of the surface layer is increased by prodn. of porous bodies of metallic bismuth on discharging. The rate of utilization of zinc active material is improved. Suitably, the zinc electrode comprises an anode current collector, a zinc active material layer and a mixt. surface layer. The latter is produced by mixing 10 pts. wt. of Ca(OH)2, 10 pts. wt. of Bi2O3, 10 pts. wt. PTFE dispersion and water and rolling the mixt. into a sheet. A separator is impregnated with an alkaline electrolyte and encloses the surface layer 3. A Ni cathode is disposed around the separator.
A metal sealing plate (6) for an alkaline battery has at the periphery an adhesive layer (7) composed of chlorosulphonated polyethylene and asphalt. The metal sealing plate is sealed in an insulating sealing member (8) through the adhesive layer (7).
Hydrophilic membrane (I) is prepd. by graft-polymerisation of (meth)acrylic acid monomer (II) with a film of olefin-vinyl acetate copolymer (III). (I) has improved mechanical strength and is produced inexpensively. It is used in battery and for electrodialysis. (I) is prepared by soaking a film of (III) in acrylic acid (meth)acrylic acid and irradiation of gamma-ray, electron beam or UV ray. The content of vinyl acetate in (III) should be 5-40 wt.%. The degree of graft polymerisation of (III) in (I) is 20-100 mol.% Ethylene or propylene is used as olefin.
Alkaline battery cathode plate mfr. comprises steps of (1) mixing active material mainly composed of CdO with e.g. water or organic solvent (e.g. ethylene glycol etc.) to form a paste or slurry, (2) coating the mixt. onto an electrode plate, (3) preliminary drying, (4) press-treating by a roller, etc. and then (5) final drying. Battery life and discharge properties are improved.
Gel-state cathode contg. 2 kinds of gelating agent is produced by (1) making viscous electrolyte by preliminarily dissolving 1st gelating agent in alkali soln., (2) mixing 2nd gelating agent with cathodic active material powder and then (3) mixing the viscous electrolyte with the mixt. (2) to give a gel-state cathode. Discharge properties in normal temp. and low temp. after storage are improved.
Alkaline battery comprises a separator composed of polyethylene or polypropylene finely-porous-film or nonwoven-cloth which is hydrophilised with 1 of nonionic surfactant selected from polyoxyethylenealkylether, polyoxyethylenealkylphenylether or polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene block polymer having HLB 1015. Closed-circuit voltage is high and internal resistance is reduced. Such nonionic surfactants were alkali resistant, acid-resistant (to high concn. alkaline electrolyte or to strongly-acidic anodic active material). Surfactants having HLB 10-15 gave good affinity between the polyethylene or polypropylene finely-porous-film or nonwoven-cloth and electrolyte liq. contg. high concn. alkali. When the HLB exceeded 15, it was hardly dissolved in alcohol or aceton, so that it was hardly penetrated to the porous film or nonwoven cloth.
Alkaline battery comprises a sealing part sealed with a hardened material composed of epoxy resin having ave. mol. wt. 450 and hardening agent. Liq. leakage resistance is remarkably improved since the material has good adhesion to both metal and packing material. In an example, epoxy resin (ave. mol. wt. 450) and polyamine (hardening agent) was mixed with give a hardened material. The epoxy resin was e.g. obtd. from epichlorhydrin and bisphenol in such reaction as formula (I). The polyamine was e.g. obtd. from reaction of linolic acid dimer or linolenic acid dimer and lower amine. The mixing ratio of the epoxy resin per the polyamide was pref. &lt;1.
Lead battery has separators consisting of at least one microporous layer of non woven fibres, the material being glass or plastics and the pores having dias, of 100-600 mu. As starter batteries, drive batteries, stationary or semi fixed, and as batteries for submarines. The use of the separators gives rise to reduced loss of water during operation.
Range spacer-provided H2SO4-accumulator battery separator partition prodn. comprises first prepg. a fibre material foil out of a mixt. of 3-40 wt.% cellulose fibres and 97-60 wt.% high-density polyethylene fibrils having surface at least 1 m2/g, the fibre mixt. contg. at least 0.1% homogeneously dispersed nonionic wetting agent. The foil is heated to or above polyethylene melting temp., without applied pressure, for a time sufficient to melt the fibrils. Filaments having dia. 0.2-3 mm, of low density polyethylene having melt index 0.3-10 (2-8), are applied to the foil as range spacers. The range spacers on foil are heated to 120-180 degrees C and pressed on foil with an unloaded roller passed over the range spacers, esp. at 25-250 g/cm carrier width. First heating can take place after filament application together with second heating step, pref. at 125-160 degrees C. The range spacer filaments can be microporous and can contain an inorganic filler.
The battery has positive and negative electrode plates of each cell sepd. by separators of electrolyte and gas permeable, compressible organic polymeric fibrous material, having an electrolyte absorption ratio 100%. When fully charged, the battery contains no free unabsorbed electrolyte. O2 gas recombination occurs in the battery at charge rates is not &gt; C/20. The separator is pref. blotting-paper-like material, made from polymeric fibres 0.01-10 mu dia., average dia. &lt;10 mu, having a ratio of wt. fibrous material (g/m2) to density of material from which fibres are made (g/cm3) 20. It pref. has a wicking height 5 cm., (i.e. electrolyte rises to 5 cm above surface of electrolyte in which a strip of separator material is dipped, when steady state conditions are reached. The battery is useful as e.g. an automotive starting, lighting and ignition battery. The separator gives good electrolyte distribution, resists penetration of Pb dendrites, conforms to electrode surfaces and provides a good degree of gas transmission capability. O2 recombination occurs at higher than conventional electrolyte levels, increasing active material utilisation.
Fabric is reinforced by immersing it in an impregnation soln. of a thermosetting polymer and a strongly polar solvent until it is satd. with the soln., removing from the soln. and blotting the fabric, treating it with a hot liq. extractant which is miscible with the solvent and immiscible with the polymer to ppte. the polymer inside the fabric pores and drying it with hot air, e.g. at 100 degrees C. The treated fabric has increased mechanical strength, nut the flow of gases through it and its wettability are unaffected by the treatment. It can be used as a separator in an alkaline storage battery, such as a Ni-Cd or Ni-H space battery.
Hydrophilic membrane consists of olefin-vinyl acetate copolymer film in which sulphone gp. is introduced. The rate of copolymerisation of vinyl acetate in the copolymer is 5-40 wt.% and the exchange equiv. of the membrane is 0.2-4 meq/g. The membrane can be produced very thinly with low cost, is mechanically strong, and can be used for not only electrolysis or electrodialysis, and in a galvanic cell.
Flat type battery comprises (1) electricity-generating elements sheathed with resin film and (2) cathode zinc sheet (in the electricity-generating elements) adhered onto internal surface of the sheath resin film with heat-adhesive film mainly composed of ionomer (ionised copolymer). Peeling-off of the sheath resin film from the cathode is decreased and gas generation is reduced.
Pb storage battery lattice comprises expansion-processed lattice provided on a laminated substrate composed of Pb or Pb alloy thin plate and a synthetic resin layer. Lattice is lightweight and mechanically strong. Good adhesion is achieved between the synthetic resin layer and the Pb or Pb alloy thin plate. Resin is e.g. ethylene (meth)acrylic acid copolymer or ethylene-ethylmethacrylate. In an example, the resin layer was laminated on Pb (or Pb alloy) thin plate, which was expanded and notched in a lattice form.
Separator is produced by (1) mixing inorganic fine powder + organic liq. + polyolefin resin in 7-42 vol.%, 30-85 vol.%, 6-63 vol.%, respectively; (2) melt-extruding the mixt. in sheet form; (3) cooling and solidifying the sheet; (4) forming a sheet with transversal rib by embossing the sheet between embossing rollers having 1 roller with transversal grooves; and (5) extracting at least either the organic liq. or the inorganic fine powder. Electric resistance is extremely low (0.00016-0.00035 ohms. 100 cm2/0.1 mm), acid resistance is 200 hrs. in JIS-C2311 test and mfg. processing is facilitated.
Polyamide has the aliphatic di-acid 10 C atoms. The acid is e.g. HOOC-(CH2)10-COOH or HOOC-(CH2)6-CH=CH2)6-COOH. The polyamide has good adhesion to the metal of the cathodic and anodic cans and to the packing material. Liq. leakage resistance is improved.
Alkaline battery comprises a sealing member sealed with a sealing agent composed of hardened material comprising both epi-bis type epoxy resin having average mol.wt. 450 and heterocyclic diamine hardener. Liquid leakage resistance is improved. In an example, the epi-bis type epoxy resin was made from epichlorhydrin and bisphenol of formula (I) and the average mol.wt. was pref. 450.    The heterocyclic diamine used as a hardener was e.g. of formula (II) which has better adhesion property to cathodic and anodic can and better packing property than that of conventional asphalt sealing. Using epoxy resin with average mol.wt. 450, the resin easily penetrated to fine uneven surface of the metal, so that the liquid leakage is effectively prevented.
A negative collector (7) comprises a stainless steel plate (8), a metal layer (9) contacting with a negative active material (6), and a surface layer (10) of Ni. The outer surface of the bent portion of the negative collector (7) is covered with a film (11) which contains both benzotriazole or its deriv. and polyoxyethylene fatty amine. A gasket (5) is bonded to the bent portion of the negative collector through a liq. packing (13), e.g. silicone resin, fluorine system resin, fatty polyamide, etc. so that the packing adheres to the film (11) by pressing an opening end of a positive can (1). The film (11) is suitably produced by dissolving 0.01-0.5 wt.% benzotriazole or its derivative and 0.01-0.2 wt.% polyoxyethylene fatty amine in water or alcohols. Since the packing (13) is bonded to the negative collector (7) through the film (11), alkaline batteries with good liquid leakage resistance are provided.
Anode current collector used has on its surface a metal layer of Cu or a Cu alloy. The film is formed on a predetermined surface of the metal layer. The predetermined surface of the metal layer in contact with a sealing member. In an example, an anode current collector comprises a base plate of stainless steel, a Cu layer formed on the surface in contact with an anode and a Ni layer formed on the outer surface. The anode current collector has a folded portion at the periphery. The folded portion is coated with a soln. contg. 0.1% of benzotriazole and 0.05% of polyethylene glycol to form a film. A liquid packing of silicone resin is formed on the film. A gasket is interposed between the anode current collector and a cathode container contg. a cathode mix.
Porous partitions for sulphuric acid batteries are prepd. by (A) preparing a fibrous sheet comprising (A) a mixt. of 3-40 wt.% cellulosic fibres and 97-60 wt.% 1 thermoplastic polymer fibres having a surface area of 3-15 m2/g and (b) 0.1-1 wt.% w.r.t. mixt. of fibres, of a nonionic wetting agent homogeneously dispersed in the fibre mixt., and (B) heating the sheet at a temp. the m.pt. of the polymer, in the absence of pressure, to fuse the fibres in the sheet. Pref. The fibre mixt. has a refining degree of 15-55 S.R. Used as separator between positive and negative battery electrodes. The partitions are highly porous and can be made to a thickness &lt;450 mu.
Flat battery comprises planar anode and cathode electrodes separated by a planar separator which has an aqueous electrolyte disposed in a permeable centre portion and an electrolyte free marginal portion which contains a polyacrylate sealant securing the separator to contiguous facing surfaces of the anode and cathode. The sealant comprises more than 50wt.% acrylate and contains butyl acrylate/diacetone acrylamide/styrene/methacrylic acid (60/30/4/6). Used as a planar battery for use with protable equipment e.g. in film packs for cameras. Peripheral seals maintain the physical conformation and integrity of the battery preventing environmental attack on, or loss of, active components of the battery's electrochemical system.
Chain polyacetylene film having conjugated double bond chains and a thickness below 100 mu is formed on one surface of n-type Si substrate. The polyacetylene film is treated with an electron acceptor cpd. The polyacetylene film has band gap energy of about 1.6 eV and is used to form solar cells with high energy conversion efficiency. The conductivity of the polyacetylene film is increased to &gt;1 OMEGA-1 cm.-1 by treating it with electron acceptor cpd. such as I2, Br2, AsF5, etc.
Separator comprises A PVA film with a hydrophilic portion. Portion is directly in contact with electrode. Degree of crystallisation of the PVA film is &gt;0.4. Thickness of film is 20 mu - 75 mu. Crystallisation degree is increased by heat treatment in an inert atmos. Due to the presence of the hydrophilic portion, electrolyte is easily impregnated in the separator and mechanical strength of the separator is improved.
Mastic contg. bitumen, mineral oil, butadiene-styrene thermoelastoplast and antioxidant gives increased frost-resistance by addn of low mol polyisobutylene, filler and alkylated phenol monosulphide antioxidant.    The compsn contains (in wt.%): bitumen 5-30; polyisobutylene 1-5; antioxidant (e.g. (4-hydroxy-3,5-ditert-butylbenzyl) sulphide) 0.1-2.    The mixing appts is charged with oil, antioxidant and thermoelastoplast respectively and heated to full solubilisation before adding bitumen, heating to 180-200 degrees C and adding polyisobutylene and filler. The previous compsn. was prepd at 200-240 degrees C.
In a seal alkaline battery, a tapered cathode pellet is used having a taper angle of 45-80 degrees. Tapered cathode pellet comprises a cathode mix consisting of Ag2O and an organic binder e.g. PTEF, polystyrene or polyethylene.    Battery has long service life.    In an example, a metallic Ag layer was formed on a tapered cathode pellet. Separator was put on the Ag layer. An electrolyte-holding sheet and an anode mix were disposed on the separator. Dish shape anode current collector was connected electrically to an anode terminal insulated from an upper cathode case by a sealing ring. The side portion of the separator was pressed by an annular insulating gasket. The upper cathode case was welded to a lower cathode case.
Sheet-like anode is fixed to the inner surface of an outer film of thermoplastic resin by a bonding agent. A separator is formed on the sheet-like anode. The peripheral portion of the anode-side outer film is heat-bonded to a cathode-side outer film in a gas-tight manner.    Specifically a MnO2 cathode (2) is formed on a cathode current collector plate (3) on a first outer film. A separator (6) is formed on the MnO2 cathode (2). A Zn anode (4) is formed on an epoxy resin layer (5) on a second outer film (1). A hole (7) for a cathode terminal is made in the first outer film. Holes (8,9) for an anode terminal are made in the second outer film (1) and the epoxy resin layer (5). The peripheral portion (9) of the second outer film (1) is heat-bonded to the first outer film. The first and second outer films consists of an ethylene-acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-methacrylate copolymer or an EVA copolymer.    Flat battery has excellent stability at high temp.
Sealed alkaline Zn storage battery uses a Zn electrode comprises a thin film of a Cd cpd. contg. Zn or a Zn cpd. formed on a Zn active material layer.    It is possible to suppress increase of internal pressure in the battery as consumption of O2 gas takes place smoothly in presence of a thin layer of a Cd cpd. contg. Zn or a Zn cpd.
Battery comprises cathode using Ag2O as active material, an anode using Zn as active material, a separator between the cathode and the anode, an alkaline electrolyte, and an electrolyte-holding layer of Ni-plated non-woven fabric formed between the separator and the cathode. The battery has stable battery characteristics and improved conservable performance.
An alkaline battery has polyethersulphone packing between cathode and anode cases. This alkaline battery has good leakproof characteristics.    In an example, the cathode consists of a mixt. of silver oxide powder and graphite powder. The anode consists of a mixt. of amalgamated Zn powder and paste material e.g. carboxymethylcellulose or polyalcohol. The separator comprises a semipermeable film e.g. cellophane, and an electrolyte-holding layer of non-woven fabric which is nylon or polypropylene. The cathode case consists of Ni-plated steel and the anode case comprises a Cu layer as an inside layer and a stainless steel layer as an outside layer. Packing consists of polyethersulphone with a specific gravity of 1.37, a water absorptivity of 0.43% and a continuous use temp. of 190 degrees C. The electrolyte consists of a 40% KOH soln.
An anode terminal is electrically connected to an anode. A cathode case is electrically connected to a cathode. The anode terminal is sealed in the cathode case by glass or ceramics. A layer of an agent for neutralising an alkaline electrolyte or an insulating film impregnated with the neutralising agent is deposited ont he outer peripheral portion of the anode terminal and a sealing ring around the anode terminal. A single- or mult-layer water-repellent insulating film is formed on the agent layer or insulating film.    Sealed battery has excellent leakproof characteristics. Specifically, an anode terminal consists of Ni-plated Kovar. The terminal is bonded to an upper cathode case by an annular ring of borosilicate glass. A sheet of non-woven fabric of nylon is impregnated with boric acid as a neutralising agent, and formed on the annular ring. A film of PTFE resin water-repellent film is bonded to the sheet.
Anode current collector is formed of Cu (alloy). Oxide film is removed from collector surface to be in contact with a gasket.    It is possible to prevent electrolyte leakage from the interface between the anode current collector and the gasket.    In an example, anode terminal plate comprised a steel plate having a Ni layer on one surface and a Cu layer on the other surface. Plate was pressed such that the Cu layer was inside. Anode current collector was obtd. having a folded portion at the periphery. Anode current collector had a Cu oxide film irregularly formed on the Cu layer. Cu oxide film was removed from the folded portion of the Cu layer by etching with dil. H2SO4. Annular gasket of polyethylene is brought into contact with the folded portion.
In a sealed battery, a plate is used as a battery casing. Battery has excellent leak-proof characteristics.    Cup-shaped upper cathode case consists of Ni-plated Kovar. An anode terminal is bonded to the cathode case by an insulating ring of borosilicate glass. An insulating gasket of polyethylene is placed in the cup-shaped cathode case. A dish-shaped anode current collector, an anode mix of amalgamated Zn, electrolyte-impregnated material, a separator and a cathode mix consisting mainly of AgO, MnO2, or HgO are put in the cup-shaped cathode case. A plate-like lower cathode case consists of Ni-plated Kovar, and is welded to the flange of the cup-shaped upper cathode case by a laser beam in a gas-tight manner. The lower cathode case in thicker than the upper cathode case.
Three-dimensional porous metal body used for an alkaline cell electrode is produced by (1) coating surface of porous resin core with a paste contg. organic binder and metal powder which is insol. in an electrolyte of the alkali electric cell; and (2) heating to a temp. at which the metal powder sinters.    The porous resin core is e.g. composed of felt, woven fabrics or non-woven fabrics consisting of cellular resin or resin fibre. The metal powder consists of Ni, Ag, Fe, Cd or Zn, etc. The organic binder is e.g. PVA, CMC, agar-agar or gelatin. Pores of the three dimensional porous metal body may be filled with an active material such as Fe powder.    The electrode has high electric capacity and long life.
A fuel cell electrode is made by (a) selecting and sizing a thin, porous graphitised carbon member; (b) impregnating with 'Teflon' (RTM); (c) drying; (d) screen printing a mixt of 12 ml of 'Teflon' 30 and 20g of a mixt. of 1 pt. Pt black, 4 pts. graphite as minute particles and a soln. of 44 ml 'Triton' X-100 (RTM; octyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanol) and 20 ml of water per 20g of Pt/graphite; (e) drying the resulting coating of Pt black catalyst and graphite; and (f) sintering.    The electrode is simple to produce and has increased efficiency with gaseous constituents.
The battery comprises a negative electrode of light metal, a positive electrode and an organic electrolyte consisting of a solute and an organic solvent having cyclic ether with one double bond in a molecule, cf 2,3-dihydrofuran or 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrane.    The ether is polymerised by a polymerising agent.    The electrolyte does not leak from a battery case, because the electrolyte is solidified.
Method of mfr comprises providing a hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol film, immersing the film in a water soluble organic cpd soln contg hydroxyl groups and (3) heating the film in the soln at 120 degrees C to 180 degrees C. The separator has a low electric resistance, a high alkali-proof properties and a high flexibility.    In an example polyvinyl alcohol film of 5 mu m thickness is immersed in an aq soln of alkaline potassium permanganate for 3 minutes to form a hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol film. The film is washed and dried. Then the film is immersed in triethylene glycol heated at 180 degrees C for 5 minutes. Then the film is washed in water and dried to form the separator. The separator is placed between a Ni electrode and a Zn electrode of the battery. The water soluble organic cpd soln is triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, glycerin or ethylene glycol.
The case consists of 70-90 wt% of ethylene propylene block copolymer, 5-15 wt% of propylene polymer and 5-15 wt% of ethylene propylene random copolymer contg 1-4 wt% ethylene. In the block copolymer, 10-25 wt% of polyethylene is contained and 2-3 wt% of ethylene is contained in propylene chain.    The case has a high heat resistance and mechanical strength. It has tensile strength 280Kg/cm2, a flexural strength 13000Kg/cm2 and thermal deformation temp of &gt;95 degrees C.
Case consists of 69.5-94.9 wt% ethylene propylene block copolymer; 0.1-0.5 wt% talc with average particle size 2-8 mu m; and 5-30 wt% ethylene propylene random copolymer contg. 1-4wt% ethylene. Block copolymer contains 10-25 wt% polyethylene and 2-3 wt% of ethylene is contained in a propylene chain.    Case has high resistance and high mechanical strength. It has tensile strength of 280 Kg/cm2, flexural strength of 13000Kg/cm2 and thermal deformation temp &gt;95 degrees C.
Case consists of a block copolymer contg 15 to 25 wt% of ethylene. The case is sealed by a coloured sealing member of an ethylene-propylene block copolymer contg. 3 to 8 wt% ethylene.    The case has a tensile strength of 280 to 310 Kg/cm2, a flexural strength of 14000 to 16000 Kg/cm2 and a thermal deformation temp of 110 degrees C.
The case comprises 70-95 wt% ethylene-propylene block copolymer and 5-30 wt% ethylene-propylene random copolymer contg 1-4 wt% ethylene. In the block copolymer, 10-25 wt% polyethylene and 2-3 wt% ethylene is contained in a propylene chain.    The case has high heat resistance and high mechanical strength. It has tensile strength 280 Kg/cm2 flexural strength 13000Kg/cm2 and thermal deformation temp of above 95 degrees C.
Active material powder consisting mainly of CdO is kneaded with a gel, sol or jelly produced by mixing polyvinyl alcohol and an organic solvent e.g. ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. The kneaded material is coated on an electrode substrate and heat-treated to fabricate an anode. This anode is used in a Ni-Cd battery. It has long service life and excellent discharge performance.
A separator for a battery comprises a film consisting of a block copolymer of olefin and monomers of formula (I) where R is H, or CH3 and X is H, CH3, C2H5 or metal. It is used in a battery using a cathode of silver oxide, nickel oxide or lead oxide and an anode of Cd, Fe, Zn or Pb. The separator can be fabricated at a low cost, and has low resistance. Pref the, olefin is ethylene or propylene    In an example, an ethylene-acrylate copolymer is used as a block copolymer. The block copolymer has acrylate copolymerisation factor 20 mol%, melt index 8g/10 min. and specific gravity 0.915 g/cm2. The block copolymer is extruded at 220 degrees C to form a 50 micron thick film. The film is immersed in a KOH aq soln. washed with water and dried to make a separator.
Films of thermoplastic resin are fused to each other to make a bag. The bag is modified by introducing sulphone gps into the resin. Preferably, the resin is a copolymer of ethylene or propylene and acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or vinyl acetate. Because the films are fused to each other it is possible to prevent breakage of the bag-shaped separator.
Separator having ion-permeable portion and an ion-impermeable portion is made by grafting monomers each having a hydrophilic gp onto a sheet of an ion-impermeable high polymer. Battery elements are placed on both sides of the ion-permeable portion of the separator. Covers of an ion-impermeable high polymer are bonded to both the sides of the ion-impermeable portion of the separator. This battery has excellent leak-proof properties.    Minium is selectively coated on a polypropylene sheet to expose a circular portion. The exposed portion of the polypropylene sheet is bombarded with an electron beam. The bombarded sheet is immersed, at 25 degrees C for 5 hrs, in a soln comprising 50 pts. wt. acrylic acid, 40 pts vol H2O and 10 pts vol ethylene dichloride, and contg. 0.16% Mohr's salt. In this manner, a separator is obtd. having an ion-permeable portion and an ion-impermeable portion.
The separator comprises a graft-polymerised film produced by graft-polymerising monomers each having an ion-exchange gp onto a polyethylene film. In the graft-polymerised film, high graft factor portions are sepd from each other by non-grafted portions of low-graft factor portions. This separator has excellent dimensional stability.
Unsatd carboxylic acid is brought into contact with a thermoplastic film as a backbone polymer, so that it is graft-copolymerised to the surface and interior of the film. In this case, the unsatd carbocyclic acid is diluted with a solvent having solubility parameter value of more than 9.5 and affinity for branch polymers consisting of unsatd carboxylic acid.    Pref the thermoplastic film consists of polyethylene, polypropylene or fluororesin. The unsatd carboxylic acid is 1-6C hydroxyalkyl-acrylate or hydroxyalkylmethacrylate. The solvent is methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol or n-propyl alcohol.
Battery has sealing gasket comprising synthetic resin contg 0.01-0.3 g/cm3 carbon black. The synthetic resin is polyethylene, polypropylene or polyamide. Grain size of the carbon black is 0.01-0.08 micron. The leak-proof properties of the battery are improved by using the synthetic resin.
Cells comprise an electrolyte, electrolyte solvent and electrodes. One or moe of the electrodes is composed of active material and a binder comprising a copolymer of 40-60 mole % ethylene and 40-60 mole % tetrafluoroethylene and/or chlorotrifluoroethylene.    The named binders allow the prodn. of electrodes under moderate temp. conditions and without the use of solvents. The vinders give electrodes with good porosity and retention of structural integrity in contact with the electrolyte soln., and max. energy capacity per unit wt. and vol.
Battery separator comprises a porous sheet with a positive plate engaging surface and a negative plate engaging surface. The sheet is embossed to provide a reverse configuration of embossment on the two faces in a fashion such that essentially all embossment walls open continuously upwardly in the battery plate engagement areas, and at least some of the embossment walls are formed into a configuration angled from the vertical and comprising gas impeding restrictions on at least one of the faces, all restrictions being penetrated from their lower surface ast its upper extremity.    Used as a separator in a lead acid battery. New separator provides efficient spacer which does not trap gases. Porous sheet is of a polymer or copolymer of ethylene, propylene, butylene vinyl chloride or styrene.
Alkaline cell has a metal casing with a terminal plate at one end and a collector metal rod extending inwardly from the terminal plate. A sealing gasket has a circumferential marginal portion constricted between the end of the casing and the edge of their terminal plate, a collar portion slidable on the collector rod and an intermediate portion with a thin area which is tearable on stretching force being applied.    Used to seal a cell against electrolyte leakage while allowing abnormal gas pressure to be released by rupture of the gasket. Provides gasket which is rupturable without fail at a predetermined pressure in the cell.
Cell separator is made by prepg. a film of a copolymer of olefin and a monomer CH2=CR-COOX (I) and then graft-polymerising the monomer (I) to the film (where R is H or CH3 and X is H, CH3, C2H5 or metal. Olefin is pref. of ethylene or propylene.    The separator is pref. used between an anode and a cathode to prevent shortage in a prim. or sec. cell. The hydrophilic gp. in the film decreases electric resistance. The radiation of gamma-ray for graft polymerisation is shortened by the hydrophilic gp. Improved oxidn.-resistance and electrolyte-proofers properties are provided. Low resistivity, high mechanical intensity and thermal stability is obtd.
Electric cell separator is made by prepg. a thermoplastic film as a trunk polymer, graft copolymerising the film with 1 kind of alkylester (meth)acrylate contg. &lt;3C alkyl gp. and contacting the graft film with an alkali metal hydroxide soln. to make branch polymer in the graft film into an alkali metal salt. Plastics film is pref. of polyethylene, or polyproylene. Alkylester acrylate is pref. (m)ethyl ester.    Separator is pref. used for preventing shortage between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode in a prim. or a sec. cell. Graft copolymerisation reaction is rapidly carried out to give low electrical oxidn. and alkali-resistance.
Solid electrolyte battery comprises unit cells composed of cathode and anode with solid electrolyte inserted between the cathode and the anode. The solid electrolyte is composed of LiI-AgI-Ag2O-MO3 (M is 1 kind of Cr, Mo, W) in a ratio 0.01-60:0.5-99.9:0-49:0.49 mol% and AgI + MO3 0-95 mol.%. The cathode is opt. Li, Ag, Ag2O (AgO), Ag2S, Ag3SI, and the anode is opt. poly-(2-vinylpyridine)-I2 or complex cpd. of aromatic hydrocarbon such as pyrene or violanthrone + iodine or iodine contg. graphite.    Small size, high fidelity, high capacity, high voltage battery is obtd.
Non-aq. electrolyte battery has an electrolyte inorganic electrolytic material dissolved in a solvent mixt. of acetonitrile and N,N-dimethylformamide in ratio 95:8-15:85.    High discharge voltage and stable voltage are obtd. in discharge. In an example, an anode (30 x 30 x 2 mm) was made from Ni mesh on which was adhered with pressure electrolysed MnO2 + acetylene black + PTFE resin powder (10:1:1 by wt.). Cathode (30 x 30 x 0.7 mm) was made from Ni mesh on which CA metal plate was press-adhered. Separator of polypropyrene nonwoven cloth (32 x 32 x 0.3) was inserted between the anode and cathode. They were contained in a fluorine resin battery bath to give a non-aq. electrolyte battery.
Battery comprises Ca cathode and electrolyte liq. contg. dissolved calcium perchlorate in non-aq. solvent. The non-aq. solvent is e.g. 1 of acetonitrile, dimethyl formamide, gamma-butyrolactone, propylenecarbonate and concn. of the soln. is 0.2-1 mol/l.    Discharge properties are improved.
In a thin battery with a separator between thin layer anode and cathode that polyvinylalcohol acetal fibre is used for the separator. The anode body, the separator and the cathode body are tightly sealed and fixed with heat-bonding resin by coating or impregnating the separator edge with the resin.    In an example, both electrode collectors were made from corrosion-resistant metal foil e.g. Al, Ni, steel or stainless steel and coated internally with carbon + binder. Cathode body was made from Zn foil or Zn powder, which was adhered to the carbon layer of cathode collector. Anode was made from MnO2 + acetylene black + polyvinyl-alcohol.    Separator was made from polyvinylalcohol acetal fibre nonwoven cloth, which was inserted between the cathode body and the anode body. The separator was impregnated with ZrCl2 aq. soln. electrolyte. The edge of the separator was impregnated with polyamide resin. Those battery elements were packed in a synthetic resin sheath, which was sealed with the hot-adhered resin.
Non-aq. electrolyte battery comprises (1) cathode mainly made from light metal e.g. Li, Na (2) anode having Bi2O3 as active material, where the Bi2O3 active material is produced by providing layer of Bi-oxide in a lower state of oxidn. than Bi2O3 or metal Bi on the particle surface of the Bi2O3.    Conventional discharge having two stage process is eliminated and the battery is interchangeable for silver oxide battery or mercury battery used for electronic instruments.
Alkaline battery comprises cathode using amalgamated zinc particle which is produced by amalgamating Zn powder obtd. by cutting Zn wire. Opt. the Zn wire 0.5 mm dia. is cut in a length 0.8-1.5 times the wire dia.    Measuring precision of the cathode, discharge utility rate and battery stability are improved.    In an example, the anode is mainly silver oxide, the electrolyte uses (nylon, propyrene, alkali-treated paper or cotton contg. KOH aq. soln) and a separator of porous synthetic resin film. The cathode is made from amalgamated zinc particles having adhered polyacrylic acid on the surface. The casing is anodic Ni-plated iron. The container was sealed with both nylon insulating packing and Ni-plated iron sealing plate bent inside at the opening to give a stable alkaline battery.
A separator for a lead battery with high stability and bulk porosity, and low electrical resistance, comprises a microporous base of PVC, polypropylene, polyethylene, etc., a wetting agent such as sulphanol, and an inorganic salt of cadmium. The components are used in amts. (wt.%) 84-93, cadmium salt 2-20 and wetting agent the remainder.
A sealed silver oxide sec. battery comprises a cathode consisting mainly of AgO, an anode consisting mainly of Zn and an alkaline electrolyte.    This sealed silver oxide sec. battery is used in electronic wristwatches, electronic calculators, cameras or micro-radios, and has longer service life.
Solid electrolyte cell comprises an anode, a solid electrolyte, and a cathode. The electrolyte consists of LiI-AgI-Ag2O-MO2 (or MO3)(where M is 1 oxide(s) of Group VIb elements such as S, Se, Te). The compsn. comprises 0.01-60 mol. % LiI, 0.5-99.9 mol.% AgI, 0-49 mol.% Ag2O, 0-49 mol.% MO2 (or MO3) and 0-95 mol.% Ag2O + MO2 (or MO3).    One part of the MO2 (or MO3) is pref. displaced by the oxide of a Group IIIb element such as B, Al, Ga, In, or Tl, Group IVa element such as Ti, or Zr, Group IVb element such as C, Si, Ge, Sn, or Pb, Group Va element such as Nb, or Ta, Group VIa element such as Cr, Mo, or W, Group VII element such as At, or Group VIII element such as Fe, Co or Ni. The anode is pref. of Li, and the cathode is pref. of Ag, Ag2O, AgO, Ag2S, etc.    The solid electrolyte cell has improved cell capacity, and low self-discharge properties and is pref. used for a wrist watch or portable electronic calculator.
Cell electrode base is made by fixing a natural or synthetic resin line-or band-like plate onto foamed resin plate, and metal plating all over the resultant body. Foamed resin is pref. of polyurethane, polystyrol, urea resin, or PVC. Natural or synthetic resin is pref. cotton, cellulose acetate, polyamide, polyester, or vinyl chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer. Metal plating is pref. Ni plating. Fixing is pref. by compression or thermal adhesion.    Electrode body of a foamed metal with a line- or plate-like metal member is obtd. after plating. Active material is easily filled in the electrode to give a long-life cell electrode having low polarisation at high discharge. Electrode can be wound and is pref. used for Ni electrode of an alkaline cell.
Battery has Li as negative active material, thionyl chloride as positive active material and a soln. of a complex salt resulting from the action of at least one ionisable cpd. an AlCl3, in through chloride as electrolyte Specifically ionisable cpd. is CaO or BaO, molar concn. of which is approx. half that of the AlCl3. Positive electrode includes a porous carbon-based collector, pref. a mixt of acetylene soot with approx 15% PTFE soot, having a porosity of about 82%. Electrolyte may also include as solvent phosphery chloride.    Battery achieves its normal emf from the commen of discharge with having recourse to polymeric films for protecting the Li electrodes during storage periods to prevent passivation.
Prodn. of porous separator for H2SO4 accumulators involves making a sheet from a fibre mixt. of 3-40 (wt.)% cellulose fibres and 97-60% thermoplastic polymer (I) fibrils with a surface area of 3-15 m2/g, together with 0.1-3% nonionic wetting agent. This sheet is heated to a temp. at or above the m.pt. of (I), without applying pressure, until the (I) fibrils melt.    The separators can be made thinner than usual, which is advantageous w.r.t. the wt. and useful vol. of the batteries. Pref. the fibrils are 1-3 (1.4-2.2)mm long and the fibre mixt. has a degree of refining of 15-55 S.R. Suitable (I) include LDPE, HDPE, isotactic polypropylene, ethylenepropylene copolymers, polyurethanes polycarbonates, PVC, polyvinyl acetate, EVA, acrylic resins and polyethers.
A unit with high performance at elevated temp. comprises cells each with anode and cathode, a gas-impermeable plastics separator between an anode and an adjacent cell cathode, and conductors passing through the separator are flexibility supported in it by elastic gas-tight seals.    A housing supports the cells and there are fuel and oxidising gas feeds to each cell. The conductors are pref. of carbon or carbon-impregnated plastics and connect successive cells. The separators are pref. of polyurethane and the seals are of butyl rubber. The conductors are pref. tilted relative to the plane of the separators and have rounded edges to contact the electrodes.
Grommet and metal cover for use in a galvanic cell is mfd. by (a) swelling the nylon or polyolefin grommet which is placed tightly around the metal cover until it is loose (b) forcing a sealant soln. (I) between the swollen grommet and cover and (c) shrinking the grommet to its original size of trap the sealant. (I) comprises rosin, polystyrene, polyolefin, EVA, polyamine, bitumen or thermoplastic elastomer and solvent.    A leak resistant seal is formed between metal parts exposed to strong alkaline solns. esp. between the metal container and cover of electrochemical cells. In addn. moulding stresses in the grommet are released, thermal stability is increased and surface tension characteristics of the grommet are changed by the process.
Preparation of porous substance is as follows: (1) a thermoresistant woven ornon-woven fabric is impregnated (A) a mixed solution of (a) polyolefin, (b) hot solvent for (a) and (c) non-solvent which is compatible with (b) and boils at a higher temp. than (b) does; (2) the impregnated solvent isevaporated; and (3) (c) is evaporated. The difference between the b.pt. of (b) and that of (c) is 10 degrees C. The difference between the solubility parameter of (b) and that of (c) is 0.3.    The porous substance is homogeneous and has novel characteristics; i.e., cf. conventional (non)woven fabric, the average pore size is below 1/5 maximum pore dia. is below 1/10, the life of oxidn. resistance is above 3-5 times when the porous substance is used as a separator of accumulator; the porous substance is stable to almost all kinds of chemicals.    (a) are, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, their copolymers, etc. (b) are, e.g., xylene, decalin, tetralin, etc. (c) are, e.g., various kinds of cellosolves ketones, esters, etc.
A solid electrolyte battery comprises an anode using Li as active material, a solid electrolyte consisting of LiI and a cathode of a high polymer charge transfer complex contg. iodine. The upper, lower or entire surface of the cathode is coated with a high polymer film contg. starch.    Voltage drop of the battery during discharging is suppressed and the rate of utilisation of the cathode active material is improved.    A charge transfer complex as cathode active material is produced by dissolving 50 g polyvinylcarbozole in 500 cc of an iodine-acetal soln. and drying the soln. in vacuum. The powder of the charge transfer complex is compacted into a disc. A cellophane film is coated with a 10 wt.% starch soln. by spraying. The starch-coated cellophane film is stamped to form a starch-coated circular film. The circular film is laminated on the upper, lower or entire surface of the disc.
Zinc electrode comprises a Cd-coated electrode core, and zinc active material contg. a Cd cpd. bonded by pressure to both the sides of the Cd-coated electrode core. It is possible to prevent deterioration of an electrode core. It is possible to improve adhesion of zinc active material to the electrode core, and electric conductivity there between.
Continuous fluorination of carbon or organic high polymer powder is carried out in a horizontal reactor having a trough fitted with numerous dams and inlets/outlets at the ends. Carbon and F2, opt. mixed with diluent, are introduced continuously at the end and contacted at 200-600 degrees C, whilst the C is transported by vibrating the trough. Prod. is discharged at the other end.    Prod. (e.g. poly(carbon monofluoride) (I) or poly(dicarbon monofluoride)) is useful as active material for prim. cells with high energy density, as solid lubricant in liquid lubricants, greases and coating compsns. and as fluorinating agent. Effective reaction takes place without a build-up of heat.
From 1 sheet or continuous length of a fibrous fleece contg. unpolymerised, thermosetting synthetic material, components are cut which can be assembled into frames to hold electrode material for an electro-chemical cell or battery. The cell consists of a stack of plate elements including 2 plate electrodes in a frame of fibrous material impregnated so as to be electrically isolating.    The frame is formed from the components cut out, and a sheet or plate of electrode material is placed on it. Two more frames may then be placed followed by another layer of electrode material, and so on until the stack is as required and has between the elements, gas and/or fluid chambers. The stack is finally processed in a hot press to form a coherent block.    Used for the production of electro-chemical, e.g. fuel cells and/or batteries. The wastage of large amts. of resin-impregnated fleece, which are stamped out to form the gas and/or fluid cavities in other processes is eliminated.
Composition for forming a battery separator for alkaline systems comprises a homogeneous mixt. of 5-25 wt.% of a polyolefin of mol. wt. 100,000, 20-60 wt. % of a plastifier for this polymer, and 30-75 pts. wt. filler selected from TiO2, Al2O3, Mg(OH)2, Ca(OH)2, the filler having a specific surface of 100-385 m2/cm3 and a pore volume of 0.075 cm3/g.    Compsn. is esp. useful in Ni-Zh alkaline cells and can produce an esp. high inhibition of dendrite formation, has a high level of electrical conductivity.
Separator for an alkaline cell comprises (a) a flexible, fibrous absorber substrate resistant to strong alkali and oxidn. and permeable to electrolyte ion transfer, and (b) a film coating permeable to electrolyte ions and impermeable to electrode ions, comprising an admixt. of (i) polymeric binder, pref. butyl latex rubber or ethylene propylene terpolymer, (ii) a hydrolysable polyacrylate ester, and (iii) inert fillers, and bring free of plasticisers and reactive fillers. Polyacrylate ester expands when immersed in electrolyte soln., increasing coating porosity during use for rapid transfer of electrolyte ions through the absorber, while providing a barrier to electrode ions, thus reducing voltage loss and increasing cell life.    Film avoids dendrite formation. Absence of plasticiser avoids sticking during storage, and omission of reactive fillers avoids possible interference with electrolyte. Separator has sufficient mechanical strength and flexibility for cell use.
Terminal comprises a hydroformed outer case with an open ended dome shaped sleeve filled with a low shear strength sealant material; a central post extending vertically through the sealant, having a threaded upper end and a flange attached to the lower end. A ceramic washer is supported on the flange and fills the space between the post and the outer case, retaining the sealent. The upper ceramic washer closes the top of the outer case and fits closely around the central post.    A pair of Belleville washers and a retaining nut compress the top washer against the casing and force the central post upwards to compress the lower washer against the sealant and the sealant against the upper washer. The hydroformed outer case is made from an alloy of 78% Ni, 15% Cr, 6% Fe. The low shear strength sealant is PTFE.    The terminal may be tightened at any time to improve sealing capability. The seal is heat cyclable and provides seal at high and low temps. The terminal does not require crimping or injection moulding and is for use on a Ni-H battery for use in spacecraft.
Cylindrical paper casing for a dry batter is obtd. by use of an adhesive agent which is insoluble to Zn ions. The adhesive agent is prepd. from vinyl acetate modified by 10 mol % crotonic acid to form vinyl acetate having -COOH gps. which is then 50 mol % saponified by using NaOH.
Button type silver oxide battery has an electrolyte liq. penetrating material (I) between the anodic case and anodic active material or on the upper part of the anodic active material. (I) is e.g. cellulose fibre or hydrophilically-treated nylon, polypropylene, vinylon or hydrophilic sizing agent such as CMC, Na-alginate or Na-polyacrylate.    Electrolyte penetrating time is greatly reduced and a large amt. of anodic liq. can be injected, so that the battery discharge capacity increases. (I) is produced e.g. by (1) press-moulding, in the anodic case, the anodic tablet wrapped with cellulose fibre cloth or (2) coating a suspension of cellulose fibres in CMC (sizing agent), on the anodic tablet and then press-moulding the tablet in the anodic case or (3) press-moulding, in the anodic case, the anodic tablet coated with sizing agent of e.g. CMC etc.
Alkaline battery is produced by treating porous plate-form zinc amalgam electrode with, as nonionic surfactant, a polyethylene oxide condensate. Liq. electrolyte absorbing capacity, uniformity and productivity are improved.    In an example, the nonionic surfactant, higher alkylamine, higher aliphatic acid-amide, higher aliphatic acidglycerin ester, etc. The polyethylene oxide-condensate (e.g. alkylphenoxypolyethylene oxide condensate, aliphatic acid-polyethylene oxide condensate etc.) is extremely stable to alkali. In an example of a silver oxide battery of dia. 7.5mm. and height 1.5mm., with Zn amalgam electrode (porosity 10-60%, Cu content 8-20wt. %, thickness 0.4mm.) which was treated with alkylphenoxypolyethylene oxide condensate 3wt. % aq. soln., the electrolyte absorbing time was 0.8 sec. and the battery capacity after 6 months was improved.
The alkaline battery comprises sealing material produced by adding petroleum resin and polybutene to asphalt. Electrolyte liq. leakage resistance is improved.    In an example, blown asphalt + petroleum resin + polybutene were mixed in a ratio 100:50:30 by wt. By the synergism of the three components, shock resistance and deformation resistance were improved due to adhesion and chemical resistance of asphalt, viscous adhesion of petroleum resin and softness and viscosity of polybutene.
The battery has improved electrolyte liq. leakage resistance. Polybutene is chemically-resistant, high viscous non-drying polymer, so that by mixing with asphalt, softness, adhesion and shock resistance and deformation resistance are improved.    In an example, blown asphalt and polybutene were mixed in ratio 100:30 (by wt.), and dissolved in benzene or toluene etc. The soln. was coated on the metal sealing plate or flowed between the sealing plate and the packing. The dynamic viscosity was pref. 30 S (at 378 degrees C). Pref. mixing ratio was asphalt 100:polybutene 10-100 by wt. Polybutene was pref. prepd. by selectively polymerising isobutene and n-butene at low temp.
Cell has improved electrolyte liq. leakage resistance. Adhesion, softness, shock resistance, deformation resistance are improved and good sealing effect is attained.    In an example, a battery was sealed in N-plated steel anodic case using sealing material composed of blown asphalt and dicyclopentadiene type petroleum resin (100:50 by wt.) which had been dissolved in benzene or toluene. It was coated on the metal sealing plate or flowed between the metal sealing plate and the nylon packing. The petroleum resin was e.g. aromatic resin obtd. from C9 fraction produced by extracting benzene, toluene, xylene from C5 fraction of byprod. of thermal decompsn. of petroleum naphtha.
A Li battery has an anode comprising Li as active material, a cathode comprising oxide, sulphide or iodide of metal or a high polymer charge transfer complex as active material, and a paste-like Li ion-conductive electrolyte consisting of a polar aprotic organic solvent and inorganic lithium salt.
Porous electrode plate of amalgamated zinc is treated with non-aq. solvent contg. water-soluble high polymer material e.g. synthetic paste or natural gum paste. In this way it is possible to improve the electrolyte absorption capacity of a zinc electrode plate. Pref., the water-soluble high polymer material is carboxymethylcellulose, tragacanth gum or carrageenan.
The battery comprises an anode of light metal, e.g. Li or Na, a non-aq. electrolyte and a cathode consisting of a binary cpd. produced by firing a mixt. if iron sulphide and bismuth trioxide.    The battery has an output voltage of 1.4 and may be used instead of a silver oxide battery or a mercury battery.
Battery has an anode contg. Li or Li alloy as active material, a non-aq. electrolyte and a cathode contg. Cu-Bi composite oxide as active material. Battery has an output voltage of 1.4-1.5 volts, and is exchangeable for a silver oxide battery or a Hg battery.
In a dry cell, sealed portion contains leak preventive agent capable of forming hydrate or hydroxide by reaction of an electrolyte. The leak preventive agent is pref. Portland cement or ZnO.    In an example, A C rod was inserted into a cathode mix. A separator was interposed between the cathode mix and a zinc can, which was covered with a resin tube. A cathode terminal cap was connected to the cathode rod and fastened by an outer can. An insulating ring was placed in a gap defined by the outer can and the cathode terminal cap. A paper guard and a wax layer were formed on the cathode mix. A closing body of polyethylene was disposed in the dry cell and coated with a layer of a mixt. of polyethylene and Portland cement. An air chamber was formed between the wax layer and the mixt. layer.
An electrode designed to eliminate H2O2 and reduce electrochemical polarisation of oxygen esp. in reversible generators in alkaline medium and in fuel cells, comprises a collecting metal grid e.g. Ni covered with a C black catalyst coated with iron naphthalocynanine and a binder comprising e.g. PTFE.    The electrode exhibits higher conductivity than prior art electrodes and does not require thermal pretreatment of the C black at high temps. Therefore, polarisation is significantly lower at high current densities, thus allowing the activity and service life of the catalysts to be increased.
Matrix for a fuel cell acid electrolyte has a lyer contg. C and an adjacent layer contg. SiC. The C pref. has an effective surface area of over 100 m2/g and a particle size of under 50 nm, whilst the size of its largest pores is not less than one order of magnitude less than the thickness of the first layer and 20% of the pores have a dia. of under 0.04 mu m. Both layers pref. contain &lt;4% binder, pref. a fluorocarbon polymer, esp. PTFE.    In the fuel cell, the C layer can be adjacent to (and support) the anode and the SiC layer adjacent to the cathode or vice versa, fuel being supplied to the anode and oxidising gas to the cathode. The average pore size of the matrix is not more than that of at least one of the electrodes.    The matrix is stable, has high electrolytic and low electronic conductivity and inhibits the passage of reaction gas at high pressure. It has a bubble pressure of ca.
A cell comprises an electrolyte and two electrodes, 1 of which comprises an active electrode material and a poly (phosphazene) binder. The binder is of formula (R2P=N)n, where n 3; and r is alkoxy, alkyl, amino, aryl, aryloxy, halogen or phenoxy. The binder pref. comprises 0.5 wt.% of the electrode. The poly(phosphazene) is pref. crosslinked.    Electrodes fabricated with the poly(phosphazene) binder have mechanical properties comparable to those of PTFE-bound electrodes but contain significantly less binder material.
One surface of an electrode plate contacting with an electrolyte is coated with a mixt. of a powdery material with an electrolyte resisting property and without a catalyst action, and a vinylidene fluoride resin, thereby producing an inactive layer. The plate is then heat-treated at 175-210 degrees C to bind the inactive layer to the plate.    Since the vinylidene fluoride resin is used as a binder and the inactive layer is heat-treated at 175-210 degrees C, the inactive layer is strongly bonded to the plate. The gas diffusion electrode with good characteristics is easily manufactured in air.
Casting mould is formed such that, casting surface of a casting mould body made of cast Fe is plated with Ni in advance, particulate e.g. carbonyl nickel is dispersed in a binder liquid of CMC aq. soln. the soln. is sprayed onto the Ni plated surface so that the carbonyl nickel particulate is evenly attached to the surface, and the particulate on the casting surface is sintered in a reducing atmos. at 900 degrees C, whereby the sintered Ni layer of thickness 0.1 - 0.3 mm and porosity 80 - 85% is formed.    The porous sintered layer of Ni stands casting temp. of 450 - 500 degrees C of the lattice and also for 10,000 shots of casting with durability more than three times that of conventional coke. Instead of the sintered layer a spongy nickel may be used.
Organic electrolyte cell uses a cathode member obtd. by (i) making a cathode mix contg. F gp. resin powder into a slurry with a surfactant soln.; (ii) rolling the slurry to make th eresin powder into fibres; and (iii) drying. Surfactant is pref. nonionic and concn. is pref. 10 - 0.01%.    Discharge properties at high load conditions of an organic electrolyte cell using a light metal such as Li, Na or Al as anode active material are improved. Fibrisation is effectively carried out by using the surfactant which also improves penetration of the electrolyte to decrease the inner resistance. Fibrisation improves the intensity and discharge properties.
An alkaline cell negative pole electrode plate is made by preparing an active powder consisting of cadmium oxide, kneading the powder with an organic solvent such as ethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polyethylene glycol, adding a fluororesin powder e.g. PTFE or tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene or a soln. of an organic solvent such as ethyl alcohol or acetone including the fluororesin powder dispersed in it, kneading the mixt., adding a dissociative salt e.g. KCL or NaCL, or a soln. contg. the salt to solidify the mixt. and then applying the obtd. material on an electrode substrate plate.    The electrode is pref used in a Ni-Cd cell. The dissociative salt is found to solidify the active material to facilitate application of the active material on the electrode plate by rolling or pasting, and the salt is not decomposed or oxidised from the positive pole side. As a result, the discharge properties and the cell life are improved.
An alkaline cell negative pole electrode plate is made by preparing an active material powder consisting essentially of cadmium oxide, kneading the powder with a mixt. soln. of propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol and ethylene glycol, adding an aq. dispersion soln. of a fluororesin such as PTFE, tetrafluoro-ethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, kneading and solidifying the mixt. and then applying the resultant material on an electrode substrate. The electrode plate is pref. used in a nickel-cadmium cell.    The intensity and the discharge properties of the cell are improved by adding the viscous organic solvent such as ethylene glycol and the like, and the electrode plate is easily made by rolling with high efficiency.
An alkaline cell is made by applying polyvinyl alcohol dissolved in water on one or both surfaces of a finely porous polyethylene thin film, piling up a cellophane film on it to make a separator, and constructing the cell before the polyvinyl alcohol layer is dried. The polyethylene is pref. graft-polymerised by polyacrylic acid.    The discharge properties and the shelf life of an alkaline cell using manganese dioxide, silver oxide or mercury oxide as a cathode, zinc or iron as an anode, and an alkaline aqueous solution as an electrolyte are improved. Oxidn. of the fine porous film during discharging or storage is prevented by the application of PVA and the coating of the cellophane. The graft-polymerisation serves to improve the electrolyte retention properties to keep the uniform amount of electrolyte. The deformation or oxidn. is eliminated by constructing the cell before drying the PVA.
Electrode group comprises sintered Ni layer (1) having low porosity and high density on one surface of porous core sheet, and sintered Ni layer (2) having high porosity and low density on the other surface. The group is wound soth at the layer (1) is placed inside and electrode group is then mounted in a battery jar.    The layer (1) has low hardness due to low content of active material in the layer, so that the layer can be easily bended, crack does not occur and long life battery is obtd..
Sintered substrate is produced by (a) dispersing Ni carbonyl powder in CMC aq. soln. to give a paste or slurry; (b) ageing the paste or slurry at 30-50 degrees C; and (c) coating it into porous metal core body.    The storage stabilises the paste compsn. and the paste density to give a uniform coating layer with no crack.
Sintered substrate for storage battery is produced by (i) dispersing carbonyl Ni powder slurry in aq. soln. contg. uniformly dissolved organic binder at 30 degrees-50 degrees C; (ii) ageing for several tens of hours at 10-15 degrees C; and (iii) coating the slurry on porous core body followed by drying.    Viscosity of Ni slurry can be stabilised, so that the sintered substrate thickness of coating weight are uniformly controlled.
Zinc anode prodn. comprises (1) mixing cathode active material mainly composed of ZnO or Zn, PVA binder, reinforcing monofilaments, together with water to give primary paste, (2) ageing the paste, (3) kneading with water to control the sec. paste density and coating the sec. paste onto an electric collector followed by drying.    The paste has a long pot-life paste is obtd..
Non-aq. electrolyte battery comprises (1) cathode having active material of light metal, (2) non-aq. electrolyte and (3) anode having active material obtd. by treating FeS in sulphur atmos..    Battery capacity increases since Fe-oxides (FeO, Fe3O4) are reduced by FeS by sulphur treatment.
Battery separator is constructed from a film composed of random copolymer produced from both olefin and monomer having general formula (where R is H or CH3, X is H or metal). Electrolyte resistance, oxidn. resistance are improved and electric resistance is lowered.    Inan example, random copolymer produced from both ethylene and acrylic acid (acrylic acid 20 mol%, melt index 10 g/min., e.g. 0.955 g/cm3) was extruded at 150-180 degrees C into 50 mu thick film. Battery is constructed from the separator film and Ni electrode, Cd electrode.
Separator comprises a polyethylene film irradiated by ionising radiation. Irradiated film is immersed in an aq. soln. of a monomer with ion exchanging radicals contg. 2-15 wt.% of alcohol, e.g. (m)ethyl or isopropyl alcohol, to graft the monomer onto the film. Content of monomer in soln. is 15-60 wt.%. Monomer is acrylic and/or methacrylic acid. When the monomer is grafted, the film is moved between a pair of rollers in the soln..    Alcohol increases graft-polymerising velocity of the monomer. Separator has high mechanical strength and low electrical resistance. Film is moved between rollers, so that the monomer is uniformly grafted.
Accumulator electrode consists of lead with a bag-shaped sheath of very finely woven filaments of O2- and acid-resistant plastics, e.g. polyethylene and/or polyester and opt. glass fibres, having a porosity of over 65 (70-75)% at a pore size of max. 01 mm. Fabric is woven in one or more plies and is coated with colloidal graphite (to increase the capacity yield).    These bags give very long stable periods with positive and negative plates, the capacity and stability increasing with the porosity and fineness of the pores. They reduce the sludge from positive plates and hence the danger of short circuits and increase the lifetime of negative plates considerably.
Non-aq. battery comprises an active metal anode; a cathodic; and an electrolyte-cathode soln. having ionic conductivity comprising a solute dissolved in an active liq. cathode with a vinyl polymer dissolved in the electrolyte cathode.    Passivation of the active metal anode during storage and operation of the battery is avoided.
A non-aq. battery comprises an ionically conductive electrolyte-cathode soln. comprising a solute dissolved in an active liquid cathode; an active metal anode; a cathodic collector; a separator between the anode and the cathodic collector and a coating of a vinyl polymer on at least part of the separator surfaces.    Passivation of the anode during storage and operation of the battery is prevented.
0.1 to 10 wt.% of acid-proof, oxidation-resisting thermoplastic resin powder or fibre is mixed with particles of Pb or a Pb cpd. The mixt. is formed into porous particles and packed into a lattice-shaped body and hot-pressed onto it. The porous particles are partially fixed to the lattice-shaped body by fusing of the thermoplastic resin powder or fibre.    A high rate of utilisation of the active material for a long period of time is achieved because a large amount of an electrolyte is held in porous particles.
A thermoplastic film is irradiated in the presence of oxygen to form hydroperoxide or peroxide in it. Vinyl monomers capable of rendering the film electrically conductive are contacted with the film in the presence of metal, metal salt or an organic cpd. having reducing properties, so that they are graft-copolymerised to the film.    This separator has good electrical conductivity and long service life.
Separator comprises a polyethylene film. The film is irradiated with ionising radiation, and the radiated film is immersed in an aq. solution of a monomer with ion exchanging radicals containing 2-15 wt.% alcohol, such as (m)ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol, to graft the monomer into the film. The content of the monomer in the soln. is 15-60 wt.%. The monomer is acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid. A macromolecule material layer ois formed on the film before the radiation. The material is sulphide or Ca cpd. It captures metal ions of a negative electrode of the battery.    The alcohol increases the graft-polymerising velocity of the monomer. The separator has high mechanical strength and low electric resistance. In an example, high density polyethylene film was irradiated by electron radiation of 20 Mrad with a voltage of 2 MeV in N2. The film was then immersed in a soln. contg. 50 wt.% acrylic acid. A nonwoven cloth of polyethylene in which Zn sulphide particles are dispersed was bonded to the film.
The separator comprises polyethylene film which is subjected to ionising radiation. The radiated film is immersed in an aq. solution of a monomer with ion exchanging radicals, contg. 2 to 15 wt.% of alcohol, e.g. methanol, and or isopropanol, to graft the monomer into the film. The content of the monomer in the soln. is 15 to 60 wt.%. The monomer is acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid. The film is then reinforced by a heat resistance synthetic resind base.    The alcohol increases the graft-polymerizing velocity of the monomer. The separator has a high mechanical strength and a low electric resistance.
The separator comprises a polyethylene film. The film is irradiated with ionising radiation. The irradiated film is immersed in an aq. soln. of monomer with ion exchanging radicals contg. 2 to 15 wt.% alcohol, such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol, to graft the monomer into the film.    The content of the monomer in the soln. is 15 to 60 wt.%. The monomer is acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid. When the film is irradiated, the film is sandwiched by a pair of synthetic resin films in which oxygen does not penetrate.    The alcohol increases the graft-polymerising velocity of the monomer.
Separator of polyethylene film is treated with ionising radiation and immersed in an aq. soln. of a monomer with ion exchanging radicals containing 2-15 wt.% alcohol (such as (m)ethyl- or isopropyl alcohol) to graft the monomer into the film. Content monomer in the soln. is 15-60 wt.%. The monomer is acrylic acid acid/or methacrylic acid. The grafted film is washed with alkali to remove iron impurities from the film.    The alcohol increases the graft-polymerising velocity of the monomer. The separator has a high mechanical strength and a low electric resistance.
The separator comprises a polyethylene film which is subjected to ionising radiation.    The radiated film is immersed in an aq. soln. of a monomer with ion-exchanging radicals contg. 2-15 wt.% alcohol, such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol, to graft the monomer onto the film. The content of monomer in the soln. is 15-60 wt.%. The monomer is acrylic acid and/or metacrylic acid. The radiation is 1 to 30 Mrad. The film is grafted at 15-50 degrees C. The grafted film is washed in a soln. of 2-10 wt.% KOH.    The alcohol increases the graft-polymerising rate of the monomer. The separator has high mechanical strength and a low electric resistance.
The separator comprises a nonwoven or woven cloth having sulfone radicals. The cloth consists of graft copolymer of monomer of formula CH2=CR1-COOR2 (I) and ethylene or propylene, (where R1 is H or methyl and R2 is H or alkyl radical. The content of (I) is 1 to 5 mol.%.    The separator has a high mechanical strength and a low electrical resistance.
Battery separator has high electrical conductivity and a strong resistance to dendrite formation. Separator consists of a sheet formed from a uniform mixt. of a thermoplastic rubber and an inert filler having a particle size range of 0.01-10 mu. Vol. ratio of the rubber to the filler is 1:0.15-0.6. Rubber is pref. a sequenced copolymer of styrene/elastomer/styrene where the styrene is present in a proportion of 15-40 wt.% of the polymer.    Efficiency of batteries using the separator is enhanced. Separator is resistant to degradation by flowing electrolyte soln. and is easy to form efficiently and inexpensively.
Battery separator is described having a high electrical conductivity and a strong resistance to dendrite fermation. The separator consists of a sheet formed from a uniform mixt. of a thermoplastic rubber, an inert filler of particle size range 0.01-10 mu; alpha thermoplastic rubber modifier, and a treatment agent selected from stearic acid, metallic stearates, amides of stearic acid and natural or synthetic waxes.    The filler is used in a vol. ratio to the rubber of 10:1.5 -6, the modifier forms 2-10 wt.% w.r.t. the complete mixt., and the treatment agent 0.5-5 wt.% w.r.t. the whole mixt.    The components of the separator form a homogeneous mixt. capable of being treated in continuous manner or by standard equipment to form the sheet. The efficiency of the batteries using the separation watered is enhanced.
