Improvements in Electric Accumulators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1900-Accepted, 23rd June, 1900
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Accumulators.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18, Bucking-
ham Street, Strand, W.C., Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, a communication to me from abroad by Richard Goldstein, of Chaus-
seestrasse 1, Berlin, Germany, Lawyer, to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention forms an electric accumulator charac-
terized by the peculiar formation and arrangement of the positive electrode
with regard to the negative electrode.
The positive electrode is a cross section similar to a cross star or other figure
composed of a central boss and radiating webs the ends of which are connected
to form a circular elliptical square or polygonal figure. The interior is filled
with the active mass, to which the liquid has access through perforations in
the surrounding wall. The whole represents therefore a solid cylindrical,
prismatic, or similar rod or body.
The negative electrode is formed as a box and in this form several positive
electrodes may be arranged. If the positive electrode has a four or more cor-
nered section, all the positive electrodes are so put into the negative electrodes
that they touch, each the next edge to edge; consequently a diagonal of their
bases is arranged in an axial line across the negative electrode.
By this arrangement of the electrodes not only is the advantage obtained
that the circumference of the positive electrode is entirely put into use, but
moreover that in discharging the accumulator the discharge of the positive
electrode commences first along the longitudinal line of each positive electrode
which is nearest the surface of the negative electrode and continues towards
the longitudinal line of the positive electrode which is more remote from the
said surface. By this method, with rapid discharge a rapid fall of the potential
as in the hitherto known accumulators does not take place, but the potential
sinks slowly; consequently the effect of this accumulator with the before men-
tioned arrangement of the electrodes is much more favourable and quite new.
The number of the positive electrodes in each negative electrode can be as
desired.
Dated the 18th der of Juoust 1899
Improvements in Electric Accumulators.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18, Bucking-
ham Street, Strand, W.C., London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by Richard Goldstein,
ID 71

page_text: of Chausseestrasse 1, in the Empire of Germany, Lawyer, and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:
A disadvantage of the electric accumulators hitherto used lies in the fact,
that after a certain quantity of current has been withdrawn from them the fall
of potential is so rapid that the utilization of a considerable quantity of current
still stored in the said accumulators is a technical impossibility. This fall of
potential is mainly caused by the arrangement and formation of the electrodes
used, which consist generally of bodies with parallel opposite surfaces. Owing
to the shape of these electrodes, in charging them, the current acts from the
beginning uniformly upon their entire surface and equally in discharging a
uniform decrease of current takes place until the potential has sunk to about 10
or 15 per cent. of its original strength. On passing this limit the decrease of
potential is as sudden as the discharge has up till then been regular and renders
it practically impossible to further utilize the current.
The object of the present invention is an accumulator the electrodes of which
are not subject to this decrease of potential and possess in spite of their light-
ness a degree of stability and solidity which enables them to bear a consider-
able degree of over-charging without suffering damage. This result is obtained
by the formation and arrangement of the electrodes, the surfaces of which are
not parallel but at angles to each other, so that in charging the accumulator
the entire surface of the electrodes is not immediately influenced uniformly,
but the influence of the current progresses successively from the portions of
the electrodes closest together to those furthest apart. In discharging, the
same process takes place, and the portions of the electrodes closest together
discharge first and then, successively, the portions farther apart. An example
of the invention is represented in the annexed drawings:
Fig. 1 is a side view of an accumulator in partial section and
Fig. 2 a horizontal section of Fig. 1.
The positive electrodes a consist of cross sections the edges c of which abut
against each other while the edges are placed in such a position towards the
negative electrodes that the surfaces of the positive electrodes form an angle
opposite the surfaces of the said negative electrodes.
c which
In consequence of this arrangement the charging begins at the edges b
nearest the negative electrode and progresses gradually to the edges
are farthest off. The discharge takes place in the same manner. Instead of
being four-cornered as illustrated the positive electrode may be of rhombic or
other suitable polygonal or circular cross section. The cross-shaped bodies f
are connected by means of the pins y with a common bar h and are filled with
a suitable active mass.
The negative electrode d may consist of a closed casing surrounding the
positive electrodes or of two longitudinal plates connected with each other by
means of suitable cross pieces k. This electrode is also preferably covered with
active mass which is prevented from falling by the suitable formation of the
leaden ground plate. In order to render it possible to use the electrodes with
as little space as possible between them and to prevent the possibility of active
mass which may fall from causing short closure, the positive electrodes are
preferably surrounded by a porous or perforated box or mantle m of celluloid
or the like. The bottom and lower parts of the sides of this mantle m remain
unperforated and retain any portions of active mass falling from the positive
electrode, while portions falling from the negative electrode can accumulate on
the bottom of the battery vessel n insulated from the positive electrode.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
An improved electric accumulator the negative electrode of which surrounds

page_text: the positive electrode which consists of electrode bodies of four-cornered, poly-
gonal or circular cross-section, in which the lateral surfaces of the said electrode
bodies, which each touch the next edge to edge, form an angle with the lateral
surface of the negative electrode, in order that the charging and discharging
may begin first at the edges next to the negative electrode and progress to the
edges lying farthest from the said negative electrode.