An Improved Plate for Electric Accumulators or Storage Batteries.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1895-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Plate for Electric Accumulators or Storage
Batteries.
I, PAUL RIBBE, of 19, Lessingstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
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 :-
This invention relates to a double plate for electric accumulators, which
effectively avoids a number of drawbacks hitherto apparent in the construction of
electric accumulators or storage batteries.
The double plates which form the object of this invention are shown in the
accompanying drawings, both in their mode of construction, and also when put
together to form an effective battery.
Figure 1 shows an elevation of the double plate;
Figure 2 is the corresponding longitudinal section on the line ae;
Figure 3 the respective cross section on the line y y.
In Figures 1-3 in order to allow of its being better understood the paste is
omitted on one side of the plate.
Figure 4 is a side view of an accumulator or storage battery formed of the
improved double plates.
Figure 5 is the corresponding plan view and
Figure 6 a longitudinal section on the line of Figure 4.
The symmetrically formed plates a and consist of non-conducting material,
such for instance as vulcanite, and each contain four peculiarly shaped recesses c
for receiving the paste. These recesses or chambers c are curved towards the
interior of the double plate, and are enclosed on their four sides by inclined
surfaces in such a way that the aperture into the recess is of somewhat less
diameter than the interior, sc that the paste filled therein acts to a certain extent
in the manner of a vault or dome and any strains caused by alterations of volume
in the active substance or paste are received by the said inclined surfaces or
supports. Between the two plates a and b discs d which are provided with side
pins e are placed in the centre of the chambers c, in such a way that the pins e
project somewhat into the chambers c through suitable holes in the plates a and b.
The adjacent surfaces of the plates a and b are provided in the manner shown in
Figures 2 and 3 with recesses and grooves g, of which the grooves g have a dove-
tail shape. After the insertion of the discs d the plates a and b are pressed firmly
together, and an acid resisting substance, such as asphalt or the like, is poured into
the spaces and g the plates being preferably previously warmed. After the acid
resisting substance has hardened, the plates a and b form a coherent whole, whilst
the discs d are completely imbedded in the acid resisting material. Star plates h
are then placed on the pins e and soldered by means of a blow pipe or in other
suitable manner. The star plates do not effect the essence of this invention as they
have nothing to do with the storing of the current and merely serve for the better
conducting to and from the paste of the electric current. The discs d, pins e and
star plates h, are made of some conducting material preferably solid lead because
of it being easily soldered. The chambers c are finally coated with paste i in the
manner shown in Figures 2 and 3, so that the star plates are fully imbedded in
the paste and the paste itself has the form of a vault or dome.

page_text: The plates thus prepared are put together in the manner shown in Figures 4, 5
and 6, suitable washer plates & being placed between them, and in this arrangement
of course single plates only are necessary for the two ends.
In order to supply and carry off the electric current, discs d, having pins e on
only one side, are provided on the two outer plates, and these discs are connected
by bars with one another and with terminal strips m. The whole is held together
by means of screw bolts n, and the spaces formed between the double plates and
between the latter and the two end plates are filled up with the electrolytic fluid.
The accumulators or storage batteries herein before described have a number of
important technical advantages. First, they do not require to contain the paste in
themselves, nor need it be held in a lattice work plate or grid; it is on the other
hand reliably held in a non-conductor, the substance being divided into separate
divisions of such a size that their durability is reliably secured. Further there is
obtained an ideal shutting off of the positive from the negative side, and therefore
acid cannot get from one side of the double plate to the other, nor can a creeping
or progressive oxidation of the connecting elements arise from one side to the other.
Finally the double plate herein before described enables the separate plates to be
connected in series in an extremely effective manner without any outside connection
(connecting or intermediate piece) being necessary, But even for parallel
connection there is the great advantage that with an entirely equal distribution of
the current to all points of the plate, the distributing conductor is itself fully
imbedded. In the case of parallel connection the discs e belonging to one
common double plate are interconnected one with another and provided with
terminal strips in the manner described for the end plates in series connection.
Nothing is altered in the essence of the invention if more than four separate
divisions are provided so that the plates may be altered entirely at will.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is
1. An improved plate for electric accumulators or storage batteries consisting
of two carrying plates of non-conducting material cemented together by means of
acid-resisting material, and having chambers or recesses for receiving the paste,
such chambers being curved inwards and enframed by insulating material,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a double plate for electric accumulators such as described in Claim 1, the
arrangement of discs between the two plates, each disc having pius projecting into
the chambers or recesses described in Claim 1, for receiving a star plate or the
like, which, after the cementing together of the two plates is soldered or brazed to
the said pin and is afterwards entirely surrounded by the paste, substantially as
described.
3. In a double plate for electric accumulators such as described in Claim 1, the
arrangement of dovetail grooves on the contact surfaces of the plates which are
cemented together substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 17th day of June 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.