Improvements in the Construction of Electric Accumulators.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 189."-Accepted, 28th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL DI MULTIUATION
[Communicated from abroad by JOHANN FRANZ WEYDE and FERDINAND CLAS
both of Cassoire, Hungary, in the Empire of Austria, and JULES ELSNER, of
Paris, in the Republic of France.]
Improvements in the Construction of Electric Accumulators.
I GEORGE DOWNING of 8 Quality Court Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of electric accumulators having great
storage capacity in proportion to the weight of materials, the various parts being
connected together in such a manner as to render the connections durable and elastic:
these accumulators being in special cases so combined that the various parts thereof
Moreover they are
may be readily disconnected and again connected together.
capable of withstanding electro-chemical and electro mechanical actions which hitherto
have in a short time caused the destruction of ordinary electrodes and especially
of positive electrodes: my invention enabling large sized plates to be combined
together.
The main object of my invention being to facilitate the manufacture of improved
accumulators, I effect such object by an arrangement of plates which can be readily
disconnected or taken apart, and usefully employed for currents of great intensity
and providing suitable means for connecting the said plates together.
The material necessary for the inanufacture of the electrodes which I obtain from
any suitable mixture known and in use, is pressed into solid and stiff bars, sticks, or
cakes, by means of the hydraulic press, and suitable draw plates dies and mandrels.
The bars are afterwards slightly tapered at one of their extremities to facilitate their
insertion in the grooves or elastic tubes of the frame. The bars are shorter than the
tubes which enclose them. The transverse section of these bars may be circular
rectangular, hexagonal, or any other suitable shape, and either tubular or solid. The
sectional forms are produced when the bars are being formed in the press by means of
special dies and maudrels or cores (such as are used for forming solid drawn tubes).
These fluted and hollow parts facilitate the access of the acids to the material and
allow a certain amount of play, as the bars increase in volume by oxidation and the
formation of sulphates.
The bars are mounted in frames of novel construction and made either of pure lead
or of lead alloyed with antimony or other suitable metal, or of nonconducting
material covered with steel metal, or other conducting material.
The manufacture of these frames may be effected in various ways. Suitable pieces
may be cut or stamped out of plates and subsequently pressed, rolled, or passed
through a rolling mill, or I may first east these frames of lead or other metal,
whether plain or slightly corrugated, and then shape them in presses or in moulds, or
matrices wherein steel cores or mandrels may be inserted, or they may be pressed
from hot or cold metal.
In this manner I obtain straight, parallel and multiple grooves, or tubular channels,
the cross sectional outline of which is uniform from one end of the plate to the other
while the inner diameter of these tubes is rather smaller than that of the bars so that
the latter may fit tightly after having been introduced in the tubes or channels. The
wall surrounding the bars is in some cases solid, and in other cases when the liquid
cannot gain access to a sufficient extent of its surface, it is constructed with perfora-
tions, slots, or openings of any suitable form and arranged in any convenient manner
to allow the liquid to pass.

page_text: To increase the resiliency of the grooves or tubes suitable ribs, hoops, or projections
are sometimes formed by pressure, or rolled or cast upon or in the leaden plates.
They are placed in continuous or alternate series.
The metal sheets or frames are constructed in the shape of tubes or portions of
tubes or tube like corrugations and having different sectional outlines either rounded
or angular which may be used singly or in combination.
The plates may also be constructed in such a manner that blades of metal, or of
other suitable material coated with metal, or of any other substance for conducting
electricity are arranged in the form of walls, forming tubular spaces and joined by
means of single or double corrugated bands of hard or soft lead or other metals. The
metallic contact between the blades and the bands is obtained by soldering or casting.
Sometimes the corrugated and elastic bands, strips, hoops or belts used are made of
ebonite, or of celluloid, so as to prevent the parts from opening.
When the necessary form cannot be obtained by bending or folding the metal, or
by casting, the frames are pressed hot by means of jet apparatus having dies of
suitable shape and they are afterwards formed properly between conveniently shaped
rollers. In this manner tubular grooves are formed which allow for a considerable
swelling of the hars without being destroyed, since they can yield by opening.
