Improvements in Storage Batteries.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Storage Batteries.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the Firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The
General Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London,
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (A communication
to me by Charles Riordon, of Corner King and Bay Streets, in the City of Toronto,
in the County of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, Gentleman) and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in storage or secondary batteries and the
object of the invention is to design a simple, compact and durable form of electrode
in which the oxide may be held in such a manner that it may be thoroughly perme
ated with the acid and yet may be capable of expansion and contraction without
shedding the oxide and it consists essentially of forming the electrodes preferably
of a rectangular spiral strip, the oxide being placed between the convolutions of
the spiral and a post being provided for supporting the spiral, the lead from the
electrode preferably leading off from the centre of the spiral and the electrode and
connections being otherwise constructed as hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing two cells with the side and top of one broken
away to exhibit the construction of the electrodes and their connections.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of an electrode, the central post being intermediately
broken away as well as the spirally formed plate, portion of the oxide being also
removed.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A is the central or supporting post of each electrode which is made preferably
rectangular and is provided with grooves a throughout the major portion of its
length. B is a cylindrical top formed on the post A and C is a slit made in the
top longitudinally with the post. D is a rectangular spiral of sheet lead, which
extends edgewise around the post from near the top to the bottom. The spaces
between the convolutions are filled with a continuous spiral layer of oxide.
E is a strip of lead, which is preferably connected near the centre to the spiral
and extends upwardly through one of the grooves to the top of the spiral, thus
forming a lead from the electrode.
Fis an insulating plate provided with holes with wing recesses f¹ through which
extend the bottoms a¹ of the posts A of the electrode, which are reduced in diameter
to fit into the hole thereof.
a is a pin which is passed through the post A above the bottom shoulder and
designed to separate the bottom of the spiral from the plate F. is a pin which
passes through the post A below the plate F and designed to hold the bottom of
the post securely in the plate.
Gis the top insulating plate, which rests upon square shoulders A' formed at
the bottom of the cylindrical top B. A pin at extends through the top B of each
electrode across the slit C and the top plate G is made with slots g running one
way and slots g' running at right angles thereto. It will of course be understood

page_text: that the centre of each slot g g is circular so as to receive the cylindrical top 13 of
the post. The pins a' it will thus be seen serve to hold down the top plate upon the
shoulders A'.
H is an elastic looped band, which is passed through the top slit C and down
alongside of the electrode through holes f in the bottom plate F. Pins are
passed through the looped elastic bands, so as to hold them securely around the
electrode.
The bands serve to press upon the oxide in the electrode and yet permit of a
ready expansion, and help contraction. The elastic bands II are passed down the
two sides of the electrode as described and on each adjacent electrode the bands pass
down on different sides, so that they form a means of insulating the electrodes from
each other in case of jurring. The top of the band, which extends across the top
of the spiral is on a line with the slots y and g' in the plate G and these slots are
longer than the width of the electrodes.
As the combined electrodes with the top and bottom plates and F can be re-
moved simultaneously being connected together, it will be seen that if
any band
becomes broken it may be replaced when out of the cell by simply passing the
bands around through the slits and slots to the bottom plate F without removing
any one electrode to do so.
The leads E of we will say the positive electrodes are connected to the binding
post while the leads of the negative electrode are connected to the binding post J.
The lower portions I and J of the posts are cylindrical and made of lend and
extend through the top plate K, which is of course sealed all around. The tops
of the posts I and J are made with a tinned stem and spherical head. The top
plate K rests upon the tops of the posts A. The negative binding post J is con-
ected to the positive binding post I of the next cell by the plates L L having arc-
shaped grooves / made in them.
M is a thumb screw by which the spherical heads of the posts I and J are held
securely in the grooves 11, so as to form a perfect contact.
By making the heads of the binding posts spherical and forming a connection
between them as described by the plates L with grooves I am enabled to provide
for the perfect connection between the cells.
As it is very difficult in practice to get the electrodes of the same height the
benefit of the construction above described will be readily understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a storage battery, an electrode comprising a rectangular continuous hollow
spiral of flat strip sheet lead in flexible form with both edges free, an interposed
hollow spiral of activo material exposed at the inside and outside, and a supporting
post for the electrode extending up within the spiral and forming a guide for
the free lengthwise movement of the spiral as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a storage battery, an electrode comprising a rectangular hollow spiral of
flat strip sheet lead and an interposed hollow spiral of active material, a rectangular
supporting post for the electrode extending up through the spiral and longitudinal
grooves in each side of the post as and for the purpose specified.
33. In a storage battery an electrode comprising a rectangular hollow spiral of
flat strip sheet lend and an interposed hollow spiral of active material a supporting
post for the electrode extending up within the spiral and a lead from the centre
of the lead spiral as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a storage battery an electrode comprising a rectangular hollow spiral of
flat strip sheet lead, an interposed hollow spiral of active material, a rectangular
supporting post for the electrode extending up through the spiral longitudinal
grooves in each side of the post and a lead from the centre edge of the spiral ex-
tending up through one of the grooves through the central opening of the spirul
as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 5. The combination with the rectangular hollow spiral of flat strip sheet lead
and the hollow spiral of active material filling the spaces between the convolutions
of the central post having a top slit and the elastic band passing through the slit
and from end to end of the electrode the lower end of the band being suitably
fastened, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the rectangular electrodes formed of a flat rectangular
spiral with an interposed spiral of active material and central post with cylin-
drical top and slits in the tops of such posts, of the top and bottom insulating plates,
oppositely formed slots for each alternate electrode in the top plate and circular
openings in the centre of such slots to receive the cylindrical heads of the posts
and an elastic band for holding the plates together having the top on a line with
the slots as aud for the purpose specified.
7. The combination with the spirally formed electrodes having the reduced top
and bottom ends forming shoulders, of the top and bottom insulating plates into
which such reduced ends fit as and for the purpose specified.
8. The combination with the spirally formed electrodes having the reduced top
and bottom ends forming shoulders, of the top and bottom plates and the winged
holes in the bottom plate to receive the corresponding reduced ends as and for the
purpose specified.
9. The combination with the spirally formed electrodes having the reduced top
and bottom ends forming shoulders, of the top and bottom plates and the pins ex-
tending through the bottoms of the posts above the shoulder and separating the
bottoms of the electrodes from the insulating plates as and for the purpose specified.
10. The combination with the spirally formed electrodes having the top and
bottom ends forming shoulders, of the top and bottom plates and pins extending
through the reduced ends to bind the posts of the electrodes to the top and bottom
plates as and for the purpose specified.
11. The combination with the spirally formed electrodes having the reduced top
and bottom ends forming shoulders, of the top and bottom plates, slots in the same
through which the leads extend, binding post to which the leads are connected,
and the top senting plate resting on the tops of the posts and having openings
through which the binding posts extend as and for the purpose specified.
12. In a storage battery, the combination with the electrodes and leads therefrom
and binding posts to which the leads for each cell are connected having stems
with spherical heads, of a pair of connecting plates for the cells having arc-shaped
grooves and clamping means for holding the spherical heads in the grooves as and
for the purpose specified.
Dated 10L L
ear 1 1005
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.