JPH0214121Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an improvement of a spacer for a storage battery that is inserted in contact with a group of electrode plates in order to apply a pressing force to the group of electrode plates housed in a battery case.

Conventionally, in the case of storage battery electrode plates, in addition to interposing a separator between the negative and anode plates, a glass mat is placed on the anode plate side to press the surface of the anode plate to prevent the active material from falling off. This is normally done, but if the electrolyte in the battery sag and the volume decreases, the pressing force applied to the electrode plate group by pressing the glass mat becomes weak.
Vibrations of the storage battery can cause the active material to fall off the grid surface of the electrode plate, shortening the life of the storage battery.
In addition, when applying a pressing force stronger than necessary in advance,
There is a drawback that the state in which the electrolytic solution permeates into the electrode plate group, that is, the state in which the electrolytic solution is diffused and circulated becomes poor, which also causes deterioration in the performance of the storage battery. However, as mentioned above, due to variations in the thickness of the electrode plates, separators, and glass mats, even if the thickness of the electrode plate group is not uniform, the battery case housing the electrode plate group may have the same internal dimensions. Even in these cases, the pressing force applied to the electrode plate group must be within the required value range, and for this purpose, the relative orientation of the side of the electrode plate group and the battery case must be adjusted. A pressurizing auxiliary plate, that is, a spacer (also referred to as a "spacer") is inserted in accordance with the gap formed between the inner surface of the side wall and the inner surface of the side wall. Conventionally, the spacing body is made of paper reinforced with inelastic synthetic resin, etc., in the form of a flat plate, or a plate with corrugated ribs, depending on the width of the gap between both sides of the electrode group and the inner wall of the battery case. In order to obtain the required pressing force, the thickness of the spacer must be taken into account, and the number of sheets inserted must be increased or decreased to obtain the required pressure. It had some drawbacks.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks, and the flat glass mat body with elasticity and the required thickness is formed by interlacing glass fibers vertically and horizontally, and is made of polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., which has acid and oxidation resistance. It is enclosed in a sealed bag made of thermoplastic synthetic resin, and is inserted between both ends of the electrode group and the opposing inner wall of the battery case using the elasticity of the glass mat to fill the gap. Regardless of the width variation, the spacing body having the elastic glass mat body can expand and contract, so it is possible to reliably fill the gap and apply pressing force to the electrode plate group. This, together with the glass mat interposed between the anode plate and the separator, can prevent the active material from falling off the anode plate.
In addition, by enclosing the glass mat body in the sealed bag, it becomes an elastic spacer that contracts when pressed in advance and expands to gently restore its original shape after insertion. A spacer for a storage battery that does not allow electrolyte to penetrate, so the glass mat body does not set, and the amount of electrolyte can be reduced by a volume corresponding to the volume of the spacer, contributing to a reduction in battery weight. It is.

To explain one embodiment of the present invention, 1 is a flat glass mat body formed into a mat shape by intersecting glass fibers vertically and horizontally, and the thickness of the glass mat body 1 is an electrode plate with the minimum thickness within the range of variation. In addition, when a group of electrode plates composed of separators and glass mats is inserted into a battery case, the width is approximately the same as the maximum gap width that is expected to occur between the end plates on both sides of the group of electrode plates and the inner wall surface of the case. It is thicker than the glass mat interposed between the anode plate and the separator plate. 2 and 2' are thin films or thin plates made of acid- and oxidation-resistant thermoplastic synthetic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene attached to both the front and back surfaces of the glass mat body 1. The thin films 2, 2' or the thin plates 2, 2' are welded together front and back on the four circumferential sides of the glass mat body 1 sandwiched between the thin films 2, 2' or the thin plates 2, 2' to form a welded part 3. The glass mat body 1 is formed into a sealed bag and is enclosed in the sealed bag.

As mentioned above, the storage battery spacing body made of a glass mat body enclosed in a sealed bag has excellent acid and oxidation resistance due to the sealed bag body, and the glass mat body does not sag inside the battery, and the elasticity of the glass mat body is excellent. Therefore, it can be expanded and contracted freely, and therefore, when the gap to be inserted is narrow, it can be pressed and contracted before insertion, and after insertion, the glass mat body gradually restores its original shape and closes together with the sealed bag body. Since sufficient pressing force can be applied to the plate group, the required pressing force can be applied to the electrode plate group together with the elasticity of the glass mat interposed between the anode plate and the separator plate that make up the electrode plate group. Therefore, the effect of preventing the cathode plate active material from falling off is doubled, and the amount of electrolyte can be reduced by the volume of the inserted spacer, which can also contribute to reducing the weight of the battery. The practical value is extremely great.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a thin film or thin plate is brought into contact with a glass mat body in the spacer for a storage battery of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a welded portion on the outer peripheral surface of the spacer, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a welded portion on the outer peripheral surface of the spacer. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a spacer for a storage battery according to the present invention, which is formed by welding and sealing the welded portion in FIG. 2; 1 is a glass mat body, 2 and 2' are thin films or thin plates, and 3 is a welded part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A spacer for a storage battery, in which a flat glass mat body of a required thickness and having elasticity formed by intersecting glass fibers vertically and horizontally is enclosed in a sealed bag body made of a synthetic resin having acid and oxidation resistance.