Improved Battery Plates for Storage Batteries.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1889-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Battery Plates for Storage Batteries.
I, ALBERT EDWARD WOOLF of 864 Sexington Avenue in the City of New York,
State and County of New York, United States of America, Insurance Agent, 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 relates to improvements in plates for secondary batteries and it
consists in the construction of the plates hereinafter described and illustrated in the
drawings in which the same reference letters indicate the same parts in all the
figures.
"
Figure 1, illustrates a perspective view of a sheet of lead covered with the
active material" in a flat state, from which sheet so covered I make my improved
plates.
Figure 2, illustrates a perspective view of the sheet of lead covered as shown in
Figure 1, after having been rolled up into substantially cylindrical form.
Figure 3, illustrates a perspective of the rolled sheet shown in Figure 2, after it has
been subjected to a flattening operation.
Figure 4, illustrates the flattened sheet shown in Figure 3, from which one of my
improved plates has been cut or sawn, as shown at Figure 4°.
Figure 5, illustrates an elevation of one of my improved plates, having a
re-inforcing band of hard rubber or equivalent material placed around it.
Figure 6, illustrates a vertical transverse section of the plates shown in Figure 5,
taken on the line x, x, of that Figure.
Figure 7, illustrates a side view of a battery cell the side whereof has been removed
showing the construction of the cell and the relative position and arrangement of my
improved plates when in the cell, some of the plates being omitted.
Figure 8, illustrates a top view of the cell and a few of the plates shown in
Figure 7, partly in section.
The best forms of plates for secondary batteries known prior to my invention, so far
as I am aware, are the Julian and the Faure plates, these plates owing to their peculiar
construction are subject to the following serious objections.
First: The chemical action induced by the current during the operation of
"forming" the plates so called, in other words the getting them into condition for
useful service by repeatedly charging and discharging them electrically and even
after the plates have been "formed," induces a lateral warping or bending of the
plates which is technically called "buckling." This buckling frequently brings
contiguous plates into contact with each other which of course results in short
circuiting the battery.
"
Second: The buckling of the plates loosens the active material in the "grids
which sooner or later becomes displaced, thus the plates are injured if not rendered
practically valueless.
:
Third When these prior plates have become thoroughly "formed" and in their
most valuable condition for service because then being specially capable of receiving
a large quantity of current, they become exceedingly "foraminated " throughout so
much so that they disintegrate and ultimately fall to pieces of their own weight, and
frequently they are destroyed during the period of their greatest value because of
jars or like disturbing causes which breaks them up.
Fourth The weight of the plates heretofore in use, is much greater than can be
conveniently used for practical purposes under many conditions, such for instance
as a motive power for surface roads, or as a lighting medium on moving structures,

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15
theoreticany necessary for giving the desired storage
capacity.
Fifth The expense of the plates heretofore known owing to their insufficient
durability is relatively much greater than that of my improved plates.
In the manufacture of my plates I proceed as follows:
A is a sheet or plate of lead, or its equivalent, of the desired thickness and large
enough to be rolled up and then cut into a number of separate plates as hereinafter
set forth.
B, is a coating of the "active_material" preferably litharage although other
equivalent material may be used. It is made into a plastic mass so that it may be
evenly and readily spread upon the lead by admixing it with any suitable liquid
substance I prefer to employ sulphuric acid for this purpose because there will then
be nothing present requiring subsequent elimination. The litharage or its equivalent,
is spread on the lead to a thickness preferably about equal to the thickness of the
lead itself. Then either before or after the litharage has dried as may be preferred
the sheet of lead is carefully rolled up into the form of a scroll C, shown in Figure 2,
the litharage being rolled in leaving the lead exposed outwardly. It is preferably
rolled as tightly as may be so that the lead on both sides touches the active material.
The scroll like roll is then preferably placed under a suitable press and is squeezed
into a somewhat flattened shape as seen at C², in Figure 3. The roll may if preferred
be put into a suitable former or die during the pressing operation whereby it will be
given such form, square or otherwise if desired.
The application of the pressure to the roll has the effect of bringing all parts of
both surfaces of the lead into intimate contact with the active material. The pressed
roll is then cut across transversely preferably with a circular saw into slices or pieces
which are to form the battery plates, one of which I illustrate at E, Figure 4* and the
lines on which subsequent ones may be cut, I also illustrate by dotted lines F. The
first and last slices or plates severed from the ends of each roll are not always
perfect owing to the partial displacement of the active material during the rolling
and pressing operations. The action of the circular saw is such as to draw down
a burr from each layer of the lead throughout the saw kerp, which overlapping the
active material adjacent to it holds it more firmly in its place.
After the separate plates have been formed as above stated, the exposed end of the
sheet of lead may be fastened in any preferred manner, as by soldering it, and they
may be used as battery plates in their then condition if desired, but I prefer to
strengthen the plates thereby very greatly adding to their durability as follows:
G, is a hard rubber band or clasp which is made of such size as to fit snugly around
the outer edge of each plate. The ends of the bands are provided with uneans
whereby they may be drawn together and preferably the end of the lead clamped
between them, I show laterally projecting ends H, H, and a cross screw or rivet I,
also preferably of hard rubber for this purpose. The end of the strip of lead shown
at J, is free from the active material and being bent at substantially right angles
from the plate is held firmly in place between the terminals H, H', of the rubber band
or clasp, projecting somewhat beyond them thus affording a good means whereby the
wire connections can be made. The rubber clasp is preferably made somewhat
wider than the thickness of the plate, thus there are laterally projecting edges K, K,
see Figure 6, at each side of the plate. Thus when the several plates are put in the
cell, as seen in Figures 7 and 8, the rubber bands or clasps may be arranged to touch
each other at their edges whereby movement of the plates in the cell will be avoided,
thus reducing liability of fracture.
The rubber band or clasp of course insulates each plate from the plates adjacent to
it and in order that the solution may have free access to and circulation among the
several plates, 1 form a series of openings L, in the edges of the rubber bands through
which the solution can readily circulate.
The plates should preferably be supported within the cell upon rubber or equivalent
bars a, a, at the bottom, and similar bars b, at the sides running horizontally and

