IMPROVEMENTS IN ACCUMULATORS OR SECONDARY BATTERIES
Year: 1884

page_text: I EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER of 36 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature
of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ACCUMULATORS OR SECONDARY
BATTERIES" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in accumulators or secondary batteries
whereby the weight and volume are reduced and economy and constancy in
working are effected.
According to this Invention the accumulator is composed of bands or strips of
lead of any suitable size and thickness cut in the form of combs. These combs are
doubled or folded on themselves any desired number of times and their ends joined
together so as to present the appearance of a brush of lead. Two of these brushes
placed facing each other and separated by a sheet of gutta percha form an element
of the battery. The teeth of these brushes may be inclined or cut at any angle to
facilitate the escape of the gaseous bubbles as they are produced.
The liquid employed is dilute sulphuric acid. <
This arrangement possesses the following advantages:-
1. It affords as large an acting surface as possible from a given weight of lead
which will moreover be greater according as the lead plates are thinner and the
teeth closer together, the size is thus reduced in the same proportion as the
weight.
"
I.
"
°
2. Owing to this large surface a discharge can be obtained of longer. duration
whilst the lead is only oxydised to a trifling depth and hence the apparatus is
more durable.
.
3. Disuse of minium, felt, and all analogous materials which uselessly increase
the weight and cost of the apparatus.
4. As regards the discharge this accumulator works with more constancy than
those based on the use of minium.
Finally. Reduced weight and size combined with greater economy and
constancy.
Dated this 18th day of January 1884..
C

page_text: I EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER of 36 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ACCUMULATORS OR SECONDARY
BATTERIES" 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 improvements in accumulators or secondary batteries
whereby the weight and volume are reduced and economy and constancy in
working are effected.
According to this Invention the accumulator is composed of bands strips or
ribbons of lead of any suitable length, width and thickness cut in the form of
combs. These strips or ribbons after having had the teeth formed therein are
doubled or folded transversely on themselves any desired number of times and
their ends joined together so that the teeth when thus massed or brought together
shall present the appearance of a brush of lead. Two of these "brushes" placed
with the points or tips of their respective teeth facing each other and separated by
a perforated sheet of gutta percha constitute an element of the battery. The said
teeth may be cut either at right angles or at such other angle with the edge
of the strip as shall afford by reason of their inclination the greatest facility for the
escape of the gaseous bubbles as they are produced.
The liquid employed is dilute sulphuric acid.
This arrangement possesses the following advantages:
-
1. It affords as large an active surface as possible from a given weight of lead
which will moreover be greater according as the lead plates are thinner and the
teeth closer together; the size is thus reduced in the same proportion as the
weight.
2. Owing to this large surface a discharge can be obtained of longer duration
whilst the lead is only oxydised to a trifling depth and hence the apparatus is
more durable.
3. Disuse of minium, felt, and all analogous materials which uselessly increase
the weight and cost of the apparatus.
4. As regards the discharge, this accumulator works with more constancy than
those based on the use of minium.
Finally. Reduced weight and size combined with greater economy and
constancy.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in both the Figures.
"
Figure 1 shows the improved accumulator or secondary battery in vertical
section. Figure 2 is a separate face view in elevation of one of the two "brushes'
before referred to.
B and B are the two "brushes" placed (as shown in Figure 1) with the points
or tips of the teeth facing each other each "brush" being here shown as formed of
three bands or ribbons of lead a a¹, b b, c c', folded or doubled transversely any
desired number of times so as to form parallel folds or plaits previously cut
perpendicularly, or at any suitable angle to the edge thereof so that each fold or
plait presents the appearance of a comb of more or less fine cut. The six ends of
the three lead strips or ribbons are joined together at A and united in a terminal C
by a binding screw or otherwise.

page_text: The two "brushes" B and B₁ separated by a perforated plate or sheet of gutta
percha form an element which is placed in a box or convenient receptacle D,
lined with gutta percha or other suitable material and intended to receive the
dilute acid.
As before stated the surface of each "brush may be increased at will by
employing thinner plates with more folds and finer teeth.
The general proportions of height width and thickness may also be increased to
suit the purpose for which the accumulator is to be employed but in all cases the
improved accumulator will possess with a comparatively small bulk and weight an
excessively developed acting surface.
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:-
1. The peculiar combination and arrangement of parts constituting an
accumulator or secondary battery as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
Drawings annexed whereby the weight and bulk of the battery are reduced and
economy and constancy of action ensured.
2. An accumulator or secondary battery in which the elements are composed of
dentated or comb-like bands, strips, or ribbons of lead, folded or doubled
transversely and having their opposite ends united together so as to mass or
cluster the teeth somewhat in the form of a brush two of such "brushes" being
placed with the points of the teeth facing each other and separated by a perforated
sheet or plate of gutta percha substantially as specified.
Dated this 15th day of September 1884.
EDWIN P. ALEXANDER, .
Fel. Inst. P.A.