Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1887
Complete Left, 29th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 4th May, 1888
RESERVE
Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
I FRANK KING of 38 Chesilton Road Fulham in the County of Middlesex
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows :-
My Invention relates to improved means for fixing and insulating the plates of
secondary batteries and has for its objects to prevent short circuiting through any
accumulation of active material at the bottom of the containing cell to provide for the
efficient support of the electrodes and the easy removal of the plates or elements of
one denomination from those of the other denomination and the obtaining of cou-
pactness and more perfect electrical connection of the plates or elements of each
denomination. In a battery provided with my improvements the sets of plates or
elements can be conveniently and quickly handled and placed in position. In
carrying out my Invention I connect together the whole of the plates or clements of
one denomination in each cell (preferably the negative pole or spongy metallic plates)
by affixing on both sides a metal strip or bar standing out from the edges of the
plates in any convenient position. Upon this strip or bar I place insulating material
preferably in the form of saddle pieces which may have grooves or guiding pieces on
the upper side for studs or projections on the plates or elements of the other denomi-
nation to fit into or upon so that this strip or bar insulated as described serves to
support the plates or elements last mentioned. At the bottom and preferably at the
corners of the negative pole or spongy metallic plates I may use lugs or feet of any
convenient form or length which may be connected together by a strip or bar so that
the entire section of plates is supported and kept clear of any active material which
may fall to the bottom of the container.
To facilitate the removal of the plates from the cell I prefer to burn or cast a strip
of metal on the conducting lugs of the electrodes and construct such conducting lugs
and connecting strip so that they stand edgewise and in each set of plates or clements
are clear of the line of the edges of the plates or elements of the opposite denomi-
nation so as not to prevent the withdrawal of either set. At a convenient distance.

page_text: from such conducting strip I construct on each of the set of resting-plates a projection
and I join these projections by burning or casting together so as to retain the
plates in a rigid and equidistant position and to serve as a handle for use in com-
bination with the usual connecting strip for raising the set of plates or elements
from its position between the remaining plates or elements without danger of contact
during such removal.
Dated this 10th dow of Dreamba- 1007
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
I, FRANK KING of 38 Chesilton Road, Fulham in the County of Middlesex,
Electrical 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:—
My Invention relates to improved means for fixing and insulating the plates of
Secondary Batteries and has for its objects to prevent short circuiting through any
accumulation of active material at the bottom of the containing cell to provide for
the efficient support of the electrodes and the easy removal of the plates or elements
of one denomination from those of the other denomination and the obtaining of com-
pactness and more perfect electrical connection of the plates or elements of each
denomination than hitherto. In a battery provided with my improvements the sets of
plates or elements can be conveniently and quickly removed handled and placed in
position. In carrying out my Invention I connect together the whole of the plates or
elements of one denomination in each cell (preferably the negative pole or spongy
metallic plates) by affixing to them on each side a metal strip or bar standing out
from the edges of the plates in any convenient position. Upon these strips or bars I
place insulating material preferably in the form of saddle pieces which may be plain
or have grooves or guiding pieces on the upper side for studs lugs or projections on
the plates or elements of the other denomination to fit into or rest upon so that these
strips or bars insulated as described serve to support the plates or elements last
mentioned. At the bottom and preferably at the corners of the negative pole or
spongy metallic plates I may use lugs or feet of any convenient form or length which
may be connected together by a strip or bar so that the entire series of plates is
supported and kept clear of any active material which may fall to the bottom of
the container.

page_text: To facilitate the removal of the plates from the cell I prefer to burn or cast a strip
of metal on the conducting lugs of the electrodes, and construct such conducting lugs
and connecting strips so that they stand edgewise, and each set of plates or elements
are clear of the line of the edges of the plates or elements of the opposite denomi-
nation so as not to prevent the withdrawal of either set. At a convenient distance
from such conducting strip I construct on each of the set of resting plates a projection
and I join these projections by burning or casting together so as to retain the plates
in a rigid and equidistant position and to serve as a handle for use in combination
with the usual connecting strip for raising the said resting set of plates or elements
from its position between the remaining plates or elements without danger of contact
during such removal.
And in order that my Invention may be well understood 1 will describe with
reference to the accompanying drawings the manner in which it may be practically
carried out.
Figure 1 is a section of the container with the elements shown partly in elevation
and partly in section. Figure 2 is a section in a plane at right angles to the plane in
which Figure 1 is taken. Figure 3 is a plan and Figures 4 and 5 are views at
right angles to each other of a portion of a battery shewing a modification.
A is the container or vessel holding the elements and the electrolyte. a a are the
plates or elements of one denomination (preferably the positive pole plates) each
having projecting pieces bb at each side and being connected with each other by the
bar in addition to the connection by the usual connecting strip i. The bar / is
so arranged as shown that the removal of the plates which it joins may be readily
accomplished by grasping the bars h and leaving the plates of the opposite denomi-
nation in the containing vessel A.
cc are the plates of the other denomination (preferably the negative pole or
spongy metallic plates) connected together by bars d d at the sides and e e at bottom
in addition to the connection by the usual connecting strip f
The bars d d are each provided with saddles g g and on these
of the opposite denomination are supported by the projections
them on both sides.
saddles the plates
extending from
The plates c rést upon prolongations of the corners of the said plates which form
feet and may be connected together by the bars e e one on each side as shown.
The insulating saddles gg may be of any convenient shape for resting securely
on the bar d and insulating the plates which they support from the opposite plates
of the battery and they may be fitted with a notch on the upper side for the pro-
jections 6 to rest in as shown at g² in Figures 4 and 5. are insulating forks or
separators (shaped like hair pins) which maintain the plates at such distance apart as
to prevent contact being formed by falling particles of the plates or plate material.
I do not limit myself to the precise details described and illustrated in the drawing
for instance the modes of connection described with regard to the positive and
negative elements may be reversely applied respectively to the negative and positive
elements. Also the bars e may be dispensed with and the downward projections
form independent feet for each plate of the denomination to which they are applied.
Also the saddles g g² although shown as being separate saddles for each plate of the
denomination to which they are applied may be continuous so as to support at each
side any number or all the plates of such denomination.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
I claim is
nature of my said
declare that what
First. In secondary batteries the connection of the pole plates of one denomination
by bars d d at the side substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Second. In or for secondary batteries providing the pole plates of one denomi-
nation with feet or with fect and connecting bars e substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.

page_text: Third. In or for secondary batteries connecting the pole plates of one denomination
by means of bars d d in combination with feet or downward projections connected by
bars e e substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Fourth. In or for secondary batteries the carrier bars d joining the plates of one
denomination and carrying insulating saddles for supporting the plates of the other
denomination substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fifth. In or for secondary batteries the connection of the plates of one denomi-
nation by the bar h in combination with the usual connecting bar i substantially as
and for the purpose described.
Sixth. In or for secondary batteries projections b on the plates of one denomination
fitted to rest upon and be supported by insulating saddles g (or g²) and bars d carried
by the plates of the other denomination substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
Seventh. In secondary batteries the means for supporting the whole of the active
portion of the battery clear of the bottom of the containing vessel by prolongations of
the plates of one denomination forming feet or joined by the bars e e forming feet on
which the elements are supported in the containing vessel and bars d and insulating
pieces (such as g or g²) and projections from the plates of the other denomination all
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Eighth. In secondary batteries the combination of the bars d d prolongations of
the plates and junction of the same by bars e e insulating saddles (or g) and plate
projections 6b substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Ninth. The arrangement construction and combination of parts constituting the
secondary battery as hereinhefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.