Improvements in Electrical Accumulators.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Accumulators.
We, FRANÇOIS LOPPE, HENRY PAUL MORIN, DENIS PHILIPPE MARTIN, and
GEORGES JEAN ADOLPHE GRINER, all Engineers, and of No. 136, Boulevard
Raspail, Paris, in the French Republic, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to certain improvements in and connected with electric
accumulators, and the following is the description and method of carrying out
the same.
This improved accumulator or storage battery is formed of a number of plates
of lead or lead alloy, the positive and negative electrodes being similarly con-
structed apart from the nature of the active material according to the polarity
of the electrode.
Each plate or electrode is essentially formed of several sheets placed close
together and united. These sheets may be formed of a single plate folded into
undulations, or of several separate and distinct plates.
To construct the electrode in the former case, we take a thin lead plate
cf suitable shape, preferably rectangular, and this plate is undulated and per-
forated with a large number of small holes usually and preferably formed in such
a manner that the metal around these holes is repoussé in the form of the lower
frustrum of a cone and jutting out in similar manner; the undulations or corru-
gations should be numerous and close together. The holes are so formed that
the conic projections are distributed over both faces of the plate. We cannot
better liken the appearance of each surface than to that of a nutmeg-grater. The
sheet so undulated and perforated is folded a certain number of times so that
the folds divide it into equal divisions and the different sections so formed are
folded so as to lie closely together.
Extensions are provided for the purpose of taking off the discharges of current,
which when placed together unite to form one single lug or projection.
The parallel sheets so arranged can thus have within opposite faces and at
their ends a coating of some active material such as, oxide of lead, lead salts,

page_text: pulverulent lead, etc., etc. This coating can be effected by placing or pasting
the, active material on the sheets at the time that folds are made therein, or by
electrolytically depositing the spongy metallic lead thereon, these substances at
the time of the phenomena termed "formation " being changed into
spongy lead and peroxide of lead. The active material may also be provided alone
by the metal of the plate in case the accumulator is "formed" according to the
Planté system.
To construct the electrode according to the second method, we take several
thin sheets of lead of the same size and undulated and perforated as before,
and place them together before applying to their faces layers of the active
material selected, either by coating or pasting or by electrolytic deposit, or
according to Planté's method.
We wish to remark, however, that in any case we reserve the right to use
sheets of woven lead wire, or lattice work (grids) in lieu of the perforated lead
plates.
The lead plates are then secured together by suitable solder on one or more of
their edges or by rivets running through them at suitable points of the surface
or otherwise suitably connected together.
In these plates so formed, either of a folded single sheet or of sheets joined
together by soldering or rivetting, holes or apertures of suitable shape are
provided; these holes, which run through them from side to side perpendicularly
or obliquely, or both, are for the purpose of allowing free circulation of the liquid
and also of increasing the surface of the active material.
The electrodes so formed are arranged parallel to one another in a cell and
between them may be placed plates of insulating substance perforated with holes
which coincide with those in the electrodes. These plates are arranged to
prevent all contact with the electrodes and to allow by means of insulating con-
nections the whole to be held together in one piece or block; these connections
should preferably be formed of india-rubber rings so that the set of electrodes
and of insulating plates will have a certain degree of elasticity, thus permitting
the active material to increase in volume, while preventing warping or move-
ment of the plates immersed in the liquid. These insulating connections may be
made of strips perforated with holes and furnished with ribs or with slots. They
may also be replaced by combs, clips or saddles slipped or clamped over the
plates.
Our accumulator gives rapid charges and discharges because the active material
is compressed between the sheets forming each electrode and because the active
material is in very thin layers; thus the greatest distance between one point of
the active material and the lead sheet is reduced to a minimum; the apparatus
also possesses very slight resistance; on the other hand, the circulation of the
electrolyte is perfect on account of the holes in the plates and the insulators keyed
between the latter; this circulation ensures the homogeneity of the electrolytic
liquid and its thorough use.
On account of the short distance of any point of the active material or mass
from the electrolyte, this active mass always works under the most favourable
conditions.
The rivets may be themselves tubular or hollow and they may also be pro-
vided with fluted or slotted washers or packing for holding and separating
the plates.
D1
༢་ 11
1
1000

