A Flexible Battery Cell and Method of Arranging the Elements therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Dec., 1888
A Flexible Battery Cell and Method of Arranging the Elements
therefor.
MARK BAILEY of Holly Lodge, Clarence road Wood Green, London N.
Electrician and JOHN WARNER, 21 Osborn Street, Whitechapel, London E.
Ironfounder do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to form a flexible sealed cell or containing chamber,
for holding the elements employed in a primary, or secondary battory. We construct
the walls of our flexible cell of Rubber insertion cloth, india rubber, gutta percha, or
cloth or equivalent substance prepared with varnish or other suitable material for
rendering the same watertight, and resisting the action of tho acid or other liquid
employed in the cell. The cells are fitted with elements in the form of leaf metal,
coarse granulated powder, or they can be fashioned in the form of a mat, or web,
from wire, ribbon, or other suitably woven metallic material. Those clements when
mounted up in the flexible cell are separated by any suitable porous insulating sub-
stance which will not add any great resistance to the free action of the exciting acid
or other liquid employed; or the flow of current, and will not lossen the flexibility
of the cell.
One form of our Improvement consists of a belt divided into several distinct cells,
within which are placed the elements formed in the manner described, or similarly, so
as to secure flexibility and large surface. Euch cell is joined up by suitable con-
ductors which are led to terminals at the end of the belt, which terminals are so
arranged in the case of a secondary element or elements, as to permit of recharging.
Such a belt as described can be worn by a miner, diver, or other person round his
body, and be used for lighting an electric lamp, for exploding a charge of powder,
cotton, or dynamite, or for any other purpose.
In cases in which cells of large capacity are required, we can either form them
singly and fit them with either primary or secondary elements and suitable fluids or
they can be made continuously as described for the belt so combining portability, with
compactness.
We provide means for relieving the gas or gases formed, and suitable connections
for joining any number together and for recharging.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Flexible Battery Cell and Method of Arranging the Elements
therefor.
MARK BAILEY of Holly Lodge, Clarence Road, Wood Green, London, N.
Electrician and JOHN WARNER, 21 Osborn Street Whitechapel London, E.
Iron founder, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to form a flexible sealed cell or containing chamber,
for holding the elements employed in a primary or Secondary Battory. We construct
the walls of our flexible cell of Rubber insertion cloth, India rubber, gutta percha,
or cloth, or equivalent substances prepared with varnish or other suitable material for
rendering the same watertight, and resisting the action of the acid or other liquid
employed in the cell. The cells are fitted with elements in the form of leaf metal,
coarse granulated powder, or they can be fashioned in the form of a mat or web, from
wire, ribbon or other suitably woven metallic material. These elements when
mounted up in the flexible cell are separated by any suitable porous insulating sub-
stance which will not add any groat resistance to the free action of the exciting acid
or other liquid employed; or the flow of current and will not lessen the flexibility of
the cell. One form of our improvement consists of a belt divided into several distinct
cells, within which are placed the elements formed in the manner described, or
similarly; so as to secure flexibility & large surface. Each cell is joined up by
suitable conductors which are led to terminals at the end of the belt, which terminals
are so arranged in, the case of a secondary element or elements, as to permit of
recharging. Such a belt as described can be worn by a miner, diver, or other person
round his body and, be used for lighting an electric lamp, for exploding a charge of
· powder, cotton, or dynamite or for any other purposes. In cases in which cells of
large capacity are required, we can either form them singly & fit them with either
primary or secondary elements and suitable fluids, or they can be made continuously
as described for the belt, so combining portability with compactness. We provide
uncans for relieving the gas or gases formed, & suitable connections for joining any
number together & for recharging. The annexed drawing will make clear the
manner in which we carry our invention into effect.
Fig. 1. Is an elevation of a flexible cell.
Fig. 2. A side elevation of same.
Fig. 3. An elevation of flexible cell when made of large size.
Fig. 4. A series of flexible cells arranged in the form of a belt.
Figs. 5. 6. 7. Vertical sections shewing the internal arrangements of elements in
varying forms of cells.
Fig. 8. Enlarged sectional view shewing valves & packing.

page_text: other suitable material for rendering the same watertight, and resisting the action of
acid or other liquid, employed in the cell. These cells when of large size as in Fig. 3,
are formed by inserting strips B (see fig. 8) preferably of some good insulating sub-
stance, such as vulcanized fibre, ebonite, or wood soaked in parrafin, between two
picces of rubber insertion cloth or other material as above; plates a a, of metal are
now screwed or secured by bolts & nuts b b, in the manner shewn. At suitable points
terminals c c, are fastened and each division of every form of cell is fitted with a
valve or valves d, for permitting escape of gas or refilling with liquid. These cells
can be formed to hold elements of the primary or secondary type, and a porous plate
or woven diaphragm as in Fig. 5, 6, can be employed when desired. When of small
size we frequently construct our flexible cells of rubber tube covered with canvas as
in Figs. 1. 2. plates of metal a a, are now screwed or bolted to the top & bottom
& fitted with terminals c, & valves d.
Fig. 4. Shews a series of flexible cells arranged as a belt. We form the cells of
rubber insertion cloth or equivalent, two pieces of which are folded together &
cemented or otherwise flexibly arranged so as to form a tight joint; each cell is now
fitted with single or double, primary or secondary elements, as see Figs. 5. 6. 7.
Such a belt can be worn by a miner, diver, or other person round the body & be used
for lighting an electric lamp or exploding powder, cotton or dynamite, or for any other
purpose.
Figs. 5. 6. 7. are vertical sections of differing forms of cells.
Fig. 5. Shews a flexible cell fitted with solid plates ƒ & with porous diaphragm i,
formed of asbestos fibre, cloth steeped in varnish, or a thin porous porcelain plate.
As shown this cell can be used as a two fluid primary, but by removing the diaphragm
it can be used as a single fluid primary, or when filled with lead or equivalent suitably
prepared, as a secondary. Fig. 6, Shows a flexible cell having elements f in the
form of leaf or granulated metal, such as zinc and carbon. Fig. 7. Shews a forin of
secondary element f. mounted in a flexible cell, this consists of a mesh, web or mat
of lead wire, or equivalent metal.
We find that owing to our flexible cells being perfectly sealed, they are specially
suited for secondary batteries; since no gas escapes, no loss of initial energy takes
place, the period of charging is greatly reduced, and the useful effect prolonged.
We claim
1st. A battery cell constructed of rubber insertion cloth, India rubber, gutta
percha, cloth or equivalent flexible material prepared with varnish so as to be water-
tight, flexible & capable of preventing the escape of gas, the same being fitted with
terminals and valves operating as and for the purpose described.
2nd. The use in combination with a flexible cell as above described of primary
or secondary elements fibrous or porous plates, the elements being formed of loaf
or granulated metal or metalloids, or of a web mesh, ribbon, or equivalent as
described.
3rd. The particular form and construction of portable battery belt, as described
under Fig. 4.
4th. The combination with a series of flexible cells formed as a belt or otherwise of
elements in the form of plates or grannlated, or formed of a mesh or web of lead or
other metallic wire or ribbon suitably prepared, the porous or fibrous plate for same,
& the terminals & valves therefor.