Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7210220 | Apparatus for and method of forming seals in fuel cells and fuel stacks A sealing technique is provided for forming complex and multiple seal configurations for fuel cells and other electrochemical cells. To provide a seal, for sealing chambers for oxidant, fuel and/or coolant, a groove network is provided extending through the various ... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7128143 | Externally activated seal system for wellhead A method and apparatus for a seal assembly for a unitized wellhead system for land or platform applications utilizes a friction grip technology to create maintainable metal-to-metal seals with finely-controlled contact stresses, lock-down casing and tubing hangers, ... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7096565 | Flanged inner conductor coaxial resonators A method and apparatus for making an inner conductor from a conductive body integrally forms a flange on one end of the conductive body. The flange is formed integral to the conductive body by flaring the end of the conductive body. The size and shape of the flange ... | 08/29/2006 |
| 6944942 | Apparatus for one-step rotary forming of uniform expanded mesh A single step method and apparatus for the production of expanded metal mesh from deformable metal strip such as lead or lead-alloy strip for use in lead-acid battery manufacture. The apparatus comprises a pair of opposed rolls each having a plurality of spaced disc... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6740131 | Apparatus for automatically fabricating fuel cell An apparatus and method provide for automated converting of a web of a thin patterned catalyst-coated membrane to separate membrane sheets for fuel cell assembly. The membrane typically has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. Automated web converting inv... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6685753 | Method of installing an edge piece on a battery plate and apparatus for performing same A method for placing an edge piece on a battery plate includes bending a thin strip of bendable plastic material into an open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then cut into an edge piece having a length which is substantially equal to the edge of the... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6656232 | Electrode for battery, manufacturing method thereof, and apparatus for it An apparatus for manufacturing a battery electrode from foamed metal electrode material includes first and second rollers which are parallel to each other at a shaft center, and rotatable in directions opposite to each other, and a guide bar which is betw... | 12/02/2003 |
| 6613106 | Membrane electrode assemblies Membrane electrode assemblies are described that include an ion conductive membrane a catalyst adjacent to the major surfaces of the ion conductive membrane and a porous particle filled polymer membrane adjacent to the ion conductive membrane. The catalys... | 09/02/2003 |
| 6442811 | Battery plate stacker and method A battery plate stacker is delineated for enveloping expanded metal battery plates and stacking positive and negative plates in an alternating pattern, comprising, a battery plate feeder; a carrier coupled to the battery plate feeder; and a wire flattener... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6327774 | Assembling machine for negative electrode plate for Ni-MH batteries and assembly process thereof The present invention relates to an assembling machine for Ni-MH batteries and an assembly process thereof, more particularly, to an automated assembling machine for a negative electrode plate Ni-MH battery wherein the negative electrode plate for Ni-MH b... | 12/11/2001 |
| 6238445 | Apparatus for assembling a battery The method of heating a battery case with a case heater is disclosed comprising the steps of rapidly moving the case heater into engagement with the battery case. After engagement of the case heater with the battery case, the case heater is slowly moved a... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6122820 | Battery plate stacker including a wire flattener module A battery plate stacker is delineated for enveloping expanded metal battery plates and stacking positive and negative plates in an alternating pattern, comprising, a battery plate feeder; a carrier coupled to the battery plate feeder; and a wire flattener... | 09/26/2000 |
| 6035518 | Method for preparing a cylindrical separator, a tool usable for the method and a cylindrical cell with the separator A method for preparing a cylindrical separator from sheet material and for inserting the separator in the cylindrical anode space of a semi-finished cell, in which the separator is wound from a sheet material around a mandrel to have a diameter smaller th... | 03/14/2000 |
| 5983488 | Sol-casting of molten carbonate fuel cell matrices A process for manufacture of molten carbonate fuel cell matrices in which an aluminate precursor material and a lithium salt are mixed in an aqueous or organic solvent, resulting in formation of a suspension, the suspension is heated to a temperature less... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5803935 | Device for conveying and sectioning of separator strip A device for conveying and sectioning of separator strip in devices for producing pockets for battery plates with a conveyor means which conveys the separator strip to a device for dividing the separator strip into separator strip sections, and with anoth... | 09/08/1998 |
| 5626989 | Quasi-solid plate storage battery A storage battery having various cell constructions to increase the surface-to-weight ratio of active material exposed to electrolyte ions, to reduce internal resistance, and to extend the life of the battery is provided. One configuration for the battery... | 05/06/1997 |
| 5607484 | Method of forming battery plate assemblies for wet storage cell batteries Battery plate envelopes include a sheet of porous film material having a folded widthwise bottom edge and overlapped lateral edges to thereby form a pocket for receiving a battery plate therein. The overlapped lateral edges are joined to one another by a ... | 03/04/1997 |
| 5578397 | Electrode plate for an electrochemical cell and having a metal foam type support, and a method of manufacturing such an electrode plate A method for forming an electrode plate which includes an active portion pasted with active material and a plate head which includes a connection tab. The plate head is constituted by the same metal foam as the plate support, but the density of the metal ... | 11/26/1996 |
| 5503949 | Plate block for lead batteries In a plate block for lead batteries having plates of one polarity with plate lugs which are thicker than the plate lugs of the plates of the other polarity, an equalization of the volumes and of the areas of the two lug types is achieved by providing the ... | 04/02/1996 |
| 5490867 | Method of making a rectangular nickel-metal hydride secondary cell A rectangular nickel-metal hydride secondary cell permits improving the air-tightness and-also permits preventing a metal case from being deformed in the step of folding an open end portion of the metal case. The rectangular nickel-metal hydride secondary... | 02/13/1996 |