They surround the bars and have large contact surfaces, thus ensuring a perfect
circulation for the current while the conducting surfaces is not subject to much
wear.
The bars are inserted in these plates in single series, in double series or in multiple
series and they may also be placed vertically or horizontally. In the first case the
frames of lead or other metal are slightly compressed at their upper ends, to prevent
the bars from slipping out.
In order to use plates of accumulators for currents of considerable intensity, Targe
electrode plates must be constructed, and, in order to limit the quantity of metal, and,
consequently its weight, I do not use metal exclusively in the construction of the
frames in which plates are inserted, but I may also use wood, celluloid, porcelain
or other insulators in rods or bars, or in tubes, coated with leaden or other metal
plates or with graphite, carbon, amalgam plates and the like; these bars are after-
wards combined to form tubular grooves or channels, bars being inserted in the tubes
between the frame bars, and the whole being arranged in the form of walls between
suitable tie bars, and firmly united by means of wedges or screws in order to obtain
a good contact. The tie bars are corrugated to render them elastic.
I may also place in one or several of the compartments of the same plate, in the
case of plates which can be disconnected, a quantity of active material, or preferably
bars, made of different mixtures, or I may use positive or negative bars in the same
plate by grouping them in any suitable manner. All the metallic parts are joined
together by soldering so as to prevent the formation of secondary currents. The
solder can be easily removed by melting and the parts can subsequently be soldered
again.
If positive and negative bars or compartments are used for one single plate the
mounts for the elements having a positive pole are joined together by soldering, to
establish a good contact, and those of the elements having a negative pole are likewise
joined together in the same manner so that the two may be absolutely distinct
from one another.
By loosening the wedges, or the screws, and the soldering or troughs the
elementary parts of the plate are separated, so that either of these parts may be
changed or repaired. The plate is then formed again, tightened-resoldered, and
again inserted by means of a pulley and suspension rings, into the battery. The
metal parts are mostly of iron or brass coated or plated with thick layers of lead or
of one of its alloys.
In order to be able to gain access to the parts where the soldering is often required
to be removed and reinstated, one of the metallic ends which has to be soldered (iron
coated with lead for instance, enters a hollow cavity having the shape of a cup or

page_text: trough formed at the other end which is filled with a more fusible metal (lead solder
for instance) and which contains the metal bath and is not liable to be melted when
heated.
The construction of the frames is combined in such a manner as not to allow the
active material to crumble. This considerably increases the durability of the electrodes.
The mounts or frames moreover prevent pieces of material from dropping out, should
the latter be broken by accident; and this is an important feature as when thus
falling out, these pieces would form short circuits. As already mentioned the frames
yield in a novel and suitable manner to every increase of volume of the bars, in con-
sequence of their being formed with tubular corrugations, or with enveloping tubes,
which are elastic within certain limits, and form an absolute contact with the active
material while the swelling of the bars does not cause the plates to bend, the latter
opening-uniformly on both sides, so that there is only produced an enlargement in
the plane surface of the plate.
The accidental bends or curvatures of the plates which can be disconnected may be
avoided by suitably tightening up the wedges.
In some cases I use special modes of suspension. I introduce in the first, last, or
other suitable tube of the electrode, a rod of lead, ebonite, glass, or of iron coated
with india rubber or lead, or of varnished wood, or wood impregnated with a solution
of india rubber; this rod projects beyond the edges of the plates. The plates are
connected in batteries by means of metal arms or branches having the shape of rakes,
each tooth of which enters a corresponding tube of the plates, or one of the slotted
tubes placed upon the edges of the plates which are of the same metal as the arms or
branches. After having inserted the plates within the slots of the tubes, and the rake
shaped arms or branches made of brass or of iron thickly coated with lead, inside the
tubes, lead is poured in the said tubes until they are entirely filled up and are thus
soldered. The rake shaped connecting arms or branches carry at their extreme ends
cup or pellet-shaped vessels or boxes, of metal coated with lead, of glass, earthenware,
porcelain, slate, and the like, which represent the pole ends of the different accumu-
lator boxes. These different accumulator boxes are joined together to form batteries,
so that the ends of suitable connecting branches may enter within these vessels which
are filled with molten lead for soldering purposes. In this manner good contacts are
obtained which are not acted upon by the acids when effervescing. In some cases the
vessels may be protected by porcelain lids or covers.
