The present invention relates to a multifunctional web for use in a lead-acid battery comprising natural fibers and heat-sealable fibers, the use of the multifunctional web in a lead-acid battery, a lead plate comprising a metal grid coated with a lead paste contacting the multifunctional web, a method of preparing the lead plate and a lead-acid battery assembly comprising the lead plate.

The present invention relates to a multifunctional web for use in a lead-acid battery comprising natural fibers and heat-sealable fibers, the use of the multifunctional web in a lead-acid battery, a lead plate comprising a metal grid coated with a lead paste contacting the multifunctional web, a method of preparing the lead plate and a lead-acid battery assembly comprising the lead plate.

An apparatus for separating battery plates comprising a work surface for receiving a stack of battery plates, and an alignment mechanism for aligning the battery plates on the work surface. The work surface is movable between a first position in which it is angled with respect to a horizontal plane and a second position in which it is substantially aligned with the horizontal plane. When the work surface moves between the first and second position adjacent battery plates of the stack are displaced relative to each other.

A method for impregnating an active paste into a fibre material in the manufacture of an electrode of a lead acid battery or cell, comprises moving a fibre material through a confined pasting zone also containing a Pb-based paste, while vibrating and maintaining a pressure on the paste, to continuously impregnate the paste into the fibre material. A paste impregnating machine is also disclosed, with a fibre material feed system, and which may use a lug along the fibre material to draw the fibre material through the paste application stage.

The present disclosure provides a multi-physics engineered multi-material electrode grid plate for improved performance of a battery having uniform current collection and transport. The grid comprises a plurality of vertical grid wires (102, 406), a plurality of horizontal grid wires (104, 404), a plurality of frame grid wires, wherein the vertical grid wires (102, 406) and the horizontal grid wires (104, 404) provided between the frame grid wires for current transport. An active material current collector (108, 408) is provided for current collection and an active material utilization enhancer (601) is configured in a lateral cross-section of the grid wires ((102, 406) (104, 404)) with maximum surface perimeter.

A shoe for dispensing a molten metal such as lead into a mold cavity of a rotating drum to continuously cast a web of a plurality of serially connected grids or battery composite electrodes of a carbon fiber material with a cast metal conductor. The shoe may have at least one elongate orifice slot in a face confronting the drum, a molten metal supply passage communicating with the orifice slot and an excess molten metal return slot opening into the confronting face downstream of the supply slot relative generally to the direction of rotation of the drum.

A conductive current collector with modified surfaces can be included as a portion of a bipolar battery assembly. The modification process can include deposition or formation of a thin-film layer such as metal silicide or a metal nitride on a surface of the current collector. As an illustration, metal silicides can be created by co-sputtering or by annealing after deposition of one or more of a silicon or a metal layer. Additional layers can be provided, such as to facilitate adhesion of an active material to a current collector having a silicide or nitride surface.

A conductive current collector with modified surfaces can be included as a portion of a bipolar battery assembly. The modification process can include deposition or formation of a thin-film layer such as metal silicide or a metal nitride on a surface of the current collector. As an illustration, metal silicides can be created by co-sputtering or by annealing after deposition of one or more of a silicon or a metal layer. Additional layers can be provided, such as to facilitate adhesion of an active material to a current collector having a silicide or nitride surface.

An electrical storage device includes high surface area fibers (e.g., shaped fibers and/or microfibers) coated with carbon (graphite, expanded graphite, activated carbon, carbon black, carbon nanofibers, CNT, or graphite coated CNT), electrolyte, and/or electrode active material (e.g., lead oxide) in electrodes. The electrodes are used to form electrical storage devices such as electrochemical batteries, electrochemical double layer capacitors, and asymmetrical capacitors.

An electrical storage device includes high surface area fibers (e.g., shaped fibers and/or microfibers) coated with carbon (graphite, expanded graphite, activated carbon, carbon black, carbon nanofibers, CNT, or graphite coated CNT), electrolyte, and/or electrode active material (e.g., lead oxide) in electrodes. The electrodes are used to form electrical storage devices such as electrochemical batteries, electrochemical double layer capacitors, and asymmetrical capacitors.