IMPROVEMENTS SECONDARY BATTERIES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Wilson Swan of the Town and County of
Newcastle on Tyno Chemist for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
SECONDARY BATTERIES."
IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Wilson Swan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th February 1882.
JOSEPH WILSON SWAN of the Town and County of Newcastle on Tyne chemist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES."
My Invention has for its object the more economical production of lead in a
finely divided state with a view to its use in connection with the pole plates of
Secondary Batteries and also the construction of pole plates not liable to oxydation.
In carrying out the first part of my Invention I take Galena or Sulphide of Lead
in a finely divided state and I reduce it to the state of metallic lead by acting upon
it by hydrogen evolved in process of Electro chemical action or by hydrogen
evolved by chemical action.
In the first case I place it in contact with the negative or hydrogen pole of an
electrolytic cell containing hydrochloric acid or other suitable electrolyte and
through which an electric current is passed until the required reduction of the lead
to a metallic state is effected. I sometimes promote the decomposition by stirring
the sulphide either by moving the negative pole amongst the mass of sulphide and
acid or other electrolytic liquid or by employment of a stirrer unconnected with
the poles. I also propose to effect the reduction of the lead sulphide to a metallic
state by the chemical action of metallic zinc or metallic iron in contact with the
sulphide and acid and to promote the action by stirring and the application of heat.
Having produced the finely divided lead in the manner described I apply it to
the pole plates of secondary voltaic cells of the type of cells known as Plante's
secondary cells to facilitate the formation of oxide of lead on one of the pole plates
and the occlusion of hydrogen on the other of the pole plates.

page_text: I may in certain cases produce the decomposition of the sulphide after it has been
applied to the pole plates of a secondary battery by making the plates to which
the sulphide has been applied the hydrogen pole of an electricity-generating
apparatus in an acid or other suitable electrolyte.
My Invention further consists in the employment of plumbago or black lead for
the construction of non-corrodible pole plates for Secondary batteries.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I reduce the plumbago to a finely
divided state and place it in moulds or dies of suitable form and subject the mass
to pressure so as to produce slabs or plates of solid plumbago. I may or may not
heat the mass after pressure into the form of slabs or plates. The plates may be of
various forms either plain corrugated or cellular or other suitable form. The pole
plates above described may be used in conjunction with the powdered or finely
divided lead above described or with lead or compounds of lead in any suitable
condition for the purpose of obtaining electro chemical storage of energy.

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 24th
August 1882.
JOSEPH WILSON SWAN of the Town and County of Newcastle on Tyne
Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES.”
My Invention has for its object the more economical production of lead in a
finely divided state with a view to its use in connection with the pole plates of
Secondary Batteries and also the construction of pole plates not liable to oxydation.
In carrying out the first part of my Invention I take Galena or Sulphide of Lead
in a finely divided state and I reduce it to metallic lead by means of hydrogen
evolved in process of Electro Chemical action or by hydrogen evolved by chemical
action.
In the first case I place it in contact with the negative or hydrogen pole of an
electrolytic cell containing hydrochloric acid or other suitable electrolyte and through
which an electric current is passed until the required reduction of the lead to a
metallic state is effected I sometimes promote the decomposition by stirring the
sulphide either by moving the negative pole amongst the mass of sulphide and
acid or other electrolyte or by employment of a stirrer unconnected with the poles
-I also propose to effect the reduction of the lead sulphide to a metallic state by
the chemical action of metallic zinc in contact with the sulphide and acid and
to promote the action by stirring and the application of heat.
Having produced the finely divided lead in the manner described I apply it to
the pole plates of Secondary Voltaic cells of the type of cells known as Plante's
Secondary cells to facilitate the process of charging and to obtain large storage
capacity.
I may in certain cases produce the decomposition of the sulphide after it has
been applied to the pole plates of a secondary battery by making the plates to
which the sulphide has been applied the hydrogen pole of an electricity generating
apparatus in an acid or other suitable electrolyte.
My Invention further consists in the employment of plumbago or black lead for
the construction of noncorrodible pole plates for Secondary Batteries.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I reduce the Plumbago to a powder
and place it in moulds or dies of suitable form and subject the mass to pressure so
as to produce slabs or plates of solid plumbago. I may or may not heat the mass
after pressure into the form of slabs or plates. The plates may be of various forms
either plain corrugated or cellular or other suitable form. The pole plates above
mentioned may be used in conjunction with the powdered or finely divided lead
above described or with lead or compounds of lead in any suitable condition for
the purpose of obtaining electro chemical storage of energy.
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 me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
:-
First-The production of lead in a finely divided state for the purpose described
by acting upon Galena or sulphide of lead with Electrolytic hydrogen as herein-
before described.
Second: The production of lead in a finely divided state for the purpose

page_text: described by submitting Sulphide of lead to the action of metallic zinc as herein-
before described.
Third-Constructing the pole plates of Secondary Batteries by treating finely
divided plumbago or black lead as herein before described.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Wilson Swan have to this my speci-
fication set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of August One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
JOSEPH WILSON SWAN. (L.B.)