Compsn. for battery separators comprises 30-80 (50-70) wt.% expanded perlite and 20-70 (30-50) wt.% glass fibres the fibres having dias. of 0.3-1 mu; while the perlite particles are 3-100 (10-35) mu dia.    Used in lead battery cells with "exhausted" electrolyte. Separator mixt. is inexpensive compared with prior art and has clearly superior electrical characteristics.
Thermal battery has surfactant contd. in exothermic members which intervene between element cells in layer state. Opt. 0.4-0.8wt.% surfactant is contained based on exothermic material.    By adding the surfactant, the moulding produced by rubber moulded plate acquires good compatibility to the exothermic mixt., so that uniform moulding layer is obtd.    As surfactant, anionic type cationic type surfactant or nonionic surfactant alone or the mixt. were used. Esp. polyoxyethylene-nonylphenylether type is suitable. The content was 0.1-0.5 (0.4-0.8)wt.%. Conventional exothermic member comprising oxidn. agent e.g. PbCrO4, BaCrO4, KMnO4 etc. + metal Zr powder + binder, did not have good compatibility to rubber moulded plate, so that the exothermic layer thickness was not uniform giving non uniform heating to the element cells.
Solid electrolyte battery comprises unit cells composed of (1) Ag cathode, (2) anode contg. 1 kind(s) of poly(2-vinyl-oyridine)-I2 or condensn. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. pyrene, perylene, violanthorene, etc.) and (3) AgI-Ag2O, GeO2 solid electrolyte having compsn. range A-B-C-D-E-F-G in the compsn. triangular diagram, where AgI, Ag2O, GeO2 = A (0.95, 0.025, 0.025); B (0.90, 0.02, 0.08), C (0.60, 0.08, 0.32), D(0.63, 0.148, 0.222) E (0.20, 0.40, 0.40), F (0.40, 0.36, 0.24), G (0.86, 0.0 0.073, 0.067).    Small size long life battery is obtd. In an example, AgI:Ag2O:GeO2 compsn. (each purity 99.9%) was 0.85: 0.068:0.062 by mol. ratio. Obtd. battery has open circuit voltage 1.85 V, initial voltage of 20 K OMEGA load resistance and 10 mAH at 0.5 V cut-off.
Solid electrolyte battery comprises unit cells composed of (1) Ag cathode, (2) anode contg. 1 kind(s) of poly-(2-vinylpyridine)-I2 or complex cpd. of I2 + condensn. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. pyrene, perylene vislanthorene, etc.) and (3) AgI-Ag2O-B2O3 solid electrolyte having compsn. range A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N in the compsn. triangular diagram, where AgI, Ag2O, B2O3 = A (0.88, 0.06, 0.06), (B 0.915, 0.057, 0.028), C (0.879, 0.097, 0.024), D (0.832, 0.134, 0.034), E (0.533, 0.374, 0.093) F, (0.467, 0.400, 0.133) G (0.184, 0.544, 0.272), H (0.322, 0.339, 0.339), I (0.267, 0.183, 0.550), J (0.207, 0.159, 0.634), K (0.375, 0.062, 0.563), L (0.570, 0.043, 0.387), M (0.832, 0.036, 0.134), N (0.898, 0.025, 0.077).    Small size and long life battery is obtd. In an example, the electrolyte compsn. was 0.705 0.197 0.095 by mol. ratio. Anode was produced from complex cpd. of perylene + I2 (2.3 by mol. ratio). Obtd. battery had open-circuit voltage 1.85 V, initial voltage 1.8 V at load resistance of 20 K OMEGA and 11 mAH at 0.5 V cut-off.
In a solid electrolyte battery comprising Li cathode and solid Li3N electrolyte, the electrolyte is produced by placing Li in N2 atmosphere, heating it at 150-200 degrees C to form Li3N on the Li surface and moulding it with pressure. A thin and reduced self-discharging battery may thus be obtd.    In an example, Li sheet (0.3 mm thick) was punched into a disc of 9 mm dia. to give a cathode, which was heated at 150-180 degrees C under a vacuum (10-2 - 10-4 torr). N2 gas was suddenly introduced at 5 kg/cm2 gauge pressure and the cathode rapidly cooled. The obtd. L3N layer was pressed under 500 g/cm2. Anode was electron-transfer complex material contg. I2 in poly-4-vinylpyridine. Obtd. battery thickness was 20-100 mu compared with 200 mu for a conventional hot-press. Self-discharge rate after 6 months storage was 0% and 0.6% (max. 0.8% min 0.2%) after 1 yr.
Electrode plate for clad type lead storage battery comprises as active material, granulated Pb or Pb oxide etc. together with 0.1-10wt.% of acid-resistant synthetic resin powder or synthetic fibre or their dispersion is filled between core metal (1) and tube (2).    Initial discharge and discharge life are improved.    In an example, Pb or Pb-oxide powder, water, H2SO4 and polyethylene (polyester or PTFE) powder or fibre or their dispersion 0.1-10 (0.5-5)wt.% were mixed, which was granulated. The granules were filled between the core metal and the tube. Due to the granulation, filling operation was facilitated, H2SO4 was easily penetrated between the granules and the granules was strongly combined with the resin or fibre. Hence, the Pb material was stable and battery life was elongated.
Case holding lithium-sulphur partic. dioxide cells subject to expansion or gas venting comprises an open-ended holder and an outer sleeve part of which covers the holder open end. The holder and sleeve are secured together by an elastomeric adhesive so that the case can expand to compensate for internal pressure increase.    Adhesive is pref. room-temperature vulcanising rubber natural or reclaimed rubber, neoprene, nitrile rubber, styrene-butadiene or polysulphide, partic. the first, and forms beads when positioned between two sliding surfaces. The adhesive may be non-continuous so that gas can be released to atmosphere without holder and sleeve septg.
A layer of hot melt adhesive is located around the connector and a heat-shrinkable sleeve around the adhesive, and hot sealing compound is applied between hole and sleeve to shrink the sleeve on the layer and to seal the sleeve in the hole.    The sleeve is pref. of polyethylene, may be a tube or wound-on tape, and is lined with hot-melt adhesive, which is the same as the sealing cpd. The sleeve shrinking places sufficient pressure on the adhesive to produce a seal with a lead surface, while without pressure an effective seal is not obtained. The sleeve is shrunk at e.g. 120-130 degrees C.
Semiconductor modules, specially solar cells, are embedded in a plastic material such as glass-fibre reinforced epoxy resin or polyester to protect them against atmospheric exposure. After the resin has been applied, it is hardened by irradiation with high-energy rays (electron beam). An adhesion promoter can be interposed between the module and the resin and can also be cured by high-energy rays.    This requires no admixture of prods. such as peroxide and prevents the formation of cracks in the enclosure. The radiation energy dosage can be adjusted to suit the thickness and location; a dose of 15-20 Mrad. in the case of polyester would provide a very hard curing on the surface while a residual dose of 10-12 Mrad. would result in a soft curing on the surface in contact with the semiconductor module.
Seal consists of an outer, flanged eye ring made of metal and sepd. from a coaxial metal rod by a glass seal, which also provides electric insulation between the rod and the ring. The bottom end of the rod inside the battery is located in a metal cup which forms an electrical- and mechanical- connection with the rod. The cup is chemically compatible with teh materials inside the battery, and is electrically connected to an electrode, which is therefore connected to the rod.    The joint between the rod and the cup is surrounded by a sealing bush, which is made esp. of polyethene, polypropylene, or the copolymers of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene. The pref. battery contains a lithium anode, and a depolariser of SO2 or SOCl2, the cup being made of Al, Ta, Ti, Mo, or W.
Active mineral and an organic solvent e.g. ethylene or propylene glycol are mixed. Dissociable salt e.g. NaCl or KCl or a soln. contg. the dissociable salt is added to the mixt. and kneaded to prepare a paste. Base substrate is coated with paste to make a negative electrode.    Negative electrode has high mechanical strength, prolonged life and excellent discharge performance.
In mfr. of an organic electrolyte cell comprising a cathode an anode of light metal and an organic electrolyte which is gelled with alkyl polymethacrylate, the gelled organic electrolyte is made by impregnating the cathode contg. alkyl polymethacrylate with an organic electrolyte, and heating the cathode to gell the organic electrolyte in the cathode.    In an embodiment, a lithium-carbon fluoride cell comprises a stainless steel case (1), a stainless steel cover (2), a lithium sheet (4) serving as an anode fixed to the cover (2), an electrolyte retaining member (8), a separator (7) and a cathode (5). The cathode (5) is made by moulding a mixture of carbon fluoride, acetylene black, a binder and powdered methyl methacrylate into a disc, impregnating the disc with propylene carbonate electrolyte contg lithium borofluoride, and subjecting the disc to a heat treatment at 90 degrees C to complete a disc type cathode contg. the gelled organic electrolyte.
Iron electrode for alkaline battery is produced by impregnating an aq. soln. or slurry of Fe or Fe cpd. into a substrate obtd. by sintering alkali-resistant metal chopped fibres of 2-100 mu dia. followed by drying and sintering.    Battery life is improved since Fe active material is held on alkali-resistant metal fibre having a large surface area, hence the strength and electric conductivity are improved. Due to the highly porous substrate, the material cost can be reduced.
Electrode is produced by press-moulding a granular material mainly composed of Ag2O or AgO contg. water soluble acrylic resin component. Opt. the grain size of the granular material is e.g. 43-346 u and the acrylic resin content is 3 wt.%.    The dimensions are precise and cracks do not occur. Alkaline-resistance and oxidation-resistance are improved so that discharge reaction is smoothly conducted and good discharge properties are attained.
Anodic mixed material mainly composed of AgO is press-moulded onto a porous metal pedestal ring having adhered on it a reducing agent component in molten state or coated stated. The moulding is contained in a cathodic can together with alkaline electrolyte contg. a reducing agent.    The anodic mixed agent surface is appropriately reduced on the porous metal pedestal and electric contact of the pedestal and the anodic can is improved.
Alkaline battery provides ring-form metal pedestal in brim of anodic material mainly composed of AgO. The pedestal is composed of porous metal and a reduced film layer mainly composed of Ag2O is provided at least on the contact surface to the anodic can or to the pedestal.    Improved discharge characteristics are attained due to sufficient contactness between the pedestal and the anodic can. Used for constant voltage instrument e.g. for watch battery. Anodic mixed agent is produced by press-forming AgO 245 mg at 5 ton/cm2 pressure into 0.7 mm plate and reducing the plate in 20% CH3OH soln. The pedestal was stainless plate L-letter form ring.    A separator was prepd from cellophane-graft film-cellophoane-polypropylene. The cathodic agent was made from Zn amalgam-sodium polyacrylate (75 mg). Electrolyte was composed of 35 wt % KOH aq. soln. contg. ZnO of 5.2 wt %.
A mixed agent layer (2) contains a porous structure metal member (1) which causes no electrochemical reaction even in contact with anodic active material in presence of electrolyte and is mainly composed of anodic active, material having component other than silver oxide. There is also a mixed agent layer (3) made from anodic active material. mainly composed of silver oxide. The layers are laminated together where the mixed agent layer (2) is adhered to a sepg. layer which separates the double-layer structural anodic mixed agent (4) from the cathodic agent (9). Electrolyte retentivity is improved the sepg. layer does not deteriorate and discharge properties at low temp. or heavy load are improved.    The porous metal may be made from e.g. Ni, Ag, Ni-Cr, Fe-Cr or Ni-Cr-Fe alloy, which was produced by plating or vapour-depositing the metal (or alloy) on a foamed polyurethane resin and removing the resin by heating it in inactive reducing gas. The anodic mixed agent was produced by filling MnO2 paste into the porous metal pores.
Method comprises (1) irradiating thermoplastic film in an atmos. contg. &gt;21 vol % O2 to generate hydroperoxide or peroxide in the film and (2) contacting a vinyl monomer with the film to graft-polymerise the monomer onto the film. The film is polyethylene, polypropylene polyester or polycarbonate. The vinyl monomer is acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, vinylpyridine, allylamine or vinyl sulphonic acid.    The separator is used in the storage battery. It has an improved oxidn. resistance and a low electric resistance.    In an example, a polyethylene film of 30 mu m thickness was irradiated by electron rays of 10 megarads in an N2-O2 atmos. contg. 23 vol % (not given probably of O2) to generate the peroxide. Acrylic acid was dissolved in acetone to form a soln. The film was immersed in the soln. to polymerise the acid into the film.
Compsn. suitable for prodn. of an electrode which is both ionically and, pref. electronically conductive comprises the agglomeration prod. of (1) a composite mass of electrode material partic. its active material and, opt. 1 inert cpd. pref. having electronic conduction and (2) a solid soln. of an ionic cpd. which is completely dissolved in a plastics macromolecular material (I). The ionic material has formula M+X- where Mis an alkali metal or NH4 and X- is a strong acid anion. (I) comprises (partly) homo and/or copolymers having noncrosslinked chains derived from monomers having a heteroatom, pref. O or N, which can form donor-acceptor bonds with M+.    Used in prodn. of electrochemical generators which are rechargeable and operable at &lt;100, esp. &lt;60 degrees C with all the components remaining solid during operation. Modifications of volume can be more easily compensated and risks of contact break between electrodes and electrolyte more reduced than in known generators. Generator is used e.g. in the microelectronic industry such as batteries for pacemakers and in power plants for energy storage in peak hours.
Electrochemical generator for producing electric current comprises negative and positive electrodes and an electrolyte comprising at least in part, a solid soln. of an ionic cpd. which is completely dissolved in a macromolecular plastics material. Ionic cpd. has formula M+X- where M is an alkali metal or ammonium and X is the anion of a strong acid. The plastics comprises (partly) homo and/or copolymers having noncrosslinked chain derived from monomers having an heteroatom, pref. O or N, which can form donor-acceptor bonds with M+.    Generator is rechargeable and can operate at lower temps., pref. &lt;100, esp. &lt;60 degrees C with all the components remaining in the solid state during operation. Modifications of vol. can be more easily compensated and risks of contact break between electrodes and electrolyte more reduced than in known generators.    The generator can be used in various fields e.g. in the microelectronic industry such as batteries for pacemakers, and in power plants for storing energy during peak hours.
A cell, comprising active metal anode, cathode collector and ionically conductive cathode-electrolyte soln. of solute dissolved in gp. V or VI liq. oxyhalide, has an S-contg. material, MxSyY2, M = alkali or alkaline earth metal, S = sulphur, Y = Cl or Br, dissolved in the cathode-electrolyte. x = 0-2; y = 1-14; z = 0-2; provided that (i) when z = 0, x = 0; (ii) when x = 0, z = 0; (iii) when x and z = 0 and the oxyhalide does not form S as discharge prod., the S incorporated is 1 wt.%, based on wt. cathode-electrolyte, to amt. S dissolving at ambient temp. and pressure; (iv) when x or z = o, cathode electrolyte contains material providing 0.05-10 (pref. 0.05-1.5) wt.% S.    The additive prevents anode passivation during storage/use and avoids the voltage delay at the start of operation.
A water-insoluble crosslinked polymer alkaline battery separator is prepd. by casting a film of an aq. soln. comprising polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid; drying the film to form a self-supporting sheet; contacting the sheet with an aq. soln. of pH &lt;8 contg. sufficient dissolved salt to prevent dissolution of the sheet in the soln.; and irradiating the soln. with ionising radiation to form H atom radicals and hydroxyl molecule radicals and crosslink the polymer.    The extent of crosslinking is easily controlled. The material has low electrical resistivity.
Work in lithium button cells using polypropylene seals yielded product having excessive leakage after one month elevated temperature storage. The preferred material for best mechanical sealing is nylon, which possesses excellent compressive strength without exhibiting the cold flow characteristics of polypropylene materials. Compatibility tests of nylon seals in organic solvent electrolytes showed that within six weeks at ambient temperature the nylon surface was being attacked as evidenced by discolouration, softening, and swelling of the seals. It was theorised that with the proper seals, for lithium, button cells having organic electrolytes are made of nylon because of its excellent compressive strength. At the proper compression of the seal, attack is limited to that portion of the seal inside the cell that came in contact with organic electrolyte. This results in a softening/tackifying and slight swelling inside the cell below the compression point of the seal, which in turn further improves the sealing characteristics of the cell.    No leakage is observed after one year's storage at 21 degrees C and higher temps. The seals are superior to prior art polypropylene on.
An alkaline electrolyte is gelatinised by a gelling agent produced by copolymerisation of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and maleic anhydride in the presence of deoxidising agent e.g. acetic anhydride, propionic anhydride, butyric anhydride or succinic anhydride. This alkaline battery has excellent leakproof characteristics.
In an alkaline battery, an alkaline electrolyte is gelatinised by a gelling agent produced by crosslinking polymerisation of acrylic acid, and/or methacrylic acid with divinyl-benzene. The alkaline electrolyte consists of an aq. soln. contg. 40wt.% of KOH.    This alkaline battery has excellent leak-proof characteristics.
Powdery, fibriform or granular Zn is uniformly dispersed in a PVA aq. soln. contg. 0.01-10 mol.% of boron oxide or boric acid. The dispersion is poured into a non-woven fabric bag and immersed in an alkaline soln. to form a gel-like dispersion, which is used as anode for alkaline battery.
An electrochemically inert film composed of epoxy resin, silicone resin, etc. is provided on reaction surface of a Zn electrode. The Zn electrode is used as an output terminal.    Since the reaction surface of the Zn electrode is selectively shielded by the inactive film, the increase of the internal resistance of the cell is controlled to increase the preservation life.
Zn powder is dispersed in a gelling electrolyte composed of amalgamated Zn powder, alkaline electrolyte and gelling agent to provid a negative electrode for an alkaline cell. In such an electrode, the gelling agent is composed of polymethacrylic acid or Na or K methacrylate having a polymerisation degree of 5,000-50,000.
A paper or glass mat is impregnated with a H2O-soluble phenolic resin contg. 1-5 alkali(ne earth) metal sulphates and 5-20% nitrile rubber latex and the treated material is hardened to obtain a separator for Pb batteries. Prod. has high acid resistance and tensile strength.    In an example, a mixt. of PhOH 900, 37% HCHO 1550, and NaOH 27 pts. was reacted at 80 degrees C for 3 hrs. The reaction mixt. was evapd. and conc. to 70% solids, cooled to 40 degress C, neutralised, cooled to 10 degrees C, and filtered. The H2O-soluble phenolic resin thus obtd. 100 was mixed with nitrile rubber latex 5 and surfactant 1 pt. A lint paper (130 g./m2) was impregnated with the mixt. (final resin content 27-30%), dried at 200 degrees C, for 10 mins. and made into a separator. Acid-resistance time and tensile strength (JIS C 2310) for the prod. were 35 hrs. and 1.0 kg./mm2, resp. The resp. values for a conventional separator were 25 hrs. and 0.6 kg./mm2.
Mixed monomer composed of a monomer with one ethylenic bond and a monomer with 2 polymerisable double bonds is mixed with a solvent. Suspension is cooled to produce a crystal member. UV rays or radiation are applied to the crystal member to polymerise the mixed monomer. Crystal member is washed to removed the solvent.
Separator for a lead storage battery comprises a sheet-shaped fibrous web composed of acid resistant synthetic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., and fine particles of acid resistant inorganic material such as diatomaceous earth, mica, etc. dispersed in the web.
Sintered substrate for alkaline storage battery is produced by (1) mixing both Ni powder and Ni fibre (fibre dia., 2-50-mu) or alkaline-resistant metal fibre of Ni-plated metal (except Ni) and sintering.    Mechanical strength and porosity are high, so that expensive Ni powder is saved and active material impregnating times are reduced.
The substrate for alkaline battery electrode is produced by sintering Ni or Ni-plated metal fibre and sintering Ni powder on the fibre. Substrate strength, active material utilisation rate and discharge properties are improved.
The electrode is produced by (1) coating on an electrode substrate a paste contg. dispersion of Pb powder active material + H2SO4 + water + fluorocarbon resin and (2) providing unevenness on the coating layer surface.    High efficiency discharge is imparted with improved workability.
Button-type alkaline battery comprises 0.6 mm. thick moulded anode which is produced by mixing and triturating argentous oxide powder, graphite powder and Ag powder of av. particle dia. 0.3-3 microns, followed by moulding. Cracks in the moulded anode and disconnection of the ring pedestal are prevented.
In a Ag2O battery using Ag2O as the anode active material, the Ag2O contains Ti (e.g. Ti 10% Ag2O 100% by wt.). Starting discharge is appropriately controlled, effective discharge is imparted and expensive silver is saved.
In the battery, an ion-penetrating part is formed in a section of an ion-impenetrable polymer sheet to give a separator having both ion-penetrating and ion-impenetrable parts. Battery elements, e.g. active material electrolyte liq., collector etc. are disposed in the ion-penetrating part. The ion-impenetrable polymer is coated over the separator, and the separator is directly or indirectly adhered to and sealed in the polymer on the ion-impenetrable part. A collector is then mounted on the assembly. Productivity is high and the produced battery is miniaturised.    In an example, polypropylene sheet (av. pore 0.1 microns; 20 microns thick) was punched into a sheet of 14mm dia. The sheet, except a centre circle of 10 mm dia., was heated by roller heater to break the pores. The centre circle had been preliminarily treated with surfactant to keep ion-penetrating property. Ag-ion accepting ZnS layer (100 micron thick) was disposed on the ion-penetrating part, and argentous oxide anodic agent (0.5mm thick) was injected into it. Zn-contg. cathodic active agent (0.3 micron thick) was disposed on the other side via the separator. A 30 micron thick polypropylene film was covered over the anode and the cathodic active material. A collector was mounted on the assembly to complete a thin-type battery.
The sintered electrode plate has high strength, good glow discharge property, electric resistance about 70 microohm.cm., and porosity is approx. 83%.    Ni Fibres or Ni-plated Fe fibres having dia. 20 microns and length of 100 mm. are mixed with carboxymethyl-cellulose and water. The obtd. paste is applied ontot he surfaces of a Ti-plated Fe sheet having thickness 0.1 mm. The paste layer on the Fe sheet is sintered at 1000 degrees C in a hydrogen gas stream for is approx. 5 mins., in order to bond the sintered fibres on the sheet. Then, the surface of the sintered paste layer is coated with a mixt. of Ni powder, carboxy-methyl-cellulose and water. The coated sheet is sintered at 1000 degrees C in hydrogen gas, to form the sintered Ni powder layer on the sintered Ni fibre layer bonded to the Fe sheet.
A cathode electrolyte contg. metal ions capable of forming complexes with bromine is circulated through the catholyte chamber in a sec. battery using bromine. This prevents evapn. and corrosion action of the bromine.    In an example, the metal ions are added to the electrolyte, in the form of a metal ion-contg. complex consisting of M12MX4 where M1 is H, alkali metal or NH4; M is a Co, Cr, Au or Pt and X is Cl.
Manganese dioxide powder, electrically conductive material and a fluororesin binder are mixed and compacted into a body. The compacted body is heated at less than the decompsn. temp. of the fluororesin. The prepd. cathode has high mechanical strength and excellent discharge performance, and it contains no water.    In an example, 10 pts.wt. manganese dioxide, 0.7 pt. wt. acetylene black as an electrically conductive agent and 0.5 pt.wt. of polytetrafluoroethylene as a binder are mixed and compacted at 1,000-5,000 kg./cm2 into a disc 15 mm. in dia. and 1 mm. in thickness. The disc is heated at 200-300 degrees C for 1 hr. to form a cathode having electric capacity 150mAh. An anode consists of Li. A non-aq. electrolyte is produced by dissolving 1 mol./l. of LiClO4 in a mixed solvent of polypropylene carbonate and dimethoxyethane.
The separator comprises cloth or nonwoven fabric consisting of a copolymer of ethylene or propylene and monomers of formula (I), (where R1 is H or methyl and R2 is H or alkyl). The separator is used for a sealed alkaline storage battery. It has excellent durability and electrolyte-holding properties.    Pref., the monomers are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or esters thereof. The copolymer is a graft copolymer having graft copolymerisation degree of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid 1-30 mol.% or that of ester 10-80 mol.%, or a block copolymer having graft copolymerisation degree 5-50 mol.%.    In an example, nonwoven fabric consists of polyethylene fibre and has porosity 60% and thickness 12 mu. Methyl acrylate is grafted onto polyethylene by radiation. The graft copolymerisation rate is 10 mol.%. The prepd. separator is used in a Ni-Cd battery.
Cell has an elastic seal located between the cell housing or cup and its lid. The seal is formed by a sealing ring (1) made of soft plastic and partly in contact with both the cup and the lid; the remaining surfaces of ring (1) are in contact with two ring seals (4,5) made of a hard plastic, so ring (1) is firmly located.    The three rings (1,4,5) pref. have projections so they can be snapped into the desired positions; and the rings (1,4,5) may be bonded to each other, or to the cup or lid, by an adhesive. One or both hard rings (4,5) may be sprayed onto the soft ring; and/or the rings (1,4,5) may be sprayed on to the cup or the lid.    High sealing pressures can be used to ensure an effective seal during the entire working life of the cell, without causing uncontrolled cold flow of the seal.
Method (1) mixing dil. H2SO4 contg. polyethylene oxide with lead powder, (2) forcibly ageing the mixt. to form a lump, and pulverising the lump. The amt. of polyethylene oxide is 0.5-2 wt.% to the amt. of Ph powder.    A sleeve of a cathode for clad type lead battery can be easily filled with the granular lead. The discharge capacity of the battery is improved.
Mfr. of an anode for an alkali cell comprises (1) preparing a mixt. paste consisting of active material, an aq. soln. of PVA, an organic solvent such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol and an aq. dispersion of fluoroplastics such as PTFE and tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, and (2) pressing the mixt. paste to an electrode substrate. The active material consists mainly of CdO powder.    Sepn. of the active material from the electrode substrate can be prevented. The paste strongly adheres to the substrate.
Method of making the anode comprises preparing a mixt. paste consisting of active material, an aq. soln. of polyvinyl alcohol and a water dispersion of fluoroplastics such as polytetrafluoroethylene and tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer.    The mixt. paste is pressed onto an electrode substrate, and the active material consists mainly of CdO.    By using the mixt. paste, dropping off of the active material from the electrode substrate can be prevented. The mixt. paste strongly adheres to the electrode substrate.
A paste consists of active material, an organic solvent such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, and an aq. dispersion of fluoroplastics such as polytetrafluoroethylane and tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer. The mixt. is pressed onto an electrode substrate. The active material consists mainly of CdO.    By using this paste, dissociation of active material from the electrode substrate can be prevented. It adheres strongly to the substrate.
An alkaline button type closely sealed cell comprises an anode cap (201), an anode mix (211) (e.g. Zn-Hg), an electrolyte supporting film (205), a separator (206), a separator protecting film (207), a cathode mix (210), a cathode can (203), and a packing (202). The peripheral portion (204) of the anode cap (201) is formed flat. The inner surface of the anode cap without the flat portion is coated with a plated film (209) of Cu, Sn, In, Au, Ag, Zn, Cd or their alloy. The flat peripheral portion (204) is joined with packing (202) using a sheetlike adhesive agent (208). The packing is pref.nylon or polyethylene contg. 30 wt.% of carbon.    The combination of the packing with the peripheral flat portion of the anode cap gives a very thin type alkaline button cell with improved electrolyte leakage proof property.
Paste type electrode for lead battery is produced by coating on a substrate, a kneaded mixt. of paste of Pb active material powder, H2SO4 and water, a fluorine contg. resin dispersion and a surfactant in an amt. 2-5 g per 100 g of the active material. Discharge properties and charge-discharge cycle life are improved.
Process comprises (a) mixing active material with organic solvent e.g. ehtyleneglycol of propylene glycol; (b) kneading and coagulating by adding aq. dispersion soln. of fluorine resin e.g. PTFE and (c) coating with pressure the coagulated material on an electrode substrate.    Mechanical strength and electric discharge property are improved.
In an alkaline battery an ion-penetrating-thin layer having in it dispersed alkaline-resistant short fibres is positioned at the interface between the synthetic or natural fibre separator and the anodic mixed agent. The battery internal shorting in storage is prevented and the battery capacity increases.
The outer edge of the cathodic can (e.g. Copal (RTM), Inconel (RTM) or Fe-Ni alloy) is almost flat and baked with glass (e.g. borate-silicate). The glass-baked part is pressed at a bent section of anodic vessel via resin packing. Electrolyte liq. creeping velocity due to electro-chemical phenomena is retarded, so that liq. leakage is prevented. Used for mini electronic calculator, radio or a hearing-aid.
Separators for cells are produced by (a) irradiating a polymer film of 150 mu m thickness with an ionising radiation dose of 1 Mrad, (b) contacting the film with an aq. soln. of a terminally unsatd. monomer at low temp. to graft polymerise the monomer onto the film and (c) treating with an aq. alkaline soln.    Pref. the film is polyolefin, esp. polyethylene.    The film is used as a separator in primary or secondary batteries. It has good acid resistance, mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. The process improves the utilisation of monomer and gives uniform grafting in good yield economically.
Electrode for a lead acid high power accumulator has a number of electrolyte permeable tube casings (11) containing active material and conductors (12a, 12b, 12c) connected to a common collector bar. The tube casings (11) are of approximately elliptical cross section and are inclined so that the plane through the major axis of the cross section is at 25 to 50 degrees to the central plane (c) of the plate, and each pair of adjacent tube casings contact each other along a line.    Cell capacity is increased due to good cooling, and short current transport from the conductors (12) within the tube casings.
Electrochemical cell container has a lid having a through bore to receive a post connector having a strap projecting laterally from the post to connect to collector tabs attached to the cell electrode plates. The lid has a protuberant portion adjacent the orifice to support the strap. Pref. the moulded lid is of polypropylene or polystyrene.    Support prevents cracking of the strap by reducing the possibility of vibration of the strap if the cell is subject to thrust or vibration.
A mixt. of a non-gelling, a gelling, and a completely sol. viscous paste is applied to the inside of a kraft-paper lined dry-cell battery. The battery is leakproof and has excellent discharge property and shelf life.    In an example, a dry-well battery was prepd. with NH4Cl 5, ZnCl2 22, H2O 73, MnO2, acetylene black, and a mixt. of epichlorohydrin-starch polymer (30-70, non-gelling); polyethylene glycol ether of epichlorohydrin-starch polymer (20-60, gelling), and poly(vinyl alcohol) (10%, completely sol.) with terminating voltage 0.9 V. The battery had a life of 470 min. with 2 30 min. discharge/day compared to 350 min. for a conventional battery.
Monomers each having an ethylenic bond and monomers each having 2 polymerisable double bonds are mixed. The mixt. and solvent are mixed in a vol. ratio of 1:1 to prepare an emulsion or suspension. A porous body is impregnated with the emulsion or suspension. The mixt. is polymerised by irradiating with e.g. UV rays. The solvent is then removed from the porous body.
The battery has a separator comprising a PVC-coated microporous resin film contg. Ca(OH)2. The microporous resin film consists of polyethylene, polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride. Ca(OH)2 in the resin film suppresses growth of dendrites of zinc.
In an alkaline battery, a polymer contg. repeating units of alpha-methylene glutaric anhydride is used as gelling agent for an alkaline electrolyte. The polymer is produced by homocopolymerisation of alpha-beta-unsatd. monocarboxylic acid in the presence of a dehydrating agent.
An electrode plate assembly is fabricated by interposing a separator between a zinc anode plate and a cathode plate. The separator comprises a Ca(OH)2 layer, or a Ca(OH)2 layer and a PVA film. The outer edge of the electrode plate assembly are coated with insulating films of alkali-proof and acid-proof resin.
Cathode material consists mainly of fine powder of reduced silver. The material is compacted into discs of the desired shape and the reduced silver in the disc is oxidised to produce a cathode mix. This process makes it possible to reduce grain size of silver oxide in the cathode mix. A silver oxide battery having improved discharge performance is obtd.    In an example, 95 pts. wt. reduced Ag powder having grain size 0.5-2 micron and 5 pts. wt. graphite powder having the same grain size are mixed and dispersed uniformly in a xylene soln. contg. 2-5 wt.% epoxy resin. By evapn. of xylene, viscous material is obtd. and rolled onto a sheet to the desired thickness. The sheet is punched into discs. The cathode mix disc is placed in a cathode can and oxidised by discharge to convert the reduced Ag to silver oxide (AgO).
A packing is coated with a sealant consisting of polyvinyl alkylether resin, epoxy resin and phenol resin. The coated packing is interposed between an anode can and a cathode can of a battery to provide improved leak resistance.    Pref. the sealant consists of 50-70 pts. wt. polyvinyl alkylether resin having mean mol. wt. 35-60, 20-45 pts. wt. epoxy resin having mean mol. wt. 300-500, and 5-10 pts. wt. phenol resin having mean mol. wt. 200-300. The sealant has adequate viscosity and excellent coating properties.
Cell comprises an air electrode; a negative electrode; a separator placed between the electrodes; an electrolyte-impregnating sheet placed between the electrodes; and an electrolyte preserved by the sheet. Air electrode consists of a Ni oxide, a metal phthalocyanine, a C fine powder and a fluorocarbon resin. Metal of the phthalocyanine is Co, Ni, Fe or Cu. Electrolyte consists of an aq. soln. of sulphamate. Negative electrode consists of Pb.    Air electrode has improved discharge properties.
The air cell comprises an air electrode, a negative electrode, a separator placed between the electrode, an electrolyte-impregnating sheet placed between the electrodes and an electrolyte preserved by the sheet. The air electrode consists of a nickel oxide, a metal phthalocyanine, a carbon fine powder and a fluorocarbon resin. The metal of the phthalocyanine is selected from Co, Ni, Fe and Cu. The electrolyte consists of an aq. soln. of sulphamate. The negative electrode consists of zinc.
The battery comprises a positive electrode of nickel oxide, a negative electrode of Zn, an alkaline electrolyte, a separator placed between the electrodes and an electrolyte-impregnated sheet placed between the negative electrode and the separator. the thickness of the negative electrode is 0.35 to 0.4 mm. The electrolyte-impregnated sheet has a thickness of 100 to 150 mu m and consists of polypropylene nonwoven cloth. The electrolyte consists of an aq. soln. of KOH with a specific gravity of 1.30 including LiOH.H2O in amt. 10 to 15 g/l.    The battery has thin electrodes, to improve discharge efficiency. Zn and the zinc oxide are mixed with a PVA binder to form a paste. The paste is rolled to form a negative electrode sheet. The positive electrode consists of sintered Ni. The battery is inserted in a metal case.
The method comprises (1) placing a positive electrode in a battery case, (2) placing a cellulose separator on the positive electrode, (3) placing nonwoven cloth on the separator, (4) pouring water in the cloth and (5) putting a negative electrode cap including a negative electrode in the case.    The cloth is wetted by water. An alkali electrolyte is effective impregnated in the wetted cloth to improve a discharge property of the battery.
The air cell comprises an air electrode, a negative electrode, a separator placed between the electrodes, an electrolyte-impregnating sheet placed between the electrodes and an electrolyte preserved by the sheet. The air electrode consists of a silver oxide, a metal phthalocyanine, a fine carbon powder and a fluorocarbon resin. The metal of the phthalocynine is selected from Co, Ni, Fe and Cu. The electrolyte consists of gel shaped alkali soln. such as NaOH soln. The negative electrode consists of zinc.
The air cell comprises an air electrode, a negative electrode, a separator placed between the electrodes, an electrolyte-impregnating sheet placed between the electrodes and an electrolyte preserved by the sheet. The air electrode consists of Ni oxide, metal phthalocyanine, carbon fine powder and fluorocarbon resin. The metal of the phthalocyanine is pref. of Co, Ni, Fe or Cu. The electrolyte consists of gel shaped alkali soln. such as NaOH soln. The negative electrode consists of zinc.    The air electrode has an improved discharge property.
The positive electrode comprises a sheet consisting of a sintered manganese dioxide, 6.2-8.6 wt.% of a graphite powder and a polytetrafluoroethylene powder. The battery comprises a negative electrode of light metal, such as Li, Na or Mg, the positive electrode and an electrolyte consisting of an organic solvent of propylene carbonate or gamma-butyrolactone and an inorganic salt such as lithium perchlorate.    The positive electrode improves the discharge capacitance.
The battery comprises a negative electrode contg. mercury amalgamated zinc powder, a positive electrode and an electrolyte.    The battery is placed in a battery case. The case is sealed by a battery cap used as a negative electrode collector. The negative electrode is in contact with the cap. The content of the mercury in the negative electrode is 6-35 mg/cm2. The inner surface of the cap consists of Cu or Sn.    The content of the mercury is lower than in the negative electrode of a conventional alkaline storage battery so that the leakage of the electrolyte of tis invention is effectively prevented. In an example, the negative electrode consists of the amalgamated zinc, sodium polyacrylate and KOH soln. and the positive electrode consists of AgO, graphite and binder.
The battery comprises a positive electrode of manganese dioxide or nickel oxide, an electrode and a separator placed between the electrodes. The separator comprises a nonwoven cloth of synthetic resin fibres, having nonwoven cloths of natural fibres formed on the both surfaces. The separator preserves the electrolyte effectively, so that the battery has an improved discharge property.    In an example, MnO2 (95 wt.%) and carbon powders (5 wt.%) are mixed and pressed at 5 ton/cm2 to form the positive electrode. The natural fibre of the separator consists of rayon.    The negative electrode formed on the separator consists of KOH aq. soln. (50 wt. pts.), CMC (2 wt. pts.) and Zn powder (200 wt. pts.).
Cathode material for a primary cell comprises a nixt. of PbO2, C black and butyl rubber latex. 1 stabilisers, wetting agents, thickners and surfactants may also be included as additives. A pref. material comprises (by wt. %): PbO2 75-96 esp. 87-93; C black 2-15 esp. 3.5-7; butyl latex 2-10 esp. 3-4; and additives 0-2, esp. 0.5-2.    Material has excellent adhesion to a conductive layer-coated skim. Cathode can be made a high prodn. rates in compact prodn. equipment having high flexibility in cell capacity design; the cathode has a. hr. efficiency of 30% of high current density of 240 ma/sq. in.; and low cost ppted. PbO2 may be used.
A separator comprises an open-ended pouch of needled polypropylene fabric to receive a battery plate and having fibres randomly placed into and on opposite sides of a central grid. The pouch is pref. formed from a rectangular sheet folded in half and with two abutting sides heat-sealed together.    The fibres pref. forn a porous overlay and high micron filter on one side of the grid and a dense calendered overlay and low micron filter on the other side. The separator provides free flow of ions while preventing electrode dendrite pentration. The thin pouch permits a higher plate density to increase battery capacity.
The paste for mfr. of positive electrode of lead electric storage battery, claimed in Parent Cert No. 389583, contains to improve electric characteristics of the battery (in pts. wt) lead powder 100-105, sulphuric acid 4.5:4.6 and propylene polymerisation prod. (filled with diatonile) 0.4-0.3.    The addn. of fibrous reinforcing material and the use of specified amts. of sulphuric prolongs the service life and increases the capacity of the battery due to the increased strength and porosity of active mass. The capacity of the typical battery is increased by 5-10% using 4.5 wt % sulphuric acid and 0.4 wt % fibrous filler with 20 hrs. discharge periods.
A silve r oxide battery includes a cathode using Ag2O as active material, an anode, a separator layer disposed between the cathode and the anode, and a polyolefin resin film contg. 1-5 wt.% of calcium hydroxide interposed between the cathode and the separator layer.    This silver oxide battery has stable battery performance and excellent storage stability.    In an embodiment, a cathode consists of 90 pts. wt. Ag2O, 7 pts. wt. MnO2 and 3 pts. wt. flaky graphite. An anode consists of amalgamated Zn powder, sodium salt of carboxymethl cellulose and an electrolyte. An electrolyte-holding layer consists of a 60 mu thick polyethylene film contg. 5 wt.% Ca(OH)2 powder. A separator consists of a semipermeable film of cellophane. Another electrolyte-holding layer is disposed between the anode and the separator. A current collector is attached to a cathode can. A nylon gasket is interposed between the cathode and the anode can.
Separator for a battery consists of non-woven fabric of synthetic resin the fibre surface layers of which are subjected to graft copolymerisation. Non-woven fabric of polyolefin resin is pref. irradiated with ionising radiation and immersed in aosln. contg. monomers each having a hydrophilic gp. to perform graft copolymerisation. Monomers are pref. (meth)acrylic acid or styrene sulphonic acid.    Separator has good wettability by an electrolyte and good O2 gas permeability because the fibre surface layers become hydrophilic.
Epoxy resin and a polyamide curing agent ar mixed in the equiv. ratio 1:2 to prepare a sealant. A packing is coated with the sealant and interposed between an anode can and a cathode. Leak-proof characteristics of the alkaline battery are improved.    A cathode mix consists of silver oxide powder and graphite powder. An anode mix consists of amalgamated Zn powder and paste of CMC. A separator comprises a semipermeable film of cellophane and an electrolyte-holding layer of nylon non-woven fabric. A cathode can consist of stainless steel. An anode can comprise an outer plate of Ni and an inner plate of Cu. A packing of polypropylene is coated with a sealant consisting of epoxy resin and polyamide resin mixed in the equiv. ratio 1:2. An electrolyte consists of a KOH soln. satd. with ZnO.
An organic electrolyte is solidified by methyl polymethacrylate which is polymerised at below room temp. The polymerisation temp. is pref. 25-70 degrees C.    Conventionally, an organic electrolyte cell using a light metal as a negative active material has high energy density. A carbon fluoride-lithium cell or a manganese dioxide-lithium cell has been utilised.    To improve electrolyte leakage prevention, the electrolyte is solidified by gelling using a polymer such as methyl polymethacrylate. Methyl polymethacrylate polymerised at low temp. has improved gel-holding property. It gives improved heat-resistance, and excellent leakage-preventing property is obtd.
At least two kinds of fibres having different diameters are mixed in the active material layer of the electrode. The dia. of the larger dia. fibre is 10-100 microns and it is added in amt. 0.5-2 wt.%. The dia. of the smaller dia. fibre is below 1 micron, and it is added in amt. 0.1-1 wt.%. The large dia. fibre is pref. glass, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, or carbon, and the smaller dia. fibre is pref. fluoro-resin.    A conventional paste-type lead cell was widely used because of its high capacity and low cost. However, its short life is a disadvantage. The small dia. fluoro-resin gives a mesh structure in the active material to increase the life. The large dia. fibre is interwined with the small fibre to make a strong mesh structure and to increase mechanical intensity and life.
Paper compsn., used as a separator in electrical batteries, comprises (a) 30-50 t. % glass fibres; and (b) 50-70 wt. % vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer. Glass has a fibre dia. of 0.2-0.75 mu m, pref. 0.2 mu. Basis wt. of glass (BWG) in the compsn. is 59-117 g/m2. Pref. there is 30 wt. % (a) where the BWG is 70 or 90 g/m2 or there is 40 wt. % (a) where the BWG is 70 g/m2. (1) pref. contains 85-88 wt. % vinyl chloride and 12-15 wt. % vinyl acetate. Compsn. is esp. useful in Zn./air batteries with alkaline electrolytes.    Separator ensures rapid activation of a Zn./air bicell at -40 degrees to 50 degrees C and retains satisfactory physical conditions during the discharge of the bicell.
Extender comprises (in wt.%): BaSO4 36-70 and an organic component comprising the polycondensation prod. of 2-naphthol-sulphonic acid with phenol and formaldehyde, 30-64.    The above organic component improves the Pb adsorption capacity of the electrode and reduces washing out.    A typical extender comprises a 1:1 mixt. of the above components.
Ni electrode for an alkaline battery comprises a porous metal body consisting of Ni and Co, and having a three-dimensionally continuous space, with active material held in the porous metal body. Pref. the porous metal body consists of a Ni-Co alloy contg. 0.5 to 10 wt.% Co or a Ni based coated with Co. The electrode is fabricated at low cost and has stable properties and a high capacity.    A spongy resin core consists of expanded polyethane having a porosity of 96%. The spongy resin core is electroless-plated with a Ni-Co alloy film 10 micron thick. The plated core is heated in H2 to carbonise the resin core. In this manner, an expanded Ni-Co alloy is produced. Paste-like active material is packed into the expanded metal.
Separator comprises a microporous resin film capable checking migration of particles of cathode active material, and cellophane formed in the pores of the film. The separator is interposed between a cathode mix and an electrolyte-absorbing sheet.    It is possible to reduce internal resistance of an alkaline battery e.g. a silver oxide or MnO2 battery and improve assembly of the alkaline battery.
Separator comprises a cellophane film and microporous resin film bonded to the cellophane film by an ethylene-acrylate copolymer adhesive. The microporous resin film can check migration of particles of cathode active material. The separator is interposed between an electrolyte-absorbing sheet and a cathode mixt. in such a way that the microporous resin film contacts the cathode mix.    The separator is useful in e.g. a silver oxide or MnO2 battery.
Rust prevented film is formed on Cu or Cu alloy surface of an anode container which serves as a current collector. Film contains a cpd. of formula (I). In (I) X is S, O or NH and Y is H or alkali metal. A gasket is brought into contact with the film on the anode container.    Cpd. (i) is pref. 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, mercaptobenzimidazole, 2-mercaptobenzoxazole, or their Na or K salt. 0.05-0.2 wt.% of (I) is dissolved in a solvent e.g. (m)ethanol), ether, acetone or chloroform to prepare rust prevented soln. 0.02-0.2wt.% of a non-ionic surfactant e.g. polyoxyethylene alkyl (phenyl) ether is pref. added. Soln. is coated on the peripheral portion of anode container and dried to form film.    Used to improve leak-proof characteristics of alkaline battery.
An anode can of metal serves as a current collector. A cathode can of metal serves as a current collector. The anode can is oxidised to form an oxide film. Glass frit is united as one body to the peripheral portion of the anode can and fused by heating. A packing is disposed between the anode can and the cathode can. The peripheral portion of the cathode can is pressed to the packing the carry out sealing.    The battery has improved leak-proof characteristics. In an example, a 66-nylon packing coated with a sealant is interposed between the anode can and the cathode can.
Accumulator is described which comprises an anode and a cathode immersed in a soln. of H2SO4 as electrolyte, the electrodes comprising a Pb-Sb grid coated with an active material. The accumulator also includes a sepg. membrane close to the cathode and comprising a delating resin having a macroporous polystyrene skeleton, the resin chain contg. aminophosphonic gps. to capture some or all of the Sb that passes into soln. in the electrolyte.    Sb is used in electrodes to improve flow during their prepn., as well as the contact between the grid and the active material during use. However, during use, Sb goes into soln. in the electrolyte, leading to reactions with evolution of H2 (danger of explosion) and eventual deposition of metallic Sb; in addn., SbH3 (toxic) may be formed.    Use of sepg. membranes of electrical resistance compatible with the optimum functioning of the accumulator prevents migration of SbO+ ions towards the cathode and overcomes the above problems. The method is esp. useful for batteries working in confined environments, e.g. in submerines.
Manifold-to-stack seal for fuel cell stack comprises (a) a polymer seal frame between the manifold lip sections and an associated surface of a fuel cell stack and (b) a means of pressing the lip sections, seal frame and stack together so that as the stack undergoes compressive creep the seal frame creeps with it allowing movement between manifold and frame while maintaining a seal.    The seal eliminates the problem of a seal sliding against the rough surface of the fuel cell stack by allowing movement between seal and the smooth surface of the manifold.
Lead accumulator negative electrode expander contains (in wt.%) barium sulphate 35-75 and organic binder 25-65.    The organic binder having increased adhesion to lead comprises reaction prod of sulphonated beta-naphthol, dihydroxy-phenyl-sulphone and formaldehyde with lignosulphonic acids.    The above organic component is used as tanning agent in leather industry. The electrode expanding material gives large working surface of the electrode preventing consolidation of its particles and increases the capacity of the electric storage battery.
The battery comprises a negative electrode activator of Li, a positive electrode activator consisting of an alkali aq. soln. and active carbon, and a solid electrolyte placed between the activator. The battery is placed in a battery case with an air passing opening. The electrolyte consists of lithium nitrate. The aq. soln. contains ions selected from Li, Na and K. In the positive electrode, air is used.    Because of the presence of the Li and oxygen in the air, the battery with a high energy density is formed. In an example, a separator of PTFE film is placed between the activator and the opening. A collector is placed on the activator. The electrolyte of Li3N is placed on the collector. The negative electrode of Li is placed on the electrolyte.
The electrode consists of iron activator an amalgamated metal selected from Sb, Tl, Bi and Cu.    In an example, Fe powder (95 pts. wt.), Cu powder (5 pts. wt.) and an aq. soln. (30 pts. wt.) of 3wt.% CMC were mixed to form a paste. The paste was coated on an iron punched plate. Then the plate with paste was sintered for 30 mins. at 800 degrees C in H2 atmos. Then the plate was immersed in an aq. soln. of 20wt.% mercury chloride for 5 mins. to amalgamate the Cu in the Fe activator preserved in the plate to form the iron electrode. The electrode was placed in a battery case including another electrode and an electrolyte of KOH soln.
The sealing structure comprises (a) battery case including battery element, (b) battery cap used as a negative electrode collector sealing the case, (c) a resin packing placed between the cap and the case and a sealing glass placed between the cap and the packing. The sealing glass covers the frame portion of the cap. A sealant, such as pitch, asphalt, polyamide, epoxy resin or synthetic resin, is formed on the surface of the packing. The surface of the cap of Kovar alloy is oxidised.    The sealing glass improves the sealing property of the sealing structure. Leakage of an electrolyte of the battery is effectively prevented by the structure. The battery element comprises positive electrode activator consisting of 5wt.% acetylene black, 5wt.% Ti powder and 90wt.% AgO powder, a separator, an electrolyte preserving sheet and a negative electrode activator of amalgamated zinc contg. about 5wt.% Cd.
The sealing structure comprises a battery case including a battery element, a battery cap used as a negative electrode collector sealing the case, a resin packing placed between the cap and the case and a sealing glass placed between the cap and the packing. The sealing glass covers the frame portion of the cap. A sealing agent, such as pitch, asphalt, polyamide, epoxy resin or synthetic resin, is formed on the surface of the packing. The surface of the cap is oxidised. The glass consists of a glass layer bonded to the cap.    The sealing glass improves the sealing property of the sealing structure. Leakage of an electrolyte of the battery is effectively prevented by the structure. The battery element comprises a positive electrode activator consisting of 5wt.% acetylene black, 5wt.% Ti powder and 90wt.% AgO powder, a separator, an electrolyte preserving sheet and a negative electrode activator of amalgamated zinc contg. about 5wt.% Cd.
The sealing structure comprises (a) battery case including a battery element, (b) battery cap used as a negative electrode collector sealing the case, (c) resin packing placed between the cap and the case and (d) sealing glass placed between the cap and the packing. The sealing glass covers the frame portion of the cap. A sealant, such as pitch, asphalt, polyamide, epoxy resin or synthetic resin, is formed on the surface of the packing.    The sealing glass improves sealing property of the sealing structure. Leakage of an electrolyte of the battery is effectively prevented by the structure. The battery element comprises a positive electrode activator consisting of 5wt.% acetylene black, 5wt.% Ti powder and 99wt.% AgO powder, a separator, an electrolyte preserving sheet and a negative electrode activator of amalgamated Zn contg. is approx. 5wt.% Cd.
Battery prodn. comprises (i) forming a battery from light metal active material cathode, MnO2 active material anode; (ii) dissolving inorganic electrolyte in nonaq. solvent contg. at least propylenecarbonate; and (iii) discharging part of the battery capacity.    Gas generation due to electrolyte decompsn. does not occur and internal impedance increase due to battery expansion in storage is prevented.
Battery electrode plate prodn. comprises producing a kneaded mixt. in a capillary state by kneading both active material powder and polymer binder aq. soln., feeding the mixt. onto electrode core member and simultaneously moulding the mixt. by a heat roller maintained at a gelling temp. of the polymer binder.    Continuous and precise sheet-form electrode plate is obtd.
Organic electrolyte battery comprises (a) cathode with light metal active material, (b) anode with MnO2 active material; and (c) organic electrolyte. Conductive material mixed with the anodic MnO2 comprises granular amorphous C powder having specific surface area 800 m2/g. Pref. mixing ratio of the C powder and the MnO2 is 1:99-9:91 by wt. Discharge voltage and discharge capacity are improved.
Alkaline battery separator is composed of PVA heat-treated in glycol-liq. or gas at 130-200 degrees C. Crystallisation degree is 0.40-0.60 and 5-20wt.% glycol is contained. Chemical resistance and flexibility are improved. Used as separator of prim. or sec. battery e.g. Ni-Cd, Ag-Cd, Hg-Cd, Ni-Zn, Ag-Zn, Zn-air, Ni-Fe battery.
The agent placed between a battery case and a packing and between a battery cap and the packing consists of fluorocarbon polymer contg. hydrocarbon halide, such as trichloroethane or trifluorotrichloroethane.    The sealing agent layer prevents leakage of electrolyte into the battery case.
Prepn. of cathodic material comprises mixing poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) and/or poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) with I2 under a protective atmos. then heating in a sealed vessel. Pref. mixing is in vacuo or under an inert atmos. esp. Ar. Heating is pref. at 225-350 degrees C for 8 hrs. Pref. further I2 is added after heating. In a pref. embodiment the material is subjected to a vacuum after heating to remove volatiles, pref. of &lt;100, esp. ca 1 mmHg.    Used in Li/I batteries. Rate of corrosion is reduced c.f. prior prepn. methods.
The battery is insulated all round by a layer of expanded polystyrene. This insulation should pref. be added when the cars are on the assembly line. If the insulation is to be added subsequently, it is necessary to use individual plates with a groove-and-tongue joint. Clips can be used to hold them together.    This ensures adequate protection at low temps.
PVC separator-enveloped battery plate prodn. comprises enfolding the plate along its bottom edge within a sheet of sintered microporous PVC separator material, cohesively bonding the sheet to itself around the lateral edges of the plate, and wicking a PVC plasticiser into the fold and up the separator portions contiguous with the fold.    The use of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or dimethyl and/or diethyl phthalate dissolved in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone as the plasticiser is claimed. The wicking distance is suitably 0.3-0.6 cm. The plasticiser may contain an inert dye (e.g. 2 g per 5 gallons plasticiser) to give a visual indication of the treatment.    The wicking treatment toughens the fold against damage during subsequent in-plant handling of the enveloped plate.
A battery casing comprises a casing body of polypropylene and a cover, and is provided with walls within the casing so as to form sepd. chambers. Each chamber includes electrodes and an electrolyte to provide a cell. The respective cells are electrically connected through U-shaped electrode rods fixed to the walls. For fixing the electrode rod across the wall, a notch is formed at upper end of the wall. The rod is arranged through the notch. A metal mould is guided from both sides of the wall to form a closed space. A synthetic resin of polypropylene is injected into the space to form a sealing member. The cover is polypropylene is thermally bonded to the casing.    The electrode rods are effectively fixed to the walls by the simple process.
In a solid electrolyte battery having Li metal anode active material and electron transfer complex of iodine as cathode active material. The cathode current collector consists of glassy carbon, carbon fibre or graphite felt.    In an example, a cathode current collector of C fibres is immersed in an ethyl alcohol soln. contg. iodine complexes of poly-2-vinyl pyridine as cathode active material. The cathode current collector is drawn active material. The cathode current collector is drawn from the soln. and placed in a container evacuated to 0.1 to 1 mm Hg to vaporise the ethyl alcohol, so that the cathode active material is deposited on the C fibres. The cathode thus obtd. is placed on a Li sheet as anode active material and pressed on it to form LiI as a solid electrolyte between the anode and the cathode.
Spongy metallic Cd is produced by electrolytic reduction of CdO dispersed in an alkaline soln. The spongy metallic Cd is mixed with CdO as main active material. The mixt. is coated on an electrode metal core and dried to make a Cd anode. The anode is fabricated without using a chemical conversion step because active spongy metallic Cd is added to CdO as main active material.
A non-wettable polymer in film, fibre, sheet or rod form is coated with polybenzimidazole, polybenzoxazole or poly-benzothiazole deposited from solvent soln. to make the polymer surface wettable.    Used partic. for battery separators, e.g. of polypropylene fabric for Ni/Cd storage batteries.
Electrochemical cell, in which one of the electrodes is exposed to water, has anode and cathode chambers sepd. by an impermeable, ion-conducting membrane and a catalytic anode and catalytic cathode connected to opposite sides of this. There is also an electrically conductive porous C paper in contact with the cathode, this paper contg a dispersed hydrophobic polymer (I) to make it watertight.    The cell is specified for use in a fuel cell, in which fuel gas is supplied to the anode and an oxidising gas to the side of the cathode opposite that to which the C paper is attached. The C paper has excellent conductivity but prevents a film of water forming over the electrode and eliminates the need to embed a conductive mesh in the cathode.
Bipolar current collector-separator for electrochemical cells is based on a shaped aggregate of electrically conductive C/graphite particles (I) and thermoplastic fluorocarbon polymer resin particles (II) in 2.5-16:1 wt. ratio, with a vol. resistivity of under 4 x 10-3 ohm-in. This aggregate has a main body, a changer and a no. of separate conductive projections, which extends from the base of the chamber, to produce a contact between the body and other conducting elements and hence ensure the flow of current, the projections being sepd. by numerous channels distributing the fluid medium. There is also a pump for circulating the medium through the chamber.    The element is specified for use in electrochemical cells or batteries with an ion-transporing membrane, esp. for the electrolysis of water. The vol. resistivity is favourable compared with that of metals and the separator also has good temp. characteristics and excellent flexural strength. It can be made easily in may configurations at reasonable cost.
Active material powder is mixed with a first soln. produced by dissolving an alkali-resistant polymer in an organic solvent. A second soln. having compatibility with the organic solvent and incapable of dissolving the alkali-proof high polymer is added to the mixt. and kneaded therewith. The kneaded mixt. is coated and dried on an electrode core. Electrode plates having good reactivity are produced with high productivity.
Active material is packed into a base comprising a Pb lattice body and a synthetic resin frame united as one body. Gel layers are formed on both the surfaces of the active material portion to solidify temporarily the surfaces of the active material portion.    Active material holders are brought into contact with the front and back surfaces of the active material portion and thermally fused to synthetic resin frame. It is possible to prevent dropping of active material from the electrode plate.    Specifically base is made by uniting Pb lattice and a synthetic resin rib. Active material is packed into the base. Sol-like material e.g. water glass, silica soln. or amine sol is sprayed on both the surfaces of active material to form gel layers. Resin nets as an active material holder are thermally fused to portions of the resin rib.
A grafted film having dissociation gps. of acid or alkali metal salt type is mfd. by graft-copolymerising vinyl monomers having acid dissociation properties on a film of synthetic resin, e.g. polyethylene, as a backbone polymer. The grafted film is immersed in an aq. soln. contg. salt of multivalent metal to change the dissociation gps. into metal salt types. Then the grafted film is immersed in a soln. of low mol. wt. cpds. having low surface tension. The grafted film is drawn from the soln. and dried. This separator has excellent dimensional stability and electrolyte-absorbing properties.
An alkaline battery uses at a sealed portion a sealing agent consisting of epi-bis type epoxy resin, aliphatic glycidyl ether type epoxy resin having dimer acid as a skeleton and a curing agent.    Pref. the epi-bis type epoxy resin is produced by the interaction of bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin. The dimer acid is produced by dimerisation of linolin acid and linolenic acid. The aliphatic glycidyl ether type epoxy resin has the structural formula (I): The curing agent is ethylenediamine, triethylenetetraamine, aromatic polyamine or polyamine. The wt. ratio of epi-bis type epoxy resin to aliphatic glycidyl ether type epoxy resin is 4:1 is approx. 1:4. This sealing agent is coated on a packing.    Leak-proof characteristics of the alkaline battery are improved. This sealing agent is easy in handling during working.
The positive electrode comprises an inner and outer layer, and consists of a conductive agent and MnO2 powder. The wt. ratio of MnO2/conductive agent of the inner layer is 6.5-10 while that of the outer layer is 4-6.5.    In an example, the positive electrode is hollow and cylindrical and is placed in a battery case used as a positive electrode collector. A separator is placed in the positive electrode and a negative electrode paste is filled in the separator. The paste consists of an activator of amalgamated Zn, CMC and an alkaline electrolyte.
Battery contains a solid electrolyte comprised at least partly of a solid soln. of an ionic cpd. completely dissolved in a solid macromolecular plastic material. The ionic cpd. is of formula M+X-, (where M is a cation derived from an alkali metal or ammonium and corresponding at least partly to the cation which can be supplied by the negative electrode at its interface with the electrolyte, and X- is a strong acid anion). The plastic material includes homo- and/or copolymers of monomers contg. heteroatom(s), pref. O or N, which can form donor-acceptor type bonds with the cation M+.    The generator, pref. rechargeable, can operate satisfactorily at lower temps., pref. &lt;100 esp. &lt;60 degrees C, with all the components staying solid during operation. Any volume modification can easily be compensated and risks of broken contact between electrodes and the electrolyte are reduced, if not removed.
Electrochemical prim. cell consists of an oxidisable active anode material (I); a cathode current collector (II), comprising a finely-divided catalyst (IIA) for reducing the solvent, bonded to an inert, electrically conductive substrate (IIB), (II) being under 400 (under 200) mu m thick; and an electrolyte soln. (II) in contact with (I) and (II), comprising a reducible, soluble cathode (IIIA) contg. a dissolved electrolyte (IIIB).    The new (II) give a high discharge rate and current density. Cells of this type are useful for military and civilian purposes, e.g. for torpedo drive, where very fast discharge is required.
A lead accumulator in which the negative electrode contains an amt. of expander material is equipped with a reserve supply of this material. This is accessible to the electrolyte so that it can be dissolved by it and adsorbed by the negative active material of the electrode. The wall of the casing is pref. made of an acid proof plastic such as PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PTFE or polyester.    This prevents a premature exhaustion of the expander and prolongs the service life of a lead battery.
Spackle for low-voltage electrolytic cells comprises (by pts wt.) epoxy diane resin 100, aliphatic epoxy resin based on diethylene glycol and epichlorohydrin 20, polyethylene-polyamine 12-18, tacl 99-101 and mica 29-31. The talc has a particle dispersion pref. of 9-14 mu and the mica a particle dispersion pref. of 125-160 mu.    Inclusion of talc and mica as mineral fillers improves the temp. cycling stability of the spackle, partic. between temps. in the range-60 degrees to 150 degrees C.
