The present invention relates to a lead delivery apparatus (10) for a cast on strap machine arranged to deliver a predetermined volume of molten lead to a mould. The apparatus comprises a first needle valve (40), a second needle valve (50), and a housing (19). The housing (19) comprises a reservoir (30) having an inlet (31) and an outlet (32). The reservoir inlet (31) is in fluid communication with a molten lead supply. The reservoir (30) is supplied with molten lead during use such that the molten lead in the reservoir (30) is maintained at a constant height (34). The reservoir outlet (32) is defined in a lower portion of the reservoir (30) and is selectively openable and closable by the first needle valve (40). The apparatus (10) also comprises a volume block (20) having an inlet (22), an outlet (24) and a through cavity (26). The volume block inlet (22) is in fluid communication with the reservoir outlet (24), and the volume block inlet (22) is located below the reservoir outlet (24). The through cavity (26) together with the second needle valve (50) defines the predetermined volume of molten lead received from the reservoir (30) via the reservoir outlet (32). The volume block outlet (24) is selectively openable and closable by the second needle valve (50). The first needle valve (40) is selectively moveable between a first position and a second position, such that in a first position the reservoir outlet (32) is closed and the flow of molten lead between the reservoir (30) and the volume block (20) is prevented, and in a second position the reservoir outlet (32) is open, such that the flow of molten lead between the reservoir (30) and the volume block (20) is permitted until an equilibrium position has been reached, which defines the predetermined volume. Moreover, the second needle valve (50) is selectively moveable between a first position and a second position, such that in a first position the volume block outlet (24) is closed and the flow of molten lead between the volume block (20) and a mould is prevented, and in a second position the volume block outlet (24) is open, such that the predefined volume of molten lead is permitted to flow between the volume block (20) and the mould.

A system and method of manufacturing an aluminum fuel cell cradle are provided. The method comprises providing a negative cast mold having cavities to form the cradle having a length greater than a width to define a longitudinal axis and providing a feeding mechanism disposed about the mold and in fluid communication with the cavities thereof. The feeding mechanism comprises primary risers connected to and in fluid communication with the cavities. The method further comprises melting a first metallic material to define a molten metallic material, moving the mold to a vertical orientation about the longitudinal axis while feeding molten metallic material through the runner to the cavities, and moving the cast mold to a horizontal orientation. A second solidification time in the risers is greater than a first solidification time in the mold such that shrinkage of the solidified metallic material occurs in the risers away from the mold.

A system and method of manufacturing an aluminum fuel cell cradle are provided. The method comprises providing a negative cast mold having cavities to form the cradle having a length greater than a width to define a longitudinal axis and providing a feeding mechanism disposed about the mold and in fluid communication with the cavities thereof. The feeding mechanism comprises primary risers connected to and in fluid communication with the cavities. The method further comprises melting a first metallic material to define a molten metallic material, moving the mold to a vertical orientation about the longitudinal axis while feeding molten metallic material through the runner to the cavities, and moving the cast mold to a horizontal orientation. A second solidification time in the risers is greater than a first solidification time in the mold such that shrinkage of the solidified metallic material occurs in the risers away from the mold.

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 method of making an apparatus for continuously casting a lead alloy strip includes providing a drum having an aluminum outer circumferential casting surface. The outer circumferential casting surface of the drum is abraded with an angular abrading medium to wear away material from the aluminum outer circumferential casting surface of the drum and to create a coarse, irregular, and non-smooth abraded casting surface configured to reduce the rate of heat transfer and slow cooling of the lead alloy strip cast on the abraded casting surface.

A method of making an apparatus for continuously casting a lead alloy strip includes providing a drum having an aluminum outer circumferential casting surface. The outer circumferential casting surface of the drum is abraded with an angular abrading medium to wear away material from the aluminum outer circumferential casting surface of the drum and to create a coarse, irregular, and non-smooth abraded casting surface configured to reduce the rate of heat transfer and slow cooling of the lead alloy strip cast on the abraded casting surface.

The application relates to an apparatus and to a method for moulding battery components using an apparatus comprising: a mould block having a plurality of mould cavities; a molten metal feed trough adjacent to the mould block and extending in a generally longitudinal direction along the mould block; a plurality of weirs between the feed trough and each of the cavities; a supply for providing molten metal to the trough; wherein the feed trough is provided with at least one volume adjustment mechanism, which is operable to alter the volume of the feed trough.

The application relates to an apparatus and to a method for moulding battery components using an apparatus comprising: a mould block having a plurality of mould cavities; a molten metal feed trough adjacent to the mould block and extending in a generally longitudinal direction along the mould block; a plurality of weirs between the feed trough and each of the cavities; a supply for providing molten metal to the trough; wherein the feed trough is provided with at least one volume adjustment mechanism, which is operable to alter the volume of the feed trough.

An apparatus for moulding battery components comprising a molten metal feed trough 130, a mould block 100 adjacent to the mould block, a weir 133 between the feed trough and each cavity and a supply 132 for feeding molten metal to the feed trough. The mould block has at least one mould cavity 110 and a cooling arrangement which cools the mould block, and the mould block is provided with a heating arrangement 150 adjacent to the or each mould cavity. In use, the heating arrangement maintains at least part of the, or each, mould cavity at an elevated temperature relative to the average operational temperature of the mould block.

An apparatus for moulding battery components comprising a molten metal feed trough 130, a mould block 100 adjacent to the mould block, a weir 133 between the feed trough and each cavity and a supply 132 for feeding molten metal to the feed trough. The mould block has at least one mould cavity 110 and a cooling arrangement which cools the mould block, and the mould block is provided with a heating arrangement 150 adjacent to the or each mould cavity. In use, the heating arrangement maintains at least part of the, or each, mould cavity at an elevated temperature relative to the average operational temperature of the mould block.