Fabrics, and Structures suitable for the Construction of Electric Apparatus, Cells, Chambers, or Dielectrics, and for other Purposes.
Year: 1884

page_text: Fabrics, and Structures suitable for the Construction of
Electric Apparatus, Cells, Chambers, or Dielectrics, and for
other Purposes.
"
I, JOSEPH STOKES WILLIAMS of Riverton, New Jersey United States of
America Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF MATERIALS FABRICS AND
STRUCTURES SUITABLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS CELLS
CHAMBERS OR DIELECTRICS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction and manufacture of
special fabrica or materials or structures or chambers or cells or divisions or
separating plates designed for use in the construction or working of electric
batteries or electric accumulators or electric gas accumulators or batteries or thermo
electrical or thermo chemical electrical batteries or apparatus-Such improvements
being also applicable in the construction and working of electrical depositing
apparatus or cells or for use in apparatus for various chemical or electro chemical
or industrial processes or for apparatus for disinfecting filtering or purifying and
for other purposes.
In carrying this Invention into practice in its application for dilectrics or
separating plates or partitions between the electrodes or elements of accumulators
or batteries I take sheets or plates of iron or other metal suitably perforated or
rendered porous or honeycombed or metallic gauze or asbestos fabrics or paper
similarly perforated or strands, wire, or ribbons of such material built up so as to
form sheets or fabrics and subject such material to a process of enamelling by
which the surfaces of such material are coated or covered by a protecting coating
of vitreous enamel or glaze. I fill up the interstices or spaces or openings or
perforations with a chemically and electrically neutral porous material such as
with powdered asbestos or pumice stone or kaolin or ganister or compound soluble
silicates or a combination of such or equivalent material which may be mixed with
a suitable cementing agent such as Roman or Portland cement or equivalent
substances.
Or the powdered asbestos or pumice stone or kaolin or equivalent substances
may be mixed with any suitable soluble silicate or mixture of them for instanco

page_text: with silicate of potash or soda and when of a suitable consistency the mixture may
be placed in or forced into the interstices or openings or spaces or perforations of
the fabric or material and in some cases can be made to coat or cover the entire
surfaces as well and be subjected to suitable pressure through rolls or otherwise
for the more even distribution of such coating or covering or filling The fabrics
or material so treated can then be treated with some acidulated or saline or other
solution for the purpose of transforming the silica of the silicate to an insoluble
form or condition and thereby to firmly cement or bind the powdered asbestos or
equivalent material mixed with it or instead of or in combination with such
acidulated or saline solutions I can employ a suitable gas or vapour such for
instance as carbonic acid gas to transform the silicates.
In some cases instead of or mixed with the powdered asbestos or pumice stone
or kaolin or similar substances I employ precipitated alumina or magnesia or
similar suitable precipitates which can be mixed with the soluble silicates and be
applied and treated as described with all such substances I can as well mix fibrous
material In some cases instead of employing the soluble silicates as a cementing
medium I employ a solution of chloride of magnesium and mix this with oxide of
magnesium with or without the addition of powdered asbestos or pumice stone
or kaolin or ganister or other moist substances or precipitates or any mixtures of
them and I fill up the interstices or spaces or openings or perforations of the
fabric or material with such mixtures when of a proper consistency and when
desired can as well coat or cover the entire surfaces of the fabric or material which
can be subjected to suitable pressure through rolls or otherwise for the more even
distribution of such coating or covering or filling.
In some cases I apply the powdered asbestos or pumice stone or kaolin or
ganister or similar substances or precipitates or mixtures of them to the fabrics
or material without previous admixture with the soluble silicates or chloride of
magnesium or cementing agent but can subsequently apply such It will also be
understood that in some cases I can employ the fabrics or material without the
Interstices or openings or spaces or perforations being filled or covered with a
chemically or electrically neutral porous material or substance as described.
In some cases I apply to or deposit carbon on the porous material filling up the
interstices or openings or spaces' or perforations of the enamelled fabrics or
materials.
Various textile fabrics or papers or felts or canvas can be treated by such
processes or form the base for supporting the porous materials or adapted to the
uses mentioned dependent upon the special treatment.
In some cases as an equivalent of and in substitution for the structures herein-
before described I employ for the construction of cells or chambers a mixture or
paste (for the manufacture of chambers for the purposes mentioned or for electrical
insulation) ligneous or paper pulp with or without earthy or metallic substances
or a combination of them in a finely divided state (obtained by mechanical or
chemical action or by a combination of such means) mixed therewith or metal
or metals in a soluble state and mixed therewith and silicate solutions with or
without the use of a bituminous material or materials which I cast in moulds
preferably under pressure to the desired form It is desirable to reduce the
electrical resistance between the elements of electrical apparatus such as herein
mentioned as low as practicable; in order to accomplish this I employ suitable
porous fabrics such as herein mentioned or provided for in my application for
Patent No 12065 of 1884 and subject the sides or surfaces thereof to a process
of carbonization mechanically chemically or electrically or by a combination of
such means or instead of providing for such result in this way I employ carbon
supports or fabrics or supports or fabrics coated with carbon upon which I apply an
electrically and chemically neutral porous insulation as provided for herein or set
forth in my application for Patent No 15176 of 1884.
In the construction of such apparatus and the placing of them it is necessary to
provide suitable chambers holders or cells of necessary strength. In carrying this