The
This connection may be easily severed by heating the vessels and thereby causing
the lead contained therein to melt, without issuing from the infusible vessel.
connection may also be rapidly established in a similar manner. These vessels may
likewise form separate parts before the lead therein contained becomes solid and
connects then with the pole ends.
In the accumulators of moderate sizes each one of the positive plates (being more
easily destructible carries at its pole end a special connecting cup shaped vessel, and
for very large size accumulators each plate is provided with two such connecting
vessels.
The accumulator plates thus obtained are, in some cases suspended or placed
within insulating supports of suitable shape and of glass, porcelain, earthenware,
ebonite or of any other suitable material, thus being effected in such a manner that
the ends of the supporting rods may enter within notches and thus maintain the
required intervals between the electrodes. But I may vary the construction of vases
or boxes containing the plates according to requirements.
When the bearing points of the plates are upon the edges of the vase or vessel
outside the electrolytic liquid, the mixture deposited upon the edges of such vase can
hardly be prevented from forming secondary circuits between the plates or electrodes,
as this layer of moisture has or assumes a different nature to that of the electrolytic
liquid used in the receiver proper. If on the contrary the bearing points are entirely
submerged under the surface of the liquid, there exists between the different suspension
points and the surrounding liquid the same electro motive tension as between the

page_text: principal parts of the plate and the electrolyte, and consequently no parasitic currents
are produced.
I generally form the vases or vessels for the accumulators so that they may be
provided upon two opposite sides with step like enlargements or flanges placed below
the surface of the liquid, so long as the supporting rods or hooks of the plates are
entirely submerged; moreover, notches and projections are formed alternately upon
these steps in order to maintain the required distances between the plates suspended
in the receiver. I likewise provide transparent glass receivers with a cylindrical frame
or crown piece of earthenware, impregnated wood or the like, this frame being
conveniently formed for holding the plates in the position described and at suitable
distances.
The various parts are connected with accumulator boxes or cells in such a manner
that the plates may be used either parallel in prismatic receivers, or if their construction
allows, in a spiral circular or sector like form separated by pieces of felt, the whole
being arranged in a cylindrical receiver of glass or earthenware.
To absolutely insulate the cells from one another I place them in cups of earthen-
ware, glass, wood or porcelain, the inner surface of the bottom of which is ribbed;
these cups should be sufficiently large to contain the accumulator cell and so that
there may be left around the same a free space which is subsequently filled with oil.
1
1000
Improvements in the Construction of Electric Accumulators.
A communication from abroad by JOHANN FRANZ WEYDE, and FERDINAND CLAS,
both of Cassovie, Hungary, in the Empire of Austria, and JULES ELSNER, of
Paris, in the Republic of France.
I GEORGE DOWNING of 8 Quality Court, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 construction of electric accumulators having great
storage capacity in proportion to the weight of materials, the various parts being
connected together in such a manner as to render the connections durable and elastic;
these accumulators being in special cases so combined that the varous parts thereof
may be readily connected and disconnected. Moreover, they are capable of with-
standing electro-chemical and electro-mechanical actions which hitherto have in a
short time caused the destruction of ordinary electrodes, and especially of positive
electrodes; ny invention enabling large sized plates to be combined.
The main object of my invention being to facilitate the manufacture of improved
accumulators, I effect such object by an arrangement of plates which can readily be
disconnected or taken apart, and usefully employed for currents of great intensity,
and providing suitable means for connecting the same plates together.
The material necessary for the manufacture of the electrodes, which I obtain from
any suitable mixture known and in use, is pressed into solid and stiff bars sticks or
cakes by means of the hydraulic press and suitable draw plates dies and mandrels.
