General Electric Company

Raymond K Sugalski

Jesse L Morris

Charles R Blake

John W Hooke

John J Strickland

Paul E Pate

Kenneth C LeDuc

An electrochemical cell having a conductive casing and an electrode plate assembly received therein, the plate assembly having exposable edge portions adjacent an interior surface of the casing, and insulation means comprising a nonconductive insulating casting self-adhered to the interior surface of the cell casing and disposed intermediate the interior surface and the exposable portions of the electrode plate assembly. The insulating casting is formed from a flowable material which is dispensed into the casing while flowable and which quickly hardens in place to become bonded to the casing.

Method for making electrochemical cell having cast-in-place insulator

A method for winding electrode assemblies useable in electrochemical cells is provided wherein first and second winding stations are provided. A first unwound electrode assembly is partially wound at the first winding station into a first partially wound electrode assembly and then transferred to the second winding station where the first partially wound electrode assembly is further wound. A second unwound electrode assembly is partially wound at the first winding station into a second partially wound electrode assembly contemporaneously with the further winding of the first partially wound electrode assembly at the second winding station.

Method for winding an electrode assembly

Apparatus is provided for aligning and presenting an electrode strip to the winding arbors of a machine for winding electrode assemblies of an electrochemical cell. A variable width recess is provided on an electrode carrier member for facilitating insertion of the electrode strip into the recess and alignment of the electrode strip for presentation to the winding arbors.

Means for presenting an electrode of a rechargeable electrochemical cell

A rechargeable electrochemical cell is provided having an improved current collector which provides an electrical path from one of the cell electrodes to a terminal external to the cell. The collector is provided with resilient deflectable tabs which reside in the cell in a deflected state between the electrode and the container and which exert a contact force establishing electrically conductive contact between a spiral edge segment of the electrode and a contact edge on the tab.

Rechargeable electrochemical cell having improved current collector means

A liquid crystal indicator label and method for making same includes a liquid crystal material, adapted to change color in response to a change in temperature within a predetermined range, which is adhered to a predetermined surface portion of a transparent substrate and a black background adhered at least behind the liquid crystal material, with an adhesive adhered behind the black background and any portion of the substance not covered by the black background. The liquid crystal is preferably confined to a surface area substantially smaller than the entire surface of the substrate, and a border member is positioned either between the liquid crystal and the substrate or between the liquid crystal and the black background to overlap at least some of the edge portions of the liquid crystal. According to a modified aspect of the invention, the black background covers the entire back surface of the substrate and alpha-numeric characters can be located between the substrate and the black background to display a desired message along with the indicator. As preferable embodied, the label according to the invention is used with a battery charger, with the liquid crystal portion positioned directly adjacent a heat generating circuit element which is adapted to heat up when current flows through battery cells placed in the charger.

Liquid crystal indicator

An apparatus for assembling the component parts of a cover for an electrochemical cell into a cover assembly and for welding the assembly, the apparatus including a carousel having a plurality of equally spaced receptacles, an equal number of equally spaced stations around the carousel, a drive for intermittently turning the carousel to advance the receptacles to each of the stations and holding the receptacle in the station, a feeder at selected stations for feeding a part of the component parts to the carousel, inspection apparatus at stations intermediate the selected stations for inspecting the part assembly in the receptacle, a welder at a station following the selected and inspection stations for welding the assembled cover in the receptacle and an extractor at a station following the welding station for removing the assembled and welded cover from the receptacle.

Apparatus for assembling and welding vented cell covers

An apparatus for feeding separator strips and plate blanks to an automatic battery cell winding machine, the apparatus having a frame member, guide means on the frame member for guiding a separator strip, a clamp for clamping the separator strip, feeding means, including an air cylinder, for advancing the clamp and the clamped separator strip, a platform mounted to slide on the frame member for receiving a plate blank, means for pushing the platform along the frame member for feeding the plate blank to the separator strip and a spring tensioned as the platform is advanced along the frame member for retracting the platform when the pushing means is released.

Shuttle plate guide for automatic winding machines

A high current capacity electrochemical cell of the spiral wound type is provided. The cell includes an hermetically sealed casing and a terminal connection which engages exposed edges of an internally positioned spirally wound electrode plate for the transfer of current from the plate to a plurality of regions on the terminal. A thermally conductive ring is provided at the terminal connection to dissipate heat generated at the regions of current transfer.

Spiral wound electrochemical cell having high capacity

Electrochemical cell having cast-in-place insulator

A charging system for alternatively charging cells having different physical sizes and/or electrical characteristics comprising a charge current source, a plurality of cellholder charging modules and interconnection means on said charger and said modules for selective alternative connection of each of said modules to the charger. An improved charging module utilizes resilient loading tabs and an upper resilient arm radiating from the central axis of the module.

Charging system with multiple attachable cellholder modules

This invention pertains to a novel resealable pressure relief vent valve for use in normally sealed containers such as sealed electric batteries or cells wherein said vent valve includes an outer plate having a centrally-raised area, an inner plate having a centrally recessed area, said plates joined at their ends and forming a cavity therebetween, and a compressed resilient elastomeric member interposed in the cavity and positioned to overlie a vent orifice located in the inner plate, whereby during normal operation of the battery or cell the elastomeric member seals the vent orifice and when internal container pressure exceeds a predetermined limit, the elastomeric member distorts, breaking the seal and allowing the venting of the cell.

Resealable vent valve for containers such as batteries

A sealed, rechargeable electrochemical cell in which a hermetically sealed glass casing completely surrounds an electrode assembly comprised of anode and cathode electrodes containing electrochemically active material, and a porous electrolyte absorbent separator between and in contact with each of the electrodes, the electrolyte absorbed in the separator being present in an amount not exceeding the separator capacity, the seal being effected at terminal conductors extending through the casing wall from the electrodes at the interior of the cell.

Method for manufacturing a hermetically sealed electrochemical storage

A one piece molded, plastic body has two plate-like portions interconnected at associated edges by an integral hinge. The portions have molded in pockets for receiving a diode and transistor energy concentrator, and means for securing the portions into a unitary adapter by snapping the plates together under pressure.

Battery charger adapter including snap type assembly means

A multiple-cell battery charger includes a housing having an open end leading to a chamber in the housing and adapted to receive battery cells of a pre-determined size in side-by-side abutting relation and another end having an opening which is adapted to retain the battery cells in said housing but permit removal when desired, one at a time, in a first in, first out order. An elongate negative contactor strip and an elongate positive connector buss strip are coupled to the leads of a D.C. power supply source and are positioned along opposite sides in the housing. The negative strip is formed with detent contact portions, each for making electrical contact with the negative terminal of a cell. Contact members are electrically coupled to the positive connector strip and are positioned to contact the positive terminal of individual cells. As preferably embodied, each contact member includes a heat generating circuit element, and a liquid crystal indicator is mounted to the housing, adjacent each heat generating circuit element.

Multiple-battery battery charger

A one piece molded, plastic body has two plate-like portions interconnected at associated edges by an integral hinge. The portions have molded in pockets for receiving a diode and transistor, and energy concentrator.

Growing community of inventors

Gainesville, FL, United States of America

Raymond K Sugalski