page_text: into practice I prefer to employ some sufficiently resisting material as the base for
instance iron or other metal or asbestos or paper or the special materials described
and treat such material with an inoxidizable or an electrically or chemically
neutral or indestructible material such as an enamel or vitrious coating or glaze
as herein set forth and I can employ gauze or perforated plates or sheets coiled or
built up or shaped so as to give form to the structure or chamber or cell to which
as a base or support I apply the enamel or vitrious material with or without the
employment of some fibrous or granulated material therewith or in some cases
I employ ligneous fibre or material reduced to a pulp or cellulose or parchmentized
which I force into the interstices or perforations or apply as a coating or covering
to the base or support designed to give form and strength to the structure or
I can employ the special materials described for such purpose. And I provide for
constructing the lids or coverings for such chambers in a similar manner so as to
fit the main body of the chamber. I also provide lugs or extensions from the
main body or chamber in order that the lid may be bolted clamped or screwed
thereon. I also provide the necessary apertures for the terminal connections and
tubes (when such are employed) in such lid or cover or in any portion of the
chamber when such is desired. When I employ tubes for the conduction of
liquids gases steam or other mixtures or compounds such tubes or chambers may
be treated in a similar manner and in some cases instead of employing the chamber
adapted to be closed by a lid as set forth I employ rectangular circular or other
suitably formed part with projecting edges or rims so that the two parts when
fitted together with or without an elastic packing between them at the rims or
edges will constitute the chamber or casing for the elements of an accumulator or
an electrical gas battery or thermo generator or for electrical or industrial processes
or for other purposes.
The improvements here described are especially designed-to fill the functions
of the improvements set forth in my application for patents mentioned my
application of this date or to be used in combination therewith.
Dated this 19th day of Dreamhau 1001.

page_text: I, JOSEPH STOKES WILLIAMS of Riverton, New Jersey, United States of America,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF MATERIALS FABRICS AND STRUCTURES
SUITABLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS CELLS CHAMBERS OR
DIELECTRICS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 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 improvements in the construction and manufacture of
special fabrics or materials or structures or chambers or cells or divisions or
separating plates designed for use in the construction or working of electric
batteries or electric accumulators or electric gas accumulators or batteries or thermo-
electrical or thermo-chemical electrical batteries or apparatus. Such improvements
being also applicable in the construction and working of electrical depositing
apparatus or cells or for use in apparatus for various chemical or electro-chemical
or industrial processes or for apparatus for disinfecting filtering or purifying and
for other purposes.
(a) In carrying this invention into practice and in its application for dielectrics
or separating plates or partitions between the electrodes or elements of accumulators
or batteries I take sheets or plates of iron or other metal suitably perforated or
rendered porous or honeycombed or metallic gauze or asbestos fabrics or paper
similarly perforated or strands wire or ribbons of such material built up so as to
form open fabrics or structures and I subject such material to a process of enamelling
by which the surfaces of such material are coated or covered by a protecting
coating of vitreous enamel or glaze and by a subsequent operation the interstices
or spaces or openings or perforations are filled by a material such as powdered
asbestos or pumice stone or kaolin or ganister or compound soluble silicates or a
combination of such or equivalent material which may be mixed with a suitable
cementing agent such as Roman or Portland cement or equivalent substances.
Or the powdered asbestos or pumice stone or kaolin or equivalent substances
may be mixed with any suitable soluble silicate or mixture of them capable of
acting as a binding agent for instance with silicate of potash or soda and when of
a suitable consistency the mixture may be placed in or forced into the interstices
or openings or spaces or perforations of the fabric or material and if desired such
material can be made to coat or cover the entire surfaces of the supports or framing
for the porous material.
In such application of the porous material pressure is exerted through the
medium of rolls or otherwise for the more even distribution of such coating or
covering or filling.