page_text: vertical bars c, at the ends running vertically, they may however, rest on the bottom of
the cell or be otherwise supported. Also an important feature of my improvement is
that the several plates which are to constitute the double electrode for the cell may be
clamped all together so as to form one structure which can be slipped into the battery
cell or reservoir and otherwise manipulated, transported and handled much more con-
veniently than the separate plates can be.
It will be seen that in addition to the foregoing the employment of the rubber band
or clasp greatly increases the durability of the plates because the rubber being
unaffected by the solution will remain intact permanently and will hold or sustain the
lead and the active material in their proper place for a long time irrespective of the
degree of their foramination or partial disintegration.
It will also be observed that the metal of the strip of lead is in several convolutions
throughont the plate and also that it is presented edgewise to the strain of the buckling
action, thus it is enabled to overcome that action and even without the strength giving
rubber band the plates are not deflected materially from their proper flat condition.
It will of course be obvious that the separate plates may be sawn or otherwise
separated from the roll as shown in Figure 2, without being flattened or otherwise
compressed I prefer to subject them to pressure, however.
:
My plates may be made separately by coiling a strip of metal of the desired width
into the form of a flat volute as seen in Figure 2, at the forward end thereof and then
crowding the active material in place between the several convolutions of the metal.
Also the lead plate having the active material upon it so shown in Figure 1, may be
slit into strips of the desired width and then these strips coiled into flat volute forms
thus forming the plates.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what claim is:
First An electrode for storage batteries comprising essentially a strip of metal
coated with "active material" and coiled upon itself in such manner that the "active
material" fills all the space between contiguous layers of the metal substantially as set
forth.
Second: An electrode for storage batteries comprising essentially a strip of flat
metal coated with "active material" and coiled upon itself flatwise and in such manner
that the "active material" fills all the space between contiguous layers of the metal
substantially as set forth.
"
Third: An electrode for storage batteries comprising essentially flat metal coated
with "active material and coiled upon itself in such manner that the width of the
metal extends across the plane of the plate and also so that the "active material "fills
all the space between the contiguous layers of the metal substantially as set forth.
Fourth: An electrode for storage batteries comprising essentially flat metal coated
with "active material" coiled upon itself flatwise and having all the space between
contiguous layers of the metal filled with "active material" and pressed into oblong
form substantially as set forth.
Fifth An electrode for storage batteries, comprising essentially metallic parts
separated by interposed layers of "active material" and an exterior sustaining band or
clasp substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth: An electrode for storage batteries comprising essentially flat metallic parts
disposed in such manner that the width of the metal extends across the plane of the
plate, active material" between adjacent surfaces of the metal and an exterior
sustaining band or clasp of rubber or other material not acted upon by the solution,
substantially as set forth.
Seventh An electrode for storage batteries, comprising essentially metallic parts
separated by interposed layers of "active material" and an exterior band or clasp of
rubber or other material not acted upon by the solution and means for drawing the
ends of the band together, substantially as set forth.
:
Eighth An electrode for storage batteries, comprising essentially metallic parts
separated by interposed layers of "active material" and an exterior band or clasp of

page_text: rubber or other material not acted upon by the solution the band being wider than the
metal or the "active material " or provided with projections which extend laterally
beyond the face of the plate, substantially as set forth.
Ninth As a new manufacture a roll from which electrodes for storage batteries
may be cut consisting essentially of a sheet metal coated with "active material" and
rolled up upon itself so that the "active material" fills all the space between contiguous
layers of the metal substantially as set forth.
Dated this Thirtieth day of December 1889.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.