Battery electrode fatigue simulator

A battery electrode fatigue simulator comprising:

• a frame;
• a first support beam pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said frame and having a cam follower mounted at the other end thereof, said first support beam further having a plurality of notches situated therein, said notches being longitudinally displaced from each other with respect to the pivoting end of said first support beam, and means located in at least one of said notches for fixedly securing therein one end of an element which is to undergo fatigue simulation;
• a second support beam adjustably secured at both ends thereof to said frame juxtaposed said first support beam, said second support beam having a plurality of notches therein oppositely disposed from said notches in said first support beam, and means located in at least one of said notches in said second support beam for fixedly securing the other end of said element therein;
• a cam of preselected configuration rotatably mounted within said frame adjacent said cam follower, means operably connected to said cam for rotating said cam at a predetermined rate of speed, and means interconnected between said frame and said first support beam for constantly biasing said cam follower against said cam whereby rotational movement of said cam causes pivotal movement of said first support beam to take place in order to apply a predetermined cyclic stress to said element;
• means secured to said frame juxtaposed said first support beam for determining the displacement of said first support beam at a plurality of locations along said first support beam, said locations being coincidental with said plurality of notches located in said first support beam in order to provide displacement information about said element during application of said cyclic stress;
• and
• means operably connected between said element securing means in said first support beam and said element securing means in said second support beam for determining resistance in said element during the application of said cyclic stress;
• whereby a relationship established between said displacement and said resistance is representative of battery electrode fatigue undergone during actual battery operation.