A secondary battery is disclosed. In one aspect, the secondary battery includes a case accommodating an electrode assembly, a cap plate sealing an opening of the case, an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly and disposed over the cap, and an insulating member provided between the cap plate and the electrode terminal and configured to insulate the electrode terminal from the cap plate. The battery also includes a connection tab disposed over the electrode terminal, and a safety device having a portion positioned under the connection tab and electrically connected to the electrode terminal via the connection tab. The safety device has at least one of electric conductivity and thermal conductivity greater than that of the connection tab, and at least a part of the safety device is seated on the insulating member.

The present invention relates to processes that may be used singly or in combination to prevent lithium (or alkali metal) plating or dendrite buildup on bare substrate areas or edges of electrode rolls during alkaliation of a battery or electrochemical cell anode composed of a conductive substrate and coatings, in which the electrode rolls may be coated on one or both sides and may have exposed substrate on edges, or on continuous or discontinuous portions of either or both substrate surfaces.

The object of the present invention is to provide a positive electrode active material usable for a lithium ion battery capable of high charge/discharge cycle performance and high discharge capacity. The positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery has a layered structure and comprises at least nickel, cobalt and manganese. Further, the positive electrode active material satisfies requirements (1) to (3) below: (1) a primary particle size of 0.1 μm to 1 μm, and a 50% cumulative particle size D50 of 1 μm to 10 μm, (2) a ratio (D90/D10) of volume-based 90% cumulative particle size D50 to volume-based 10% cumulative particle size D10 of 2 to 6, and (3) a lithium carbonate content in a residual alkali on particle surfaces of 0.1% by mass to 0.8% by mass as measured by neutralization titration.

The positive electrode as an embodiment includes a positive electrode current collector mainly composed of aluminum, a positive electrode mixture layer containing a lithium-containing transition metal oxide and disposed above the positive electrode current collector, and a protective layer disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the positive electrode mixture layer. The protective layer contains inorganic particles, an electro-conductive material, and a binding material; is mainly composed of the inorganic particles; and is disposed on the positive electrode current collector to cover the positive electrode current collector in approximately the entire area where the positive electrode mixture layer is disposed and at least a part of the exposed portion of the positive electrode current collector where the positive electrode mixture layer is not disposed on the surface of the positive electrode current collector.

According to one embodiment, a positive electrode includes a positive electrode layer and a positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode layer includes a positive electrode active material including a first oxide represented by the following formula (α) and/or a second oxide represented by the following formula (β). The positive electrode layer has an intensity ratio falling within a range of 0.25 to 0.7. The ratio is represented by the following formula (1) in an X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by using CuKα radiation for a surface of the positive electrode layer. LixNi1−a−bCoaMnbMcO2 (α) LixNi1−a−cCoaMcO2 (β) I2/I1 (1)

The present invention relates to a positive electrode active material for a sodium secondary battery, and a method for preparing the same. The positive electrode active material for the sodium secondary battery according to the present invention is structurally more stable by replacing a part of the transition metal with Li, and accordingly, the thermal stability and life characteristics of the sodium battery including the positive electrode active material are greatly improved.

A carbon material for a non-aqueous secondary battery containing a graphite capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions, and having a cumulative pore volume at pore diameters in a range of 0.01 μm to 1 μm of 0.08 mL/g or more, a roundness, as determined by flow-type particle image analysis, of 0.88 or greater, and a pore diameter to particle diameter ratio (PD/d50 (%)) of 1.8 or less, the ratio being given by equation (1A): PD/d50 (%)=mode pore diameter (PD) in a pore diameter range of 0.01 μm to 1 μm in a pore distribution determined by mercury intrusion/volume-based average particle diameter (d50)×100 is provided.

Disclosed are a reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode in which IrO2 is electrodeposited and formed on a porous carbon material and platinum is applied thereon to form a porous platinum layer, a reversible fuel cell including the same, and a method for preparing the same. According to the corresponding reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode, as the loading amounts of IrO2 and platinum used in the reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode can be lowered, it is possible to exhibit excellent reversible fuel cell performances (excellent fuel cell performance and water electrolysis performance) by improving the mass transport of water and oxygen while being capable of reducing the loading amounts of IrO2 and platinum. Further, it is possible to exhibit a good activity of a catalyst when the present disclosure is applied to a reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode and to reduce corrosion of carbon.

