Improvements in Plates for Secondary Voltaic Batteries.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Plates for Secondary Voltaic Batteries.
I, GEORGES RENÉ BLOT, of 16 Rue Drouot, Paris, France, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to a new construction of secondary or accumulator batteries
of the "Planté" kind, which is characterised by the combination of bands, strips,
plates or ribbons, coiled or otherwise, constructed of metal provided with projections
or roughnesses mechanically produced thereon and converted beforehand for the
accumulative action, so as to impart to them the maximum expansion which they
are susceptible of assuming, in order to avoid the subsequent swelling which results
from this transformation and which may effect the bursting of the surrounding
frame.
For increasing the active surface of the new construction of accumulator plates,
I according to one construction, make them in the form of a series of bobbins, each
composed of pure lead strips transformed in advance and wound on a supporting
core formed of antimonial lead, the same as the frame.
The strips which I employ are embossed or grooved by a previous rolling process,
for facilitating the penetration of the electrolyte, and each successive strip is
separated from the preceding one by another strip also embossed, but having in
addition corrugations having for their object to facilitate the effectual penetration
of the liquid.
I will describe my said invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 shews an elevation of an accumulator plate constructed according to my
invention, Fig. 2 shews a plan partly in section, Fig. 3 a vertical section on
line 1-2 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 a separate view of the strips or ribbons forming the coils.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 shew respectively an elevation, sectional plan and vertical section
of a modified construction of the plate.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in each of the figures.
A is the frame made of antimonial lead within which are soldered by self-
soldering at a a, a series of bobbins each formed of a support B made of the same
material as the frame A and on which are wound strips or ribbons CD of pure
lead previously converted.
These strips consist alternately of strips C embossed or grooved and strips D
which are both embossed and corrugated, for facilitating the passage and
penetration of the electrolyte.
Each of the elements being thus formed, the supports B are soldered to the
frame A for constituting the plate. These solderings are formed by melting the
metal of the parts together at a, and in order to impart increased strength to
the several bands there is formed on one of the faces a thick layer of soldering a,
as shewn at Figs. 2 and 3. This method of construction of the plates affords,
when the lead of the bands C and D is completely transformed, a very perfect
action, because the conducting bars B forming the support penetrate into the
centre of the mass.
It is to be understood that the number of the units employed for constituting a
plate may vary at will, according to the desired dimensions, and that on the other
hand each of the elementary plates can be attached to one or more similar
plates by means of rivets or other suitable attachments passing through the
openings R.
For allowing the ready swelling of the lead in case the transformation should
J

page_text: not be complete, it is advisable to leave a little play in the different directions of
the plate.
The bands C and D. instead of being wound continuously round both ends of the
core may be separate pieces, terminating at any point such as G Fig. 1.
In the modification shewn at Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the bobbins of ribbons or bands
are replaced by plates or bands C constructed as above described of lead previously
converted, and having projections mechanically produced.
These plates are piled one against the other as shewn on the drawing. One or
more rows of these plates having been formed, according to the size of plate
required, they are placed in a mould having suitably arranged spaces, into which is
run entimonial lead, which in filling the said spaces forms a rigid frame A, to
which the plates or bands are united by the molten metal.
In this particular case there may be employed with advantage a system of
connection, which consists in alternating successively, firstly a plate of pure lead
converted in advance, secondly, a smooth plate or band of antimonial lead, or of
other non-oxidisable metal or alloy which is not liable to be transformed by the
action of the current; and so on.
There may also be grouped together a certain number of plates or bands of the
first named description, such groups being separated by plates of the second named
description.
This second construction has the advantage that if in consequence of the
transformation extending deeper than is customary, the plates of the first kind
should become completely transformed into active material, that is, a non-conductor
of the current, the intermediate plates of the second kind which are not converted
under the action of the current will still enable the accumulator battery to work,
as they will convey the current to the heart of the active material.
The same action is obtained in the first construction by the supports B of the
coils.
As in the previous case, plates of any desired dimensions may be obtained by
grouping together. the elements in any desired number, which are connected by
bolts or rivets passed through the openings R.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. An improved construction of accumulator batteries of the Planté kind,
wherein the plates are built up of frames containing a series of bobbins or coils
consisting of supports of the same material as the frame to which they are attached
by melting together, on which supports are wound, either alternately or otherwise,
bands or strips, some of which are embossed or grooved, while the others are
grooved and corrugated, and which are formed of pure lead or other suitable metal
converted in advance for imparting to them the maximum expansion, substantially
as herein described, with reference to the drawings.
2. A modification of the construction of accumulator plates referred to in the
preceding claim, in which strips or plates of lead or other suitable metal formed
with projections or roughnesses and converted beforehand for the accumulative
action so as to impart to them the maximum expansion, are grouped together,
either alternately or otherwise with plates or bands of a metal that is not subject to
conversion under the action of the current, such groups being situated in a frame
of antimonial lead obtained by running the molten metal round the edges of the
plates previously grouped together, so as to hold them in position, substantially as
herein described.
D
1
CML
1004
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.