The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 01, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1996
Hiroyuki Hasebe, Kawasaki, JP;
Shusuke Inada, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshiyuki Isozaki, Chigasaki, JP;
Takamichi Inaba, Yokohama, JP;
Takao Sawa, Yokohama, JP;
Hiromichi Horie, Yokosuka, JP;
Noriaki Yagi, Yokohama, JP;
Hiromi Shizu, Fujisawa, JP;
Yoshiko Kanazawa, Yokohama, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kawasaki, JP;
Abstract
A hydrogen-absorbing alloy for battery according to the present invention comprises an alloy having the composition represented by a general formula A Ni.sub.a Mn.sub.b M.sub.c �where, A is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements including Y (yttrium), M is a metal mainly composed of at least one kind of element selected from Co, Al, Fe, Si, Cr, Cu, Ti, Zr, Zn, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Ag, Pd, B, Ga, In, Ge and Sn, 3.5.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.5, 0.1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.1, 4.5.ltoreq.a+b+c.ltoreq.6!, wherein the alloy has columnar structures in which the area ratio of the columnar structures having the ratio of a minor diameter to a major diameter (aspect ratio) of 1:2 or higher is 50% or more. Further, an average minor diameter of the columnar structures is set to 30 microns or less. With this arrangement, there can be provided a nickel-metal hydride battery capable of satisfying the three leading characteristics of a high electrode capacity, long life and good rising-up all together.