IMPROVED ELECTRICAL ACCUMULATORS OR STORAGE CELLS
Year: 1885

page_text: We, THOMAS SEXTON SARNEY of 13 Ablett Street, South Bermondsey in the
County of Surrey Mechanical and Electrical Engineer and ARTHUR SAMUEL
HAMAND of 9 Bridge Street Westminster in the County of Middlesex Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVED ELECTRICAL
ACCUMULATORS OR STORAGE CELLS to be as follows:-
:-
The said Invention consists of an improved method of preparation and manu-
facture of electrodes for electrical accumulators by which means easy and rapid
formation of the electrodes is accomplished and they are rendered capable of
storing a large amount of electrical energy, the porous substance used being firmly
attached to the metal plates with which it is in combination.
1
In carrying our invention into effect the plates are formed with a thick rib of
the metal of which they are composed, situated horizontally across their surfaces
and by preference about the centre. To the ends of these ribs are attached stout
strips of metal leading through the electrolyte to the connections with the main
conductors of the accumulator.
The plates may be either rolled to the required form or flat plates having soundly
attached ribs may be used. After each plate is adjusted to the required dimensions
and weight the upper portion and the bottom portion of the plates are to be
respectively cut into several vertical strips, the cuts terminating at or near the
horizontal central stiffening rib; the strips are then to be bent from their vertical
position alternately on each side into a diagonal position so that when the strips
are completely bent the plate resembles a chevaux-de-frise."
"
The plate in this shape is now to be completely surrounded with the porous
mixture, the whole mass slightly pressed into a uniform shape in a mould, the plate
and its porous covering being then bound round with suitable material and finally
being covered with stout unglazed paper, placed in a proper oven to evaporate all
moisture. The electrodes are then convenient to handle and ready for use.
The plates just described are used preferably in the positive electrodes. For the
negative electrodes the metal plate portion may be, if preferred, in the shape of thin
sheet formed into a spiral inclined plane, and filled in and around with the porous
composition as before described.
For the porous composition the following are used: -Metallic oxides, Peroxides,
or Metallic Sulphates in combination with Carbon, Black Oxide of Manganese,
Granular Carbon, or Carbonised Coffee beans, or other corns or seeds, crushed or
divided, without however being reduced to powder, and mixed with a sufficient
quantity of flour or meal paste to give consistency to the whole. Yeast may also
be used in combination with the paste for amalgamating the mixture, and the

page_text: plates may be dipped in a solution of yeast before being surrounded by the porous
mixture. Clean but crushed straws are also interlaid with the mixture, so that the
electrodes after formation will be in a highly porous condition permitting free
circulation of the Electrolyte through them.
The peculiar form of the plate permits free play of the current between the
central rib and the branches in and through the porous mass thereby permitting
large storage capacity.
For the purpose of giving increased acting surface to the main plates of
electrodes of any make, short coils of thin sheet metal are attached by soldering
one side of the sheet forming the coil to the main plate of an electrode. The
coils are arranged with a thickness of unglazed paper or other insulating material
between each fold of the coil, and the coils may be placed as closely together on
the main plate as is found convenient.
Any convenient number of electrodes of either or both description may be com-
bined in one cell or box which may be constructed of earthenware, porcelain, wood,
or other suitable material.
If earthenware pans are preferred, they are to be made with the upper edges of
their two opposite sides, which adjoin the ends of the electrodes, in the shape of
troughs or grooves, the sides of the grooves nearest the interior of the box or pan
having notches, through which the wires or conductors leading from the electrodes
are to be laid and thence in and through the grooves which are to be filled with suit-
able insulating composition flush with the top of the groove, the wires or conductors
being continued through the grooves clear of the sides of the box or pan for
attachment to main conductors.
The containing boxes are further to be provided with angle pieces at each upper
corner projecting beyond the dimensions of the box and for a short height above
the upper edge of the box, so that the bottom of a similar box placed on top of the
first will easily pass inside these angle pieces just described which are for the
purpose of retaining the boxes in their proper position safely when placed one
upon another.
Whatever material the containing boxes are constructed of, the bottoms and sides of
the boxes are to be made with grooves or corrugations running transversewise to
the length of the electrodes so that the electrodes instead of resting continuously
on a plane surface will be carried on the tops or projecting parts of the grooves or
corrugations, the object being to permit as far as possible a free passage for the
electrolyte round the bottom and ends of the electrodes.
For the purpose of retaining the electrodes firmly in position at proper distances
apart in the box shallow grooves in the sides of the boxes to receive the ends of
the electrodes are to be made across the grooves running round the sides of the
boxes but so that the transverse grooves are always deeper than those prepared for
receiving the ends of the electrodes; or if preferred angle pieces of the same
material as that of which the boxes are constructed may be made between the
bottom and sides of the boxes, and lugs at the top of the sides respectively for
the purpose of keeping the electrodes apart from each other and in position.
A cap, sheath, or other protector for the upper edge and ends of the electrodes
may also be used of suitable shape made of porcelain, earthenware or other con-
venient material and perforated or made with holes or spaces in the material for
free passage of the electrolyte.

