METHOD OF MAKING A DRY CHARGED BATTERY

• US 3,652,341 A
• Filed: 05/12/1970
• Issued: 03/28/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
• Original Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
• Inventors: Halsall, Vincent Michael, Mrotek, Edward Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, Donald L.
• Time in patent office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 136/33,76,34,176
• US Class Current: 29/623.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/128 Processes for forming or storing electrodes in the battery container
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing

Abstract

A charged storage battery having improved low temperature activation performance characteristics upon the addition of electrolyte is made by installing assembled battery elements into the container cell compartments; electrically connecting the battery elements; filling the cell compartments with the forming electrolyte, with or without the cover installed; forming the battery elements into a fully charged state; removing about 70 to about 97 (preferably about 77 to 87) weight per cent of the forming acid, based upon the total weight of the forming acid in the battery after formation, by applying an accelerative force (preferably a centrifugal force) to the battery; and installing means to seal the battery against the ingress of air into the cell compartments. In a preferred embodiment, the low temperature activation performance of the battery is further improved by allowing the battery elements to stand in the forming electrolyte for a time period after the forming step and then applying a boost charge to the battery elements prior to removing the forming acid.

Claims

1. A method for producing a fully charged battery capable of being activated by the addition of electrolyte which comprises a container having at least one cell compartment and at least one battery element composed of a plurality of positive and negative plates with separators disposed therebetween including the steps:

a. installing said battery elements into said cell compartment;

b. adding forming electrolyte to said cell compartment;

c. forming said battery element;

d. removing from about 70 to about 97 weight percent of said forming electrolyte, based on the total weight of the forming electrolyte in said battery after completion of the forming step, by applying an accelerative force to said battery; and

e. installing sealing means onto said battery to prevent the ingress of air into said cell compartment.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said accelerative force is a centrifugal force.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising, after completion of step (c) but before step (d), allowing said battery element to stand in said forming electrolyte for a time period sufficient for said positive plates to self-discharge a finite amount and then boost charging said battery element to a fully charged state.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein a cover having at least one filling port corresponding to said cell compartment is installed after step (d) but prior to step (e).

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein said stand time period is from about 1 hour to about 72 hours.

6. The method according to claim 3 wherein said accelerative force is a centrifugal force.

7. The method according to claim 4 wherein said sealing means is installed onto said filling port.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein said stand time period is from about 1 hour to about 72 hours.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the amount of said forming electrolyte removed during step (d) is from about 77 to about 87 weight percent.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said boost charge is from about 2 to about 10 amps and is applied to said battery element for a time period from about 1 hour to about 3 hours.

11. A method for producing a fully charged storage battery capable of being activated by the addition of electrolyte which comprises a container having a plurality of cell compartments and a plurality of battery elements composed of a plurality of positive and negative plates with separators positioned therebetween including the steps:

a. installing said battery elements into said cell compartments;

b. electrically connecting said battery elements;

c. filling each of said cell compartments with forming electrolyte;

d. forming said battery elements;

e. allowing said battery elements to stand in said forming electrolyte for at least 1 hour;

f. boost charging said battery elements to a fully charged state;

g. removing from about 70 to about 97 weight percent of forming electrolyte, based upon a total weight of the forming electrolyte in said battery after completion of the forming step, by applying an accelerative force to said battery;

h. installing a cover having at least one filling port corresponding to each cell compartment onto said container; and

i. installing sealing means onto said battery to prevent the ingress of air into said cell compartments.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein Said accelerative force is a centrifugal force.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the amount of said forming acid removed during step (g) is from about 77 to about 87 weight percent.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein said sealing means is installed over said filling ports.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein said stand time period is from about 8 hours to about 48 hours.