The bars are slightly tapered at one of their extremities to facilitate their insertion in
the grooves or elastic tubes of the frame. The bars are shorter than the tubes which
enclose them. The transverse section of the bars may be circular, rectangular,
hexagonal, or of any other suitable shape, and either tubular or solid.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings.
Figs. 4 to 9 on Sheet 1, Figs. 4 to 13 on Sheet 2, and Figs. 1, 2 and 4 on Sheet 3,
illustrate various transverse sections. The surfaces of the bars may be smooth or

page_text: fluted, their transverse sections being tubular, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 on
Sheet 1; Figs. 4, 10, 12 and 13 on Sheet 2; Figs. 1, 2 and 4 on Sheet 3; Figs. 1, 3
and 4 on Sheet 5) or solid. The sectional forms are produced when the bars are
being made in the press, by means of special dies and mandrels or cores (such as are
used for forming solid drawn tubes and rods). These fluted and tubular parts
facilitate the access of the acids to the material and allow a certain amount of play,
as the bars increase in volume by oxidation and the formation of layers of sulphates.
The rods or bars may likewise be inserted in the cases or fittings so that several
prisms or cylindrical rods are slid into each tube or envelope, while there is left
between the front surfaces of each piece, suitable intervals for the electrolytic liquid
to circulate, see D in Fig. 1, Sheet 6. The bars are mounted in frames of novel
construction and made either of pure lead or of lead alloyed with antimony, or other
suitable metal, or of non-conducting material covered with sheet metal or other
conducting material.
The manufacture of these frames may be effected in various ways. Suitable plates
may be cut or stamped out of metal and subsequently pressed, rolled, or passed
through a rolling mill, or I may first cast these frames of lead or other metal, whether
plain or slightly corrugated, and then shape them in presses or in moulds or matrices
wherein steel cores or mandrels may be inserted, or they may be pressed from hot or
cold metal, in the same manner as lead tubes and solid rods are formed with the aid
of hydraulic presses, and forced through dies.
In this manner I obtain straight, parallel and multiple grooves or tubulous channels,
the cross sectional outline of which is uniform from one end of the plate to the other
while the inner diameter of these tubulous channels is rather smaller than that of
the bars, so that the latter may fit tightly after having been introduced in the tubulous
channels. The wall surrounding the bars is in some cases, solid, and in other
cases, (when the liquid cannot gain access to a sufficient extent of its surface), it is
constructed with perforations, slots or openings M and N of any suitable form and
arranged in any convenient manner (Fig. 1, Sheet 2, and Figs. 1 and 4, Sheet 4) to
allow the liquid to pass. To increase the resiliency of the grooves or tubes suitable
ribs hoops or projections are sometimes formed by pressure or rolled or cast upon or
in the leaden plates as shown at L and F, Fig. 2, Sheet 1, and Figs. 5 and 6 Sheet 2.
They are placed in continuous or alternate series as also shown at Land F Fig. 2
Sheet 1. The metal sheets or frames are constructed in the shape of tubes or portions
of tubes or tube-like corrugations, and having different sectional outlines either
rounded or angular as shown in Fig. 1, Sheet 1, and Figs. 5, 6, 9 and 10 Sheet 2,
which may be used singly or in combination as shown in Figs. 4, 9, 12 and 13,
Sheet 2. The plates may also be constructed in such a manner that blades of metal,
or of other suitable material coated with metal, or of any other substance for
conducting electricity (Fig. 1, Sheet 5) are arranged in the form of walls forming
tubular spaces, and joined by means of single or double corrugated bands of hard
or soft lead or other metals (Figs. 1 to 5, Sheet 3). The metallic contact between
the blades and the bands is obtained by soldering or casting. Sometimes the
corrugated and elastic bands, strips, hoops or belts used are made of ebonite or of
celluloid so as to prevent the parts from opening.
When the necessary form cannot he obtained by bending or folding the metal, or
by casting, the frames are pressed while hot by means of hydraulic apparatus fitted
with dies of suitable shape (Figs. 7, 8, 10 and 11, Sheet 2) and they are afterwards
properly formed between conveniently shaped rollers. In this manner tubular grooves
are formed which allow for a considerable increase of size of the bars without being
destroyed, as they are sufficiently elastic to yield by opening. They surround the
bars and have large contact surfaces, thus ensuring a perfect circulation for the
current while the conducting surface is not subjected to much wear.
