Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1899
Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
We, NATHAN HUNTLEY EDGERTON, and ARTHUR HENRY MASTERS, both of
819-822, Heed Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Electrical Engineers, 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: —
Our invention relates to secondary batteries of the high tension type, and has
for its object the production of a battery of greater compactness, efficiency and
lighter weight than heretofore.
It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will be hereinafter..
fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of a secondary battery, embodying
ny invention, showing also the casing inclosing the same, and
Figure 2 represents a plan view of one of the pans or elements seen in Figure 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the Figures.
In carrying out our invention, we prepare a plate of two dissimilar metals,
either sweated, electroplated or otherwise, laid closely together, the one side.
forming an oxidizable plate and the other a conducting plate.
These plates are assembled in piles with like faces of the plates all set in the
same direction. On the surface of the conducting plate, we put a coating of.
active material adapted to absorb oxygen, then upon that a material for absorbing
and holding the electrolyte, then again on top of this we set the oxidizable plate
and so extend the pile until the desired potential is reached.
In the preferred embodiment of our invention, A designates an inclosing casing
within which are contained the elements of the secondary battery, the same.
consisting of the zinc or oxidizable plate, pan or dish B constituting the positive
electrode during discharge which has its upper or interior surface coated with
the conducting plate of lead C constituting the negative electrode during
discharge.
D designates a coating of red lead which is superimposed upon the lead C, said
red lead supporting a layer of powdered or granulated charcoal E, said charcoal
being a relatively poor conductor. Upon the granulated charcoal we place the
next zinc pan or element B, the same being provided with lead, red lead and
charcoal assembled in the order named as hereinbefore described, each zinc pan
or dish being superimposed upon its neighbour in substantially the manner
indicated in Figure 1.
The layer of charcoal E contained in the upper zinc plate or pan is provided

page_text: with a plate F of zinc or other material over which extends a second plate or
bar C, the latter being held in place by the threaded stem H, which passes through
the top of the casing A, and contacts with said plate G of wood or other non-
conducting material, thereby holding the different elements in the battery closely
in juxtaposition.
K and L designate conductors for conveying electricity to and from the battery.
The space above the charcoal or other absorbent material in each pan, if desired,
may be filled with any insulating cement or liquid M, to prevent the evaporation
of the electrolyte by contact with the air.
It will be evident from the foregoing that the essential features of our invention
are a series of composite plates or pans each consisting of dissimilar metallic
electrodes in contact forming a couple, the positive electrode or anode consisting
of a suitable oxidizable material, such as zinc, and the negative electrode or
cathode such as lead, being covered with active material such as red lead, the
latter being capable of further oxidation.
It will of course be evident that while we have specified our improved battery,
as being composed of a plurality of zinc plates or pans having lead, red lead and
granulated charcoal, juxtaposed in the manner described, we do not desire to be
limited thereto, in every instance, but reserve to ourselves the right to make all
such changes as will come within the scope or spirit of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a storage battery of high tension, a series or pile of pans placed sub-
stantially parallel with each other, each pan being formed of two dissimilar
metallic electrodes in contact forming a couple, one side of each pan being an
oxidizable metal, and the other side thereof having adjacent thereto an active
material capable of further oxidation, the similar faces of said pans facing in the
same direction, and a moisture absorbing material placed between the adjacent
sides of neighbouring pans for holding the electrolyte.
2. A secondary battery having a series of superposed plates, each consisting of
a zinc element, a coating of lead applied thereto, said lead having a layer of red
lead superimposed thereupon, and granulated non-conducting charcoal supported
upon said red lead.
3. A secondary battery consisting of a plurality of superposed zinc plates or
pans, each of the latter being provided with a lead coating, a layer of red lead
superimposed upon said lead and powdered or granulated non-conducting charcoal
superimposed upon said red lead, a superimposed zinc plate or pan located above
said charcoal, a conducting plate supported upon the charcoal contained in the
upper zinc pan, a casing for the battery and a threaded stem passing through the
top of said casing and engaging said top plate.
4. A secondary battery having a series of superposed composite plates or pans,
each consisting of dissimilar metallic electrodes in contact forming a couple, one
electrode being covered with an oxidizable material, and the other electrode being
covered with non-conducting absorbent material the space above said absorbent
material and between the adjacent pan containing an insulating material adapted
to prevent evaporation of the electrolyte.
5. A secondary battery having a series of superposed plates or pans, each con-
sisting of a zinc element, a coating of lead applied thereto, said lead having a
layer of red lead thereupon, non-conducting absorbent material supported upon
said red lead, and a suitable insulating material located in the space above said
absorbent material and between each pan, said insulating material being adapted
to prevent the evaporation of the electrolyte.
6. A battery having a series of superposed pans, each consisting of a zinc
element, a coating of lead supplied thereto said lead having a layer of red lead

page_text: thereupon, and non-conducting absorbent material supported on said red lead, in
combination with insulating material located in the space above said absorbent
material and between the superimposed pan, and means for holding said pans in
assembled position.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1898
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.