Method for forming a dry charge-type battery itself

• US 3,967,980 A
• Filed: 07/08/1974
• Issued: 07/06/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bankers Trust Company
• Original Assignee: Gould, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sabatino, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/486,659
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 136/176, 136/34
• 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: H01M 4/22 Forming of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a lead-acid storage battery, capable of being stored after completing the battery processing and thereafter activated by the addition of electrolyte, includes forming the battery elements and treating the battery elements such that sufficient acid, in one form or another, will be retained in the elements to provide a battery operating electrolyte with a specific gravity in the range of from about 1.260 to 1.290, preferably about 1.265, upon activation with standard activation electrolyte, and charging if necessary. Completion of the processing involves draining the battery, reducing the amount of retained acid to a specified amount below the amount the battery elements are capable of retaining when saturated and suitably sealing.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a lead-acid storage battery including a container having a plurality of cell compartments and a plurality of battery elements consisting of a plurality of positive and negative plates with separators positioned therebetween, the battery elements being electrically connected, to provide a battery capable of being stored and thereafter activated by the addition of activation electrolyte, and, if required, charging, which comprises forming the plates by bringing said plates into contact with a formation electrolyte and applying current thereto at levels and for time to reach the desired end-of-charge voltage, treating the battery elements such that sufficient acid will be retained in the elements to provide, upon activation, including the addition of activation electrolyte having a specific gravity of about 1.265, a battery operating electrolyte having a specific gravity in the range of from about 1.260 to 1.290, the formation electrolyte being drained from the battery and said treating being carried out by adding a development electrolyte and allowing the development electrolyte to diffuse into and saturate the battery elements and mix with the residual formation electrolyte therein, draining the battery leaving the battery elements substantially saturated, reducing the level of residual acid retained in the battery plates sufficiently below saturation so that, on standing, the retained acid will not migrate to the outer surfaces of the battery elements so as to form liquid bridges between the plates and separators that result in crystal growth and clusters of crystals creating internal shorts, and sealing the battery.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said treating is carried out so as to provide a battery operating electrolyte having a specific gravity of about 1.265.

3. A method of manufacturing a lead-acid storage battery including a container having a plurality of cell compartments and a plurality of battery elements consisting of a plurality of positive and negative plates with separators positioned therebetween, the battery elements being electrically connected, to provide a battery capable of being stored and thereafter activated by the addition of activation electrolyte, and, if required, charging, which comprises forming the plates by bringing said plates into contact with a formation electrolyte and applying current thereto at levels and for time to reach the desired end-of-charge voltage, treating the battery elements such that sufficient acid will be retained in the elements to provide, upon activation, including the addition of activation electrolyte having a specific gravity of about 1.265, a battery operating electrolyte having a specific gravity in the range of from about 1.260 to 1.290, said treating being carried out by partially discharging the formed battery elements, draining the battery leaving the battery elements substantially saturated, reducing the level of residual acid retained in the battery plates sufficiently below saturation so that, on standing, the retained acid will not migrate to the outer surfaces of the battery elements so as to form liquid bridges between the plates and separators that result in crystal growth and clusters of crystals creating internal shorts, and sealing the battery.