The method comprises (1) mixing 100 pts. wt. of carbonyl nickel powder, 2-10 pts. wt. fibres with a length of 1-3 mm consisting of polyacrylonitrile and/or PVC and 1-3 pts. wt. of an organic binder with a dispersion medium of water to form a paste; (2) coating the paste on a porous metal core plate; (3) drying the coated paste, and (4) sintering the paste in a reduced atmos. to form the sintered nickel base.    By the sintering step, the fibres are vapourised to increase the porosity of the base. In the base, an electrode activator is impregnated to form an electrode. The activator is fully impregnated in the base. The base is a steel plate. The paste is sintered at 800-900 degrees C. The binder consists of carboxymethyl cellulose.
Positive electrode mix consisting of gamma-beta type or beta-type MnO2 dioxide, conductive material (e.g. acetylene black), and a binder (e.g. PTFE, TFE-hexafluoro propylene copolymer) is heated for drying in an inert gas atmos. or under a reduced pressure, and then it is cooled under a reduced pressure or in an inert gas atmos. The heating temp. is pref. 150-320 degrees C, and the mix is cooled 50 degrees C.    The MnO2 positive mix is pref. used in a non-aq. cell using a light metal such as Li as a negative active material. The thermal treatment removes crystallisation water and adhesion water from the MnO2 to improve the discharge property. The cooling treatment prevents absorption of oxygen to the MnO2 to prevent expansion of the cell during storage which is caused by absorbed O2.
The connection between the lead terminal of an accumulator, esp. for an electric vehicle, and the cable lug for the insulated connecting cable is encapsulated in an insulating material such as silicone rubber. This is self-sealing and any holes, pierced to check the state of the battery, are closed up.    Such a seal prevents the presence of a potential across the inevitable electrolyte film of a large battery which may produce electric shocks of up to 200 V.
Activator comprises an activator powder, e.g. Pb, Zn, Ag oxide, Ni or Cd, and fine hollow spherical bodies as 0.1 - 300 wt.% on activator powder. Addn. of spherical bodies increases the surface area of the activator. The activator has high heat- and acid resistance.    In an example, the activator comprises 50 wt.% Zn powder and 50 wt.% fine hollow spheres. CMC binder is added to the activator, and each sphere is plated with Ag.    The activator is pressed to form a sheet of a positive electrode. The electrode is placed in a battery case with an electrolyte of aq. NaO soln.
Separator comprises a nonwoven cloth consisting of mixed fibres consisting of 3-15 wt.% polyamide and the balance polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The separator has a high durability and a high alkali electrolyte impregnating property.    In an example, the mixed polymers consist of 5 wt.% polyamide and 95 wt.% polypropylene. The polymers are melted and extruded to form fibre sheets. The sheets are laminated and heated to form the nonwoven cloth with a thickness 200 mu m having an average fibre dia. of 8 mu m. The separator is placed between a negative electrode and a positive electrode of a Ni-Cd storage battery. Electrolyte of KOH soln. is then impregnated into the battery.
The structure comprises (1) a case used as a positive electrode collector including a battery element, (2) a cap used as a negative electrode collector covering the cap, and (3) a gasket sandwiched by the cap and the case. The negative collector has a Cu (alloy) surface layer. An electrolyte-leakage preventing layer is selectively on the surface layer. The preventing layer is in contact with the gasket. The preventing layer consists of an anti-corrosion agent selected from triazole, benzotriazole and benzothiazole.    Because of the presence of the leakage preventing layer, the electrolyte-leakage preventing property is effectively improved. Typically the gasket consists of polypropylene.
The structure comprises a case used as a positive electrode collector including a battery element; a cap used as a negative electrode collector covering the cap; and a gasket sandwiched by the cap and the case. The negative collector has a Cu (alloy) surface layer. An electrolyte-leakage preventing layer is selectively on the surface layer. The preventing layer is in contact with the gasket. The preventing layer consists of a mixt. of nonionic surfactant and benzotriazole or its deriv.    Because of the presence of the preventing layer, the electrolyte-leakage preventing property is effectively improved. In an example, the battery element in the case comprises a positive electrode with an activator of Ag2O, a separator including an electrolyte preserving sheet and a negative electrode of amalgamated zinc. The cap consists of steel plate. A copper layer is formed on the plate. The gasket consists of polypropylene.
The structure comprises (1) a case used as a positive electrode collector including a battery element, (2) a cap used as a negative electrode collector covering the cap and (3) a gasket sandwiched by the cap and the case. The negative collector has a Cu (alloy) surface layer. An electrolyte-leakage preventing layer is selectively formed on the surface layer. The preventing layer is in contact with the gasket. The preventing layer consists of amine carboxylate or amine petroleum sulphonate.    Because of the presence of the preventing layer, the electrolyte-leakage preventing property is effectively improved.    In an example, a battery element in the case comprises a positive electrode with an activator of Ag2O, a separator including an electrolyte preserving sheet and a negative electrode of amalgamated zinc. The cap consists of steel plate. A copper layer is formed on the plate. The gasket consists of polypropylene.
The structure comprises (1) a case used as a positive electrode collector including a battery element; (2) a cap used as a negative electrode collector covering the cap and (3) a gasket sandwiched by the cap and the case. The negative collector has a copper or copper alloy surface layer. An electrolyte-leakage preventing layer is selectively formed on the surface layer. The leak-preventing layer is in contact with the gasket. The preventing layer consists essentially of petroleum sulphonate, such as sodium sulphonate or calcium sulphonate.    Leak prevention is effectively improved.    In an example, a battery element in the case comprises a positive electrode with an activator of Ag2O, a separator including an electrolyte preserving sheet and a negative electrode of amalgamated zinc. The cap consists of steel plate. A copper layer is formed on the plate. The gasket consists of polypropylene.
The structure comprises (1) a case used as a positive electrode collector including a battery element; (2) a cap used as a negative electrode collector covering the cap and (3) a gasket sandwiched by the cap and the case. The negative collector has a copper or copper alloy surface layer. An electrolyte-leakage preventing layer is selectively formed on the surface layer. The leak-preventing layer is in contact with the gasket.    The leak-preventing layer consists of carboxylic acid, e.g. stearic acid, naphthenic acid or paraffin oxide, or metal carboxylate.
Separator for a battery is based on olefinic polymer and contains about 5-25 wt. % of oil with aromatic content 40 pref. 40-90 partic. 45-80 wt. %. Total aromatic content of the separator, excluding any aromatic constituent of the polymer, is pref. 2-10 wt. % partic. 4-8 wt. %. Pref. the separator contains 30 wt. % of a water-insoluble inorganic filler, pref. a Si-contg. filler, 20 wt. % of an olefinic polymer, and 8-20 wt. % of oil.    Presence of aromatic oil in separator improves its resistance to oxidn., and increases its useful lifetime in the battery.
The battery comprises an anode of a Li-Si alloy, a non-aq. electrolyte and a cathode contg. cathode active material having a stable discharge potential of 1.5 volt to the anode of the Li-Si alloy.    The cathode active material is pref. copper oxide, iron sulphide, tin oxide lead oxide or copper sulphide. the Li-Si alloy consists of 48% Li and 52% Si.    This non-aq. electrolyte battery has a stable discharge potential of 1.5 volt.
In a silver oxide secondary battery, porous active material layers each having a porosity &gt;50% are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of a cathode mix consisting of Ag oxide and an organic binder. The porous active material layer consists of an expanded Ag sheet, a compacted Ag disk or a sintered silver oxide disk.    Pref. the organic binder consists of PTFE, polystyrene or polyethylene. It is possible to increase the packing density of the compacted cathode mix.
Paste consisting of nickel hydroxide is deposited on a porous metal core. The paste-deposited core is immersed in a nickel salt soln. to electrodeposit metallic nickel on the core by cathodic electrolysis. This electrode plate is washed with water and dried. The electrode plate is impregnated with a fluororesin dispersion and pressed to make a cathode. The rate of utilisation of active material in the cathode is improved.    Paste consists of 100 pts. wt. of nickel hydroxide, 15 pts. wt. of Ni powder, 7 pts. wt. of Co powder, and a 2% PVA soln.
1 - 10% of spongy three-dimensional zinc is amalgamated. Zinc particles are amalgamated and coated with a gelling agent. The zinc particles are then packed into the spaces in the spongy three-dimensional zinc to fabricate an anode.    It is possible to prevent maldistribution of an electrolyte in the battery due to charge-discharge cycle. It is possible to increase rapid charging efficiency of a sec. battery.
Lead powder, sulphuric acid, water, short fibres of Pb or a Pb alloy and a fluorocarbon resin dispersion are mixed into a paste.    The paste is packed into a support. The Pb (alloy) fibres have a dia. of 0.3 to 3mm, and a length of 1 to 6 mm. The amt. of fibres used is 40 to 200g per kg of Pb powder. The amt. of fluorocarbon resin in the dispersion is 0.5 to 10 g to 1 kg or Pb powder.    In an example, 1 kg Pb powder, 70g short fibres of Pb alloy contg. 3 wt. % Sb, 200 ml aq. dispersion of PTFE and 100 ml sulphuric acid having a specific gravity of 1.40 are mixed to prepare Pb paste. The Pb paste is packed into a Pb lattice, aged and dried to fabricate a cathode plate. The short fibres have a dia. of 0.2mm and a length of 5mm.
Cathode active material and powder of low m.pt. metal are mixed and compacted into a disc. The disc is heat-treated to form a cathode. The low m.pt. metal is Sn or Pb and serves as both an electrically conductive agent and a binder.    Amt. of cathode active material to be packed into the cathode is increased because low m.pt. metal has great appearance density. This increases the capacity of the non-aq. electrolyte battery.    In an example, 20 wt.% of Sn powder is added to CuO powder and mixed. The mixt. is compacted into a disc under a pressure of 200 kg/cm2. The disc is sintered at 230 - 250 degrees C to form a cathode. The cathode is put in a cathode can. A separator consists of non-woven fabric of polypropyelen and holds an electrolyte prepd. by dissolving LiClO in propylene carbonate.    A Li shet and an anode can are put on the separator. A packing is interposed between the anode can and the cathode can.
The porous metal consists of Ni, Ag or stainless steel. the porous metal is formed into a disk having the same outer diameter as that of the cathode mix. The cathode mix and the porous metal disk are united into one body by pressing.    The battery has excellent leak-proof characteristics and low stable internal resistance.    In an example, a cathode mix contg. Ag2O as main component and having a porous Ni disk is placed in a cathode can. A separator consists of a microporous polyethylene film. an anode can contains an amalgamated Zn disk and an aq. alkaline soln. as electrolyte. A gasket is interposed between the anode can and the cathode can.
A lithium-iodine complex battery comprises a battery container which serves as a cathode collector, a closure plate which serves as an anode collector, a battery element sealed with the container the closure plate and a seal packing interposed between them, and the battery element contg. a lithium anode the edge of which is interposed between the seal packing and a sheet of iodine-resistant resin.    Pref. the seal packing consists of polypropyelene, polyethylene, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber or PVC. The iodine-resistant resin sheet consists of PTFE, a copolymer of TFE and hexafluoroethylene, polyvinyl fluoride, a copolymer of ethylene and TFE, a copolymer of ethylene and trifluoroethylene or polytrifluorochloroethylene.    It is possible to prevent internal short-circuit of a battery during preservation.
Li-halogen cell has a solid Li anode, solid Li halide electrolyte and a cathode of a charge carrier complex (I) of a monomer (II) and a halogen (III). (II) being an aromatic tert. amine forming a complex with (III), (II) is pyrrole and (III) I2, Br2 or Cl2. The surface of the anode in contact with the cathode has a coating of electron donor material, pref. polyvinylpyridine.    The cells have a relatively high potential and high energy density in a battery useful for applications requiring long life and slight current discharge.
A primary galvanic cell with an alkaline electrolyte includes a negative electrode (zinc) and a positive air electrode. The latter consists of the electrolyte side of a layer which activates the oxygen reduction and, firmly connected it a hydrophobic layer on the gas side. The hydrophobic layer is pref. a thermoplastic material such as PTFE. Its thickness can vary between 25 and 100 mu and it has a permeability factor for air from 10-8 and 10-5cm3/cm.s.bar.    The electrolyte pref. is caustic soda soln. A metallic bleeder grid is embedded in the layer for the activation of the oxygen reduction. Such a cell can supply small currents of up to a few 100mA over long working and periods so that it ideal for button cells required in wristwatches or pocket computers.
The cell has a moulded acid-resistant polymer case formed in two portions, each portion having (a) a central boss providing a passage leading into the cell, (b) an electrode within the cell, (c) a metal plug in the passage having its inner end electrically connected to the electrode and (d) a metal cap surrounding the boss and electrically connected to the outer end of the plug.    One or both cell halves pref. includes a vent arrangement comprising (i) a boss recessed below the case surface defining a hole communicating with the inside of the cell, (ii) a slot in the case contg. the boss, (iii) a spring co-operating with the slot to hold a sealing pad against the hole, to unseal the hole when press. rises in the cell. The cells can pref. be clipped together to form a continuous cell pack.
Sec. battery comprises (1) cathode composed of light metal, (2) non-aq. electrolyte in which perchlorate salt is dissolved in organic solvent, (3) anode providing, on the surface, carbon layer which produces interlayer cpd. produced by reaction with perchlorate radical which has been produced from the perchlorate salt.    Electrolyte decomposition due to reaction between the perchlorate radical and the organic solvent, is prevented, so that over-charge resistant property and charge-discharge cycle property are improved. In an example, cathode was prepd. by punching Li metal sheet into a disc. Anode was prepared by pressing powder mixt. of MoO3 + acetylene black (6 wt. %) + fluorine resin powder as a binder, 4 wt. %). Electrolyte was a soln. in chiwh lithium-perchlorate 1 mol/l was dissolved in 1,2 dimethoxyethane + propyrene carbonate (1:1 by vol.).
Corrosion of the Al electrode is prevented by adding high polymer electrolyte having quat. ammonium gp. into alkaline electrolyte. The life of the battery is thus extended.    In an example, electrolyte soln. was prepd. by adding 20 g polyvinyl benzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride 30 wt. % aq. soln. into 1 N KOH 100 ml. Two kinds of battery composed of Al electrode (99.99%, 2 cm2 in electrode area) or amalgamated Al were prepared. Both self-corrosion voltage and self-corrosion current density measured for both kinds of battery, were stable as compared with electrodes, having no high polymer electrolyte.
The battery has a positive, MnO2 plate electrode, and a negative electrode consisting of a sheet of zinc, in a rectangular plastic casing. Electrode is pref. surrounded on both sides by the Zn sheet, esp. where electrode is enveloped in a separator foil made of regenerated cellulose. Three of the flat batteries are pref. located in a rectangular battery housing possessing the dimensions of a conventional battery contg. three round cells. The new battery is used e.g. to drive miniature electric motors in toys, model aircraft, electric razors, and all types of hand held appts. where high power is required.    Used, e.g. when using a terminal discharge voltage of 0.8 V, a conventional round battery of wt. 64 g has a vol. of 33.8 cm3 and produces 36 Wh/kg and 68 Wh/litre. But the invention results in a battery with wt. 64 g, vol. 25 cm3 producing 54 Wh/kg and 137 Wh/1.
Prodn. of porous film comprises extruding fused mixt. consisting of 10-80wt. % of paraffin and 90-20wt. % of polyolefin resin through dies into film, sheet or tubular form, introducing the extruded matter in the fused state into water maintained at 50 degrees C, cooling the matter rapidly and extracting and sepg. paraffin from thus obtd. mouldings.    It is possible to produce the film having desired thickness continuously by melt extrusion and to produce the mouldings having desired form. The porous film is useful as separator for various cells, filters and films for sepg. gas, etc.
Battery uses a complex of vanadium pentoxide and poly-2-vinylpyridine as a cathode active material, Li as anode active material, and an electrolyte interposed between a cathode and an anode.    This Li battery is used as a secondary battery and has large discharge capacity.    In an example, 2-vinylpyridine is distilled and mixed with a 5% benzyl peroxide soln. and dehydrated xylene. The mixt. is reacted at 50 degrees C for 4 hrs., in a N2 atmos. The reaction soln. is mixed with n-heptane to ppte. high polymers. The high polymers are dissolved in hot methanol and mixed with ethyl acetate to obtain poly-2-vinylpyridine. The poly-2-vinylpyridine is dissolved in methylene chloride. 1 g of V2O5 powder is added to the mixed soln. to prepare a viscous soln. The viscous soln. is coated on a Ni plate and dried on it to make a cathode. An anode is a Li sheet. An electrolyte consists of a propylene carbonate soln. contg. 1 mol/l of LiClO4. This battery has an open circuit voltage of 3.2 volts at a current density of &lt;10 mu A/cm2.
Battery has a cathode consisting of a compacted mixt. of Hg oxide powder and spongy metallic Ag.    The Hg oxide powder and spongy metallic Ag are mixed and compacted to form a cathode mixt. The cathode mixt. is placed in a cathode can and a microporous polyethylene film as separator is put on the cathode mix. An electrolyte-holding sheet is placed on the separator and an anode mix consisting of Zn or Cd is inserted into an anode can. A gasket is interposed between the anode can and the cathode can. Since spongy metallic Ag is mixed in the cathode mix, metallic Hg reduced by the battery reaction is prevented from adhering.    It is possible to improve cyclie life of a Hg secondary battery. The electric capacity of a cathode is larger than that of an anode.
A belt-shaped substrate is passed through a soln. contg. active material-forming salt while pores of the substrate are filled with active material produced by cathodic electrolysis. In this process, the relation between the width (Wa) of the substrate and the width (Wc) of an opposite electrode is represented by 20 (Wa-Wc)/2 50 mm.    It is possible to uniformly pack the active material into the substrate because distribution of current density is uniform in the soln. In an example, Ni paste is produced by mixing carbonyl nickel powder, methyl cellulose and water. The Ni paste is coated on a Ni-plated perforated steel strip and sintered at 900 degrees C for 4 mins. to fabricate a 0.7 mm thick substrate having a porosity of 80%. The substrate is passed through an aq. soln. contg. 3 mol/l of nickel nitrate at a rate of 1.0 mm/sec. The nickel nitrate aq. soln. is cathodically electrolysed using opposite electrodes of Ni to fill the substrates with nickel hydroxide as active material.
Carbonyl nickel powder and an aq. soln. of CMC are mixed and stirred under reduced pressure of 400-760 mmHg to prepare paste or a slurry. A core substrate is coated with the paste or slurry and the coated core substrate is dried and then sintered.    The pore capacity of the sintered substrate is made constant. Active material is easily packed into the sintered substrate because fine pores are distributed in the sintered substrate.    Carboxy nickel powder and an aq. soln. of CMC are mixed and stirred under a pressure of 700 mmHg by a vacuum mixer. By mixing under the reduced pressure, air is removed from paste to a slurry. Therefore, the carboxy nickel powder is uniformly distributed in the paste or slurry.
Electrolyte-holding material is interposed between an anode and a cathode. Elastic material is disposed in the electrolyte-holding material. Pref. anode active material is light metal e.g. Li. Cathode active material is fluorocarbon or MnO2. The electrolyte is organic. The elastic material is electrolyte-resisting metal, resin or rubber.    It is possible to prevent sudden drop of voltage of a battery during discharging. In an example, an electrolyte-holding sheet consists of non-woven fabric of polypropylene. The electrolyte consists of a mixed solvent of 1,2-dimethoxyethane and propylene carbonate and 1 mol/1 of lithium borofluoride. An elastic member consists of a thermoplastic elastomer. The elastic member serves to push both the ends of the electrolyte-holding sheet to an anode and a separator on a cathode mix.
Batter has improved positive electrode including a water retaining material selected from fibrous cotton, rayon, netted PVA, netted polyethylene glycol, netted carboxymethycellulose and sodium polyacrylate.    Material retains an electrolytic soln. in the negative electrode, so that capacitance of the battery is effectively improved.
Battery has improved positive electrode consisting of Ag oxide and organic binder selected from PTFE, polyethylene andpolystyrene. Ag layer is formed on at least part of the surface of the electrode.    Ag layer improves the charging property of the battery and decreases self-discharge. In an example, Ag oxide powder (98wt. %) and polystyrene (2wt. %) were mixed and pressed under pressure of about 8 ton/cm2 to form a disc electrode. The disc was immersed in a hydrazine soln. to reduce the surface of the disc to form a Ag layer of about 80 mu. Electrolyte-impregnating sheet was placed on the disc placed in a case and a negative electrode placed on the sheet. The case was sealed by a cap.
Battery has an improved positive electrode consisting of Ag oxide and organic binder selected from PTFE, polyethylene and polystyrene. Ag layer is formed on at least part of the surface of the electrode. The electrode is protected by a sectionally L-shaped frame.    Ag layer improves the charging property of the battery and decreases self-discharge.    In an example, Ag oxide powder (98wt. %) and polystyrene (2wt. %) are mixed and pressed under pressure of about 8 ton/cm2 to form a disc electrode. The disc was immersed in hydrazine soln. to reduce the surface of the disc to form a Ag layer of about 80 mu. The disc was covered by a frame. An electrolyte-impregnating sheet was placed on the disc, placed in a case, and a negative electrode placed on the sheet. The case was sealed by a cap.
Battyer has an improved negative electrode activator comprising a Zn plate (I) and a Au layer (II) plated on (I). Electrolyte includes Hg Cl2.    Zn plate is covered by the Au layer, so plate is not mercurised before battery is formed. Mercurised Zn decreases electrical capacitance of the battery.
Separator comprises a cellophane film, and a protective film of ethylene-acrylate copolymer resin covering one surface of the cellophane film. The protective film is arranged at the side of a positive active material such as AgO.    The acid resistance of the cellophane film is improved due to the protective film. In addn., unwanted internal connection or short is prevented from the battery even if the cellophane film is deteriorated in the preservation, increasing the preservation property of the battery.
Separator for a button-type alkaline battery comprises a polypropylene non-woven cloth sheet, anda protective film of ethylene-acrylate copolymer resin. the protective film is arranged at the side of a positive active material such as AgO.    Polypropylene nonwoven cloth sheet is treated with surfactant. One surface of the sheet is coated with 20 wt.% aq. soln. of ethylene acrylate copolymer resin to obtain a dried thickness of 30-40 mu. The sheet is rolled at 60-80 degrees C to volatilise the water. Then, the sheet is heated at 85-100 degrees C to form a protective film.    The ethylene-acrylate copolymer resin permeates into the nonwoven cloth to improve its water repellency. The internal resistance of the battery is also lowered since the hydrophilic property is imparted to the separator.
Separator comprises a non-woven cloth sheet, such as nylon, with good acid resistance and hydrophilic property, and a protective film of ethylene-acrylate copolymer resin. The protective film is arranged at the side of a positive active material such as AgO.    Mechanical strength is rendered to the non-woven cloth sheet due to the protective film. Since the protective film has good ion selective permeability, defects of non-woven cloth sheet are improved to provide batteries having lower internal resistance and good preservation property.
A separator for a button type alkaline cell comprises a polypropylene porous film, and a protective film of ethyleneacrylate copolymer resin covering one surface of the porous film. The protective film is present on the side of the positive active material such as AgO.    A hydrophilic property is imparted to the polypropylene porous film by the protective film. Therefore, the internal resistance and the heavy load discharge property of the cell are not deteriorated by a surface active agent which is used to improve the water repellent property of the polypropylene porous film.    Specifically, a polypropylene porous film is coated with 15-25 wt. % aq. soln. of ethylene-acrylate copolymer resin so as to obtain a dried thickness of 30-100 mu. The film is rolled at 60-80 degrees C to volatilise the water, then heated at 85-100 degrees C to form a protective film thereon.
A separator for a button type alkaline battery comprises a vinylon-rayon paper-backet sheet, and a protective film of ethylene-actylate copolymer resin covering one surface of the paper-backed sheet. The protective film is arranged at the side of a positive active material such as AgO or Ag2O.    Mechanical strength, acid resistance and the ion selective permeability are imparted to the separator due to the protective film. Therefore, button type alkaline batteries with lower internal resistance and good preservation properties are provided.
Gas diffusion electrode comprises (i) a porous metallic sheet (e.g. a porous nickel sheet), (ii) a catalyst layer disposed on the metallic sheet, the catalyst layer being composed of (A) a mixt. of active carbon and PTFE the active carbon contg. silver, and (B) PTFE resin, the (B) being uniformly distributed in (A), and (iii) a porous PTFE resin film applied to the catalyst layer with the aid of a binding layer such as a mixt. of PTFE and a tetrafluoroethylenehexafluoropropylene copolymer.    By inclusion of the PTFE resin (B) in the catalyst layer, the peel strength of the catalyst layer is improved and therefore it has long life. The electrode is used in a fuel cell or an air-metal cell.
Battery comprises a plastics moulded casae having partitions dividing the case into compartments each contg. pack of battery and separator plates. The partitions have apertures through which connecting lugs of adjacent packs contact each other. The case is closed by a plastics lid secured to the rim by the case by friction welding. The lid includes apertures through which t terminals from the end packs project, the terminals being sealed within the apertures by thermoplastic elements.    A pref. material for both case and lide is polypropylene and the terminal sealing elements may be made by injection moulding in situ or bu frictionally welding preformed bushings in position. The lid is pred. welded to the case by a vibration technique involving linear or orbital movement. Amplitudes of between 0.1 and 0.25 inches are preferred.
A solid electrolyte cell comprises a cell element comprising an anode of Li plate and a cathode comprising I2, and a cell casing comprising a bottom casing and a cover plate, the cell element being arranged in the cell casing. The cell casing is sealed by bending the end of the bottom casing toward the cover plate through an insulating packing. Organic cpd layers are placed between the insulating packing and the bottom casing and between the insulating packing and the cover plate. The organic cpd form electric charge mobile complex with the I2.    By the presence of the organic cpd layers, the leakage of the I2 can be prevented. A solid electrolyte cell comprises a cell element of a cathode of phenothiazine and I2 an solid electrolyte of LiI and an anode of Li plate, and a cell casing of a bottom casing and cover plate. Organic cpd layers of phenothiazine are mounted in an insulating packing a PTFE.
Silver oxide cell comprises a cathode such as Ag2O and AgO, an anode, and a member which is impregnated with an electrolyte such as alkali electrolyte, the member being disposed on the cathode through a separator. The member is composed of a composite sheet comprising a wood pulp layer and polyamide or polypropylene nonwoven fabric layers, the wood pulp layer being sandwiched between the nonwoven fabric layers.    The peripheral part of the member may be pressed at a temp below a melting point of polypropylene or polyamide nonwoven fabric.    By using the member, the liquid leakage resistance of the silver oxide cell can be improved. Because, the nonwoven fabric layers suppresses the diffusion of the electrolyte.
The cell comprises a cathode such as argentic and argentous oxide an anode and a member which is impregnated with an electrolyte such as KOH and NaOH. The member is disposed between the cathode and the anode, and it consists of a blended nonwoven fabric of wood pulp and polyamide or polypropylene fibre. The amt of fibre is 20-50 wt% to the amt of wood pulp. The peripheral part of the member may be pressed at a temp below the m.pt. of the polypropylene or polyamide fibre.    By using the member the prodn. of a crystallised ppte between the member and a separator disposed on the cathode can be prevented. So, changes in the internal resistance of the cell can be prevented.
Up to 10% of cuprous oxide is added to the anode depolarising mix which contains cupric oxide as an active material. Since the curous oxide is added to the anode depolarising mix, the storage property of the battery is improved. Therefore, the discharge voltage of the battery is high even after it is stored for a long time.    In an example 85g CuO powder, 5 g Cu2O powder, 7 g carbon powder and 3g fluorine-contg resin powder are mixed. The mixt is moulded under pressure and dried under reduced pressure to mfr an anode plate. A rolled lithium plate is punched to form a cathode plate. Lithium perchlorate molar soln in a mixed solvent comprising propylene carbonate and dimethoxyethane, is used as electrolyte and non-woven fabric as separator.
The battery is provided with a gasket made of a mixture comprising polyethylene or polypropylene and 10-30 wt% of an ionomer, which is a polymer whose main constituent is ethylene.    The polyethylene or polypropylene is given an appropriate viscoelasticity by the ionomer. The polyethylene or polypropylene is protected by the ionomer from stress cracking due to the contact with a polar solvent such as a surfactant. Hermetic sealing can be maintained by the gasket for a long time.    Although the ionomer is a rubber-like elastic substance at room temp. the electrostatic attractive force between the ions of the ionomer is weakened and the ionomer can be uniformly molten with the polyethylene or polypropylene when the ionomer is heated. The mixt of the polyethylene or polypropylene and the ionomer can be moulded by injection.
In the prodn. of positive and negative electrodes for Pb accumulators with colloidally dispersed PTFE in the active compsn., the PTFE is added in the form of an aq. dispersion during mixing, so that the total liquid content of the pasted compsn. is 20-40 wt.%. Pref. the PTFE content of the paste is 0.01-1.5 (0.02-0.2)%, whilst the particle size of the PTFE is 0.1-0.5 um. Besides water, the liquid contains 10-22 (15-20) wt.% H2SO4.H2O.    Completely homogeneous dispersion of very small amts. of PTFE is attained. In an example, pastes were prepd. from 5000 g Pb dust and 828 g liquid, comprising 92 g liquid, comprising 92 g expander soln. and 149 g H2SO4 and 243 g H2O (from H2SO4.H2O, d = 1.285 g/cm3), together with (A) 344 g H2O or (B) 244 g H2O and 100 g dil. PTFE dispersion. The paste density was 4.60 g/cm3 in both cases and the penetration (A) 37, (B) 11 mm.
Lithium iodine cell is mfd. by (a) providing a casing of electrically conduting material having an inner surface, a Li anode with a working surface and a solid element comprising a charge transfer complex of an org-electron donor material esp. polyvinyl pyridine and codine, of shape to fit closely between the Li surface and the casing surface; (b) placing the solid element into the casing and (c) heating it to cause the complex to flow into max. working contact with the working surfaces. A second such solid element may be provided on the opposite surface of the Li anode.    Used to supply power to inaccessible devices in the human environment, e.g. unplanted cardiac pacemaker. Cell exhibits a high energy density. The anode current collector is completely sealed or shielded from the iodine-contg. cathode material and the outer casing. The cell is small, has few parts and requires but a short time to assemble.
Flexible cathode consists of I2, phenothiazine and a high polymer cpd. capable of forming charge-transfer complexes with iodine. Anode consists of a metallic Li sheet. The flexible cathode is placed on the anode to form a LiI solid electrolyte. This laminate is wound in a vortex-shaped manner.    Battery has a discharge voltage of 2.7 volts on a discharge current of 100 mu A/cell. Discharge duration is 280 hrs. on a discharge finish voltage of 2.5 volts.    Cathode is produced e.g. by dissolving 3.5 g. of I2 and 1 g. of phenothiazine in 50 ml. of benzene. 0.5 g. of poly-2-vinyl pyridine is dissolved in 20 ml. of benzene. The solns. are mixed, stirred, and left for one day. The mixt. is filtered to obtain a solid component which is roll-pressed to form a flexible cathode.
Cd(OH)2 as active material and an organic polymer binder are mixed to prepare paste. The paste is coated on a perforated metal substrate and dried at 170-190 degrees C.    In an example, a kneading material was produced by mixing 4 g. of PVA, 1 g. of CMC, 100 g. of water and 1 g. of short fibre of a vinyl chloride-acrylate copolymer. 30 g. of the kneading material and 100 g. of a mixt. of Cd(OH)2 and Ni powder in the wt. ratio 4:1 were kneaded to prepare paste. The paste was coated on both sides of a Ni-plated perforated plate and dried at 90 degrees C for 2 hrs. The coated plate was pressed to 0.8 mm. thick and dried at 175 degrees C for 2 hrs. to convert Cd(OH)2 into CdO. This Cd anode has a rate of utilisation of active material of 71%.    This Cd anode has high mechanical strength and high rate of utilisation of active material.
Silver oxide powder is granulated to an average grain size of 32-100 mesh. The Ag2O particles and polytetrafluoroethylene are compacted into a cathode mix at 5-6 ton/cm2 under a reduced press. of 80-150 Torr. The compacting step is carried out once or twice. Cracking of the cathode mix on conveyance is prevented because the packing density and mechanical strength are increased by compacting under a reduced press. Decomposition of Ag2O is suppressed by limiting the number of compacting steps.    In an embodiment, a mixt. of Ag2O and polytetrafluoroethylene was compacted at 50 ton/cm2 under a press. of 100 Torr to make a cathode disc, of packing density 5.70 g./cm2 and compressive strength 120-150 kg.
Method comprises (1) dissolving phenothiazine and iodine in an organic solvent to form a first soln., (2) dissolving high polymer cpd. in the same solvent to form a second soln., (3) mixing the soln. and (4) vaporising the solvent to form the positive electrode consisting of mixt. of high polymer and charge transfer complex of iodine and phenothiazine.
The battery comprises a negative electrode of a light metal, a positive electrode and the non-aq. electrolyte consisting of an organic solvent and an inorganic solute. The solvent consists of propylene carbonate and dioxolane. The vol. ratio of carbonate/dioxolane is 1/1 to 1/3. The battery has improved discharge property.    In an example, the solvent consists of 50vol.% propylene carbonate and 50vol.% dioxolane and contains lithium perchlorate of concn. 2 molar to form the electrolyte. The positive electrode consists of 85wt.% manganese dioxide activator, 10wt.% conductive agent of acetylene black and 5wt.% fluorocarbon resin.    The negative electrode consists of lithium plate. A polypropylene nonwoven cloth is placed between the electrode as separator. The electrolyte is impregnated into the separator.
The battery comprises (1) a battery case including a battery element, (2) a battery cap covering the element, (3) a gasket fixed between the cap and the case, and (4) the sealing agent layer placed between the gasket, the cap and the case. Benzotriazole of 0.01-0.5wt.% is added to electrolyte of the element. The benzotriazole prevents the leakage of the electrolyte effectively.
The battery has a positive electrode consisting of MnO2 powder and an organic binder selected from polyethylene, polystyrene and PTFE. The positive electrode is covered by a metal manganese layer. The manganese layer is formed by redn. of the MnO2 of the electrode. The Mn layer decreases internal resistance of the electrode and improves discharge property of the battery. In an example, a positive electrode is placed in a battery case, and the surface of the electrode was reduced by hydrazine to form the Mn layer. A separator placed on the electrode consisted of polyethylene film and cellophane. The electrode consisted of MnO2 powder and the polyethylene. An electrolyte impregnating sheet of cotton was placed on the separator. A negative electrode consisting of amalgamated Zn powder and CMC was placed on the impregnating sheet. The electrolyte consisted of KOH soln.
The separator consists of Cl-contg. polymer, such as chlorinated PVC resin, a process oil and a surfactant.    The process oil decreases the restivity of the separator which is hydrophilic.    In an example, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride resin 15 pts.wt. is dissolved in THF 60 pts.wt. to form a resin soln. The process oil and 0.5 pts.wt. of the surfactant consisting of sodium alkylsulphonic acid are added to the resin soln. The soln. is coated onto a nonwoven polyester cloth of 0.15 mm. thickness to form a resin sheet on the cloth. The sheet is dried and peeled from the cloth to give a porous sheet. The separator is placed between a lead oxide positive electrode and a lead negative electrode.
The battery comprises (1) a battery case including a battery element, (2) a battery cap covering the element, (3) a gasket fixed between the cap and the case and (4) the sealing agent layer placed between the gasket, the cap and the case. The sealing agent consists of a rust preventive compsn. of asphalt pitch and amine salt or metal salt of carboxylic acid or sulphonic acid.    The sealing agent layer effectively prevents the leakage of an electrolyte of the element. The gasket is e.g. polyethylene.
The battery comprises a case including an element, a cap covering the element, a gasket fixed between the cap and the case and the sealing agent layer placed between the gasket, the cap and the case. The sealing agent consists of rust-preventing agent comprising benzotriazole or its deriv. and an organic phosphorus cpd. of formula P-(OR)3, where R is phenyl or alkyl radical.    The sealing agent layer prevents leakage of electrolyte from the element.
The battery comprises a battery case including a battery element, a battery cap covering the element, a gasket fixed between the cap and the case and a sealing agent layer placed between the gasket, the cap and the case. The sea sealing agent consists of a rust preventive selected from benzotriazole, benzothiazole and their derivs. The sealing agent layer prevents the leakage of an electrolyte of the element effectively.
The battery comprises a battery case including a battery element, a battery cap covering the element, a gasket fixed between the cap and the case and a sealing agent layer placed between the gasket, the cap and the case. The sealing agent consists of asphalt pitch and aromatic process oil. The sealing agent layer prevents the leakage of an electrolyte of the element effectively.
Battery has a casing contg. a pair of electrodes spaced from each other to form an electrolyte chamber. A shield is movable relative one of the electrodes to shield the electrode from the electrolyte in a first position of the shield and to expose the electrode to the electrolyte in a second position of the shield, the shield being contained within the chamber at all times.    Pref. the shield is formed by plates which are of filled or unfilled acrylic, high-impact styrene, polyester, cellulose acetate butyrate, polymers of unsatd. fluorine cpds., polyethylene, polypropylene or ethylene propylene copolymers.
The separator for an alkaline accumulator comprises fibrous asbestos and polymeric binder. In order to reduce specific electrical resistance, divinyl-methylmethacrylate (I) is used as the binder. The compsn. comprises asbestos (in mass %) 93-99 and (I) 1-7. When the content of (I) is &lt;1% the alkali-resistance of the separator is reduced and the separator loses its integrity during use. When the content of (I) is &gt;7% their is a sharp deterioration of alkali-absorbing and hence an increase in specific resistance.
Cell comprises a cathode body contained in a cathode can consisting of a cathode mix of MnO2 and an organic binder, a Ni or stainless steel L-shaped cross-sectional member applied on one side of the cathode mix, and a metal Mn layer formed on 1 surface of the mix. The organic binder is pref. polyethylene, PTFE or polystyrene.    The surface metal Mn layer is made by reducing the MnO2 of the cathode mix using a chemical reducing agent, which is pref. of hot alkaline soln., an alkaline soln. of a lower fatty alcohol, or a methanol soln. of hydrazine, formaldehyde, tin chloride, and/or Fe sulphate.    Packing density is improved by using the organic binder in place of graphite. The metal Mn layer serves as a collector. The L-section member protects the mix from cracking.
The cell comprises a cathode body contained in a cathode can consisting of a cathode mix of Mn dioxide and an organic binder, a Ni or stainless steel porous layer applied on one surface of the cathode mix. and a metal Mn layer formed at least on one surface of the porous layer. The porous layer is pref. of a spongy metal sheet, a net, or an expanded metal. The organic binder is pref. of polyethylene, polyethylene tetrafluoride, or polystyrene.    The surface metal Mn layer is made by reducing the Mn dioxide of the cathode mix by using a chemical reducing agent. The chemical reducing agent is pref. of a hot alkaline soln., an alkaline soln. of a low class fatty alcohol, or a methanol soln. of hydrazine, formaldehyde, Sn chloride, Fe sulphate etc.    Packing density is improved by using the organic binder in place of graphite. The porous layer protects the cathode mix from cracking. Storage property is also improved.
Battery comprises anode using light metal as active material, non-aq. electrolyte and a cathode contg. iron oxide. It is possible to increase amt. of a non-aq. electrolyte contained in a cathode.    In an example, 85 wt. % of CuO as active material, 7 wt. % C powder as an electrically conductive agent, 5 wt. % of Fe2O3 as an additive and 3 wt. % of polyfluorocarbon powder as binder were mixed, compacted and heat-treated at 300 degrees C for 1 hour under the reduced press. to produce cathode. Anode comprised a rolled Li sheet and non-aq. electrolyte consisted of a mixed solvent of propylene carbonate and 1,2-dimethoxyethane contg. 1 mol of LiClO4. Separator consisting of nonwoven fabric of polypropylene served as an electrolyte-holding layer, Fe2O3 or FeO was used as an iron oxide.
An organic electrolyte battery uses anode and cathode cases of stainless steel and a packing of a polypropylenepolyethylene copolymer contg. 2-3 wt. % polyethylene. The leak-proof characteristics of the battery are improved.    In an example, a cathode outer case consists of stainless steel. A cathode mix consists of MnO2, an electrically conductive agent and a binder. A cathode inner case is fixed in the cathode outer case. The cathode mix is placed in the cathode inner case. A separator consists of nonwoven fabric of polypropylene and is impregnated with an organic electrolyte. An anode outer case consists of stainless steel. An anode consists of a Li sheet and is attached to the anode case. A packing of a polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer is interposed between the cathode outer case and the anode outer case.
Metal-halogen thin-layer battery comprises (1) a separator provided between meta thin-layer cathodic active material layer and anodic active material layer contg. halogen gp. and (2) interlayer contg. polyacrylic cid is provided between the cathodic active material layer and the separator.    By the activating action of polacrylic acid, initial discharge voltage drop is not found and long-life discharge battery is obtd.
In an organic electrolyte battery comprising (a) anode active material composed of both light-metal cathodic active material and heat-treated electrolytic MnO2, and (b) organic electrolyte produced by dissolving cathode active material, inorganic salt in organic solvent, the improvement is that, as the above MnO2, is used electrolysed MnO2 heat-treated at 355-395 degrees C.    Discharge properties after standing e.g. for 8 months are improved due to decreased amt. of water of crystallisation in the MnO2.
Non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes light-metal cathode active material, and anode material comprising a mixt. of MnO2 powder (average particle dia. 30 mu), 65-95 wt. % + C powder (average particle dia. 5 mu), 20-3 wt. % + PT-FE powder (average particle dia. 3 mu), 15-2 wt. %. The electrolyte comprises inorganic salt of the cathodic active material and is dissolved in the cathodic active material. Utility rate of MnO2 is improved, (almost 100%).    In an example MnO2 having been dehydrated by heating at 380 plus-or-minus 10 degrees C having dia. 30 mu had good discharge property, where MnO2, C, PTFE were mixed at a rate 85 : 8 : 7 by wt. Carbon powder having dia. 5 mu had good discharge property, where 5 mu dia. MnO2 and 1 mu dia. PTFE were used. PTFE having dia. 3 mu had good discharge property, where K mu MnO2 and 1 mu carbon were used.
The thin-layer battery has thin metal cathodic active material layer and anodic active material contg. amide. In the anodic active material layer is contained N-bromocarboxylic acid-imide and also, besides the imide, a bromo cpd. molar amt. 0.0001-0.5 that of the imide. In low-load continuous discharge, initial voltage drop decreases and long discharge life is obtd.
Alkaline battery has, on cathodic collector surface facing a gasket, a corrosion-resistant layer mainly composed of organic phosphorus cpd. of formula P-(OR) (I) (where R is phenyl or opt. substd. alkyl.    Electrolyte leakage resistance between gasket and cathodic collector or anodic can is greatly improved. By coating liquid packing e.g. pitch or silicone oil etc., the resistance is further improved.    Examples of (I) are tributylphosphite, triphenylphosphites, tris(2-bromoethyl)phosphite, this(2-chloroethyl)phosphite, tridecylphosphite, which were dissolved in alcohol solvent e.g. CH3OH, C2H5OH etc. in 0.3-1% concn. Surface to be coated was e.g. Cu, Cu alloy, Fe, Fe alloy, Ni.
Multicell battery, initiatable by addition of electrolyte, consists, on the one hand, of a number of identical plates of isolating material having a peripheral edge, which are placed next to each other and enclosed in a container one after the other, the plates each serving as separator between two adjacent cells, and on the other hand, of a number of electrodes arranged in each compartment, delimited by two successive isolating plates. Specifically each isolating plate has along the length of its straight edges a strip which is parallel to and at a distance from the edge and shorter than the edge. The strip is enclosed by the following plate and delimits with the edge and the following plate a duct which empties into the lower part of each compartment. The electrolyte is fed into the duct by a distribution device such that on initiation, the electrolyte flows through the duct before penetrating into the compartments contg. the electrodes.    Pref. all the plates are enclosed in an envelope of resin which ensures a water tight seal, good mechanical strength and maintains the shape of the battery. The plates are injection moulded from polyethersulphone of polyethylene oxide modified with polystyrene and reinforces with glass fibres. The shapes of the cells are such as to occupy much less space than the rectangular block cell, of prior art when used in guided missiles.
Each electrically conducting core is coated with an active material contg. lead oxide granules, lead sulphate and a three-dimensional network of a fibre-forming binder. The electrode may contain 0.25-2wt.% w.r.t. the wt. of lead oxide of a sulphuric acid-insoluble, conducting ion-permeable material capable of forming a skin round the granules, consisting of polyacrylic acid or hydroxyethyl methacrylate. A pref. binder is PTFE.    The polyacrylic acif or hydroxyethylmethacrylate assists the PTFE binder and gives electrodes with improved mechanical strength which is retained for long periods, so that there is a reduced incidence of particles becoming detached from the electrode and falling to the bottom of the battery case. Unlike prior art binder adjuvants, the polyacrylic acid or hydroxyethylmethacrylate do not binder the electrochemical processes occurring in the cell during charge and discharge cycles.
The battery comprises an anode active material layer consisting of Ag, Cu, Sn, Pb, Al, Bi or Te, a cathode active material layer contg. halogen and a barrier layer formed between the anode and cathode active material layer and contg. alkali metal salt or alkaline earth metal salt of phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, methaphosphoric acid or pyrophosphoric acid.    The battery can maintain high power for a long period of time. In an example, a cathode active material layer is made by coating a graphite-contg. conductive plastic film with mixed paste consisting of 30 wt. % of N-bromosuccinic acid imide, 10 wt. % of graphite and 60 wt. % of a conductive polymer adhesive. An anode active material layer is made by depositing Al on a conductive plastic film. A barrier layer is formed on the Al layer by coating thereon a conductive polymer adhesive soln. contg. 1 wt. % of sodium phosphate. The barrier layer is brought into contact with the cathode active material layer. An Al-Br thin film battery is obtd. having an open-circuit voltage of 1.7 volt.
A thin-film metal-halogen battery comprises an anode active material layer consisting of Ag, Cu, sn, Pb, al, Bi or Te, a cathode active material layer contg. halogen and a barrier layer formed between the anode and cathode active material layer and contg. succinic acid imide, phthalic acid imide or cyanuric acid.    This thin-film metal-halogen battery can maintain high power for a long period of time and has long service life. In an example, a barrier layer is formed on an Al anode layer on a conductive plastic film by coating thereon a conductive polymer adhesive soln. contg. 1 wt. % of succinic acid imide.
Non-aq. electrolyte battery comprises cathode composed of light metal e.g. Li-Mg and anode composed of Fe-Co composite oxide. By using Fe-Co composite oxide as active material, the battery characteristics are improved. The oxide is inexpensive and free from pollution.    Fe-Co composite oxide was prepared by adding 4 mol. NaOH aq. soln. to mixed soln. of 0.8 mol. FeSO4 + 0.2 mol. CoSO4, neutralising it, standing it for a week, filtering-washing-drying the codeposited material and heat-treating it at 500 degrees C for 5 hrs. Anode was produced by mixing the (Fe-Co composite oxide 80 wt. % + acetylene black 15 wt. % + fluorine resin 5 wt. %) and moulding the mixt. under pressure into a battery case.    Cathode was produced by pressing a punched metal Li sheet on case cover inner surface which had been preliminarily spot welded with Ni net. Electrolyte was prepared by dissolving lithium perchloric acid in mixed solvent of propylene carbonate + 1.i dimethoxyethane. Propylene nonwoven cloth separator was impregnated with the above electrolyte.
Sealed type alkaline storage battery provides a paste type cadmium cathode plate in which Fe ion of 0.05-1.0 wt. % is added to Cd active matl. Gas consumption properties are improved by adding the Fe ions.    In an example, CdO (average particle dia. 0.7 mu), 75 pts. wt. + metal Cd powder (electrochemically active, 200 mesh passed), 25 pts. wt. + Fe2O3 powder 0.5 pts. wt. + polytetrafluoroethylene powder 1.0 pts. wt. were uniformly mixed, to which (hydroxypropylcellulose 1.2 pts. wt. + sodium phosphate 3.6 pts. wt. + water 1000 pts. wt.) 28 pts. wt. were added to 100 pts. wt. of the above mixt. and kneaded. It was moulded into a sheet (0.3mm. thick) on which Ni plated Fe plate (porosity 36%), was adhered on both sides of the sheet. It was pressed, dried and cut to the required size to give a finished electrode.
Lead storage battery electrode plate is produced by (1) mixing to form a paste a mixt. of Pb powder, a fluorinated resin fine powder of mol. wt. 100,000 and a crystallisation degree of 50% and forming a fluorinated resin network structure in the pase by a stirring, kneading and spreading process. The paste is then applied to a lattice member.    The structure due to the resin addn. is effective for preventing softening or peel-off of the active material.
Silver oxide battery comprises an anode composed of AgO and inserted in an anodic case via insulation layer, a metal ring having L-form section which covers the anode from the anode side to peripheral part counter facing the cathode and electrically contacts the anodic case, insulation layer for sepg. the greater part of the ring from the anode and the anode constructed so that the anode is contacted to the ring in the surface counter facing the cathode in more centre side of the battery than pressed part by the sealing packing.    High energy-density AgO-Zn type battery is obtd., in which discharge voltage is attained by small amt. of preliminary discharge.
The battery comprises microporous polypropylene thin layer separator on the anode side and PVA thin layer separator on the cathode side.    Ni-Cd, Ag-Cd, Ni-Zn, Ag-Zn, Air-Zn, Ni-Fe, Air-Fe or Alkaline-Mn, etc. batteries using the above separators have long life cycle.    In an example, PVA thin layer (50 mu thick, polymerisation degree 1700, saponification degree 98.5 mol. %) was heat-treated at 180 degrees C for 1 hr. in air and then softened in glycerin soln. Microporous polypropylene thin layer (25 mu thick) was used as a separator together with the above treated PVA thin layer. Both layers have high oxidn. resistance and low electrical resistance.
In a silver oxide battery comprising, in battery case, a laminate of anodic active material composed of silver peroxide, separator and cathode in succession, the improvement is that acid-resistant and hydrophilic open-cell porous synthetic resin film is placed under the anodic active material and hence electrolyte can be absorbed into the film.    Electrolyte penetration becomes good, polarisation of the anodic active material is decreased and discharge voltage is increased.
In a silver oxide battery, an anode layer and a cathode layer are sepd. by a layer including a cellophane film, which is treated with alkaline soln. to remove reducing materials, e.g. plasticiser from the cellophane.    In an example, a cellophane film contains reducing materials e.g. glycerol or polyethylene glycol. The cellophane film is immersed in an alkaline soln. contg. 25-35 wt. % KOH or NaOH. The temp. of the alkaline soln. is 80-90 degrees C. The immersion period is 1-2 hrs. As a result, the reducing materials are completely removed from the cellophane film. The cellophane film is sandwiched between a protective film of polypropylene and an electrolyte-holding layer.
Metal layer having resistance to oxidn. and alkali is formed on bottom of cathode can. A cathode mixt is placed on the metal layer. The metal layer consists of Ni, Ag or stainless steel. It is possible to stabilise internal resistance of the button-shaped battery as the metal layer is formed between the cathode mix and the bottom of the cathode can.    Specifically cathode can consists of Ni or Ni-plated soft steel. A metal layer of ag is formed on the bottom of the cathode can. A cathode mix pellet is placed on the metal layer and consists of AgO. A separator is placed on the cathode mix pellet and consists of a microporous polyethylene film. An anode can contains an anode pellet of amalgamated Zn and an alkaline electrolyte. A gasket is pushed on the periphery of the separator.
The method comprises (1) mixing a sintered manganese dioxide, a conductive material and a bonding agent of PTFE to form a positive electrode activator, (2) pressing the activator at 100-320 degrees C to form a sheet and (3) stamping out positive electrodes from the sheet. The electrodes are used in the battery contg. an electrolyte with a non-aq. solvent. The thin positive electrode with the high mechanical strength is easily formed by the method.    In an example, MnO2 powder is sintered at 360 degrees C for 9 hrs. to form the sintered MnO2 powder. The activator consists of 90 wt.% of the sintered MnO2 powder, 5 wt.% of the graphite powder and 5 wt.% of PTFE. The activator is pressed at 150 degrees C to form the sheet of 0.5 mm thickness. The sheet is stamped out to form the disc of 15 mm dia. The negative electrode is Li and the electrolyte consists of propylene carbonate and 1 mol/1 lithium perchlorate.
The battery has an air electrode with an air supplying through-hole in battery. The through-hole is sealed by a sealing member of laminated sheets consisting of PVC or PVdC.    The sealing member is sealed to stop the supply of the air when the battery is stored for a long time and the member is removed when the battery is used. The property of the member does not change for a long time.
Method comprises (1) mixing a positive electrode activator and a conductive material with water sol. low b.pt. organic solvent, e.g. 1,2-dimethoxyethane methanol, ethanol on acetone, (2) adding a suspension contg. poly-fluoroolefin fine particles in the mixt. to form a paste, (3) pouring the paste onto a flat surface of a substrate, (4) vaporising the solvent in the paste, (5) pressing the poured paste to form a sheet and (6) stamping out the thin electrodes from the sheet. Thin positive electrode with the high mechanical strength is easily formed by the method.
An AgO electrode is obtd. by adding 2 pts. of water-sol. acryl gp. resin aq. soln. into 1 pt. of AgO powder so that at the resin content of the mixt. is 3 wt.% after being dried, mixing the blend uniformly, and compressing to shape into a desired form after drying. As the acryl gp. resin, acryl monomer is pref. used with ethylene copolymerisable monomer. A small amt. of Ag2O powder is pref. added when the mixt. is compressed.    The electrode is pref. used in a button type or a cylinder type alkaline electric cell. The use of the water-sol. acryl gp. resin provides improved fluidity of the AgO powder to provide high moulding property to improve discharge capacity. The Ag2O powder also improves moulding property.
The electrode is obtd. by adding 2 pts. of water-sol. acryl gp. resin aq. soln. to 1 pt. of silver suboxide powder so that the resin content of the mixt. is 0.5-3 wt.% after being dried, mixing the blend uniformity so as to finely dividing the powder, drying the mixt., and compressing the resultant to shape into a desired form. As the acryl gp. resin, acryl monomer is pref. used with ethylene copolymerisation monomer. A small amt. of silver oxide powder is pref. added when the mixt. is compressed.    The electrode is pref. used in button type or a cylinder type alkaline electric cell. The use of the water-sol. acryl gp. resin provides imporved fluidity of the silver suboxide powder to provide high moulding property to improve discharge capacity.
The cell uses a light metal (e.g. lithium) as the negative pole active material, and a non-aq. electrolyte soln. (e.g. a mixt. of 1,2-dimethoxy ethane, propylene carbonate and lithium borofluoride). The positive active material of the cell is e.g. manganese dioxide, copper oxide, bismuth oxide, lead oxide, or silver chromate.    A conductive resin layer as a positive pole collector is formed on the inside bottom surface of the cell case in contact with a positive mixt. The conductive resin is pref. a polyolefin gp. resin mixed with carbon as conductive material.    The use of the conductive resin as a collector provides lower increase of internal impedance during storage because of its chemical stability. An improved flat-type cell can be obtd.
Method comprises (a) inserting electrode plate into a battery bath, (b) injecting water in the bath until the plate is immersed in water, (c) injecting synthetic resin solvent soln. onto the upper part of the water (d) extending the soln. on the water surface, (e) building splash-preventing material by depositing the synthetic resin, and (f) removing liq. out of the bath and injecting electrolyte.    The splash-preventing material prevents wetting catalyst and restricts temporary flow of the liq. to avoid liq. leakage.
The electrodes are made from Ni(OH)2 and electron-conducting materials by moulding with poly(vinylidene fluoride) binder and impregnating with a hygroscopic polymer. Batteries made with these electrodes have good discharging characteristics.    In an example, powdered Ni(OH)2 100, acetylene black 1, powdered Ni 5g, and poly(vinylidene fluoride) dispersion 3 ml were mixed, formed into a thin membrane, heated in N at 180 degrees and dipped into a 2% polyamide soln. in acetone at 0.1 torr to obtain a Ni cathode. A battery made with this cathode had an average discharging voltage 1.6V for 3 hr. cf. 1.5V for that made with a similar Ni cathode, which was not dipped into the polyamide soln.
A mixt. of Ni hydroxide 100g and poly(vinylidene fluoride) dispersion 3 ml. is rolled to a 0.2 mm thick film. An expanded metal is placed between the 2 films and rolled to 0.5 mm and the laminate is heat treated in N2 at 100-210 degrees C to obtain the Ni electrode. A battery prepd. from the Ni cathode, Cd anode, and KOH electrolyte has a life of -800 charge-discharge cycles. The Ni electrode has a high mech. strength, and is free from NO3- or ammonia.
A button type alkaline cell is provided with a cathode comprising a laminate of oxidation-resisting porous films (e.g. of polypropylene, PTFE or polyethylene) and cathode mixture layers of cathode active material such as silver oxide, and if desires, conductive agent and paste material.    The laminate film is pref. prepd. by mixing cathode active material such as AgO, Ag2O, or MnO2, conductive agent such as carbon black, graphite, silver powder, or acetylene black, and paste such as CMC, Na polyacrylate or their mixture, adding water to form a cathode mixture solution, and applying or spraying the solution on an oxidation-resisting film. A thin silver oxide cell is reproducibly made with improved discharge property and electrolyte holding property.
A button type alkaline cell has an anode layer comprising a laminate of liquid absorbing films made of vinylon-rayon mixt. paper and active material layers form thereon.    The laminate film is pref. obtd. by mixing an active material such as amalgamated zinc powder, paste material such as CMC, Na polyacrylate, or their mixt. and water, and applying or spraying the mixt. on a liquid absorbing film to form a Zn amalgam layer thereon.    The amt. of the active material of Zn is precisely and easily controlled by determining the thickness of the Zn amalgam layer and by determining the size of the film. A silver oxide cell contg. a small controlled amt. of Zn amalgam of e.g. 30 - 60 mg can be reproducible made and has improved discharge property and electrolyte retaining property.
A paste type electrode for a lead cell is made by applying a paste including lead powder, sulphuric acid, and water onto a support. The paste further contains fluorinated resin dispersion and hydrophilic high mol. material.    The hydrophilic high mol. is pref. of polyethylene oxide, carboxy methyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, and/or starch. The added amt. is pref. of 0.005 - 1.0 % by wt. to the amt. of the lead powder.    The fluorinated resin is pref. of polyethylene tetrafluoride resin and the amt. is pref &lt;2 wt.% to the amt. of the lead powder. The paste type electrode gives improved high rate discharge and longe charge-discharge cycle life. The fluorinated resin serves to give an excellent rubber-like elasticity to the obtd. paste to prevent from softening or removal of the active material.    The hydrophilic high molecule serves to control the fluorinated resin-added paste elasticity to make it easy to fill the support with the paste.
The electrode is made by mixing lead, sulphuric acid, water, fluororesin dispersion, and Ca silicate into a paste, and applying the paste on a support. Pref. the Pb powder is in amt. of 1 kg, fluororesin in the dispersion is in amt. of 0.5 - 10 g, and the Ca silicate is of 3 - 50 g.    The paste type electrode plate gives improved low temperature rapid discharge property and long life. The addn. of fluororesin gives an excellent rubber-like elasticity to the obtd. lead paste to prevent from softening or removal of the active material. The Ca silicate finely divded particles have a number of pores and have high water-contg. capability. So, the addn. of the Ca silicate gives high porosity to paste to control elasticity to make it easy to fill support with paste.
Ag oxide cell comprises (a) a cathode consisting mainly of bivalent Ag oxide; (b) a separator placed on the cathode, consisting of a porous film of resin contg. inorganic powder, the resin being free of water-attractive gps., (c) a member (I) for keeping an electrolyte placed on the separator; (d) an anode placed on (I); and a cell casing comprising a cathode can and a cover.    Porous film has good oxidn. resistance. The presence of the inorganic powder improves the water wettability of the separator without using a surface active agent which is easily oxidised by the AgO.
The separator has (a) mean pore size &lt;20 mu, (b) volume porosity is not &lt;83%, (c) electrical resistivity &lt;15 ohm. cm. and (d) max. pore size &lt;30 mu. Pref. b is 89-93%, (c) is 0.6-7.5 ohm. cm., (a) is 1.0-8.5 and (d) is 10-25 mu.    The microporous material is produced by mixing unplasticised PVC, an organic solvent and a removable particulate filler, shaping it and treating with a PVC coagulating agent which is (partially) miscible with the solvent. The filler is simultaneously or subsequently leached out. The ratio filler: PVC (pts. wt.) is 6.5:1 to 20:1 and the wt./no. mean particle size of the filler is 5-20 mu.    The material has high permeability and volume porosity but lower particle size than materials produced by previous methods. Pore size and volume porosity are measured as in BS 3321 and BS 1752.
Appts. for applying adhesive foil to cylinders (I) has a foil supplying station and a foil perforating station at which the foil is perforated at spaced locations. Foil is fed by a drive in synchronism with (I) supplied in spaced relationship, the perforations being disposed between (I). Foil is folded about (I) and then heated to activate the adhesive for application of the foil to (I). Foil is then cooled to fix the bonding and then the bonded (I) are severed from the foil at the perforations.    Used for replacing tin plate housings in dry battery cell mfr.
Lead accumulator electrode comprising an electronically conductive core coated with an active compn. consisting of grains of Pb oxide, Pb sulphate and a binder capable of forming a filiform tridimensional network, is improved by further contg. a material (I) which is insoluble in sulphuric acid and is permeable to conductivity ions and can form a film around the grains. (I) is specifically polyacrylic acid or hydroxyethylmethylacrylate and is used in amt. of 0.25-2 wt.% w.r.t. Pb oxide. The binder is pref. PTFE used in amt. of 1-5 wt.% w.r.t. Pb oxide.    Electrode can sustain a large no. of charge-discharge cycles while preserving its initial capacity with minimal loss of material.
