Improvements in Machines for Filling Secondary Battery Plates.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Filling Secondary Battery Plates.
We, HENRY GURNEY MORRIS, Mechanical Engineer, of Chestnut and Fifth Streets,
in the City of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of
America, and PEDRO GROTJAN SALOM, Chemist, also of Chestnut and Fifth Streets,
in the City of Philadelphia, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of our Invention is to construct a machine for filling secondary battery
plates, the machine being constructed to carry out the process for which British
Letters Patent were granted to us on the 31st day of May, 1888. No. 7977.
On the accompanying drawings Fig. 1. represents a side view of a hydraulic press,
showing our invention applied thereto; Fig. 2. represents a sectional plan on the
line, 12. Fig. 1.; Fig. 3. represents a perspective view of the grid carrier and
lower die Figs. 4, 5, and, 6, represent sectional views of the grid carrier, lower
die and attachments, showing the grid in different stages of packing; and Fig. 7,
represents a sectional view showing a special form of grid carrier and dies.
The object of the Invention previously patented by us as aforesaid was to evenly
distribute the active material of the secondary battery plate upon the supporting
grid, and to firmly and uniformly pack said material into the interstices or slots of
the grid. This object was attained by placing a uniform layer of active material
on one or both sides of the grid, and of a sufficient height to be condensed in a
solid mass in the interstices of said grid by compression.
Our present invention has reference to apparatus for facilitating the carrying out of
the method of filling the plates set forth in our said former patent.
In the drawings we have shown a hydraulic press, A, having a stationary die or
platen, a, and a movable plunger, b, the latter being supported by the ram, B, which
is adapted to the cylinder, A¹. On the ram, B, is a cross-head, 61, having bolts, 6³,
on each side, between the head of each of which bolts and a projection, a', on the
cylinder, A', is a spring, a², for returning the ram more quickly to its normal position
after compressing the powdered substance.
The die or platen, a, is supported by two vertical bolts, C, but it will be under-
stood that any form of compression mechanism may be used, so long as two dies are
used to compress the powdered substance between them.
Bolted to one of the vertical bolts, C, is a frame, D, having in its upper side an
annular recess, in which are a series of antifriction balls, c, as shown in Fig. 1. and
these balls support a ring, E, carrying a series of forks, F, six being shown in the
present instance, but it will be understood that any number may be employed, as
circumstances require.
The prongs,, of the forks extend radially from the ring, and are of sufficient size
to support between them the grid-carrying die, G, shown more clearly in Figs. 3. to, 6,
a portion, G, of the die extending below the forks, so as to be acted upon by the
plunger, b, which lifts the die off the forks, thereby releasing the forks from all strain
in the compression process, the dies being of sufficient strength to withstand the
needed pressure.
The grid-carrying dies can be readily placed on and removed from the forks, the
lies having flanges, g, extending over the forks, f, as shown in Figs. 1, and, 4.
Carried by the flanges, g, are a series of bolts, h, which pass through a quadrangular
rame, H, filling snugly to but free to slide vertically on the die, and between said
rame and the flange, g, of the die, G, are a series of springs, i, which tend to force
he frame H, up to the limit regulated by the screw bolt, h.
It will be noticed that the frame, H, normally extends above the face, g¹, of the

page_text: die, G, so as to allow of a sufficient depth of active material being placed upon the
face of the die, G, before the grid is placed thereon, the outer edges of the grid
resting upon the frame, H.
Hinged at, j, to a bracket, J, on the frame, H, is a second frame, K, which is of
a size to fit snugly around the grid, I, as shown in Fig. 4. and on this frame, K, is
a flange, k, in the present instance formed of separate plates secured to the frame, K.
This fange is of such thickness as to provide for the necessary amount of material
above the upper face of the grid to be filled.
Powdered material being placed on the die, G, up to the level of the top of the
frame, H. the grid, 1, is placed in position on said die and frame, as shown in Fig. 4.
and the hinged frame, K, is then moved into position over the grid and powdered
material is inserted in the interstices of the grid and levelled off, as shown, flush
with the top of the frame, K, after which said frame is thrown back, as shown in
Fig. 5, and the carrying ring, E, is so turned as to place the grid-carrying die
under the press.
Power is then applied by the plunger, b, and die, a, of, the
press, to compress the material into the grid, as shown in Fig. 6. the frame, H,
being forced down to a level with the face of the die.
As the material to be compressed does not extend over the rim of the supporting
grid, this solid portion of the grid will not binder the compression of the material
inside the rim, as the grid, by preference, is made with ribs diamond-shaped in
cross-section, as shown, although other forms of ribs may be used without departing
from our invention.
In order to prevent lateral displacement of the material above the grid, around the
edges of the latter, a top die, a, having a yielding rim, i, as shown in Fig. 7. may, if
desired, be used, said rim retaining laterally the material above the grid before and
during the pressing operation, in the same manner that the frame, H, retains the
material below the grid. The rim may have steady-pins, I, entering openings in the
frame, H, if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.
1. In a machine for compressing powdered active material into supporting grids,
the combination of a rotatable table having a series of holders thereon, with grid-
carrying dies adapted to said holders, and with a press having a plunger and platen,
the rotating frame being so hung in respect to the plunger and platen of the press
that as the frame is rotated the grid-carrying bars will be passed between said plunger
and platen, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination of the frame of the press, having upright bolts, with a frame
secured to one of said bolts, an annular frame supported by and free to turn on said
fixed frame and having a series of holders, with grid-carrying dies adapted to said
holders, the frame being so hung in respect to the plunger and platen of the press
that the grids can be fed one by one between said platen and plunger, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination of the press, a grid-carrying die, and a frame movable on said
die and serving to aid in supporting the grid above the surface of the die, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
4. The combination of the grid-carrying die, the supporting frame for the grid,
springs under said supporting frame, and adjustable bolts for adjusting the height of
said frame in respect to the face of the die, substantially as hereinbefore described
5. The combination of the press, the grid-carrying die, the movable frame thereon,
and a second frame adapted to rest upon the grid and serve as a gauge for the
material deposited thereon, substantially as herein before described.
6. The combination of the grid-carrying die and the movable frame thereon, the
grid having a hinged frame adapted to fit over the grid and having a flange forming
a gauge, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.

page_text: 7. The combination of the press, the rotatable frame and its holder, and a grid-
carrying die having flanges supported on said holders but free to rise therefrom under
the action of the press, substantially as hereinbefore described.
8. The combination of the grid-carrying die and its yielding frame, with an upper
die having a like yielding frame, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 13th day of August 1889.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.