The bars are inserted in these plates in single series, (Figs. 4, 5, and 9 to 12
Sheet 2, and Figs. 1 to 4, Sheet 3); in double series (Figs. 1 and Sheet 1, Figs. 3,
and 6 to 8, and 13 Sheet 2) or in multiple series (Fig. 5 Sheet 3); and they may
also be placed vertically (Fig. 1 Sheet 2, and Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet 4) or horizontally

page_text: (Fig. 2 Sheet 1, and Fig. 9 Sheet 4). In the first case the frames of lead or other
metal are slightly compressed at their ends, (K, Fig. 1, Sheet 2) to prevent the bars
from slipping out.
The bars or rods being manufactured separately, may likewise be formed, that is
to say, converted by the electrolytic action, in a pattern case before insertion in the
accumulator. For this purpose the sticks or rods of filling material are placed in
pattern cases used exclusively for the formation of the bars or rods, and being
strongly polarized by constant use; this accelerates in an extraordinary manner the
electrolytic reaction in the sticks or bars, on account of its own polarization. Thus
the advantage of great saving in electric action is obtained. When the surface of
the case of the rod, (removed and broken for testing purposes) the fracture would
show that the shape of the rod is firmly embedded therein, the rods are removed from
the pattern cases, they are then washed in lyes, and are ready to be inserted in the
accumulator described. To prevent secondary actions these electrodes are covered or
coated before use with a thin layer of the metal, polished by a momentary electric
current of high intensity, such layer being polarized on its surface. Thus the
important advantage of unoxidised and unenlarged casing containing well formed
bars, is secured. When owing to prolonged working the fittings of these electrodes
are likewise destroyed the sticks or bars of filling material, which have become still
more valuable owing to their prolonged use are withdrawn from the old casing and
inserted, while preserving their form, in a fresh casing.
In order to use accumulators for currents of considerable intensity, large electrode
plates must be constructed, and in order to limit the quantity of metal, and con-
sequently its weight, I do not use metal exclusively in the construction of the frames
in which plates are inserted, but I may also use wood, celluloid, porcelain or other
insulators in rods or hars as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 5, or tubular, as shown in
section in Fig. 4, Sheet 5, which are coated with leaden or other metal plates
(Figs. 1, 2 and 3, Sheet 5) or with graphite, carbon, amalgam plates and the like.
These bars are afterwards combined to form tubular grooves or channels, bars of
active material being inserted in the tubes between the frame bars, and the whole
being arranged in the form of walls between suitable tie bars and firmly united by
means of wedges or screws (Figs. 1 and 4, Sheet 5) in order to obtain a good contact.
The tie bars are corrugated to render them elastic. I may also place in one or several
of the compartments of the same plate, in the case of plates which can be disconnected,
a quantity of active material, or preferably, bars made of different mixtures; or I
may use positive or negative bars in the same plate by grouping them in any suitable
manner. All the metallic parts are joined together by soldering so as to prevent the
formation of secondary currents. The solder can be easily removed by melting, and
the parts can be subsequently soldered again.
If positive and negative bars or compartiments are used for one single plate, the
mounts for the elements having a positive pole, are joined together by soldering, to
establish a good contact, and those of the elements having a negative pole are likewise
joined together in the same manner, so that the two may be absolutely distinct from
one another. By loosening the wedges 2, 2, (Figs. 1 to 4, Sheet 5) or the screws,
and the soldering or troughs, (Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 5) the elementary parts of the
plate are separated, so that either of these parts may be changed or repaired. The
plate is then formed again, tightened, resoldered, and again inserted by means of a
pulley and suspension rings into the battery (Fig. 1, Sheet 5). The metal parts are
mostly of iron or brass, coated or plated with thick layers of lead, or of one of its
alloys. In order to be able to gain access to the parts where the soldering is often
required to be removed and reinstated, one of the metallic ends which has to be soldered
(iron coated with lead for instance, Figs. 1, 2 and 4, Sheet 5) enters a hollow cavity
having the shape of a cup or trough formed at the other end, (Figs. 1 and 2,
Sheet 5) which is filled with a more fusible metal (lead solder for instance) and which
contains the metal bath, and is not liable to be melted when heated.
