Gould Inc.

Gnb Batteries Inc.

Anthony Sabatino

Edward G Schaumburg

Douglas J Olszewski

Purushothama Rao

George W Mao

Daniel Orlando

Richard T Strait

Eugene F Stanefski

Peter A Recht

Ronald N Romanchuk

An apparatus and method for assembling battery cell elements having a plurality of electrode plates of alternating polarity separated by a continuous interleaved insulating sheet. The apparatus includes a separator sheet supply station; a creaser for forming transverse creases in a length of separator sheet at longitudinally spaced fold points; a first plate loader for positioning a first set of electrode plates of common polarity onto a pre-fold mechanism; a sheet transfer mechanism for transferring a cut and creased length of separator sheet from the creaser onto the first set of plates; a second plate loader for positioning a second set of electrode plates of common polarity opposite to that of the first set onto the separator sheet at locations directly above the plates of the first set; the pre-fold mechanism including a collapsible pre-fold paddle assembly for folding the separator sheet into relatively loose accordian folds with the plates of the first and second sets occupying alternate folds on opposite sides of the separator sheet; an intermediate fold mechanism for engaging the pre-folded element, positioning the plates thereof into relatively precise alignment, and compressing the element into a tighter intermediate folded assembly; and a final fold mechanism for engaging the intermediate folded assembly, compressing the assembly into final element form, transporting the element through a series of tape applicators to secure it in its final form and then to a discharge station. The apparatus includes a master controller that controls operation of the plurality of mechanisms to permit automatic and continuous high volume production of such battery cell elements.

Apparatus and method for assembling battery cell elements

A method and apparatus for assembling battery components including a battery case (10) having a plurality of divider walls (32) defining a plurality of side-by-side cell spaces (26,27,28,29,30,31) opening through a top portion of the case. A plurality of intermediate cell elements (34,35,36,37) are provided in the cell spaces intermediate the end cell spaces (26,31) and end cell elements (38,39) having terminal post portions (101) are inserted in the end cell spaces (26,31). The apparatus effects an automatic pickup of the cell elements at one or more insert stations from delivery conveyors (19,20) suitably positions the picked-up cell elements for proper polarity relationship in the inserted disposition within the battery case, and after moving the picked-up cell elements to overlying relationship with the battery case, inserts the cell elements automatically into the proper cell spaces. Control of delivery of the battery cases to the respective insert positions is effected and coordinated with the delivery of the necessary cell elements from apparatus for preforming the cell elements. Apparatus (106) is provided for accurately spacing the end cell elements upon delivery thereof to the pickup position. The pickup structure (50) includes finger devices (59,60) arranged to engage plate connecting straps (45,98,100) provided on the cell elements in effecting positive pickup, transfer and insertion thereof.

Method and apparatus for assembling battery components

An apparatus and method for supplying electrode plates in the assembly of battery cell elements. The apparatus includes a shuttle feed device for containing a plurality of stacks of electrode plates of common polarity and successively dispensing a single plate from each stack, a walking beam transfer device for successively receiving plates from said shuttle device and moving the plates into a row with the plates commonly oriented and in predetermined spaced relation, and a plate loader for simultaneously engaging and removing from said walking beam transfer device the number of plates of common polarity required in the assembly of a battery cell element. The feeding device is adapted for easy plate loading, and in conjunction with the transfer device, is adapted to provide a reliable supply of electrode plates for use in the automated assembly of cell elements.

Apparatus and method for supplying electrode plates in the assembly of

A method of manufacturing a lead-acid storage battery capable of being stored after completing the battery processing and thereafter activated by the addition of water including coordinating the formation and processing of the battery elements with a deep discharge to provide residual sulfuric acid electrolyte within the battery elements with a desired specific gravity level and thereafter reducing the amount of the electrolyte in the battery to thereby retain a specified level of residual sulfuric acid electrolyte within the elements of the thus-processed battery. The battery is suitably sealed and may thereafter be stored; and, when desired for service, activation is accomplished by addition of water and suitably charging. The sulfate in the battery elements resulting from the deep discharge and the residual sulfuric acid electrolyte retained within the elements combine, upon the addition of water and recharge, to yield the required specific gravity of the electrolyte. In a preferred embodiment, the battery is conditioned with a treating agent affording certain metallic sulfates to enhance the useful battery storage life and the ability of the battery to accept the required charge after water addition.

Water activatable, lead-acid storage battery and method for

A method of substantially sealing a lead-acid storage battery, capable of activation by the addition of electrolyte or water after storage, is provided which prevents excessive internal pressure build-up during the storage. In one embodiment, the substantial sealing is provided by a vent seal which can be formed with surfaces duplicating the diameter of the cell vent collar so that a conventional vent cap can be fitted and retained in place, substantially in the final operating position. When the substantial sealing is provided by means other than the vent seal, the seal, without the vent feature, serves to allow positioning of the normal battery vent caps in substantially their final operational positions. In the preferred embodiment, the vent seal includes a tear tab so that if accidentally replaced after removal and activation of the battery and partial separation of the tear tab, adequate venting of the gases generated within the battery such as would occur during charging is provided.

Battery vent seal

A maintenance free storage battery has a plurality of alternately positive and negative plates disposed within an electrolyte in a battery container, with the plates resting on the bottom of the container. A battery separator material is disposed between each pair of adjacent plates with the bottom of the separator material forming openings to permit access of a bonding material to the lower edges of the plates. A bonding material adhered to both the bottom wall of the battery container and the lower edges of the plates extends through the bottom openings formed by the separator material to provide vibration resistance, with the bonding material also sealing the bottom openings to prevent the treeing of active material between positive and negative plates at the bottom of the container. In one embodiment the separator material is in the form of envelopes around alternate plates with each envelope being sealed along the vertical edges of the plate and having slots along the lower edge of the plate to form the bottom openings to permit access of the bonding material to the lower portions of the plates inside the envelopes. As an alternative, the separator material may be in the form of open-bottomed sleeves. When the plates and separators are first inserted into the battery container, the bonding material is in a liquid state so that the lower edges of the plates and the separators are submerged in the liquid which flows through the openings and into contact with the plates. The bonding material is then solidified to seal the openings.

Storage battery and method of forming the same

A method of fashioning a lead-acid storage battery capable of being stored after completing of the battery processing and thereafter activated by the addition of electrolyte includes adding conditioning quantities of a treating agent affording certain metallic sulfates to the formation electrolyte, a rince electrolyte or to a separate solution to obviate the necessity for removing, as by drying, all or substantially all of the electrolytes used to process the battery. Sufficient electrolyte is removed simply by draining, and the resulting battery can be stored for extended periods of time without significantly adversely affecting the performance of the activated battery.

Method of making a lead-acid storage battery, and cell, capable of

A method of manufacturing a lead-acid storage battery, capable of being stored after completing the battery processing and thereafter activated by the addition of electrolyte, includes forming the battery elements and treating the battery elements such that sufficient acid, in one form or another, will be retained in the elements to provide a battery operating electrolyte with a specific gravity in the range of from about 1.260 to 1.290, preferably about 1.265, upon activation with standard activation electrolyte, and charging if necessary. Completion of the processing involves draining the battery, reducing the amount of retained acid to a specified amount below the amount the battery elements are capable of retaining when saturated and suitably sealing.

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Anthony Sabatino