Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Panasonic Corporation

Panasonic Ev Energy Co., Ltd.

Other

Katsunori Komori

Yoshinori Toyoguchi

Munehisa Ikoma

Tadao Kimura

Noriyuki Fujioka

Yasuhiro Takahashi

Naoto Sato

Hiromu Matsuda

Osamu Yamamoto

Kohei Suzuki

Seiji Yamaguchi

Yoshiaki Ogata

Katsunori Maegawa

Atsushi Adachi

Haruyoshi Yamashita

Shinji Hamada

Toyohiko Eto

Nobuyasu Morishita

Toshiaki Nakanishi

Akihiro Taniguchi

Tomohiro Matsuura

Yoshiyuki Nakamura

Hiromi Kajiya

Takashi Ito

Katsunori Maekawa

Ayako Tanaka

A method of reusing a rechargeable battery includes collecting from users assembled batteries formed by rechargeable batteries, each holding initial individual information including at least a manufacturing date and an initial weight of the rechargeable battery. The collected assembled batteries are dismantled into rechargeable batteries, each holding the individual information. The rechargeable batteries of the dismantled assembled batteries are classified into groups based on the initial individual information of the rechargeable batteries and individual information of the plurality of rechargeable batteries obtained after the dismantling. A regenerated assembled battery is rebuilt reusing rechargeable batteries that have been classified into the same group.

Method of reusing rechargeable battery

A rechargeable battery exchanging method which exchanges rechargeable batteries of an assembled battery to rebuild new assembled battery. The method includes discharging a rechargeable battery derived from an assembled battery until the rechargeable battery becomes a fully discharged state and storing the rechargeable battery in a storage region for a predetermined period of time or longer from when the rechargeable battery becomes the fully discharged state to prepare a reusable rechargeable battery. The method further includes rebuilding a regenerated assembled battery by combining the stored reusable rechargeable battery with a stored reusable rechargeable battery derived from other assembled batteries or combining the stored reusable rechargeable battery with a fresh rechargeable battery.

Method for exchanging rechargeable batteries

A nickel-metal hydride storage battery is provided capable of suppressing changes in discharge reserve and charge reserve of a negative electrode to prevent lowering of battery characteristics for a long term. A nickel-metal hydride storage batteryof the present invention comprises a battery main part (an electrode plate group, an electrolyte, and others), a casehousing this battery main part, and a safety valve device. The safety valve deviceincludes a valve memberof a closed-end substantially cylindrical shape. This nickel-metal hydride storage batteryis arranged such that a hydrogen leak rate V(&#x3bc;l/h/Ah) of the battery having been charged and discharged and then charged to 60% SOC satisfies a relationship: 2&#x2266;V&#x2266;4, the hydrogen leak rate being per unit of battery capacity under an atmosphere at a battery temperature of 45&#xb0; C., and a reduced pressure of 10 kPa.

Nickel metal hydride storage battery with a safety valve for relieving excess gas pressure in the battery when the safety valve is open, the safety valve having a hydrogen-permeable valve member for allowing hydrogen-gas leakage therethrough when the safety valve is closed

An alkaline storage battery of the present invention includes a battery case and a group of electrodes. The battery case is provided with a resin case and a coating layer made of a resin formed on at least one surface selected from an inner surface and an outer surface of the resin case. The hydrogen permeability coefficient of the resin that is the material of the coating layer is 1&#xd7;10mol&#xb7;m/m&#xb7;sec&#xb7;Pa or less.

Enclosed nickel-metal hydride storage battery

A nickel metal hydride storage battery included a battery case, and a group of electrode plates arranged in the battery case, wherein the battery case includes a battery case main body having a hole and a lid for closing the hole. The battery case includes a first portion made of a metal or a laminate of a metal and a resin, and a second portion made of a resin; and an area of the first portion is 20% or more and 90% or less with respect to the entire battery case. Thus, a nickel metal hydride storage battery is capable of controlling the amount of hydrogen permeating the battery case and capable of suppressing the long-term deterioration.

