Patent GB-190310541-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for Making Battery Plates.
Inventor: BIJUR JOSEPH
Filed: 1903-05-08
Granted: 1903-10-22
Abstract: 10,541. Bijur, J. May 8. Casting; crucibles and melting pots.-Relates to the manufacture of galvanic - battery plates, especially PlantÚ or formed plates, by uniting sections of active material together by casting lead or lead-antimony alloy between them in such a manner that the molten lead &c. does not flow from one part of the mould to another. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, sections 10, comprising strips or shreds which may be autogenously united at their ends, or openwork grids as shown in Fig. 15, are arranged in an open inclined mould 12 having spaces 14 for the plate lugs. Stiffening bars or strips 11 may be placed between the sections. Lead which has been heated above its melting-point is then poured into the grooves 13, commencing at the bottom of each groove, as shown, and filling the grooves in turn. The mould is preferably heated nearly to the melting-point of the sections, to aid the molten metal in melting the edges and forming firm joints. In a modification, a frame vertically adjustable above the mould is fitted with iron or steel resistance bars, each loosely carrying a leaden bar. The frame is depressed until the leaden bars enter the grooves 13, when an electric current is passed through the iron bars until the lead melts and connects the sections 10. The frame is then raised. Fig. 8 shows a casting-machine for uniting elements or openwork sections. The moulds each comprise similar parts B<1>, C' pivoted on an axle s carried by a frame o mounted free to slide on guides V carried by a frame q, which can be levelled or adjusted to any position on the base by means of vertical and horizontal screws p. To prepare the mould, the frame o in drawn back, the part B<1> is turned down, and the elements B, Fig. 15, placed in position, the elements being supported by crossslats A previously cast with steel facings I, (which are subsequently removed to leave spaces J), and with holes opposite to each vertical groove H. The slats A are held in place by ribs formed on the mould. Spaces E, F form the plate lugs. In order to cause all the grooves H to fill at the same rate, the mould is also formed with spaces similar to the spaces E, F, having narrow entrances to prevent the cooled metal from rising, and arranged under the inner grooves H. The upper slat S is fitted, on its inner side only, with plates I, and the lower slat R is dispensed with. The metal is fed into the grooves H from a melting-pot L, supported by flanges fitted with adjusting and clamping screws in a frame carried by standards h and fitted with lugs which engage the pot and prevent it from creeping. The pot is heated so that it is hottest at the bottom, by means of tubes W having downwardly-turned apertures, and is provided with screens X. The bottom of the pot is formed with a series of apertures arranged above the grooves H and provided with rods a having tapered ends, handles 4, and weights 1 supported by springs 3 on discs 2. The rods a are raised from either side by bars c resting in forks formed in fixed bars e and connected by bars b carrying a plate f which engages the rods. On releasing the bars c, the weights 1 press the rods into their sockets, the springs 3 preventing shock. The moulds are adjusted under the rods a by sliding the frame o into engagement with a stop u adjustably pivoted by a bolt v to the frame q. If the stop u is turned up, its cranked end engages the set-screw w on the frame o, when a vertical plate t carried by the portion of the frame o is under the rods a. To test whether the streams of lead are straight and parallel, the rods a can be raised and the molten streams compared with lines marked on the plates t. The moulds are heated when in position by perforated pipes, not shown, the heat from which isspread uniformly over the moulds by plates of copper or other highly-conductive metal secured thereto.