The various electrodes may be likewise connected together by inserting end pieces B
of lead or other suitable metal between the two adjoining bent ends of the electrodes E

page_text: (Figs. 1, 2 and 3, Sheet 6). All the end pieces, which are close together, being joined
by a leaden casting. This leaden casting is melted in a copper ladle S, the ladle being
brought in close proximity with the ends E to form the joints. After the lead is
cooled, the ladle S is removed, and the lead casting remains fixed to the jointed ends E
5 (Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet 6).
When it is required to change an electrode during the operation of the battery, this
leaden casting is placed in the ladle S and melted; after which the electrode may be
removed and replaced without there being any necessity to interrupt the electric
current, as, during this operation, the copper ladle forms, with the leaden bath, the
conductor which connects the plates.
The construction of the frames is combined in such a manner as not to allow the
active material to crumble. This considerably increases the durability of the electrodes.
The mounts or frames, moreover, prevent pieces of the material from dropping out,
should the latter be broken by accident, and this is an important feature, as when thus
falling out, these pieces would form short circuits. As already mentioned, the frames
yield in a novel and suitable manner to every increase of volume of the bars, in
consequence of their being formed with tubulous corrugations, or open enveloping
tubes, which are elastic within certain limits, and form an absolute contact with the
active material, while the swelling of the bars does not cause the plates to bend, the
latter opening uniformly on both sides, so that there is only produced an enlargement
in the plane surfare of the battery.
The accidental bends or curvatures of the plates which can be disconnected may be
avoided by suitably tightening up the wedges (Figs. 1 to 4, Sheet 5).
In some cases I use special modes of suspension. I introduce in the first, last, or
other suitable tube of the electrode, a rod Ġ or R of lead, ebonite, glass, or of iron
coated with india rubber or lead, or of varnished wood, or wood impregnated with a
solution of india rubber; this rod projects beyond the edges of the plates, (Figs. 1 and 2,
Sheet 1; Figs. 1, 2 and 3, Sheet 2; and Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9, and R Fig. 10, Sheet 4).
The plates are connected in batteries by means of inetal arms or branches P and R
Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 10. Seet 4) each connection of which enters a corresponding tube,
or one of the slotted tubes R placed upon the edges of the plates which are of the same
metal as the arms or branches. After having inserted the plates within the slots of
the tubes, and the arins or branches P' (made of brass or of iron thickly coated with
lead) inside the tubes, lead is poured in the said tubes until they are entirely filled up
and are thus soldered (Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1, and Figs. 1 to 3, Sheet 2). The
connecting arms or branches P carry at their extreme ends cup or pallet-shaped
vessels or boxes (Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 10, Sheet 4) of metal coated with lead, of glass,
earthenware, porcelain, slate and the like, which represent the pole ends of the different
accumulator boxes. These different accumulator boxes are joined together to form
batteries, so that the ends of suitable connecting branches may enter within these
vessels (p. o. Figs. 1, 2 and 11, Sheet 4) which are filled with molten lead for soldering
purposes. In this manner, good contacts are obtained which are not acted upon by
the acids, when effervescing. In some cases the vessels may be protected by porcelain
lists or covers (D. K. Figs. 1, 2 and 11). This connection may be easily severed by
heating the vessels, and thereby causing the lead contained therein to melt, without issuing
from the infusible vessel. The connection may also be rapidly established in a similar
inanner. These vessels may likewise form separate parts before the lead therein
contained becomes solid and connects them with the pole ends (x Figs. 6 and 7,
Sheet 4).
In the accumulators of moderate sizes, each one of the positive plates (being more
easily destructible) carries at its pole end a special connecting cup-shaped vessel,
(6 Figs. 1, 2 and 10, Sheet 4) and for very large size accumulators each plate is
provided with two such connecting vessels (g, Figs. 1 and 4, Sheet 5).
