Method and apparatus for making battery paste

Abstract

Control apparatus and a method for making battery paste by mixing selected quantities of lead oxide, sulfuric acid and water to form a reaction mixture are disclosed. During the reaction portion of the process, the viscosity of the mixture initially descends on a time-viscosity curve, which then changes in slope to reach a point of minimum viscosity. The temperatures of the reaction mixture form a time-temperature curve having a temperature peak therein. The temperature and the viscosity of the reaction mixture are determined respectively by temperature sensing devices and by viscosity sensing devices. In response to the temperature of the reaction mixture rising to a predetermined temperature or above as determined by the temperature sensing devices and to the viscosity thereof being at or above a predetermined value as determined by the viscosity sensing devices, coincidence devices actuate a valve controlled water supply to add a quantity of water to the reaction mixture, until the viscosity thereof is reduced to a value below the predetermined value. The predetermined temperature corresponds approximately to at least one of (a) a temperature at which a predetermined time-viscosity curve reaches a point adjacent to the minimum viscosity, and (b) a temperature at a point on a predetermined time-temperature curve which corresponds to said predetermined time-viscosity curve, a point adjacent to and below its peak. The water content of the reaction mixture is adjusted thereby, as needed, so as to approximate the water content desired in the final product.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.