Patent GB-593719-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electric storage batteries and a method and apparatusfor the manufacture thereof
IPC: H01M4/20
Filed: 1945-05-22
Abstract: 593,719. Batteries. POLLOCK, S. A. May 22, 1945, No. 12711. [Class 53] A number of accumulator plates of grid form are filled with paste in a single operation by interleaving the plates with gratings of a similar form to the plates, clamping the whole stack together and forcing paste through the aligned apertures in the plates and gratings. The process is particularly applicable to accumulator plates which are cast integrally with a connecting bus-bar as described in Specification 593,715, [Group XXII]. After the plates have been pasted and before the paste has set, they may be covered with fabric which is pressed against the plates to force the fibres into the paste. Fig. 2 shows in section a machine for pasting a number of accumulator plates 12 which have been cast integrally with a bus-bar 13 and which are located above an opening 1 in the foundation plate of the machine. Below the opening 1 is a receptacle 20 containing paste which can be forced through the opening 1 by a piston 23 which can be raised and lowered by a rack and pinion 24, 25 operated by a hand wheel through reduction gearing. Before the pasting operation is commenced the spaces between the plates are filled with gratings 2 which are supported in openings in a corresponding number of frames 3 which can slide between rails to carry the gratings between the plates 12. The frames are connected to a member 9 by a detachable pin 10 and the member 9 can traverse the foundation plate by means of a rack and pinion 17 operated by a hand wheel. When in their retracted position as shown in Fig. 2, the frames are spaced apart by steel or ebonite sheets 15 which are of the same thickness as the plates 12 and are secured to the foundation plate of the machine by studs so that they remain stationary when the frames and gratings move. When the pinion 17 is turned, the group of frames and gratings is advanced to a position where the gratings interleave the plates 12, the stack of plates and gratings being then held rigidly in position by pressure applied through a plate 18. Alternatively, the frames may be advanced to bring the gratings over the opening 1 before the plates 12 have been placed in position, in which case the plates are interleaved with the gratings with the aid of a hand tool 19 in the form of a comb. Paste is then forced by the piston 23 through the plates and gratings till all are completely filled. A steel sheet is then placed above the uppermost plate and the pressure by the plate 18 is increased to consolidate the paste in the plates 12. The pressure is then released and the frames and gratings retracted, movement of the plates 12 being prevented by the spacing sheets 15. A sheet of fibrous fabric such as cloth with glass fibre threads is then placed between each pair of plates, being folded over a sheet of wood to facilitate placing it in position. Pressure is again applied by the plate 18 to embed the fabric in the paste and the plates are then removed from the machine and the wood sheets left between the plates till the paste has dried and hardened.