Battery sealing inspection method
First Claim
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1. A method of inspecting sealing properties of a nickel metal hydride battery, comprising the steps of:
- charging and discharging the nickel metal hydride battery;
then placing the nickel metal hydride battery within a sealed vessel;
evacuating the interior of the sealed vessel and maintaining a predetermined low pressure level for a period of time;
measuring density of a gas within the sealed vessel, the gas being a gas generated within the nickel metal hydride battery; and
determining whether there is a gas leak from the nickel metal hydride battery by comparing the measured gas density with a preliminarily obtained reference value.
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Abstract
A battery which has undergone initial charging and discharging is placed inside a sealed vessel, which is evacuated by a vacuum pump. After this evacuated state has been maintained for a while, the density of hydrogen gas within the sealed vessel is measured by a hydrogen density sensor, based on which the presence or absence of a gas escape from the battery is determined. The battery may be heated instead of subjecting it to charging and discharging.
24 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of inspecting sealing properties of a nickel metal hydride battery, comprising the steps of:
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charging and discharging the nickel metal hydride battery;
then placing the nickel metal hydride battery within a sealed vessel;
evacuating the interior of the sealed vessel and maintaining a predetermined low pressure level for a period of time;
measuring density of a gas within the sealed vessel, the gas being a gas generated within the nickel metal hydride battery; and
determining whether there is a gas leak from the nickel metal hydride battery by comparing the measured gas density with a preliminarily obtained reference value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of inspecting sealing properties of a nickel metal hydride battery, comprising the steps of:
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placing the nickel metal hydride battery which has been filled with electrolyte and has been sealed inside a sealed vessel;
heating the nickel metal hydride battery;
evacuating the interior of the sealed vessel and maintaining a predetermined low pressure level for a period of time;
measuring density of a gas within the sealed vessel, the gas being a gas generated within the nickel metal hydride battery; and
determining whether there is a gas leak from the nickel metal hydride battery by comparing the measured gas density with a preliminarily obtained reference value. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for inspecting sealing properties of a nickel metal hydride battery, comprising:
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a vessel for housing therein a nickel metal hydride battery to be inspected, provided with a vacuum pump so as to be evacuated;
a hydrogen density sensor connected to the vacuum pump; and
means for switchably connecting the vacuum pump with the hydrogen density sensor, the vacuum pump with atmosphere, and the hydrogen density sensor with atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification