Improvements in or relating to Means for Making Electrical Connections.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Means for Making Electrical
Connections.
I, Dr. ERNST ANDREAS, of 107, Rosenstrasse, Dresden, Saxony, Germany,
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to a new method of making connections for electrical
conductors, more particularly for connecting the lugs of accumulator plates.
It is well known that all metals, except lead and precious metals, are attacked
by sulphuric acid. As, however it is impossible to make the binding screws
hitherto used for connecting the lugs of accumulator plates, of lead, it has
hitherto been necessary to make these screws of some harder metal, usually brass.
Besides these screws, sometimes connections have been employed in which the
parts to be connected were pushed into one another.
All these clamps and other connections were, however, quickly destroyed by
acid fumes and had therefore to be frequently replaced.
This invention introduces a new method of making electrical connections more
particularly for connecting lugs of accumulator-plates, the connecting device
employed being entirely of lead, so that it cannot possibly be destroyed by acid
fumes.
"
The invention will be described as applied to a battery consisting of three
accumulators the lugs of the plates of which are connected by clamps according
to this invention.
The clamping device consists of a ring or frame of hard lead, generally rectan-
gular in shape, strengthened if desired by external ribs.
Into the opening of this frame-which opening is preferably rectangular-are
introduced the lugs to be connected, a suitable wedge of hard lead being inserted
between them, to secure them in position and effect a satisfactory contact.
This wedging may be, of course, effected in different manners, as for instance
by means of suitable tongues or the like.
It will be evident that by this means the separate lugs are secured in close con-
tact with each other owing to the introduction of the wedge, so that a good
transmission of current from one lug to another is ensured.
The opening in the rings is preferably slightly tapered downwards so that it
corresponds to the shape or slope of the wedge to be driven in.
When the wedge is well driven in, the lugs may be bent over the frame and
the projecting wedge, so as to prevent any loosening by shocks.
It is assumed that each accumulator contains only three plates, but of course
any other number of them can be connected by a clamp according to this inven-
tion. The frame is then made correspondingly larger, and instead of one, several
wedges may be used.
This new method of connection dispenses with the necessity of soldering in
accumulators and saves much time and avoids loss of current through faulty

page_text: It must be also pointed out the shape of the clamp may be varied considerably.
Experiments or the shape of the parts to be connected may cause some other
shapes than rectangular to be preferable.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Means for Making Electrical
Connections.
I, Dr. ERNST ANDREAS, of 107, Rosenstrasse, Dresden, Saxony, Germany,
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:-
This invention relates to a new method of making connections for electrical
conductors, more particularly for connecting the lugs of accumulator plates.
It is well known that all metals, except lead and precious metals, are attacked
by sulphuric acid. As, however, it is impossible to make the binding screws
necessary for connecting the lugs of accumulator plates, of lead, it has
hitherto been necessary to make these screws of some harder metal, usually brass.
Besides these screws, sometimes connections have been employed in which the
parts to be connected were pushed into one another.
All these clamps and other connections were, however, quickly destroyed by
acid fumes and had therefore to be frequently replaced.
This invention introduces a new method of making electrical connections more
particularly for connecting lugs of accumulator-plates, the connecting device
employed being entirely of lead, so that it cannot possibly be destroyed by acid
fumes.
The accompanying drawing illustrates the new clamping device,
Figure 1 showing a battery consisting of three accumulators, the lugs of the
plates of which are connected by clamps according to this invention.
Figure 2 shows a part of the clamping device, viz. the lead ring in cross-
section,
Figure 3 being the same in plan, and
Figure 4 shows the new device fitted up in longitudinal section.
The clamping device consists of a ring or frame A of hard lead, generally
rectangular in shape strengthened if desired by external ribs B.
Into the opening C of this frame-which opening is preferably rectangular-are
introduced the lugs to be connected, a suitable wedge of hard lead being inserted
between them, to secure them in position and effect a satisfactory contact.
This wedging may be, of course, effected in different manners, as for instance
by means of suitable tongues or the like.
It will be evident that by this means the separate lugs are secured in close
contact owing to the introduction of the wedge, so that a good transmission of
current from one lug to another is ensured.
The opening C in the rings is preferably slightly tapered downwards so that it
corresponds to the shape or slope of the wedge to be driven in.
When the wedge is well driven in, the lugs may be bent over the frame and
the projecting wedge, so as to prevent any loosening by shocks.
In Figure 1 two negative plates of the accumulator F are shown connected with
the positive plate of the accumulator G.

page_text: It is assumed in the drawing that each accumulator contains only three plates,
but of course any other number can be connected by a clamp according to this
invention. The frame is then made correspondingly larger, and instead of one,
several wedges may be used.
This new method of connection dispenses with the necessity of soldering in
accumulators, saves much time and avoids loss of current through faulty
soldering.
It must be also pointed out that the shape of the clamp illustrated is given
merely by way of example, and may be varied considerably. Experiments, or
the shape of the parts to be connected, may cause some other shapes than rectan-
gular to be preferable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The method of connecting electric conductors, particularly the lugs of
accumulator plates, consisting in introducing the separate lugs or conductors into
a frame or holder of hard lead and inserting wedges therein in order to closely
connect or press the parts together substantially as described.
2. Means for connecting electric conductors comprising a frame or holder of
hard lead for receiving the ends of the lugs or conductors to be connected and
a wedge or similar clamp substantially as described.
3. A connection of the character described comprising projecting conductors
or lugs, a frame and wedge, the ends of the conductors or lugs being bent over
the top surface of the frame and wedge, for the purpose of securely holding the
parts together, substantially as described.
4. The complete means for connecting electrical conductors substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dotad this 21st day of Tul 1800
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.