Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 21st June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
I GEORGE BARKER of 77 Colmore Row Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention as communi-
cated to me from abroad by Henry Woodward of the City of Toronto in the
County of York in the province of Ontario Canada Electrician to be as follows :—
The object of the invention is to produce a practically indestructable secondary
battery and consists essentially in forming each electrode of a series of cylindrical
or otherwise shaped perforated tubes made of vulcanized rubber or other acid proof
non-conducting material the said tubes being passed through one or more holders or
separators made of vulcanized rubber or other acid proof non-conducting material
by which they are held at a fixed distance apart. Each tube contains a spindle or stem
surrounded with lead filings shavings or other small pieces of lead or alloy of lead, the
upper ends of each spindle being attached to a horizontal lead connector and two or
more of the electrodes so constructed are placed in a cell preferably made of glass
and containing the ordinary solution of sulphuric acid.
The tube is cylindrical in form although it will of course be understood that the
said tube or tubes may be made of any desired shape; these tubes are perforated and
are made of vulcanized india rubber or of any other acid proof non conducting
material. The bottom of each tube is closed by a disc or plug made to fit the said
tube tightly to which it is otherwise permanently fixed. A spindle or stem is fixed
to this disc or plug which spindle extends through the opposite end of the tube and
is formed of lead or an alloy of lead and is either corrugated or formed in a spiral
shape. The end of each spindle or stem is fixed to a horizontal lead bar or connector
and the interior of each tube is filled with lead filings or chips and may be lined
with lead perforated to correspond with the perforations in the outer skin of the said
tube.
Each tube is passed through holes in the separators or holders which are made of
vulcanized india rubber or any other suitable acid-proof non conducting material and
are connected together and held apart by posts made of vulcanized rubber or any
other suitable acid proof non conducting materials a series of perforations being
made through each separator to permit the escape of gas generated within the cell.
From this description it will be understood that as each electrode is composed of a
series of tubes permanently held apart and separated by non conducting material
there can be no buckling of the electrodes nor can they come in contact with each
other so as to cause short circuiting in the battery.
For the purpose of hastening the formation of the electrodes I saturate the lead
filings referred to in nitric acid or other chemical reagent, until partially reduced.
The filings are then strained and filled into the tubes.
The formation can be still further quickened by adding a small quantity of sulphate
of soda or magnesia.
Datad this 2nd day of Ansil 1800
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
I, GEORGE BARKER of 77 Colmore Row Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention as communi-
cated to me from abroad by Henry Woodward of the City of Toronto in the County
of York in the Province of Ontario Canada Electrician and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of my invention is to produce a practically indestructible secondary
battery; and it consists, essentially, in forming each electrode of a series of cylindrical
or otherwise-shaped perforated tubes made of vulcanized rubber or other acid-proof
non-conducting material, tho said tubes being passed through one or more holders or
separators made of vulcanized rubber or other acid-proof non-conducting material,
by which they are held at a fixed distance apart. Each tube contains a spindle or
stem surrounded with lead filings, shavings, or other small pieces of lead, or alloy of
lead, the upper ends of each spindle being attached to a horizontal lead connector,
and two or more of the electrodes so constructed are placed in a cell preferably made
of glass and containing the ordinary solution of sulphuric acid substantially as
hereinafter more particularly explained.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved secondary battery.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of one of the tubes.
Figure 3 is a view of one of the spindles.
Figure 4 is a plan showing the tubes arranged in the holder or separator.
In the drawing, A, represents the tube which I show cylindrical in form, although
it will of course be understood that the said tube or tubes may be made any desired
shape. Each tube is perforated, although only a few are so indicated in the drawing.
These tubes I make of vulcanized rubber; or any other acid-proof non-conducting
material. The bottom of each tube, A, is closed by a disc or plug, B, made to fit the
said tube tightly to which it is otherwise permanently fixed. C, is a spindle or stem
fixed to the disc or plug, B, and extending through the opposite end of its tube, A.
This spindle or stem I make of lead or an alloy of lead, and prefer to either corrugate
it, as shown in Figure 3 or form it into a spiral shape. The end of each of the
spindles or stems, C, is fixed to the horizontal lead bar or connector, D. The interior
of each tube, A, is filled with lead filings or cbips, and the interior of each tube, A,
may be lined with lead perforated to correspond with the perforations in the outer
skin of the said tube.
It will be observed that each tube, A, is passed through holes in the separators or
holders, E, and F which are made of vulcanized rubber or any other suitable acid-
proof non-conducting material. The separators, E, and F, are connected together
and held apart by posts, G, made of vulcanized rubber or any other suitable acid-
proof non-conducting material. A series of perforations, a, are made through each
separator, E, and F, to permit the escape of the gas generated within the cell.
From this description it will be seen that as each electrode is composed of a series
of tubes permanently held apart and separated by non-conducting material, there
can be no buckling of the electrodes, nor can they come in contact with each other
so as to cause short-circuiting in the battery.
For the purpose of hastening the formation of the electrodes I saturate the lead
filings referred to, in nitric acid or other chemical reagent, until partially reduced.
The filings are then strained and filled into the tubes.
The formation can be still further quickened by adding a small quantity of sulphate
of soda or magnesia.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner is to be performed what I claim is :-
1st. An electrode for a secondary battery composed of a series of cylindrical or
otherwise shaped perforated tubes made of vulcanized rubber or other acid-proof
non-conducting material, the said tubes being passed through one or more holders or
separators made of vulcanized rubber or other acid-proof non-conducting material,
each tube containing a spindle or stem surrounded with lead filings, shavings or other
small pieces of lead, or alloy of lead, the upper ends of each spindle being attached
to a horizontal lead connector and two or more of the electrodes so constructed
placed in a cell preferably made of glass and containing the ordinary solution of
Sulphuric acid substantially as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 2nd. An electrode for a secondary battery composed of a series of cylindrical or
other wise shaped perforated tubes made of vulcanized rubber or other acid proof
non-conducting material lined with lead likewise perforated, the said tubes being
passed through one or more holders or separators made of vulcanized rubber or other
acid-proof non-conducting material, each tube containing a spirally-shaped or
corrugated spindle or stem surrounded with lead filings, shavings, or other small
pieces of lead or alloy of lead, the upper ends of each spindle being attached to a
horizontal lead connector, and two or more of the electrodes so constructed placed
in a cell preferably made of glass and containing the ordinary solution of sulphuric
acid substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated 144 A 1800
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.