Improvements in Storage Batteries.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Storage Batteries.
I, EDWARD PRESTON USHER of Grafton, Worcester County, State of Massa-
chusetts, United States of America, Lawyer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to simplify and cheapen storage batteries and at
the same time to increase their durability and efficiency, while providing for the
restoration of any part and for the portability of the whole.
A peculiarity of my invention is the facility with which the battery cell may be
built up from a series of detached parts adapted to fit together, and, when inserted
in place, to be held with a yielding grip providing for incidental expansion. The
bottom and sides of the battery elements are enclosed by a flexible wrapper of
vulcanized rubber compound or the like, upon the surface of which inclined yielding
lips are formed with a grooved space between adjacent lips to receive the edge of
the lead plate or frame and to hold such frame in its normal vertical position. The
lips of each pair separate at the apex or line of meeting of their inclined surfaces to
receive the edges of a non-conducting separator sheet, interposed between the
successive positive and negative plates, so that each plate is in a narrow pocket or
chamber, and is held, at its edges by the yielding lips and is shielded by the
separators similarly held, so that any active material which may crumble may not
come into contact with the opposite plate. The battery plates are cast as a thin
sheet with a series of vertical ribs, flanges or stiffeners projecting on opposite sides,
between which ribs the active material is introduced, intermediate wells or spaces
being preferably left open for more free circulation. The active material is in the
form of tablets which may be introduced end wise after the plates and separators are
in place. I prefer to form these tablets by wrapping the proper amount of dry
active material in an envelope of thin lead foil, then flattening and perforating the
envelope; but the material may be molded, stiff and the envelope omitted, or it
may be filled in in powdered form into the spaces between the plates and separators.
In the drawing
Fig. 1 is a transverse section of the flexible wrapper, showing the inclined lips
formed thereon.
Fig. 2 is a top plan of my ribbed or flanged plate or frame prepared to receive
the tablets of active material.
Fig. 3 represents one of the tablets with its wrapping of perforated lead foil.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through a cell made up according to my invention
and showing the several parts in proper position, two pockets being shown vacant,
and one having the metallic plate without the tablets.
Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the flanged plates.
A marked peculiarity of my improved battery, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 will be
first described.
i
A flexible wrapper A of rubber compound is made of such size as to cover the
bottom and both ends of the series of battery plates or elements. This wrapper
has at proper intervals upon its surface, a series of parallel lips B arranged in pairs
inclined toward each other and extending from end to end of the wrapper so as to
hold in place, between the lips of each pair, a separator sheet C, and to permit a
yielding movement to each sheet within certain limits. The battery plates D
alternate with said sheets and occupy, with their edges the spaces between adjacent
pairs of lips, and with their bodies the pockets between adjacent separators so held.
The walls of such pockets are therefore somewhat yielding, to provide for the
expansion incidental to the ordinary use of the battery.

page_text: The separator sheets C, made of some porous, non-conducting material, such as
wood or earthenware, are introduced edgewise between the two lips of each pair,
which incline inwardly toward such separator so as to press gently against its
surfaces near its bottom and its two vertical edges. The series of lips will be
notched in transverse lines where the flexible wrapper turns up to enclose the ends
of the plates D and separators C, thus making good mitre joints of the lips at the
lower corners of the plates.
Another feature of my invention is embodied in the construction shown in Figs. 2
and 5. The lead plates D, are cast thin with stiffening flanges E. on opposite
sides at intervals, leaving broad spaces d and narrow spaces e between them, about
as represented. The broad spaces are to receive tablets F. of active material, while
the narrow spaces e constitute open vertical wells or shafts which permit the escape
of gases, carry the liquid quickly to all parts of the plate, allow it to be agitated to
equalize its density, or to be drawn off for the purpose of testing its specific
gravity.
The tablets F. are also peculiar to my invention. These tablets, formed of
red lead or other lead oxide are molded, pressed or stamped into the proper
size and shape to fit into the spaces d on the sides of the plates D, prepared
to receive them. I prefer to form these tablets of said material in a dry, ground
or powdered state enclosed in an envelope of very thin lead foil finely perforated,
as in Fig. 3 and flattened to fit into place. To prevent the powder from sifting
out I may coat the exterior of the tablet with mucilage or like substance which will
temporarily close the perforations, but will dissolve when exposed to the acid in the
use of the battery.
Having these various articles at hand, a cell may be constructed with the utmost
ease and rapidity. Taking the flexible wrapper A, a separator C. is inserted
between the lips B. of the first pair. Against this separator the first lead
plate D. E. is placed, with its lower edge in the groove between the first and
second pair of lips. Another separator is then inserted between the lips of the
second pair, followed by another plate, the positive and negative plates thus
alternating and separated by the sheets C, until the desired size of cell is
reached. Then the side pieces of the wrapper A. B. are adjusted to the ends of
the separators C and plates D and the entire cell is bound together by means of
a rubber band or otherwise. It is obvious that the sides may be first turned up
and suitably held and the successive separators introduced edgewise between the
side and bottom lips, and the plates inserted into the pockets thus formed to
receive them.
I thus have a skeleton cell which is completed and made ready for charging by
slipping a prepared tablet F. into each of the spaces d and electrically connecting
the several positive plates and negative plates, the cell then presenting the
appearance in section, shown at the left side of Fig. 4. The tablets rest upon a
horizontal flange shown in Fig. 5 near the bottom of the plate where the recesses d
terminate: The wells e extend to the bottom of the plate, as seen in the same
figure, but their vertical flanges E need not extend below said horizontal flange..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven- 4
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
First In a storage battery, a flexible wrapper, for the series of plates such
wrapper having inwardly projecting inclined lips to hold the separator sheets and
lead plates in proper alternate position, substantially as set forth.
Second-In a storage battery, the flexible wrapper of rubber compound with
yielding incliued lips thereon, in combination with the positive and negative plates
and the separators thereby held in position, substantially as set forth.
5
Third-The receptacle lined with rubber having yielding lips with inclined
surfaces, in combination with the alternate plates and the interposed separators, 5
substantially as set forth.

page_text: Fourth-The flexible wrapper having yielding inclined lips in parallel rows
and the separator sheets held thereby, in combination with the leaden plate or
frame formed with projecting ribs or flanges, and with active material introduced
into the space between said flanged frame and separators, substantially as set
forth.
Fifth In a storage battery, flanged plates or frames combined with active
material in tablet form, and with interposed separators, substantially as set forth.
Sixth In a storage battery, a tablet of active material enveloped in lead foil,
substantially as set forth.
Seventh-In a storage battery, a tablet of active material enveloped in lead
foil, finely perforated, substantially as set forth.
Eighth In a storage battery, the flanged leaden plate, D. E. having lateral
spaces for active material, and open vertical wells separating the same, substantially
as set forth.
Ninth A storage battery cell comprising the following detachable parts, viz.;
a flexible wrapper having yielding lips, separators held by such lips, flanged plates
alternating with said separators, tablets of active material between such plates and
separators, all adapted to be placed within the receptacle enclosing such parts with
the electrolytic liquid, substantially as set forth.
Dated this Sixteenth day of August 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.