Improvements in the Manufacture of Electrical Storage Plates.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Electrical Storage Plates.
We, EDWARD BRAILSFORD BRIGHT of Archway House Esher Surrey Civil
Engineer and LEWIS WILLIAM MERCIER of 10 Laura Place Lower Clapton
London N. Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
-
The object of the present invention is to produce electrical storage plates that will
expose the same surface and give the same electrical output as the ordinary plates
at present in use, but by the process of manufacture to greatly reduce the weight
while increasing the durability and rendering the plates flexible.
In carrying out our process we use either a series of threads or strings or belt of
woven fabric or net, of a material which is non combustible at the temperature of
molten lead (hereinafter referred to as "the fabric ") as the foundation upon, and
into the interstices of which, lead is to be passed or pressed.
The fabric may be previously treated with a slight coating of lead or carbon, or
acidulated, or wires of lead may be interwoven previously with the fabric in order
to facilitate the subsequent adhesion and permeation of the lead throughout its
surface and interstices.
The fabric being thus treated is passed over rollers into a bath of molten lead in
a similar manner to the ordinary process of galvanising iron wire with zinc and is
then drawn therefrom by guide rollers and quickly cooled by suitable means such
as cold water or cold air blast and at the same time compressed by rollers so as to
equalize the quantity of lead thus brought into combination with the fabric.
It is better to draw the fabric thus coated perpendicularly out of the lead bath
so as to equalise the coating of metal on each side.
The composite belt of flexible material thus formed in its passage through the
"exit" (or drawing) rollers may then (or afterwards) be indented or perforated
to facilitate the adherence of litharge or other re-agent on its surface.
By an alternative process instead of a bath of molten lead we pass the fabric
between two strips of lead through a chamber heated sufficiently to slightly soften
but not melt the metal-and draw the fabric and softened strips between cooling
rollers with sufficient pressure to thoroughly incorporate the leaden strips with the
fabric.
The belt of amalgamated lead and flexible material is then ready to be cut
into strips of the size required for accumulators or storage plates and connected by
a metallic clip and connecting rod or terminal outside or if required set in a frame
or edging of suitable material.
In passing through the drawing rollers the belt may be similarly pressed or
indented in whatever form best suited to the application of litharge or other
preparation of lead as in the first process.
Dated this 21st day of July 1892
E. B. BRIGHT.
LEWIS W. MERCIER.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Electrical Storage Plates.
We EDWARD BRAILSFORD BRIGHT of Archway House Esher Surrey Civil
Engineer and LEWIS WILLIAM MERCIER of 10 Laura Place Lower Clapton
London N. Electrician 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 :—
Our invention enables electrical storage plates to be manufactured that will
expose the same surface and give an equal electrical output as the ordinary plates
at present in use, and at the same time to reduce the weight by at least one half
while increasing the durability and rendering the plates flexible.
In carrying out our process we use either a series of threads or strings or belt
of woven fabric or net of a material preferably asbestos yarn which is incom-
bustible at the temperature of molten lead the fabric being the foundation upon
and into the interstices of which, lead is to be passed or pressed.
The fabric may be previously treated with a slight coating of lead or carbon, or
acidulated, in order to facilitate the subsequent adhesion and permeation of the
lead throughout its surfaces and interstices. Or wires of lead may be interwoven
previously with the fabric.
The fabric being thus treated is passed over rollers into a bath of melted lead
in a similar manner to the ordinary process of galvanizing iron wire with zinc and
is then drawn therefrom by guide rollers and quickly cooled by suitable means
such as cold water or cold air blast, and at the same time compressed by rollers so
as to equalise the quantity of lead thus brought into combination with the
fabric.
It is better to draw the fabric thus coated perpendicularly out of the lead bath
so as to equalise the coating of metal on each side.
The composite belt of flexible material thus formed in its passage through the
drawing rollers may then or afterwards be indented or perforated to facilitate the
adhesion of litharge or other re-agent on its surface.
By an alternative process, without employing a bath of molten lead we pass the
fabric between two strips of lead through a chamber or oven heated sufficiently to
soften but not melt the metal and draw the fabric and the softened strips between
rollers with sufficient pressure to thoroughly incorporate the leaden strips with the
fabric.
By employing the same heated chamber we also deposit plastic lead upon the
fabric from a reservoir of molten lead above the heated table over which the fabric
is drawn so regulated that sufficient lead is deposited in the interstices and on the
surfaces of the fabric.
After passing through the drawing rollers the belt of amalgamated lead and
flexible material is then ready to be cut into strips of the size required for
accumulators or storage plates, and to be connected by a metallic clip and
connecting rod or terminal outside or, if required, set in a frame or edging of
suitable material.
In passing through the drawing rollers, the belt thus described may be pressed
or indented in whatever form is best suited to the application of litharge or other
preparation of lead as referred to in the first process above described.
Haying now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. The manufacture of electrical storage plates with an intermediate light
woven fabric unaffected by the action of acids and combined with lead as
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page_text: 2. The process of manufacture by passing such fabric as a belt through a bath
of molten lead, permeating the interstices, and covering the surfaces, and then
compressed by cooling rollers.
3. The process of manufacture by passing such fabric between strips of lead
through a heated chamber, over a heated table and then between rollers com-
pressing the lead into the interstices and on the surfaces of the fabric.
4. Passing the fabric over a heated table and saturating it with molten lead
and thence between cooling rollers as described.
5. The combination of processes and appliances as described.
E. B. BRIGHT.
LEWIS W. MERCIER.