An Improved Form of Washer for Use in Connecting Secondary Battery Lugs and other Electrical Conductors.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
An Improved Form of Washer for Use in Connecting Secondary
Battery Lugs and other Electrical Conductors.
I, JOHN SOMERVILLE HIGHFIELD of 6, Ingestre Road Stafford, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved form of washer to be used for making a
good mechanical and electrical connection between lead or other soft metal
electrical conductors and more particularly it is used to make connection between
the lead or other soft metal lugs of a primary or secondary battery or
between such lugs and any cable or lead used to convey electrical energy to
or from them.
According to my invention I employ a washer consisting of a metal disc
perforated for a bolt and on the surfaces of which are turned or cast a number of
ridges arranged concentrically or otherwise, generally of V section; this washer
or disc is placed between the electrical conductors to be connected, a bolt screwed
to receive a nut is put through the conductors which have been suitably perforated
to take it and the washer: the nut is then screwed up on the bolt until the ridges
on the washer are pressed home into the faces of the conductors. In the case
where a conductor of hard metal is to be connected to one of soft metal as for
instance a brass or copper conductor to a lead one the washer has only one face
ridged and is preferably soldered or brazed (though this is not necessary) with its
flat face to the hard metal conductor, then this conductor with the attached washer
is bolted to the soft metal conductor the ridges on the washer being driven into it
and so making efficient connection. In some cases the ridged washer may be turned
or cast ou the face of the conductor itself or on any socket or connector used as a
means of connecting stranded cables or similar conductors.
J. S. HIGHFIELD.
An Improved Form of Washer for Use in Connecting Secondary
Battery Lugs and other Electrical Conductors.
I, JOHN SOMERVILLE HIGHFIELD of 6, Ingestre Road Stafford Electrical
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 consists of a washer on the face or faces of which are formed a
number of ridges preferably arranged concentrically and of V section. This
washer is used in connection with a bolt and nut or other clamping device for
making good mechanical and electrical connection between lead or other soft metal
electrical conductors or for connecting by means of a suitable socket any form of

page_text: electrical lead to such soft metal conductors and more particularly for inter-
connecting the lugs of electric accumulators or secondary batteries or for connecting
cables or other electrical conductors to the same. The washer is in all cases used
so that the ridges on its face or faces are driven home into the soft metal
conductor thus making a good mechanical and electrical connection with large
surface of contact with it. The ridged washer may be used separately or may
be soldered or brazed to or turned or cast directly onto any socket or connecting
device that may be used. I proceed to describe my invention with reference to
the drawing hereunto.
Fig. I shows three views of the washer with ridges on both faces, the ridges, of
which three are shown at C are of V section and are arranged concentrically which
is usually the best arrangement.
Fig. 1 shows in two views the way in which the washer is to be used for
connecting two lead or other soft metal conductors C, C. A is the washer in
position with ridges C, C, which are driven home by screwing up the nut D' on the
bolt E, thus making a good electrical and mechanical connection between the faces
of the conductors C, C.
Fig. III shows plan and elevation of a bolt and nut with the bolt head in section,
tbe ridges being turned or cast on the flanged bolt head and nut, this may be used
as in Fig. II instead of the plain bolt and nut either with or without the double
riged washer A.
Fig. IV shows a connecting socket on the faces of which are turned or cast
concentric ridges as before described, this may be clamped between the lugs or
conductors and so used to connect thereto a stranded cable or similar conductor.
I also employ washers, having ridges on only one face, which may be brazed or
soldered to any copper or other electrical conductor which it is desired to connect
to any soft metal lead, the washer being bolted home as before described.
I prefer to make the ridges of V section though in some cases I may use a
different form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what matter the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Connecting lead or other soft metal electrical conductors by means of a ridged
washer substantially as herein described and shown.
.A. washer having ridges formed-on either one or both of its faces for the purpose
and substantially as herein described and shown.
Dated this 25th day of March 1897.
J. S. HIGHFIELD.