Improvements in Storage Batteries.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Storage Batteries.
I, HERBERT SAMUEL LLOYD, of 8641 Filbert Street, City of Philadelphia, State
of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Electrician, 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 :-
My invention relatos to a certain improvement in cells for storage batteries, and
has for its object to provide a battery in the form of a series of cells or sections which
may be readily fitted together and the number of sections or separate cells increased
to any desired extent without a corresponding increase in the area of floor space
occupied, the cells or sections being uniform and interchangeable and adapted to be
placed in a vertical pile of any height.
A further object of the invention is to so construct and to so arrange a number of
cells that all of the cells may be supplied with the proper quantity of electrolyte by
simply pouring the latter in an opening formed above the top cell and permitting
it to overflow from cell to cell until all are supplied.
A further object of the invention is to provide for the ready connection and
disconnection of the electrodes and current conducting wires and to provide for the
ventilation of the sections and permit of the escape of the gas generated by the
chemical re-actious within the battery.
A still further object of the invention is to provide for a more thorough and more
economical action of the electrodes by completely submerging both electrodes in the
electrolyte and to prevent the deterioration which occurs at the liquid level when the
electrodes are only partially submerged.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of a storago battery cell constructed in
accordance with my invention, illustrating a series of the superposed cells or sections
coupled together in such manner as to form a series battery of great power.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the cells or sections detached.
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same on the line 3-3 Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4-4 Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the cell on the line 5-5 Fig. 3 and
Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a modified form of cell.
Referring to the drawings, A represents one of the cells or sections, preferably
in the form of a comparatively shallow rectangular pan formed of fibre, vulcanite,
glass, or other suitable non-conducting material. Extending centrally across the
bottom of this well is a shallow trough, a, in which is placed a suitable quantity of
mercury to make contact with the lower ribbed surface of the electrode, x, the
latter resting directly upon the bottom of the cell.
Within each corner of the cell are corner pieces or blocks, b, preferably formed
integral with the body of the cell and adapted to support the upper electrode, ', in
position above the lower electrode, the space between the two and for some distance
above the surface of the upper electrode being filled with a suitable electrolyte.
Projecting inwardly from each side of the cell, or at about the opposite ends of the
mercury trough are four partitions, c, c', c², c³, tho outer ends of which are connected
by a partition, d. The top of all the partitions are on the same level and at some
little distance below the upper edge of the wall of the cell. The partitions, c', c³, aro

page_text: connected by a central partition; f, the top of which is a short distance below the
top of the other partitions and this short partition divides the space bounded by
the wall of the cell and the partition, c', c³, and d, into two openings, h, and i, the
opening, h, extending directly through the bottom of the cell while the opening, i,
communicates with the mercury trough. The openings, k, k¹, formed by the
addition of the partitions, c and e³, also extend directly through the bottom of the
cell, as shown in Fig. 5.
The tops of the partitions,,, are lower than the walls of the cell and form the
liquid level, and any electrolyte flowing into the coll in excess of the quantity
required will overflow through one or other of the partitions and pass down
through the openings, 4, k, in the bottom of the cell to the next lowest section.
.
On the under surface of each section I provide, preferably at each corner, square
lugs or blocks, 1, which serve as guides in assembling a series of sections and when
two or more cells or sections are placed together those lugs fit within the outer walls
of the next lowest cell and serve to keep all of the sections in proper position.
. In forming the top cell of a series of cells or sections, I preferably increase the
height of its walls and arrange at a point just within the top a series of lugs or a
flange, m, for the recoption of a cover plate, M, the latter having a central opening, n,
and its upper surface being depressed toward the centre for convenience in filling
the cells with the electrolyte. The cover is also provided with a number of vent
holes, n', for the escape of gas or the passage of air.
The lowermost of a series of sections is arranged somewhat differently from the
central or intermediate sections, being provided with overflow pipes, p, at the same
level as the top of the partitions of the other sections, and in filling a series of
sections with the electrolyte it is merely necessary to pour the latter through the
opening, n, in the cover until the liquid commences to escape through the overflow
pipe, p, of the bottom section. In filling, the top section receives a supply of liquid
up to the level of its partition plates and as the pouring continues the excess of
liquid flows down through the openings, k, kto the next lowest section, and when this
section is filled any further liquid admitted must overflow into the next lowest
section so that at all timos ench section will have the exact quantity of electrolyte
necessary for its proper and efficient action, and if the supply in any one section
either at the top, or centre, or at the bottom of a series should become exhausted
and need renewal it is simply necessary to pour in a fresh supply at the top through
the opening, n, and the cell will be properly supplied.
One of the main strips or current conductors, ³, passes into the top of the lowest
section or cell and is connected to the lowest electrodo therein, but in connecting a
series of cells prefer to arrange the conductors on each side of the electrode, as
shown, the strips, 23, being connected to the top electrode and thence passing up
through the opening, h, over the short partition,, and down through the opening,,
dipping into the mercury in the trough, a, of the section or cell immediately
above it.
To prevent contact of the electrolyte with the main portion of the conductors, x,
a soft rubber block is then placed between the wall of the cell and the partitions, c', c³,
and d, covering the conductors and preventing the overflow of the electrolyte through
the openings, h.
After all of the cells or sections aro assembled and filled with the electrolyte,
and properly connected, the openings, h, h¹, places each cell section in communication
with the cells above and below it, and the gases which accumulate in the free space
between the level of the electrolyte in one cell and the bottom of the next higher cell
will pass off through these openings from cell to cell and finally escape through the
vent openings, n'. in the cover, M.
The number of partitions and openings in each cell may be reduced to any
desired extent, as illustrated for instance in Fig. 6, whore only one partition, d
with its opening, ', is shown, the partition being at one side or at the corner of
the cell, and serving for the passage of the conductor and the overflow of the
electrolyte although a greater number of oponings is deemed preferable.