page_text: (b) In the construction of the fabrics or structures in which a silicate or,
silicates is or are employed for forming or cementing the porous material such can
be treated with some acidulated or saline or other solution for the purpose of
transforming the silica of the silicate to an insoluble form or condition and thereby
firmly cementing or binding the powdered asbestos or equivalent material mixed
with it or instead of or in combination with such acidulated or saline solutions
I can employ a suitable gas or vapour such for instance as carbonic acid gas to
transform the silicates.
Under another modification mixed with the powdered asbestos or pumice stone
or kaolin or similar substances I employ precipitated alumina or magnesia or
similar suitable precipitates mixed with a soluble silicate or silicates applied and
treated as described.
(c) In the manufacture of such structures I avoid the use of soluble silicates as
a cementing medium by the employment of a solution of chloride of magnesium
and mix this with oxide of magnesium with or without the addition of powdered
asbestos or pumice stone or kaolin or ganister or other substances or precipitates
or mixtures of them in a moist condition which I apply when of a proper consistency
Bo as to fill up the interstices or spaces or openings or perforations of the fabric or.
support and (if desired I coat or cover the entire surfaces of the fabric or support)
through the medium of suitable means rolls or otherwise to ensure an even
distribution of such coating or covering.
(d) Under another modification in the preparation of such structures I apply
powdered asbestos or pumice stone or kaolin or ganister or similar substances or
precipitates or mixtures of suitable materials to the fabrics or material without
previous admixture therewith of soluble silicates or chloride of magnesium or
cementing agent but subsequently apply such.
In the construction of such material or structure various textile fabrics or papers
or felts or canvas can be treated by such processes or form the base for supporting
the porous materials and be adapted to the uses mentioned dependent upon the
special treatment to which they will be subjected when in use in the batteries.
In the application of such porous material to the fabrics or supports as herein set
forth for batteries or accumulators the interstices or openings or spaces or per-
forations of the supports can be filled or not and covered or not with a chemically
and electrically neutral porous material or substance as described dependent upon
the intended use, but for gas electrical batteries and other purposes it is requisite
to have the spaces filled with porous material.
Having thus described my Invention I would observe in conclusion that in the
construction or building up of apparatus for the purposes specified it is necessary
to provide chambers holders or cells of considerable strength and at same time
to preserve porosity such conditions are obtained by the employment of porous
material with or without the employment of some fibrous or granulated material
mixed therewith applied to the base or support for the structure or built up there-
with any of the special materials and arrangements described being adapted for such
purposes or the electrode chamber or separate parts for forming or building up
such chambers for the purposes specified herein can have their construction or
form modified to suit the special use lugs or extensions are in some cases provided
from the main body of such chambers or the lids or separate parts thereof so that
they can be bolted clamped or screwed together or arranged so that the parts will
fit each other and form chambers for the reception of the electrodes. In combi-
nation with such structures or electrode chambers I provide openings or apertures
for the terminal connections of the electrodes and if desired for tubes when such
are employed to provide for the passage or circulation of liquids gases steam or
other mixtures or compounds into and through the electrode chambers composed
of such materials such chambers are of a rectangular circular or other suitable form
and the projecting edges or rims thereof are arranged so that the two parts fit
together with or without packing (which can be elastic) or means for making a
closed joint or connection or support between them at the rims or edges so as to

page_text: constitute the chamber or casing for the respective or cooperating elements of an
accumulator or battery or for an electrical gas battery or thermo generator or for
electrical processes according to the special application for which they are to be
employed.
The improvements in dielectrics or in electrode chambers herein described are
designed for use in combination with compound interlacing electrodes for batteries
or accumulators such as are set forth in the Specification of my application for
Patent 16438 of 1884 or in combination with curved or folded electrodes and with
electrodes or elements of batteries or accumulators provided with electrical con-
nections adapted to provide for rapid charging or discharging as set forth in the
Specification of my applications for Patent Nos 13879 and 16438, both of 1884
also in combination with electrodes provided with electrical connections lead off from
the cooperating electrodes of opposite signs from the tops of these of one sign
and the bottom of these of the opposite sign, and from corners thereof diagonally
opposite as set forth in the Specification of my application for Patent N° 16438
of 1884.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The construction and use of dielectrics or electrode chambers for electrical
apparatus or batteries substantially as described in the respective paragraphs
hereof indicated by letters of reference or any combination of the same as herein-
before defined.