page_text: We, FRANÇOIS LOPPÉ, HENRY PAUL MORIN, DENIS PHILIPPE MARTIN, and
GEORGES JEAN ADOLPHE GRINER, all Engineers, and of No. 138, Boulevard
Raspail, Paris, in the French Republic, 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:-
Our invention relates to certain improvements in and connected with electrical
accumulators, and the following is the description and method of carrying out
the same.
This improved accumulator or storage battery is formed of a number of specially-
constructed plates of lead or lead alloy, the positive and negative electrodes being
similarly constructed apart from the nature of the active material according
to the polarity of the electrode.
The annexed drawings show the various parts of an accumulator constructed
in accordance with our invention.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of an electrode.
Figure 2 is a vertical section through line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a portion of a vertical section drawn to an enlarged scale on
line 4-4 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a portion of a vertical section also on an enlarged scale, on
line 55 of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a portion of a vertical section similar to Figure 5, but on a larger
scale, and in this case its plate is fixed on the Planté system.
Figure 7 shows an elevation of an insulating perforated plate or separator.
Figure 8 is a horizontal section through the same.
Figure 9 is a vertical sectional elevation of a mounted accumulator.
Each plate or electrode is formed essentially of several sheets placed close
together and suitably united. These sheets may be formed of a single plate
folded into undulations, or of several separate and distinct plates.
To construct the electrode in the former case, we taken a thin lead plate of
suitable shape, generally rectangular, and this plate is undulated and perforated
with a large number of small holes usually and preferably formed in such a
manner that the metal around these holes is repoussé in the form of the lower
frustrum of a cone and projecting in similar manner; the undulations or corru-
gations should be numerous and close together. The holes are so formed that
the conic projections are distributed over both faces of the plate. We cannot
liken the appearance of each surface better than to that of a nutmeg-grater.
The sheet so undulated and perforated is folded a certain number of times so
that the folds divide it into equal divisions and the different sections so formed
are folded so as to lie closely together. The sheet is furnished with prolonga-
tions or extensions for the passage of current, and which when placed together
unite to form a single lug or projection.
The parallel sheets so arranged can, upon their opposite faces and at their
ends, be furnished or pasted with the coating of some such active material as
oxide of lead, lead salts, pulverulent lead, etc. etc. This coating or addition may
be effected by placing or pasting the active material on the sheets at the time.
that folds are made therein, or by electrolytically depositing the spongy metallic

page_text: ""
lead thereon, these substances at the time of the phenomena termed " " formation
being changed into spongy lead and peroxide of lead. The active material may
also be provided solely by the metal of the plate in case the accumulator is to be
"formed according to the Planté system.
To construct the electrode according to the second method, we take several
thin sheets of lead of the same size and undulated and perforated as before, and
place them together, at the same time applying to their faces layers of the active
material selected, either by coating or pasting or by electrolytic deposit, or accord-
ing to Planté's method.
We wish to remark, however, that in any case we reserve the right to use
sheets of woven lead wire, or lattice work (grids) in lieu of the perforated plates.
The lead plates are afterwards secured together by any suitable means such as
by solder on one or more of their edges, or by rivets running through them at
suitable points of the surface.
In these plates so formed, either of a folded single sheet or of sheets joined
together by soldering or rivetting, holes or apertures of suitable shape are pro-
vided; these holes, which run through them from side to side perpendicularly or
obliquely, or both, are for the purpose of allowing free circulation of the liquid and
also of increasing the surface of the active material.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the annexed drawing represent an electrode so
formed; the small openings made so that the metal edges are raised are shown a,
a, a; the rivets are designated b, b, b, and the holes for the circulation of the
liquid c, c, c; the rivets may themselves be tubular, as shown on the drawings.
The different layers forming a plate may be in their upper parts fixed at con-
venient distances apart by means of distance pieces of lead d. The active material
is shown at e.
Figure 6 represents, in the case of an accumulator arranged on the Planté
system, the method of joining the sheets forming the electrodes by means of
rivets b; the separation of these sheets is obtained by means of distance pieces or
packing surrounding the rivet.
The electrodes so formed are arranged parallel to one another in a cell and
between them may be placed plates of insulating substance (Figs. 7, 8) per-
forated with holes which coincide with the openings in the electrodes. These
plates are arranged to prevent all contact with the electrodes and to allow by
means of insulating connections g the whole to be held together in one piece or
block; (Figure 9) these connections should preferably be formed of india-rubber
rings or bands so that the set of electrodes and of insulating plates will have a
certain amount of elasticity, thus permitting the active material to increase in
volume, while preventing warping or movement of the plates immersed in the
liquid. These insulating connections may be made of strips or plates perforated
with holes and furnished with ribs, or may be composed of grids. They may also
be replaced by combs, clips or saddles slipped astride or clamped over the plates.
Our accumulator or storage battery gives rapid charges and discharges because
the active material is compressed between the sheets forming each electrode and
because the active material is in very thin layers; thus the greatest distance
between any point of the active material and the lead sheet is reduced to a
minimum; the apparatus thus possesses very slight resistance; on the other
hand, the circulation of the electrolyte is perfect in every way on account of the
passages through the plates and the insulators keyed or provided between the
latter; this circulation ensures the homogeneity of the electrolytic liquid and its
thorough use.
On account of the short distance of any point of the active material or mass
from the electrolyte, this active mass always works under the most favourable
conditions.
The rivets may themselves be tubular or hollow and they may also be
provided with fluted or slotted washers h or packing for holding and separating
the plates.

page_text: 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). A method of constructing an electrode of an accumulator, characterized
by the use of several juxtaposed sheets which are formed of thin lead plates,
perforated with a large number of small holes or formed of lead net-work or
grids, the active material being spread in thin layers between the plates and
upon their surfaces, the said juxtaposed sheets being composed either of a single
folded sheet or of separate sheets soldered at their edges or connected by rivets,
substantially as above described.
(2). An electrode for an accumulator, as claimed in Claim 1, in which inde-
pendently of the holes formed in each sheet, openings or passages of any
suitable shape are formed, passing perpendicularly or obliquely through the
same, substantially as above described.
(3). An accumulator or storage battery, composed of electrodes, as claimed in
Claims 1 and 2, these electrodes being separated by insulating parts, perforated
sheets or grids, and the whole of the electrodes and of these insulating portions
being thus joined or built-up into blocks by means of elastic connections, sub-
stantially as described.