Improvements in and relating to Electrical Accumulators or Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1892-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1892
[Communicated from abroad by ARTHUR EASTMAN COLGATE, of 13, Waverly
Place, New York City, United States of America, Electrician.]
Improvements in and relating to Electrical Accumulators or
Secondary Batteries.
I, DAVID YOUNG, of the firm of D. Young & Co., Patent Agents, 11 & 12,
Southampton Buildings, London W.C. do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 electrical accumulators or secondary batteries, and more
particularly to the plates or elements of the same of what is commonly known as
the Planté type. Extensive tests, both experimental and practical have induced
the inventor to adopt the following as the best and most practicable plan of
manufacturing and preparing the improved plates.
In making a plate or electrode according to the present invention, I proceed as
follows, viz. I first cut out or produce in any well-known manner long, narrow and
comparatively thin strips or ribbons of metallic lead or other suitable material, with
numerous rows of perforations through the same, disposed in any desired manner,
but usually in transverse lines or rows.
These strips or ribbons are then corrugated, and, while the direction or character
of the corrugations is not particularly material, I prefer them to be longitudinal.
Generally I make two or three ridges or corrugations in a ribbon three-eighths to
balf-an-inch in width.
The corrugated and perforated ribbons are then twisted like a strand of
yarn but rather loosely and only so as to convert them into approximately round
strands.
The strands thus prepared I weave, in any desired manner, into a band or series
of plates, adopting usually in this step or stage of manufacture, the ordinary
plan pursued in producing battery plates of interwoven strips or strands as hereto-
fore practised.
After the lead fabric has been produced in sufficient quantity and generally in
mats or plates slightly larger than is required of the finished plates but of
approximately the same shape, I lay two, three or more of such mats upon one
another and subject them to moderate pressure, whereby compound plates will
be formed and sufficiently compacted to hold together in ordinary handling.
The plates are then shaped by trimming their edges and usually by melting
or fusing the edges by a blow-pipe flame or hot iron. They are then fitted
into cast lead frames by fusing together the parts of the plate and frame that
are in contact. The plates are then in a finished state and ready for the usual
treatment or forming process.
The chief object sought in all practicable forms of Planté plates, is increased
surface exposed to the electrolyte, combined with sufficient strength and cohesion
to adapt the plates to ordinary usage. This object attain by my method of
making up the plates, to a much greater extent, I believe, than has ever been
accomplished heretofore. Various plans for this have been followed or proposed.
Some plates have been made porous and others have been made up of strands,
ribbons or finely divided particles or masses of lead, but none have possessed,
so far as I am aware, the following special and distinguishing characteristics of

page_text: my improved plate, all of which it will be readily understood by those skilled
in the art, possess peculiar and valuable advantages. The individual strands,
each of which is in metallic connection with the frame by being fused directly
to the same, are twisted so as to reduce to a minimum the exterior surface
covered or protected from the electrolyte by adjacent strands. The area of interior
active surface of each strand is, moreover, increased by the corrugations, and the
direct access of the electrolyte afforded by the loose winding or twisting of the flat
strips or ribbons and through the perforations.
In order to define in certain particulars what I regard as included in my inven-
tion, I would state that I may use strands varying widely in cross-section and may
use plates composed of a single mat or layer, woven either in the particular
manner shown or in any other. I may also employ frames or grids of various
forms, and may support or arrange them for use in any other than the preferred
form hereinafter described.
In the drawings I have illustrated the several steps or stages of manufacture and
the most practicable manner of adapting the finished plates to use, of whch I am
at present aware.
Figure 1 shows a portion of the flat perforated lead strip or ribbon.
Figure 2 exhibits the same with the corrugations therein.
Figure 3 shows a short length of the perforated corrugated ribbon or strip twisted
and ready for wearing into a fabric.
Figure 4 is a side view of a portion of a woven plate and frame.
Figure 5 is a cross-section of the same.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of an insulating frame used for separating two
adjacent plates in a cell.
Figure 7 is an edge view of two plates and the interposed frame.
A indicates the lead strip: B the perforations therein; C the corrugations;
D the lead frame; E an ear extending from each frame as a terminal, F perforations
through the frame for the bolts that bind the plates together, and G the insulating
frame that separates the plates.
The
Having made up the plates, as above described, they are placed together with
the insulating frames G between them and fastened by bolts or other means.
frames G are corrugated or perforated or similarly formed to permit a free
circulation of the electrolyte through them and between the plates. When
complete, the battery is charged and used in the ordinary manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First. A plate for secondary batteries, consisting of an assemblage of strands
composed of flat strips or ribbons of lead, twisted in the manner described.
Second. A plate for secondary batteries, consisting of an assemblage of strands
composed of flat strips or ribbons of lead corrugated and twisted in the manner
described.
Third. A plate for secondary batteries, consisting of an assemblage of strands
composed of lead strips perforated and twisted as described.
Fourth. A plate for secondary batteries, consisting of an assemblage of strands
composed of lead strips perforated, corrugated and twisted, as set forth.
Fifth. A plate for secondary batteries, consisting of a woven lead fabric the
strands of which are composed of lead strips, perforated, corrugated, and twisted,
as set forth.
Sixth. The combination, with a lead frame provided with a terminal, of a woven
fabric of perforated, corrugated and twisted lead strands, contained within said
frame, and having its edges fused to the same, as set forth.
Seventh. The combination of two or more secondary battery plates composed
of lead frames surrounding a woven lead fabric, and interposed corrugated insulating

page_text: frames for separating the plates and permitting the circulation of the electrolyte
between them, as set forth.
Dated this 26th day of July 1892.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.