The battery comprises, in an electrolyte tank, at least one positive plate located between two flat, microporous separator elements and at least one negative plate. Pressure of 0.1 bar is applied to the stack of plates and separator elements. The improvement is that the edges of the positive plates are coated with a protective material sealed to the active material in the plates.    The protective material is pref. an epoxy resin. Each separator element, starting from the positive plate, consists of a flat microporous element, then a corrugated and perforated PVC foil, followed by a sheet of glass fibre.    The microporous elements are pref. larger than the positive plate, and thus form a peripheral groove in which the epoxy resin is cast.    A pressure of e.g. 0.4 or 1 bar on the stack provides a min. life of 1000 cycles of charging for 0.5 h and discharge for 2 h (c.f. 100 cycles for conventional batteries).
An alkali cell comprises a cathode can in which cell elements comprising a cathode mixt., a separator and an anode mixt. are arranged, the inner surface of the cathode can being coated with a film of a triazole system cpd. or benzotriazole sys tem cpd. and a water repellant resin, and a cover serving as an anode terminal, the end of the cathode can being pressed to the cover through a rubber ring gasket to seal the cell elements.    The triazole sytem cpd. is 1,2,3-triazole, 1-methyl triazole or 1-amino-1,2,4-triazole. The film is formed by depositing a soln. of 10 wt.% benzotriazole, 2 wt. % silicone resin and water on the inner surface of the can.    Due to the presence of the film, the liq. leakage resistance of the cell is improved.
A flat cell comprises a cell element comprising an anode, a cathode, a cathode collector and a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode and a composite film casing in which the cell element is sealed. The composite film is composed of laminated films comprising 2 kinds of films including a heat resisting film.    The composite film may be composed of a polyethylene film and polypropylene film laminated on the heat resistant film. Suitably a metallic film (e.g. of Al) has resin films laminted on each side of it metallic film. The casing is made by thermally bonding the polyethylene film sides of two composite films together.    The presence of the heat resisting film preventing formation of pincholes during the thermal bonding of composite films.
Mfr. of a gas diffusion electrode comprises (1) prepg. a core sheet of metal having openings e.g. expanded metal, metallic net and grid-like metal sheets; (2) depositing a pasty mixt. consisting of powdery metal (e.g. carbonyl nickel powder) a paste e.g. PVA and water on the core sheet excepting for on the openings; (3) sintering the core sheet with the deposited pasty mixt. to obtain a metallic sheet having openings coated with a porous metallic film, and (4) fixing the metallic sheet to a composite sheet comprising porous metallic sheet, a catalyst sheet and porous PTFE. The metallic sheet may be subjected to a water repellent treatment, before mixing it to the composite sheet.    The gas diffusion electrode is used in a fuel cell and an oxygen-metal cell. The obtd. gas diffusion electrode has an improved mechanical strength and a long life time.
An alkaline cell uses at the sealing portion a sealing agent consisting of an aliphatic glycysil ether epoxy resin having dimer acid as skeleton and an aliphatic polyamid hardening agent having dimer acid as skeleton. The sealing agent is pref. used in a silver oxide cell, a mercury cell, an alkaline manganese cell, or a nickel cadmium cell using an alkaline electrolytic soln. such as caustic soda or caustic potash to prevent electrolyte leakage.    The dimer acid is a dibasic acid of 36C obtd. by dimerising linolic acid of formula (I) The glycysil ether of formula (II): The aliphatic polyamide is of formula (III) -(R-CONH-R'-NHCO 1)-n R-CONH-R' -NH-(R' = C2H4 or C3H6).    The sealing agent gives excellent adhesive property and improved flexibility.
The cell comprises as negative electrode a light metal active material (e.g. of Li), a positive electrode (e.g. of carbon fluoride), and an organic electrolyte which is gelled by a polymethacrylic acid alkyl ester, pref. polymethyl methacrylate or polyethyl methacrylate. The gelling electrolyte is made by prepg. a paste soln. contg. polymethacrylic acid alkyl ester polymer (PMMA or polyethyl metahcrylate), an organic solvent capable of making gel with the polymer (e.g. propylene carbonate or gamma-butyrolactone), a low b.pt. solvent dissolving the polymer and the organic solvent (e.g. methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, tetrahydrofran, 1,3-dioxolan or 1,2-dimethoxy ethane), and a supporting salt (e.g. lithium borofluoride), and then removing the low b.pt. solvent e.g. by heating and/or reducing pressure).    Electrolyte leakage is prevented even at high temp. storage.
A separator comprises two spaced parallel microporous plastic sheets sepd. by &gt;1 thermoplastics member formed from compressible strip. The sheets are compressed to lie flush with the member to which they are adhered, with the member top flush with the sheet top edges.    There are pref. two such members which are attached to the sheets by heat sealing or by solvent treating the surfaces than applying pressure and allowing the solvent to evaporate. The sheets are e.g. of PVC, and the members are also of PVC opt. with a blowing agent. The parent patent claims the method of joining the sheets.
A thin film of PVA is bonded by thermo compression at 150-250 degrees C to cloth or non-woven fabric of methoxymethylated polyamide. This separator has low electric resistance and no deterioration of mechanical characteristics in alkaline soln.    A sheet of nylon cloth is immersed in a reactive bath contg. 110 pts. wt. of a 80% paraformaldehyde soln., 100 pts. wt. of methanol and 0.4 pt. wt. of metallic Na for 30 mins. The temp. of the reactive bath is 60 degrees C. In this treatment, the nylon cloth is subjected to methoxymethylation. A 30 mu thick thin film of PVA is placed on the cloth of methyloxymethylated nylon and pressed thereon by calender rolls heated at 180-200 degrees C to fabricate a separator. This separator has an electric resistance of 0.44-0.46 ohm/sq. and a swell of 6.9-7.0% in a KOH soln.
Battery comprises (a) or (b) cathode consisting mainly of Cu oxide; an anode consisting of a Li-Al alloy; and (c) a non-aq. electrolyte. Initial discharge voltage of CuO-Li battery is reduced. A stable discharge potential (1.5 volt) 2s obtd. by forced discharging.    In an example, the anode was made by compacting into a disc flakes of an alloy consisting of 20% Li and 80% Al. A cathode was made by mixing CuO powder, acetylene black and fluorine resin powder, compacting the mixt. into a disc and heating the disc at 300 degrees C.
Battery has an anode using light metal as active material, a cathode and an organic electrolyte gelatinised by polymethacrylic acid alkyl ester. The organic electrolyte is poured into a porous body of polymethacrylate in a battery container, and the sealed battery container is heated to gel the organic electrolyte.    In an example, a Ti grid was welded to a cathode container of stainless steel. A cathode consists of 100 pts. wt. of fluorocarbon, 10 pts. wt. of acetylene black, 8 pts. wt. of an SBR binder and 15 pts. wt. of PMMA was placed in cathode container. A polypropylene separator and a porous sintered disc of PMMA were put on the cathode. A propylene carbonate electrolyte soln. contg. 1 mol/l of lithium borofluoride was poured into the porous sintered disc. An anode closure having grid, Li sheet and a gasket were placed in the cathode container and sealed by caulking. This battery was aged at 80 degrees C for 1 hour to gel the electrolyte.
The separator comprises a porous fluoroplastic sheet impregnated with water-soluble high polymer. The high polymer is PVA polyacrylamide and PVP. The sheet has porosities with average dia. 0.1 to 10 mu m.    The separator is used in silver oxide storage battery. It has a low electric resistance, a high alkali- or acid-proof properties and high mechanical strength.
Battery comprises anode layer provided by (1) punching, to desired dimension, composite flexible sheet which has been produced by forming, into thin layer, anodic mixed agent using PTFE resin binder onto an organic polymer fibre nonwoven cloth and (2) pressing the obtd. sheet onto a metal net.    Anodic active agent can be uniformly packed. Flat thin battery can be obtd. In an example, Acetylene black 10 pts. wt. + PTFE emulsion (solid content, 8 pts. et.) were added to electrolysed MnO 100 pts. wt. (heated at 450 degrees C for 4 hrs.), and mixed. was kneaded and thinned between a roller to give an anodic mixed agent sheet. Polypropylene nonwoven cloth of 0.1 mm thickness was piled on the thinned sheet, which was pressed between a roller to give 0.5 mm thick sheet. It was dried at 70-90 degrees C then punched into a disc. of 16 mm dia. The disc was placed on a stainless steel net, which was pressed under 2 ton.
Longer service life of a sealed battery is ensured by having the ratio of electrolyte volume and of separator volume equal to 0.45-0.70. The gas absorbing element features two hydrogen electrodes in the form of a hydrophobic matrix of teflon coated with a Pt plate as catalyst.    The backs of gas electrodes are separated by polypropylene grid ensuring free gas movement, while cathodes are made of Ag oxide separated by asbestos matrices. The housing is made of polyamide resin. The battery life is 10-12 months when operated at 20-40 degrees C.
A porous electrode substrate made of a metal sintered plate is filled with a Ni hydroxide active material. The substrate is then impregnated with a dispersion of fluorine resin. The substrate is then pressed so as to reduce the thickness by &gt;4%.
Cell compriss an anode of light metal such as Li or Mg, and a cathode consisting mainly of a composite oxide of Fe and Ni. The composite oxide cathode improves cell performance. L ions can be easily diffused into the composite cathode.    In an example, Fe. Ni composite oxide was prepd. by adding 4 mol. NaOH soln. to a mixt. soln. of 0.8 mol. ferric sulphate and 0.i mol. Ni sulphate, leaving for a week. filtering the ppte., washing and heat treating at 500 degrees C for 5 hrs. A cathode consists of 80 wt. % of the Fe. Ni composite oxidde, 15 wt. % of acetylene black and 5 wt. % of fluorine resin. A Li sheet anode is used with the cathode, with an electrolyte-contg. separator.
Mfr. of a sealing plate for a cell compriss (1) forming a Cr layer on a metallic sealing plate excepting for the surface areas of the plate for a terminal and a collector; (2) depositing a chelate accelerating agent of organic or inorganic cpd. on the Cr layer; and (3) fusing a thermoplastic high polymer resin having acid amide bond to the Cr layer, whereby the thermoplastic high polymer resin is chelate bonded with Cr ions of the surface of the Cr layer.    The chelate accelerating agnet may consist of diacetyl acetone and methanol. The thermoplastic resin may consist of polyamide, polyethylene or polyacetal.    By using the sealing plate obtd., the liquid leakage resistance of a cell can be improved.
A solid electrolyte cell comprises a cathode consiting of electron mobile complex of iodine and organic cpd., a cathode collector consisting of zirconium and a powder layer disposed between the cathode and the zirconium collectro which consists of conductive substance which does not react with the iodine.    By using the zirconium cathode collector, the solid electrolyte cell can be economically obtd. The conductive powder reduces the contact resistance between the zirconium collector and the catode.
The cell comprises a cathode metallic casing (e.g. a stainless steel casing), a moulded mixt. (e.g. a mixt. of MnO2, acetylene black and polytetrafluoroethylene) placed on the cathode casing, an anode of light meta such as lithium placed on the cathode mixt. through a separator, the separator being impregnated with an organic electrolyte consisting of an organic solvent of propylene carbonate or dimethoxyethane and inorganic salt and an anode metallic casing placed on the anode, the peripheral portion of the cathode casing being bent toward the anode casing through a plastic insulating packing to seal. A butyl rubber layer is arranged between the packing and each casing.    By the presence of the butyl rubber layer, the liquid leakage resistance of the cell can be improved.
A gas diffusion electrode is obtd. by mixing a catalyst material (pref. of a noble metal such as Pt, Pd or Ag), a catalyst carrier (pref. of a conductive material (pref. of fluorine-contg. copolymer), and baking the mixt. to form a porous body. A pore-forming agent is further added into the mixt. of Ni, Co or Fe salt of an organic carboxylic acid (pref. of satd. 10C monocarboxylic acid).    The gas diffusion electrode is pref. used for an oxygen electrode in an alkaline chloride electrolysis or an oxidising side electrode in a fuel cell.    Pref. the pore-making agent is e.g. of Co formate, Ni oxalate or Ag oxalate. By adding the agent, suitable porosity is advantageously obtd. to give excellent electrode properties.
Film laminate comprises (1) plastics material, (2) layer of discrete areas of pigments, (3) adhesive layer, (4) metallic deposit on (5) plastics layer, (6) adhesive, (7) clay based coating on (8) paper, and (9) uncured adhesive. Opt. laminate may comprise layers (1), (3), (7), (8) and (9). Pref. (1) and (5) are polyethylene terephthalate film and (3) and (6) are 2-part hydroxyl isocyanate polyurethane.    Flexible laminates are used to replace the tin plate casing in cylindrical Leclanche dry cell batteries and can be applied directly to the cardboard tubing of the batteries.
Accumulator comprises one or more flat cells on top of one another and integrally joined the length of their periphery, each cell consisting of a Zn anode, an alkaline electrolyte a cathode of Hg2O, Hg2O2 or MnO2 or their mixts. and a plastics container tank.    The containers are esp. made of an elastomer or contain one, while one terminal plate is lodged into the internal face of the bottom of each tank and one at the external face. One of the plates has protrusions extending through an opening at the middle of the bottom of the tank connected by points, by riveting, welding etc. to the other terminal plate such that the plates exert a pressure and bear onto the material in the bottom of the tank.    Improved edge sealing allows provision of cell types (flat, laminated) not previously available.
Separator for silver-zinc accumulator is based on polyamide fabric and polyinylalcohol. It has compsn. (wt. %) polyamide 25-40; polyvinylalcohol 6-75, to increase silvering resistance and lower electrical resistance.    In an example, separators based on polyamide/PVA contents 25/75 and 40/60 and previous separator respectively give properties: electrical resistivity 0.26-0.28, 0.2-0.22, and 0.35-0.37 ohm.cm2 and Ag content 0.005-0.6, 0.007-0.9, and 0.22-0.23 mg/cm3.
Resin adhesive films of acryl phenol are placed between end portions of first electrode films each holding a cathode and a second electrode films each holding an anode. The end portions of both electrode films are heated or pressed, so that they are bonded to each other by the adhesive films.
An electroconductive carrier is pasted with a mixt. contg. the cathode active substance MnO2, C particles and PVAc emulsion and made into a button-type battery. The use of PVAc emulsion increases the discharge capacity of the battery.    In an example, MnO2 (5 pts.) and acetylene black (1 pt) were mixed, and to 2 pts. of this mixt. 4% aq. PVA (1 pt) was added dropwise. Finally, 70% PVAc emulsion (solid 50%) was added to the mixt. and the obtd. paste was applied to a cathode plate and made into a button-type battery.
An alkaline battery has a Zn anode comprising a plate of Zn fibre on which is deposited a hygroscopic high polymer e.g. acetyl cellulose, CMC, PVA, polyacrylic acid or polyethylene oxide.    The Zn-fibre plate is made by pressing 100 mu Zn fibre to a density of 4.0.
The electrode comprises a foamed Cu body plated with Zn. It has porosity 20-70% and contains 15-50wt.% Cu. The electrode has a high rate of discharge utilisation of Zn as active material, and it can be weighed with high accuracy. The pores of the zinc electrode can hold an electrolyte because it comprises a Zn-plated foamed Cu body.    In an example, a cathode consists of a mixt. of silver oxide powder and graphite powder. An anode comprises a foamed Cu body plated with Zn and has porosity 20-70%. A separator consists of cellulose. An electrolyte-holding mat consists of cellulose. The cathode is put in a Ni-plated Fe casing. A closure plate contg. the anode is put on the electrolyte-holding mat. The casing and the closure plate are sealed by a nylon gasket.
Battery separator comprises nonwoven cloth mainly composed of polyolefin-polyamide-blended material contg. 15-65 wt.% of polyamide.    In an example, a mixt. having a nylon 6 propylene ratio of 30:70 by wt. was melted in the presence of foamable material, which was extruded from die having slit of 0.2 mm clearance x 150 mm width. It was cooled and made into a sheet at a draft rate of 150 times. The 50 sheets were plied, split at a slitting angle of 180 degrees and thermally fixed to give a nonwoven cloth having 150 mu thickness, 8 mu average fibre dia., 223 g/m2 liq. retentivity (wt. measured by wt. which is immersed in 30% KOH soln. for 1 hr and hung in air for 10 min) and good durability figure change after immersion in 30% KOH soln. at 50 degrees C for 500 hrs.
Button type air battery provides, as air electrode, paperlike active carbon fibre made from both electrolyte-resistant fibre and fibrous active carbon. The paper-like active carbon fibre has uniform thickness and high strength, so that obtd. air battery retains the catalyst for a long period and the battery storage is greatly improved.
The agent sealing the battery case consists of aliphatic glycidyl ether type epoxy resin and a hardening agent. The sealing agent is placed between the battery cap and the battery case. The sealing agent has an improved bonding force.    In an example, the battery case consists of Ni plated steel. A positive electrode consisting of Ag oxide powder and graphite powder is placed in the case. A separator comprising a polyamide nonwoven cloth and a cellophane bonded to the cloth is placed on the positive electrode. A negative electrode consisting of PVA amalgamated Zn powder and a binder of PVA is placed on the separator. The negative electrode is covered by the cap. A packing is placed between the cap and the case. The sealing agent is coated on the part of the cap in contact with the packing.
The positive electrode consists nickel hydroxide and further contains 5-20 wt.% cadmium hydroxide and 5-10 wt.% cobalt hydroxide. The electrode has a stable discharge property at 0-60 degrees C.    In an example, a sintered nickel base is immersed in an aq. soln. of nickel nitrate, cadmium nitrate and cobalt nitrate to impregnate the nitrates into the base. Then the base is immersed in a caustic soda soln. and the nitrates in the base are reduced electrochemically to form the mixt. of nickel hydroxide, cadmium hydroxide and cobalt hydroxide in the base. Then the base is dried. The base is placed in a battery case with a polypropylene separator, a negative electrode and an alkaline electrolyte.
The separator comprises a porous plate with fine holes having max. dia. of 100 mu m and with a porosity of above &gt;50%, and a glass fibre sheet having fibre dia. of &lt;1 mu m formed on the porous plate. The separator has an improved gas absorption ratio, so that the battery has a long life time.    In an example, a mixt. consisting of 80 wt.% of linter pulp, 10 wt.% of acrylate fibres, and 10 wt.% of glass fibres is mfd. to form a sheet. A phenol resin is impregnated into the sheet, foamed in the sheet and hardened to form the porous plate having porosity of 85% and glass fibres having max. dia. of 80 mu m. The glass fibre sheet consists of 80 wt.% of glass fibres having fibre dia. of 0.75 mu m and 20 wt.% of glass fibres having fibre dia. of 11 mu m.
A button-shaped battery uses a compacted cathode comprising a cathode mix and a porous film united to the cathode mix as one body by compression. The cathode mix contains cathode activated material e.g. Ag oxide or Mg oxide and an electo-conductive assistant e.g. carbon black. The porous film consists of a thin film of synthetic resin or cellulose, or nonwoven fabric of synthetic resin fibre and has ion permeability.    It is possible to prevent deformation or breakage of a cathode without using an annular pedestal of metal. Pref. the porous film consists of a polypropylene, an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer or cellophane.
Cell contains a negative active material, which is a light metal (I); a non-aq. electrolyte; and a positive active material (III) contg. a main material (II) forming a prim. discharge with (I) via electrolyte. (III) also contains a precursor material (V) which forms a prim. discharge with (I) and also provides a sub-positive active material forming a sec. discharge with (I).    The voltage and time of the prim. discharge are pref. larger than for the sec. discharge; (III) may consist of a mixt. of materials, and may contain a conducting material and a binder.    Metal (I) is pref. Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Al or their alloys. (II) is pref. MnO2, MoO3, WO3, AgO, a fluoride of graphite, Cu, Co or Ni, or SO2; and (V) is pref. V2O5, PbO2, Al or Pb-chromate, Ag- or Pb-molybdate, or Ag sulphate.    Near the end of the cell life, a lower voltage indicates that the cell is near exhaustion, but long life is obtd. despite the inclusion of (V).
Electrodes are electrodeposited on selected areas of one surface of a conductive plastic substrate by contacting this surface with an electrolyte contg. cations of the metal to be deposited, establishing a vacuum at the selected areas of the substrate on the opposite surface of the substrate and passing an electric current through these areas and the electrolyte.    Used in the prodn. of laminar electrodes for flat laminar batteries or cylindrical batteries such as 'D' cells. The electrode material is deposited in selected sharply demarcated areas.
Copper salt, e.g. copper nitrate, hydroxide or carbonate and copper oxide are mixed and heated to pyrolyse the salt into copper oxide. Carbon is added to the mixt. which is then compacted and sintered to form a cathode. The cathode is used in a lithium-copper oxide battery. The copper oxide serves as active material.    In an example, copper hydroxide powder and copper oxide powder are mixed and heated at 800 degrees C in an inert gas atmos. for 10-20 mins. to thermally decompose the copper hydroxide into copper oxide. 90 wt.% of the mixt. contg. the thermally decomposed products, 6 wt.% of acetylene black and 4 wt.% of PTFE powder are mixed and compacted into a plate. The plate is heated at 300 degrees C to make a cathode contg. high-activity copper oxide.
Nickel carbonyl, powder is heat-treated in air to produce Ni powder. Basic nickel carbonate powder is pyrolysed in a reducing atmos. to procue Ni powder. The Ni powder and the pyrolysed powder are mixed and sintered to fabricate a sintered substrate.    This sintered substrate is used as a base plate for an anode or cathode. It has high mechanical strength. The rate of utilisation of electrode active material is improved.
Ni powder is produced by heat-treating carbonyl nickel in air. 5-90 wt % of the Ni powder and untreated carbonyl nickel are mixed and sintered in a reducing atmos. to fabricate a sintered substrate.    This sintered substrate has high mechanical strength. The sintered substrate is used as a base plate for an anode or cathode. It is possible to improve the rate of utilisation of active material.
The battery includes anode active material of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, an organic electrolyte and cathode active material of MnO2 heat-treated at 600-900 degrees C. Pref. the anode active material consists of Li. The cathode active material is produced by mixing MnO2, acetylene black and a binder, e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene, styrene-butadiene rubber, polyvinyl alcohol or vinyl acetate. The electrolyte is produced by dissolving lithium perchlorate or lithium borofluoride in a solvent, e.g. propylene carbonate, dimethoxy-ethane, alpha-butyrolactone or tetrahydrofuran. This Li-MnO2 battery has an output voltage of 1.5 volt.
The battery includes an anode of light metal, a cathode and an organic electrolyte made to gel by PMMA. The gel in the organic electrolyte is stereo complex gel consisting of syndiotactic PMMA and isotactic PMMA. It is possible to improve leak-proof characteristics of an organic electrolyte battery.    In an example, an organic electrolyte was produced by dissolving 1 mol/l. of LiBF4 in propylene carbonate. First PMMA having an average mol. wt. of 380000, and contg. 70 wt. % of a syndiotactic component was dissolved in the organic electrolyte to prepare the first organic electrolyte contg. 15 wt. % of syndiotactic PMMA. Second polymethyl methacrylate having an average mol. wt. of 450000 and contg. 80 wt.% of an isotactic component was dissolved in the organic electrolyte to prepare a second organic electrolyte contg. 15 wt. % of isotactic PMMA. 85 mu litre of the first organic electrolyte and 45 mu litre of the second organic electrolyte were poured into a battery element.
Electrode is immersed in soln. prepd. by dissolving water-insol. resin in a solvent. The electrode is drawn from the soln. and instantly immersed in water. The electrode is pulled out from the water and dried. It is possible to prevent dropping of active material from an electrode and to prevent internal short-circuit in the electrode.    The water-insoluble resin is pref. PVC, acrylic resin, AS resin or ABS resin. The solvent is pref. THF, MEK and/or acetone.
Metal halide thin-layer battery prodn. comprises placing, on environmental part of the battery cell, adhesive layer or double-coated adhesive tape in a frame form, holding the adhesive between each environmental part of anodic collector and cathodic collector which are composed of air tight, good conductive plastic film and sealing the battery by pressing the both collector environmental parts.    The method prevents halogen gasleakage. Anodic or cathodic collector is composed of carbon-contg. polymer (e.g. polyisobutyrene, polybutadiene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, -polyvinylacetate copolymer, etc.). Adhesives are e.g. acryli cresin adhesive or acrylic resin double-coated adhesive tape.    Anodic active material is composed of e.g. halogen monomer or halide which was mixed with carbon black powder. Cathodic active material is composed of e.g. Ag, Cu, Sn, Pb, al, Bi, Tl, Mo.
Both surfaces of a low density polyethylene film activated with ultraviolet rays are covered with a cellulose sheet. The cellulose sheets are impregnated with a distilled methacrylic acid and covered with a polyester film to form a sandwiched polyethylene film having five layers. The sandwiched film is graft polymerised to provide a separator for an alkaline cell.
Super thin type silver oxide battery comprises zinc cathode combining cathode case with cathodic active material and silver anode combining anode case with anodic active material. By combining case with active material, the battery thickness can be thinned. Used in secondary battery.    In an example, in a silver anodic can combining anodic termina, were contained both a separator (t = 0.1mm) composed of polyethylene grafted with cellophane and acrylic acid and a zinc plate (t = 0.2mm.)combining cathodic terminal. Gasket was composed of synthetic resin or synthetic rubber. Silver oxide layer (Ag2O or AgO) was prepd. by oxidising a part of internal surface of silver anodic can. The silver oxide layer was electrolytically oxidised ten times repeatedly in 4N KOH soln. at 30 degrees C with 0.5mA current and then electrolytically reduced ten times repeatedly with 0.5mA current.    A battery (phi = 11.6mm., t = 1.1mm.) was constructed to have 1 mAh electric capacity after discharge at 300 k OMEGA load.
Solar cells of various types ar claimed, including (I), flat, large area cells consisting of two plastics of PMMA foils, the upper one being silvered on the underside and the bottom one coated with active carbon on the upper side, to form electrodes. These cells contain (a) a whit intermediate diaphragm layer, and a silver chloride, bromide or iodide emulsion in aq. halogen acid as electrolyte, or (b) a diaphragm of 'Cellophane' (RTM) or ion exchange material, separating HCl as upper electrolyte and aq. HNO3 as lower electrolyte.    (II) cells as above without the diaphragm, through which flows an aq. chlorophyll soln. with added CO2, forming starch which is filtered off, and carbonised in a cell contg. HNO3 to generate electricity, or fermented to generate methane.    (III) a concave mirror of Al-coated plastics which s rotated by clockwork to face the sun, heat being conducted from the focus through a quartz window into an evacuated chamber situated between the poles of a strong permanent magnet and contg. silica fibres, the electrons emitted falling on a selenium rectifier which converts their vibrations to DC current.    Used for generation of electrical current or methane, mainly for domestic use, e.g. lighting or heating. (III) can also be used to charge batteries for night use.
Electrochemical cell or battery is made comprising a stack of plate-shaped elements of which 2 are electrode elements consisting of a sheet or plate of electrode material mounted in a frame of electrically insulating fibrous felt material impregnated with thermosetting resin material. In a first pressing stage, the individual elements are pressed at a temp. sufficient to cause good flow of the thermosetting resin whilst causing at most only slight polymerisation of it. The resulting plate-shaped elements are assembled into a stack, opt. together with additional cell or battery parts, and the pack is subjected to a second pressing at a relatively high temp., for a time sufficient to cure the thermosetting resin completely. The resin used is eg. an opt. modified polyester, polyvinyl ester, polyacrylates and (esp.) epoxy resins.    The first pressing stage, carried out in a mould, gives good bonding of the electrode sheets to the frame and prevents leakage of gas or liq. at the edges. In the second stage, the stack is cured into a coherent pile with good mechanical strength and which is resistant to the liquids and gases used in the cell at operating temps. of 50-200 degrees C.
A deferred action seawater battery has an anode of Mg, Al and/or Zn and a cathode depolariser comprising cuprous thiocyanate, a conductive material, pref. C, free S and pref. a binder, esp. a mixt. of tetrafluoroethylene and paraffin. The depolariser is pref. on a conductive metal grid. The cathode depolariser mixt. is pref. heated at least once to melt the S, then cooled.    The battery has high output voltage and uses commonly available, inexpensive depolariser material. Single cell output voltage is e.g. 1.4V for 6 in square cathode in 1.5% salinity electrolyte, compared with 0.9-1.1V for Pb chloride batteries under similar conditions. The batteries are relatively insensitive to moisture and can be stored at high temp. and under high humidity without degration. They may be used with any suitable aq. electrolyte.
Mass-transport separator for fully vented alkaline Ni-Zn cells comprises a barrier layer coated on one or both sides with a 50-1000 (100-500) angstroms thick layer of low H-potential material (I) having a H-overpotential in alkaline soln. lower than that of Zn. Layer is sandwiched between and in contact with two protective layers and layers are made of microporous polyolefin membrane.    Pref. the layer of (I) is coated with a semipermeable active layer (II) of OH-contg. polymer.    Separator gives the cells longer life and reduces concn. gradients, electrode shape changes and Zn dendrite formation.
Prevention of rejects and smaller inter electrode spacing in the battery are achieved by placing the separator around one of the electrodes to form an end loop. The latter is used for fixing the separator in the split mandrel, whose angle of displacement is given by alpha + arc tg bn+ a/n (2a +bn), where a is the radius of the mandrel, b is the thickness of electrodes, with the separator, and n is the number of turns of the mandrel.    The close packing of electrodes increases the degree of volume utilisation, while the separator is made up of a material without a high tensile strength, such as nonwoven polypropylene, without reinforcement.
A gas diffusion electrode comprises a sintered body composed of Ni, carbon black and active carbon, and a water repellent film coated on the gas side of the sintered body.    Gas diffusion electrodes with long life are provided because the sintered body contains a small amt. of active carbon and carbon black. The liq. leakage resistance is also improved by the water repellent film. Such gas diffusion electrodes are used for fuel cells, air-metal cells, etc.    3 Pts.wt. acetylene black and 2 pts.wt. vegetable active carbon are added to 95 pts.wt. carbonyl nickel. The mixed material is mixed with a solvent of methanol. The mixt. is moulded together with a metal screen. The moulded body is sintered at 100-115 degrees C for 10-20 hrs. to produce a sintered body. The gas side of the body is coated with TFE hexafluoropropylene copolymer to form a water repellent film.
Sealing agent consists of a hardening agent and an opt. branched aliphatic glycyl ether type epoxy resin. The sealing agent prevents leakage of electrolyte from a battery case effectively.    In an example, a positive electrode activator consisting of silver oxide powder and graphite powder is placed in a battery case. A separator of nonwoven polypropylene cloth is placed on the positive electrode activator. A negative electrode activator consisting of amalgamated zinc powder and a binder of PVA is placed on the separator. A nickel cap covers the negative electrode activator. Packing seals the gap between the cap and the case and the sealing agent layer is placed between the cap and the packing.
The electrode comprises an electrode activator sheet bonded to a metal core. The bonding agent used consists of a conductive agent and PVA contg. boric acid. Because of use of the improved bonding agent, the activator is effectively used. The electrode is used as a positive electrode.    In an example, Ni(OH)2 (240 pts. wt.) and graphite (45 pts. wt.) were mixed with a PTFE soln. to form a paste. The paste was pressed to form a pair of flexible activator sheets. The metal core consisted of Ni foil and the bonding agent consisted of PVA soln. (100 pts. wt.), boric acid (1.2 pts. wt.) and C black (15 pts. wt.). The agent was coated on the surface of the foil and sheets were bonded to the foil.
Method comprises (1) placing a positive electrode activator consisting of silver oxide (Ag2O) in a battery case and (2) heating the activator in the case of 240-330 degrees C.    By the heat treatment, sodium carbonate is removed from the activator to decrease an internal resistance of the activator effectively.    In an example, Ag2O powder (97 wt.%) and PTFE powder (3 wt.%) were pressed with a pressure of 7 ton/cm2 to form a pellet.    The pellet was placed in the battery case. Then the case was heated in a heating furnace at 250 plus-or-minus 10 degrees C for 30 mins. and then cooled. A separator and an electrolyte impregnating sheet were placed on the pellet in order. Then a negative electrode activator consisting of amalgamated zinc was placed on the sheet. The case was sealed by a cap.
3-10 Wt. % of fluorocarbon-oil is dry-mixed with synthetic resin.    The mixt. is formed into a sealing material of desired shape. The foil is a low polymer of ethylene trifluoro-chloride and has a dynamic viscosity of 20-500 stokes. The synthetic resin is nylon 6.6, high-density polyethylene, polyethylene or polyacetal.    The sealing material has excellent liquid-proof characteristics and is easy to prepare.
The two container halves are moulded from resin respectively. The respective ends of the container side walls and the partial bottom wall of each half are melted by heating and are adhered to those of another half by pressing. The bulged part formed along the connection part is made flat by pressing before the resin hardens.    The vessel is made at low cost without problems.
After a partition wall is held by a pair of movable moulds molten resin is poured through a passage into a cavity which is formed by the moulds, the partition wall of the bath, and the connecting member for the conductive plate. After the resin in the cavity is hardened by cooling to form a sealing member, the movable moulds are sepd. from each other by a spring.    The comparatively thick sealing member is easily moulded on the partition wall of a small storage battery in a body.
The compsn. comprises Mg cpd(s) selected from the oxide hydroxide, carbonate, oxyhalide and hydroxyahlide (halide being F or Cl), at least partially reaced with a fluoro polymer contg. functional gps. of carboxyl ions, carbocylic acid or carbonyl fluoride or mixt. and opt. olefinic bending. The fluoropolymer has an equiv. wt. for each functional gp. of is not &gt;50000 and a mol. of 1000-100000.    The fluoropolymer compsn. may be blended with asbestos or fibreglass and used to form chlor-alkali cell diaphragms permitting use of lower voltage and giving higher current efficiency.
The spheres consist of solvent-free molten plastics, pref. with a m. pt. of 93.3-204 degrees C, which are heated to max. 204 degrees C. Small amts. of the molten plastics are projected under pressure and the surface is cooled in the gas (air) layer to increase the strength, this cooling being regulated so that sufficient heat remains inside for fusing the plastics to the web and round projections form on its surface. The spheres are also free from tackifier. The web is passed continuously through 2 dimensioning rollers, opt. after placing a glass mat over the projections.    Strong, chemically and mechanically stable projections can be produced without the use of solvents or other environmental pollutants. Projections of uniform height are obtd. and the process is very rapid.
The fibrous sheet comprises a light, porous, thermally agglomerated organic synthetic sheet resistant to degradation after prolonged exposure to high temps. in highly conc. alkaline media. This sheet has a strength &lt;50 g/m2 pref. &gt;35g/m2 and thickness &lt;200 mu; e.g. 75-130 mu.    Its principal fibres comprises synthetic, thermoplastic polyolefin fibres having a microfibrillar structure composed of microfibrils similar to that of wood pulp; the secondary fibres comprise polyamide fibres &gt;6 mm long. The thermal agglomeration is produced by partial fusion of the microfibrillan polyolefine and is sufficient to import to the sheet a tensile strength in the wet state, of at least 157.5g/cm of width, whilst preserving an air permeability of &gt;501/min.    Used as long-lasting (up to 5yrs) substrates for alkaline battery separators, having excellent receptivity for pore-forming battery separator coatings. They are partic. effective for Ni-Zn cells and are not degraded after exposure to e.g. &gt;30% KOH at &gt;80 degrees C/300 hrs.
A battery includes a polypropylene casing fitting closely in an aluminium box with the casing top below the box top, and silicone sealant in the space between the box and a peripheral ridge on the casing cover which is closely spaced from the box interior to bond box and casing together.    The aluminium is pref. PVC coated, and a ridge on the cover cooperates with the box interior to encircle the battery terminals to receive an epoxy resin providing mechanical rigidity and sealing the terminals. The arrangement reduces battery weight and prevents loss of seal-tightness.
The cell comprises a Zn battery case contg. electrodes and an electrolyte, a sealing member sealing the end of the battery case, and an inert gas selected from N2, He, Ne, and Ar filled in an air-gap formed between the sealing member and the end. The inert gas improves the electric properties of the battery, such as discharge voltage.    In an example, the positive electrode consisting of MnO2 is placed in the battery case. A positive electrode collector is buried in the positive electrode and the case is used as a negative electrode. A separator paper is placed between the positive electrode and the case and a polyethylene sealing member covers the end of the case. Inert gas is filled in the space under the sealing member.
The gasket sandwiched between a battery, a battery case and a battery cap placed on an opening end of the case consists of nylon 66 and further contains 0.1-2 wt.% of 1 inorganic pigment selected from carbon black, rutile and anatase.    The gasket prevents the leakage of an alkali electrolyte from the battery case effectively.
The method comprises (1) inserting an end of a sealing cap with a negative electrode collector and a light metal negative electrode in a groove of O-shaped insulating ring, where an electrolyte resistance adhesive filler, such as poly n-butene orpolyisobutylene, is coated on the surface of the groove, (2) placing an electrolyte impregnating sheet on the negative electrode, (3) placing a separator on the sheet, (4) impregnating an electrolyte in the sheet, (5) placing a positive electrode on the separator, (6) covering the positive electrode with a battery case with a positive electrode collector formed on the base of the case, and (7) bending the end of the case in the direction of the ring to seal the case.    The battery is easily formed without the leakage of the electrolyte.
Separator comprises an alkali resistant synthetic resin (non)woven cloth coated with an adhesive film alpha-starch or organic carboxylic acid ester contg. 0.3-1 wt.% high polymer such as CMC, Na alginate, arabic gum, polyvinyl PVA, polyethylene glycol or gelatine.    Separator has high mechanical strength. Short circuiting between the electrodes of the battery is effectively prevented. In an example, 0.5 wt.% gelatine and 0.1 wt.% arabic gum were added to alpha-starch and a film was bonded to a synthetic resin nonwoven cloth to form a separator. The separator was placed between a negative electrode of Zn powder and KOH soln. and a positive electrode consisting of MnO2 powder and graphite powder.
The sealing element, placed between a gasket and a battery case and/or between the gasket and a battery cap, comprises a sealing agent layer consisting of silane coupling agent such as vinyltrichlorosilane. A liquid packing is placed between the gasket and the sealing agent layer.    The sealing agent layer effectively prevents leakage of electrolyte from the battery.
The sealing member between a gasket and a battery case and/or between the gasket and a battery cap, comprises a sealing agent layer consisting of unvulcanised rubber and 70-95 wt.% of straight asphalt pitch. The sealing agent layer prevents leakage of electrolyte of the battery effectively.    In an example, a positive electrode activator consisting of Ag2O powder, MnO2 powder and conductive agent of graphite powder is placed in the battery case. A separator of porous polypropylene film and an electrolyte soln. absorbing paper are placed on the positive electrode activator. A negative electrode activator consisting of amalgamated Zn, CMC paste and an alkaline electrolyte is placed on the separator. The case is covered by a cap and a ring shaped gasket is placed between the case and the cap. On the gasket, the sealing agent is coated.
The sealing member placed between a gasket and a battery case and/or between the gasket and a battery cap comprises a sealing agent layer consisting of unvulcanised rubber and 30-60 wt.% of process oil.    In an example, a positive electrode active material consisting of a silver Ag2O powder, MnO2 powder and graphite powder is placed in the battery case. A separator of porous polypropylene film and an electrolyte soln. absorbing paper are placed on the positive electrode active material. A negative electrode active material consisting of amalgamated zinc, a CMC paste and an alkaline electrolyte is placed on the separator. The case is covered by the cap. The ring shaped gasket on which the sealing agent is coated is placed between the case and the cap.
The method comprises (1) adding a binder respectively to a positive electrode active material, an electrolyte material and a negative electrode active material to form mixts. and (2) mixing and pressing the mixts. to form a positive electrode sheet, an electrolyte sheet and a negative electrode sheet. The binder consists of fluorinated polyolefin powder such as PTFE resin. The sheets are made thin so a thin battery is obtd.
Molten resin is poured into a cavity through a runner, sprue, a subrunner and a gate. When the mould is opened, a plate comes off the cavity plate with a second cylinder. Consequently, a first cylinder is also moved up with the subrunner by a spring while the cavity plate is kept stationary. The subrunner is sepd. from the moulding. Finally, the disc-shaped resin taken out by the ejector pin and the ring-shaped moulding are taken out by a stripper plate.    Ring-shaped mouldings are obtd. without the prodn. of weld lines. Prods. are suitable for use as packing for Hg batteries.
Air battery uses air electrode composed of fibrous active carbon in which a metal chelate cpd. coexists. The catalyst for promoting redn. capacity is sustained for a long period, so that battery life is markedly improved.    Fibrous active carbon was prepd. by carbonising sheet cloth of cellulose or synthetic resin fibre, in which surface area was 800 - 3000 m2/g in gas adsorption test. The fibrous active carbon was immersed in a soln. comprising cobalt phthalocyanine (2 g) dissolved in dimethylformamide (300 g), and the cobalt phthalocyanine was deposited on the active carbon by putting the carbon into pure water. Then the carbon was dried. These operations were repeated several times to deposit 10 wt.% cobalt phthalocyanine w.r.t. the active carbon. Air electrode was prepd. by water-repellant treatment with teflon emulsion. Obtd. air electrode was used in an air battery by reinforcing it with porous stainless members.
Nickel electrode comprises mixed powder agent of Ni(OH)2 powder conductive powder, cobalt powder, binder and core material, where the cobalt powder is fine powder obtd. from thermal decomposition of cobalt-carbonyl cpd..    Metal cobalt does not tend to elute anion, so that electrode property (discharge utility) is good.    In an example, paste was prepd. by blending mixed powder of Ni(OH)2 (av. particle dia. 150 mu), 80 (pts. wt.) + Ni metal powder, 10 + cobalt metal powder, 5 with carboxymethylcellulose, 0.3 wt.% aq. soln.. Sponge-form Ni porous sheet (ave. pore dia. 200 mu) was filled with the paste which was moulded with pressure in the sheet thickness direction, immersed in fluorine resin emulsion to give the resin 1.5 wt.% w.r.t. the mixed powder. Ni-Cd battery was prepd. by the Ni electrode and Cd electrode.
Casting mastic for battery accumulator hermetisation contains 2,2'-diphenic acid/2,2'-dimethylhexanol-1 ester (I) to increase adhesion and frost-resistance. The proposed compsn. is (pts. wt.): bitumen 55-65; mineral oil 20-25; styrene-butadiene thermoelastoplastic 15-20; (I) 0.2-5. Addn. of (I) below 0.2 pts. wt. is ineffective, and addn. above 5.0 pts. wt. gives considerable loss in heat resistance.
The electrode contains an additive of chemically stable conductive fine particles incorporated in the electrode and insulated from each other to create a large ohmic drop from the exterior electrode surface to the current collector.    The additive is in a form providing increased effective surface area at a small increase in wt., a discrete particles having at least one small dimension, esp. in form of foil, ribbons, flakes, fibres or platelets. It is pref. incorporated into electrode ZnO active material in combination with suitable binder, esp. PTFE, polyphenylene oxide, polyvinyl acetate or carboxymethyl cellulose, and applied to a current collector by pasting or rolling.    Additive is useful in all Zn sec. cells, e.g. Ni-Zn, Ag-Zn, MnO2-Zn, Zn-O2 and Zn-air, where it reduces dendrite formation and shaped change degradation during cycling and gives compact, adherent uniform Zn deposits. Improved mechanical strength and high current capability make it useful in Zn prim. cells, e.g. Zn-MnO2 and Zn-air.
A cell has a tubular envelope, containing electrolyte, which is closed at its open end by a disc through which extends an electrode immersed in the electrolyte and connected to an outer terminal. The disc is of resilient plastics resistant to electrolyte and has a recess, the bottom of which forms a diaphragm with grooves forming lines of weakness to give flaps hinged at the recess periphery on failure.    The disc is pref. of ABS, polyamide, polyphenylene oxide or polypropylene, and the diaphragm has at least two straight grooves extending inwardly from the recess periphery and interseting in a cross. The arrangement permits resealing at least after venting moderate gas pressure.
In a multi-cored injection mould, the free ends of the cores and the wall of the mould cavity opposing the ends are provided with formations which produce pressure imbalances tending to counteract deflection of the cores.    The formations are typically ridges and oppositely disposed grooves of varying cross-sections. It is preferred for the cores to be grooved and the mould wall to be ridged.    A reduction in core deflection during injection is achieved. The invention is of particular use in the manufacture of plastics multi-compartmented battery cases.
Alkaline electrolytic battery cell using a zinc anode contains a surfactant consisting of 0.001-5 (0.01-3) wt.% of an organic phosphoric ester, calculated w.r.t. the zinc content in the cell.    The surfactant is pref. mixed with a zinc powder amalgam to form the anode, or added to the electrolyte.    The pref. surfactant is an ethylene oxide addcut of formula (where x+y is 3, M is H, NH4 or alkali(ne earth)metal, R is 6-28C phenyl, alkyl or alkaryl and EtO is ethylene oxide).    Release of hydrogen during operation of the cell and during its rest periods is prevented.
A basically microporous material having heat bonded to its surface which is turned towards the positive electrode, a network structure of synthetic material, forms a separator for a starter battery.    The network structure is of a material which can be stretched or expanded superficially. The lands enclosing the meshes of the net have different thicknesses, so that, when the separator is in contact with the electrode, the lands which are thinner or less deep are aligned in a pref. direction.    In addn. to fulfilling its function as a highly porous separator for all types of lead accumulators, the laminate has a high degree of rigidity, and in spite of compact assembly it permits the gases to escape freely from the electrolyte.
An electrochemical cathode element contg. monovalent silver oxide is improved by dispersing a metal comprising Ni and/or Ag. Pref. is Ni esp. a Ni-carbonyl. The metal is pref. present in amt. of 10-40 wt.% w.r.t. cathode.    The cathode pref. contains 20-60 wt.% of a second active material comprising mercuric oxide, cadmium oxide, cadmium hydroxide and/or manganese dioxide. The cathode forms part of an electrochemical cell having pref. a Zn anode, a separator between the cathode and the anode and an electrolyte.    The cathode can undergo repeated discharge and recharge cycles.
Lead salt battery with first order electrodes has an active graphite anode body prepared by graphitising a textile material at 2500 degrees C. The anode is connected to an electrolyte-impervious electrically conductive cell closure of moulded artificial resin with moulded-in uniformly distributed short cut graphite fibres also graphitised at 2500 degrees C. The connection between the anode and the cell closure is formed by gluing with an artificial resin glue contg. mixed in short cut graphite fibres or by embedding the fibres at the surface of the graphite body in the resin of the cell closure by temporarily softening the surface of the resin by heat or volatile solvent. The electrolyte is 1.8 M PbSiF6 and/or 1.2 M Pb(CH3SO3)2 in aq. soln.    Gas development is completely avoided and high chemical stability is achieved.
A battery includes a stack of inter cell partitions with top and bottom edges closely fitting with, but not sealed to, preformed sheets, the electrodes being enclosed within the compartments formed by the partitions. Sheets and panels enclose the stack opposed faces and the other pair of opposed sides.    The battery is pref. sea-water activatable with a Mg anode and PbCl2 or AgCl cathode spaced by a separator formed by depositing hot polyamide hot-melt adhesive onto the heated anode as discrete circular aras. The arrangement simplifies battery container assembly by the stack fitting tightly into a preformed box.
In a Na/S battery conductive Al surfaces subject to corrosive attack by the S electrode are coated with a thin layer of a cured phenolic or poly (arylacetylene) polymer contg. 3-50 wt.% conductive C particles. Layer thickness is pref. 0.5-5 mils.    Prepn. polymers are (a) phenol-formaldehyde resins where the phenol can have up to two 1-10C alkyl substits.; and (b) the poly(aryleneacetylene) resins of US 4070333. The resins are thermosetting at 100 degrees-300 degrees C. They contain pref. 30-50 wt.% C particles, esp. graphite of particle size 1-10 mu. Alternatively graphite mat. felt or paper can be impregnated with the resin. Pref. a combination of graphite particles and resin-impregnated mat. is used.
The case structure comprises a metal case contg. a battery element, a sealing plate covering the element and the case and an insulating rubber or plastics gasket placed between the sealing plate and the metal case. An adhesive coating layer is formed on an inner side of the case and on a round portion of the casing base. Another adhesive coating layer is formed on a round portion of the inner surface of the sealing plate and on a round portion of the inner surface of the sealing plate. The coating layers consist of synthetic material selected from the gp. of chlorosulphonic polyethylene, polyamide, isoprene rubber and chlorinated butyl rubber.    The coating layers improve the sealing property.
The sealing layer placed between a packing and a battery cap consists of a mixt. of a first polyamide prepd. by the interaction of polyalkylenepolyamine and dibasic acid and a second polyamide prepd. by the interaction of dibasic acid and polyalkylenediamine. The battery cap covers a battery case.    The sealing layer prevents the leakage of electrolyte from the battery case.
A microporous film comprises (a) matrix consisting of (A) 40-90 (50-80) esp. 60-70 vol. % of a polyolefine with Mn is not &lt;15,000 and (B) 60-10 vol. % of an inorganic filler, the matrix having 30.75 (45-76) vol. % voids, w.r.t. the vol. of the film, and (b) 2-20 (3-15) wt. %, w.r.t. (a), of an organic substance (I) insol. in and inert to H2SO4 and with solubility parameter of 7.3-8.4 (7.5-8.3); most of the organic substance adheres to the overall surface of the film, including the outer surfaces of the film and the walls of the voids.    A battery separator made from the film is claimed. The film has good mechanical strength, flexibility, wettability and resistance to oxidn. The electrical resistance is 1/3-1/10x that of known porous films.
Organic electrolytic cell has a light metal (I) as negative material, a mixt. of 65-95 (80-93) wt.% MnO2 powder, 20-3 (10-4)% C powder and opt. 15-2 (10-3)% PTFE powder as positive compsn. and an organic electrolyte, consisting of a soln. of an inorganic salt (II) of (I) in an organic solvent (III). The novel feature is that the average particle size of the powders of max. 30 (0.1-30) mu m for the MnO2, max. 5 (0.05-5) mu m for the Cpowder and max. 3 (0.01-3) mu m for the PTFE.    The cell has excellent discharge capacity and gives superior (over 93%) utilisation of the MnO2.
Organic electrolyte cells consists of light metal, e.g. Li or Na, as negative-active material, MnO2 as positive-active material and a soln. of an inorganic salt of the light metal in organic solvent as electrolyte. The MnO2 is made by electrolytic deposition and subsequently heated at 355-395 degrees C to remove water.    The cells have excellent discharge properties which are maintained after prolonged storage of the cells, being superior to those cells where the MnO2 is heated at 250-350 degrees C.    Pref. the MnO2 is heated at 370-380 degrees C, opt. after heating at 100-150 degrees C to remove surface water from the crystals, and the positive acting material may also contain acetylene black and PTFE powder. The inorganic salt is e.g. a perchlorate or borofluoride, esp. LiClO4.
Lead-acid accumulator has in each cell a block, consisting of plates and separators, of smaller width than the clear width of the cell. A U-shaped clamp, made of a thermoplastic such as polypropylene, is in close contact (welded) with the underside of the cell lid and has elastic side legs which take up the space between the block and the side walls. The legs do not extend to the bottom of the cell.    This is very beneficial effect on the resistance of the accumulator to shocks and vibrations. The U-shaped clamp is easy to assemble and its assembly offers no difficulties to mechanisation or automation.
Solid electrolyte layer is coated with a mixed soln. of manganese nitrate and copper nitrate. The coating is thermally decomposed to form a catalyst electrode having a manganese oxide-copper oxide system catalyst layer. Carboxymethylcellulose is pref. added to the mixed soln. to increase the viscosity. The catalyst electrode is used for fuel cells, etc.
The battery comprises electrodes, electrolyte, a battery jar and an insulating liq. placed on the electrolyte. The jar consists of ABS copolymer. The electrolyte consists of sulphuric colloid.    The insulating liq. is liq. paraffin.    In an example, positive electrodes were of Pb alloy contg. 0.2 wt. % Cd, 0.05 wt. % Cu and 0.5 wt. % Sn. The insulating liq. prevents the vaporisation of the water in the electrolyte.
Good electrical contact between a positive earth formed according to Parent patent and the positive current collector of an electrical generator using Zn-MnO2 and Mg-MnO2 couples, is ensured by coating the felt or gauze of carbon or graphite, prior to its impregnation with MnO2, on the surface which will be in contact with the positive collector, with a thin layer of conducting material. This avoids adverse effect on the electrical contact due to the presence of MnO2 on this surface.    Partic, the coating material is a resin consisting of PVC dissolved in THF (12.5 wt.% PVC/87.5 wt.% THF), contg. a mixt. of lamellar graphite (size 0.1-0.4 mm) and spheroidal graphite (size 0.6 mu).
Addn. of DMF of glyceryl to the copolymer of methylvinylpyridine and methacrylic acid gives a low resistance material for use in the mfr. of separators for small size Hg-Zn batteries.    The material is resistant to cracks and shows reduced Hg permeability.    Use of the proposed material for separators increases the shelf life of a battery to 2.5-3 years and working life to 1.5 years.
In a NiZn storage battery an electrode group comprises a Ni anode and Zn cathode having higher capacity than that of the anode wound in a spiral state via separators. Alkaline electrolyte having no free liq. except liq. retained in the electrode group comprises a mixed soln. of KOH aq. soln. (s.g. 1.3) and LiOH.H2O 10g/KOH aq. soln. 11.    Storage life at low temp. or high temp. is stable. LiOH. H2O 10 g in KOH 1l (s.g. 1.3) and electrolyte volume 0.5-0.6 ml/cellare appropriate.
Battery includes a gasket of a mixt. of (a) polyacetal copolymer polymerised from polyoxymethylene and cyclic ether; and (b) polyurethane. By adding polyurethane in amt. 40 wt.%, appropriate elasticity is attained, voltage drop due to separator breakage is decreased and electrolyte leakage is improved. Redn. of alkali resistance due to an excess of polyurethane is prevented.
Plate is produced by filling a grid with a paste in which active material is (1) preliminarily kneaded with aq. dispersion obtd. from adding surfactant to emulsion-polymerised PTFE and further adding viscosity-increasing surfactant, (2) re-kneaded with H2SO4 and (3) aged.    Battery capacity and voltage are maintained, so that battery life is greatly extended.
The battery comprises Ni cathode, a Zn anode, a separator and alkaline electrolyte. The cathode, anode and separator are spirally rolled. The Zn anode is provided with a pasty substance including 2 pts. vol. zinc oxide powder having a particle size 30-70 u and 1 pts. vol. metallic Zn powder. The Zn anode may be composed of a punched Cu sheet with the pasty substance contg. a binder of 1-3wt.% PVA.
Mfr. comprises depositing a first paste layer comprising a one electrode active material and a binder on a substrate, drying, depositing a second paste layer comprising a solid electrolyte obtd. by mixing cpd. having a stable water of hydration with salt which is soluble in the water of hydration and ageing it, and a binder on the first paste layer, drying, depositing a third paste layer comprising the other electrode active material and a binder on the second paste layer, and drying.    A small sized solid electrolyte cell is easily mfd. The first paste consists of MnO2, an ABS resin, binder and a carbon powder, the second electrolyte is made by mixing Zn3(PO4)2.4H2O with SnCl2.2H2O and the third paste consist of iron powder, an ABS resin binder and a carbon powder.
The method comprises preparing a solid electrode for the cell; depositing a paste layer comprising powdered electrolyte obtd. by mixing hydrate cpd., with a cpd. which is soluble in the water of hydration, and a binder, on the electrode; drying the paste layer; depositing a second paste layer; comprising the other active electrode material and a binder, on the first layer; and drying.    A small solid electrolytic cell can be easily mfd. The solid electrode consists of sintered iron. The electrolyte powder is made by sintering a mixt. of SnCl2.2H2O and Zn3(PO4)2.4H2O. The first paste consists of the electrolyte powder and an ABS resin binder. The second paste consists of an ABS resin binder, manganese dioxide powder and powder carbon.
An electrolytic cell is made by placing a cell element comprising a cathode consisting of active material of light metal, a separator, an anode and an organic electrolyte into a cell casing, adding a polymer around the part of the cell casing to be sealed.; heat treating the cell casing with the polymer to form a film or gel of the polymer in the vicinity of the sealing part of the cell.    The polymer is a polyalkylmethacrylate, where the alkyl gps. is (m)) ethyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, tert. butyl or cyclohexyl. The obtd. organic electrolytic cell has an improved liq. leakage resistance.
An anode, using light metal as active material, is placed in an anode can and liq.-holding retaining material is put on the anode. An organic electrolyte contg. PMMA is poured into the liq-retaining material and separator, cathode and cathode can are placed on it. A gasket is interposed between the anode can and the cathode can. The battery is heat-treated to gelatinise the organic electrolyte and PMMA.    In an example, the liq.-retaining material consist of polypropylene cloth. An organic electrolyte is produced by dissolving 1 mol/l lithium borofluoride in 30 cc propylene carbonate; 4.5 g very small PMMA particles are dispersed in the organic electrolyte, which is then poured into the liq.-retaining material. Heat treatment is carried out at 70 degrees C for 24 hrs. to form a gel-like organic electrolyte.
The battery comprises a stack of Ni-Cd cells in a moulded case with locating plates at opposite ends and mechanically and electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of the stack. A flexible connector is located adjacent to or within the stack so that the terminals are accurately positioned and stack tolerance much reduced, pref to is not =0.5 mm.    The case is pref of high-impact polystyrene moulded in two halves, and both it and the cells are cylindrical. The plates are pref of bright Ni plated steel strip and are welded to the cells, and adjacent cells are interconnected by weld cups.
Electrochemical generator having a positive electrode, the collector for which is graphite, and contg. when charged or on insertion into the generator a metal halide MXq, the active material for which is a halogen, also contains a metal negative electrode and an electrolyte which is solid at ambient temp. and liq. at its working temp.    The solid electrolyte contains a mixt. of Al halide and 1 alkali metal halide together with sufficient MXq to saturate it. The negative electrode is either Al when the amt. of MXq is practically nil, or when the redox potential of the Al is less than that of M w.r.t. the halogen in the electrolyte, is of the metal M in the contrary case. M may be In, Fe, Zr, U or Al and q is 1-6. X may be Cl or Br. Pref. 1 electrode contains a consolidatory agent, esp. PTFE.    Improved stability of the reacting components is obtd.
A fibrous organic polymer diaphragm for electrolysis cell comprises a porous sheet obtd. from a suspension of the fibrous polymer material (I), pref. as fibrils, in an organic liquid. (I) is pref. a fluorinated polymer and the difference in the respective solubility parameters of (I) and the organic liquid is pref. &lt;5(cal/cm3)1/2.    (I) is partic. suitable for cells for electrolysis of aq. NaCl and can also be used in electrochemical batteries. The diaphragm exhibits excellent wetting by aq. electrolytes from the very start and also optimum permeability to these electrolytes during electrolysis.
An elastic packing is interposed between an anode can and a cathode can by compressing it to give a liq.-tight seal. The elastic packing is arranged in depressed relationship from the top of the cathode can. The depressed portion of the button-shaped alkaline battery is filled with resin or inorganic insulating material to give a light-tight seal.
A separation membrane is prepd. by grafting a UV irradiated, activated polyolefin film (I) with a vinyl monomer. Grafting is carried out in a five layer sandwich-package built up of (I) covered on both sides with a cellulose material, impregnated with a monomer (soln.) and pressed together on both sides with polymer band which encloses the reaction volume. The sandwich is in the form of a continuous band which is fed over a heating element at a rate of 1-100 m/hr. and a pressure of 10-30 g/cm2 for 10-45 min.    The process is isothermal, continuous and can be made automatic. The amt. of monomer can be reduced. The film is grafted evenly and is used in accumulators.
An electrochemical cell comprises (a) a consumable electrode connected to a terminal, electrode and terminal being discrete elements and (b) an opposite polarity electrode. Electrical disengagement between the terminal and remote portions electrode is prevented by retarding the reaction of a continuous portion of the consumable electrode from adjacent the terminal to a remote location, thus maintaining continuity throughout discharge.    In one embodiment, reaction is retarded by an ionic flow impeding barrier between consumable electrode and opposite polarity electrode, specifically by an ionically less permeable portion of a separator. The separator is esp. polypropylene having the less permeable portion formed by densification e.g. by heat treatment.    Cell capacity is increased without increase of vol. needed by conductive substrate. The loss of capacity due to the unreacted electrode portion is more than compensated by use of portions that would otherwise be lost through fragmentation.
The battery comprises (a) a metal anode, (b) an air cathode (c) a wick of suitable electrolyte absorbent material, stable in the electrolyte, attached to the cathode to complete an electroconductive path between anode and cathode and (d) floats arranged so that, in use, the metal anode is immersed in electrolyte and the wick contacts the electrolyte.    Pref. the float is a rectangular frame sepg. anode and cathode, having a central opening through which the wick extends.    In an embodiment, an electrolyte reservoir is attached to the frame, with anode and wick extending into the reservoir. The anode is pref. Mg, Al, Zn or alloy. The air cathode pref. comprises 3.6mg/cm2 MnO2, 20mg/cm2 activated C and 5.2 mg/m2 PTFE spread evenly on both sides of an Ni screen. The wick is pref. glass-'Vinyon' paper.    The battery does not require cathode immersion. Multicell arrangements can be provided with self discharge through inter cell shunt current minimised or eliminated.
A battery comprises an outer container having an open top and closed base, contg. 2 non aq. cell using an electrolyte soln. including liq. from oxyhalide, halide and/or liq. SO2. The cells are electrically connected to provide two electrode terminals at the open end and a terminal board having two external terminals on its surface is secured to the open end of the container, with each external terminal connected to an electrode terminal.    A resilient material contg. an immobilising chemical agent that will react with any of the electrolyte liq. or its reaction prod. escaping from the cells is provided between the cells and (part of) the inner container wall. Specifically using sulphuryl chloride and/or thionyl chloride liq., the resilient material is pref. polyurethane foam and immobilising agent is pref. Na acid carbonate.    This prevents escape of liqs. and/or gases from battery.
Electrolyte film comprises (a) a polymer film having opposed surfaces and (b) solid, ion-conductive, polycrystalline particles embedded in the film and exposed at both opposed surfaces. The particles are beta-aluminas or beta"-aluminas and the polymer film is pref. polyester or polyurethane.    Films are thin, flexible electrolyte films suitable for e.g. sealed Li-Br cells.
