Improvements in Electric Accumulators.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Accumulators.
1, PAUL FERDINAND RIBBE, of 19, Lessing Strasse, Berlin in the Empire of
Germany, 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:-
This invention relates to peculiar electrodes or plates for electric accumulators
and to their combination to form an accumulator battery.
The improved accumulator plates, each consists of two paste-carrying plates
connected by an acid-resisting substance, and formed of non-conducting acid-
resisting material, inwardly curved spaces enclosed by supports being provided for
receiving the active material or paste.
This invention is based on the use of carrying-plates of celluloid, which plates,
after a thin lead plate has been placed between, are connected by means of a
celluloid solution, the celluloid plates being so pressed or stamped that they are
directly connected at suitable places by the celluloid solution. The celluloid
plates thus enclose the lead plates and are provided with a number of openings,
the edges of which form the supports for the active material or paste.
The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved plate.
Figure 2 a section on the line u-u.
Figure 3 a section on the line b-b.
Figure 4 a section on the line x-x.
Figure 5 a section on the line y-y.
Figure 6 a section on the line z-z.
Figure 7 is a section of the two celluloid plates of an accumulator plate after
they have been connected together by means of the celluloid solution;
Figure 8 shows a part of the lead plate placed between two celluloid plates;
Figure 9 shows an elevation of an accumulator formed of the new accumulator
plates put together;
Figure 10 a plan view of the same;
Figure 11 is a cross section on the line w-w.
In order to obtain the necessary distance between the separate electrodes or
plates and at the same time to give them the necessary stability, a wood frame a is
employed, which has preferably three vertical supports or standards a', a' a'. This
wooden frame is laid between the two celluloid plates b and c. A lead plated is
further placed between the celluloid plates, which lead plate consists of two parts
connected over the middle standard a' by means of a strip e, Figure 8, and is
provided with a lobe or strip for supplying and carrying off the electric current.
The lead plate d is provided with a number of perforations i through which inward
projections g and h on the celluloid plates b and c come in contact with one another.
The celluloid plates are also in contact round the lead plate d up to the edge of the
wood frame a. Above the lead plate d the plates b and c come in contact in the
manner shown in the drawing, whilst various projections or bendings are so
arranged that there exist sufficient points of contact or connecting joints, and the
strip for supplying and withdrawing current can project to the outside.
The surfaces of the celluloid plates b and c in contact are now coated with a
solution of celluloid in acetone, and then the whole is placed under pressure. The
acetone evaporates very rapidly after it has somewhat dissolved the surfaces which
are to be connected, so that the two celluloid plates are firmly connected with one

page_text: .13
. two
another just as if they consisted of one and the same piece. It is precien¹
point that the great advantage of the present invention is base
celluloid plates are so firmly connected with one another that, on b₁
+9 forcibly
torn apart, the celluloid will rather break at any other point than at tl connection.
The wooden frame which does not at all come in contact with the .ectrolyte is
preferably boiled in paraffin or impregnated in other suitable manner. The lead
plates d may be perforated as shown in Figure 8 or in some other suitable
manner.
The arrangement of wood frame a, lead plate d and the two celluloid plates b
and c connected by the said solution, is provided at both sides of the lead plate d
with a number of openings which are enclosed with celluloid edges bent up in the
manner shown in Figures 3, 6, and 9. The active material or paste k is inserted
in these openings and is so pressed in by a rounded stamp as to assume the form
of a dome the bent up edges of the celluloid plates serving as a support for the
same.
The plates thus prepared are arranged together to form an electric accumulator
in the manner shown in Figures 9 10 and 11, either with suitable washer plates
inserted, or after being first coated with celluloid solution. The two outermost
plates require of course only to be provided with the paste on their inner faces.
Wood plates m and n, which are so shaped as to form with the corresponding
outside plates hollow spaces or chambers, are placed against the two outermost
plates, to which chambers pipes o and p are connected. The electrodes are then
provided alternately above and below with small openings 9 and so that the
electrolytic fluid contained between the electrodes may be caused to have a slow
circulation. If air be forced through the pipe o and simultaneously drawn off
through the pipe p or vice versa, the level of the liquid will rise on the pressure
side and fall on the suction side, so that a movement of the electrolyte must take
place. Any suitable device may be connected with the two pipes to cause, in a
suitable period of time, say three hours, a complete movement of the electrolyte.
The whole accumulator is held together by bolts 1, the various onnections and
joints being thoroughly closed to the outside so that a specirt vessel for the
electrolytic fluid is not at all necessary.
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 electrode or plate for electric accumulators, consisting of tivo celluloid
plates (b and c) enclosing a frame (a) and a lead plate (d), the said celluloid plates
being connected together under pressure by means of a celluloid solution, and
having a number of openings with bent-up edges which serve to support the
active material or paste arranged therein with a suitable curve, substantially as
described.
2. In accumulator plates such as described, the providing of the lead plates with
perforations (i) and the celluloid plates with inward projections (g and ), which
connect with one another through the perforations in the lead plate, so as to form
a connected whole, substantially as described.
3. An electric accumulator, comprising the combination of plates such as
described grouped between suitable end plates (m and n) forming with the
outermost battery plates hollow spaces or chambers closed all round and suitable
suction and pressure devices attached to said chambers with the object of producing
a movement of the electrolytic fluid through openings (9 and r), arranged alternately
above and below in the celluloid plates, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of March 1896
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.