Methods for producing plate sheaths for storage batteries

Claim 1

IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATE SHEATHS FOR ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERIES OF THE TYPE WHEREIN A BATTERY PLATE INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS OF ACTIVE MATERIAL HAVING A PREDETERMINED SHAPED AND SIZE, AND LOCATED IN INDIVIDUAL RESPECTIVE POCKETS OF SAID SHEATH, THE STEPS OF PREPARING A HEAT-SHRINKABLE FABRIC, SAID FABRIC INCLUDING THREADS ESSENTIALLY CONSISTING OF SYNTHETIC LINEAR POLYESTER MATERIAL IMPREGNATED WITH A VINYL CHLORIDE-ACRYLONITRILE COPOLYMER AS A RESINOUS COMPONENT OF THE TYPE WHICH WHEN SPUN INTO A YARN HAS AN ORIENTED MOLECULAR STRUCTURE, AND SAID FABRIC HAVING THEREIN A PLURALITY OF POCKETS OF SAID PREDETERMINED SHAPE BUT IN COLLAPSED CONDITION AND OF A LARGE SIZE; EXPANDING SAID POCKETS TO SAID PREDETERMINED SHAPE; AND SUBJECTING SAID FABRIC TO A TEMPERATURE SUFFICIENT TO SHRINK SAID FABRIC WHILE LIMITING SHRINKAGE OF SAID POCKETS TO SAID PREDETERMINED SHAPE AND SIZE, WHEREBY A STRUCTURE IS OBTAINED HAVING POCKETS OF SAID PREDETERMINED SHAPE AND SIZE AND BEING SHAPE RETAINING DUE TO SAID RESINOUS COMPONENT FORMING PART OF SAID FABRIC.