The surface of an anode current collector to be in contact with a gasket is polished to form a smooth surface having a surface roughness of &lt;3 mu. A sealing cpd. liq. at room temp. is interposed between the smooth surface and the gasket.    Alkaline battery has excellent leak-proof characteristics. Specifically a steel plate has Ni layer on the inner surface and a Cu layer on the inner surface. Clad plate is drawn into an anode current collector having a folded portion. The Cu layer surface of the folded portion and adjacent portions are chemically polished with a H2O2 soln. contg. H2SO4 to form a surface having surface roughness 0.3-3 mu. A sealing cpd. comprising silicone oil, fluoro-oil, polyamide, epoxy resin, pitch or rubber adhesive is then applied.
The battery includes an anode using light metal as active material, a cathode and an organic electrolyte gelatinised with polymethyl methacrylate having a Tg &gt;45 degrees C. The stereoregularity of the polymethyl methacrylate is syndiotactic or steroblock.    The battery has excellent resistance to leakage and excellent discharge characteristics at &lt;60 degrees C.    In an example, an anode comprises a Ni grid and a Li sheet pressed on it. A cathode comprises a formed body contg. a Ti grid at the centre and consisting of 100 pts. wt. fluorocarbon, 10 pts. wt. acetylene black and 20 pts. wt. fluororesin binder. A separator consists of polypropylene 3.6 g polymethyl methacrylate powder having a mol. wt. of 390,000 and 520,000, the cathode, the separator and the anode are placed in a cell. 15 cc of a propylene carbonate soln. contg. 1 mol/1 LiBF4, is poured into the cell. The cell is heated at 95 to 97 degrees C for 10 to 12 minutes.
Copper salt e.g. nitrate, hydroxide or carbonate is mixed with electroconductive carbon material e.g. acetylene black or graphite. The copper salt in the mixt. is pyrolysed into copper oxide to produce the mixt. contg. Cu oxide. The mixt. is mixed with a binder.    The rate of utilisation of a Cu oxide cathode in a non aq. battery is increased. In an example, 95 wt.% of Cu nitrate and 5 wt.% of acetylene black are mixed. The mixt. is heated at 800 degrees C in an inert gas atmos. to pyrolyse the Cu nitrate into Cu oxide. The mixt. of Cu oxide and acetylene black are mixed with PTFE powder as a binder. The mixt. thus obtd. is compacted into a cathode element. The cathode element is heated at 300 degrees C and thermally fused to form a cathode.
The periphery of the separator is coated with 1 of synthetic resin, synthetic rubber and grease-like material. The resin is polyamide, PVC, PVdc copolymer) or polyethylene fluoride). The synthetic rubber is acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, isobutylene-isoprene rubber, silicone rubber or chloroprene rubber. The grease-like material is silicone grease, blown asphalt and or polybutene.    Because the alkaline liq. is prevented from passing through the minute gap between the separator and a seal, spontaneous discharge of the battery is prevented.
The method comprises (1) forming a mixed paste of metal oxide and/or hydroxide, alkali-sol., water-insol. fine powder, such as Al2O3. 3SiO2, and a paste, (2) coating the mixed paste on a porous base sheet, (3) drying the paste layer and (4) immersing the obtd. base sheet in an alkaline aq. soln. to dissolve and remove the powder from the sheet.    The separator has a high mechanical strength and an alkali-proof property. In an example, TiO2 powder (450 g) and Al2O3. 3SiO2 fine powder (45 g) are mixed. The mixt. is added in water (300 ml). Then an aq. soln. (150 ml) of 7 wt.% polyvinyl alcohol is added in the water and mixed to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on the polyamide cloth. Then the cloth is immersed in KOH soln. to remove the fine powder.
The packing placed between a battery case and a cap on the case consists of an elastic resin selected from PTFE, polypropylene and polyethylene. The solid electrolytic battery placed in the battery case comprises a negative electrode of Li, a positive electrode of an iodine complex and a solid electrolyte.    The packing has an improved elasticity and iodine-resistance, so that the battery is effectively sealed by the packing and the cap. In an example, the Li sheet electrode is placed in the battery case used as a negative electrode terminal. The positive electrode of the iodine complex of C5H5NC4H9I13 is placed on the Li sheet. The posivite electrode is covered by the cap used as a positive electrode terminal. The packing of polyethylene is sandwiched between the ends of the cap and the case. The solid electrolyte of Li iodide is formed at the boundary of the electrodes.
A composite separator-absorbent is used in an electrochemical cell contg. anode, cathode and a fluid electrolyte. The separator consists of 1 layer of a thin film, permeable to ions, formed of polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, nylon, acrylonitrile, polyhalogenated resin, polystyrene, an ion-exchange grafting of these cpds. or one of their mixts.    The electrolyte-absorbing element consists of 1 layer of a sheet of non-woven fibrous synthetic material which becomes adhesive by application of heat. The separator and the absorbent are heat sealed together over limited areas.    The handling characteristics of the thin film separator are improved by its adherence to the absorbent sheet.
A separator for an accumulator contains (a) about 30-70 wt.% pulp of synthetic polyolefin pref. polyethylene; (b) 15-65wt.% siliceous filler, pref. amorphous silica with specific surface 100 m2/g; (c) 1-35wt.% long fibres length 2.54 mm) pref. formed, for 1 wt.% by a polyester, partic formed, for 1-15 wt.% by polyester fibres and for 0-35wt.% by glass fibres. The compsn. pref. also contains 0.5-10 wt.% cellulose fibres, 0.01-1wt.% ionic agent, and 1-5wt.% alum. The separator is mfd. in sheet form by elimination of water from an aq. dispersion contg. the above constituents. The sheet can then be dried, heated and pressed.    The separator can be mfd. on a paper machine.
The borders of sandwich structure battery plates are sealed by passing a series of plates automatically past equipment which extrudes and shapes a foamed plastic material to enclose the borders of the sides and, if necessary, the base of the plates.    Process is more efficient than conventional manual manipulation of plates to fit prefabricated seal profiles. It is applicable to plates with covers of e.g. polyester materials which cannot receive profiles which require ultrasonic welding.
A battery cell comprises two electrodes and a liq. alkali halide electrolyte. The first electrode consists of an organo-metallic polymer with nominal compsn. M(TTL) x, where M is 1 Gp. VIII transition metal ion; TTL has the nominal compsn. C10H4X4 and substd. compsns. thereof; X is S, Se or Te or their mixts; x is 1, pref. 2.    When M(TTL) x is used as the active negative electrode material, the positive electrode material is e.g. poly-2-vinylpyridine-bromine, and the electrolyte is pref. Kbr. When M(TTL) x is used as the active positive electrode material, the active negative electrode may be of Li or Na. A suitable electrolyte is LiBr in propylene carbonate.    The cell has high energy density per unit wt. or vol., and long shelf life.
Flat battery comprises a flat end cell anode; a flat cathode of MnO2-C black coextensive with the anode; a flat separator between them and (d) a soln. of electrolyte comprising NH4Cl/ZnCl2 disposed in the separator and in contact with the facing surfaces of the electrodes.    Specifically, the end cell anode is a Zn sheet carrying a layer of Zn particles on the surface facing the cathode, in which both sheet and particles are in contact with the electrolyte.    When using NH4Cl/ZnCl2 electrolyte, HgCl2 is usually used to inhibit H2 generation. This embrittles the Zn. The Zn particles however contain relatively large amounts of ZnO, which on contact with the electrolyte dissolve slowly providing fresh unamalgamated Zn surfaces, raising the H2 pressure. Use of both zn sheet and particles forms a compromise.
Battery comprises a cell having (a) a normally positive electrode for reducing halogen, (b) a normally negative electrode for oxidising Zn during discharge and (c) an aq. electrolyte contg. ions of Zn and halogen, 1 - 50 ppm ion of metal from Pb, Mo, V, Cr, Cu, Cd, W, Ge, As, Sb, Bi, Se and/or Te and sufficient polysaccharide or sorbital additive to prevent Zn dendrite formation during electrical charge of the battery.    The polysaccharide or sorbital additive prevents formation of dendrites, the metal ion preventing loss of redn. of current efficiency without impairing dendrite inhibition.
A paste made of an alkali-resistant metal oxide and/or hydroxide mixed with latex is coated on a substrate and then dried. Because the paste contains the latex, it is firmly bonded to the substrate. The mechanical strength and oxidn.-resisting property of the separator are high. Since zinc dendrite is kept from penetrating the separator, the electrodes of the battery are prevented from being short-circuited.
The separator comprises a porous thin film and a fibreglass cloth to which thermoplastic resin powder is fusion-bonded. The porous thin film and the fibreglass cloth are integrated with each other. The film may be made of a porous polyethylene which has a thickness of 0.3 mm. and a porosity of 50%. Acrylic acid may be graft-copolymerised with the polyethylene or a sulphone gp. may be introduced into the polyethylene.    The resistivity of the separator is low. The lifetime of the lead battery employing the separator is long. The capacity of the lead battery is high. The mfr. of the separator is simple.
The separator is a porous solidified polysulphone film where a porous substrate such as non-woven or woven fabric may be provided. The maximum pore dia. of the film is 0.1-5 mu as determined by the bubble pressure method.    The thickness of the separator is very low. The mechanical strength is sufficient. The resistivity is low. The ionic selective permeating property is good. The separator is chemically stable.
The method comrpises (1) providing a metal porous body with voids continuously connected with each other, (2) filling a mixt. of 30-50wt.% active carbon and 50-70wt.% nickel powder in the porous metal body, (3) pressing the porous body, and (4) sintering the porous body in an inert atmosphere. The active carbon is effectively impregnated in the porous body to improve the property of the electrode, which is used in an air-H2 fuel cell.
The method comprises (1) placing a pair of electrodes in an aq. electrolyte soln. contg. an activator forming salt, (2) inserting a long electrode base into the electrolyte and moving between the electrodes, (3) placing current shielding members between a portion of the surface of the electrolyte and each end of the electrodes placed near the surface, where the base passes through the portion, and (4) applying an electric current between the base and the electrodes to deposit the activator on the base.    The current shielding members prevent movement of ions in the electrolyte, so that the activator is uniformly deposited on the base. The shielding member consists of a polypropylene pipe while the electrolyte consists of an aq. soln. of 2 mol./l. nickel nitrate. The activator deposited on the base consists of nickel hydroxide.
Active paste material is filled into the pores of a metal sponge and binder is added after drying. In the improvement, before the binder is added, binder-contg. liq. is scattered upon the pre-wetted active material on the foamed metal surface. The binder is an aq. (carboxy)methyl-cellulose soln. or aq. fluorine, polyethylene or polystyrene resin dispersion.    The active material on the foamed metal surface does not peel off, so that the material is uniformly filled to improve the discharge capacity of the battery.
Active material is filled into foamed metal by (1) passing the foamed metal through a paste of active material, (2) removing it from the active material and (3) pressing the upper surface of the foamed metal with a packing tool. The foamed metal travels on a support having spaces open to the active material.    Stirred active material is moved into the spaces of the support and forcibly filled into foamed metal with pressure of the packing tool, a soft rubber plate.
The battery comprises insulation packing which has both L-shaped cross-section adn a reinforced base. The insulation packing is composed of polyamide resin and the bottom part is preliminarily reinforced by pressing.    Polyamide resin is easily hardened with heat-treatment but necessary part is further reinforced by pressing. liq.-leakage-resistance and self-discharge-resistance are improved.
The battery has a sealing packing composed of nylon-66 resin, the surface of which is further coated with either nylon-11 or nylon-12. The flexible nylon coated layer provides durable liq.-leakage-resistance at low and high temp.    In an example, nylon-66 resin was injection moulded to give a sealing packing of JIS G-12 battery (silver oxide/KOH electrolyte/Zn). After the gate was cut and annealed, the packing surface was cleaned with acetone soln. by ultrasonic washing. It was then immersed in a metacresol soln. of nylon-11 and coated with the flexible nylon by vaporising the metacresol solvent to give a battery packing. The obtd. battery had improved liq.-leakage-resistance after 2, 4 and 6 months.
Leakproof alkaline cell with a positive pot and a negative electrode collector has a seal of polyamide resin (I) with a moisture content of max. 0.3 wt. % at the open end of the pot.    Drying of the seal leads to an effective increase in the leakproofness. The surface of the seal can have a coating of a sealant compsn., pref. consisting of pitch, fatty acid polyamide, rubbery adhesive or silicone oil. The seal can be dried by heating and/or under reduced pressure.
After a water repellent porous sheet is coated with a mixt. of active carbon and fluorine resin powder, porous metal nets, each having the desired size of a gas diffusion electrode, are pressed on the coating of the porous sheet. The porous sheet is then cut to provide four gas diffusion electrodes.    Gas diffusion electrodes with good liq. leakage resistance, high mechanical strength and long life are easily mfd. Such electrodes are used for air-zinc batteries, etc.    Typically 10pts.wt. mixt. of 83pts.wt. active carbon and 17pts.wt. tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer resin powder is mixed with 25 pts.wt. methyl alcohol. The slurry is sprayed on a fluorine resin non-woven cloth sheet. After drying the coating, four Ni-plated iron screens are pressed on the coating. The cloth sheet is cut so as to separate the iron screens.
A mixt. of active carbon and fluorine resin powder is added to solvent which wets the fluorine resin to produce a slurry. The slurry is sprayed or coated onto a porous member of water-repellent resin and dried. A porous metal plate is disposed on the porous member and pressed to give a gas diffusion electrode.    Gas diffusion electrodes with good liq. leakage resistance, high mechanical strength and long life are easily mfd. Such electrodes are used for air-zinc batteries, etc.    In an example, 10 pts.wt. of a mixt. of 83 pts.wt. active carbon and 17 pts. wt. tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer resin powder is mixed with 25 pts.wt. methyl alcohol. The slurry is sprayed onto a fluorine resin nonwoven sheet. After drying, a Ni-plated iron screen is disposed and pressed onto the coating.
Alkaline storage battery comprises (a) a battery case contg. negative and positive electrodes and an electrolyte and (b) a cap covering the case and a gasket placed between the case and the gasket. A coating layer is formed on the part of the surface of the gasket in contact with the cap. The cutting is of Hg or amalgamated Cu or Au.    The cap and the gasket seal the battery case. The coating layer improves the sealing property of the gasket and the cap.
The negative electrode comprises a foamed metal disc body consisting of Zn amalga and water soluble high polymer of sodium polyacrylate and/or CMC impregnated in the disc body. The high polymer electrode decreases self-discharge. In an example, a positive electrode consisting of AgO powder and a binder was placed in a battery case. A separator was placed on the positive electrode. An electrolyte consisted of 30% NaOH soln. A foamed disc body of Zn amalgam was placed on the sheet and CMC was impregnated in the disc body. The negative electrode was covered by a cap. A gasket was sandwiched by the cap and the case.
Electrodes are made by first applying a uniform layer of dry powdered carbon/hydrophobic polymer floc on the surface of a porous electrode substrate, with virtually no application of the floc into the pores of the substrate, by dispersing the floc as a cloud of powder in a chamber over the surface of the substrate, and pulling the floc onto the surface of the substrate by applying a vacuum under the substrate. The floc layer is then compacted and sintered.    The process is easily adapted to rapid, high volume prodn. of electrodes for electrochemical cells, e.g. fuel cells.
An accumulator has a thermoplastic container with a lid which houses a gp. of electrode plates with electrode lugs on the sides. Electrode connection elements which pass through the container side wall are welded on the inside to the lugs. The connection elements are encapsulated firmly in the thermoplastic resin of the container.    This eliminates any electrolyte leakage through the side connections. The welding heat does not affect the thermoplastic or its sealing capacity.
A metal-halogen thin electric cell comprises a thin metal layer (1) for an anode active material layer (e.g. of Ag, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn or Al), a cathode active material layer (2) (e.g. of carbon) contg. halogen (e.g. of I2, Br2, N-halo-carboxylic acid amide or metal halide) and a separator (3) (e.g. of porous cellophane, polyethylene, polyacrylonitrile or paper) therebetween contg. &gt;2 wt. % glycerol and 2 wt.% water.    A halide or oxide of the anode metal is pref. arranged between the anode and the separator.    The cell gives stably high power for an electronic portable calculator, or an electronic wrist watch. Glycerol has hygroscopicity and holds water for a long time, and the separator retains its ion conductive property to keep the internal resistance of the cell low.
The separator comprises a sheet with an alkali-proof semi-dry sealing agent layer coated on its edge.    The sealing agent consists of a mixed soln. of polybutene and asphalt or consists of silicone grease.    The sealing agent layer decreases self-discharging of the battery and stabilises the discharge voltage.    In an example, a positive electrode consisting of AgO is placed in a case. The separator consisting of porous polyethylene film is placed on the electrode. Sealing agent consisting of 10 wt.% polybutene and 90 wt.% asphalt is coated on the edge of the separator. An electrolyte impregnating sheet and the negative electrode are laminated on the separator. The negative electrode is covered by a cap.
The case comprises a body with a cap and a pressed conductive rubber covering the body and the cap.    In an example, a positive electrode consisting of AgO is placed in the case. A separator is placed on the positive electrode. An electrolyte impregnating sheet contg. alkali electrolyte is placed on the separator. The negative electrode consists of zinc and is covered by the cap with a terminal. An insulating gasket is sandwiched by the case and the cap to seal the case firmly. The cap and the case are covered by pressed conductive rubber. The internal resistance of the battery is 100 omega. A negative electrode lead is connected to the part of the rubber covering the terminal at the cap.
The storage battery comprises a negative electrode with an activator of a light metal, such as Li, an organic electrolyte gelatinised by polymethyl methacrylate and a positive electrode in which the organic electrolyte is gelatinised by the polymethyl methacrylate. The content of the methacrylate in the organic electrolyte is 17-25 wt.%.    By the addn. of the polymethyl methacrylate, the leakage of the electrolyte from the storage battery is effectively prevented.
The cell includes 1 auxiliary electrode for redn. of O2 in the cell, electrically connected to the negative electrode of the cell. The auxiliary electrode comprises a hydrophilic layer catalysing O2 redn., pref. active C combined with a synthetic resin, and a moisture repellent layer, pref. PTFE foil.    In a cell contg. stacked plate-like positive and negative electrodes, there are two auxiliary electrodes, each in fixed electron contact with the furthest apart negative electrodes and as far from each other as possible. The cell is pref. a hermetically sealed cell, esp. a sec. Ni-Cd cell.    The auxiliary electrode reduces O2 accumulation in the gas space to a min., even with high charge current, preventing evan a temporary increase in internal pressure. In button cells having normal quantity of electrolyte, pressure on 100 mA overcharge was only 0.1 bar when a 1 cm2 auxiliary electrode was used, compared with 5 bar without.
The positive electrode comprises a heavy metal, pref. 20-40 (esp. 25)wt.% Fe, Co, No or Cu, and a heavy metal sulphide(s), pref. of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and/or Mo. The electrode is pref. by sintering a dry mixt. of heavy metal sulphide powder and methyl cellulose in a mould in a non-oxidising atmos.    A galvanic cell comprises a positive electrode as above, a solid negative electrode having Li, Mg, Ca or Al metal as active material and a fused salt or fused salt system electrolyte. The electrode combines good mechanical strength and structural stability with good electronic conductivity. The finished structure comprises a solid electron conducting skeleton contg. embedded active heavy metal sulphide with a free pore vol. about 50% for good active material utilisation.
Electrode comprises a porous, graphite-resin composite structure incorporating a catalyst, one face having been treated to render it water-repellent, both faces of the electrode having pores of uniform size.    Pref. the composite includes two layers forming the faces, having pores of different sizes and pref. a strengthening element esp. of graphite fibres, or other acid-resistant material woven or formed into a mesh is interposed between the layers. Pref. there is a compact electrically conductive zone formed around the periphery of the structure arranged to act as a rheopore. Pref. the resin is a polyimide.    The electrode is claimed for use in a fuel cell, in which the porous structure includes 15-50wt.% of heat-stable resin, 50-85wt.% of electrically conductive load and 30-120% by apparent volume of pores, all the electrode materials being acid resistant. The electrode is simpler and cheaper to produce and requires fewer prodn. stages than current electrodes.
The indicator has guides preventing excessive lateral movement of a vertically movable float, and a switch to complete or interrupt a signalling circuit in dependence on float position.    The float is solid or homogeneous throughout and is pref. a plate of foamed polypropylene with specific gravity &lt;1.0 and resistant to the electrolyte. The float pref. carries a permanent magnet which operates a sealed reed switch to actuate a signal lamp. The guides pref. include a tube and block secured to the battery casing top, with a float peg projecting into the tube and a pillar cooperating with the block.
Laminated microporous article has a first layer of microporous material (I), in which the micropores are all under 2 mu in size, with a thickness of min. 2 mil (0.051 mm), and a second layer of a porous supporting material (II), which is laminated with (I). (II) consists of a heat-bonded, nonwoven polyester fibre web with a thickness of min. 8 mil (0.203 mm, pref. 8-12 mil, 0.2-0.3 mm) and an electrical resistance of ca. 0.25 (ca. 1) mohm. inch2/mil (0.635 ohm.cm) in a battery acid electrolyte. The total thickness of the laminate is 10-40 mil (0.25-1.0 mm).    Article is use partic. as battery separator. It has better physical properties than an unlaminated separator of (I) of equiv. thickness, esp. w.r.t. electrical resistance toughness, flexibility, breaking strength and acid resistance.
A flat battery housing which is made as a plastic blow moulding is subdivided by partitions into several cells. Its oval lid has an axial rim with a sealing groove and is made as an injection moulding. An inward collar on the housing keeps it tight against the partition.    This creates a tight housing without any electrolyte leakage even when the battery is upturned.
A galvanic battery, specially a button cell of the alkaline type, is fitted with an additional contact cap which covers one pole, the sealing area between the parts of the casing, and overlaps, separated by additional sealant, a part of the casing which represents the second pole. The additional sealant consists of bitumen, a single- or multi-component casting resin, an adhesive, thermoplastic resin, silicone rubber or a combination of them. Soldering or spot welding joins the contact cap to the cover representing the first pole.    This sealing method is suitable for mass production and provides reliable sealing for the electrolyte, even for button cells of under 3 mm height.
Gas adsorbant comprises 1 paracyclophane (PCP) deriv. (I) made up of cyclic oligomers formed from individual units joined together to form a rigid structure with cylindrical intramolecular cavities. The dimensions of the straight section of the cavity corresponds to those of the gas being absorbed, and the structure is sufficiently rigid so that rotational movements of constituent atoms do not cause significant changes in cavity vol. at up to 250 degrees C. Esp. (I) comprises 1 PCP trimer made of same or different units RX (R = 6-membered aromatic ring substd. at each para-position by X; X is a bridging gp. esp. CH2CH2 or ester gp. R is esp. phenylene, or pyridine or pyrimidine residue). The PCP molecules may be attached to a polymer chain, esp. they comprise 1 poly(p-vinyl PCP) chain. (I) are esp. useful for retaining H2 e.g. for purifying H2 (to remove O2, CO, H2O); to protect H-storage cpds. such as hydrides from O2 and as gas electrodes e.g. in fuel cells. They can also retain larger molecules such as O2 or H2.
Stack includes two cells sepd. by a cooler having top and bottom gas-impervious graphite plates spaced by a gas-porous graphitised resin-bonded carbon fibre tube holder bonded to the botto plate and with channels in its top surface aligned with grooves in the outer face of the nearest cell electrode.    Tubes carrying coolant are located in the channels which are virtually as deep as the holder and as the tube o.d. There are gas seals between the plates along each edge of the holder parallel to the channels to prevent gas leakage. The holder top surface is pref. resin bonded to the top plate.
Cell has two rectangular parallel membranes (28, 38) sepd. by a gasket (20) in the form of a four sided frame, which surrounds a membrane spacer (22). The gasket has a fluid inlet port (24) on one side and an outlet port on the opposite side. The inlet port communicates with an inlet distributor for directing fluid through the cell, the distributor including two closely spaced parallel flexible sheets (10), the ends of the sheets opposite the inlet port grasping a first edge of the spacer (22), with a number of inserts (16) arranged between and joined to the sheets and so dimensioned and positioned that the flow of fluid through the cell is made uniform.    Used in fu el or electrochemical cells, but partic. electrodialyses. The distributor prevents excessive membrane flexing and early membrane failure at the spacer edge by enclosing the edge between the two sheets of distributor covering.
The fuel cell consists of a housing separated into two regions by a membrane, and parallel with this is a cooled condenser surface.    An electrolyte flows through an inlet duct and into the first space before leaving through an outlet duct. On the other side of the membrane is a second space filled with a gaseous phase substance, such as hydrogen or oxygen, into which water condenses and is removed in a discontinuous fashion from the outlet tap.    The membrane is made of plastics about 0.1 mm thick or asbestos about 0.5 mm thick, or may be made of a porous mass of ceramic material or of sintered glass or metal. The cells may be built up into a battery of similar cells and circulated by a pump in a closed loop circuit.
H2 is obtd. electrolytically using a soln. of a bromide as the electrolyte, an n-type B phosphide semiconductor electrode and radiant energy.    Used esp. in systems in which solar radiation is used to produce H2 gas which is then used to power a fuel cell. Use of a bromide electrolyte overcomes prior art over-voltage and corrosion problems; a wider range of semiconductor electrodes may be used resulting in better energy conversion efficiency.
Hydrogen fuel cell is provided with a metal hydride electrode comprising a hydrogen occluding alloy and a metal layer formed on one surface thereof. The metal layer contains a noble metal catalyst which is stable to hydrogen.    The metal layer is pref. formed on the surface of the alloy which is in contact with the electrolytic soln., and another metal layer contg. no catalyst is pref. formed on the other surface of the alloy which is in contact with the gas. The metal layer is pref. of a foamed metal or a metal sintered body. The hydrogen occluding alloy pref. contains at least nickel.    A nickel foamed metal contg. palladium catalyst is pref. used on a CaNi5 alloy. The foamed metal has high adhesion properties to the alloy, and the metal reinforces the alloy and improves the effect of the catalyst to improve the life of the electrode and promote a high rate discharge.
In the operation of aq. high energy cells with Li, Al or Li/Al alloy electrodes and H2O2 as cathode depolariser, the H2/O2 gas mixt. formed in the high energy cell (1), if necessary with additional O2, is supplied to the positive electrode (4) of a fuel cell (2) and from there, if necessary after sepn. of excess O2 (and/or addn. of H2) to the negative electrode (6) of the fuel cell (2).    The cell gases are removed safely and used as energy source.
A unit with high performance at elevated temp. comprises cells each with anode and cathode, a gas-impermeable plastics separator between an anode and an adjacent cell cathode, and conductors passing through the separator are flexibility supported in it by elastic gas-tight seals.    A housing supports the cells and there are fuel and oxidising gas feeds to each cell. The conductors are pref. of carbon or carbon-impregnated plastics and connect successive cells. The separators are pref. of polyurethane and the seals are of butyl rubber. The conductors are pref. tilted relative to the plane of the separators and have rounded edges to contact the electrodes.
Method comprises (a) laminating &gt;2 plies of thin films contg. fluorocarbon resin and extractable liq. pastes differing in compsn., (b) applying compressive and shearing force to the laminate to give film of proper thickness, (c) bonding the film to porous supporting material, and (d) extracting the liq. from the film.    Used for filter, fuel cell, gas sepn., reverse osmosis, etc.
The method comprises laminating more than two plies of thin films of fluorocarbon, resin/extractable liq. pastes differing in compsn., applying compressive and shearing force to the laminate to give film of proper thickness, and extracting the liq. from the film.    Used for filter, fuel cell, sepn. of gas, reverse osmosis, etc.
Matrix for a fuel cell acid electrolyte has a lyer contg. C and an adjacent layer contg. SiC. The C pref. has an effective surface area of over 100 m2/g and a particle size of under 50 nm, whilst the size of its largest pores is not less than one order of magnitude less than the thickness of the first layer and 20% of the pores have a dia. of under 0.04 mu m. Both layers pref. contain &lt;4% binder, pref. a fluorocarbon polymer, esp. PTFE.    In the fuel cell, the C layer can be adjacent to (and support) the anode and the SiC layer adjacent to the cathode or vice versa, fuel being supplied to the anode and oxidising gas to the cathode. The average pore size of the matrix is not more than that of at least one of the electrodes.    The matrix is stable, has high electrolytic and low electronic conductivity and inhibits the passage of reaction gas at high pressure. It has a bubble pressure of ca.
Sulphur trioxide is produced electrochemically in cells with separated cathode and anode spaces by allowing S to react with O2 to form SO2 with subsequent oxidation to SO3,    The product yields is increased by using a solid O2 conducting electrolyte at 800-1000 degrees K.    The first stage of oxidn. takes placed in an electrochemical cell operating as a fuel cell, elementary gaseous S being fed to the anode space and air to the cathode space. In the second stage the electrochemical cell operates as an electrolytic cell, the oxidation products from the first stage being fed to the anode space and air to the cathode space.
The time that a hydrophilic porous graphite body remains hydrophilic when used as a reservoir layer for accommodating electrolyte vol. changes in a phosphoric acid fuel cell, is increased by coating the pore surfaces with particulate, wettable amorphous C. This specification is a div. ex. US4185145, which discloses the use of the reservoir in a fuel cell having phosphoric acid electrolyte.    The body remains hydrophilic for at least 10 times longer than bodies without the amorphous C coating.
Equipment for determining the electrical conductivity of ion-exchange membranes, particularly in fuel elements, according to Parent Cert No. 299897 consisted of a double-walled body with two coaxial, horizontally-placed cylinders with pistons inside them. On the inner ends of the pistons three platinum measuring electrodes were mounted. The functional possibilities and the range of measurements of the membrane electrical conductivity are extended by making the electrodes on the end of the pistons removable, and positioning them with the help of calibrated templates/fixing means.
In a gas redox-type fuel cell which includes an ion-exchange membrane, impurity-contg. electrolyte is removed from its electrolyte chamber and replaced with impurity-free electrolyte. The replacement may be periodic or continuously at a controlled rate. In a typical embodiment, the anolyte, e.g. 2MH2SO4, is periodically flushed and replaced during the extended operation of an H2-redox fuel cell.    Replacement of the electrolyte minimises the contamination effects of the unwanted reverse flow of ions through the ion-exchange membrane, e.g. the reverse of anions into the anolyte chamber of an H2-redox fuel cell.
O2/fuel cell operates by supplying O2 to the O2 electrode in the form of an inert, dielectric liq. (I) which is satd. with O2. (I) is immiscible with water but wets the electrode, the electrode is porous to O2 but non-porous to (I). Fuel is supplied to the other electrode, either naturally or similarly absorbed in an inert, dielectric liq. Water of reaction formed in (I) and at the fuel electrode is periodically sepd. and removed. The electrolyte is periodically replenished.    Esp. used in O2/H2 fuel cells. Absorbing O2 (and pref. also the fuel) in an inert dielectric liq. which contacts the electrodes increases cell efficiency and reduces risk of explosion.
Method for producing an electrolyte structure for a molten carbonate fuel cell, comprises (a) providing a supporting matrix form a powder of particle size range 1 mu which is chemically inert under the operating conditions of the cell, forming the powder into a blank with interconnecting pore volume comprising capillary sized interstices between compacted particles, the pores of which are uniformly distributed and comprise 50-70% of the volume of the blank; (b) positioning the blank on a substrate so that electrolyte can be deposited on the top face and gases can escape from the bottom face; (c) heating the blank and electrolyte to at least 10 degrees F higher than the liquidus temp. of the electrolyte without significantly vaporising it; (d) contacting the electrolyte with the top face of the blank so that the melt impregnates through the top face to fill the pores when the electrolyte is molten in an atmos. contg. sufficient carbon dioxide to maintain the stability of the electrolyte.    Process requires much less time and labour in mfr. than prior art molten carbonate fuel cells and is far more applicable to mass production.
Manifold-to-stack seal for fuel cell stack comprises (a) a polymer seal frame between the manifold lip sections and an associated surface of a fuel cell stack and (b) a means of pressing the lip sections, seal frame and stack together so that as the stack undergoes compressive creep the seal frame creeps with it allowing movement between manifold and frame while maintaining a seal.    The seal eliminates the problem of a seal sliding against the rough surface of the fuel cell stack by allowing movement between seal and the smooth surface of the manifold.
Electrochemical cell, in which one of the electrodes is exposed to water, has anode and cathode chambers sepd. by an impermeable, ion-conducting membrane and a catalytic anode and catalytic cathode connected to opposite sides of this. There is also an electrically conductive porous C paper in contact with the cathode, this paper contg a dispersed hydrophobic polymer (I) to make it watertight.    The cell is specified for use in a fuel cell, in which fuel gas is supplied to the anode and an oxidising gas to the side of the cathode opposite that to which the C paper is attached. The C paper has excellent conductivity but prevents a film of water forming over the electrode and eliminates the need to embed a conductive mesh in the cathode.
Electrical energy is produced from neutralisation of acid and base through a bipolar membrane in appts. comprising (a) a cell container, (b) a bipolar membrane having an anion permselective face and a cation permselective face dividing the container into two compartments, (c) inlet and outlet to each compartment, for flowing aq. soln. streams through the compartments in contact with the membrane and (d) an electrode in each compartment, contacting the aq. soln.    Electrical energy is produced in the cell by (i) simultaneously contacting an aq. acid stream with the cation permselective face of the bipolar membrane and an aq. base stream with the anion permselective face, so that contact of the streams through the membrane produces an electrical potential difference between the streams, (ii) transmitting the potential difference to the electrodes and (iii) withdrawing energy produced from the electrodes to a receiving circuit connected between them.
Method of obtaining an electrochemical catalyst in the form of a thin film of metal deposited on a pyrolytic graphite support in described,the metal being chosen from the moble match, Ni and thin alloys.    Specifically, the deposition is effected electrolytically on the graphite in a cell, from aq. soln. contg. a complex salt of the metal. The pref. metals are Ag, Pd, Au and Ni. Useful in numerous types of cells and batteries, esp. in fuel cells.    Improved reversability of the adsorption of oxygen on the surface is achieved, due to the granular, nodular or filamentray deposit of catalyst metal occurring on the surface of the graphite. This leads to a very strong electrocatalytic activity.
Improved accuracy in determining electrolyte concn. in a fuel cell using hydrogen-oxygen without sampling the vapour-hydrogen mixt. is achieved by measuring the temp. of the latter. The measurement is carried out at the condenser outlet when the hydrogen circulation rate is checked. The concn. of electrolyte in the fuel cell is then derived on the basis of previously obtained plot of dependence of concn on vapour-hydrogen mixt. temp. for different rates of circulation.    The method avoids the necessity of thermostat control of connecting lines for sampling the vapour-hydrogen mixt. from the circulation loop. It also eliminates the composition analyser, and does not interfere with the process of moisture removal. The integrity of the vapour-hydrogen circulation loop is unaffected.
Reducing gas (e.g., lower hydrocarbon, etc.) is detected by (1) contacting the gas with an active-material electrode capable of oxidising the reducing gas, and (2) measuring the electric potential created between the active-material electrode and a reference electrode connected electrically with the active-material electrode through an ion-conductive medium (typically electrolyte soln. in which the both electrodes are substantially insoluble).    The method and equipment are applicable to a gas-monitoring system. In contrast to conventional semiconductor-based gas sensors, this appts. operates at room temp., and its performance is not affected by atmospheric mositure.
In the continuous removal of NH3 gas from a gas stream, the gas is passed alternately over 2 beds of solid porous material wetted with an acid, so that a salt forms on the surface. Each bed is regenerated by reacting the salt with O2 to form N2, the acid and water. Regeneration takes place at a temp. insufficient to decompose the salt and cause release of NH3 from the bed.    The process is specified for the treatment of gas contg. over 1(1-180)ppm. NH3 to give an NH3 content 1ppm. It is esp. useful for purifying gas for use in fuel cells which can operate for 5 years without maintenance, as it eliminates the need to replace the scrubbing material several times during this period.
The cell comprises (a) a fluidised bed O2 absorber and fluidised wetted carrier particles, (b) a cathode current collector and either (c) a O2-permeable, electrolyte impermeable O2-transfer membrane having its outer surface exposed to air and its inner surface readily accessible to carrier particles, or (c') means for directly contacting absorber particles with air in an air fluidised bed within the absorber.    In either embodiment, the wetted particles become rapidly O2-enriched without bubbling air through, or mixing air with a continuous liq. electrolyte phase. The O2-enriched particles are brought towards the cathode current collector for electroredn., then the partly O2-depleted particles are returned to the absorber.    The high power density cells are esp. useful for electric vehicle propulsion (H2-O2 fuel cells or metal air cells) or for Cl2 generation. They can use relatively inexpensive activated C or rare earth cobaltite catalysts and catalysts may be readily changed when exhausted.
A fuel cell comprises an alkali metal carbonate electrolyte, molten in operation, an anode contacting the electrolyte and a porous perovskite cathode having a resistivity &lt;100 (pref. &lt;1.0) OMEGA -cm, spaced from the anode and contacting the electrolyte.    The perovskite is pref. LaxKyMnO3, LaxZrycoO3, LaxSryMnO3 or LaxSryCoO3, x+y = 1.0, or more specifically La0.9K0.1MnO3, La0.95Zr0.05CoO3, LaMnO3, La0.9Sr0.1MnO3, La0.9Sr0.1CoO3 or LaCoO3. The electrolyte is pref. a binary eutectic of Li2CO3 and K2CO3.    The perovskites are stable in the electrolyte and good cathode catalysts for O2 redn. The graph shows comparative polarisation curves for specified perovskites and conventional NiO wire cathode.
A Zn-halogen battery assembly comprises (a) a housing including an internal chamber divided into positive and negative sections contg. a positive halogen reacting electrode and a negative Zn contg. electrode respectively and (b) fixed vols. of positive and negative electrolyte solns., each contg. a specific halogen, continuously circulated and recirculated through the respective chamber in operation, has a smaller vol. of positive electrolyte soln. than of negative electrolyte soln. The vol. of the positive electrolyte soln. is pref. the min. necessary to support continuous circulation through the chamber and/or is not &gt;40vol.% total positive + negative electrolyte vol.    The battery is useful with electrolytes contg. a halogen complexing agent, e.g. as in US 4162351. The imbalance in electrolyte vol. increases utilisation of Zn ions (on charge) and drives halogen ions into the aq. phase at a higher rate (on discharge) improving battery performance.
The cell comprises (a) a bed(s) of Fe particles in different oxidn. states, (b) a fuel cell(s), comprising a cathode adjacent an Fe bed, an anode not contacting the bed and a solid electrolyte capable of transporting O ions between anode and cathode, (c) a gas cycled through the bed to control its temp. and (d) a gas contacting the anode to promote O ion transfer throught the electrolyte. Pref. the articles comprises a porous mass of FeO and Fe2O3 or a porous mass of Fe and FeO. The electrolyte comprises Ca zirconate.    The bed is inexpensive and non-toxic and the appts. is compact as energy is stored in solid phase. High temp. heat is liberated, which can be used in commercial heating units.
In the electrolytic prodn. of H2, a soln. of a bromide cpd. (I) is used as electrolyte and radiant energy is used (partly) as energy supply for the cell.    The cell pref. has an n-semiconducting (Si) anode and o-semiconducting (Si) or Pt cathode, sepd. by a membrane permeable to H+ ions, which are exposed to radiation of suitable wavelength and sufficient intensity to liberate H2 gas at the cathode and liquid Br2 at the anode.
Lithium meta aluminate powder is produced by reacting a powder mixt. contg. at least stoichiometric amts. of 1 of LiOH, LiNO3, Li2CO3 and 1 of Al(OH)3, gamma- Al2O3 or gamma- Al2O3 and 20% wt. of 1 of NaCl, KCl, LiCl. The mixt. is heated to fuse the choride and the temp. is maintained until the lithium meta aluminate as pptd. The ppte is washed to dissolve the cloride.    Used as the support for the molten alkali carbonate electrolyte in carbonancesus gas full prim. batteries. The process is more efficient and economical than the prior art solid state reaction or reaction in fused Li2CO3 and K2CO3 or Li2CO3 and Al2O3.
A pair of reaction vessels provide hydrogen for a fuel cell, one vessel (I) making hydrogen while the other (II) is simultaneously regenerated. Process comprises (a) introducing hydrocarbon feedstock and steam to (I); (b) cracking and reforming the feedstock using sensible heat obtd. during regeneration of this vessel; (c) during the hydrogen to the fuel electrode; (d) introducing air into the oxygen electrode; (e) directing the exhaust from the fuel electrode together with an oxygen-contg. gas to the vessel which is being regenerated; (f) preheating the oxygen-contg. gas and the exhaust gas; (g) mixing the two gases and combusting the mixt. within the vessel to regenerate the latter by storing the heat of combustion within material contained in the vessel, step (f) being accomplished using the heat of combustion and/or sensible heat stored in the vessel; and (h) exhausting combustion prods.    All the energy expended directly converts the feedstock to H2. All heat transfer is direct, thus minimising losses. Preheating of glass is without using external heat sources. Thermal efficiencies of at least 97% can be obtd.
Solid ion-conductive electrolyte consists of hydronium beta"-alumina of formula nH2O.nX. 5Al2O3.qH2O where n = 0.75 to 1.0, X = MgO, Li2O or m(MgO)p(Li2O) where m + p =n, and q =0-2.8.    A specific cpd. has the formula 0.84 H2O. 0.84 MgO. 5Al2O3. 2.8H2O.    Used in an fuel cells, electrolyser etc. the electrolyte has high proton conductivity.
An H2-O2 fuel cell comprises a honeycomb separator having walls forming cells defining a number of separate H2 and O2 compartments. The walls are of material of porosity allowing capillary transport of electrolyte, pref. ceramic, esp. cordierite. Fuel cell electrolyte is wicked into separator walls from an electrolyte reservoir.    H2 from an H2 supply is supplied to very other cell in checkerboard fashion, defining H2 compartments, with an O2 supply connected to remaining cells, H2 and O2 cells generally being side by side. Electrode catalyst material is provided on compartment walls and conductors connect to each electrode catalyst. Two current connecting terminals are connected to conductors to H2 and O2 cells respectively, as the cell poles. Oxidn. prods. and excess H2 and O2 are exhausted from the compartments.    The honeycomb structure provides a high strength, low cost fuel cell.
H-contg. hydrocarbon fuel, miscible with water, is supplied to a fuel cell at constant strength using a special type membrane filter that passes water and retains or refuses to pass the basis fuel material. Reject liq. from the filter is recirculated through the fuel cell and water passing the filter is disposed of. The fuel strength is controlled at the same fuel concn. as the original feed stock by controlling filtration rate and quantity of recirculated fuel.    Constant strength fuel increases cell efficiency for constant power prodn.
Oxygen-hydrogen fuel cell comprises (a) a pair of gas diffusion electrodes; (b) a solid electrolyte disposed between the gas diffusion electrodes, the solid electrolyte consisting of isomeric polyacid (salt) having high proton-conductivity; and (c) a cation exchange film disposed in the solid electrolyte between the gas diffusion electrodes.    Specifically, a solid electrolyte contg. a cation exchange film in the middle is disposed between an O2 diffusion electrode and a H2 diffusion electrode. Gas chambers contain the gas diffusion electrodes. A fuel cell is sealed with sealing resin. The solid electrolyte is produced by inserting a cation exchange film between layers of powder of phospho-tungstate and compacting the powder layers and the cation exchange film.    Deformation of gas diffusion electrodes due to expansion and constriction of a solid electrolyte is prevented.
A redox cell, comprising first and second chambers sepd. by an ion permeable membrane with an anode fluid and electrode inert w.r.t. the fluid in the first chamber and a cathode fluid and electrode inert w.r.t. the fluid in the second chamber has (i) a Pb chloride and/or Cd chloride salt(s) dissolved in the anode fluid so Pb and/or Cd is plated onto the anode during initial charging or (ii) a thin coating of Pb or Cd on the anode electrode.    Pref. a thin layer of metal form Ag. Au or Cu is coated onto the anode before the Pb coating, to inhibit oxidn. of Pb ions when the cell is being discharged.    The cell delivers much greater current for any given electrode area than previous redox cells, and delivers an increasingly greater percentage of current, compared to previous cells, as the cell approaches a discharged state. The second metal layer provides a catalytic surface after pB has dissolved into soln. on discharge.    The additive is useful for cells using chromons/chromic or ferrous/ferric couples.
H2/O2 fuel battery has separate operating pipes, membrane valves and membrane valve control pipes for H2 and O2 and a H2 control valve in the H2 control pipe. The novel features are that (1) the O2 control pipe is connected to the H2 operating pipe between the H2 membrane valve and the battery input; (2) there is an O2 control valve in the O2 control pipe; and (3) the opening pressure of the O2 membrane valve is greater than that of the H2 membrane valve.    This arrangement ensures that the H2 pressure is always greater than the O2 pressure. The battery is esp. useful as emergency power supply.
Electrical energy generation comprises (1) a cathode which is satd. with 1 metallic hydroxide and/or oxide and is immersed in an alkaline electrolyte; (2) a micro-perforated membrane acting as separator; (3) an absorber-distributor of liq. analyte consisting of one or more metals in soln. in an alkaline electrolyte, which contacts the surface of the anode, which acts as current collector, (4) opt. a micro-perforated membrane permeable to ions; and (5) an auxiliary metal anode of one or more of the metals in soln. in the anolyte, plying part of anode of an accumulator.    These elements are arranged in this order in successive layers, the cathode common to the functions of generator and accumulator being regenerated by a current of air and/or oxygen emulsified with the electrolyte, and by removal and recovery of used anolyte.    The generator provides an autonomous electrical energy and ensures at the same time provision of energy and electrical power.
A reservoir comprises a porous hydrophilic graphite body coated with particulate, wettable amorphous C on its pore surface. The reservoir layer, having a body formed of graphitised C fibres bonded together, is used in a fuel cell using phosphoric acid electrolyte to control electrolyte vol. within the cell.    The reservoir does not loose its hydrophilic quality with time under normal operating conditions and hase useful life increased by a factor of 10, compared with conventional reservoirs.
An electrochemical cell comprises (a) a consumable electrode connected to a terminal, electrode and terminal being discrete elements and (b) an opposite polarity electrode. Electrical disengagement between the terminal and remote portions electrode is prevented by retarding the reaction of a continuous portion of the consumable electrode from adjacent the terminal to a remote location, thus maintaining continuity throughout discharge.    In one embodiment, reaction is retarded by an ionic flow impeding barrier between consumable electrode and opposite polarity electrode, specifically by an ionically less permeable portion of a separator. The separator is esp. polypropylene having the less permeable portion formed by densification e.g. by heat treatment.    Cell capacity is increased without increase of vol. needed by conductive substrate. The loss of capacity due to the unreacted electrode portion is more than compensated by use of portions that would otherwise be lost through fragmentation.
Electrochemical cell for production of electricity by reaction between a gas containing a hydrocarbon and the cell electrolyte has, in addition to a gas flow passage in flow communication with the electrolyte a further flow passage isolated from the electrolyte and in thermal communication with a heat generating surface of the cell, and containing a catalyst promoting endothermic reforming of the hydrocarbon content of the gas in that passage, the gas from a supply being fed through both the electrolyte communicating passage and the electrolyte isolated passage.    Used in operation of a fuel cell to provide both thermal control and fuel processing. Provides efficient use of hydrocarbon reforming in the thermal control of fuel cells with in-situ reforming in a manner preventing catalyst deactivation by condensation of fuel cell electrolyte vapour.
In this fuel battery, a fuel electrode and an oxidiser electrode are provided on both the sides of a matrix and a fuel gas and an oxidising gas are supplied to the electrode sides opposite the matrix. The fuel electrode consists of a carbon fibre substrate, a water-repellent layer and a hydrophilic catalyst layer. The water-repellent layer has openings through which the hydrophilic catalyst layer is coupled to the carbon fibre substrate. After the fuel battery is assembled, a lig. electrolyte is impregnated into the matrix through a fuel gas passage and the fuel electrode.    Because the electrolyte is prevented from absorbing moisture during the impregnation, the electrolyte can be impregnated to a desired quantity and concn. The electrolyte can be easily supplemented to the battery while the battery is in operation.
In a fuel cell having a gas diffusion electrode and using an alkaline electrolyte, an electrolyte chamber is filled with water or a low-concn. alkaline electrolyte during pause of operation of the cell to prevent lowering of cell performance and recover the cell performance.
An embodiment of a cell is built up of laminar plates or layers as elements (11-17) but in an actual embodiment not limited to seven elements but being any arbitrary number. Each of the layers is comprised of a thin slab of single crystal ferroelectric material and theoretically any single crystal version of polycrystalline ferroelectric materials may be used.    Each of the layers is remanently polarised in a direction perpendicular to the faces of the layer. The polarisation charge is compensated at charge compensation regions in the vicinity of the laminar boundaries separating adjacent layers. Adjacent stacked layers of the cell may either be separated by electrodes which are plated or otherwise applied to opposing faces of each layer, or the faces themselves may be chemically reduced or doped so as to become conductive or semi-conductive. The electrodes could for example be made of fired silver, indium oxide or evaporated metal thin film and the reduction would be accomplished by heating the opposing faces in an oxygen-free atmosphere.
The system for obtaining and regulating energy from the air or sea and river currents includes a cyclone converter formed by three concentric rotating bodies, either on shafts or cylindrical rails. Fixed rollers or other electromagnetic systems permit the rotation of the group around an imaginary or actual geometrical shaft. The outside body is self-orientating with its main components and deflectors on rotating components or a base sliding rail.    The intermediate concentric body or turbine is formed by rings and vanes and a system of rollers or electro-magnetic supports which are inside or outside the turbine. The inside body or diffuser rotates concentrically in a reverse direction to the turbine and has vanes of opposite complementary angles.
The system for optimising the gain of an avalanche photodiode and an associated avalanche photodiode preamplifier includes a variable voltage power supply interconnected to the avalanche photodiode for providing a bias voltage source for the avalanche photodiode. Circuitry is provided for measuring the output noise level of the avalanche photodiode and preamplifier. Additional circuitry is responsive to the circuitry for measuring output noise level of the avalanche photodiode preamplifier for generating control signal.    The control signal is applied to the variable voltage power supply for varying the bias voltage applied to the avalanche photodiode by the variable voltage power supply to control the output noise level of the avalanche photodiode, such that the output noise level of the avalanche photodiode matches the output noise level of the avalanche photodiode preamplifier to thereby optimise the operation of the avalanche photodiode and the avalanche photodiode preamplifier combination.
The water turbine (1, 2) control, in the emergency conditions, includes the guiding mechanism (2) and the rotor's (1) slave motors (3, 4) fitted with the distributors (5, 6). A manipulator (7), with its operating mechanism (8), is separated from the distributor by a controller (9).    The reduction in demand produces the turbines overspeed. The guide (2) blades are fully closed and the manipulator (7) rotated by its mechanism (8) which simultaneously operates the controller (9). The latter stops the fluid flow to the distributor (6) of the rotor's slave motor (4) thus stopping the rotor's blades. This action relieves the load and maintains the rotors speed within the safe limits.
The hydraulic accumulator type electric power station includes a tank (2) separated by the gas screen (9), connected to the compressed air and the turbine generator (3) in turn connected (4, 5) to the reservoir (1) and to the tank. The flexible chamber (6) is connected to compressed air and to the tank. The piping system (5, 11, 12, 13), is fitted with the valves (14-17) and the tank with the level controllers (18, 19).    During the preparation stage, the water is pumped (3) to the tank (2). When the top level is reached, the controller (18) closes the valve (14). The valve (16) is closed, the valve (17) is opened and the oil is pumped to the tank in order to form the gas screen (9). Following that, compressed air fills the space (8) and through the pipe (10) flows to chamber (6) which is filled to a pressure determined by the water head in the reservoir. During power generation, the water flows from the tanks space (7) and runs the turbines until the low level (19) is reached in the tank. The system is then changed to pumping and the cycle is repeated.
Four equally spaced radial arms (12, 14, 16 and 18) which support a rigid mesh (20, 22, 24 and 26). Attached to each mesh are many hinged or flexible flaps (28) e.g. polyethylene. The mesh is porous to the flow of air or water and consequently the area presented to the flow on one side of the vertical axis of rotation is different from that on the other due to the deflection of the flaps (28) away from the rigid mesh on the one side and the layering function of the flaps on the other side.    The roller reefing principle may be applied to each of the radially extending vanes if the mesh and strips are made to slide allowing the mesh and strips to roll up on a roller mounted at a convenient position between the top and bottom of the vane.
Adjustment of the opto-electronic sensor to different spectral sensitivities and requiring little space together with the integrated analysing circuit is facilitated by an additional photodiode. Both diodes are exposed to the tested radiation and their pn junction is at different distances from the irradiated surface. The weights of signals from the diodes to the evaluation circuit are separately adjustable.    In the case of an analog adder the currents of the two diodes are subtracted and the sign is taken care of by the inverter circuit. The electrical characteristics can also be used in active RC filter including an operational amplifier.
The method improves electric parameters and increases the sensitive layers of PIN structure semiconductor detectors without worsening of their other characteristics, esp. the energy resolution, by irradiating the finished detectors using a positron flow of 1012-1013 positrons/cm2. The increase of the p-n junction thickness is also achieved by detectors which have already been worked in ionising radiations.    Energy resolution of a diffusion-drift detectors noticeably deteriorates when irradiated with positron density of 1013 positrons/cm2 or higher. The flow density of 1012 positrons/cm2 reduces the capacitance of the p-n junction without worsening the energy resolution.
The light detector housing comprises a header, electrodes which are inserted through the header and a light detector having a light sensitive surface mounted on one of the electrodes. The light detector is connected to the electrodes. A cap encloses the light detector and electrodes and is bonded to the header.    A light pipe is inserted through an opening in the cap which extends from the outer surface of the cap toward the light sensitive surface. A light beam from an external light source which impinges on the light pipe is transmitted toward the light sensitive surface with reduced spreading of the light beam.
The pump is fitted with a distributor (1) which oscillates and is formed from a perforated envelope (2) having eight pairs of holes (3) to (10). The envelope houses a shaft (11) which also oscillates through a pinion (20) which is keyed to the shaft.    The pinion engages the rack (21) integral with the cylinder (22) moving in the tracks (23) and (24). The motor (28) drives the mechanism. The flow from the distributor recirculates the liquid without loss of head through alternative orifices.
The low pressure expansion turbine has a rotor (3) fitted onto a shaft running in ball bearings. The impeller is overhung at one end of the shaft. The rotor is fitted with a number of blades equally spaced on the rotor.    The casing cover fits over the rotor and is bolted to the rotor housing around the outside. The fluid is admitted to the turbine through an inlet nozzle (6) perpendicular to the shaft and is expelled through an orifice (8) level with the centreline of the shaft.
The hydroelectric generator has two water reservoirs one above the turbine blades and one below. Water is pumped from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir. Water flows from the upper reservoir (1) through the turbine blades to the lower reservoir (8). The pump (7) is driven by the turbine blades (3) and is coupled to them by a transmission belt (4-6). The electrical generator (12) is likewise coupled to the turbine blades via a belt transmission (10, 11).    Alternatively two sets of turbine blades may be employed one above the other. The upper set drives the electrical generator and the lower set drives the pump. The water flows through the upper set into the lower set of blades.
The sensor for optical radiation has a scintillator (35) mounted on an insulating layer (36) of e.g. silicon dioxide above a multiple layer absorber body. This has a silicon substrate (11) which may be of P or n conductivity type with an upper layer (13) embedded in a second layer (15). The upper layer passes most of the radiation and the second layer absorbes a determined portion of it.    The specific resistance of the second layer is much greater than that of the first and third layers. Its minority carrier life is substantially greater than that of the third layer, but shorter than that of the first layer. The third layer is thickest. The second layer has a connection for a circuit to measure the minority carrier charge due to the radiation.
The Fabry-Perot etalon (24) has a coherent radiation receiving surface and a multiply stepped surface providing at least three regions of different thickness. The average distance between the two surface is such that the radiation path difference between portions of the radiation transmitted is greater than the coherence length of the ambient incoherent radiation, but less than that of the coherent radiation.    Radiation passing through the different refions of the etalon is separately detected by difference amplifiers (40-44). The resulting signals are processed by peak detectors (46-50) a ratio circuit (52) and an arc-cosine circuit (54) to provide information concerning reciprocal wavelength and energy.
The appts (10) converts static energy to kinetic energy by use of a liquid motor (12) coupled to a generator (14) the generator can be AC or DC and mounted on a platform (16) with a motor (12). A number of pumps (18, 20, 22, 24) are connected in parallel to motor (12) for actuating it.    The pumps are actuated by a number of fluid engines (26, 28, 30, 32). The engines are arranged in a tank (34) which forms a reservoir for water and partially forms a fluid supply which actuates engines (26, 28, 30, 32). An intake line is connected to an operating fluid, e.g. a low head steam, for selectively feeding the operating liquid into tank (34) so as to maintain the liquid level at a predetermined height.
In a pressure regulating station on a water main, the fall in pressure required is produced by driving a generator with the water flow. The generator charges a storage battery which in turn provides a constant power supply.    The power supply is used to feed various electrical loads.    The power supply can provide the electrical supplies for measuring instruments associated with the operation of the pipe line, provide local illumination where no main supply is available, or provide heating for the pipe ducts. In water feeds to domestic blocks of flats the generator may be employed to provide emergency lighting.    The energy recovery system may be applied to practically any pipe line where operating pressure has to be reduced at some point.
The system picks up water from the upper reach and comprises a water main, hydroturbine with stator, inlet, and outlet, and consumption regulator connected to the stator. For simplicity and efficiency, there is a generator on the hydroturbine shaft, and the outlet from it is connected to the water main, to which the consumption regulator is also connected.    When pressure rises in main (4), water goes along pulse tube (11) to cylinder (7), overcoming flexible element (10) to move the piston (8) with rod (9e, closing the stator blades so that pressure in the main is reduced. Flexible element (10) moves the piston and rod, opening the stator blades so that the pressure in the main rises.
The water powered turbine has an improved vane construction which insures that the flow pressure of the stream will be applied to the entire trailing surface of the vane. Each vane has a valve opening and a flap valve pivotally mounted on the vane, selectively operable to close the valve opening.    The turbine wheel includes a dam-like shield at the outer end portion of the vane. This shield is provided with one or more control openings aligned with the flap valve. As the vane approaches the standing wave ahead of the turbine, water passes through the control openings to close the aligned flap valves, thereby insuring that the pressure of the flow will be applied to the entire trailing surface of the vane.
The energy converter comprises a submerged tide or current driven turbine either attached to sea bed etc. or moored at a suitable depth. The turbine (9) is set within a Venturi the outlet of which may be angled away from the sea bed to avoid disturbing or cutting away the surface. The turbine may be one of a pair of more and may be driven from either side. The Venturi can be in a variety of forms with horizontal or vertical outlets and the turbine set horizontally or obliquely.    Turbulence and cavitation can be minimised by the inclusion of tapered channels (17) above and/or below the inlet side of the Venturi leading past the turbine housing and exiting into the post turbine flow. The anti-turbulence channels preferably form an annulus or part annulus about the main channel.
A weir (1) is constructed at the side of a flowing river. A vertical shaft (2) joins a horizontal shaft (3) through the base of the weir. There is a controlling damper (4) in the horizontal shaft.    A large quantity of water dropping in the vertical shaft raises a smaller quantity through a greater height on the other side of the weir. This is accumulated behind the weir to produce a reservoir with sufficient head and quantity to drive a hydroelectric installation of significant output. The pumping system enables a low head source to be effectively utilised.
The ionising particle impact localiser comprises a solid plate n-type substrate such as silicon having doped layers (30) on opposite sides, one of the same polarity e.g. n-type phosphorus and the other of opposite polarity e.g. p-type boron. These layers produce the effect of an inverse polarised diode. Contacts (31, 32) on both layers allow application of an electric field across the substrate. Each layer is formed of two ports divided by a zig-zag line of insulator, the lines being orientated at 90 deg to one another and having large height to base ratios. Alternatively the insulator may be omitted and a trench provided to separate the two halves.    The two layers are conductive layers of effectively nil resistance. In a typical example of a localiser the substrate is a 50mm diameter disc 0.7mm thick with a resistance of 10K OMEGA/cm. The layer doping is 1015 atoms/square cm. The localiser has conventional applications such as in cathode ray tubes.
The energy conversion system uses a hydraulic pressure source as a hydraulic store. A drive body filled with fluid supplied energy to a generator as it descends and allows communication between two fluidic columns, one of which incorporates an empty second drive body. This supplies its remaining energy of descent to the generator, e.g. via a turbine, after equalisation of the fluid columns and upon fluid being supplied to it from an external pressure source so that it no longer floats.    When the second drive body reaches its end position it is filled with fluid and when the first drive body reaches its end position it is empty, so that it again descends to supply energy to the generator. Pref. each drive body is supplied with fluid so that it begins its descent, before the descent of the other drive body is complete, each drive body contained in a shaft of similar height and coupled via a supply line with a hydraulic store at a higher level. e.g. a national lake or a reservoir.
A hydro-electric energy conversion system uses the fluid flow to drive a shaft via a number of blades. The blades can be arranged at right angles to the flow, so as to offer max. resistance. It consists of a wheel on a drive shaft, with the blades fitted as spokes inside the wheel or as fan elements on the outside.    Each blade (4) is mounted on a rod (5) in such a way as to be able to adjust the angle w.r.t. direction of motion. The rods are at right angles to the drive shaft in a single plane. The angle of the rods can be adjusted for a fraction of each revolution of the shaft. This occurs when the blades are upstream of the shaft.
The turbine has a stator with a three-part guide system guiding the water horizontally or slightly downwards. The rotor's axis lies across the direction of flow and its blades are traversed twice by the water as its flows through the turbine.    The inlet part of the guide system has vanes that direct the water slightly upwards to strike the concave faces of the rotor's baldes. The middle part of the guide system guides the water slightly downwards inside the rotor so that it again strikes the concave faces of the rotor blades on the other side of the rotor. The outlet part of the guide system guides the outgoing water slightly upwards.