The accumulator plates thus obtained in some cases, suspended or placed within
insulating supports (J, Fig. 3, Sheet 1) of suitable shape, and of glass, porcelain,
earthenware, ebonite or of any other suitable material, this being effected in such a
manner that the ends of the supporting rods may enter within notches and thus
are:

page_text: maintain the required intervals between the electrodes. But I may vary the construction
of the envelopes containing the plates according to requirements.
When the bearing points of the plates are upon the edges of the case or vessel
outside the electrolytic liquid, the moisture deposited upon the edges of such case can
hardly be prevented from forming secondary circuits between the plates or electrodes,
as this layer of moisture has, or assumes a different nature to that of the electrolytic
liquid used in the receiver proper. If on the contrary the bearing points are entirely
submerged under the surface of the liquid, there exists between the different suspension
points and the surrounding liquid the same electromotive tension as between the
principal part of the plate and the electrolyte, and consequently no parasitic currents
are produced.
I generally form the vases or vessels for the accumulators so that they may be
provided upon two opposite sides with steplike enlargements or flanges (J, Figs. 1, 2,
3, and 9, Sheet 4) placed below the surface of the liquid, so long as the supporting
rods or hooks of the plates are entirely submerged; moreover notches and projections
are formed alternately upon these steps in order to maintain the required distances
between the plates suspended in the receiver. I likewise provide transparent glass
receivers with a cylindrical frame or crown piece (w, Fig. 9, Sheet 4) of earthenware,
impregnated wood or the like, this frame being conveniently formed for holding the
plates in position described, and at suitable distances.
The various parts are connected within accumulator boxes or cells (Figs. 1 and 2
Sheet 1) Figs. 1 to 3, Sheet 2, and Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 4) in such a manner that
the plates may be placed either parallel in prismatic receivers, or, if their construction_
allows, in a spiral circular or sector like form (Fig. 7, Sheet 2) separated by pieces of
felt (Fig. 6, Sheet 2) the whole being arranged in a cylindrical receiver of glass or
earthenware.
To absolutely insulate the cells from one another, I place then in cups of earthen-
ware, glass, wood or porcelain, the inner surface of the bottom of which is ribbed,
these cups should be sufficiently large to contain the accumulator cell and so that there
may be left around the same a free space which is subsequently filled with oil.
(T, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, Sheet 4.)
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 I
claim is
1. An electric accumulator consisting of a number of bars of active material of
cylindrical or other sectional form, and enclosed or partially enclosed in a tubulous
frame mount or casing of lead or other metal approximating to the forms of the bars
and capable of expansion; the bars being capable of increasing their bulk both
diametrically and longitudinally without leaving the casing or damaging the same,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. An electric accumulator consisting of a frame or mount forming casings or cells
at suitable distances apart for receiving the active filling materials; the case con-
sisting of nonconducting material coated with leaden or other metal sheets, or other
good conductors of electricity, and of bars or cylinders of active material interlocated
between the walls, the whole being rendered compact and secured therein; the
advantage in the construction of such framing being that the latter can be disconnected
or taken to pieces so that each bar of active material and each framing bar may be
removed and replaced by a fresh bar, and that the whole may he tightened up again
to reestablish a good contact all the conducting metal parts of the battery being
joined or connected by means of solder capable of being readily taken apart and put
together, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. In electric accumulators as described in Claim 2 the use of bars of active material
manufactured from one metal, or from mixtures of various metals; and the use of
positive and negative bars conveniently grouped together in the same battery, the
positive bars being insulated from the negative bars, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.

page_text: 4. The manufacture of cylindrical or other bars designed to be inserted in the
frames and used for the accumulator plates, formed with mixtures of active material
by means of hydraulic presses, the bars having a suitable cross sectional forms, and
either hollow or solid, such cross sections being in all cases selected conveniently to
form spaces for the increased sizes of the bars, substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by the drawings.