page_text: With a cell made in accordance with my invention, a whole series may be,
superposed and a battery of any desired strength or capacity may be built up with
but little trouble and without occupying any greater floor space than would be
occupied by a singlo cell.
As all portions of the electrodos which may be of lead, zine or other material,
are submerged in the electrolyte the action of the electrodes will be more perfect
and economical and the electrodes as a whole will be utilized in the action of the,
battery.
It will be understood that various other modifications of the structure herein
described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, as
for instance by making the cells circular or other form or by forming the partitions
on the outside instead of on the inside of the cells, or the mercury trough may
be dispensed with and the conductors connected to the lower electrode. Any number
of electrodes may be placed in each cell in lieu of two only as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A battery cell comprising a shallow vessel having overflow partitions, the top of
said partitions being below the top of the cell.
2. A battery cell comprising a casing adapted to contain the electrodes and
electrolyte, and an overflow partition in said cell for the removal of any excess of
olectrolyte.
3. A battery cell comprising a vessel provided with a series of partitions.
forming passages for the overflow of the electrolyte, and electrode supports in
said coll.
4. A battery cell comprising a vessel, horizontally disposed electrodes provided one
above the other adapted to be wholly submerged by the electrolyte, and overflow
channel to regulate the height of the electrolyte discharging at or near the base of
said vessel, substantially as described.
5. A battery coll comprising a vessel having vertically disposed passages formed by
partitious, c, c², e³, c, d, f, for the removal of any excess of electrolyte and for the
passage of the connecting wires or strips.
6. The combination in a battery cell of the open top vessel of non-conducting
material, electrodo supports and overflow partitions in said cell, and lugs or ribs.
on the lower surface of said vessel adapted to act as guides in superposing a number
of said vessels.
7. The combination in a battery cell, of the open top vessel of non-conducting
material, vertically disposed passages formed by partitions, c, c', c', c, d arrangod
on each side of the same, a central mercury trough in the bottom of said vessel,
partitions, extending between the partitions, c³, c³, said partitions, f, having their
tops on a level below the tops of the remaining partitions, electrode supports
within the vessel, and guiding lugs or blocks on the bottom of said vessel, substantially
as specified.
8. A series battery comprising a number of superposed and connected cells,.
there being passages between the cells for the escape of gas and the passage of the
electrolyte.
9. A series battery comprising a number of superposed cells, overflow partitions in
each cell communicating with an opening in the bottom of said cell, electrode supports.
in said cells, and connecting wires or strips extending between adjacent cells,
substantially as specified.
10. A series battery comprising a number of superposed cells, overflow partitions in
each cell and connecting strips extending from opposite sides of the upper electrode
of ono cell over one of said partitions to the lower electrode of the cell immediately
above it, substantially as specified.
11. A series battery comprising a number of superposed and connected cells,
troughs containing mercury in the bottom of each cell in contact with the lower

page_text: electrode, the conducting wires or strips extending from the upper electrode of one
call to the mercury of the cell immediately above it.
12. A series battery comprising a number of superposed and connected cells in
communication with each other, and a cover plate having an opening for the pouring
of the electrolyte.
18. A battery comprising a series of cells each containing two wholly submerged
electrodes horizontally disposed one above the other.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.