Improvements in "Secondary or Electric Storage Batteries."
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in "Secondary or Electric Storage Batteries."
I, HIRAM HENRY CARPENTER, residing at 47 Wall Street New York, in the County
and State of New York, United States of America, gentleman, 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 :-
Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar letters point out the same
parts on each figure
Fig. 1 shows the face or surface of the improved electrode for secondary or electric
storage batteries punctured with a multiplicity of small holes, with a larger hole in the
center for the insertion of an insulating bolt or rod.
Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of the same on a plane parallel to the end lines thereof.
Fig. 2 shows a cell composed of three of the said improved electrodes joined and firmly
bound together by means of an insulating bolt or rod with intervening insulating washers
between the respective electrodes, fastened and held in position by means of insulating
nuts at either end of the rod or bolt.
Fig. 3 represents a fraction of the said electrode or plate with insulating bolt or rod
and insulating washer in place.
Fig. 4 represents a like fraction of my electrode or plate showing insulating bolt or
rod and insulating nut in place.
The said invention consists in the electrode, the composition thereof, the construction
thereof, the arrangement or combination of the several parts and the means of joining
the separate parts of the electrode together into cells with intervening insulating
washers and nuts as hereinafter specified.
In the drawings A represents the case or envelope wherein the active matter H is
enclosed. It may be of any desired dimension, and any suitable material such as sheet
lead or an alloy of lead.
B represents the post by meaus of which the battery is connected to the supply wire
and is made from the same material as the case A.
H represents the active matter with which the case A is filled. It may be composed
of cerussite (the native carbonate of lead) or any of the well-known salts of lead.
In the practice of this invention, this material is used because it is found pure in nature
and is consequently less expensive than the manufactured salts of lead. However, any
of the plumbic oxides may be used as the active matter H.
C. C, represent perforations or small holes punched through the said electrode, the
case A, and active matter H, from side to side, the object of said perforations being to
bring the electrolytic fluid in contact with the active matter H; these perforations may
be of any desired size, ordinarily in the practice of this invention they are made one-
sixteenth of an inch in diameter; there may be as many as are desired, but in the
practice of the invention it is customary to put 918 of such perforations in a plate
4 inches wide by 5 inches high.
By thus perforating the electrode it is obvious that a very great gain is made in the
superficies of active matter exposed to the action of the electrolytic fluid of the battery
permitting a reduction in the size and weight of the electrode.
D represents a perforation through the center of the electrode, through which it is
intended to pass an insulating rod, as a means of fastening the several electrodes
together so as to form a cell of any number of electrodes.
E represents said insulating rod, intended to be passed through the perforation D,
having screw-threads at either end. F represents the washers to be slipped on to the
rod E, their function being to insulate the respective electrodes of the cell from each
other as plainly shown in Fig. 2.

page_text: G represents insulating nuts provided with a screw-thread fitting the thread of the
holt, or insulating rod E and are to be screwed on to the ends of said insulating rod,
up to and against the case A of the outside electrodes of the cell thus making the cell
compact and firm with each electrode insulated from the other.
The rod E, the washer F and the nuts G may be made of any insulating material
and of such strength and size relatively to the size and weight of the electrodes as will
keep said electrodes from warping or twisting out of place.
The active matter H composed of cerussite or other salt of lead, or plumbic oxide, is
made into compressed tablets and inserted in the case A and is brought into contact
with the electrolytic fluid by means of the perforations (extending through and through
the entire electrode from side to side.
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. A perforated electrode for secondary batteries composed of cerussite or other
plumbic salt or oxide, made into compressed tablets and enclosed in a perforated case
composed of lead or any alloy thereof.
2. A perforated electrode for secondary or storage batteries made or composed of
cerussite substantially as described.
3. An electrode for secondary or electric storage batteries perforated through and
through with a multiplicity of small holes, composed entirely of active matter, with a
conducting support or case A also perforated, substantially as described.
4. An electrode for secondary batteries composed of cerussite and perforated as
hereindescribed, in combination with a perforated envelope or case having a post made
integral therewith substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of October 1889
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.