5. The manufacture and use of rods or bars as active filling materials formed
electrolytically by placing the same in pattern cases strongly polarized before inserting
them in the final fittings or cases without altering their form, the proper polarization
of the pattern cases considerably accelerating the formation of the rods or bars of
filling materials, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings.
6. The construction of electrodes by placing rods or bars of filling materials formed
and prepared separately into fresh fittings or cases substantially as hereinbefor
described and illustrated by the drawings.
7. The construction of electrodes by placing rods or bars of filling materials manu-
factured separately but not yet formed in fittings or cases of the kind described already
strongly formed and polarized, substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the drawings.
8. The construction of a frame or mount of lead or other metal for accumulators,
the frame being composed of tubes having a suitable cross sectional form cylindrical or
otherwise, the frame tubes or spaces being open or closed laterally, and being parallel
to one another and having similar forms and their chief property being to open slightly
so as to allow for the increase of volume of the active bars, without the frame being
subjected to any distortion or curvature and without interfering with the perfect
adhesion of the parts, and also without preventing the increase of length of bars. The
frames have a smooth or ribbed outer surface and have solid or perforated walls,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
9. In the construction of batteries as aforesaid, the application and use of arms and
connections of lead or brass coated with lead and the like, having a number of con-
nections inserted in the framing tubes of the accumulator plates, or in special split
tubes of lead or other metal placed upon the edges of the plates and joined to the
tubes by solder, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 8
and 10, Sheet 4 of the drawings.
10. In the construction of batteries as aforesaid, the method of connecting
accumulator plates by means of pallets or cup shaped vessels of metal, glass, porcelain,
earthenware, slate and the like, in which the pole ends of the plates are fixed or simply
dipped, and in which the connecting arms or branches are soldered by means of lead
poured thereinto thus joining the plates into batteries, so that by heating these pallets
or vessels the lead therein is melted again for the purpose of breaking and re-
establishing the connection of the plates, and of obtaining a lasting and perfect con-
nection after the lead is cooled, substantially as herein before described, and illustrated
by Figs. 1 to 11, Sheet 4, of the drawings.
11. The connection of the different electrodes by lead castings cast upon the curved
ends of the electrodes between which bent rods have been placed, these lenden castings
being produced by means of a hollow soldering tool or pan in which they may be
equally melted, and forming thus a durable contact which can be easily severed,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
12. In the construction of accumulators having frames or plates as claimed in the
first and second claims, the modifications thereof consisting of spiral, circular or sector
shapes, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
13. In batteries as aforesaid having corrugated frames with curved backs or mounts
the arrangement of hoop like ribs after the manner of belts, in order to prevent the
corrugations losing their shape, substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the drawings.
14. In batteries as aforesaid, the use of ribbed and corrugated hoops of leaden or
other sheet metal, or of analogous bands of ebonite or celluloid for resiliently pressing

page_text: the accumulator plates, composed of a large number of strips or bars, without preventing
the said plates or frames from expanding, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the drawings.
15. The manufacture and use of vessels, vases or receivers whether cylindrical or of
other forms for the cells of accumulators, these receivers being enlarged at the top
upon two opposite sides, so as to form a step like edge or shoulder, placed sufficiently
below the surface of the electrolytic liquid for the supports of the plates resting
thereon to be entirely submerged, the said shoulders being provided with alternating
projections and notches for the purpose of maintaining the exact distances between
the plates suspended in the receiver, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by the drawings.
16. The use of accumulator cells, the lower part of the cell consisting of transparent
glass, and the upper part of a circular frame of earthenware, porcelain, wood or the
like joined to the lower part by means of putty or other suitable substance, the upper
part having a suitable shape for the formation of the steps projections and notches
described in Claim 11, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the
drawings.
17. The use of oil cups for insulating the various accumulator cells, the cups having
in some cases the inner surface of their base or bottom ribbed or fluted, and their
dimensions being such that after having placed therein the whole accumulator cell,
there remains around the same a certain amount of free space which is subsequently
filled with oil, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
18. The general construction, arrangement and combinations of the several and
respective parts together or separately, constituting my invention of improvements in
the construction of electric accumulators substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by the drawings.