Disclosed is an anode for a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) having improved creep property by adding an additive for imparting creep resistance to nickel-aluminum alloy and nickel as materials for an anode. Improved sintering property, creep property and increased mechanical strength of a molten carbonate fuel cell may be obtained accordingly.

One embodiment includes a method comprising the steps of providing a first dry catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer, depositing a wet first proton exchange membrane layer over the first catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer to form a first proton exchange membrane layer; providing a second dry catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer; contacting the second dry catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer with the first proton exchange membrane layer; and hot pressing together the first and second dry catalyst coated gas diffusion media layers with the wet proton exchange membrane layer therebetween.

A catalyst composition and a use thereof are provided. The catalyst composition includes a support and at least one RuXMY alloy attached to the surface of the support, wherein M is a transition metal and X≧Y. The catalyst composition is used in an alkaline electrochemical energy conversion reaction, and can improve the energy conversion efficiency for an electrochemical energy conversion device and significantly reduce material costs.

A means of inhibiting the occurrence of overvoltage in an electrode catalyst for fuel cells so as to substantially prevent reduction of fuel cell performance includes an anode electrode catalyst for fuel cells, which contains a carbon support having at least one pore having a pore size of 10 nm or less and a pore volume of 1.1 to 8.4 cm3/g and catalyst particles having particle sizes of 3.1 nm or less and supported by the carbon support so that the density of supported catalyst particles is 15% to 40% by mass.

In some embodiments, a solid oxide fuel system is provided. The solid oxide fuel cell system may include a chromium-getter material. The chromium-getter material may react with chromium to remove chromium species from chromium vapor. The solid oxide fuel cell system may also include an inert substrate. The chromium-getter material may be coated onto the inert substrate. The coated substrate may remove chromium species from chromium vapor before the chromium species can react with a cathode in the solid oxide fuel cell system.

A solid oxide fuel cell having an electric power generating element unit that is configured by sandwiching a solid electrolyte layer between a fuel electrode layer and an oxygen electrode layer with a pore that is present in the solid electrolyte layer and is covered with a sealing material. In addition, a pore that is present in an interconnector, which is electrically connected to the fuel electrode layer or the oxygen electrode layer, is covered with the sealing material. Consequently, the solid oxide fuel cell is capable of easily preventing gas leakage.

A fuel cell unit having at least one fuel cell, a cooling circuit and a deionization device (10). The deionization device includes a housing (16) and a deionizing agent (11) located therein A vehicle is also provided having such a fuel cell unit. It is provided that the deionization device (10) can be or is connected in a fluid-conveying manner to the cooling circuit (5) with a single connection unit (15) via a flow inlet (13) and a flow outlet (14).

A hydrogen purging device for a fuel cell system includes a humidifier that humidifies dry air supplied from an air blower, using moist air discharged from a cathode of a stack and supplies the humidified air to the cathode. A water trap and a hydrogen recirculation blower are sequentially connected to an outlet of an anode, wherein a hydrogen outlet of the water trap and an inlet of the humidifier are connected by a cathode-hydrogen purging line for purging hydrogen to the cathode so that the hydrogen discharged from the anode of the fuel stack is purged to the cathode during idling or during normal driving.

A fuel cell system for supplying anode gas and cathode gas to a fuel cell and causing the fuel cell to generate power according to a load includes a component that circulates discharged gas of either the anode gas or the cathode gas discharged from the fuel cell to the fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a power generation control unit that controls a power generation state of the fuel cell on the basis of the load, a freezing prediction unit that predicts the freezing of the component on the basis of a temperature of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes an operation execution unit that executes a warm-up operation without stopping the fuel cell system or after the stop of the fuel cell system in the case of receiving a stop command of the fuel cell system when the freezing of the component is predicted.

