Patent GB-190013656-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to the Electrodes of Accumulators and the Manufacture thereof.
Inventor: JAMES REGINALD WILLIAM
Filed: 1900-07-30
Granted: 1901-06-29
Abstract: 13,656. James, R. W., [Heilmann, J. J.]. July 30. Moulding secondary-battery electrodes.-Relates to the manufacture of electrodes which consist of a central supporting-core a, Fig. 1, enveloped in active material 15. Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically the apparatus employed. The wire core 1 is continually drawn forwards through openings 5, 6 in a vessel 4, which contains active material pressed down by a plunger 18. The opening is just large enough to allow the wire to pass, and the opening 6 is large enough to allow the wire and its envelope to pass. When a sufficient length of the wire 1 has been covered by the active material the descent of the piston 18 is arrested, a stopping plate or die 17 is placed over the opening 5 to prevent any active material from passing out, the motion of the wire is continued until a bare piece of twice the length from a' to 2, Fig. 1, protrudes from the opening 5, the motion of the wire is then stopped, and it is cut through in the middle of the bare piece by a pair of shears 7 ; the operation then recommences. The bare end pieces serve for fixing the electrodes in the accumulator. Fig. 5 shows a side elevation and Fig. 6 shows a plan, partly in section, of a machine for this purpose. The cylinder 4 which contains the active material is held in position by fastenings 8, 9 which permit of its rapid removal when empty. The active material is forced forwards by a plunger 18, the intermittent advance of which is effected by a screw 22 attached thereto, engaging in a threaded sleeve forming a nut 10 to which is attached a ratchet-wheel f9 adapted to be driven by the pawl 11 carried on a bridle arm 39 pivoted about the sleeve 10 and operated by a connecting-rod 12 and crank mechanism 13 carried on the axle 14, which is driven by an electric motor m or by other means. The throw of the crank 13 may be varied, so that electrodes of various lengths can be drawn. The orifices 5 and 6 are mounted on a fixed support. The wire is drawn along by a gripping-device 16 consisting of a fixed arm formed integral with a carriage 38 and of a movable lever k pivoted to the carriage. The gripping-device has two movements, viz., a to-and-fro movement which effects the drawing of the wire, and a closing and opening movement whereby the wire is gripped or released. The first of these movements is effected by a pinion 23 which gears with a rack 21 on the carriage 38. This pinion is mounted on a shaft b which carries at its other end a wheel c gearing with a wheel d rigidly fixed to the ratchet-wheel 19, whereby the advance of the carriage 38 is made proportional to the advance of the piston 18. In order to continue the advance of the carriage 38 when the piston 18 is stopped, so as to cause the uncovered piece of wire to be drawn out, the motion of the axle b is continued by a ratchet r and pawl f carried by a lever g pivoted at 42<1> and operated by the cam h, so as to turn the ratchet-wheel r through the desired angle. The opening out of the gripping-device is effected by a plate j which presses back the lever k against the action of a spring 45. The movement of the plate j is effected by a cam 27 and a lever 28. The stopping-plate 17 for preventing the exit of active material consists of a die-plate in two parts each carried by a lever 48 pivoted at its lower end on a stud 50 and provided with a spring 49 which normally keeps the device closed. It is opened by forcing between the two parts rollers 51 carried by a bell-crank lever 32 operated by a cam 21. The shears 7 are pivoted to the frame at 56, and consist of two blades, which are normally held open by a spring 49<a>, but are closed by forcing between the two parts a roller carried by a lever 34 operated by a cam 31. The return of the carriage 38 after each operation is effected by a spring, through mechanism operated by a cam 25. The finished electrode is deposited upon an endless band 36.