Improvements in and relating to Plates for Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
Improvements in and relating to Plates for Secondary Batteries.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH STARKEY BARIER-STARKEY, of Aldenham Park, Bridgenorth,
in the County of Salop, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My application for Letters Patent relates to an improved method of preparing
the lead plates, strips, bars, gratings, or other active members of storage batteries
or accumulators.
Various methods have been proposed for coating or charging these plates or the
like with peroxide of lead for the purpose in view.
By my invention I attain this object in a much more simple, direct, and satis-
factory manner than heretofore.
In carrying my invention into effect. I pass an electric current through the lead
plates or the like whilst immersed in dilute sulphuric acid until the said plates
become effectively peroxidised which is indicated by their assuming a deep brown
colour. I then remove the plates from the solution and suspend them in a dry
atmosphere, and leave them in this position until the dark colour of the plates or
the like has faded to a pale brown. I then again immerse them in the solution,
and pass a further current of electricity through them until the original dark brown
colour is restored, and the plates commence to evolve gas. After this I again
remove them from the solution, and allow them to dry with access of air. This
process I repeat as long as needful until the requisite depth of peroxide of lead has
been formed upon the surface of the plates. By this process accumulator plates can
be cheaply, quickly, and easily produced without reversal, and without the aid of
chemicals, and are capable of being converted into negatives if desired by a single
charge.
It is obvious that the details of the above indicated process are capable of
variation in view of the precise object aimed at or the special circumstances of the
case, and I do not confine myself to the preciso details of manufacture above set
forth.
J, WILLIAM JOSEPH STARKEY BARBER-STARKEY, of Aldenham Park, Bridgnorth, in
the County of Salop, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
[Price 8d.]

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improved method of preparing lead plates, strips,
bars, wire, gratings and the like for storage batteries or accumulators.
"
According to one method of preparing or forming " lead plates so as to make
them suitable for electrodes of secondary batteries, sheets of lead are suspended in
sulphuric acid and a current of electricity passed through them, first in one
direction and then in the other direction, the periods of time for which the current
passes being of considerable length. This method is, however, very tedious, as it
takes a great length of time to form a plate, and necessitates a large expenditure
of power for current. Other methods have been suggested for attaining the
desired object more expeditiously, such as treating them with nitric acid, or by
pasting or coating the plate with oxides of lead before subjecting them to the
passage of electric current.
According to my invention I manufacture electrodes from lead plates without
reversing the "forming" current, and in a less time than has heretofore been
possible. The chief feature of my invention consists in the subjection of the
plates at intervals during the forming process to the action of atmospheric air by
removing the plates from the acid for a suitable length of time, and then
immersing them again to continue the forming operation.
In carrying my invention into effect I immerse the lead plates in dilute
sulphuric acid and cause the electric current to pass through the same until the
said plates become peroxidised which is indicated by their assuming a deep brown
colour. I then remove the plates from the solution and suspend them in a dry
atmosphere until such time as the dark colour of the plates has faded to a pale
brown. I then again immerse them in the solution, and pass a further current of
electricity through them in the same direction as before until the dark colour is
restored, and gas is evolved at the surface of the plates. After this I again
remove them from the solution, and allow them to dry with access of air.
process of forming and drying the plates alternately I repeat as many times as
needful until the plates have been converted into peroxide of lead to the required
depth, the length of time or the number of operations varying of course with the
original thickness of the plates, and with the strength of current used.
This
It will be readily understood that the above method results in the formation of
what are generally known as positive plates, these however are readily convertible
into negative plates by passing an electric current through them in the opposite
direction.
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
1. The process of manufacturing storage battery electrodes which consists in
first immersing them in dilute sulphuric acid and passing an electric current
through them and then permitting them to dry with access of air, these operations
being repeated alternately until the electrode has been "formed" to a suitable
depth.
2. The process of manufacturing storage battery electrodes hereinabove
described.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.