A flowing electrolyte fuel cell system design (DHCFC-Flow) is provided. The use of a flowing oxygen-saturated electrolyte in a fuel cell offers a significant enhancement in the cell performance characteristics. The mass transfer and reaction kinetics of the superoxide/peroxide/oxide ion (mobile oxygen ion species) in the fuel cell are enhanced by recirculating an oxidizing gas-saturated electrolyte. Recirculating oxygen-saturated electrolyte through a liquid channel enhances the maximal current observed in a fuel cell. The use of a oxygen saturated electrolyte ensures that the reaction kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction are fast and the use of convection ameliorates concentration gradients and the diffusion-limited maximum current density. The superoxide ion is generated in situ by the reduction of the oxygen dissolved in the gaseous electrolyte. Also, a dual porosity membrane allows the uniform flow of fuel (e.g., methane) on the fuel side, without allowing phase mixing. The capillary pressure for liquid intrusion into the gas phase and vice versa is quite large, estimated to be 1-10 psi. This makes it easier to control the fluctuations in gas/liquid velocity which might otherwise lead to phase mixing and the loss of fuel cell performance. In one variation, a dual-porosity membrane structure is incorporated in the system to allow uniform flow of fuel and prevent mixing of fuel with a liquid electrolyte.

A method for starting the normal operation of an electrical system with a fuel cell and a transducer from a stop mode is disclosed. The transducer absorbs the electrical power of the fuel cell, in which at least one reactant supply of the fuel cell was interrupted, where the interrupted reactant supply is resumed from a restart signal, and where a fuel cell voltage is prescribed and then regulated by the transducer. The prescribed fuel cell voltage is prescribed in a way that an electrical unloaded fuel cell supplied with reactants will exceed the prescribed fuel cell voltage in every case, and the current of the transducer necessary for maintaining the prescribed fuel cell voltage is measured, where the normal operation is released as of a prescribed current necessary to that effect.

A fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel tank, a first detector, a control circuit, and a transmitter. The fuel tank stores fuel gas. The first detector detects information on a state in the fuel tank. The control circuit is configured to receive the information and to generate a signal based on the information. The transmitter includes a transmitter circuit and a response data transmitter circuit. The transmitter circuit is configured to transmit the information to a fuel supply station outside of the fuel cell vehicle according to the signal output from the control circuit. The response data transmitter circuit is configured to transmit response data corresponding to the signal. The control circuit includes a response data receiver circuit to acquire the response data transmitted from the response data transmitter circuit.

Embodiments of the invention provide a fuel cell system including a fuel cell coupled to a controller configured to route power generated by the fuel cell to at least one peripheral device. Embodiments include a hydrogen generator including a reactor vessel enclosed by a housing. The hydrogen generator is fluidly coupled to the fuel cell and configured to deliver hydrogen to the fuel cell. Embodiments include at least one water harvesting system fluidly coupled to the hydrogen generator and configured to deliver water or water vapor to the hydrogen generator using a controller. Some embodiments include at least one waste heat recovery system used to heat harvested water or water vapor delivered to the hydrogen generator. Some embodiments include a fuel cell system fueling method using the hydrogen generator fluidly coupled to the fuel cell including delivery of captured water or water vapor to the hydrogen generator.

A manufacturing method of a proton exchange membrane is provided, which includes the steps as follows. The hydroxyl groups are disposed on the surface of a substrate by a hydrophilic treatment. The hydroxyl groups on the substrate are chemically modified with a coupling agent by a sol-gel process. The substrate is exposed to an amino acid with a phosphonate radical so that the amino acid containing a phosphonate radical can be chemically bonded with the coupling agent. The chemically bonded substrate is immersed in phosphoric acid for absorbing the phosphoric acid. The substrate blended with the phosphoric acid is placed between at least two leak-proof films for the purpose of preventing the leakage of the absorbed phosphoric acid. The proton exchange membrane manufactured by this method enable to retain the phosphoric acid in organic/inorganic complex form and micron/nano complex pore size.

A flow battery includes a positive electrode, a positive electrode electrolyte, a negative electrode, a negative electrode electrolyte, and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The positive electrode electrolyte includes water and a first redox couple. The first redox couple includes a first organic compound which includes a first moiety in conjugation with a second moiety. The first organic compound is reduced during discharge while during charging the reduction product of the first organic compound is oxidized to the first organic compound. The negative electrode electrolyte includes water and a second redox couple. The second couple includes a second organic compound including a first moiety in conjugation with a second moiety. The reduction product of the second organic compound is oxidized to the second organic compound during discharge.