The automatic starting hydraulic turbine device comprises a gate limit mechanism and a water head sensor actuating element with a profile cam. The mechanism and the element are connected with a main distributing valve of a gate servomotor via a leverage. The gate limit mechanism is kinematically linked with the water head sensor actuating element by means of a lever, connected to a solenoid, and adjusted to operate at a predetermined speed achieved by a hydraulic turbine rotor.    It is expedient that the speed switch be adjusted to operate at a speed from 30 to 50 per cent of the rated rotational speed of the turbine rotor.
An optoelectronic semiconductor device includes an optical fibre (10) passing through a hole (9) formed in a housing (8) for the semiconductor element (2) of the device. One end of the fibre faces the element whilst its other end projects a predetermined distance out of the housing. A light absorbing material (17) is disposed around the fibre in the housing to absorb light having the wavelength at which the element can emit or receive light.    The element can be a l.e.d., photo transistor or photodiode. Pref. the light absorbing material is a resin material which secures the fibre to the housing and has a refractive index greater than that of the clad layer of the fibre.    Leakage of light around the fibre is prevented by the light-absorbing material around it. So the test results are more accurate.
The water turbine comprises a main paddle wheel (4) rotating about a horizontal spindle (32) beneath a trapezium shaped trough (10). The paddles are mounted between two side plates. The blades of the paddle are curved with convex faces projecting in the direction of rotation. A gas inlet duct (3) is brought over the top of the turbine and passes downwardly and horizontally to an outlet nozzle emerging just to the side of the low dead centre position.    The side plates of the wheel are supported by grooves in the base support member, the grooves having gas flow around them from the inlet duct, with flow emerging from the upper ends of the grooves near flanges above the upper edges of the rotating wheel.
Overspeed protection for water turbines is well known and is also fitted to machines which can be driven as pumps as well as operating as turbines. In such cases a further protection is required in case the electric power to the motor driving the pump is interrupted and the head of water causes the pump to decelerate and to be driven backwards causing damage.    A device (10) is attached to the shaft and is designed to operate if the speed falls below a chosen value when the machine is operating as a pump. Ths is similar to the conventional centrifugal overspeed device (9) but at normal operating speed the pivoted insert abuts an interal stop, whereas below the selected speed an internal spring overcomes the centrifugal force and causes the inset to project thus triggering closure of the valve (3) via the control mechanisms.
The multi spherical infrared detectors are formed by three HgCdTe photovoltaic elements disposed in the form of a sandwich. Each photovoltaic element is constructed by preparing a suitable slice of HgCdTe by polishing the faces of the slice and by chemically attacking the slice. The slice is heated in the presence of mercury inside a test tube within a furnace having a suitable temp. profile.    The ground contact is constructed by catalytic deposition of gold. The slice is cemented onto a support. A layer of hotoresis is deposited on the slice and masked with the exception of a small exposure region from where it is eliminated. The slice is then grafted and the upper contact and an anti-reflecting layer are deposited. The individual elements are finally assembled and electrically connected to output terminals.
The simulation system for the characteristics of a three-phase machine, esp. for that of the type used in a hydro-electric power station, converts the triple-phase currents into bi-phase currents which are both in line and in quadrature, by using a vector transformation procedure.    The system includes an oscillator generating sinusoidal and cosinusoidal currents which are representative of the in-phase and in-quadrature bi-phase equivalents to the characteristic parameters of the machine. The oscillator incorporates stabilisation devices for the frequency and amplitude of the sine and cosine functions generated. The stabilisation device is controlled by a voltage which corresponds to the angular velocity of the machine.
The device, for use e.g. in hydraulic turbine model tests, comprises a body (1) with bearings (2) which is set rigidly in a stator cap (3). A guide vane (5) furnace (4) is connected by means of lever (7) with a metering member (6). To increase measurement accuracy by bearing frictional moment decreases, the device is provided with a vibrator having an electromagnetic coil (11) and an active core (10) interacting with it and rigidly connected with the vane journal (4).    On vane force characteristic measurement alternating current is supplied to the coil (11), the core (10) begins to oscillate and these oscillations are transferred to the journal (4) and bearings (2), decreasing bearing frictional momente without influencing measured characteristics.
The turbine consists of a tubular casing with guide blades and several rotor sections with blades connected axially to one another. The number of rotor sections can be varied to suit the quantity and head of water available. The rotor sections form a hollow composite rotor whose ends locate in bearings.    The rotor blades and the guide blades are fixed to the rotor sections and to the casing respectively by means of screws passing radially into the sections and casing. The casing and the rotor sections have radial flanges for connecting together. The ratio of the hub radius to the internal radius of the casing is greater than 0.7.
The structure comprises two epitaxial layers grown on an extrinsically doped silicon substrate. The detector is formed in and extend through the substrate, the material of which is sensitive to specific wavelength infrared signals according to the dopant used in the substrate. The collection of charges takes place on a first buried layer formed around a portion of the first epitaxial layer-substrate interface, and the charges are then transferred through a third buried layer of the same conductivity type to a conducting surface layer on the upper portion of the second epitaxial layer.    A second buried layer in a second portion of the epitaxial layer-substrate interface connected through a fourth buried layer to a surface layer provides a means for controlling the size of the detector region. The signal readout function is performed by a charge coupled device shift register constructed in the second epitaxial layer and includes selectively spaced electrodes in an insulating layer.
The signal processor comprises first and second channels for detecting signal fluctuations, representative of shaft speed fluctuations, above selected thresholds (one positive and the other negative) and providing a signal to an impedance network which permits instaneous response of the valve. The signal processor also includes a third channel which receives an electrical signal representative of all shaft speed fluctuations and provides a signal to another impedance network which enables the valve to respond to shaft speed fluctuations below a selected frequency.    The three channels thereby reduce valve flutter by permitting small shaft speed fluctuations to be ineffective to alter the valve position while still providing speed control for major deviations in shaft speed and also achieving a zero speed error. The circuit is partic. useful for a fluid driven fluid inlet valve controlled prime mover.
The system comprises transfer tanks which are located below the hydraulic head of a dam. Connected to the transfer tanks are air inlets extending from the transfer tanks to the atmosphere, and having check valves located within the inlet. A water inlet and valve, interconnect the transfer tanks with the fluid behind the dam, and awater outlet and valve empty the transfer tank downstream of the dam.    A storage tank is interconnected to the transfer tank by transfer lines having check valves at their transfer tank ends, and a turbine outlet extends from the storage tank to an air driven turbine. In one example two transfer tanks and one open-bottomed storage tank are located on the upstream side of the dam at its base. In this water outlets pass from the bottom of the transfer tanks through the face of the dam. Alternatively two transfer tanks, comprising elongate flow tubes, and several cylindrical storage tanks are located downstream of the dam at its base.
The hydraulic turbine wicket gate operating assembly comprises a bore in the wicket gate operating ring; and an eccentric body portion disposed within the bore. A wicket gate drive link is operably connected to effect movement of the wicket gate, and is secured to the eccentric pin to be driven thereby. A sleeve nut is mounted on the eccentric pin in abutting engagement with the drive link.    A locking bar is engaged on the eccentric pin in engagement with the sleeve to lock the sleeve nut and the drive link to the eccentric pin. A removable key operates between the sleeve nut and the eccentric pin and is operable to prevent relative rotational movement between the latters.
Hydroelectric storage power station designed to respond to the peak demand includes a dam (1) and the station (2) with the turbines (3) connected to the head (upper) reservoir (4) by the pipes (5). The turbine's discharges (6) are separated from the low side (7) by wall and gates (8, 11). An opening "a" is made in line with each turbine.    During the low (slack) demand, the water is pumped to the reservoir (4) from the high level side (9) using the turbines and pipes (5) whilst the opening "a" are shut by gates (11). When the reservoir is full, the gates (10) are opened and the system operates under normal conditions. At peak power demands, the water is discharged from the storage tank (4) and the valve (10) is closed. The flow from the turbines takes place through the openings "a".
The torsional oscillation damper comprises a pair of concentrically arranged shaft members having radially adjacent surfaces on the inner and outer shafts. The adjacent surfaces are engaged by radially directed forces which cause torsional oscillations which are exerted on one shaft to be frictionally transmitted to the second shaft and damped by frictional forces resulting from relative motion occurring between the adjacent, engaged shaft surfaces.    The frictional forces acting at the adjacent shaft surfaces during relative movement in between reduces the amplitude of the torsional oscillations which results in a longer life for the concentric shafts. To prevent fretting between the adjacent clippable surfaces, one on each shaft, a coating of non-fretting material is disposed on at least one of the surfaces.
The large dia. hydro-electro generator has hydraulic and electric motors positioned around the dia. Internal and external rotors are mounted radially such that the blades in the external rotor are displaced circumferentially and are articulated in order to balance the peripheral forces. Balance is effected by having on each blade (5) a hydraulic servo motor (6) the piston cylinders (8) being interconnected by a pipe (7) running around the circumference. The opposite ends (10) of the cylinders are similarly connected (9).    The connection between the internal (1) and external rotors (3) only transmits peripheral forces but allows their relative displacement such that the two opposite bearings (2, 4) are not subject to displacement forces. Similarly, angular displacement of the bearing axes is minimised; axial displacement between the two rotor axes however, is possible.
The hydroelectric installation has a generator housed in a sealed chamber in the inlet race and upstream of the flow acceleration section. The sealed chamber includes an access manhole opening above the normal level of water and detachably fixed to a floor.    The sealed chamber is pref. spaced from the turbine by a distance at least equal to twice the dia. of the turbine rotor. The transmission between the turbine and generator pref. turns through 90 deg. The generator shaft being horizontal. The transmission pref. includes a speed multiplication stage.
The transportable self-stabilised hydromotive assembly is for a fluid storing dam for purposes of energy production. It has a water flow circulation path having a very restricted longitude, and an electric generator having a rotor with a great moment of inertia.    Devices are also provided for purposes of starting, synchronising, keep running, and stopping the turbine-generator set. A balanced upwardly lifting pull is introduced into the structural body of the hydromotive assembly when positioned in submerged status for purposes of energy production, or for transportation procedures.
To increase hydraulic turbine-generator unit dynamic stability in conditions of emergency power control it is proposed to rotate stator guiding vanes (1) asynchronously with separate servomotors so that the vane opening angles (a) are different. this methold also provides stability of parallel generating station operation in an electric power generating system.
The reticulated pyroelectric target is for the detection of infra red radiation. It comprises a number of packed islands of pyroelectric material separated by a number of relatively narrow grooves, in order to physically strengthen the target. The islands and grooves are so shaped that the grooves do not form a straight line over any appreciable portion of the target surface.    Preferably the islands are hexagonal to provide a good packing density. Pref. the holder comprises a number of fingers projecting inwardly from one or more annular supports.
The tidal dam (28) is provided with a movable hydroelectric station, the station including a linearly and rotatably displaceable hydromotive assembly (17) capable of generating electrical power from both an ebb tide cycle and a flood tide cycle. In a power generating mode, the hydromotive assembly (17) is disposed against a water passage (33) in the dam and the appropriate one of a pair of horizontal movable diffusers (16, 19) positioned on opposite side of the dam is disposed adjacent to the hydromotive assembly.    When the hydraulic head becomes too low for power generation to be efficient the hydromotive assembly and the diffusers are displaced from the dam to allow sluicing to take place through the water passage in the dam. At the end of a sluicing operation the hydromotive assembly is replaced against the dam and rotated preparatory to allowing the production of power during the next tide cycle.
The prefabricated hydro-electric generating station comprises a vertical turbine having a Francis runner with its axis of rotation in a vertical direction, a distributor and upper and lower horizontally disposed stay vane rings with stay vanes extending between them. The generator and the associated running gear are for generating electrical power operatively connected to the Francis runner.    There is a housing with access for entry by an attendant having walls supported on the upper horizontally disposed stay vane ring of the turbine and enclosing the generator and associated running gear.    The upper horizontally disposed stay vane ring of the turbine underlying the housing, generator and associated running gear and provide vertical, lateral and torsional support for the housing generator and associated running gear mounted in the housing. The lower stay vane ring is adapted for mounting on a base to support the hydro-electric generating station in an operative position.
The turbine is used for small scale generation of electrical power and comprises a support arm fitted with a bearing (2). This arm is placed over the water supply and locates a drive shaft (1) coupled to a generator.    The lower end of the shaft has a disc (9) holding the turbine blades (4). These hang form of paddles, with their support rods passing through bearings (3) on the discs. They can pivot in one direction only, depending on the sense of rotation. The end of the support rods are bent over to form stops.
A high-flow capacity hydrodynamic machine has a flow channel of rectangular cross-section and accommodating a set of blades arranged along a cylindrical curved surface. Disc-like bearing housings for supporting the blades at their ends are movable w.r.t. the axis of the cylinder.    At least one bearing housing has a mechanism by which the steering point formed by the intersection of corresponding perpendiculars from the various blades may be moved to and maintained at a location spaced from the axis of the housing.
The method is for starting a hydraulic turbine system having a generator, a turbine with a runner coupled to drive the generator at a rated r.p.m., and wicket gates for adjusting the flow rate of water going into runner. The wicket gates are quickly opened from a fully closed condition until the flow rate of water reaches a fixed value that corresponds to operation of the turbine at rated r.p.m. and the design no-load opening for the head.    The wicket gates are then slowly opened to maintain the fixed flow rate as the speed increases to the rated r.p.m. This compensates for the tendency to reduce turbine flow rate with an increase in r.p.m. of the runner. Then the turbine generator is synchronised at no-load to an electrical power transmission system.
A charge-coupled device image sensor includes a hetero-junction semi-conductor structure having a charge-coupled device channel of relatively high optical absorption in the desired optical frequency range material, and a body of semiconductor material hosting and continguous with the channel and the body, the body material exhibiting relatively lower carrier generation.    Contact optical energy devices are associated with the channel and the body for providing access of optical energy to potential wells within the structure while providing and receiving operating potentials and signals wrt the device.
The diffuser is to be placed downstream of low power hydroelectric turbines, replacing conventional concrete or stone types and removing the need for a pre-spiralling chamber. The diffuser is suitable for use in rivers where the drop is around several metres and can be constructed and prefabricated from preformed metal sheets.    The diffuser structure is centred on the turbine hub (1) which is extended downstream as a diverging skirt (7) defining the inner surface of the annular channel. The water flow is confined around this cone by an outer wall (5) the cone half angle being between 10 and 20 degrees. A shorter conical section (6) surmounts the main annulus and has a half angle about half that of this section and is about 0.2 times the hub diameter in length.
Amorphous hydrogenated Si is obtd. by directing a stream of silicohydride gas, pref. silane, against a W or C foil heated at 1400-1600 degrees C in a vacuum of 10-6 to 10-4 torr. A gas mixt. contg. Si and H atoms is formed whiched is then directed to a substrate remote from the heated foil to deposit a film of hydrogenated amorphous Si.    The substrate temp. is pref. &lt;500 degrees C, most pref. 225-325 degrees C.    Prod. is esp. useful as a photovoltaic material and in semiconductors.    Method results in efficient prodn. of a prod. having excellent uniform optical and electrical properties.
Appts. includes several evaporators, which are heated to below the b.pts. of the materials being evaporated. Working surface of each evaporator is fed with a dose of a material, and the dose is completely evaporated in a time (T). Evaporators are fed with doses of materials in the time sequence T/n, where n is the number of evaporators. Pref. appts. includes a rotary doser contg. recesses located at 360 degrees/n intervals round a rotating shaft.    Homogeneous deposits, e.g. of arsenic sulphide and/or selenide, can be obtd. on wide, flexible strip or foil fed continuously through the appts.
A compsn. comprises a solid poly(phenylene) having monomer units with o, m or p-phenylene linkages, having incorporated in it as dopant an electron donor and/or acceptor.    The D.C. conductivity of the compsn. contg. the donor alone is greater than that of he undoped polymer; and that of the compsn. contg. the acceptor alone or mixed with the donor is &gt;10-4 mho/cm, the conductivity being measured by the 4-probe method at room temp.    The compsn. is useful for the mfr. of shaped articles such as electrical conductors, semiconductors, n-p junctions, I.R. radiation absorbers and antistatic devices. Its electrical conductivity is continuously adjustable from 10-4 to over 100 mho/cm.
Compsn. for depositing and firing on a substrate comprises (a) a screenable metal powder, pref. resistivity 7.0 OMEGA cm at 0 degree C; (b) binder; (c) vehicle; and (d) metal frit pref. having m.pt. 200-600 degrees C, for use as a liq. medium transporting the metal powder in a liq. sintering process, creating a coherent metal structure. Compsn. opt. also comprises any or all of (e) semiconductor powder; (f) p or n type dopant; (g) fluxing agent.    Compsn. is useful as an ink system for forming contact areas on semiconductor devices, e.g. solar cells. It is fired at a lower temp. than conventional opt. in a non-oxidising atmos., allowing use of inexpensive oxidisable metals. Contacts are cohesive, adherent, have good electrical characteristics and withstand environmental stress.
Fabrication of solid state electronic device having region of cpd. semiconductor includes (a) forming an oxidised layer in surface of region by anodisation, making (part of) the surface anode of an electric cell and (b) removing oxidised layer with halogen free etchant. Semiconductor cpd. is pref. (Cd,Hg) Te or (Pb,Sn)Te, and the device is pref. photo-voltaic infrared detector. Planar array of photodetector elements is formed in substrate of cpd. semiconductor by simultaneously fabricating each element as above.    Material is removed more accurately and with less contamination than direct removal of cpd. with halogen contg. etchant. Thickness removed may be self-limiting due to insulating nature of oxide, or anodisation may be stopped at predetermined time.
The detector comprises an element of the IR sensitive chalcogenide, pref. Cd1-xHgxTe, 0 &lt; x &lt;1, having a surface layer produced by electrolytic anodisation of the element material, at least at the surface receiving incident radiation.    Anodisation is pref. with the body completely immersed in electrolyte and conductive connection made via another (Cd, Hg) Te body. The detector may comprises a single element or a number of elements formed in a single wafer, esp. adhered to a support.    The layer aids achievement of high detectivity and has a passivating effect, preventing degradation even after subjection to 90 degrees C (normally (Cd, Hg) Te is degraded at 70 degrees C). The method may be used for intrinsic or pn junction devices and is also useful for e.g. (Pb, Sn) Te.
In amorphous Si thin film photoconductor prodn. by h.f. sputtering in an atmos. contg. H2 gas, the substrate is kept at ca. 50-150 (80-150) degrees C, so that amorphous Si is deposited.    The film is pref. 0.05-100 mu m thick.    The film is specified for use in photocells and electrophotographic material. It can be produced at low cost and without environmental pollution and has both excellent photoconductivity and a great different between the photoconductivity and dark conductivity.
The electrical generator comprises a stationary permanent magnet for establishing a magnetic field, one or more sensing coils responsive to the magnetic field, and a diamagnetic blocking element movable between the magnet and the sensing coils for periodically interrupting the magnetic field to produce electrical energy in the coils. The generator includes a pair of semi-circular coils arranged side-by-side in the magnetic field and a rotatable blocking disc interposed between the magnet and the coils. The disc includes a semi-circular portion of superconductive material rendered impermeable to the magnetic field at temperatures near absolute zero and a semi-circular portion of magnetically inert material to alternately block and pass the magnetic field to the coils upon rotation of the disc.
The system for obtaining and regulating energy from the air or sea and river currents includes a cyclone converter formed by three concentric rotating bodies, either on shafts or cylindrical rails. Fixed rollers or other electromagnetic systems permit the rotation of the group around an imaginary or actual geometrical shaft. The outside body is self-orientating with its main components and deflectors on rotating components or a base sliding rail.    The intermediate concentric body or turbine is formed by rings and vanes and a system of rollers or electro-magnetic supports which are inside or outside the turbine. The inside body or diffuser rotates concentrically in a reverse direction to the turbine and has vanes of opposite complementary angles.
A radiation detector has a conductive layer in fixed electrical contact with a photoconductive layer of sufficient thickness to provide required sensitivity and resolution at a given radiation energy.    A transparent insulating layer is fixed to the photoconductive layer, and a transparent conductive layer is fixed to the other side of the insulating layer. The insulating layer is a phosphor which emits light in response to X-radiation.
The helix shaped semi-tubular parabolic collector-concentrator has multiple specifically positioned collecting cores crossing and intersecting the shifting sharp focal axis of the reflective surfaces of the helix shape at a slight angle to the focal axis, rather than being exactly on the focal axis. Thus at least one of the collecting core surfaces is in sharp focus at all times, optimizing the radiant solar energy collection capacity of the device.    Further increased primary direct and non-reflective incident solar energy is collected on a number of collecting cores providing additional collection efficiencies. The helix shaped semi-tubular parabolic reflector and the energy absorber cores are enclosed by a transparent, relatively air-tightly covering which causes the device to be resistant to snow, rain, wind, pollution and other atmospheric degradants. The additional confined heat energy generated and trapped within the covered helix shaped semi-tubular parabolic reflector further increases the device's collecting efficiency. The solar energy impinging on the energy absorber collecting cores may be converted by e.g. photoelectric conversion into electrical energy to be utilized and stored.
The solar energy collection and distribution system includes a set of solar energy collectors which receive and absorb incident solar energy. A support platform holds the energy collectors on or near the surface of a body of water. It is adapted to position and direct each of the collectors so as to orient the energy absorbing surfaces to achieve optimum exposure to incident solar radiation. Some of the collecting units produces thermal energy output only, while some produce combined thermal energy output and electrical energy output. A third type of collecting unit concentrates incident solar radiation to produce a higher absorber fluid output temperature than otherwise. A storage reservoir adjacent to the body of water receives the absorber fluid and stores thermal energy collected in it.
Electrical power production using ocean water temperature differential is made more economical by using the energy produced to form soluble polymers which are added to the cold and warm water pipes to reduce hydraulic resistance.    Warm water from the ocean upper layers is fed through line (6) and shaft (2) to a heat engine (Segner's Wheel) (5). At exit to chamber (1) evaporation occurs and secondary steam expands to accelerate the steam/water mixture. The reaction forces on the wheel drive shaft (2) to operate pump (7) and power generator (8).    Cold water enters chamber (1) via line (4) and hydraulic motor (3), the chamber acting as a condenser for secondary steam, which mixes with warm water and is pumped (7) off. Pump (9) evacuates the condenser of non condensing gases to reactor (12) where the CO2 and water vapour form hydrocarbons and polymerise, the products being fed through line (14) to warm water pipe (6) and through line (13) to cold water pipe (4). The polymers are water soluble and reduce resistance.    Initial power requirement for polymer production is 10-20%, reducing to 3-5% as polymer content increases.
The plant produces usable energy from the waves. It uses a round vessel (1) which has its foundation on the bottom of the sea (2).    The vessel contains holes (5) between the peaks and troughs (4, 3) of the waves. The vessel is closed above the top level and the cover contains two valves (7, 8) for supply and discharge of air. There is a bypass channel (9) on the top plate which contains a turbine (10).    The air supply valve closes when the water level in the vessel has reached the trough. The air pressure in the bypass channel and the air pressure above the water level are equalised.    When the water rises, it flows through the holes to drive out the air above the water level to produce a pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure. This opens the air discharge valve and drives the turbine (10).
The energy generator has a central body (Z) with a number of floats (S) pivoted to it at spaced points around its periphery. The variations in position of the floats (S) relative to the central body (Z) caused by the ware motion are used to raise the pressure of a working medium via respective piston cylinder devices between each float (S) and the central body (Z) the working medium driving a turbine.    At least 4 and pref. 8 floats (S) are spaced symmetrically around the central body (Z) each attached to it via a rigid support arm (F). The floats (S) themselves comprise hollow spheres of between 2 and 5 metres in dia.
The installation situated under the surface of the sea includes a steam turbine coupled to an alternator. The steam or vapour is produced by the vacuum produced in a vapour generator. At this low pressure the boiling point of the water is lowered. Beyond the turbine the vapour is partially condensed in a condenser. The condensation produces soft water, and heats the primary water taken from the sea.    The salt water circulating in the condenser and the evaporator of a refrigerating machine works a heat pump. Its condenser preheats primary sea water which then mixes with the water heated in the first condenser. Water is also heated in a furnace by solar radiation. The use of the refrigerating machine avoids the need to draw cold water from any great depth in the sea.
The satellite power catchment system uses solar energy focused upon a pressure chamber to raise the temperature and pressure of a contained gas. The gas is permitted to flow from the pressure chamber through a laser infrared cavity for generating an intense infrared beam directed toward a remote infrared collector. The gas flow from the laser cavity is led into a cooled expansion chamber from which it is returned to the laser gas input. Heat is removed from the expansion chamber by a directive device oriented towards the cold outer space and away from all heat sources such as the sum and the earth.    The system provides a means for the efficient collection of unattenuated solar energy at a station outside of the earth's atmosphere and for its conversion at that station in a single conversion process into a beam of infrared energy of a wave length relatively unattenuated by the earth's atmosphere so that it may be directed to a collector and utilisation apparatus located at or near the earth's surface.
The fluid turbine includes blades manufactured from aerodynamically -shaped, radially spaced ribs covered with a skin. The leading edge of each rib is curved, while the trailing edge is straight. The straight edge of the ribs in each blade approach a vertical plane through the vertical axis of the housing output shaft as the ribs progress radially inwardly towards the output shaft.    The housing has fluid exit passages in its base so that deenergised fluid can be quickly flushed from the housing by the downwardly directed flow in combination with the blade configuration, which acts as a screw or force multiplier, to expel deenergised fluid. The airfoil shaped ribs also provide the blades with a contour for increasing the fluid velocity on the underside of the blades adjacent the fluid exit passage to aid in expeling the de-energised air while providing the turbine with both impulse and axial-flow, fluid impingement on the blades, resulting in a force vector of increased magnitude.
The suspended hot box solar collector comprises a closed insulated, truncated triangular chamber. Direct solar radiation is collected through sloped front bottom and top double glazed windows, with reflected solar rays received through the same windows by means of fixed, hightly reflective surfaces of about the same corresponding total surface area. The closed chamber is fitted with black, corrugated aluminium absorber plates behind each of the double-glazed windows at the front, top and bottom planes so that the incoming solar heat is retained within the unit.    Multiple metal trays contg. eutectic salts, or other heat storage chemicals are uniformly located within the chamber and are all horizontally secured at one end to the back surface of the front absorber plate, and to a removable aluminium framework at the back of the closed chamber. Multiple, small D.C fan/motors are uniformly located within the hot-box chamber to slowly move the collecting hot air over the elongate trays, and salts. The multiple, small D.C fan/motors are powered by an array of silicon photovoltaic cells.
The ocean thermal engine utilises the thermocline and hydrostatic pressure of the ocean to change the buoyancy of a series of rigid containers having good thermal conductivity fitted with means for confining a thermodynamic fluid capable of vaporising and condensing within the temperature range of the ocean thermocline.    The rigid containers are elongated metal cylinders having an elastomeric sleeve in order to hold the fluid and are arranged in spaced relation around rotatable supports so that the change in buoyancy of the containers causes the supports to rotate and drive a generator if electrical energy is desired. The elastomeric sleeve extends throughout the metal cylinder and the ends of the sleeve sealed to the cylinder.
The partially submerged electric generator includes two concentric cylinders with two pistons fastened together and moving on a common vertical axis. The upper piston (4) is subject to wave pressure from above and atmospheric pressure from below. A counterbalance weight (8) compensates the weight of the pistons.    The lower piston moves in a cylinder with two valves, so that it generates a flow of water in the pipe (21) leaving the outlet valve. This water is raised to a reservoir (22) held above the main structure. From the reservoir the water flows through a pipe (23) into a turbine (24) to generate electricity. The whole assembly stands on the sea bed, with jacks enabling the pistons and cylinders to be raised or lowered.
The submerged electricity generator includes a vertical cylinder (1) open at the top with a piston moving vertically. The upper surface of the piston is subject to the varying pressure of the waves, whilst the lower surface is subject to atmospheric pressure because of a vent pipe (3). Two counter-poise weights (4, 5) are attached by cables or chains (6, 7) and pulleys (8, 9) to the piston.    As the piston moves up and down under the effect of the waves, the weights also move. They serve as the mobile parts of two linear electric generators with fixed coils (11, 12). The coils provide an output of electricity. A system of jacks (15, 16) is provided for raising or lowering the whole generator structure.
The submerged electricity generator includes two concentric vertical cylinders (2, 3), the uppermost of which has a dia. equal to half a wavelength of the waves to be used. Two pistons connected together (4, 5) move on a common axis in these cylinders. The upper piston is subject to the varying wave pressure on top, and atmospheric pressure underneath because of a vent pipe (7).    The lower piston moves in a cylinder having two valves (11, 12) so that as it moves up and down a current of water flows through a pipe (15) connecting the two valves outside the cylinder. This current of water is used to drive an electricity generator (16). A counterpoise weight (8) balances the piston weight, and jacks (19, 20) are provided for raising and lowering the structure.
The appts. is used generate rotational power from a geothermal source from which a multi-phase pressurised and heated fluid is discharged. The fluid contains steam and particles of water, and may contain particles of solid material. The turbine includes a rotor plate with a number of spaced discs secured to opposite sides that are rotatably supported in a housing. The housing has two laterally spaced sets of circumferentially disposed nozzle bodies that are each adjustable to define a convergent section, a throat and a diverging section.    The nozzle bodies are so adjustable that streams of fluid at max. velocity for a multi-phase fluid having partic. characteristics as to heat, pressure and water droplet content discharge tangentially onto the two sets of spaced discs to flow through the spaces therebetween in spiral paths to discharge through openings in the centres thereof. The fluid as it pursues a spiral path exerts a drag on the discs, with the fluid losing kinetic energy that is transferred to the discs, rotor plate and shaft to drive them as an integral unit.
An adjustable wave transmission generator, for use in machine building, consists of a regulating mechanism on the driving shaft (6), surrounded by a ball bearing (1) with flexible outer (2) and inner (3) rings.    The wave generator is designed for simpler adjustment by having the regulator made in the form of two symmetrical elements (4, 5) with conical surfaces facing one another. One of the elements (4) is fixed to the driving shaft (6) and to the inner flexible ring (3) of the bearing by a key (7), while the other element (5) can move along the shaft, with balls (10) or cones in between the two elements.    The degree of deformation provided by the generator is achieved by adjusting element (5) axially by means of a nut (12).    This causes the balls (10) to move radially relative to the conical surfaces (8, 9) of the two elements (4, 5) and vary the deformation of the flexible inner ring (3) of the bearing (1).
The device (10) for extracting energy, comprises a train of panel members (14, 15) aligned in the direction of motion of the waves and exposed on one side to them. The panel members are bodily displaceable laterally in response to variations in hydrostatic pressure on them from the waves, and thus vary the volume of pumping chambers defined by bellows (19a, 19b) in a pneumatic or hydraulic circuit so as to perform useful work by displacing a fluid in the circuit through a turbo-generator (37).    Two parallel trains of panel members on opposite sides of the device may be used and arranged to share a common pneumatic or hydraulic circuit. The pneumatic circuit may include a turbine arranged to be driven by pressurised gas.
The installation has at least two geothermal heat collectors (9, 11) coupled to a heat pump and embedded in the ground at different depths to one another. The two heat collectors (9, 11) are selectively switched into the heat pump circuit via respective control devices (19, 21). At least one of these is controlled by a temp. monitor (41, 43, 45) for the air temp. and/or the soil temp., so that above a certain temp. e.g. -2 degrees C the collector (9) at the lesser depth is used and below this temp. the collector (11) at the greater depth is used.    Pref. the lower collector (11) is coupled to the circuit (5, 13) for the upper collector (9) and/or to a solar collector (15) for heating the surrounding soil.
The wind or water mill has two large wheels parallel to each other on a horizontal axis. Horizontal shafts running between the wheels are spaced equally round the circumference. Each shaft carries a double walled flat blade which pivots on the shaft.    Each blade has a lever connection to a cam on each side of it which runs on rails round the wheels. The rails are so profiled that the blades pivot on the shafts as the impeller turns. The blades on the upper half of the impeller are thus perpendicular to the wind while the blades on the lower half are parallel to it.
The wave energy converter comprises linear reciprocating electric generators assembled as elements of a generally pyramidal or conical structure. Movable armature members are connected to floats above the apex adapted to follow displacements of the water surface and the lower ends of their stator members connected at relatively widely separated points to a damper plate below the surface.    A submerged buoyancy chamber may be provided above the damper plate to maintain the assembly in proper relationship to the mean surface. The configuration minimises the tendency of the assembly to drift off station owing to the horizontal component of wave motion. The assembly is designed as a module, adapted to be secured with other modules to form an array.
The appts. is used for extracting energy from waves in the surface of the sea. It comprises a structure moored in and floating in the sea and having an inlet channel positioned to face into oncoming waves. The energy contained in water entering the inlet channel as a result of the wave motion is converted to a transmissible form.    The converter comprises an air chamber in the form of an elongate spiral passage having a passage at one end, in communication with a downstream part of the inlet channel and having an air inlet and outlet at the other end. Also included is a rear outlet from the downstream part of the inlet channel, and a valve operable, in response to water flowing into the channel, to close suddenly the rear outlet and cause that water flowing into the channel to enter the chamber and pressurise air in the chamber. This enables the pressurised air to be taken from the air outlet from the chamber to do useful work.
The solar heating system is used for a building having a central unit defined and enclosed by a peripheral main section. The central unit has a transparent roof to permit the passage of solar energy therethrough to heat the air and other contents of a courtyard thereunder.    the central unit also has a heat storage mass under the courtyard for storage and retrieval of energy during selected periods. The edges of the dome rest upon the walls of the main section defining the courtyard. The walls rest upon the foundation walls defining the heat storage section containing the heat storage mass.
Pumping installation, using wave energy for drive, and having application in various areas e.g. for water supply to shore installations, floating units etc., has improved wave energy utilisation efficiency. This is achieved by mounting the inertia unit on a spring suspension with freedom of reciprocation relative to three coordinate axes. Housing 1 has pivoting displacement pumps 2 attached whose rods 3 connect to inertia unit 4, mounted on spring suspension 5.
The appts. extracts energy from waves on the surface of a body of liquid using a duct (1) having a U-bend section in which a column of liq. is trapped. In operation an immovable inlet of the duct is directly exposed to the action of the waves, and the duct is so positioned that the trapped column of liquid is caused to oscillate by the wave action.    An energy extraction device (2) is operated directly or indirectly by the oscillating liquid. The duct is submerged so that no part of it projects upwardly to the surface of the body of liquid (parts of duct sited on land may be above the level of the surface of the body of liquid). The duct may use an air column.
The collector is in the form of a truncated right angle cone covered on the inside with mirrors running longitudinally, to provide a mirrored tunnel in which double-faced mirror panels are inserted. These mirror panels extend longitudinally and are spaced to external radially outwards from the central axis of the cone, their outer edges fitting in the spaces between the adjacent longitudinal mirrors around the inside surface of the cone.    Pref. the cone angle is between 4 and 10 degrees and the amount of light allowed to enter the interior of the cone may be controlled via a variable diaphragm. The dimension of the focal point can also pref. be varied to allow use of output buses of varying dia.
A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) appts. generates electrical power. A mixture of electrically conductive liq., pref. liq. metal, and an organic liq. in a closed duct system (2) is heated (4) to form a two-phase liq. vapour flow which is directed through an MHD generator (8).    The vapour is then directed through a condenser (10) to form conductive liq. carrying organic liq. droplets. A pump (14), pref. an MHD pump, then recycles the conductive liq. and organic liq. droplets to be reheated. The heater (4) is pref. a solar energy absorber.
Fundamental mechanism of the system is based on the use of expandites submerged in a liquid and thus forming a working fluid. Expandites are small elements the mass of which can be solid liquid or gaseous, or combinations of these, encased in rigid or flexible shells such that the integrity of the expandite is maintained and no chemical reaction with the surrounding liq. can occur.    Cold water entering at (14) and warmer water at (12) give rise to temp. changes in the expandites causing them to expand or contract with consequent change in their buoyancy, thus giving rise to vertical movement upwards or downwards within the conduits. The consequent positive flow and resultant pressure differential created in the vertical conduits forms the energy source which is converted by a transducer into electrical power.
A shaft is dug in the earth and an evaporator is placed at the bottom of it at a depth where there is a constant high temp. A refrigerant is evaporated in this and the vapour drives a turbine coupled to a generator.    The exhaust from the turbine is condensed by near atmospheric temperatures in a condenser just below the earth's surface. The resulting liq. is returned to the evaporator at the bottom of the shaft through an insulated pipe.    The returning liq. passes through a turbine at low level in the shaft. The shaft depth is thus utilised for additional energy production.
A solar energy collector comprises several reflecting facets which focus the energy received onto a receiver/heat exchanger unit. Each facet (2) is in a hermetically sealed tube (6) which has a convex form and radius of curvature between 20 and 200 mm so that it does not cause attenuation and reduction of received power.    Several constructions are described such as Fresnel lens formations to eliminate coma. One is a Wheatstone collector with the reflecting facets (2) in several tubes (6) converging on a photo transducer (3), or other heat exchanger, at the focal point of the concentrator. All the facets and the photo-transducer are in tubes (6) filled with a reducing medium such as hydrogen. The output of the photo-transducer (5, 8) is wired away to the load (9).
The radiant energy concentration and collection device includes an energy absorber which is contained within a glazing. The glazing which is either evacuated or contains a gas, is intended to reduce convective and conductive losses from the absorber. One wall or two opposing reflective walls are provided for concentrating energy incident on them onto the surface of the absorber through the glazing.    The contour of these side walls is determined by rules for determining idea side wall contour but determined w.r.t. to a virtual absorber shape not being identical to the shape of the actual absorber. The virtual absorber and therefore the reflective wall or walls begin along the surface of the glazing.
The heat energy storage system, for engine exhaust heat, geothermal energy, solar energy etc., uses a heat exchanger to transfer the heat energy to a refrigeration medium, e.g. CO2.    Pref. the system uses liquified CO2 gas, with a pump supplying the CO2 in gaseous form to the heat exchanger which increases its temp. to above the trip point, the gas then used to drive a rotary piston motor driving an electrical generator, the gas subsequently cooling after which it is returned to the pressurised gas container.
The reflector system for directing light onto solar cells used to generate electricity, uses a series of reflector units arranged side by side in a row. Each unit consists of two parts (I, II) with a Fresnel lens (7) mounted at the outlet end of the second part (II) which is larger than the first.    The two parts are both hollow bodies with reflective internal surfaces and are shaped to give a concentrated beam through the Fresnel lens for a wide range of angles for the light rays at the entry end. The input part (I) is of biconvex shape, and is joined by a necked zone (3) to the output part. Rays entering at an obtuse angle to the horizontal strike the interior of the input part and are reflected through the neck to the far end. Rays entering at an acute angle strike the interior near the neck, then downwards, both paths forming a parallel beam.
The solar collector comprises an outer evacuated elongate envelope having an upper transparent surface to admit light rays to the envelope and a tube extending axially in the envelope. The tube comprises a concentrically-arranged axially extending pair of inner and outer tubes and an end closure at the other end constructed to define a flow channel from the inner to the outer tube or vice versa. Fluid to be heated enters the collector from the same end as heated fluid is removed from the collector.    A selectively absorbing surface is provided on the tube and an elongate reflector surface is located internally of the envelope for reflecting light received through the transparent surface onto the tube. The locus of the reflector surface is the shape required to ensure that from about 75% of, pref. from about 90% of, to less than the max. efficiency of the collector is realised.
The thermodynamic unit is comprised of a pair of vessels which alternately generate and condense vapour. They are connected in a sealed system to drive a turbine. The vessel generating vapour has an outlet nozzle directed to the turbine, and the turbine exhaust is connected to the vessel condensing the vapour.    Thermal control shutters and particular thermal radiation shutters control the alternate impingement of radiation onto the vessels so that the vessels each alternately act as vapour-generating and vapour-condensing vessel, and each operate at the function opposite from the other vessel. The vessels may be heated by solar energy, and connected to a turbine for the generation of electricity.
The solar energy collector, consists of a primary housing, including one transparent sidewall, and transparent covering. A longitudinal series of transversally extending curved light-reflecting baffles are mounted within the primary housing for focusing towards the transparent sidewall portion the sunlight which enters the primary housing. The curved light-reflecting baffles each comprises a cylindrically curved boy of approximately 60 deg. in arcuate extent. Each is oriented in the primary housing so as to have a concave uppere surface with an upper edge that is nearly vertical and a lower edge that is forwardly and downwardly slanted but nearly horizontal.    The upper edge of each baffle is generally in vertical alignment with the lower edge of its respectively upstream neighbour. The roof, floor and perimetrical wall provide a secondary housing located downstream of the series of baffles. The secondary housing includes a transparent sidewall portion, the remainder of these wall means being of thermally insulating material. A collector plate is housed within the secondary housing and includes a device for leading collected energy from the solar energy collector secondary housing.
The appts (10) converts static energy to kinetic energy by use of a liquid motor (12) coupled to a generator (14) the generator can be AC or DC and mounted on a platform (16) with a motor (12). A number of pumps (18, 20, 22, 24) are connected in parallel to motor (12) for actuating it.    The pumps are actuated by a number of fluid engines (26, 28, 30, 32). The engines are arranged in a tank (34) which forms a reservoir for water and partially forms a fluid supply which actuates engines (26, 28, 30, 32). An intake line is connected to an operating fluid, e.g. a low head steam, for selectively feeding the operating liquid into tank (34) so as to maintain the liquid level at a predetermined height.
The turbine drive has two communicating chambers (19, 20) filled with water, one open to the sea at the top, while the walls of the other project above the surface, so that the wave motion causes water to oscilate between the two chambers (19, 20). The water in the second chamber (20) periodically overflows into a basin (11) and is returned to the sea via a turbine (21).    The two chambers are defined by a drum (2) mounted on the seabed with its top edge lying below the water level, with an internal tube (5) open to the sea at the bottom via one or more channels (7) and projecting above the water surface, the turbine (21) contained in the top part of the tube (5). The first chamber (19) is defined by the walls of the drum (2) and the tube (5) and the second chamber (20) by an annular wall (12) and a stepped based channel carried by the tube.
The simplified solar energy converter requires relatively little space and at the same time is easy to mfr. and mount. It concentrates the solar radiation for conversion by photovoltaic cells. The load carrying frmae (2) features a holder (4) exhibiting two degrees of freedom. The holder supports the optical system (5) for concentrating the solar radiation and comprises coplanar lenses (6) of spherical shape.    The foci of the lenses locate the conversion units (7) mountd on linkage arms (8). The fresnel lenses (6) are moulded from a plastic plate to decrease costs.
The drive comprises a frame anchored in position within the water and a float moring up and down with the wave motion, via rollers secured to the frame. This up-and-down movement of the float is connected into mechanical energy via a vertical drive shaft carried by the float and coupled to a machine shaft.    Pref. the frame comprises a hollow cylindrical or rectangular tube endorsing the float with the rollers spaced around the peripheral surface of the float and running up and down the walls of the tube, which may be formed with guide rails for the rollers.
The appts. translates wave motions of varying periods to continuous rotational kinetic energy which is then available to perform useful work. A float assembly is anchored off shore and communicates with the shore via a steel cable. The float rises and falls with the waves and is arranged to cause a reciprocating translational motion of the cable. A cable drum assembly is anchored to the ground on the shore and adapted to reel and unreel the cable by means of a rewind spring.    As the cable unreels, the drum drives a transfer gear via a fist ratchet which is therefore operative only in one direction. The transfer gear winds a heavy spiral energy storage spring via a second ratchet. The spring is attached to an anchor plate which drives a shaft. The shaft is coupled via a step-up gear train to an energy storage flywheel. The flywheel may be coupled to an electrical generating system or the like for using the energy stored in the fly-wheel.
The solar collecting system has one or more collectors for receiving and using radiant energy from the sun, and at least one reflector for reflecting the radiant energy onto the collectors. Each reflector is in the form of a heliostat that can be moved to maximise the radiant energy reflected onto its collector, with motor for moving each heliostat. A firmly anchored support structure carries each heliostate and a sensor is connected by suitable controls to each drive motor. Each sensor mounted on the same support structure as the relevant heliostat and aligned in a straight from the heliostat to its collector.
The appts comprises (57) leading and trailing plates (10, 12) suspended in water normal to the direction of wave movement. The plates connected together at a separation of half a mean wavelength, by rods (14) which permit limited relative movement and adjustment of the separation of the plates.    Casing plate (15) co-operates with the leading plate to form a passage (16) in which the water level rises and falls. Air inducted through check valve (19) and exhausted through valve (20) drives turbines (24) and electrical generator (21). A horizontal plate (25) may be attached to the leading plate to inhibit vertical movement.
The solar panel consists of a series of part cylindrical parabolic reflectors mounted side by side on a rotatable rectangular platform. The panel makes maximum use of diffused lighe during overcast conditions etc. and provides both a thermal and electrical output.    Photo-voltaic cells (14b) are carried along the length of the mirrored reflectors (8b) at the focal point by narrow rectangular fluid channels (16b). The channels may reach as far as the focus or may extend to the forward planes of the parabolas. The channel surfaces are blackened to ensure maximum absorbtion and may consist of two sheets of metal pressed together to form a circulation system of small parallel channels.    The panel has a protective glass cover (12b) also serving to retain heat.
The frame (1) supports two bearings (2, 3) in which the ends of a movable support (5) rotate about an axis aligned with the Pole Star. The solar panel (6) is attached at its centre of mass by a joint (7) which may co-operate with a crank (7') to vary its tilt in accordance with the seasonal variation of the solar declination between the summer and winter solstices.    The support (5) is equipped with a rotor (8) co-operating with a frame-mounted stator (9) to effect diurnal rotation of the panel (6) following intermittently the solar motion from east to west.    The electromagnetic control consumes power only during the intermittent movements. Its action may be contactless to eliminate problems of lubrication in e.g. desert locations.
In a pressure regulating station on a water main, the fall in pressure required is produced by driving a generator with the water flow. The generator charges a storage battery which in turn provides a constant power supply.    The power supply is used to feed various electrical loads.    The power supply can provide the electrical supplies for measuring instruments associated with the operation of the pipe line, provide local illumination where no main supply is available, or provide heating for the pipe ducts. In water feeds to domestic blocks of flats the generator may be employed to provide emergency lighting.    The energy recovery system may be applied to practically any pipe line where operating pressure has to be reduced at some point.
A floating watertight housing (1) contains an electric generator (2) connected by gear train (3) to a shaft (4) coaxial with a downward extension (5) of the housing. The end of the shaft (4) engages at least two rotors (6), each carrying an eccentric paddle (7) of aerofoil section.    The surface swell raises and lowers the housing (1) and its extension (5), causing vertical oscillation of the rotors (6) in the motionless deep water so that the paddles (7) alternately oscillate and turn the rotors (6), driving the shaft (4) continuously in one direction.
Heliostat zenith tracking system can be used in large solar furnaces. The system contains reduction gear (1) whose outlet shaft (2) is connected to heliostat (5) zenith axis (4), and a drive (7) connected to the reduction gear (1) drive. The reduction gearing's (1) driven gear is situated on the reducer shaft. To increase the tracking accuracy by eliminating clearance, the reduction gear outlet shaft is connected to the zenith axis by means of lever (6) and is made as a screw with a nut. The reduction gear is provided with lifting and lowering toothed transmission connected to the nut by means of electromagnetic clutches. Zenith axis freely rotates in bearings (14).
Plant comprises a support part and cloat containing a generator. For efficiency, reliability and lightness, the support part is in the form of a blade able to turn about the axis of the float.    As the crest of a wave approaches, the deviation of float (2) creates a torque on stator (3) of generator (4). The motion of the float creates a reactive moment on blade (1), so that rotor (5) rotates. The impact of the waves on blades (1) and float (2) amplifies these moments so that the overall rate of the rotor relative to the stator is increased.
The generator comprises a column filled to the top with a liquid, e.g. water, its base immersed in a reservoir of the liquid. A series of spheres with lesser density than the liquid are supplied to the base of the column, so that they float up it in turn. At the top of the column the sphere exit into an inclined chute and drop into respective receptacles attached to a vertical conveyor band returning them to the base of the column.    The conveyor band is passed around two vertically spaced cog wheels, the shaft of at least one of which is complied to an electrical alternator.
The water powered turbine has an improved vane construction which insures that the flow pressure of the stream will be applied to the entire trailing surface of the vane. Each vane has a valve opening and a flap valve pivotally mounted on the vane, selectively operable to close the valve opening.    The turbine wheel includes a dam-like shield at the outer end portion of the vane. This shield is provided with one or more control openings aligned with the flap valve. As the vane approaches the standing wave ahead of the turbine, water passes through the control openings to close the aligned flap valves, thereby insuring that the pressure of the flow will be applied to the entire trailing surface of the vane.
Energy can be generated on a large scale and is based on the movement of floating pistons rising and falling according to valve operation. The output can be taken out by hydraulic or pneumatic transmission or by gear chains etc.    Pistons are housed within interconnected cylinders positioned side by side. The cylinders are close fitting about the pistons and have outlet valves opened by the effect of gravity on the pistons and closed by the Archimedean effect so that one piston rises as its neighbour falls. Outgoing water is taken to a low level reservoir, incoming water being stored in a reservoir above the cylinders. The valves action can be replaced by compressed air in the water volume between the piston and cylinder.
The energy converter comprises a submerged tide or current driven turbine either attached to sea bed etc. or moored at a suitable depth. The turbine (9) is set within a Venturi the outlet of which may be angled away from the sea bed to avoid disturbing or cutting away the surface. The turbine may be one of a pair of more and may be driven from either side. The Venturi can be in a variety of forms with horizontal or vertical outlets and the turbine set horizontally or obliquely.    Turbulence and cavitation can be minimised by the inclusion of tapered channels (17) above and/or below the inlet side of the Venturi leading past the turbine housing and exiting into the post turbine flow. The anti-turbulence channels preferably form an annulus or part annulus about the main channel.
The collector system is used for concentration storage and utilisation of solar energy. It generates steam in the intermediate space between a water level of an artificial or natural reservoir, e.G. a lake, sea etc. and a lower surface of a pontoon or similar vessel, buoyantly carried in the water by floats. It has dependent peripheral walls, dipping into water.    The water vapours receive the thermal energy stored in a fixed solar energy collector on the pontoon. This heat is transmitted to the water reservoir surface via a heat exchanger. The solar heat transmission to the water contacting heat exchanger may be carried out by a second heat exchanger, having a closed circuit of a high boiling point liquid, such as mineral oil with suspended graphite, in a line connected to a pump between both heat exchangers.
The power generator has a vertical axis blade rim on a wheel body, the blades being parallel to the latter axis. During the wheel circulation the blades carry out a swivveling motion. In the neutral position the blades (1) can be alighed with their profile axes in the wind, or water flow direction. During operation they perform angular swings from this neutral position to either side of the wind, or water flow direction. The magnitude of this swing motion is adjustable by setting devices.    Each blade can be driven by a coupling via a followed pin (3) and a cross head (4). The coupling (6) of all blades can be connected together by a cable, a chain (5), gears etc. The couplings are mounted in a bearing plate, driven via a transmission and circulating synchronously with the wheel body (2) carrying the blades. The distance of the coupling bearing points from the blades rotary axes is adjustable. One coupling may be linked directly or indirectly to a stationary central wheel (8), which may be turned by a servo-drive.
A number of solar collectors includes at least a solar energy to electrical energy transducer and a solar energy to heat transducer positioned on a single pole. The electrical energy transducer comprises a number of solar cells arranged with their faces parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pole and pointed in a number of directions. A reflector is positioned to the north of the pole and the cells which reflects sunlight to the northerly facing cells.    The heat transducer comprises tubing helically arranged about the pole encased in a transparent ambient air screen. A reflector is attached to the north side of the ambient air screen. The wires from the solar cells and the pipes connected to the helical tubing run down through the center of the pole. A wind energy to electrical energy transducer may also be positioned at the top of the pole.
The small trough-parabolic reflectors provide a series of concentrated line reflections of solar radiation into generally vertical reflected lines. A heat absorber system is provided for each of the series of reflectors, and is arranged to provide a series of stationary targets for the reflected lines. The reflectors are arranged to reflect solar radiation onto a specific target at various seasons of the year. The targets are oriented in an orderly, angled pattern and are positioned to capture the reflected radiation impinging on the reflecting parabolic surfaces below.    Three separate heat absorbing target units may be arranged in each target system, for individually accepting the concentrated solar radiation at that time of year when the solar radiation impinges upon that particular absorber, while the other two heat absorber systems are inoperative.
The power generator comprises a tower-like structure surrounded by an annular float (14) which rises and falls with the tide. The float drives a piston (16) reciprocable in a chamber (15) to pump liquid continuously to drive a turbine (33). The float (14) is ballasted with seawater to assist its descent and the ballast is discharged to assist its ascent.    Liq. which is temporarily surplus is stored in a chamber (26) and used to drive the turbine during stack water. The chamber (26) communicates with chamber (27) which contains air compressed by turbine-driven pumps. By proper management of the ballasting of the float (14) with seawater it can be ensured that movement of the float lags behind that of the tide enabling the piston (16) to execute strokes of greater length that the difference between the levels of the sea at high tide and low tide.
The generating plant consists of a concrete cylindrical tower erected on the sea bed and extending to above sea level. It has an upper chamber (A), to which the sea has access through apertures C, and a lower chamber "B" into which air is pumped through duct "F" as the water level rises in chamber "A". As the water level falls, check valve "E" closes and check valve "D" opens to admit ambient air. Pressurised air passes through pipe "G" to a turbine whine drives an electrical generator. Surmounting the structure are living quarters, a heliport and a light-tower.
The heat pump system includes a number of thermocouples stacked between hot and cold heat exchangers. The two sets of heat exchangers are supplied with heat transfer fluid, the fluid in one part being heated while the fluid in the other part is cooled.    The elements of the system are stacked together to form a battery of such exchangers alternating with the thermocouples. In one arrangement the heat exchangers provide electrical connections to complete the series circuit through a number of thermocouples. The stack of components is held together by a central tie bolt.
The system for collecting solar energy includes a faceplate (1) which is a thin plate made up of a large number of optical fibres. Each fibre is of a diameter ranging from 0.5 micron to 2.0 microns and the fibres are combined coherently in a bundle perpendicular to the plane of the faceplate.    The parallel rays from the fibres of the faceplate are focussed to concentrate the radiant energy. Focussing may be done by a concave parabolic mirro (3) below the faceplate and having a central opening, with a convex parabolic mirror (4) arranged at the focal area of the concave mirror for reflecting rays reflected from the concave mirror to focus them at or below the opening.
The rotary pump (3) connected to a suction pipe (2) draws water up from a reservoir (1) and injects it at high speed into a hydraulic turbine (5) via short connecting pipe (4). Spent water leaves the turbine and returns (6) to the reservoir. The turbine is coupled to an electrical generator.    Steam under high pressure is generated in a boiler (7) (e.g. gas fired) and injected via a steam pipe (8) and control valve (9) into the short connecting pipe (4) in the same direction as the water flow. the steam's expansion in the connecting pipe increases the speed with which the water enters the turbine and therefore increases the speed of the turbogenerator. The extra power output attained from the generator by this method is greater than the power required to produce the water flow, which therefore increases overall efficiency.
The solar energy collector includes a number of elongate, hollow, metallic, tubular members of each transverse cross section that when disposed side-by-side they define a number of spaced longitudinal apertures through which solar energy rays are directed by lens systems into a number of elongate cavities having dark or black surfaces.    The hollow members have the ends so connected to one another that water or other fluid flowing to the collector sequentially traverses the longitudinal passages in the tubular sectors prior to discharging from the collector. During the flow through the passages heat is transferred to the water or other fluid from the heated cavities. The solar rays directed by the lends system into the cavities, may, if desired, be used to activate photoelectric cells, and the light be transformed directly into electricity.
The apparts. generates power from the temp. difference between two bodies of fluid, one of which is heated by trapping solar energy in a dome and the other one of which is cooled by wind passing beneath an airfoil.    A pair of heat exchange basins are provided into which hot and cold fluid is supplied, with heat exchange coils for developing a differential pressure which is transmitted to opposite sides of a piston. The fluid temp. in each heat exchange basin is reversed by gravitational action so that piston motion can be reversed for pumping action.
The apparatus is characterized by a first conduit communicating with a fluid-filled first enclosure and having an open end adapted to be immersed in a waveforming body of fluid for conducting pressure-induced flow toward and away from the first enclosure. A variable volume enclosure is disposed within the first enclosure having its lower wall connected to a structure of variable buoyancy, adapted to expand and contract in conformity with the principles of a "Cartesian diver".    A second conduit is connected for providing a flow of fluid between the first and the variable volume enclosures, and a motor connected in the second conduit and adapted to be driven by the fluid flow.
Simultaneous conversion of solar radiation into electricity and heating up of a medium are achieved by thin amorphous cells on the heat collecting plate (4). The cells form a readily transmitting path for the solar radiation, the thickness of silicon cells amounting to 0.1-10 mu. The amorphous silicon is deposited on plate (4) in a vacuum plasma reactor vessel.    Plate (4) is in thermal contact with tube (3) holding the heat carrier medium and projecting through end caps (2) of the outer glass tube (1). Water flows through the copper tube (3) and vacuum is established inside the glass tube.
Fresnel lens formed at ring zones of electret collector in the solar energy converter enhances the efficiency of the unit. The lenses increases the concn. of solar radiation on large catch surfaces of the converter with converter in the focus zone even in the case of diffuse light due to clouded sky. The effect of lenses is shown in the polarisation of electret material and of its pigment molecules ensuring a high absorption of a radiation.    THe Fresnel lenses of electret made of acrylic glass holding fluorescent molecules are opposite the solar cell set at a distance which results in uniform irradiation. The cell is set in a guide of the metal housing.
The electrical power generating plant uses a large proportion of the waste heat of conventional equipment to be converted into additional electrical energy. The partial vapour pressure and the air pressure is used to operate a pressure pump. The consequent cooling of these two mediums is then used for work on a suction pump. The pumps are used to raise amounts of water, which are simultaneously heat-conveying mediums, to a higher level thereby storing potential energy.    The conveying medium with the waste heat is split into metered amount of water and used to heat columns of air whose pressure will then be increased. The pressure will raise this water to an intermediate height. The kinetic energy of the water is used to drive a shaft in the conventional manner. The cooling phase is also utilised to produce a suction effect causing metered amount of water to drop from a height.
The heating plant is used to transmit the energy from solar collectors for use in room heating, the heating of swiming baths etc. It has no additional power operated conveyance equipment thereby simplifying the control system. The solar energy transmitted from the collector to a lower lying heat exchanger utilises the vapour pressure of the cooling agent. It has arrangement to prevent a reverse flow of the energy from the consuming equipment to the colder solar collector during the night period.    Collectors (1) are linked to a lagged boiler (4) via steam pipes (9) and a condensate pipe (12). The boiler is also connected to a condensate vessel (5) and the boiler and in contact with the outdoor temperature via a steam pipe (11) and a condensate pipe (14). They are fitted with non-return valves (7, 8) controlled by a level indicator.
The energy conversion plant uses heat from the environment as fuel. It consists of a generator coupled to an expansion motor such as a turbine, cylinder with piston etc. The expansion motor is located between the generator and the compressor. A heat pump transports the heat extracted from the outlet of the expansion motor and the cold liquid vessel. This reduces the pressure at the outlet and increass the pressure in the cold liquid vessel to produce condensation.    The cold liquid vessel is located between the compressor and the outlet of the main pump. There is a heat exchanger in contact with the environment between the main pump and the inlet of the expansion motor.
The plant operates on a closed gas power cycle between an upper and a lower horizontal datum plane, separated by a great height. The process includes the steady-flow compression and cooling of a suitable gas at the upper datum plane, and reheating, and power-producing expansion through a compressor matched turbine at the lower datum plane.    The gravitational downward attractive force which acts on the downward-flowing mass of compressed gas producing increased weight, which, in turn, produces a gravity-generated, from the compressor, discharge to the turbine inlet, a downwardly increasing gas pressure rise. The gravity-produced gas pressure rise produces in the compressed gas expansion at the lower datum plane a greater amount of power than is consumed in the gas compression at the upper datum plane, thus resulting in a surplus generated power output.
The heat-collecting tube (11) is located along the focal line of a cylindrical parabolic reflector (6). A pipe carrying fluid passes axially through the tube. The tube is heated by solar radiation reflected from the parabolic reflector and transfers this heat to the fluid flowing through the pipe. The reflector assembly can rotate about a vertical axis (19) and about a horizontal axis (21) so that it can track the sun in azimuth and elevation.    The pipe is connected at its ends via a valve and inlet and outlet pipes to a vertical rotary joint inside the vertical column (19, 20) supporting the reflector assembly. The vertical rotary joint consists of two concentric pipes, one acting as inlet and the other as oulet and both broken by rotational couplings allowing the top halves to rotate with respect to the bottom halves. The inlet and outlet pipes (17, 18) are connected via small horizontal rotary joints (15, 16) to the valve. The valve's inlet and outlet are connected via piping (12) to the end of the pipe inside the trube.
The collector has a reflecting plate (1) with an array of indentations (3) each focussing incident radiation onot thermocouple (10) located at its focal point. The surfaces of the indentations may be silver or chromium plated etc. to produce a high reflectance. The reflecting plate is divided into equal squares and each square is occupied by a circular indentation. The indentation's cross-section may be concave spherical, parabolic or elliptic.    The thermocouples are grouped into pairs. One thermocouple in each pair has a Hall effect device (13) connected into one lead. The other thermocouple in the pair has an induction coil (11) connected into one lead. The induction coil is wound around a permanently magnetic core (12) whose end faces the Hall device.    The outputs of all the Hall devices are combined to produce the electrical output from the collector.
The energy conversion system uses a hydraulic pressure source as a hydraulic store. A drive body filled with fluid supplied energy to a generator as it descends and allows communication between two fluidic columns, one of which incorporates an empty second drive body. This supplies its remaining energy of descent to the generator, e.g. via a turbine, after equalisation of the fluid columns and upon fluid being supplied to it from an external pressure source so that it no longer floats.    When the second drive body reaches its end position it is filled with fluid and when the first drive body reaches its end position it is empty, so that it again descends to supply energy to the generator. Pref. each drive body is supplied with fluid so that it begins its descent, before the descent of the other drive body is complete, each drive body contained in a shaft of similar height and coupled via a supply line with a hydraulic store at a higher level. e.g. a national lake or a reservoir.
