IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SECONDARY BATTERIES OR APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING ELECTRICAL STORAGE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Wilson Swan, of the Town and County of
Newcastle on Tyne, Chemist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SECONDARY BATTERIES OR APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING
ELECTRICAL STORAGE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Wilson Swan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1881.
JOSEPH WILSON SWAN, of the Town and County of Newcastle on Tyne,
Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SECONDARY BATTERIES OR
APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING ELECTRICAL STORAGE."
In constructing the secondary battery, known as Plantés, it has been customary
to employ plates of lead arranged in couples and separated from each other by a
stratum of dilute sulphuric acid. By means of this apparatus the energy of
electricity can be stored in such a manner that if the Planté cell be placed for a time
in circuit with an electricity generating apparatus of sufficient power it is after
being detached from the electricity producing apparatus able to give out an electric
current on its own account.
When the Planté cell is constructed as described of simple plates of lead a very
considerable time is required to effect the change necessary to render them capable
of storing a large amount of energy. The object of my Invention is to avoid this
disadvantage by so preparing the lead plates that they are capable of rapid trans-
formation into the condition necessary for large storage.
I accomplish the object stated by cutting or scraping the surface of the lead
plates employed to form the storage cells in such a manner as to expose a greatly
enlarged surface to the action of the electrolytic gases produced in the act
of charging, whilst at the same time leaving sufficient solid metal to give the
plate the requisite stability and hold the oxidized portions adherent to the body of
the plate.

page_text: When the said extension of surface is produced by scraping I so scrape the
surface as to raise on it a comparatively thick nap or fur in square or linear
sections or portions of the surface.
When I produce the extension of surface by incisions I employ a machine with
cutting blades, and I so operate it that by a combination of a reciprocating action
on the part of the blades and (a progressive step by step action on the part of the
lead plate, or vice versa, I obtain a succession of cuts very close together and
penetrating the surface to a certain depth. I prefer to produce these cuts in
square or linear sections or portions of the surface, and so as to leave partition walls
of solid metal between the sections of cuts, whether square or linear, in order that
the more readily oxidized, sliced, or cut portions of the surface may be held
together by the uncut portions of the plate, and with the same object I preserve
uncut a sufficient thickness of the metal, whether one or both sides of the plate are
incised or scraped.
Plates thus prepared are employed in the construction of secondary cells in the
manner well known.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Wilson Swan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th April 1882.
JOSEPH WILSON SWAN, of the Town and County of Newcastle on Tyne,
Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SECONDARY BATTERIES OR
APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING ELECTRICAL STORAGE."
In constructing the secondary battery, known as Planté's, it has been customary
to employ plates of lead arranged in couples and separated from each other by a
stratum of dilute sulphuric acid. By means of this apparatus the energy of
electricity can be stored in such a manner that if the Planté cell be placed for a
time in circuit with an electricity generating apparatus of sufficient power it is
after being detached from the electricity producing apparatus able to give out an
electric current on its own account.
When the Planté cell is constructed as described of simple plates of lead a very
considerable time is required to effect the change necessary to render them
capable of storing a large amount of energy. The object of my present Invention
is to avoid this disadvantage by so preparing the lead plates that they are capable
of rapid transformation into the condition necessary for large storage.
I accomplish the object stated by cutting or scraping or equivalently acting upon
the surface of the lead plates employed to form the storage cells in such a manner
as to expose a greatly enlarged surface to the action of electrolytic gases produced
in the act of charging, whilst at the same time if necessary for strengthening the
plates I leave sufficient solid metal or unacted upon portions to give the plate the
requisite stability and hold the oxidized or disintegrated portions adherent to the
body of the plate.
I produce the said extension of surface either by scraping or by cutting the
surfaces or one of the surfaces or a portion of the surface or surfaces of the
plates.
When the said extension of surface is produced by scraping, I so scrape or abrade
the surface or surfaces or portions thereof of the plates as to raise on them a
comparatively thick nap or fur, preferably in square or striped sections or portions
of the plates, partition of unabraded portions of the plates being left between the
scraped or abraded portions.
When I produce the extension of surface by cuts or incissions, I may produce
the incissions by means of a machine with cutting blades similar to a slotting
machine, but so constructed that by a combination of a reciprocating action on
the part of the blades, acting preferably in a vertical plane, and a progressive step
by step action on the part of the lead plate acting preferably in a horizontal plane,
or vice versa, I obtain a succession of cuts very close together and penetrating
either entirely or partially through the thickness of the plates. I prefer to produce
these cuts or incissions in portions of the surface only (preferably in square or
striped section or portions), and so as to leave partition walls of solid uncut metal
between the cut or incessed sections, whether such cut or incessed sections are in the
form of squares or stripes or equivalent forms, in order that the less coherent
sliced cut or incessed portions of the plate may be held together by the solid uncut
portions of the plate, and with the same object I preserve uncut or sufficient
thickness of the metal whether one or both sides of the plates are incised or
scraped, or whether if the plates are incised the incisions penetrate entirely through
the thickness of the plates.
I sometimes produce a condition of surface more or less similar to that produced
by the scraping or cutting treatment above described by pressing the lead plates

page_text: destined for use as the pole plates of secondary cells between the plates engraved
or otherwise roughened, preferably of square or striped sections, so as to commu-
nicate to the plates pressed between them the punctured, incised, or roughened
character required. Plates thus prepared are employed in the construction of
secondary cells in the ordinary well known manner of employing plates for the
purpose of electrical storage.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to ine by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The improvements in the construction of secondary batteries or apparatus
for effecting electrical storage consisting in forming the lead plates employed
therein into an extended surface by cutting or scraping or equivalently acting upon
the same so as to extend the surface of the said plates and thus greatly facilitate or
expedite the storing action of the said batteries or apparatus, as hereinbefore
described.
Second. Constructing secondary batteries or apparatus for effecting electrical
storage with lead plates, having portions abraded, scraped, indented, cut, perforated
or equivalently acted upon in portions, which portions give an extended surface to
facilitate or expedite the storing operation, the said portions so acted upon
alternating with portions which are not so acted upon, and which form a framing
or support for the abraded, scraped, indented, cut, perforated, or equivalently acted
upon portions as hereinbefore described.
Third. Producing lead plates with extended surface for use in the construction of
secondary batteries or apparatus for effecting electrical storage by pressing lead
between engraved, indented, roughened, or equivalently formed plates or surfaces,
so that the said lead so treated is formed into plates having thereupon corresponding
indentations and projections giving an extended surface to the said plates, as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Wilson Swan, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
TOOT
TIL CON
CITY T
JOSEPH WILSON
(44.50)