Apparatus for Forming Plates of Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1900-Accepted, 31st Mar.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Forming Plates of Secondary Batteries.
I, HENRY LEITNER, of No. 207, Piccadilly, in the County of London, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an apparatus for forming plates or electrodes of
secondary batteries so arranged that the expansive force of the active material
during its change into peroxide is utilised for subjecting the plates to great
pressure while they are being formed.
For this purpose, the plates are placed, alternately positive and negative,
having between them separating pieces of porous material such as porcelain
vertically perforated, in a strong box or trough having at each end an elastic
pad.
On each side and under the row of plates are placed wooden blocks
channelled on their outer sides and transversely perforated for free passage of
the forming liquid. The whole of the plates pads and side and bottom blocks
are enclosed within a caoutchouc or other watertight lining of the trough which
is open at the top so that conducting arms from the plates extend freely upwards,
but the plates are held firmly down by a plate pressed by screws passing through
a crosshead fixed over the top, and the plates are held together side by side
by a sliding end block adjusted by a screw passing through a crosshead fixed
at one end of the trough.
As the plates expand during the forming process, they become firmly pressed
against each other, while they are laterally confined. .
Dated this 5th day of June 1899.
ABEL & IMKAI,
Agents for the Applicant.
Apparatus for Forming Plates of Secondary Batteries.
I, HENRY LEITNER, of No. 207, Piccadilly, in the County of London, Electrical
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:-
The invention relates to an apparatus for forming plates or electrodes of
secondary batteries, so arranged that the expansive force of the active material
during its change into peroxide is utilised for subjecting the plates to great
pressure while they are being formed.
Apparatus for this purpose is constructed and operates as will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 is a plan with part removed to shew the
interior. Fig. 3 a transverse section.
à is a strong box which may be of wood as shewn with one end open to receive
an adjustable closing block b.
Inside the box there is a lining of thick, soft rubber, this cell receiving the
plates to be formed and the electrolyte.

page_text: Inside the lining at each end is fitted a block and inside these are thick
rubber pads e. The positive and negative plates f and gare placed alternately
between these pads, and between the adjacent plates there is a separating piece h
of porous material such as porcelain with vertical holes extending throughout
its length.
These holes allow free circulation of the electrolyte in which the plates are
placed.
L
Conducting lugs i extend up from the positive and negative plates at each side
of the box.
Under the plates and at each side of them within the rubber lining are placed
the wooden blocks having -on one side grooves both longitudinal and trans-
verse and holes from these grooves to the flat sides allowing the electrolyte
to circulate
$. .
1
Above the plates a covering piece k is fixed between the conducting lugs i by
metal bands which extend around the outside of the box as shewn in Fig. 3.
These bands are twisted so that their upper parts extend across the box edge-
wise and are notched to receive a cross piece m through which pass set screws
pressing the piece k down on the upper edges of the plates and resisting their
vertical expansion.
In Fig. the piece is omitted so as to shew the parts below."
The block is adjusted by a hand screw n which turns freely in band bears
against a bolster fitted in a recess of the block. The cross bar o which is the nut
of the screw n is carried by supports p bolted to the sides of the box.
The adjustable block b is screwed up after the plates are inserted in the box.
The bottom and sides j and cover k closely fit against the plates which are
thus held rigidly on all sides.
During the process of formation, while the paste of the positive plates is being
converted into peroxide the plates tend to expand to a considerable extent, and
owing to the rigid confinement at the sides and top and bottom this expansion
can only be in thickness as allowed by the elastic pads e.
The active material of the plates is thus compressed and rendered close and
hard. The pressure if excessive can be relieved by a turn of the screw n.
During discharge the pressure on the plates is maintained by the resiliency of
the pads e.
The active material is thus not only rendered hard and homogeneous but it is
also kept tightly against the conducting grid of the plate, ensuring perfect
contact.
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:
323.
1. Apparatus for forming the plates of secondary batteries comprising a box
wherein the plates are confined at the top, bottom and sides, the box having
an adjustable end piece and elastic end pads, permitting of expansion of the
plates in thickness only, substantially as described.
2. In the box above referred to having an adjustable end piece, a lining of
rubber and bottom and side pieces channelled and perforated for circulation of
liquid, a top piece hearing on the plates, resilient end cushions and porous
perforated separating pieces between the plates, substantially as described.
3. Apparatus for forming plates of secondary batteries, constructed and operat-
ing substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 27th day of February 1900
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.