Patent ID: 6555265
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y02T

Abstract:
A valve-regulated lead acid battery cell of flat plural-tab plates, comprising:an axially layered plurality of charged and oppositely-charged flat plural-tab plates, another plurality of separator media interleaved between at least that much of the flat plates generally exclusive of any tabs, and axially extending busbars arranged traversing the layers; a sealed case providing a compartment for said cell and adapted for supporting the plates upright in generally vertical planes; each upright plate having, exclusive of the tabs, spaced side edges extending between a spaced top and bottom edge, and further having top and bottom tabs protruding from the respective top and bottom edges which are co-planar with the rest of the flat plate; the busbars including parallel charged and oppositely-charged upper busbars disposed across the top edges of the layered plates and connected with the top tabs of the charged and oppositely-charged plates respectively, as well as parallel charged and oppositely-charged lower busbars disposed under the bottom edges of the layered plates and connected with the bottom tabs of the charged and oppositely-charged plates respectively; wherein each busbar either is adapted for direct connection to a terminal protruding externally from the case and/or alternatively is adapted for being in series by a fused linking connection with a like and axially-aligned busbar of alternate charge belonging to a like cell in a like and adjacent compartment across a cell partition of the case including for servicing by a distant connection with another terminal that protrudes externally from the case, said case accordingly providing charged and oppositely-charged upper terminals concurrently with charged and oppositely-charged lower terminals such that thermal transmission of current-resistive heating effects from the plates is conducted by the upper and lower parallel charged and oppositely-charged busbars to destinations externally from the case through the upper and lower charged and oppositely-charged terminals, concurrently, in order to eliminate or substantially reduce thermal gradients especially cooler lower regions, and thus achieve more even temperatures throughout said cell, which correspondingly eliminates or substantially reduces various deleterious consequences including preferential sulphation in cooler regions.