Improvements relating to the Composition of the Filling Paste of Accumulator Batteries.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 9th May, 1396
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Composition of the Filling Paste of
Accumulator Batteries.
I, RICHARD LINDE of 7 Gerhardstrasse, Berlin, in, the Empire of Germany,
Technical 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 the composition of the filling paste of accumulator
batteries, and its object is to provide means for more effectively binding together
the particles of lead oxides of which such paste is composed.
Hitherto several attempts have been made to discover suitable binding materials
for this purpose, for example, tar, or oil varnish has been used, but these adhesive
materials not only add to the internal resistance but in the alterations of the paste
due to charging and discharging they soon become loose land the paste falls to
pieces.
Other organic bodies among the fatty acids or alcohols have also been used, these
form organic combinations with the lead and for a time hold the paste together and
are electrically conductive, but in time these bodies become decomposed by the
nascent oxygen forming carbonic acid and carbonic oxide; if for example glycerine
with its chemical formula C3H8O3 or its derivatives are used lead glycerates or
more complicated combinations of glycerine will be produced. The electrolytical
oxidation will convert the glycerine into carbonic oxide CO; carbonic acid CO₂;
and trioxymethylene, the latter of which will be further converted into carbonic
acid, carbonic oxide and water.
This invention consists in using the family of so called bitter principles of
which the principal is perhaps, aloine, C₁HO, either in solution in water
or in alcohol or ether. Such bitter principles when mixed with the lead oxides
bold the paste firmly and durably together. Their effect is due to their forming
with the lead oxides insoluble or at least almost insoluble salts, of which the
formula CH07 + xPbO is a type. These salts connect the powdered
particles of the paste and are not decomposed by oxydation during charging
but form oxide acids which also keep the lead salts together and are electrically
conductive.
For example, aloine passes by oxydation into aloxanthin C₁H₁₂OB.
Betulin CHO3 is converted into the betulic acid C., HO
The process consists in kneading the lead oxides with the solution of the bitter
principle putting the kneaded paste into the appropriate carriers wherein it is
allowed to dry by which the chemical process is thus completed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improvements in the production of a durably coherent paste for the filling
of accumulator batteries consisting in kneading together the lead oxides with the
bodies of the family of bitter principles and especially with aloine for the purpose
set forth.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.