| 5234473 | Heating platen transfer device A heating platen transfer device and method for use with a battery heat seal machine of the type that is used for sealing a top cover to a battery container. The mobile platen transfer device is used with the machine to quickly and safely remove an outgoi... | 08/10/1993 |
| 5202198 | Battery construction and method of connecting terminals to electrodes A lead acid storage battery and method of making same wherein a plurality of plate lugs are welded to a plate strap while a bed of insulating particulates (e.g., glass beads) at the roots of the lugs underlie the strap during welding to insulate the batte... | 04/13/1993 |
| 5154731 | Separator for electrochemical cell and process for assembling it into the cell An electrochemical cell, such as an alkaline cell, employing at least two separator strips in which the strips have notches appropriately placed so that when the separator is formed into a closed end cylindrical configuration it will have substantially no... | 10/13/1992 |
| 5152806 | Battery heat sealing machine and method A battery heat seal machine and method for sealing a top cover to a battery container. The machine has a one-piece heating platen with thermal expansion features which eliminate stress on the platen bearings that support the platen. A new type of top cove... | 10/06/1992 |
| 5140744 | Modular multicell battery and rack A multicell storage battery may be assembled to fit various floor space and height requirements by using standardized multicell modules having keyed connector means such that the modules can be connected only in selected orientations which facilitate the ... | 08/25/1992 |
| 5075958 | Separator for electrochemical cell and process for the assembling it into the cell An electrochemical cell, such as an alkaline cell, employing a multi-strip separator formed into a closed end cylindrical configuration and where an electrically insulating barrier, such as a plastic film, is disposed at the bottom surface of the separato... | 12/31/1991 |
| 5044070 | Method and apparatus for the fabrication of wire anodes for electrolytic capacitors Disclosed is a method for the fabrication of wire anodes for electrolytic capacitors, the wires being obtained by the compacting of a wire, made of anodizable material, in the cavity of a compression sleeve under the effect of a piston, the wire going thr... | 09/03/1991 |
| 5025551 | Method for the assembly of lead-acid batteries and associated apparatus A method of making a lead-acid battery includes providing continuous lengths of end separator stock, positive plate stock, intermediate separator stock and negative plate stock with optional use of end separators. The separators, positive plates and negat... | 06/25/1991 |
| 5024675 | Apparatus for filling and sealing alkali metal electrode containers for alkali metal energy conversion devices and method of filling alkali metal electrode containers for alkali metal energy conversion devices The present invention discloses an apparatus with entry, filling and sealing, and exit chambers through which a carriage holding alkali metal containers may be transferred. The drive for the carriage in each chamber is cantilevered to facilitate transfer ... | 06/18/1991 |
| 4930327 | Battery core wrapping method and apparatus Apparatus for the fabrication of rechargeable battery cores formed of component layers of electrically conductive layers and inter-leafed electrically insulating layers in a coil-like manner comprising an arbor rotatable about its axis for the receipt and... | 06/05/1990 |
| 4822377 | Method for sealing an electrochemical cell employing an improved reinforced cover assembly Disclosed is a resealable vent, reinforced cover assembly for sealing a rechargeable electrochemical cell. Also disclosed herein, is a method of fabricating a reinforced cover assembly for a rechargeable electrochemical cell, a method of employing said co... | 04/18/1989 |
| 4788764 | Method of making a unitized electrode assembly A battery assembly of the consumable metal anode type has now been constructed for ready assembly as well as disassembly. In a non-conductive and at least substantially inert cell body, space is provided for receiving an open-structured, non-consumable an... | 12/06/1988 |
| 4724604 | Method of manufacturing a part with a coil A method for fitting a ring coil in a channel formed in the inner circumference surface of a hollow cylindrical member comprises a step of deforming the ring coil by applying a force to one or more portions thereof radially outwardly. The deformation of t... | 02/16/1988 |
| 4679316 | Apparatus for forming and inserting cell separator baskets A primary cell separator basket is formed from sheet material folded upon itself to form a basket bottom at the fold and bonded along margins in face to face contact extending from the fold. One or both sheet faces between the bonded margins are crowned o... | 07/14/1987 |
| 4656736 | Apparatus for sealing a cylindrical storage cell An apparatus for sealing a cylindrical storage cell comprises a main holder accommodating the storage cell, an auxiliary holder accommodating a rod, and a means for rolling-in the housing of the cylindrical storage cell including two shafts secured coaxia... | 04/14/1987 |
| 4583286 | Apparatus and method for processing and transferring battery cell elements A system for assembling, processing and transferring battery cell elements including a plurality of element assemblers and an exit conveyor having a plurality of element conveying lanes. Each element assembler includes element transfer and processing appa... | 04/22/1986 |
| 4525923 | Heat sealing machine for bonding battery covers and battery casings together A heat sealing machine for joining a battery casing and battery cover comprising a battery casing heating station and a battery cover preheating station operatively supported on a machine support frame, the battery casing heating station including a batte... | 07/02/1985 |
| 4485959 | Means for welding intercell connections An apparatus for welding through-the-partition intercell connections in a lead-acid battery container wherein each partition has at least two spaced apertures therein for making such intercell connections includes in the exemplary embodiment three weld st... | 12/04/1984 |
| 4369571 | Shuttle plate guide for automatic winding machines An apparatus for feeding separator strips and plate blanks to an automatic battery cell winding machine, the apparatus having a frame member, guide means on the frame member for guiding a separator strip, a clamp for clamping the separator strip, feeding ... | 01/25/1983 |
| 4306355 | Method and apparatus for automatically installing covers on lead-acid battery cells A method for automatically installing covers on industrial lead-acid battery cells including the steps of placing cell groups within a cell jar, then automatically straightening the posts of the group. The cover is then placed on the jar containing the gr... | 12/22/1981 |