A fuel cell stack includes a pair of end plates disposed on opposing sides of a fuel cell stacked body in a first direction, a coupling bar that bridges between the end plates, a fastening member that connects the end plates and the coupling bar in the first direction, and a cylindrical knock disposed inside an end plate side mounting hole and a coupling bar side mounting hole of the end plates and the coupling bar in the first direction, and being externally fitted to the fastening member inside the end plate side mounting hole and the coupling bar side mounting hole. A first seal member in close contact with at least an inner circumferential surface of the end plate side mounting hole and the fastening member is disposed in a portion located between the cylindrical knock and the fastening member inside the end plate side mounting hole.

A battery electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent phase comprising at least 10% by weight of methyl (2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl) carbonate. The solvent phase comprises optionally other solvent materials such as 4-fluoroethylene carbonate and other carbonate solvents. This battery electrolyte is highly stable even when used in batteries in which the cathode material has a high operating potential (such as 4.5V or more) relative to Li/Li+. Batteries containing this electrolyte solution therefore have excellent cycling stability.

Composites of lithium-ion-conducting ceramic and polymeric materials make superior separators and electrolytes for use in lithium batteries. The ceramic material provides a high conductivity pathway for lithium-ions, enhancing the properties of the less conductive polymeric material. The polymeric material provides flexibility, binding, and space-filling properties, mitigating the tendency of rigid ceramic materials to break or delaminate. The interface between the polymer and ceramic can be made to have a low ionic resistance through the use of additives and coatings.

A lithium ion secondary battery including: a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material capable of intercalating and deintercalating a lithium ion; a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material capable of intercalating and deintercalating a lithium ion; and a non-aqueous electrolytic solution, wherein the positive electrode active material includes a Mn-based spinel-type composite oxide and an additional active material, and the content of the Mn-based spinel-type composite oxide based on the whole of the positive electrode active material is 60% by mass or less, and the negative electrode active material includes a first graphite particle containing natural graphite and a second graphite particle containing artificial graphite, and the content of the second graphite particle based on the sum total of the first graphite particle and the second graphite particle is in the range of 1 to 30% by mass.

Provided is a positive electrode active material that can be used to fabricate a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having excellent output characteristics not only in an environment at normal temperature but also in all temperature environments from extremely low to high temperatures. A positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, the positive electrode active material includes a boron compound and lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese composite oxide of general formula (1) having a layered hexagonal crystal structure. The lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese composite oxide includes secondary particles composed of agglomerated primary particles. The boron compound is present on at least part of the surface of the primary particles, and contains lithium. Li1+sNixCoyMnzMotMwO2 (1)

A solid electrolyte for an all-solid secondary battery, the solid electrolyte including: Li, S, P, an M1 element, and an M2 element, wherein the M1 element is at least one element selected from Na, K, Rb, Sc, Fr, and the M2 element is at least one element selected from F, Cl, Br, I, molar amounts of lithium and the M1 element satisfy 0

Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (

A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell includes: a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material which contains as a primary component, a lithium composite oxide in which the rate of nickel to the total number of moles of metal elements other than lithium is 50 percent by mole or more; a negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The non-aqueous electrolyte contains lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide and a fluorinated chain carboxylic acid ester represented by the following formula, R1 and R2 each represent H, F, or CH3-xFx (x represents 1, 2, or 3) and may be equivalent to or different from each other. R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and may contain F.

The described technology relates to an electrolyte solution comprising a sulfur dioxide-based ionic liquid electrolyte, and a sodium-sulfur dioxide (Na—SO2) secondary battery having same, one purpose of the described technology being to enhance the storage characteristics of sulfur dioxide gas in an electrolyte solution. The sodium-sulfur dioxide secondary battery includes a negative electrode which is formed from an inorganic material and which contains sodium. The battery also includes a positive electrode which is formed from a carbon material and a sulfur dioxide-based inorganic electrolyte solution. Here, the electrolyte solution contains a sulfur dioxide-based ionic liquid electrolyte prepared by injecting SO2 gas in an ionic liquid.