Nickel metal hydride storage battery

A method for recycling a battery pack is provided that enables a degraded battery pack to be replaced at a low cost while maintaining the advantages of a conventional sealed-type nickel-metal hydride secondary battery as being free from maintenance or leak of an electrolyte. The battery pack accommodates a battery module having a plurality of cells, which are a sealed-type nickel-metal hydride secondary battery, combined with each other. When the battery pack is judged as being degraded in a market, the battery pack is collected from the market as a battery to be replaced; a cell or battery module judged as being degraded is renewed by adding an electrolyte thereto; the battery module is installed in the battery pack again; and the battery pack is supplied as a replacement battery.

Method for recycling battery pack

A separator for an alkaline storage battery includes a plurality of polyolefin resins. The polyolefin resins include a first polyolefin resin that is sulfonated, and a second polyolefin resin that is sulfonated. The degree of sulfonation of the first polyolefin resin is different from that of the second polyolefin resin. Thus, a novel separator having high liquid retention properties and high air permeability, and an alkaline storage battery using the same can be obtained.

Separator for alkaline storage battery and alkaline storage battery using the same

An alkaline storage battery having excellent self-discharge characteristics even after a number of charge-discharge cycles is provided. The alkaline storage battery is provided with a case and an electrode group enclosed in the case, and a separator that is included in the electrode group retains at least 15 mg/cm of an electrolyte at least in a period after assembling the battery, from the time the separator is impregnated with the electrolyte to the time the battery is activated.

Alkaline storage battery

Disclosed is an active material for a hydrogen storage alloy electrode which can provide a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a longer cycle life than any conventional battery. The active material has a core alloy of a hydrogen storage alloy and a surface layer comprising iron compound formed on the surface of the core alloy.

Active material for hydrogen storage alloy electrode and method for producing the same

The invention provides long life alkaline storage batteries free from short-circuiting using plates having a punching metal as a substrate. In the alkaline storage batteries of the present invention, at least one of the positive plate and the negative plate comprises a punching metal as a substrate, the size thereof is different from that of another plate, and the plates are arranged so that the cut side of the plate having the punching metal substrate at which the substrate is cut through the punched portions does not overlap the side of the adjacent plate of opposite polarity. The plates having such a construction prevents needle-shaped projections produced by cutting the substrate through the punched portions from causing the short-circuiting with the adjacent plate of opposite polarity.

A method for manufacturing hydrogen storage alloy particles comprises steps of obtaining a melt of the hydrogen storage alloy and pulverizing the hydrogen storage alloy by water atomizing process, whereby the melt is pulverized by contacting or colliding with high-speed jetting thereto to be dispersed in the form of solidified fine particles. By employing an aqueous solution of hypophosphorous acid or an alkali aqueous solution in place of water during the water atomizing process, or by etching the oxide films once formed on the surface of the hydrogen storage alloy particles with an aqueous solution of a strong acid, the thickness of the oxide film can be made thinner, and thus a high discharge capacity of a battery configured with a negative electrode comprising the alloy particles can be realized.

Method for producing hydrogen storage alloy particles and sealed-type

A hydrogen storage alloy for negative electrodes in an alkaline storage battery is disclosed. The alloy is represented by the general formula MmNi.sub.x M.sub.y, wherein Mm is a misch metal or a mixture of rare earth elements, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Mn, Co, Cu, Fe, Cr, Zr, Ti and V and wherein 5.0.gtoreq.x +y.gtoreq.5.5, and has a microstructure comprising a phase composed of a crystal structure of CaCu.sub.5 type and is capable of absorbing and desorbing hydrogen in a reversible manner, and at least one phase consisting mainly of an element or elements other than Mm, and incapable of storing hydrogen.

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Toyohashi, Japan

Katsunori Komori