Battery

Abstract

A battery includes: a cylindrical battery case; and an electrode body disposed in the battery case, and including a positive plate, a negative plate, and a separator disposed between the positive plate and the negative plate. A spacer formed of a dense body and an electrolyte storage space storing an electrolyte are provided between the electrode body and the battery case on one end or both ends of the battery case in an axial direction of the electrode body.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A battery comprising:
 a conductive battery case;   a cylindrical electrode body in the battery case, the cylindrical electrode body comprising a positive plate, a negative plate, and a separator disposed between the positive plate and the negative plate, the cylindrical electrode body having a diameter reducing portion whose outer diameter is smaller than an inner diameter of the battery case; and   a conductive spacer disposed between an outer circumferential face of the diameter reducing portion and an inner face of the battery case, the conductive spacer electrically connecting the cylindrical electrode body to the battery case.   
     
     
         20 . The battery according to  claim 19 , wherein
 an outer circumferential face of the cylindrical electrode body is electrically connected to the inner face of the battery case only through the conductive spacer.   
     
     
         21 . The battery according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the spacer is disposed in the middle of the electrode body in an axial direction of the cylindrical electrode body.   
     
     
         22 . The battery according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the negative plate is disposed at least on the outer face of the cylindrical electrode body, and the negative plate on the outer face of the electrode body contacts the spacer.   
     
     
         23 . The battery according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the spacer is made of braided wires in a mesh form.   
     
     
         24 . The battery according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the spacer is made of wire material in a coiled shape.   
     
     
         25 . The battery according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the spacer contacts all around an outer circumferential face of the diameter reducing portion.   
     
     
         26 . The battery according to  claim 19 , wherein
 an electrolyte storage space is provided between an outer face of the cylindrical electrode body and the inner face of the battery case.   
     
     
         27 . The battery according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the positive plate has nickel hydroxide as an active material, and   the negative plate has a hydrogen storage alloy as an active material.