The solar energy collector includes a housing which has two solar absorption panels on the exterior surface and an energy collection chamber inside. A motor is coupled to the housing for moving the solar absorption panels between a first position, characterised as being illuminated with solar radiation, and a second position, characterised as being in thermal communication with a heat transfer fluid contained within the energy collection chamber of the housing.    A heat transfer device is immersed in the primary fluid within the energy collection chamber for removing thermal energy from the fluid. A control system is coupled to the motor for moving the solar absorption panels between the first and second positions in a transient unsteady mode.
The device includes a buoy (18) a vertically oscillating rod (17) supporting the buoy, a horizontally oriented motion output meand (22, 24) driven by the vertical rod, and a brake (30, 31) for arresting movement of the buoy at its uppermost limit of travel during any given oscillation. The brake holds the buoy until it may be dropped under gravity into a following wave through.    The natural frequency of vertical oscillation of the buoy is thus mechanically altered to at least partially conform to the wave frequency occurring during a period of operation, so that the maximum amount of energy available from each successive wave front is extracted.
The turbine is pontoon supported on a body of water, and consists of a pair of angularly disposed and spaced rotors, which when in operation, will cause a minimal amount of injury to the environment.    The structure is such that water flow below it has a suction effect, which draws the surface water along, thus causing the surface water to build against the rotors so the water proceeds to flow between the rotors, which thereby increases its power generating potential.
The marine power lant for the generation of electricity uses turbine wheels within nozzles submerged in the water current, anchored to the bottom of the water course, as for example, the ocean, and self-buoyoed to a level well below the water surface.    Pairs of counter-rotating turbines are supported by their rims, which bear against friction drive wheels, which in turn drive electrical generators contained in water-tight machine rooms within the wall of the nozzle. A structural design is disclosed, providing for the building of modules of the nozzle ashore, which may then be transported to the deep-water site for assembly into the complete power plant.
The turbine comprises a disc (11) rotatably mounted on an axis and having guide surface (16) for guiding in a radial direction fluid impinging on the disc in opposite axial directions and having vanes (18). The fluid, when flowing in either or both of the directions simultaneously, effects unidirectional rotation of the disc (11) on the axis.    The turbine may be rigidly supported from the sea bed on a rig and surrounded by a floating chamber which moves with the waves to impel water axially towards the turbine. Alternatively the turbine is surrounded by a guide housing which is pivotal to align with the inflowing wind. Each of the vanes (18, 19) comprises a rectilinear portion extending radially of the longitudinal axis of the bore (15) and a curved portion.
The efficiency of an aerodynamic generator system is improved by using the effects of solar heat as an accelerator of a vane of warm humid air which enters a turbine assembly. Condensation is controlled and evacuated as water. Warm air entering a chimney has a high water content which is sensed by thermometers and hygrometers (13, 14, 15) in order that a programmer (12) can control turbine blades (2, 3, 4) mounted along the chimney.    A deflector (10) takes account of air velocity in order to increase the breathing effect in the chimney. A windmill (11) is mounted on a deflector block to control the deflector in response to data from an anemometer connected to a programmer. A weathercock (16) ensures that the assembly faces the wind. A solar accelerator (17) reduces condensation which is collected via slots (6, 7, 8) with non return valves which prevent cold air currents from entering to disturb the air flow.
In the power generator, hot liquid from a geothermal source is admitted to a cylinder. Its expansion displaces a piston upwards in the cylinder. Vertical post extends upwards from the sides of the cylinder. EAch post contains a chain running over free wheels at the top and bottom.    The piston is attached to the chains so that it rotates the shafts of the wheels on its upward movement but not on its downward movement when the free wheel mechanism operates. Several such machines are placed together in a circle and the temperature of the hot water is reduced in stages as it flows through them in succession.
The system for extracting geothermal energy from hot dry rocks includes the use of a number of bore holes drilled vertically down to the depth at which the hot rock is found. In the region where the rock is hot the holes deviate from the vertical line to pass through the hot region. The pipes which may be in pairs are provided for pumping water in and pumping out heated water.    At intervals along the inclined portions of the pipes a number of vertical fractures are formed. These are made by applying hydraulic pressure. This increases the area of contact between the rock and the water, overcoming problems arising because of the poor conductivity of rock. An insulation above ground makes use of the heat energy extracted in this way.
The device measures solar energy during a testing period, using a cell to provide an electrical signal in response to received solar energy and a resistor connected to the cell for providing an adjusted electrical signal at a value chosen to represent a specified value of solar energy received by the cell during the testing period. Battiereis are used to supply power to the device and a normally open switch activates the display which is normally inactive during the testing period to conserve the life of the battery.
Hollow cylindrical tubing passes a coolant, a generally V-shaped trough having at the apex a mating semicylindrical surface for engaging the cylindrical tubing and the V-shaped trough disposed about 40 deg. from each other or 20 deg. angularly from a mid-plane of the trough.    A linkage moves the V-shaped trough through an angle that follows an east-to-west path of the sun and maximises the collection of solar energy and programmes it repetitively on a daily term for positioning the V-shaped trough to a start position commencing movement of the V-shaped trough from east-to-west following the sun and terminating the movement for subsequent positioning the V-shaped trough to the start position.
The conversion of wind energy by the rope tethered balloon provides static and dynamic lift at optimum height. Free flight is obtained when necessary by remote control.    It includes wind turbine-generator sets (I) connected to starters and coupling (7). The variable pitch propellers control the generator output and the rope (8) ensures the elastic tying to the ground anchoragE.
Power is generated using the temp. difference between the water at the surface of a large body of water whose temp. might be in the vicinity of 25 deg.C or 77 deg.F, and water at considerable depth in the body of water whose temp. might be in the order of about 5 deg.C or 41 deg.F. A floating structure is provided which extends in the order of 50 metres below the surface of the water, and input water is initially filtered and deaerated, and then drops for most of the height of the submerged structure before driving a conventional hydraulic turbine.    The warm water at the output of the turbine is returned to the level of the surface of the body of water by a mist flow pump arrangement using a large tapered duct that is operated at reduced pressure, with droplets of the warm water from the output of the turbine being sprayed into the bottom of the duct. With the duct being at a pressure below the saturation vapour pressure of the injected warm water, some of the water evaporates or boils to form steam and this expanding steam carries the water droplets to the top of the duct against the force of gravity.
The wave-operated power plant comprises a perforated caisson type breakwater having an upstanding main wall erected to face the predominant wave direction and extending from below the low water level of an open water body to above the max. height of the waves. Propellers or turbines are mounted int eh perforations or openings and drive hydraulic pumps connected to them which in turn drive a hydraulic motor coupled to an electric generator.    One-way flap valves are mounted in the openings. Some of the flap valves allow the rushing waves to enter the caisson while the other flap valves allow the water to flow out of the caisson.
The umbrella or parasol comprises a handle with cupola lined with reflective coating. For versatility, the handle is in the form of a heat tube with a coating of heat-absorbing material on the outside. The condensation zone of the heat tube is above the cupola and the evaporation zone is under it.    The umbrella can be used as a heliothermic mechanism by aligning the inside of cupola (2) towards the sun. The sun's rays falling on the light-reflecting coating are reflected and concentrated on zone (5) of handle (1). The fluid in the hot zone of the tube becomes vapour which rushes into the condensation zone at the top of the handle. Here the vapours condense, giving up heat to the walls of the tube. The heat tube can be used to boil water or generate electricity.
The radiation filtering system uses a transparent panel through which a liq. of variable opacity is pumped. According to the opacity of the liq., varying amounts of radiation may be absorbed by the liq. acting as a heat carrier, or reflected. The liq, is an emulsion of oil and water, water being the main fluid to which varying amounts of oil are added as a function of the signal provided by a photocell detector.    The fluid may carry absorbed heat to heat storage blocks for subsequent use in space heating. The oil and water are separated and returned to separate reservoirs after each passage through the radiation filter.    The system may be used for controlling the temp. of a greenhouse, for regulating radiation from a variety of sources, or for controlling absorption of solar heat for space heating.
The floating installation (1) draws cold water from the sea bed by means of a pump (5). The suction device (3) comprises a flexible cylindrical sheath (7) provided with spaced rings (8, 8a, etc) which surrounds a flexible sleeve (18).    The space (24) between the sheath and sleeve is filled with seawater via the inlet (25). A pump (26) maintains this space at a pressure below that existing inside the sleeve (18), whose cross-section is thereby maintained circular regardless of the external water pressure and depth.
The unit converting the energy of waves in the sea into a torque has inner and outer floats (13) connected to bellows (I) terminating in a folding frame (2). The latter has articulated arms (4) with a pivot (3) welded in the centre of the tube (5) controlling the reversing rope (6).    The pressure due to flow opens up the bellows and the generator driving rope (15) is pulled then by the rope (6). The return phase of the counter-current operates with folded up bellows presenting a lens-like cross section. The rope (15) is then tensioned by a return controlling weight (17) suspended on a drum (16). The drum (16) is mounted in a float (28) tethered to the sea bottom to two guy ropes (31).
The generator is capable of driving a generator or a gyroscope. The generator is based on the use of a pair of basically cylindrical floats (4) each having an overall density which allows it to float just below the surface of the supporting liquid. Each float is housed in one vertical leg (15) of a 'U' shaped chamber, the base of the 'U' opening out into a larger diameter volume. The upper ends of the two legs are also opened out into two air chambers closed off from a common chamber by two butterfly valves (10). The two floats have a cable (13) running the length of the legs which transmits the float movement to the generator.    The system is started by compressed air (3) at one side of the 'U' and the float oscillation maintained by electronic control of valves (16, 12) the circuity consuming about 10% of the power generated.
The radiant electromagnetic energy collector has an elongated non-imaging concentrator which concentrates and directs radiant energy onto an elongated absorber having a helical conduit for a heat exchange fluid mounted in an evacuated glass tube. The concentrator has rounded ends which also function as concentrating surface to concentrate and direct radiant energy onto the ends of the absorber.    The helical conduit within the evacuated tube is connected to input and output pipes leading to the exterior of the tube which pass through a seal situated within the cylinder formed by the helical coil. The collector has a flexible transparent cover which is stretched to a flat sheet and held in position by an interengaging channel and locking rod arrangement located about the periphery of the concentrator.
A sunlight concentrating system has a number of adjustable solar cells (8) with adjustable focal points. The volume of water (1) is stretched in a container in the form of a large lens between horizontal members of a frame (3). The vessel contg. the water is made from a transparent plastics foil. The stretched container results in a sag to produce the lower convex surface.    The upper convex surface is produced by a second foil (2) stretched between the frame, retaining its shape by pressure. The horizontal water surface can be covered by a glass plate. There is a tube under the water surface with a number of holes which allows air to be injected into the water.
The open loop servo controller for controlling motors which drive a solar energy collector about its azimuth and altitude axis to track the sun. The controller has a central processor and elements for inputting data correspg. with the present day of the year, the hour of the day, the minute of the hour and with the latitude and longitude of the device installation. Memories store programme data and tables of data corresp. with the declination of the sun on any day and of other mathematical functions.    The processor uses the data to calculate the azimuth and altitude angles of the sun itself within every minute of the day and causes signals to be produced which result in motor controllers causing the motors to turn the device through azimuth and altitude axes angles corresponding with the calculated angles.
The ocean thermal energy conversion system includes a mass of expandities that change density in response to changes in temp. at a given pressure to change buoyancy w.r.t. ocean water. A mass transport conduit circuit for introducing the expandites to ocean water at different combinations of temp. and pressure and transports the expandites and ocean water in response to pressure differentials created by density changes and concomitant buoyancy changes of the expandites as the expandites are exposed to ocean water.    A transducer such as a turbo-electric generator converts the pressure of water transported by the circuit to electrical energy. Expandites are defined as separate objects that expand or contract when heated or cooled, thereby changing their density. The disclosed expandites includes substances encased in plastic bags, such as ammonia which expands upon undergoing a phase transformation upon going from a liquid to a gas, and nitro benzene which expands upon undergoing a phase transformation from a liquid to a solid.
The floating or submerged vessel (10) has a water inlet (11) and a water outlet (12) arranged to permit the flow of water through the vessel (10) during tidal flow. A turbine (20) is driven by the flow of water through the vessel and in turn drives electrical generator (21).    The vessel may be anchored in any estuary or area of tidal flow by means of cables (30) and buoys (31) and may have a windmill (40) mounted on its deck to provide further power genration. Many generating vessels may be disposed in rows or lines and each may be connected to one or more power distribution parts. The power generated by each vessel is fed to a submerged power cable lying on the seabed via a feeder cable. The power cable is connected to a shore based distribution centre. This arrangement permits a single vessel to be removed and towed to a near by harbour or dockyard for repair work without disrupting the supply output from a line of vessels.
The solar energy collector comprises a pivoting mirror (1) assembly which supports a heater (2) at the focal point and in which a heat carrying fluid flows via its support arms (3). The mirror pivots around the vertical axis supported by a frame (4) ona toothed grown wheel (5) driven by an endless chain (9, 11) from two jacks (7, 8) mounted in opposition. Pivoting around the horizontal axis is provided by another jack (6).    These jacks are driven from a hydraulic system whose reservoir (14) supplies the vertical jack (6) when the power fails. A photocell assembly (27) and wind speed sensor (28) provide controlling signals enabling the mirror to be placed in a safe position during a breakdown or during the night or very windy weather.
The energy converter comprises a tank (T) in which floats an inner tank (T1) containing water ballast. With rising tide the tank (T) is filled through inlet (7) with sea water through an intake pipe (9) and valve (8), thus raising the floating tank (T1).    At high tide the valve (8) is closed and an outlet (6) opened to drain the tank (T) at a controlled rate into a lagoon (L). The tank (T1) accordingly falls and via hydraulic pumping rams (10) drives a turbine. The lagoon (L) has lock gates (2) which are opened to drain the lagoon (L) at low tide. Again, three outer tanks may be sequentially arranged in vertically-stepped fashion, the upper tank being filled from a river, or by a pump in a pumped energy storage system.
The system is for generating electricity comprising selectively controlling the passage of water, stored at an elevated position, into a container (13). It utilises the weight of the water in the container to cause the container to move to a lower position where the water is allowed to flow from it and utilising the movement of the container to drive an electrical generator. The water may be stored in a reservoir at the top of a cliff and allowed to flow into the sea from the container at the bottom of the cliff and the container may comprise a number of buckets located as an endless conveyor arranged to drive an electrical generator.    Water may be pumped from the sea into the reservoir by wave action devices. Alternatively or in addition electricity generated during an off-peak time may be utilised to pump water from the sea to the reservoir.
The water wheel is used to convert energy from water into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy. The efficiency is increased by use of a movable paddle which creates a large opening to the water fall and which is as far as possible from the wheel centre to increase torque.    The paddles on a water wheel are in the form of troughs mounted on the periphery. These troughs have a moving part which flaps on the fixed part to allow water to enter readily under the force of the water. The centrifugal force causes the flap to reduce the section for the passage of water until the paddle is at the low horizontal position when the flap opens under its own weight to release the water.
The sea wave energy converting device has a pair of elements at least partially submerged and coupled together for relative oscillation, in response to wave motion. The coupling between the two elements incorporates a device which checks their relative movement during a selected time interval within each wave cycle.    Several pairs of elements may be used, the two elements in each pair having the form of a hollow cylindrical cone (1), enclosing a hollow cylinder (2) moving vertically up and down, or alternatively each pair of elements may comprise a hollow plate pivoted about a horizontal axis, with a restraining device preventing relative pivoting of the two wings about this axis. The relative movement of the two elements can be converted into utilisable energy via a linear electric generator, or a rotary hydraulic pump etc.
The generator uses a floating body (1) which cooperates with a second body (2,3) which oscillates relative to it, when the floating body is moved up and down by wave movement. The relative oscillation of the two bodies is converted into electrical energy.    Pref. the second body comprises a stabilised, large dia plate (2) connected via vertical rods to two coupling plates (5,6) between which a pump (8) is located. The pump piston rod (9) is attached to the floating body, so that it moves up and down with the latter. The generator is held in position by at least one anchoring cable fixed to the seabed and to one of the coupling plates (5,6), and running at an angle of less than 45 deg. to the horizontal.
A thermopile is formed of successive pairs of reversely-arranged C-shaped elements with square corners located between a heat source (32) and heat sink (34). A thermoelectric junction is formed at the upper portion of the first element (12) which has its leg (20) in electrical contact with a leg (22) of the second element (14). A conducting spacer (36) is provided between respective legs to make electrical contacts at the thermoelectric junction.    The junction surface is formed by facing surfaces of legs (20,22) and it is of greater area than the cross-sectional area of either of the conductors forming the first and second elements. An intermediate section (16) is provided by a relatively thin connecting portion between legs (20, 24) of an element, which minimises heat flow between the heat source and sink, so maximising the temperature differences between the thermoelectric junctions and the voltages they develop.
The solar photoelectric conversion appts. comprises a light converter immersed in a transparent liquid heat carrier which occupies the lower part of the cavity of a hollow hermetically sealed reservoir. The appts. also includes a solar radiation concentrator inserted in a beam of a solar radiation incident on an active surface of the light converter.    During operation, vapours of the heat carrier condense on the inner walls of the reservoir and return by gravity to the liquid in the lower portion of the cavity, thereby cooling the liquid and the light converter immersed in the 119 by "thermal siphon" action.
The system comprises transfer tanks which are located below the hydraulic head of a dam. Connected to the transfer tanks are air inlets extending from the transfer tanks to the atmosphere, and having check valves located within the inlet. A water inlet and valve, interconnect the transfer tanks with the fluid behind the dam, and awater outlet and valve empty the transfer tank downstream of the dam.    A storage tank is interconnected to the transfer tank by transfer lines having check valves at their transfer tank ends, and a turbine outlet extends from the storage tank to an air driven turbine. In one example two transfer tanks and one open-bottomed storage tank are located on the upstream side of the dam at its base. In this water outlets pass from the bottom of the transfer tanks through the face of the dam. Alternatively two transfer tanks, comprising elongate flow tubes, and several cylindrical storage tanks are located downstream of the dam at its base.
The method is for obtaining energy without using fuels. Basically it consists of a conveyor belt that contains a continuous arrangement of cells or pockets that are open in the outward direction perpendicular to its motion. The conveyor belt is set in motion by the effect of natural water flow or currents upon the hinged flaps that are attached to it.    The cells when pointed in a downward direction, will carry air down to great depths and release the air at the point at which the belt turns beneath the water and when the cells are pointed in an upward direction. This highly compressed air can then be captured in a container and the stored energy thus obtained can be used by gradually releasing it for the purpose of driving a turbine wheel.
An electricity generating system uses air as the charge carrier. The electricity is derived from the millions of tips of the needles of pine trees which normally discharge to produce ozone.    The pine trees are planted in flat bridge-shaped containers supported on columns and filled with earth. The support columns are made from electrically-insulated materials such as ceramic or glass. This prevents the charges built up on the tips of the needles from discharging to earth. The intrinsic charges in the trees will then be harnessed.
The generally mushroom-shaped, open cycle OTEC system has a skirt-conduit structure extending from the enlarged portion of the mushroom to the ocean. The enlarged part of the mushroom houses a toroidal casing flash evaporator which produces steam which expands through a vertical rotor turbine, partially situated in the centre of the blossom portion and partially situated in the mushroom's stem portion. Upon expansion through the turbine, the motive steam enters a shell and tube condenser annularly disposed about the rotor axis and axially situated beneath the turbine in the stem portion.    First and second propulsion devices are provided for respectively circulating relatively warm ocean water through the evaporator and relatively cold ocean cooling water through the condenser. Relatively warm ocean water is drawn up to the flash evaporator through the first skirt-conduit structure. A second skirt-conduit structure is arranged radially within the first skirt and provides a drainage path for the unflashed ocean water and the heat laden cooling water respectively draining from the evaporator and condenser.
The system comprises two sets of hinged control doors for regulating motive stream flow from an evaporator to a condenser alternatively through a set of turbine blades in a steam bypass around the turbine blades. The evaporator has a toroidal shaped casing situated about the turbine's vertical axis of rotation and an outlet opening for discharging motive steam into an annular steam flow path defined between the turbine's radially inner and outer casing structure. The turbine blades extend across the steam flow path intermediate the evaporator and condenser.    The first set of control doors is arranged to prevent steam access to the upstream side of the turbine blades and the second set of control doors acts as a bypass around the blades so as to maintain equilibrium between the evaporator and condenser during non-rotation of the turbine. The first set of control doors pref. extend, when closed, between the evaporator casing and the turbine's outer casing and, when open, extend away from the axis of rotation.
The appts. is used for extracting energy from the sea or fresh water. It has a hollow cone structure (10) which is buoyant. Four legs (14) extending into the sea have attached lines (18) which connect to a universal joint (19). The structure is anchored to the sea-bed by a chain (20).    The base of the structure floats upon the water surface and remains floating at a constant level relative to the still water level. The structure (10) has a variable member within it which defines a variable vol. chamber which moves in response to the water movement to vary the volume. A flow of air is produced which is used to drive, e.g. a turbine-driven electrical generator.
the energy of the waves of the sea may be harnessed by means of rows of hollow cylinders (10) floating on the sea. The cylinders (10) are sealed on the top and open to the waves at the bottom.    As the water level rises inside the cylinder, the air above the water is driven through a non-return valve (17) into an air receiver (19). As the water level falls air flows through a non-return valve (16) to replenish the air in the cylinder (10). The air in the receiver is then used to drive turbines which drive electric generators.
The heliostat assembly provides capability for azimuthal and elevational suntracking. A number of mirrors are affixed in rectangular array which is diametrically mounted within a pair of circular rims which extend perpendicular to the mirror array.    A belt-type drive rotates the rims on load-bearing rollers to adjust the elevational operation of the mirror assembly, and a second drive rotates a carriage upon which the rollers are mounted to adjust the azimuthal orientation of the mirror assembly. Light-weight compression members and sectional shapes transfer loads among the assembly components, including tension cables which assist in transmitting loads between the elevation rims and the mirror assembly.
The collector uses a number of reflectors, for focussing the solar rays on at least one operative region in which there is disposed a solar-radiation absorbent body. The latter is thereby heated and transmits the absorbed heat to a liquid or vaporous heat carrier.    By fabricating the reflectors of a material permeable to the short-wave portion of the solar radiation and reflective of the long-wave portion of the solar radiation, the ground area shaded by the reflectors can be used for other purposes, especially for growing plants.
The converter includes a buoyant body having a leading edge and a trailing edge,and a convex upper surface extending between the leading and trailing edges. The upper surface is configured with a gradually sloping shape from the leading edge toward the trailing edge and terminates the trailing edge in a sharply oppositely sloping surface. The circular or orbital motion of water particles in waves is converted by the upper surface to linear flow of the water particles, and waves travelling across the surface from the leading to the trailing edge are not damped or extinguished by backwash of waves from the trailing edge toward the leading edge.    Upstanding structures on the upper surface define open ended venturi-shaped water flow channels across the upper surface which increase the velocity of the linear flow of water across the upper surface. Water-driven devices are disposed in the water flow channels to obtain work from the accelerated linear flow of water. The buoyant body floats at the surface of the body of water, with the upper surface of the buoyant body disposed beneath and parallel to the surface of the water.
The converter includes a buoyant body having a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a convex upper surface extending between the leading and trailing edges. The upper surface is configured with a gradually sloping shape from the leading edge toward the trailing edge and terminates at the trailing edge in a sharply opposite sloping surface, whereby the circular or orbital motion of water particles in waves is converted by the upper surface to linear flow of the water particles toward the leading edge.    Upstanding structures on the upper surface define open-ended venturi-shaped water flow channels across the upper surface which increase the velocity of the linear flow of water across the upper surface. The interior of the buoyant body is divided into two chambers interconnected by a turbine for flow of water back and forth between the chambers, through the turbine upon pitching motion of the body to thus obtain useful work from the waves energy.
The power generator floats on the sea in a predetermined position. It consists of an articulated dorsal tube formed from a number of waterproof and flexible annular segments having crenelated joints.    Conduits contain flexible cables which hold the sections together. A ballast weight holds the structure at a certain angle, and the power module is in the form of a split section sleeve fitted around the column.    A float or "duck" having a frontal lobe, oscillates with wave action, imparting a rotating motion to the power generating module. The complete assembly consists of several similar units connected together.
The solar collector has two glass elements sealed together to define a chamber contg. a heat absorber with a heat carrier fluid. The floor of the chamber has a conical shape, its bottom being designed to allow passage of the heat carrier fluid pipes.    The chamber is pref. evacuated and is isolated from the atmosphere by glass-metal welding at the level of the bottom of the cone. The chamber is pref. defined by a series of a series of arched glass elements, the cone extension with the pipe access points being provided in one of the base elements.
The heat collector is for a solar heating system and has an upright rectangular housing with a parabolic reflective surface (11) supported diagonally. This concentrates the radiation from the sun onto an absorbent horizontal surface (13-16) on the bottom covered by an infra-red reflective disc. Behind the parabolic surface is an insulating mass (18) filling the space inside an external insulation layer (19). A heating coil (20) is housed insides the mass.    The heat exchanger coil is housed under the bottom layer. Different parts of this region are headed as the angle of the sun's rays vary. A different version can be built into a vertical wall of a building. The system can be used for hot water or a heat pump.
The system comprises several columns each installed at right angles to the sea level. The foot of the column is fixed permanently to a cement base in the sea floor, by a universal joint. A float is provided with a central opening so that it can ride up and down on the column in response to wave motion. It is this linear motion relative to the post that is used to provide power. The float is kept centred on the column by a gimbal mechanism. The gimbals permit the float to tilt in response to wave motion.    The float is connected to an iron ring with two poles which ride up and down the column with the waves. The poles each carry a coil respectively connected to a D.C. supply. The coils produce an electromagnetic field in the ring and as the poles pass the coils, mounted in the column, an electric current is generated in the latter.
The flywheel type electric energy generating system comprises two out-of-balance wheels carried on parallel horizontal shafts, each shaft being provided with a crank. The two cranks are coupled by a telescoping coupling rod which is slidably carried in a member pivotable about an axis arranged parallel to the shafts at a point equi-distant between them.    It is claimed that, when the wheels rotate in opposite directions, the action of the weight of the rod and the weights together with inertia, sustain the motion.
The device comprises a pump or pumps arranged to be operated by relative motion between hingedly connected members (10, 11, 12) in response to waves so as to displace a fluid. A pump chamber (67) is defined by the member (12) and a vane (65) extends from an adjacent member (10, 11) so as to be displaced in the pump chamber by the relative motion of the members. The members may be hingedly connected together at a number of locations at which a respective bearing is supported by a resiliently flexible mounting.    Each pump is double-acting and draws fluid through an inlet (80) and check valves (81) the fluid being pumped through duct (73) and check valves (82) to a manifold common to all the pumps.    The manifold pressure is maintained by an air accumulator (48). Fluid is supplied to a turbine which drives an electrical generator. The pumps and turbine may form a closed-circuit instead of using ambient water. Only one of the members need be buoyant the other being fixed.
The energy converter comprises high and low pressure vessels (1, 5) contg. sea water with an air cushion (4, 8) above and interconnected by a pipeline (14) incorporating an energy extraction device (13), e.g. a turbogenerator. Each pressure vessel (1, 5) incorporates a respective valve arrangement (9) or (15) for controlling flow of sea water into the high pressure vessel (1) or flow of sea water out of the low pressure vessel (5). In this way sea water is caused to flow along the pipeline (14) thereby driving the energy extraction device (13).    The pressure of the gas cushions and the inclination of the longitudinal axis of the energy converter to the horizontal (when the energy converter is free-floating) may be adjusted automatically in dependence upon one or more sensed variables indicative of the overall operational condition of the energy converter in relation to the sea.
A conductor (1) is positioned around the earth's periphery so as to cut the earth's magnetic field as the earth rotates. Electricity is thus generated in the conductor.    The conductor is pref. a loop of conductive material extending at least approx. over the earth's poles. The conductor is pref. positioned at a height above the earth's surface outside the earth's atmosphere. The electricity generated in the conductor may be transferred by induction to a second conductor located on the surface of the earth, or it may be converted to electromagnetic radiation and beamed to receiving stations (7) at the earth's surface.
The sea wave energy converter comprises a large, hollow toroidal vessel which is semi-submerged, and either anchored directly to the sea bed, or attached to an arm. Various methods are used to convert the kinetic energy to electrical energy, one employing a hydrodynamic magneto.    Alternatively, liquid trapped in the toroid may be used to rotate a propeller driven generator.
Hydraulic fluid is temporarily stored within high pressure storage tanks to be utilized in the production of electricity. This electricity is supplied as needed to various consumers. Excess electricity which is generated by hydro-electric devices driven by the pressurized hydraulic fluid is utilized to pressurize additional hydraulic fluid. The latter is then supplied to the high pressure storage tanks to be used at a later time fo the production of electricity.    In this way excess electricity that is produced from the pressurized hydraulic fluid is reconverted inot pressurized hydraulic fluid which may be stored in the high pressure storage tanks until needed. The high pressure storage tanks may be initially charged with a compressible fluid which is compressed by the pressurized hydraulic fluid. A piston may be provided within each storage tank to separate the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the compressible fluid.
A tidal and wave-power collector is disclosed which is well suited for oceanic installations. A matrix of power collection units is easily assembled at sea, bridged and reinforced by catwalks which form trilateral power collection modules having such units at each corner. Each power collection unit comprises a central tubular pilaster embedded in the ocean floor around which is disposed a toroidal float which moves up and down with the waves and tide and which acts to drive an air compressor while rising and falling. The compressed air, is stored in the float's chamber and transmitted through conducits in the bridging structure to a remote power consumption site.
The submerged hydroelectric station, separating the sea from the basin (2), includes the water ducts (3) containing the turbines (4). It is reinforced with the flanges (5), the "U" shaped walls (6) and the rib (8). The structure includes the ballast chambers (11, 12), which are filled with the bed (13) soil. The flow ducts have the vertical partitions (16, 17, 18). The spaces between the partitions are filled with the ballast and covered with the plates (15). The machine hall (19) is located above the turbine and also contains a gantry crane (20). The ducts are fitted with the valve seats (21, 22), and the spaces (23, 24).    When the station is submerged, all accessways and valves are closed and compressed air is used to evacuate water from the ballast chambers. After the submersion, the chambers are filled with the ballast through the openings (14). The water, flowing through the station is filtered by the combs of the partitions.
Buoy shows increased reliability and requires less servicing outlay than earlier models. The wave energy converter consists of elastic material with piezoelectrical elements to generate an electromotive force and selective insulation material. The latter is attached to the disc housing's surface and the elastic material is fixed on the electric insulation material and both are connected to an electric commutating circuit.    Each piezoelectric element contains tubular piezoelectric monocrystals, dielectrics and electrodes, linked together. When the buoy is moved by waves its housing (1) resists creating inner friction between the housing and the water. This deforms the housing (1) and the elastic material (5).    This, in turn, deforms the piezoelectrical monocrystalline layers (6, 7) and the dielectrics (8, 9) on their surface. Electrical impulses arise, the current of which is removed by the electrodes (10, 11) and sent via a collector an overhead wire and the commutating circuit to the light signal unit.
The device comprises a pump arranged to be operated by relative motion between pontoons of the device in response to waves. The pump consists of a tubular bellows of elastomeric material. Fluid is drawn into the pump through an inlet and check valves and pumped through check valves into a chamber from which it passes through a duct to a manifold which is common to a number of pumps.    The pressure in the manifold is maintained by an air accumulator. The manifold directs fluid to a turbine which drives an electrical generator. The pumps and turbine may form a closed circuit instead of using ambient water. Only one of the pontoons need be buoyant, the cooperating pontoon being fixed.
The semi submersible vessel in the form of a coil is used to extract energy from waves. The pitching frequency is fixed within the range of frequencies which contain most energy and is converted to hydropneumatic energy. A toroidal shaped vessel which is partially submerged in the sea (2) contains a hydropneumatic system comprising a piston (11) which compresses alternately the two parts (12, 13) of the ballast (10) which it separates.    Seawater under pressure enters two spherical pressurised chambers (16) via inlet valves (17) which prevent seawater from entering when the piston pressure is greater than pressure of air in chambers (18) within the water chambers. These water chambers drive hydraulic turbines (20) via pipework (19) and each turbine drives an electrical generator (21).
The frame supports a patient by the upper body below the neck and above the lumbar spine on an inclined support for lumbar reduction therapy under the force of gravity. The inclined support has an adjustable angle of tilt. The patient is supported at an angle for a period of time commensurate with his ability to tolerate stress by firmly, frictionally grasping the rib cage of the patient below the arm pits and at least partially underneath the rib cage. The angle of the support is progressively increased to a maximum.
The solar boiler has a heat receiver which tracts the path of the sun to use the solar energy to heat a fluid passing through the boiler. A lens system is mounted on the upper section of the heat receiver and concentrates the rays of the sun directly onto the upper surface of the receiver.    The heat receiver is tilted in response to the apparent movement of the sun along its arcuate path. A base assembly is connected to the tiling unit and rotates the heat receiver in a horizontal plane such that such rotation, in combination with the tilting movement, maintains the heat receiver in proper alignment with the rays of the sun.
The solar energy reflector has a rigid frame that supports a thin reflective sheet and retains the sheet in a parabolic or concave shape. The frame includes rigid end plates that define slots that have portions concentric with the focal axis of the parabolic surface so that the reflector can be installed onto and removed from a fixed water carrying pipe without disturbing the plumbing connections to the pipe.    A drive system and solar energy sensor circuit are connected to the reflector at the sun throughout its traverse of the sky from dawn to dusk. A protective cover for the solar collector both protects the highly reflective surface against deterioration and contributes to the overall strength of the collector.
The convertible, modular tri-mode solar conversion system provides two prim. heating modes, both hot water and hot air for winter time operation, with conversion to one secondary mode for electric power generation and air conditioning during summertime operation.    The tri-mode solar conversion system uses linear parabolic concentrators for converting solar energy to hot water /steam, hot air, and heat engine/electric power generation for nearly all year round operation with improved overall cost effectiveness. Wintertime hot water is provided within a conventional focal piping line with hot air prod. through a thin plastic duct which is concentric to the focal piping. The thin plastic duct is supported by thin, spirally wound wire coils with uniformly located, radial struts fastened to both the focal piping and the wire coils.
A solar energy collector uses a Fresnel lens with a straight line focal zone and a cylindrically concave mirror. It is used in a fixed position and still achieves a good efficiency. It operates even at a relatively high temp. and when the sun's rays impinge at considerably different angles. The light received from the lens is reflected onto a target.    The cross-section of the mirror has an approx. parabolic shape. The width of the mirror and that of the lens are related by a mathematical formula. This also applies to the focal lengths of the parabolic mirror and the lens. There is another formula for the distance of the target from the mirror and the distance of the lens from the mirror.
The roofing tile has upper and lower ends and upper and lower surfaces. A transverse groove of semicircular cross section is in the upper surface of the roofing tile adjacent its upper end. A transverse groove of semicircular cross section is in the lower surface of the roofing tile adjacent its lower end.    A solar water heating system, incorporated in a roof, comprises roofing tiles, having overlapping sections provided with registering transverse grooves of semicircular cross section facing each other, with thermally conductive tubes in the registering grooves. A clay tile contains a thermally conductive material, with the exposed section of the upper surface having a permanent black coating to enhance solar heat absorption.
The central heating system has a heat control which stores solar energy in an enclosed space with a medium. The heat is passed on to a heat exchanger. The circulation of the liquid medium is a function of the temp. at the output of the heat source, a function of the temp. of the medium at the input of the enclosed space and a function of the temp at the output of the enclosed space.    The flow of the liquid in the enclosed space (10) will be cut of if the temp. of the liquid at the output of the heat source is lower than the temp. of the liquid at the input of the enclosed space and higher than the temp. of the liquid at the output of the enclosed space. The control element (8) consists of servo systems which shut down the liquid supply valve, based on measurements taken by sensors at the output of the heat source.
The central heating system has a closed space containing a medium such as water, which is heated. The heating energy is derived from solar panels and given off to an exchanger which transfer it to an enclosed space. The circulation of the water is controlled as a function of the temp. of the water at the output of the heat source and as a function of the temp. at the input of the enclosed space and as a function of the temp. at the output of the enclosed space.    The temp. at the output of the heat source is equal to the temp. of the water at the input of the enclosed space (10). The flow of the water will be stopped if the temp. at the output of the heat source is smaller or equal to the temp. of the water at the output of the enclosed space even is the temp. at the output of the source is greater than the other two temps.
The appts. for extracting energy from a moving body of water comprises a structure adapted to be mounted in or to float at anchor in the water and having passages (2a/b) arranged to face upstream. Sliding valves members (3a, 3b) are provided for suddenly arresting the flow of water out of the passage. An air chamber is in communication with the downstream end of the passage in such a manner that air in the chamber is compressed by the momentum of the water entering the passage after the interruption of the out-flow.    The air chamber includes an outlet for such compressed air which may be used to drive a motor either mounted on the structure, or situated on land and connected to the chamber by means of suitable piping. The motor may be in the form of a reciprocating piston air motor or in the form of a low pressure air turbine mechanism. Sluice gates (5a, 5b) are interconnected and open alternately to admit water to passages (2a, 2b).
The solar energy sensor has a fixed heating system whereby a transparent sphere refracts the incident radiation to concentrate it into a beam. The beam energy is absorbed by a fluid contained in tubes mounted to follow the sun's path during the days and seasons.    A sphere (1) of transparent plastic material is filled with a refractive liquid so that solar radiation (10) is refracted onto a heat exchanger (2). The heat exchanger comprises a lower (20) and upper (22) collector tubes between which one perpendicular tubes (22).    The sphere is mounted on a support while the heat exchanger is mounted to turn about the vertical axis and is inclined so that the collector tubes are in the radiation path during the day. This heats a heat conducting fluid which enters the exchange in the centre (23) to flow to outlets (24) at its ends.
The power supply is intended for use on an industrial scale deriving its energy principally from wave motion close to a shore. Power is derived from transducers reacting to motion in all three planes.    The basic element reacting to wave motion is a block (6) free to move in all planes and floating in the wave medium. An arm extends from the block in each plane and upwards towards transducer chambers. One such arm (7c) carries a block at its free end which moves against transducers (2c) on four sides. A vertical arm (7a) extending from the top of the floating block has a horizontal tunnel moving over a central rod (2a). The third arm (7b) consisting of two struts carries a single transducer (2b).
The large dish member is mounted on a tripod structure on a first set of bearings which permit rotation about a polar or azimuth axis, and a second set of bearings which permit rotation about an elevation axis. Drive about the elevation axis is achieved by means of a linear actuator with elevation position being sensed by means of a position transducer such as a selsyn.    Drive about the polar or azimuth axis is achieved by means of two motors, one for slow drive, the other for fast drive, both of these motors being coupled through a timing belt drive and worm gear reducer to a drive sprocket. The drive sprocket engages a chain which is welded to the rim of an arcuate spoked drive member in the form of a wheel segment, which is fixedly attached to the dish member and mounted for rotation on the support structure. A position selsyn is provided to sense azimuthal or polar position.
The solar cell has a heat collector bar with a heat absorbing coating in contact with it. The heat absoring material is covered with a sheet of radiation absorbing material containing a number of capsule uniformly distributed with each capsule having a suspension of highly reflective, flake-like, field responsive particles therein. The particles may be preoriented with respect to incident electromagnetic radiation.    The sheet of radiation absorbing material is covered with a radiation emitting layer, or cover, of a protective material, e.g. a transparent plastics.
In a sunny country adjacent to the sea, the solar energy is recovered by subjecting water enclosed by a barrage to natural evaporation. When a certain level has been reached the water is replenished during which process it drives turbines.    A gulf (1) communicates with the sea via a narrow straits (2) to form a lake (3) with a large area and great depth. A barrage (4) encloses the lake to prevent it filling from the gulf. The upper level (A) of the lake is lowered by evaporation to a much lower level (B) by solar action. When this level is reached a hydro electric generator (5) is supplied with water via pipes (6).    The electrical energy prod. over a period is proportional to the amt. of water evaporated.
The water chamber capacitor is used to store super and high voltage current of up to 10 million volts at up to 20,000 ampts derived from electricity in the atmosphere. The energy derived from lightning is collected after reduction of the super voltages through cascaded transformers.    The walls of the chamber forming the capacitor are made from sheets, frames and support columns of storage materials with watertight joints. The materials have very high current flow capacity. The capacitor is made with parallel flat plates coated with insulationg with very high breakdown resistance. The inside of the chamber is filled with chemically pure water.
The wave powered energy generator comprises a float (10) connected by a cable (12) to a submerged energy conversion appts. such as a piston and cylinder device. The lift of the float displaces member (23) which entrains a piston (22) in the cylinder (16) and fluid is pumped to drive a pelton wheel (38) located in an air pocket (36) which pocket also contains an electrical generator (43). As the member (23) moves downwards, the piston follows and a one-way valve arrangement allows fluid to flow into the cylinder. During the upward pumping stroke of the piston, the fluid is pumped out of the cylinder and drives the pelton wheel. The float is biased downwards by elastic strips which may be attached to the underside of the float. Alternatively the cable (12) is wrapped.
The system has heat absorbed from the sun's radiation transferred to a heat storage medium, used to heat the working medium of an energy supply system, during interruptions in the sun's radiation. The heat storage medium may comprise a latent heat storage medium, used in a heat exchanger.    A number of solar reflectors reflect the sun's rays towards a heat absorber mounted on a tower. This transfers the absorbed heat via a liquid metal to the heat exchanger. The working medium is vaporised in the heat exchanger with the vapour pressure used to drive a generator, which is followed by a vapour condenser.
The system uses wave energy to operate the drive and ancillary supplies onboard a ship. It comprises at least two floats (1, 2), connected to allow them to pivot and/or move vertically relative to one another. This movement is transferred via a cog mechanism to a rotary drive shaft (10), which is in turn coupled via a freewheel coupling (11), operable in either direction, to a generator (12).    A number of secondary floats may each be coupled with a main central float, with the movement of each secondary float used to obtain rotation of a respective drive shaft. The central main float may comprise the hull of the ship.
A water driven generator ship uses a flow of water through special ducts along the inside of the hull. A series of chain-linked thrust flaps is displaced by this water-flow. The flaps operate chain drives to integral generators.    The system provides a simple lay-out for the generators, with no permanent site required. The water-flow follows a meandering duct through the anchored bull to increase the effective coupling to the flaps.
Vertically disposed cylinders are anchored to the ocean bed in an off-shore location. The cylinders extend above the water line and provide support for a horizontal platform. Mounted on the platform and connected with the cylinders is a fluid line system that comprises a closed circuit. A fluid line from an outlet valve in each cylinder head leads into a trunk line and thence into a fluid compression tank. Fluid is released from this tank through a pressure control valve to drive a power output generator that is of the fluid driven type. Discharge fluid from the generator goes into a fluid holding tank, from this tank through a series of filter units and back through return lines to an inlet valve in each cylinder head.    The compression of the fluid is achieved by pistons within the cylinders that are integral with floats that are external to the cylinders and concentric with it. As the floats move up and down with the ocean swell, they provide the piston stroke. The attachment of float to piston is through a float sleeve and cross member that is rigidly attached to a piston rod and thus to the piston itself. The top surface of the piston and the top surface of the float are in the same horizontal plane. Thus a closed circuit fluid transmission system is provided from the series of outlet valves in the cylinders through the equipment on the platform and back to the series of inlet valves in the cylinders.
The fluidic square root extractor comprises a first input terminal for connection to a source of main pressure. A second input terminal receives an input pressure the square root of which is to be extracted. An amplifier is connected to the two terminals for generating the output pressure as a function of the input pressure. The amplifier has a feedback network.    A squaring circuit is connected to the first terminal for providing a feedback pressure as a function of the square of the output pressure. The second terminal is connected to the squaring circuit and the feedback network for supplying the feedback pressure to the feedback network. Pref. the amplifying circuit comprises a variable gain amplifier.
The paraboloidal mirror collects radiant solar energy and reflects it to a smaller mirror positioned on the directrix of the larger mirror. A fibre-optic cable has one end positioned within an opening in the vertex of the larger mirror.    Energy reflected a second time from the smaller mirror is directed to the ends of fibres in the fiber-optical cable. To prevent the formation of destructive hot spots by the focusing of rays that are slanting with respect to the direction of the fibres, the fibres near the end receiving the radiant energy are collected into groups. An opaque, reflective coating surrounds each of the groups.
The collector includes several identical modules (16) disposed in side-by-side relation on top of the insulation (15). Each module comprises an aluminium bottom plate (17) and a top panel (20) which also is pref. made of aluminium of other heat conductive material capable of retaining its shape under a wide range of ambient temp. conditions. The upper surface of each panel is formed with a black anodized finish.    The top panel (20) of each module (16) is spaced upwardly from the bottom plate (17) so that flow space (21) is defined between the panel and the plate. Air is circulated through the flow space and is heated by radiant energy which is absorbed by and conducted through the top panel. To circulate the air, the outlet of a centrifugal blower (23) is connected to a duct (24) which communicates with the flow space (21) of each module adjacent the lower end. The blower forces air upwardly through the flow spaces and then into a duct (25) which communicates with the forced air distribution system of the house.
A geothermal fluid is produced from a moderate temp. subterranean hydrothermal formation. A liquid working fluid is preheated by heat exchange with the geothermal fluid, thereby cooling the geothermal fluid. The cool geothermal fluid is pref. reinjected into the hydrothermal formation and the preheated working fluid is injected into a dry hot rock formation where it is vapourised.    The hot vapour is recovered and utilised in a heat engine to drive an electrical generator. The geothermal fluid supplies sufficient sensible heat to preheat the liquid working fluid to a temp. within about 50 deg.F. of its boiling point, and the flow rate and downhole pressure of the preheated working fluid are controlled to facilitate instantaneous vapourisation of the working fluid in the dry hot rock formation.
The arrangement of constructual elements is used for the conversion of fluctuating natural energy and generation of constant rotary speed of a power-producing machine or motor, by way of free-falling masses in the place of commonly used regulators or governors.    With this arrangement, the transmission has its output speed held constant regardless of the input speed so long as the input torque is equal to or greater than the output torque.
The system comprises intermittent-operation power stations, e.g. tidal and pumped-storage. To reduce irregularity in the production of electricity, the pumped-storage station is in the form of a gas turbine with underground water-air accumulator. The turbines of the tidal station are connected by a pipeline through the water to the underground accumulator.    When the tidal power station is operating on water pumped out of the underground accumulator, the lock opens and water goes along pipeline (9) and water duct (12) to turbines (4).
The solar energy pickup includes two hemispheres (1, 2) of transparent plastics material fastened together by two circular ribs (1a, 1b). Inside the two transparent hemispheres are two further hemispheres (3, 4) similarly fastened together and made of stainless steel. The outer surface of the stainless steel is coated in black paint giving it a very good coefficient of absorbtion for the sun's radiation-especially the short IR radiation.    The upper metal hemisphere (3) has an inner concentric hemisphere (5) arranged so that they define a channel between them. Heat transfer fluid such as water circulates between the two surfaces. The fluid enters the channel through a pipe (7) near the join between the upper and lower hemispheres, and leaves through a second pipe (8) at the top of the sphere. The non-directional pickup absorbs considerably more heat energy than a similar size plane pickup surface.
The solar energy pickup includes water pipes (4) lying between a transparent outer cover (1) and insulating backing material (8). The water pipes are welded (3) to a heat absorbing surface (2) which lies between the transparent plate and the insulation. In order to protect them against frost, the water pipes are flattened into the shape of an eight, with two iron rods (5, 6) lying parallel to each one pressing into the sides of the eight.    The water pipes and their respective iron rods are held together by U-shaped steel brackets, the arms of the U extending around the two iron rods. When the water freezes in the water pipes, increasing their volume, they are not damaged. Only the parts of the water pipes in the collector are shaped in this way, other parts remaining circular in cross-section.
The solar energy absorber includes two panes of laminated glass (1) between which glass or ceramic beads (5) are packed. Air, or a heat carrying liquid such as water flows through the sandwich carrying away heat which is collected. The laminated glass is backed by a sheet of insulating material (6) and covered on the front by a sheet of ordinary glass (2) which provides a greenhouse effect.    Radiation enters through the layer of ordinary glass (2) heating the glass beads in the laminated glass sandwich. The glass beads have an advantage over metal in that they will not corrode. They may be blackened in order to increase their energy absorption. The absorber is included in a heat transfer cycle, with the transfer fluid flowing from the bottom to the top of the panel.
The heat collector screen is designed to pick up solar energy and includes a perforated metal plate forming a cover over a tubular container. The plate has a regular pattern of rectangular holes cut through it. The tubular container is made of glass and holds a liquid which flows through it. Also inside the container are a number of small parabolic reflectors which receive radiation and return it to the liquid in the container.    The screen is made in standard sizes, and has mountings to fit into doors, windows, glass frames and greenhouses. A thermometer may also be included in the structure.
The fluid sources at different temperatures could be as divergent as warm underground crude oil as it is pumped from wells and the cooler atmospheric air above the oil wells, or as closely related as the warm water output from conventional and nuclear power generating plants and the cooling water source usually available to them.    Warm water pumped from deep below the earths surface, geo-thermally heated, as the warm or hot source and surface water from lakes, oceans, rivers, etc., as the colder, or lower energy source provides an additional source of energy for the method of electrical power generation.    A closed evaporator heat exchanger is installed remotely from an evaporator but in thermal contact with a second fluid. A closed condenser heat exchanger is in thermal contact with a condenser for absorbing heat from the condensing first fluid.
Vertical wells are drilled to the desired HDR formation. At a depth where a useful heat energy may be extracted the wells are deviated from vertical along a compass direction approximately perpendicular to the horizontal component of the anticipated fracture plane of the formation. Core samples are taken along the deviated bore holes to determine the degree of verticality (the deviation from absolute vertical of the vertical component) of the anticipated fracture plane of the formation.    Fracturing units are disposed in the deviated bore holes and aligned to fall within a single anticipated fractured plane. The formation is fractured from the bore holes simultaneously to produce a single ellipsoidal or double ellipsoidal interconnecting fracture of large surface area connecting the bore holes for hydraulic communication. Thus, the bore holes are brought into positive communication during fracture formation and a fracture of very large surface area is created.
The solar powered heat pump comprises a tubular enclosure defining a pair of chambers separated by a valve. A first chamber is packed with silica gel (or an equivalent absorbent material) arranged such that mass and heat transfer through the gel take place rapidly and in comparable time periods.    The first chamber is surrounded by a larger dia., solar radiation transparent housing and the annular space between the chamber and housing is evacuated. The enclosure is mounted together with a diffuse light reflector which focuses sunlight toward the first chamber. Heat exchangers provide thermal communication between respective chambers and a pair of duct portions adapted for connection to a building heat distribution system.
The optical element can be used in solar radiation concentrators employed for technological or domestic purposes. It contains mirror (1), preferably made of sheet glass, situated on lining (2) connected to base (3) by means of adjustment screws (4), and screwnut transmission (5). The transmission is connected to the hinge (6), is fitted in the base and is connected to the mirror centre. To simplify the production and operation, the hinge is fitted in the base and is connected to the transmission by means of flexible element (7). Lining (8) is placed between mirror (1) and lining (2).
The unit converts the sea wave energy into electricity by means of of the air turbine (2) located inside the jacket (1). The turbine is connected to the electrical generator (3) in turn joined to batteries. The jacket, made in the pipe collectors form, has pipes (6) closed with the elastic membranes (7). The unit anchored (8) and fitted with the vane (9) which moves it in line with the direction of the waves. The waves kinetic energy moves the membrane which produces the air flow through the turbine. The turbine rotates the generator 1 which produces electricity, which is stored in the batteries.
The solar energy collector is for fitting to e.g. guard rails on south or partly south facing balconies. The heater is intended to maintain an aesthetic appearance and consists basically of two reflecting surfaces whose junction angle(a) is defined by the height of the sun during summer and winter. The rear reflector of panel(1) is an aluminium alloy covered on its upper surface by a good thermal insulating layer(2) such as an expanded foam.    The fluid transporting the heat is carried in a conduit (3) immediately in front of the insulation. This is in turn protected by a transparent layer(4) forming the foremost surface, which is supported by forward bent side walls (1a, 1b) extending from the rear panel. The fluid system plate is supported by an insulating layer.
The power generation-refrigeration system uses low temperature energy to produce selectively refrigeration or power. It includes a primary turbine (20), a power generator (70) and a reversible turbomachine (26) which can be operated as a compressor or a turbine.    To produce power the reversible turbomachine is operated as a turnbne and vapour is conducted along a first flow path between the primary turbine, reversible turbomachine and a condenser (34). To produce the refrigeration effect, vapour is conducted along a second flow path (43) between the primary turbine, reversible turbomachine, condenser (34) and an evaporator (42).
The panel has a hollow chamber (10) with a transparent front plate (4) containing a light-absorbent, heat transfer gas or liquid, circulated through the chamber (10). An opaque plate (7) within the latter is moved from a position adjacent the reflective back of the chamber (10), to a position adjacent the front plate (4) in dependence on the temp. of the gas or liquid, or the heat requirement.    The opaque plate (7) may be moved via a bimetal spring (8) to which it is secured and it may have holes in its surface, for passage of the gas or liquid. Several such plates (7) may be used, each movable independently. Pref. the sides and back of the hollow chamber (10) are enclosed by a heat-insulating foam layer (6), with a peripheral seal (9) between the latter and the transparent cover plate (4). An outer transparent cover plate (3) is spaced in front of the latter, with a wavy spring (5) between them.
The heat from the geothermal gradient is extracted by introducing a heat carrying liquid into a bore hole in the ground (12) to absorb the heat. A tube is inserted in the bore hole and comprises several metallic sections which are screwed together.    A central tube (18) with radial spacers (22) to form an annular volume is introduced into the bore tube to reach a stopper of sealing material. Cold water is introduced into the annular volume and increases in temperature as it flows downwards. Openings (28) in the lower end of the central tube allow the warm water to flow in and up the tube to the surface.
The appts. comprises a flat plate type of solar collector that can be operated in three different modes, an air heating mode, a liquid heating mode and a combined air and liquid heating mode. The solar collector is preferably configured as a rectangular box-like structure with the ends of the box structurally so designed that the ends of the collector can be opened.    The collector has an outer sheet of glass or suitable plastics a second sheet of glass of plastics spaced apart from the first sheet and an absorber located below the second plate. The second plate is spaced apart from the first plate so that an air path or channel is formed between the two plates. The absorber is spaced apart from the bottom of the collector to form a second air path or channel. The absorber carries a number of liquid carrying conduits. The outer casing of the collector is made of a heat insulating material with the ends hinged.
The solar energy collector element comprises an elongated water carrying tube (1) from which one or more fins (2) project generally radially to a distance at least equal to the tube dia. The tube (1) and fins (2) are made of a heat conducting material e.g. copper, and are provided with a black coating to enhance heat absorption.    An outer transparent tube (3) houses the tube (1) and fins (2) and is sealed and either evacuated or filled with an inert gas. Pref. the fins are formed in cross-section by W-shaped sections, each section comprisisng two fins and a central curved portion secured to the tube (1).
The solar collector panel comprise a rectangular glass-fibre tray (10) containing a block (15) of expanded polyurethane. The block has a number of parallel semi-circular cross-section grooves (16) in which semi-circular cross-section heat exchange pipes (17) are fitted. The pipes are soldered or bonded to the underside of a copper collecting sheet (18) which lies on the block (15).    The pipes (17) are connected to header pipes connectable to a water supply system. The tray is covered by a translucent or transparent cover (19) of plastics material which provides protection against the effects of weather, and damage. It reduces heat loss from the face of the panel without impeding solar radiation.
Apparatus for generating power from hydrostatic pressure. The generator comprises a container (4) fastened by anchors (15) below the surface (3) of a body of water (2). Water enters the container through an inlet (6) driving turbine (5) to generate power. The water is then pumped out of the container by suction pump (7) or pressure pump (7a) using a wind machine (9) or off peak electricity supplied to terminals (10).    Alternatively embodiment a wall separates a body of water from a nature bay and water passing through one or more apertures in the wall drives one or more current generating turbines. Again the water is pumped back from the bay using wind power or off-peak electricity.
The turbo-generating system comprises the turbine and associated feed pipes located beneath the surface of a body of water. A control valve operatively associated with such feed pipes provide metered flow of water to the turbine from the surrounding body of water which itself acts as a forebay for the system. A reservoir is disposed subjacent the exit port of the turbine in watertight communication with it.    The reservoir is of sufficient capacity to permit free flow of water from the turbine while concurrently allowing for the build up within the reservoir of a heat of water sufficient to effect dscharge of water from the system through a pipeline disposed in flow communication with the reservoir. The pipeline is oriented in a plane generally parallel to the immediately overlying water surface and extends from the reservoir a distance sufficient to permit discharge of water from the system against a head less than that used to drive the turbine by using a curvature of the earth to reduce the head against which the water must be discharged from the sytem.
The solar energy receiver includes a flat energy absorber (11) of sufficient thickness to resist high pressure. This absorber is reinforced by bracking ribs (111) and one or more flat sheets (112) on the inside surface of the absorber. These ribs encourage circulation of liquid by a thermal syphon effect. Cold liquid enters at the bottom of the available space between the ribs and flat sheets, and absorbs heat which has been received. This causes it to rise to the top of the space.    The receiver has a glass pane (3) covering one surface and a semicircular or semielliptical section cylinder enclosing its other side. This is covered by insulating material. The receiver is supported by bolts (4) passing through the top edge of the cylinder at right angles to its length and the plane of the absorber.
The system for extracting energy from waves on water uses a large float having a volum of about six cubix metres. Upright cylindrical posts are embedded in the bed under water, and are fastened together at the toip by a steel cable linking an array of such units. The float is attached between two vertical tubes which slide up and down the two posts, so that waves lifting and lowering the float also lift and lower the tubes.    The tubes extend below the water line to toothed racks which engage pinions on a horizontal shaft. The shaft is supported in bearings on short posts embedded in the water bed. Wave movement is thus linked to rotate the horizontal shaft. In storm conditions the floats fill with water through an emergency valve and submerge themselves. They are refloated using a remotely controlled supply of compressed air.
The device comprises a container which rests on the seabed and which has at least one movable wall section, which oscillates about a fixed point, independent of the tides. The container is filled with air and is coupled to a second container with flexible walls. This is connected to a third container, which is identical to the first container via a nozzle with a dia. sufficiently large for the effects of the tides to be negligible.    The movable wall section of the first container is provided by an expandable membrane, while the flexible walls of the second container are provided by a non-expandable membrane.    Pref. the third container is coupled to a piston-cylinder device, with the piston moved in accordance with the pressure within the third container. A temp. compensation is provided automatically by the effects of the water pressure on the second container.
The power source using wave notion includes a conical structure standing upright on a flat base. The flat base floats with a small part in the water, and the cone standing out of the water. Inside the cone a pendulum is suspended from a point below the apex of the cone. The pendulum has a heavy weight at its lower end. A little below the top of the pendulum a number of hydraulic cylinders lie in a plane at right angles to the axis of the cone.    The hydraulic cylinders are fastened between the cone itself and the pendulum so that when the device is tilted by a wave, movement of the pendulum compresses a cylinder. The supply of fluid under pressure is used to create a rotary motion which turns an electric generator. The electrical energy produced is carried by a cable to the place where it is to be used or stored.
Hydrogen gas is produced from an electrolyte soln. in an electrolytic cell using a bromide as electrolyte in conjunction with radiant energy and an U-type semiconducting amorphous Si photo-anode to power the cell at least partially.    Used in utilising solar energy to produce H2 to power a fuel cell. Overpotential and corrosion problems associated with use of conventional electrolytes are overcome.
A panel has a tube sheet connected at each end to a tubular header, with one or both sheet ends extending into the header through a longitudinal opening so that the sheet resists hoop stress in the header due to fluid pressure in the header.    The sheet pref. consists of tubes joined at abutting edges to form a sheet, and the header is tubular with reentrant slot edges sealed to the sheet surface. The sheet end may be adjacent the slot or the sheet may extend across the header to adjacent the opposite wall to form a clearance regulating fluid flow, may be sealed to the opposite wall and have openings into the tubes, or may be located between internal flanges in the header. The arrangement minimises the danger of sheet or header fracture.
Heat and electricity are generated form consumption of various Al prods. by (a) feeding small quantities of Al pieces of various shapes and sizes up to a predetermined max. size, on demand, into a reaction chamber, (b) effecting a chemical reaction between Al pieces and aq. electrolyte in the chamber to yield an Al(OH)3 reaction prod., (c) removing heat generated as a result of the reaction, (d) removing AL(OH)3 prod. at suitable intervals and (e) generating electrical energy as a by-prod. of the reaction.    Appts. comprises a reaction chamber, with controlled Al feed supply and means (e.g. heat exchanger) for removing Al(OH)3 and heat. Electricity is pref. generated by (i) using a current collecting grid to retain Al pieces and form the packed bed anode of an electro-chemical cell, esp. used with a cathode depolarised with air, O2, H2O2 or halogen cpd.; (ii) generating H2 in the reaction, which is fed to a fuel cell.    The method/appts. is useful for using Al waste prods. (or other inexpensive Al) for electric vehicle propulsion (pref. i) or for supplying heat and electricity to buildings (i or ii). The reaction yields around 200 kcals./mole Al as heat and electricity, and yields a useful Al(OH)3 prod.
The assembly includes (a) an H2 and an O2 container, each having a gas outlet and capable of contg. feed water as well as the gas, (b) an electrolysis unit having an H2 outlet to the H2 container and an O2 outlet to the O2 container, and a feed water inlet from one container, (c) openings to the submersible ambient environment from each container, so they are responsive to ambient pressure and (d) a barrier operatively associated with each opening, to isolate feed water in the containers from water in the submerisable environment. The energy storage appts. also includes a fuel cell, operatively connected to the H2 and O2 containers.    The appts. is useful for oceanographic equipment, e.g. transmitters, processors, light beacons, instruments, storing intermittently generated energy so the fuel cell can provide power on demand. Also useful for storing off-peak powder from utility plants sited near water.
