AN IMPROVED ELECTRODE FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES
Year: 1886

page_text: I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN
IMPROVED ELECTRODE FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES," which invention has been
communicated to me from abroad by Ernest Mavis Gardner of Brookline,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Electrician, 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 an electrode for secondary or storage batteries and
consists in a new construction of the metal frame work or retaining plate and in
a new composition which is inserted in and supported by said plate.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved electrode;
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line x, x, of Figure 1. Similar letters of
reference indicate like parts.
A is a plate or sheet preferably of lead. The central portion of said sheet is
partly cut or divided so as to form a series of bars B, each of said bars being wider
than the thickness of the plate and each bar being united to the outer portion or
rim D of the plate by the undivided connecting pieces C thereof. The position
and relation of these bars immediately after the sheet A is cut to produce them is
represented at the lower portion of Figure 1.
After the bars B are formed as described they are turned from a vertical into a
horizontal position, the connecting portions C thus becoming turned or twisted.
The edges E of said bars are turned upward, so that said bars finally form a series
of troughs extending across the opening in the body of the plate as shown in the
upper portion of Figure 1 and in Figure 2.
In the troughs thus formed I may pack any material F which is active in the
storage battery such for example as lead oxide, but in practice I prefer to use the
following composition.
Equal parts of pulverized carbon and lead oxide (red) are intimately mixed. To
three parts of this mixture I add one part of calcined magnesia and mingle. I then
add dilute hydrochloric acid in the proportion of one part acid to four parts water
and the resulting pasty mass I pack into the cavities above mentioned. When
Price 621

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this composition hardens it is exceedingly strong and stone like while still
sufficiently porous. It resists disintegration and does not buckle, bend or change
form under the influence of battery fluids.
In place of dilute hydrochloric acid I find it advantageous to use the mother
liquor from salt manufacture as a moistening material for producing the pasty mass.
This has the advantage of cheapness and the composition containing it when set or
hardened is fully as strong and as durable as when hydrochloric acid is used.
I prefer to construct my plate so that the pasty material aforesaid shall
completely fill the open spaces both in and between the troughs which thus
become strengthening pieces and supports for the large body of active material
enclosed in the rim or frame D. After the active material has been inserted as
last described the faces of the electrode are smoothed true and flat.
The electrode produced as above described is a hard solid compact body, not
liable to deformation, buckling or disintegration and hence possessing superior
lasting qualities.
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
I claim is
First. In an electrode for secondary batteries a solid metal rim or frame and a
series of troughs integral therewith disposed within said rim and having a curved
or arched shaped section.
Second. In an electrode for secondary batteries, a metal supporting plate
containing an opening and in said opening a series of shelves or ledges formed
by the material of and integral with said plate and disposed one above the other.
Third. In an electrode for secondary batteries a supporting plate containing an
opening and a series of troughs integral with said plate and extending across said
opening and a material active in the storage battery contained in said troughs.
Fourth. In an electrode for secondary batteries a supporting plate containing an
opening and a series of troughs extending across said opening, integral with said
plate and cut therefrom and turned in a horizontal position in the manner set forth.
Fifth. In an electrode for secondary batteries a composition containing a con-
⚫ ducting material in comminuted form, an active material in comminuted form and
an electrically inert cement.
Sixth. In an electrode for secondary batteries a composition containing an active
material, a conducting material calcined magnesia and the mother liquor from salt
manufacture, the said ingredients being mingled and combined to form first a
plastic mass and on setting and drying, a hard body.
Seventh. In an electrode for secondary batteries, a composition containing lead
oxide, carbon and calcined magnesia mingled with dilute hydrochloric acid to form
first a plastic mass and on setting and drying, a hard body.