Improvements in the Manufacture of Plates for use in Secondary. Batteries or Electrical Accumulators.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Plates for use in Secondary.
Batteries or Electrical Accumulators.
I, ANTHONY RECKENZAUN, of 7, Albert Terrace, Hemberton Road, Stockwell, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows
It is well known that the surfaces of metals become oxidized by the influence
of electric sparks. An electric spark is generally followed by a stream of air
coming from the discharging points. Furthermore a molecular decomposition of
the surfaces occurs and an actual combination of its materials is produced similar
to the action displayed in electrolysis.
I utilize these facts or phenomena and produce oxides or other compounds upon
metallic plates. For this purpose I place a plate of lead or other suitable metal
in contact with one pole of a dynamo or other generator of electricity, and I cause
the plate to travel under a conducting point, or allow the conducting point to pass
over the surface of the said plate. This conducting point, or for more rapid work
a series of conducting points is in connection with the other pole of the dynamo
or other generator of electricity.
There are two methods of arriving at similar results, one of which is to allow
a more or less rapid make and break between the said plate and the conducting
point, and the other is to produce a small electric arc and maintain the same for
any desired length of time whilst one or other of the elements is travelling along.
With the arc the action is more energetic on account of the greater temperature
produced.
In order to keep the current strength as constant as possible I employ a resistance
coil, and such coil may at.the.same time be utilized for actuating the make and break
armature. The make and break however may equally well be effected by any ordinary
mechanical means.
I may also resort to various means for increasing the effect of the spark or arc,
such as raising the temperature of the said plates by heat, by surrounding the
conducting or discharge points by an atmosphere of highly oxidizing nature, or by
preparing the surfaces of the said plates with any material capable of promoting
oxidation during the operation.
Instead of using a dead resistance in the electric circuit for maintaining a tolerably
constant current I may insert therein an electric motor whose speed and counter
electro-motive force will vary with the resistance between the conducting point and
the plate and thus tend to equalize the current strength.
"
The plates or sheets so produced may be cut or bent to any suitable shape for use
in batteries and connected up in the usual way.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Plates for use in Secondary
Batteries or Electrical Accumulators.
I, ANTHONY RECKENZAUN, of 7, Albert Terrace, Hemberton Road, Stockwell, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, 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 has for its object the production of active material upon the surfaces
of battery plates by means of the electric spark or arc. It is well known that the
surfaces of metals become oxidized and physically changed under the influence of
electric sparks. An electric spark is generally followed by a stream of air or other
surrounding medium the points of discharge may also be partially evaporized and
the resultant vapours enter more or less intimately into combination with the surfaces
to be treated; and, I have found that not only the electric spark but also the electric
arc produces similar results. Now in accordance with my invention I utilize the
phenomena to which I have above referred, for the production of oxides and other
compounds upon metallic plates for batteries.
In carrying out my invention I proceed as follows:-that is to say:-I place a
plate, sheet, strip, ribbon, wire or other form of lead or other suitable metal in contact
with one pole of a dynamo or other source of electricity; some other suitable
conductor being connected with the other pole of the source of supply, and I produce
sparks or arcs between these two terminals. At the same time I cause either the.
plate to travel under the conducting point, or, I allow the latter to pass over the plate;
or, both may be made to have some relative motion in order to distribute the action of
the spark or arc, over either the whole, or any portion, of the surface of the plate.
In the one case I allow a more or less rapid make and break between the surface to
be operated upon and the conducting point, whereupon a succession of electric sparks
will ensue. In the other case I produce an electric are between the two elements and
maintain such are for any length of time whilst one or other of the elements is
travelling along. The action is more energetic under the latter mode of procedure,
owing to the higher temperature maintained by the employment of the are:
particles of the surfaces under treatment become melted and they combine with
surrounding matter.
The final effect will depend upon the nature of the conductors forming the spark or
arc as the case may be-as also upon the surrounding medium; atmospheric air
produces good results but the effect is enhanced by oxygen gas; and, various com-
binations may be effected by the employment of other gases, vapours or liquids which
can be led to the points of application.
The surfaces to be treated with the electric spark or arc,-or for more rapid work a
series of sparks or ares,-may also previously be coated with any suitable material,
which by heat or by evaporation may promote the desired changes on the surfaces;
and, instead of oxides, various other compounds may be produced according to the
nature of such substances. Hence in accordance with my invention it is not only possible
to effect the oxidation of metals, but deposits may be produced: varying in nature
according to the material of which the conducting points are made as also according
to the properties of any substance in the vicinity of, and influenced by, the spark or
arc. Even the relative arrangement of polarity influences the result; thus, it will be
found that in the case of a 'sheet of lead when under treatment'in atmospheric air by
means of an are from continuous currents, the surface of the lead will assume a
porous or spongy form, either brown or light yellow in colour, accordingly as the
plate formed the positive or negative pole of the source of supply; whereas, the
effect of colour with alternating currents is not distinctly defined.
It will be readily understood that the arc in any case must be of sufficient strength
to ensure the desired effect: not so powerful as to destroy the plate, sheet, strip,

page_text: ribbon or wire, nor so weak as to make but little impression. I find that a current
of about 2 ampères gives good results on rather thin metal without burning it through,
with an electro-motive force of about 40 volts. The voltage can be varied according
to the length of are most suitable; and the current strength depends in a measure
upon the thickness of the material to be treated; and generally, the current as well as
the potential difference must be adjusted to the nature and dimensions of the elements.
The current is regulated by suitable resistances in circuit formed of a coil or of coils
which may at the same time be utilized for actuating the make and break, whether in
the case of sparking or for producing the arc. In the one case the arinature of the
make and break will resemble the trembler of an induction coil; and, in the other,
that part of an arc lamp which starts the arc at the moment of making circuit, and
maintains it a convenient length of time.
With the object of maintaining. a tolerably constant current, I may, instead of
using a dead resistance in the electric circuit, insert an electric motor whose speed and
counter electro-motive force will vary with the resistance of the arc between the
surface under treatment and the conducting point or points, and thus tend to
automatically equalize the current strength.
One of the resultant advantages of preparing plates in this manner is, that the
"active" material can be made with rapidity and in the desired parts of the surface;
thus, for mechanical or electrical reasons any portion of the surface can be left
unattacked and in its normal condition, whilst the remaining portion can, wherever
desired be converted into an "active" or porous mass being in an integral union with
its metallic base. For convenience in manufacture, I prefer to use continuous metal
ribbons, strips or wires which can be treated on being caused to run over rollers whilst
subjected to the action of the electric current. These strips, sheets, ribbons or wires
are afterwards shaped into, electrodes for batteries, which are placed into the usual
electrolytes and charged in any of the well known methods.
I wish it to be understood that the mere shape of the electrodes forms no part of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
First The process of manufacture in preparing electrodes for batteries by the
employment of electric sparks or arcs substantially as herein set forth.
Second-Electrodes for batteries produced by means of electric-sparks or arcs
substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 13th day of August 1890
Dated this 12th day of August 1890
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.