Sliding panel has an undulating sheet of dark material mounted between a supporting board of insulating material and a cover of transparent, thermoretractible polyethylene film. Heat trapped by the sheet is carried by channelled convection currents to stones which provide a heatsink for warm air following a serpentine route through a partitioned panel supporting the stones. The energy trap panel pref. can move into posn. across an existing window, opt. may be tilted normal to the local angle of incidence of daylight. The trap panel may be lined with Al film, to reflect infra-red radiation back into the heart of the trap. The oriented polyolefin film is self-tightening to keep the exposed face of the trap plane.
Thermovoltaic converter has an arrangement for collecting and concentrating solar radiation, the conc. radiation being received and re-radiated by a device having a housing with a radiation receiving window, a chamber for contg. the conc. radiation, a radiator element within the chamber for receiving the conc. radiation and re-radiating energy, and a photovoltaic cell for receiving the re-radiated energy and generating an electrical voltage.    The cell has a monocrystalline semiconductor body which receives the re-radiated energy on a first surface, a first set of rows of doped regions of a first conductivity type in the second surface, interleaved with a second set of rows of soped regions of a second conductivity type. Each row has a number of spaced apart doped regions occupying a minimal area of the second surface. A first optically reflective conductive device electrically interconnects the first set of rows of doped regions, a reflection enhancement layer is provided between the first conductive device and the second surface except at the first set fo doped regions, and a second conductive device electrically connect the second set of rows of doped regions so that the electrical voltage is generated between the first and second conductive devices.
The appts. includes a flexible raft (1) lying below sea-level and is made buoyant by units (2) which are fitted with drive cams (3). A Tube (4) passes along the length of raft (1) and connects with a non-return valve (5) at one end and a turbine (6) at the other. A return tube (7) connects the turbine (6) back to non-return valve (5). A flexible protective shroud (8) surrounds raft (1) and tube (4).    When an incident wave interacts with units (2) they move in a manner related to the incident wave frequency and amplitude. the resultant up and down motion of units (2) cause cams (3) to compress tube (4) which carries sea water. Several tubes (4) may be provided. the successive compressions of tubes (4) coupled with the action of non-return valve (5) causes a pumping action of te peristaltic type so that sea water passes into turbine (6).
Recovery of available ambient energy and its conversion to useful energy involves recovering the heat of fusion of water by heat exchange with a working fluid (I), which is liquid at a temp. below 0 degree C, has a b.pt. below the m.pt. of water and is superheated at the m.pt. of water. The water is frozen by heat exchange and the (I) vapour is superheated to the initial temp. of the water under autogenous pressure. The (I) vapour is then expanded adiabatically in a machine (turbine), so that its energy is converted to mechanical (or electrical) energy by driving the machine. The cooled (I) vapour is subjected to heat exchange with a cooling medium (II) produced in the system, so that the heat of vaporisation of (I) is removed and (I) is liquefied. The liq. (I) is then pumped into heat exchange contact with water against the autogenous pressure of the superheated (I) vapour.    Process is useful for energy recovery and for the purificn., esp. desalination of water. It is flexible enough to utilise not only the latent heat of melting of the water but also its heat content above the m.pt. The plant is comparable in size, cost and construction with conventional power stations.
A coating for selectively absorbing solar radiation is formed on a cleaned glass substrate by chemically depositing a Ag layer about 0.10 microns thick by simultaneously spraying a Ag solution and a reducing solution and then electrodepositing a black Ni layer 0.02-0.5 microns thick from a Ni electrolyte at 20-53 degrees C. The coated glass is then heated at 200-600 degrees C for 2-24 hrs. in a vacuum of 20 microns. The Ni layer may be substituted by a Co-Ni layer and a layer of Fe may be electrodeposited over the Ni or Co-Ni.    The coated glass has a solar absorption coefft. &gt;0.7 and an infra red emittance &lt;0.2.    Used for solar energy collecting systems. Increased efficiency, lower cost and the coating withstands temp. up to 300 degrees C in vacuum and cycles of 0-300 degrees C every 24 hrs.
Concentrator has a transparent substrate with index of refraction greater than that of the ambient, a light receiving front surface and emitting side edge, and contg. a uniform concn. of one or more efficient fluorescent dye to absorb and re-emit light.    The front surface is concave and the ratio of the radius of curvature of front and back surfaces is &gt;1.0. The substrate is pref. of optical-grade acrylic polymer and a photovoltaic cell is applied to the output edge. There is pref. a reflective layer below the substrate bottom surface and the substrate contains a number od dyes with emission spectra overlapping the absorption band of others.
A solar energy collector comprises a collection panel which can rotate around a horizontal axis, pipe for a heat conducting medium and a mirror to concentrate the radiation on the pipe.    ADVANTAGE -   Solar energy is more effectively used because the collector can be adjusted for the angle of the sun.    DETAILS    The solar energy collectors (10) are on a circular disc behind which is a pipe for the heat carrying medium and below this is a mirror to concentrate the solar energy on the pipe. The disc is on a frame (13) and is rotatable about a horizontal axle which is supported by the stand (12). In this way the disc can be tilted to be at right angles to the sun.
Radiating solar energy is concentrated by a mirror which is fixed on the surface of the ground. The mirror comprises a series of flat strips of reflecting material to reflect the energy onto a cylindrical focal area to provide heat.    A solar energy concentrator comprises a reflector which comprises several long and narrow reflecting strips. These are located side by side on the surface of a curved base. The received solar radiation is reflected by these strips onto a focal area in the form of a tube mounted on a series of vertical support pylons to which articulating arms are attached.    Counterweights provide a balanced structure to allow synchronous drive motors to position the tube under servo control to take account of the height of the sun.
Powder converter comprises a number of capacitors (10) which are spaced apart and arranged in a stack, each capacitor having electrodes separated by a layer of dielectric material having a tempependent permittivity, with an electric circuit including an inductance connected between the capacitor electrodes. Heat input and output end walls (50,52) receive and reject heat and are spaced respectively from the first and last capacitor of the stack, with fluids provided for transferring heat between adjacent capacitors and between the input wall in the first capacitor and the output wall and the last capacitor, the fluids being confined to the areas between those parts by side walls (54,56). A switching device (34) is positioned intermediate each adjacent spaced pair of capacitors and between the heat input and output walls and the respective capacitors and arranged to synchronously open and close to alternately communicate and block vapour flow respectively between adjacent surfaces so as to cycle heat input and output of the dielectric material of each of the capacitors in synchronism with discharging and charging of each capacitor respectively. Wicks (46) are positioned intermediate the sapced adjacent capacitors and between the input and output walls and the first and last capacitors respectively to conduct liquid between the adjacent surfaces. The inductane device is coupled to an electrical load (60).    Used for converting heat to electrical energy without having an intermediate stage using mechanical energy. Converter requires low mass and energy investment, is of potentially low cost, and can use waste heat from power stations.
A process for the separate or simultaneous collection of solar and wind energy and for its conversion into mechanical and electrical energy comprises varying a magnetic fluid in the air-gap of a magnet or an electro-magnet pref. in horse-shoe form, and interacting with a mobile ferromagnetic cross-piece comprising two adjacent thin fractions alternately subjected to a heating and a cooling between the pole pieces.    Appts. comprises a mobile ferromagnetic cross-piece made in Ni-Fe alloy with a high thermomagnetic coeff. blackened to react directly with solar radiation, pref. concd. optically in its central region, and thus to give it an alternative movement. The sudden disappearance followed by recovery, of magnetic permeability, which is produced in a temp. interval of 50 degrees brings about the induction of successive alternating currents.    The above can be applied to solar radiation stored in the water of seas or lakes, utilising the difference in temp. of different layers, and the prodns. of electricity and of heat and their transformation and storage can be combined by interaction with products such as limestone and water to produce methanol, a fuel easy to transport.
Solar cell comprises (a) an inert conductive substrate is not &gt;20mm thick, providing one cell electrode; (b) a sintered n-type semiconductive CdS coating is not &gt;5mm thick, deposited evenly on and supported by the substrate; (c) a p-type semiconductive light absorbing barrier layer on the exposed CdS surface, forming a pn junction with it and (d) a second electrode electrically contacting the barrier layer. Substrate pref. comprises Al, Zn, C or low grade CdS, opt. including inert clay filler, and is 4-5mm thick. CdS coating is 2-40 (esp. &lt;20) mu thick. It is doped with In to give a resistivity of 0.1-10 OMEGA-cm, or comprises a mixt. of 70wt.% CdS with ZnS, CdTe or CdSe. Barrier layer comprises Cu2S.    Use of support substrate minimises use of expensive CdS. Formation of sintered n-type CdS facilitates its use in solar cells of various shapes and sizes as sheets may be cut as required.
Electric power is generated by taking a working fluid through a closed cycle in which the fluid is heated at a relatively higher temp. T2 by heat exchange with a buffer substance which is at a higher temp. T4 and releases heat and changes state to a lower energy level. The working fluid is expanded and generates a power output derived from the energy released in expansion of the fluid.    Heat from the expanded fluid is rejected to a cold buffer substance at a lower temp. Tc, the extraction of heat from the expanded fluid being accompanied by a change of state of the cold buffer substance to a higher energy level. Finally the working fluid is returned to the beginning of the cycle.    Used for generating electricity for direct transmission to national and local electrical distribution grids.
Selective solar radiation absorber has stepped structured interface(s) in which the depressions and projections have an average depth or height D and average spacing S such that, to produce a reflectivity below ca. 5% for the interesting range of wavelengths chi L of the incident radiation, 20S L 6D.    The absorber is useful for solar panels, e.g. for heating swimming pools, space and hot water heating and solar cooling. It is highly efficient and has a low reflectivity, independent of the angle of incidence of the solar radiation.    Pref. the interface is protected. It has a first layer bombarded by solar radiation, which is transparent at least over the wavelengths of the black body radiation at a certain temp. and has a reflectivity of &lt;5% in the solar radiation spectrum, sepd. from a second layer, which reflects all wavelengths of the same radiation. The interfacial energy is less than the free surface energy of the 2 layers. The radio D/S is not &lt;7, whilst 6D = 1-3 mum and 20S = ca. 350 nm.
Combined heating and cooling system for buildings comprises a solar collector and evaporator for absorbing heat from solar radiation and/or the ambient air and for using the absorbed heat to evaporate a binary phase, liq-vapour working fluid. In the heating mode, when the temp. of the working fluid inside the evaporator of the solar collector is sufficiently higher than that of the medium to be heated the working fluid follows a Rankine cycle in which the heat engine is eliminated.    When the temp of the working fluid inside the evaporator is not high enough for heat to be transferred unassisted to the medium to be heated, the working fluid is made to follow a heat-pump cycle. When the temp. of the working fluid in the evaporator falls below the temp. of the surrounding air the evaporator is exposed to the ambient air and the system runs as an air-source heat pump. In the cooling mode the system runs as a vapour-compression refrigeration cycle in which the compressor is selectively powered by a solar-assisted Rankine cycle.
Piping layout is designed for circulation of fluid which derives heat indirectly from source of solar heat. Circuit includes first heat exchanger (I), second heat exchanger (II) installed downstream in direction of flow of (I), and third heat exchanger (III) located downstream in direction of flow of (II). (II) is positioned between part at least of (I) and (III) and source of solar heat. Three exchangers are segmented to define two flow paths and means are provided to regulate temp. of vapour which leaves each path.    (I) is formed by tubes for heating liq., (II) is formed by evaporating tubes, whilst (III) is formed by superheating tubes. Primary objective is to avoid disappearance of nucleated boiling on internal faces of tubes during all operating conditions.
Collector comprises a transparent tube, closed at each end to provide a fluid tight cavity, contg. a movable concentrator reflector and a focal line solar energy absorbed which transfers absorbed energy to the exterior of the collector via a high temp., fluid conduit. A diffuse solar energy absorber within the tube is disposed in the path of reflected or diffuse solar radiation and transfers the heat to a low temp. fluid conduit. This warmed heat transfer fluid is withdrawn either for use as a low temp. heat source or as a preheated fluid for the high temp. fluid conduit of the focal line solar energy absorber.    Collector may provide high temp. heat by absorption of conc. direct solar radiation and low temp. heat by absorption of diffuse solar radiation. It provides a concentrating-tracking function and a non-concentrating flat plate function in a single unit.
A reflector assembly includes a stretchable planar reflector supported by a frame with peripheral tensioners individually adjustable normally to the plane of the reflector. The frame has spokes extending radially from a central hub and secured at their outer ends to the reflector near its periphery.    Each beam is pivoted to the hub at one axial side of its inner end and each tensioner comprises an adjustable turnbuckle between and connected to the hub and the inner end of a beam. The reflector is pref a stretchable Mylar sheet aluminised on one side and polygonal. The heliostat pref includes a unit for testing optical flatness of the sheet.
Solar energy collector comprises a fixed spherical mirror having a centre, a mobile heater having an axis which passes through the centre and means of causing the axis to pivot about the centre. The mobile heater consists of two separate coaxial heaters. One is a low conc. heater of elongated shape which the heat transfer fluid enters by the end situated on the mirror side.    The other is a high concn. heater which has the form of a cavity of revolution about the common axis of the two heaters. The cavity surrounds the focus and has two axially opposed ends, a lower open end which is turned towards the mirror and a closed upper end. The high concn. heater includes in addn. a coil in which the heat transfer fluid circulates, which corresponds in shape to the cavity.    In one form the high concn. heater comprises a hollow metallic body having an open lower end and an upper end closed by a concave cover with its apex directed upwards, the coil covering the side walls and the cover internally and externally.
The heat collector for a solar heating system has a double walled casing (4) with a deep channel (8) between the pairs of walls. There is a vacuum in the space (7) between a pair of walls (5,6).    Into the channel are inserted the water circulating tubes (1,2) forming the heat exchanger system. These tubes are of metal, almost completely filling the channel, and fit into a hollow connector (11) resting on the bottom of the channel.    Connections are simple, and a good seal is made at the bottoms of the metal tubes, and also giving a good heat exchange.
A collector includes a horizontal fluid carrying absorber in a vertical plane coincident with the focal line of a parabolic reflector and spaced above the apex and zenith of the reflective surface. An absorption surface connected to the absorber along its length absorbs direct, linear focussed and diffused reflected rays.    The fluid carrying member is rectangular with its major dimension parallel to the direction of incoming rays, and surfaces are arranged symmetrically of the focal line plane and are angled and at least partly parallel to the axis of the member. Each angled surface is perpendicular to the direction of solar rays impinging on a central line. The arrangement increases absorption capacity.
A system, partic. for solar operation, comprises 2 tanks, one insulated, holding aq. NH3 soln., 2 conduits each carrying the vapour phase from its respective tank into the soln. in the outer tank, an external heating system for the first tank, a heat-extractor proximate and in heat-exchange relation with the first bank, and a compensator for adjusting tank water levels.    The second tank is pref. a heat sink and the external heating system is a solar heating sub-system which is selectively interruptable. Each conduit is pref. connected to a bubble plate in the respective tank and each has a one-way check valve to prevent fluid return.
A solar energy collector incorporates an improved glass fixing device, vacuum resistant glass, antiradiating structures, circulator and reservoir. The glass fixing device comprises exterior springs held by dowels fitted into holes, with which may be associated a joint e.g. a rubber tube.    The vacuum resistant glass has triangular fluting which reduced the void vol. and may constitute an antiradiating structure. The antiradiating structures can be microspheres or bands. The collector includes a circulating pump, a radiator and a compartmented reservoir optimising heat distribution.
A solar energy collector comprises an absorbent part in agglomerated material composed of pulverised slates bound by synthetic resins making it impermeable to fluids a special glazing, an insulation and a support frame in the same material as the absorbent part. A hollowing in the form of a coil is made in the centre of the absorbent part for the heat transfer fluid to circulate.    The collector allows a fluid e.g. water to be heated for domestic or industrial uses and allows a regularly rising or falling curve of temp. to be obtd. without sudden fall however much sunshine there is, or whatever the external temp. is. It allows utilisation of existing slate wastes which exist in large quantities in some regions. The extra cost of replacing a part of the roof of a dwelling with the device is not great, and the existing framing can be used.
A current of air is generated by a transverse flow blower through an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening positioned in opposition to each other at the ends in the lengthways direction of the exchanger plates in a collercot for solar energy.    Two pipe loops, completely separate from each other, form two separate flow circuits in direct heat contact with the exchanger plates. These are aligned obliquely to the cover of the collector which is domed upwards, and below the plates an electrical heater is installed which is supplied by a wind-driven generator.    The one circuit can be used directly for transmitting the energy of the sun whilst the other acts as the vapouriser of a heat pump. The collector is able to take up energy from the environment when there is reduced or complete absence of sunshine, and deliver it to the user.
A solar heat collector consists of a base surface to collect solar energy and a transparent cover plate. Between these parallel surfaces, 1, pref. 2 additional glass panes define circuit paths for the circulating air.    This reduces the losses due to heat transition of asymmetrical molecules of CO2 and H2O in air through the cover plate. It also reduces the heat contact losses because the cover plate remains cooler.
A layout in which fluid circulation tubes are installed behind a roof or facade cladding on the back of which a multi-layered skin with an infrared reflector is provided, is modified. The tubes of the collector element are embedded in a single or multi-layered wall structure, in concrete, in joints between plates or in wall facings the outer surfaces of which have a sawtooth contour. The facade cladding projects outwards and its angle can be adjusted to suit the lowest angle of the radiation of the sun.    Arrangement makes the collector system independent of the radiation determined by the weather, and the energy can be withdrawn from that stored in the wall. No additional fluid store s necessary and in summer the wall can be cooled so that heat can be extracted from inside the building.
The cladding which is transparent for radiation, in a flat collector for the faces of buildings and their roofs, has a series of ribs and grooves on its rear face, in or between which the reflectors and/or absorption tubes are laid and clamped.    The transparent plate may have projecting strips to which backing strips or plates may be attached, so that seen in section a series of hollow profiles is available in which curved reflectors can be placed for focussing the radiation on to the fluid pipes.    The collectors can be adapted to any required dimension and they are not limited by the extension of the various details caused by heat.
Facade elements for solar heat collection on the wall of buildings consit of a vertical plane receiver, an inclined transparent surface which extends from the top of the receiver to a slightly upward inclined reflector with a mirror foil. The latter also reflects the solar radiation back to the receiver. A roller blind between the receiver and a vertical plastic foil protecting it has on the side towards the receiver an infrared reflecting coating and on the opposite side a light radiation reflecting coating. When the roller blind is drawn down to cool the building wall in summer, the solar radiation is reflected by it to absorber tubes, carrying a heat transport medium, which are fitted to the inclined reflector.    The pref. material for the transparent parts of the facade elements is acrylic glass or PVC and for the frame components it is aluminium or rigid PVC.
Panel has a main body with internal water flow passages and located between a lower corrugated sheet and a top corrugated glazing sheet. An intermediate corrugated sheet between body and lower sheet has ridges in the same direction as those of the lower sheet but of different cross-sectional configuration.    The glazing and lowermost sheets pref. have projecting edges which are held together by clamps which allow free thermal expansion of one sheet relative to another. There is pref. a cover at each end which encloses the header and nests against the outer sheets.
Collector has parallel transparent partially evacuated tubes joined to form a sheet, and a unitary insulating support with opposed headers joined by an integral base recessed to hold the sheet which is sealed in at the ends.    An absorptive coating with low IR emissivity is applied to the base below the tubes or the channels are lined with absorptive metal foil. The tubes are pref. evacuated to 350-10-6 Torr, and the rear side of the support is insulated.
Panel includes upper and lower sheets sealed together to form a fluid-tight envelope extending over a support surface and connected for fluid circulation. The lower sheet is held by the weight of fluid against side-by-side recesses in the surface, and the upper sheet is deformed to contact the lower sheet and form channels.    The sheets are pref. of PTFE and the support surface may be a corrugated sheet. The upper sheet may be distorted by overlying glazing members, or by transparent tubes between the envelope and an upper glasing element.
Unit for stacking abuttingly with others in a bin in a fluid circulation system, e.g. for use with a solar collector or heat pump, includes a spherical thermally conductive shell with a diametral through passage and holding storage medium around the passage.    The shell is pref. of plastics with glass fibres, or glas s or metal particles dispersed through the plastics to enhance thermal transmission. There is pref. 30-50% of the particles and the shell has a rough textured outer surface. The shells form a self-sorting array in a bin. The arrangement maximises storage capacity and efficiency.
Collector includes a pyramid-shaped transparent sealed housing holding a transparent dome centrally on the base to form a chamber in which radiation is concentrated by a transparent focussing dome around the first. Fluid is passed through the chamber from an inlet to an outlet duct to absorb heat.    The outlet duct is pref. insulated and there is a check valve in the fluid flow system upstream of the chamber. The housing dimensions are pref. such that 2H - B/2 = pi, where H is height, and B is the length of a line normal to a lower housing side edge and intersecting the height line.
A solar energy collector assembly comprises an outer peripheral frame mounting a flexible collector sheet and adjacent flexible sheet in coextensive relation and under tension. A water distributor provides water for contacting the collector sheet.    A pair of air distribution layers are coextensive with and parallel to the collector sheet and cause the flexible sheets to be urged against one another. The heat is extracted from the collector sheet by the water.    The tensioned sheets are not damaged when the system is not in operation. The system is adaptable to different applications and is expensive to mfr. and install.
A radioisotope heated thermoelectric generator assembly includes a plarlity of thermocouples connecting hot and cold frames. The cold frame has two symmetrical split follower halves.    Spring urge the thermocouples and followers into contact with each other and tapered wedges in the followers react with the springs to urge the split follower halves apart.    The split followers provide differential chemical expansion between the thermocouples and followers. The thermocouples are selectively removable and easily assembled in the generator and operate with a large predictable temp. grad. over a wide temp. range.
Collector includes at least two pipes embedded in one-piece panel with upstanding walls of truncated triangular cross-section on the radiation receiving surface to form a right-angle grid pattern. The walls in one direction are above the pipes and at least one in the other direction is higher than the others.    The panel and walls are pref. of cast Al or Al alloy and the pipes are of elliptical cross-section. The panel top and walls pref. have a coarse finish and are coated with dark matt paint. The panel is pref. carried on insulating fibreglass pads in a housing with glass cover and base located in wall grooves by plastic seals.
Collector has a transparent cover with surfaces arranged in tiers to collect radiation by both direct transmission and reflection as the angle of incidence varies, and a base spaced from the cover by members on both mutually in register and separated from a central absorber by high temperature resistant thermal insulation.    The inner surface of the base is pref. reflective to IR radiation and the absorber is connected in a fluid circulation system. The collector is optionally evacuated for greater thermal insulation, and can provide a rigid lightweight unit not requiring a mechanical tracking system.
A decentralised system of power supply is based on a great number of smaller power stations which are based on 3 of the following sources of energy: (a) fossil energy (oil, natural gas), using waste heat for space heating, (b) farmyard manure gas, (c) sewage and fermentation gas, (d) incineration of domestic and industrial waste, (e) solar heat collectors, (f) heat pumps for deep boreholes or surface water.    This supplies the energy needed for the future from mostly renewable sources and requires no nuclear power stations which disturb the ecology.
A solar heat collector assembly consists of two types of collector which are connected in series. The first type is a simple flat collector panel and the second can be a flat panel with two transparent cover plates or a U-tube in the focus of parabolic reflectors or a absorber in the path of the beams from ground reflectors.    The series connection achieves higher temps. for the heat carrier medium and raises the thermal efficiency.
A solar heat collector consists of an outer transparent tube, made of quartz glass or sapphire, with a concentric absorber tube and arranged in the focus of a solar reflector array. The absorber tube is made of a gas-permeable material such as ceramics, graphite, refractory material, or heat resistant metal.    The annulus between the two tubes is closed at one end and the inner tube is closed at the other end. The working medium which enters at the open annulus thus passes through the absorber tube, from which it is extracted at the other end. The half of the absorber tube on the incidence side of the solar rays is replaced by triangular prisms so that the rays can heat the inside wall of the absorbed tube. This incident half can also be replaced by a transparent wall for the same reason.    Such a collector achieves high working gas temps. by the efficient heat exchange. The collector can be produced at low cost and has a long service life.
Heater has a housing with transparent top and holding inclined spaced partially-overlapping radiation-absorbing high thermal conductivity sheets not more than 0.010 inch thick and spaced by not more than 0.025 inch at overlaps.    A plenum enclosure centrally in the housing between two sets of sheets at opposite sides has an interior baffle blocking an air inlet from an outlet and openings on one side of the baffle to pass incoming air into both sets. The sheets are pref. of blackened Al and the plenum outlet side has openings communicating with the opposite ends of air passages between the sheets.
Collector includes an acurate rotatable platform carrying a rack mounting two or more pivotable parallel parabolic trough reflectors with a fluid carrying tube at the focal line of each. An electric motor drives the platform by sensing and tracking the sun is azimuth mode, and a second electrical drive moves the reflectors in unison to keep their axes on the suns centre. Rack inclination is adjustable.    The platform drive pref. includes a motor-driven sprocket meshing with a link chain, the motor being reversible. The collector is compact and inexpensive and optimises collection throughout the day.
Heater has two insulating outer sections each formed by a pair of transparent plastic sheets joined by transparent plastic spacers to form sealed air pockets, and joined by flexible plastic spacers to opposite sides of a central heat-collecting black plastics sheet to form air passages along both sides of the sheet.    An outlet constriction valve is adjustable to create a controlled back-pressure in the passages so that they are inflated when air is delivered by a pump. At least one sheet of one section is pref. opaque white to reflect heat back to the collector sheet, and all the sheets are joined peripherally and secured to a plastic frame which can be fastened to external supports.
System includes a mixing chamber communicating with chambers leading to a solar collectcor and a heat storage unit, and also with the space to be heated, and separate independently operable blowers passing air from collector and unit to the mixing chamber.    The system controls is pref. responsive to collector temp. and includes air flow control valves. The collector blower pref. supplies air at a lower rate when the storage unit blower is operating than when it is operating alone. The unit and space pref. also have temp. sensors and a controlled flow can be provided from collector to unit.
System employs a circulating refrigerant, pref. a fluorinated hydrocarbon passed as gas from a collector to a dissipator which has sufficient capacity to hold all the refrigerant as liquid and returns liquid via a thermostatically operated valve.    The valve is normally held open when liquid temp. is below a set point and closes above the point. The valve is pref. in a partition across a closed vessel which has a sight glass and float elements, and there is an additional valve for charging or evacuating the system and for mounting a pressure gauge. The arrangement provides automatic control of max. operating temp.
Collector comprises a thin flexible wall spaced from a second wall by material with open areas for flow of heat-transfer fluid.    The first wall conforms in shape to the material and has depression matching the open areas to improve heat-transfer contact, reduce fluid volume in the passages and rigidify the walls and assembly.    The first plate is pref. a used aluminium printing plate 0.1-0.4 mm thick with the print side facing the sum and covered with black paint. The spacing material is pref. woven or nonwoven wire screen or expanded metal, and the arrangement prevents total blockage of passages when the fluid is drawn through under a vacuum.
The tube is cylindrical and connectable between an air flow source and a heat user. The tube has an outlet wall with high solar transmittance, a second inner thermally insulating wall, and an innermost tubular absorber, all elements being in direct contact around the entire circumference and the absorber heating the air flow.    The tube is pref. contained in flexible netting, and there may be a flexible tubular header spaced within the absorber and connected to the air supply to discharge air through perforations and give better absorber-air contract. The tube can be rolled when deflated for storage or transfer.
Solar energy collector consists of three separate shaped plates welded together around their edges. The bottom plate is the opaque, black absorption surface whilst the intermediate plate is transparent, water or some other suitable heating exchange medium circulates between the intermediate and bottom plates.    The top plate is also transparent and with the intermediate plate forms an air filled insulation zone above the heat exchange zone.    The design is simple to enable a cheap collector to be produced capable of lower absorbing capacity but sufficiently effective to provide a proportion of a household's heating needs or to heat a swimming pool.
Solar heat collector system for air heating consists of roof tiles with conventional dimensions, each including an absorber area and a transparent cover plate. The air enters through the slot at the bottom edge of the lowest row of tiles (tile type A) and passes from an elbow at the top edge into the hole at the bottom of the next higher tile. The intermediate tiles (type B) also have an exit elbow at the top edge. The top row of tiles (type C) have in addition to a bottom inlet, a bottom outlet for the hot air which is joined to a hot air system, or to a heat exchanger for the heating of water, or to a heat pump.    The cold air is thus successively heated by contact with the absorber areas and the air leaving the top line of roof tiles has a higher temp. difference.
Photovaltaic solar cells convert only 15% of the incident solar energy into electric power so that the remainder which is converted into sensible heat has to be recovered by a circulating fluid system, turning it into hybrid system. The proposed solar cell is therefore located at the bottom of a heat insulated box which is traversed by a coolant of high transmittivity for the solar spectrum producing a photoeffect. Water, for example, has an excellent transparency for wavelengths of 0.4 to 0.9 mu but acts as a black absorber for wavelengths above 1.2 mu. A suitable gaseous fluid would be CO2.    Preferred design, a reflector focuses the solar radiation on a hollow cone with mirror walls which in turn concentrate the radiation at an optimum aperture angle on the small solar cell. Polypropylene foil is pref. as a transparent cover.    This makes the optimum use of wavelengths which do not contribute to the photovoltaic effect, before they reach the cell.
Appts. for collecting solar energy comprises a device, pref. a corrugated plate system, to convey a first fluid, a rectilinear lens system pref. a rectilinear lens system aligned so that is directs its energy on the plate system, a transparent channel, pref. a double plate channel having an upper and lower plate, placed between the corrugated plate system and the lens system, a device designed to transmit a second fluid to the channel.    The lens system has a focal length f and is placed at a distance less than f from the corrugated plate system and is disposed so that conc. solar energy is directed on to this plate system, its focalisation siting being above the system.    The appts. allows concn. of energy of the cell and simultaneously recovery of infrared energy, which otherwise would heat the cell and reduce its efficiency. The infra-red energy is absorbed by the water which is distilled and by the fluid in the double plate duct while the visible light is used for the prodn. of electricity. The systems ensures at the same time, distn. and the prodn. of electricity with an increase in cost corresp. only to that of the cells.
Solar energy collector of the type which tracks the sun is provided with a radiation sensor in the form of a pair of copper tubes (6,1), (6,2) mounted side-by-side with one end (6,3), (6,4) open to radiation, the open end being obliquely cut off at an angle of from 20-70 degrees. The tubes are filled with a clear resin and closed at the other end by opaque resin (6,5), (6,6) in front of which are located photocells (6,9), (6,10). The output from the photocells controls the tracking of the collector.
The module comprises parabolic section reflectors which are rotated about their lines of focii. Positioned at the line of focus of each reflector is a receiver tube carrying a heat exchange medium. The receiver tube is fixed and is surrounded by a fixed transparent tube which shields the receiver tube from air currents.    The receiver tube is shielded by the transparent tube from air currents which would cool the reciver tube and reduce the efficiency of the module.
Collector comprises an absorber spaced within a housing having a transparent top wall, and an inner transparent sheet between top wall and absorber. The sheet and absorber are supported by low thermal conductivity projections on the housing and spaced around their peripheries, the space around the side of and below the absorber and around the projections being filled with thermal insulation.    The top wall and sheet may be of glass, or the sheet may be a transparent film held in tension. The projections are pref. plastics members or stainless steel rods, and there may be an additional transparent sheet between the first and the top wall. Arrangement minimises conductive heat loss.
A geothermal fluid is contacted within the confines of a well with an immiscible working fluid to effect heat transfer, the obtd. fluid mixt. is flowed to the surface and sepd., the working fluid is rapidly vaporised and the vapours are used to operate a mechanical working device.    Heat energy contained in scaling or complex geothermal waters is utilised efficiently in a simple and inexpensive process. The energy can be recovered in a useful form, e.g. electricity. Scale-forming components do not contact the working device and power can be generated at relatively low temp. and high perssure. The use of hexane, heptane or amyl chloride as the working fluid is claimed.
A solar heat collector consists of a plane array of cylindrical condensing lenses and in their focal plane a network of parallel heat absorber tubes. The tubes are designed so that those heated by the solar radiation transfer the heat to a heat collecting system at their top end.    This collector requires no tracking system and generates high temps. When the sky is overcast, it has as good an efficiency as plane tube absorbers.
Collector consists of a sickle-shaped bag, made of plastics, rubber or metal foil and resting on curved heat insulation material. Its outer face is pressed by the internal pressure against a wire mesh. The tensile forces in the outer foil are compensated at the abutment line by compressive forces in the inner foil and its carrier element.    This collector requires no tube system for the absorbers. The absorber bags are easy to exchange even when installed on a gabled roof. The efficiency is high at any angle of radiation, even when extracting heat from the ambient air. The membrane bag can be made of thin foil.
Solar radiation power station consists of several tower absorbers which are installed at various localities. The tracking heliostats are controlled by a set programme or by sensors to reflect the sunlight in subsequent time intervals into the most advantageously sited absorber.    This eliminates the disadvantage of single tower absorbers that a part of the reflector field only contributes little light yield at low angles of elevation of the sun (morning and evening).
Solar heat collector has a casing with a bottom and four side wall with flanges bent over towards the inside. The transparent cover plate rests on these flanges and is sealed against the casing by an elastic sealing material.    Such a collector casing requires no top frame so that its weight is less and it costs less. The radiation sensor is now readily accessible. Pref. the base, the sidewalls and the flanges of the housing are made out of a single sheet metal member.
Heater comprises a panel with transparent central part and bearing peripherally on a wall extending from a base plate to form an enclosure holding a heat-absorbing surface, an air inlet and outlet in the wall, and insulating covering the enclosure exterior except for the transparent part, to form a rigid structure.    An elastomeric membrane pref. covers the insulation and consists of rubber sealant. The insulation is pref. polyurethane foam more pref. obtd. from isocyanate and polyol. The sealant provides an air- and water-tight covering over the insulation.
System includes two blower-damper units, a collector and a heat storage container, with ducting and controls so that the units can transfer heat from collector to storage or to user, from storage to user, or from both collector and storage to user, thus giving efficient heat utilisation.    The flow mode is pref. controlled by a thermostat, and the blowers have the same delivery capacity. The arrangement allows small amounts of available heat from the collector to be salvaged while the main heat supply is derived from the storage.
Collector is enclosed in a housing with a bottom closure secured peripherally by a snap-fit spring channel and low thermal conductivity mating projections. The collector is secured by stiff low thermal conductivity wire retainers spaced around its periphery and attached to collector and housing sides.    A top cover is clamped downwardly onto a seal with engages it inwardly of its periphery to prevent intrusion of condensate into the housing. The seal is pref. a gasket which rests on an inwardly turned flange around the top of the sides and is curved upwardly along its centre line when relaxed.
Solar heat collector consists of a rectangular frame with a bottom and side walls, covered on top by a transparent plate. This is followed by an absorber plate. A jet plate with perforations lies parallel to the absorber plate and the frame bottom in the space between them. The cold air enters at one short side of the rectangular frame in the space between bottom and jet plate. The hot air leaves at the upstream and through an opening in the space between jet plate and absorber plate.    The absorber plate is corrugated in the direction from air inlet to outlet and the perforations are aligned to let the jets of air impinge at the nearest trough of the corrugations. The preferred distance between the perforations and the troughs is one to two times the dia. of the perforation.    The collector has a high efficiency and can be produced at low cost. The incident jets are deflected and pass out at the outflow with a min. of interference with the upstream flow.
A solar heat collector consists of a one-piece carrier, made of extruded plastic such as PVC which is covered at the side towards the sunlight by a pane of glass. The carrier has a U-section with a double bottom, subdivided by webs between the two parallel bottom plates into channels, alternately for use of a heat carrying medium (water) and an insulating medium. The channels thus formed are closed alternately at the ends by stoppers in the end walls and by openings joined to the medium inlet and outlet.    Two higher channels formed in the bottom are used as stiffeners; they are pref. filled with extruded aluminium sections, contg. a polyurethane foam filling. The side walls have a groove-and-tongue joint to the adjacent collector panels.    Such a collector is easy to produce at low cost and easy to assembly so that it will find a ready acceptance.
Solar energy receiver which concentrates radiation to heat a gas to a very high temp., e.g. is approx. 800 degrees-1200 degress C.    Typical applications include a high temp. boiler and thermochemical reactor.    The receiver has an enclosed chamber admitting solar radiation via n inlet aperture which is small w.r.t. the area of chamber space. Gas is passed through a closed circuit which includes a pipe in heat exchange contact with refractory lining of the chamber.    The closed circuit has a number of separate branch pipes which project into the chamber space. Each branch pipe is free to expand and contract without creating stress in the assembly. The pipe circuit has a greatly extended service life and offers higher thermal efficiency than previous designs.
The plant installation comprises two horizontal, adjacent channels which are supplied with seawater etc. to be desalinated.    The first of these channels is covered by a transparent, pref. glass-roofed structure to contain a solar evaporating chamber over the first channel.    The head space of the evaporating chamber has a transfer passage communicating with a pipe submergen in water in the second channel. As the exterior of the pipe is water-cooled, vapour arriving via the transfer passage is condensed in the pipe and provides a supply of purified water for collection in a reservoir.    An optical system e.g. compressing a Fresnel lens, is pref used to focus solar radiation on the evaporating chamber. Water gates are pref fitted to both inlet and outlet of both channels. Pref the two channels both run parallel to a supply canal from which the channels can be supplied with sea water etc via water gates.
In a flat solar heat collector, the incident thermal energy is absorbed at a rate of 30-100% by a blackened metal element which in turn transfers it by heat conduction and convection to an easily deformable plastic hose. The heat transport medium, e.g. water for a hot water system, flows through the hose. If the plastic hose (silicon rubber) is enclosed between two metal plates, their distance is smaller than the hose dia. so that the hose is deformed to an oval and contacts the meal with 10-50% of its surface. Over 60% of the total hose length is enclosed between metallic surfaces.    If the hose lies on top of a metal plate, the hose is partly blackened to absorb a part of the solar energy directly, at a rate of 20-70%. Over 60% of the hose length is arranged to lie in the same plane. Such a collector is simple and can be produced at low cost.
A flat solar heat collector is entirely encased in a transparent, ultraviolet resistant plastic hose which also takes over the function of the transparent top cover. the hose is welded or bonded tightly on all sides or closed by mechanical means. to achieve adequate mechanical strength and prevent flapping by air movement, the plastic foil should be over 400 m thick (1-2 mm). Any excessive pressure inside the hose by solar irradiation can be eliminated by providing a small aperture which is protected against the ingress or moisture or a plastic expansion bladder with variable volume, joined to the hose volume.    This saves the frequent trouble caused by broken front panes, leakage of moisture and condensation on conventional solar heat collectors. The differential thermal elongation of the various collector parts cannot lead to undue mechanical stresses.
The battery comprises a housing enclosing an anode and cathode separated by an electrolyte. Between one wall and the anode is a narrow space filled with methanol, which is the fuel. This is provided by a reservoir connected with this space via a valve. Another narrow space lies between the cathode and the opposite wall. This is in contact with the outside via a valve.    The cylinder is connected with the second space, so that a piston may compress and expand the air contained in the space when it undergoes a to-and-from movement. The electrodes and electrolyte form an assembly which may move axially a small amt. between the walls. A spring normally holds the electrodes against the second wall.
The feed cell has a system for feeding liq. or gaseous prods. such as reactive prods. or liq. electrolytes to the compartments.    The compartments are all connected to a common feed line (2) and a common discharge line (3). The quantity fed to each compartment is servo controlled.    Each compartment is purged at least once during the operation of the cell. This is done by cutting out the control elements of the cells concerned during a given time interval. The compartments are purged sequentially. The purging is repeated at constant intervals, the start of the purging of one compartment coinciding with the completion of the purging process of another compartment. Each loop stage includes a feed opening (10n + 1) supplied by a control valve (10n + 2) with a by-pass line (10n + 4).
The electrode is for fuel cells where perfect sealing between adjacent compartments is required. The electrode plan form is rectangular with two opposite corners removed. The electrodes are arranged in line such that corners are arranged in alternate and fuel supply lines pass into and through alternate electrodes.    Each electrode is made up from a flat plate (3) with a second folded edge plate (4) covering most of its surface to form a shallow rectangular cross-section cavity. The forward folded edge surface is the active surface of the electrode and has an electrically conducting outer skin (4a), a catalysing layer (4b) and a water repellent film (4c). The active plate can be in the form of an open grid carrying a graphite catalyst with a P.T.F.E. water repellant.
Relating to fuel cell generating plants and in partic. to driving the plants at low power levers the method is designed to cause least possible damage or harm to the fuel cells by way of corrosion of the cathode when the output voltage is reduced at low power levels since the drive method raises the anode potential instead of lowering the cathode potential.    The fuel-cells are connected in series and the cathode of each cell is supplied with air as the oxidation medium and the anode with hydrogen as fuel and the out-gases from the anode(s) as well as from the cathode(s) are continually taken off. Moreover a portion of the gas flow taken off from the cathode(s) is fed back into the cathode(s). The oxygen consumption index of the cells s specif. raised so that the amount of air-flow into the cells is reduced.
Hydrogen gas is produced from an electrolyte soln. in an electrolytic cell using a bromide as electrolyte in conjunction with radiant energy and an U-type semiconducting amorphous Si photo-anode to power the cell at least partially.    Used in utilising solar energy to produce H2 to power a fuel cell. Overpotential and corrosion problems associated with use of conventional electrolytes are overcome.
The cell bank comprises (a) two end plate electrodes, with outer walls back pressured to counterbalance any pressure developed in adjacent cell chambers, (b) intermediate (bipolar) electrodes spaced between end electrodes, (d) di-electric separators, pref. of fluorinated ethylene-propylene, spacing and sepg. adjacent electrodes to form with electrodes impervious electrolytic cell chambers between adjacent electrodes, with pressure developing in the chamber during electrolysis, (d) gas separator diaphragms between adjacent electrodes, dividing each chamber into two sections to prevent remixing of H2 and O2, (e) alkaline electrolyte in each chamber, (f) a voltage supply to electrode, (g) water supply to each chamber, (h) a first manifold connected with like sections of each cell to allow H2 withdrawal. (i) a first automatic valve closing the first manifold whenever press. within the chambers predetermined press. (j) similar second manifold for O2 withdrawal, and (k) a similar second automatic valve.    The bank is for use with solar cells, providing H2 fuel from 'free' power plants. The system is very flexible in current/voltage requirements, using d.c. at up to 20000 V, and temps. to e.g. 810 degrees R. Estimated costs/kWe consumed or/lb. H2 gas dissociated are much lower than for competitive designs. H2 can be generated at pressure, that used in natural gas transmission lines.
Stack includes two cells sepd. by a cooler having top and bottom gas-impervious graphite plates spaced by a gas-porous graphitised resin-bonded carbon fibre tube holder bonded to the botto plate and with channels in its top surface aligned with grooves in the outer face of the nearest cell electrode.    Tubes carrying coolant are located in the channels which are virtually as deep as the holder and as the tube o.d. There are gas seals between the plates along each edge of the holder parallel to the channels to prevent gas leakage. The holder top surface is pref. resin bonded to the top plate.
Cell has two rectangular parallel membranes (28, 38) sepd. by a gasket (20) in the form of a four sided frame, which surrounds a membrane spacer (22). The gasket has a fluid inlet port (24) on one side and an outlet port on the opposite side. The inlet port communicates with an inlet distributor for directing fluid through the cell, the distributor including two closely spaced parallel flexible sheets (10), the ends of the sheets opposite the inlet port grasping a first edge of the spacer (22), with a number of inserts (16) arranged between and joined to the sheets and so dimensioned and positioned that the flow of fluid through the cell is made uniform.    Used in fu el or electrochemical cells, but partic. electrodialyses. The distributor prevents excessive membrane flexing and early membrane failure at the spacer edge by enclosing the edge between the two sheets of distributor covering.
Hydrogen and oxygen gas are generated from water using solar energy by reflecting the sun's rays into a reaction chamber contg. water and concentrating the rays at a point within the chamber to raise the temp. of the water to its dissociation temp.    The hydrogen and oxygen formed upon dissociation are drawn off and sepd.    The conc. solar energy intersects directly with the water vapour in the reaction chamber, avoiding direct contact of the conc. light beam with any part of the reaction chamber. thus, it is not necessary to construct the reaction chamber of materials capable of withstanding the high temp. of the light beam.
Fuel cell with a porous gas diffusion electrode to which an oxidising or reducing gas is fed, is operated with the concentration of the oxidising or reducing gas (calculated as molecular oxygen or hydrogen) in the gas phase in-situ of the electrode temporarily brought to a reduced level. The overall pressure of the gas phase in-situ of the electrode is substantially maintained and the power off-take is continued during the period of reduction of the concentration.    Polarisation of the porous gas diffusion electrode, which gradually increases during use, is restored to about the original level without putting the cell out of use and without the equilibrium of the gas, electrolyte, and solid matter phases in the pores of the electrode being disturbed.
A fuel cell electrode is made by (a) selecting and sizing a thin, porous graphitised carbon member; (b) impregnating with 'Teflon' (RTM); (c) drying; (d) screen printing a mixt of 12 ml of 'Teflon' 30 and 20g of a mixt. of 1 pt. Pt black, 4 pts. graphite as minute particles and a soln. of 44 ml 'Triton' X-100 (RTM; octyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanol) and 20 ml of water per 20g of Pt/graphite; (e) drying the resulting coating of Pt black catalyst and graphite; and (f) sintering.    The electrode is simple to produce and has increased efficiency with gaseous constituents.
The fuel cell consists of a housing separated into two regions by a membrane, and parallel with this is a cooled condenser surface.    An electrolyte flows through an inlet duct and into the first space before leaving through an outlet duct. On the other side of the membrane is a second space filled with a gaseous phase substance, such as hydrogen or oxygen, into which water condenses and is removed in a discontinuous fashion from the outlet tap.    The membrane is made of plastics about 0.1 mm thick or asbestos about 0.5 mm thick, or may be made of a porous mass of ceramic material or of sintered glass or metal. The cells may be built up into a battery of similar cells and circulated by a pump in a closed loop circuit.
In the operation of aq. high energy cells with Li, Al or Li/Al alloy electrodes and H2O2 as cathode depolariser, the H2/O2 gas mixt. formed in the high energy cell (1), if necessary with additional O2, is supplied to the positive electrode (4) of a fuel cell (2) and from there, if necessary after sepn. of excess O2 (and/or addn. of H2) to the negative electrode (6) of the fuel cell (2).    The cell gases are removed safely and used as energy source.
A unit with high performance at elevated temp. comprises cells each with anode and cathode, a gas-impermeable plastics separator between an anode and an adjacent cell cathode, and conductors passing through the separator are flexibility supported in it by elastic gas-tight seals.    A housing supports the cells and there are fuel and oxidising gas feeds to each cell. The conductors are pref. of carbon or carbon-impregnated plastics and connect successive cells. The separators are pref. of polyurethane and the seals are of butyl rubber. The conductors are pref. tilted relative to the plane of the separators and have rounded edges to contact the electrodes.
From 1 sheet or continuous length of a fibrous fleece contg. unpolymerised, thermosetting synthetic material, components are cut which can be assembled into frames to hold electrode material for an electro-chemical cell or battery. The cell consists of a stack of plate elements including 2 plate electrodes in a frame of fibrous material impregnated so as to be electrically isolating.    The frame is formed from the components cut out, and a sheet or plate of electrode material is placed on it. Two more frames may then be placed followed by another layer of electrode material, and so on until the stack is as required and has between the elements, gas and/or fluid chambers. The stack is finally processed in a hot press to form a coherent block.    Used for the production of electro-chemical, e.g. fuel cells and/or batteries. The wastage of large amts. of resin-impregnated fleece, which are stamped out to form the gas and/or fluid cavities in other processes is eliminated.
Matrix for a fuel cell acid electrolyte has a lyer contg. C and an adjacent layer contg. SiC. The C pref. has an effective surface area of over 100 m2/g and a particle size of under 50 nm, whilst the size of its largest pores is not less than one order of magnitude less than the thickness of the first layer and 20% of the pores have a dia. of under 0.04 mu m. Both layers pref. contain &lt;4% binder, pref. a fluorocarbon polymer, esp. PTFE.    In the fuel cell, the C layer can be adjacent to (and support) the anode and the SiC layer adjacent to the cathode or vice versa, fuel being supplied to the anode and oxidising gas to the cathode. The average pore size of the matrix is not more than that of at least one of the electrodes.    The matrix is stable, has high electrolytic and low electronic conductivity and inhibits the passage of reaction gas at high pressure. It has a bubble pressure of ca.
The cell comprises (a) a cell container divided into two electrolyte compartments by an ionically conducting separator, (b) an aq inorganic oxyacid electrolyte circulating through each compartment, (c) a Zn anode (ii) contacting electrolyte in the first compartment, (d) a catalysed O2 cathode contacting electrolyte in the second compartment and (e) an external load or charge circuit electrically contacting anode and cathode. The circuit is completed by ionic interaction between electrolyte compartments through the separator and electrons in the external circuit.    On discharge, electrical energy is generated and withdrawn in load circuit, with oxidn. of the Zn anode and O2 contacted with the cathode for redn. to water. On discharge, electrical energy is provided from a external circuit, with Zn salts transported by the anolyte for Zn addn. to the anode and O2 generated at the cathode and vented. There is effective utilisation of Zn anode material more uniform Zn deposition avoiding dendrites, and no CO2 formation and absorption by electrolyte.
In a gas redox-type fuel cell which includes an ion-exchange membrane, impurity-contg. electrolyte is removed from its electrolyte chamber and replaced with impurity-free electrolyte. The replacement may be periodic or continuously at a controlled rate. In a typical embodiment, the anolyte, e.g. 2MH2SO4, is periodically flushed and replaced during the extended operation of an H2-redox fuel cell.    Replacement of the electrolyte minimises the contamination effects of the unwanted reverse flow of ions through the ion-exchange membrane, e.g. the reverse of anions into the anolyte chamber of an H2-redox fuel cell.
O2/fuel cell operates by supplying O2 to the O2 electrode in the form of an inert, dielectric liq. (I) which is satd. with O2. (I) is immiscible with water but wets the electrode, the electrode is porous to O2 but non-porous to (I). Fuel is supplied to the other electrode, either naturally or similarly absorbed in an inert, dielectric liq. Water of reaction formed in (I) and at the fuel electrode is periodically sepd. and removed. The electrolyte is periodically replenished.    Esp. used in O2/H2 fuel cells. Absorbing O2 (and pref. also the fuel) in an inert dielectric liq. which contacts the electrodes increases cell efficiency and reduces risk of explosion.
Method for producing an electrolyte structure for a molten carbonate fuel cell, comprises (a) providing a supporting matrix form a powder of particle size range 1 mu which is chemically inert under the operating conditions of the cell, forming the powder into a blank with interconnecting pore volume comprising capillary sized interstices between compacted particles, the pores of which are uniformly distributed and comprise 50-70% of the volume of the blank; (b) positioning the blank on a substrate so that electrolyte can be deposited on the top face and gases can escape from the bottom face; (c) heating the blank and electrolyte to at least 10 degrees F higher than the liquidus temp. of the electrolyte without significantly vaporising it; (d) contacting the electrolyte with the top face of the blank so that the melt impregnates through the top face to fill the pores when the electrolyte is molten in an atmos. contg. sufficient carbon dioxide to maintain the stability of the electrolyte.    Process requires much less time and labour in mfr. than prior art molten carbonate fuel cells and is far more applicable to mass production.
Solid electrolyte (I) for electrochemical applications consists of ZrO2 ceramic and has (partial) electrode layer(s). The electrode layer nearest (I) is sepd. from (I) by an intermediate layer (II) of higher specific ionic conductivity than (I). (II) pref. consists of fully stabilised ZrO2 and contains Y2O3, Yb2O3, Sc2O3 and/or other heavy lanthanide oxides as stabilising oxides.    (I) is useful in meters for determn. of the O2 content of waste gases (lambda probes). (II) not only increases the adhesion but also allows a higher electric loading.
Manifold-to-stack seal for fuel cell stack comprises (a) a polymer seal frame between the manifold lip sections and an associated surface of a fuel cell stack and (b) a means of pressing the lip sections, seal frame and stack together so that as the stack undergoes compressive creep the seal frame creeps with it allowing movement between manifold and frame while maintaining a seal.    The seal eliminates the problem of a seal sliding against the rough surface of the fuel cell stack by allowing movement between seal and the smooth surface of the manifold.
Electrical energy is produced from neutralisation of acid and base through a bipolar membrane in appts. comprising (a) a cell container, (b) a bipolar membrane having an anion permselective face and a cation permselective face dividing the container into two compartments, (c) inlet and outlet to each compartment, for flowing aq. soln. streams through the compartments in contact with the membrane and (d) an electrode in each compartment, contacting the aq. soln.    Electrical energy is produced in the cell by (i) simultaneously contacting an aq. acid stream with the cation permselective face of the bipolar membrane and an aq. base stream with the anion permselective face, so that contact of the streams through the membrane produces an electrical potential difference between the streams, (ii) transmitting the potential difference to the electrodes and (iii) withdrawing energy produced from the electrodes to a receiving circuit connected between them.
The material employs a metal substrate (I) on which an atomic configuration is activated by excitation; and a second metal (II) is adsorbed on the surface of the metal nI) to maintain the activated condition of metal (I). Substrate (I) is pref. a noble- or transition- metal, whereas metal (II) is pref. a heavy metal. The material is pref. consisting of an outer layer contg. only atoms of (I) above an underlayer contg. atmos of (I) with atoms of (II) occupying vacancies in the crystal lattice of metal (I).    Activation is pref. achieved via Ar sputtering, anodic electrochemical activation, and/or a chemical redox process. The anodic activation is pref. achieved in an aq. electrolyte with pH &lt;2, using &gt;1 volt on substrate (I) w.r.t. a reversible hydrogen electrode to cause oxidn., and then reducing the voltage to below 0.4 V to cause redn.    The mfr. of highly activated catalysts for oxidn. of hydrocarbons, methanol, CO, etc.; as electrocatalysts is fuel cells; or as electronic materials.
Method of obtaining an electrochemical catalyst in the form of a thin film of metal deposited on a pyrolytic graphite support in described,the metal being chosen from the moble match, Ni and thin alloys.    Specifically, the deposition is effected electrolytically on the graphite in a cell, from aq. soln. contg. a complex salt of the metal. The pref. metals are Ag, Pd, Au and Ni. Useful in numerous types of cells and batteries, esp. in fuel cells.    Improved reversability of the adsorption of oxygen on the surface is achieved, due to the granular, nodular or filamentray deposit of catalyst metal occurring on the surface of the graphite. This leads to a very strong electrocatalytic activity.
Improved accuracy in determining electrolyte concn. in a fuel cell using hydrogen-oxygen without sampling the vapour-hydrogen mixt. is achieved by measuring the temp. of the latter. The measurement is carried out at the condenser outlet when the hydrogen circulation rate is checked. The concn. of electrolyte in the fuel cell is then derived on the basis of previously obtained plot of dependence of concn on vapour-hydrogen mixt. temp. for different rates of circulation.    The method avoids the necessity of thermostat control of connecting lines for sampling the vapour-hydrogen mixt. from the circulation loop. It also eliminates the composition analyser, and does not interfere with the process of moisture removal. The integrity of the vapour-hydrogen circulation loop is unaffected.
In the continuous removal of NH3 gas from a gas stream, the gas is passed alternately over 2 beds of solid porous material wetted with an acid, so that a salt forms on the surface. Each bed is regenerated by reacting the salt with O2 to form N2, the acid and water. Regeneration takes place at a temp. insufficient to decompose the salt and cause release of NH3 from the bed.    The process is specified for the treatment of gas contg. over 1(1-180)ppm. NH3 to give an NH3 content 1ppm. It is esp. useful for purifying gas for use in fuel cells which can operate for 5 years without maintenance, as it eliminates the need to replace the scrubbing material several times during this period.
A fuel cell comprises an alkali metal carbonate electrolyte, molten in operation, an anode contacting the electrolyte and a porous perovskite cathode having a resistivity &lt;100 (pref. &lt;1.0) OMEGA -cm, spaced from the anode and contacting the electrolyte.    The perovskite is pref. LaxKyMnO3, LaxZrycoO3, LaxSryMnO3 or LaxSryCoO3, x+y = 1.0, or more specifically La0.9K0.1MnO3, La0.95Zr0.05CoO3, LaMnO3, La0.9Sr0.1MnO3, La0.9Sr0.1CoO3 or LaCoO3. The electrolyte is pref. a binary eutectic of Li2CO3 and K2CO3.    The perovskites are stable in the electrolyte and good cathode catalysts for O2 redn. The graph shows comparative polarisation curves for specified perovskites and conventional NiO wire cathode.
A Zn-halogen battery assembly comprises (a) a housing including an internal chamber divided into positive and negative sections contg. a positive halogen reacting electrode and a negative Zn contg. electrode respectively and (b) fixed vols. of positive and negative electrolyte solns., each contg. a specific halogen, continuously circulated and recirculated through the respective chamber in operation, has a smaller vol. of positive electrolyte soln. than of negative electrolyte soln. The vol. of the positive electrolyte soln. is pref. the min. necessary to support continuous circulation through the chamber and/or is not &gt;40vol.% total positive + negative electrolyte vol.    The battery is useful with electrolytes contg. a halogen complexing agent, e.g. as in US 4162351. The imbalance in electrolyte vol. increases utilisation of Zn ions (on charge) and drives halogen ions into the aq. phase at a higher rate (on discharge) improving battery performance.
Anode for a high temp. fuel cell with an electrolyte (I) of carbonate melt has improved surface stability for a 500-700 degrees C operating temp. range. It contains 0.5-20 (1-10) wt.% Cr, Zr and/or Al in the form of metal, oxide and/or alkali metal salt as surface stabiliser and the rest Ni and/or Co.    The additive is Cr, Zr or Al (in the form of Li chromite, zirconate or aluminate). The anode or (II) can also contain 0.5-5% alumina dispersant, which is converted to alkali aluminate during cell operation. The (I) plate contains alkali metal carbonate (Li2CO3 and Na2CO3 and/or K2CO3) and an inert carrier and forms a paste at 500-700 degrees C, which is in direct contact with the porous anode. The anode has an average pore size of 2-20 mu and its surface area remains at 0.09-0.15 m2/g after min. 1000 h operation at 650-750 degrees C.    The surface area is stable for very long operating periods at a high power density.
The cell comprises (a) a bed(s) of Fe particles in different oxidn. states, (b) a fuel cell(s), comprising a cathode adjacent an Fe bed, an anode not contacting the bed and a solid electrolyte capable of transporting O ions between anode and cathode, (c) a gas cycled through the bed to control its temp. and (d) a gas contacting the anode to promote O ion transfer throught the electrolyte. Pref. the articles comprises a porous mass of FeO and Fe2O3 or a porous mass of Fe and FeO. The electrolyte comprises Ca zirconate.    The bed is inexpensive and non-toxic and the appts. is compact as energy is stored in solid phase. High temp. heat is liberated, which can be used in commercial heating units.
Lithium meta aluminate powder is produced by reacting a powder mixt. contg. at least stoichiometric amts. of 1 of LiOH, LiNO3, Li2CO3 and 1 of Al(OH)3, gamma- Al2O3 or gamma- Al2O3 and 20% wt. of 1 of NaCl, KCl, LiCl. The mixt. is heated to fuse the choride and the temp. is maintained until the lithium meta aluminate as pptd. The ppte is washed to dissolve the cloride.    Used as the support for the molten alkali carbonate electrolyte in carbonancesus gas full prim. batteries. The process is more efficient and economical than the prior art solid state reaction or reaction in fused Li2CO3 and K2CO3 or Li2CO3 and Al2O3.
A pair of reaction vessels provide hydrogen for a fuel cell, one vessel (I) making hydrogen while the other (II) is simultaneously regenerated. Process comprises (a) introducing hydrocarbon feedstock and steam to (I); (b) cracking and reforming the feedstock using sensible heat obtd. during regeneration of this vessel; (c) during the hydrogen to the fuel electrode; (d) introducing air into the oxygen electrode; (e) directing the exhaust from the fuel electrode together with an oxygen-contg. gas to the vessel which is being regenerated; (f) preheating the oxygen-contg. gas and the exhaust gas; (g) mixing the two gases and combusting the mixt. within the vessel to regenerate the latter by storing the heat of combustion within material contained in the vessel, step (f) being accomplished using the heat of combustion and/or sensible heat stored in the vessel; and (h) exhausting combustion prods.    All the energy expended directly converts the feedstock to H2. All heat transfer is direct, thus minimising losses. Preheating of glass is without using external heat sources. Thermal efficiencies of at least 97% can be obtd.
New antibiotic SB-72310 (I) is obtained by culturing a (I)-producting microorganism of the genus Pseudomonas, esp. Ps. mesoacidophila SB-71310 (IFO 13884), and isolating (I) from the culture broth.    (I) is active against a wide range of Gram-positive and -negative bacteria and can be used as an antibacterial medicament (daily dose 15-60 mg/kg) parenteral or 60-400 mg/kg oral) or as a germicide or disinfectant.
The metal or alloy coating (I) is on a substrate, esp. a metal substrate (II), and another metal (III) is formed near surface (I) so that an alloy (I-III) is produced and removed from metal (II), which pref forms no alloys with metal (III). Metal (III) is pref. obtd. by the electrolysis of a molten salt, and is at a temp. above the m.pt. of alloy (I-III).    Metal (I) is esp. Pt on a metal substrate (II) made the cathode in molten caustic soda, so that sodium (III) forms an alloy with the platinum (I), and the Pt-Na alloy falls in the molten NaOH to form a black powder, leaving the substrate (II) free of Pt. The electrolysis is pref. undertaken in an inert atmos.    Used e.g. on turbine blades for aero-engines are made of Ni- or Co- base superalloys and have a complex inner cooling system. The blades are coated with Pt to increase their corrosion resistance but, with faulty coatings it is necessary to recover the Pt without damage to the blade.