A lithium secondary battery includes: a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, wherein the negative electrode includes a silicon composite including silicon, a silicon oxide of the formula SiOx wherein 0

A battery electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent phase comprising at least 10% by weight of ethyl (2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl) carbonate. The solvent phase comprises optionally other solvent materials such as 4-fluoroethylene carbonate and either or both of diethyl carbonate and ethyl methyl carbonate. This battery electrolyte is highly stable even when used in batteries in which the cathode material has a high operating potential (such as 4.5V or more) relative to Li/Li+. Batteries containing this electrolyte solution therefore have excellent cycling stability.

A battery electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent phase comprising at least 10% by weight N of (2,2-difluoroethyl) ethyl carbonate. The solvent phase comprises optionally other solvent materials such as 4-fluoroethylene carbonate and other carbonate solvents. This battery electrolyte is highly stable even when used in batteries in which the cathode material has a high operating potential (such as 4.5V or more) relative to Li/Li+. Batteries containing this electrolyte solution therefore have excellent cycling stability.

A lithium secondary battery includes a case, a jelly roll housed in the case, the jelly roll including a plurality of electrode plates and a separation film disposed between the plurality of electrode plates, and a heat conduction plate disposed on both sides of the jelly roll and housed in the case together with the jelly roll.

The invention relates to a method for operating a secondary battery (1, 4) which comprises multiple interconnected, bridgeable battery subunits (A, B) and is situated in a compartment (3) of an electrically driven vehicle, in particular a watercraft, characterized in that the accessibility of each battery subunit (A, B) is detected, and the battery subunits (A, B) are activated in accordance with the accessibility of the particular battery subunits.

A protective layer system for a metallic lithium-containing anode of a lithium cell, for example a lithium-sulfur cell and/or lithium-oxygen cell. To increase the service life and reliability of the cell, the protective layer system includes a lithium ion-conducting layer, in particular an inorganic layer, on the anode side. The anode-side layer has an anode contact side which rests against or which may be placed against the anode. At least one lithium ion-conducting layer, in particular a polymer layer, which contains at least one agent which is reactable with metallic lithium to form an electrically insulating solid is situated on a side of the anode-side layer opposite from the anode contact side. Moreover, the invention relates to an anode which is equipped with such a protective layer system, a lithium cell, and a lithium battery.

An additive formulation for a lithium ion battery is provided, which includes an ionic conductor and a compound having a maleimide structure. An electrode slurry composition is also provided, which includes an active material, a conductive additive, an adhesive, and an additive formulation containing an ionic conductor and a compound having a maleimide structure modified by a compound having a barbituric acid structure.

A battery system for an electric vehicle includes a container having a lid and a plurality of battery cells housed in the container. Each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells may include a pair of tabs to electrically connect to the battery cell, a printed circuit board housed in the container, and a pair of contact elements. The printed circuit board may include circuitry adapted to monitor at least one battery cell. And, each contact element may be attached to the printed circuit board and configured to separably contact a tab of the at least one battery cell to electrically connect the at least one battery cell to the printed circuit board.

A system and method for a battery cell having an anode and a cathode, and a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode. A conductive layer disposed in the separator facilitates detection of dendrite growth from the anode into the separator, the detection correlative with a reduction in voltage between the anode and the conductive layer. A detection interface component coupled to the conductive layer is configured to facilitate routing of a signal from the conductive layer to a circuit external to the battery cell, the signal indicative of the detection. The battery cell may be part of a battery or battery pack which may be utilized by an electronic device.

A battery pack has a battery pack housing that defines an interior region, and a battery module that is disposed in the interior region. The battery module has a first battery cell, and a first heat exchanger defining a first flow path portion therethrough. The battery pack further includes a first electric fan and a thermally conductive housing that are disposed in the interior region. The thermally conductive housing has a first housing portion, and at least first and second cooling fins defining a second flow path portion therebetween. At least a portion of the second flow path portion is substantially in-line with the first flow path portion. The first electric fan urges air to flow through an inlet aperture, the first flow path portion, the second flow path portion, and through the first electric fan to a first outlet aperture to cool the battery module.

A battery module and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The battery module includes a case providing an internal space, a plurality of battery cells disposed in the internal space of the case, and at least one cooling unit interposed between the battery cells to be in surface contact with the battery cells and dissipating heat generated by the battery cells externally.