page_text: We THOMAS SEXTON SARNEY of 13 Ablett Street South Bermondsey in the
County of Surrey Electrician and ARTHUR SAMUEL HAMAND of 9 Bridge Street
Westminster in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of our invention for IMPROVED ELECTRICAL ACCUMULATORS OR STORAGE
CELLS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The said Invention consists of an improved method of preparation and manu-
facture of electrodes for electrical accumulators by which means easy and rapid
formation of the electrodes is accomplished and they are made capable of storing a
large amount of electrical energy, the porous substance used being firmly attached
to the metal plates with which it is used in combination.
In carrying our invention into effect the plates are formed with a thick rib of
the metal of which they are composed, situated horizontally across their surfaces
and by. preference about the centre. To the ends of these ribs are attached stout
strips of metal leading through the electrolyte up to the connections with the main
conductors of the accumulator.
The plates may be either rolled to the required form or flat plates having soundly
attached ribs may be used. After each plate is adjusted to the required dimensions
and weight the upper portion and the bottom portion of the plates are to be respec-
tively cut into several vertical strips the cuts terminating at or near the horizontal
stiffening rib; the strips are then to be bent from their vertical position alternately
on each side into a diagonal position so that when the strips are completely bent
the plate resembles a "chevaux de frise."
The plate in this shape is now to be completely surrounded with the porous
mixture the whole mass slightly pressed into a uniform shape in a mould, the plate
and its porous covering being then bound round with suitable material and finally
being covered with stout unglazed paper placed in a proper oven to evaporate all
moisture The electrodes are then convenient to handle and ready for use.
The plates just described are used preferably in the positive electrodes. For the
negative electrodes the metal plate portion may be if preferred in the shape of thin
sheet formed into a spiral inclined plane and filled in and around with the porous
composition as before described.
For the porous composition the following are used ;-Metallic Oxides, Peroxides
or Metallic Sulphates in combination with Carbon, Black Oxide of Manganese,
Granular Carbon, or Carbonised coffee beans or other corns or seeds, crushed or
divided without however being reduced to powder and mixed with a sufficient
quantity of flour or meal paste to give consistency to the whole. Yeast may also
be used in combination with the paste for amalgamating the mixture and the plates
may be also dipped in a solution of yeast before being surrounded by the porous
mixture. Clean but crushed straws are also interlaid with the mixture, so that
the electrodes after formation will be in a highly porous condition permitting free
circulation of the Electrolyte through them.

page_text: The peculiar form of the plate permits free play of the current between the
central rib and the branches in and through the porous mass thereby permitting
large storage capacity.
For the purpose of giving increased active surface to the main plates of electrodes
of any make short coils of thin sheet metal are attached by soldering one edge of
the sheet forming the coil to the main plate of an electrode. The coils are arranged
with a thickness of unglazed paper or other insulating material between each fold
of the coil and the coils may be placed as closely together on the main plate as is
found convenient.
Any convenient number of electrodes of either or both descriptions may be com-
bined in one cell or box which may be constructed of earthenware, porcelain, wood
or other suitable material.
If earthenware pans are preferred they are to be made with the upper edges of
their two opposite sides which adjoin the ends of the electrodes in the shape of
troughs or grooves which are to be filled with suitable insulating composition flush
with the top of the groove the wires or conductors being continued through the
grooves clear of the sides of the box or pan for attachment to main conductors.
The containing boxes are further to be provided with angle pieces at each upper
corner projecting beyond the dimensions of the box and for a short height above it
so that the bottom of a similar box placed on top of the first will easily pass inside
the angle pieces just described which are for the purpose of retaining boxes when
placed one above another safely in their proper position.
Whether the containing boxes are constructed of timber earthenware porcelain
or other non-conducting material the bottoms and sides of the boxes are to be made
with grooves or corrugations running transversely to the length of the electrodes
so that the electrodes instead of resting continuously on a plane surface will be
carried on the tops or projecting parts of the grooves or corrugations, the object
being to permit as far as possible a free passage for the electrolyte round the bottom
and ends of the electrodes.
For the purpose of retaining the electrodes firmly in position at proper distances
apart shallow grooves in the sides of the boxes to receive the ends of the electrodes
are to be made across the grooves running round the sides of the box transversely
to the electrode ends but so that the transverse grooves are always deeper than
those prepared for receiving the ends of the electrodes.
Or if preferred angle pieces of the same material as that of which the boxes are
constructed may be made between the bottom and sides of the boxes and lugs at
the top of the sides respectively for the purpose of keeping the electrodes apart
from each other and in position.
A cap, sheath, or other protector for the upper edge and ends of the electrode
may also be used of suitable shape made of porcelain earthenware or other con-
venient material and perforated or made with holes or spaces in the material for
the passage of the electrolyte.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. The preparation and manufacture of electrodes having metal plates with
central stiffening ribs and branches in the shape of a "chevaux de frise" substan-
tially as described.
2. The construction of electrodes with metal plates in the shape of a spirally
inclined plane substantially as described.
3. The use of paste made from any flour and of yeast as part of the porous com-
position with which the plates are surrounded.
4. In the construction of containing boxes:-the making of grooves on the
interior sides and bottoms of the boxes for the purpose of maintaining spaces
around the bottoms and ends of the electrodes for free circulation of the electrolyte ;

page_text: the making of shallow grooves in the sides or the construction of angle pieces
at the bottom and lugs at the top of the sides of the boxes for the purpose of
receiving the ends of the electrodes and retaining them in their proper positions ;
the making of troughs on the upper edges of the sides of the boxes adjacent to the
electrode ends; and the construction of exterior angle pieces at the upper corners
of the boxes for maintaining them in position when placed one above another sub-
stantially as described.
5. The construction and use of protecting caps or sheaths for the ends and top
of electrodes as described