A battery, a thermal management device of the battery, and an unmanned aerial vehicle having the battery are provided. The thermal management device comprises a heat conducting housing having a receiving cavity and configured to divide the receiving cavity into a plurality of cell compartments for receiving cells, and a heat conducting shelf mounted within the receiving cavity and configured to be in contact with at least one of the cells to conduct heat generated by the at least one of the cells. The heat conducting shelf is thermally connected with an inner wall of the receiving cavity and configured to conduct heat in the heat conducting shelf to the heat conducting housing.

The invention relates to a housing (10) for accommodating a plurality of battery cells (20), in particular lithium-ion battery cells, wherein the housing (10), in particular a plastic housing, comprises a cooling device with an inlet point (30) and an outlet point (40) for an air stream (22) for cooling the battery cells (20). In addition, the housing (10) is designed as a single piece together with the cooling device integrated in the housing (10), and the cooling device additionally has spacers (34; 34a, 34b) for arranging all accommodated battery cells (20) with an intermediate space (23) for guiding air between the battery cells (20), by which means an air channel (25) is provided for the air stream (22) between the battery cells (20). The invention further relates to a battery pack (50) and to a motor vehicle comprising such a battery pack (50).

A unit cell pack according to the present disclosure includes a first battery module including battery cartridges that are sequentially stacked, a plurality of batteries wherein two batteries are seated on an upper surface of each of the battery cartridges, electrode connection members respectively positioned on both sides of the battery cartridges, and a battery cover covering the battery cartridges, the plurality of batteries, and the electrode connection members; a second battery module being adjacent to the first battery module and including same constituent elements as the first battery module; a battery housing surrounding the first battery module and the second battery module, and including air inflow window covers and air outflow window covers facing each other; and a fan duct disposed on the air outflow window covers of the battery housing, in which the two batteries on the upper surface of each of the battery cartridges are electrically connected in parallel, the battery cartridges are electrically connected in series through the electrode connection members, a lower surface of each of the battery cartridges defines air guide grooves with respect to each other, and the air guide grooves are aligned with the air inflow window covers and the air outflow window covers on one of the first battery module and the second battery module, forming straight air passages.

Systems and methods for treating small elongated fibrous and particles of certain materials, e.g., PTFE materials in a suspension are presented. In some instances, high-intensity ultrasound (or acoustical energy) is applied to a sample of the material, through a fluid coupling medium or suspension, to achieve a material transformation in the sample. In various embodiments, fibrillation of particles of PTFE or similar materials is accomplished, or the formation of extended structures of these materials is caused or enhanced. Also, the ability to separate long fiber samples by ultrasonic or acoustic cavitation action is provided.

A crosslapper receives a card web and folds it into a lap intended to be needle-punched or consolidated by other ways. The web includes zones which are more condensed, having a spectrum of orientation of fibers with a component parallel to the width of the web, alternating with less condensed zones having a longitudinal unidirectional spectrum of orientations. The zones which are less condensed are used to form the edge zones of the lap. The result is that the lap has different respective spectra of orientation which pre-compensate for the unwanted changes produced by the needle-punching or other consolidation which follows. A needle-punched lap is obtained having a uniform MD/CD ratio (relationship between longitudinal and respectively transverse tensile strengths) or having a sought profile of the MD/CD ratio across the width of the lap.

A method for mixing short staple and down cluster by a dry processing utilizes an air tool to blow the short staple over, so that the scattered short staple is mixed in the down cluster. Stirring blades are further applied for stirring. Chemical agents are needless, no pollution is generated, and processing time is preferably reduced since the mixture does not have to be soaked in the chemical agent. Both the processing time and the manufacturing cost are decreased. Preferably, a proportion of the short staple to the down cluster is adjustable for different needs and divergent warmth retaining effects.

Circular comb for a combing machine for combing textile fibers, comprising a base body with a center longitudinal axis, a peripheral surface and two end faces, a plurality of bar tacks, which are arranged on the peripheral surface of the base body and define a combing region of the circular comb, a plurality of fastening devices attached to the base body for the non-positive connection of one of the bar tacks in each case to the base body and unlocking units to release the non-positive connections, each unlocking unit having an unlocking device and an unlocking means to actuate the unlocking device, wherein the unlocking units are accessible from outside the combing region, in particular from at least one of the end faces, and an additional positive securing connection to secure the bar tacks is provided on the base body.