Improvements in and connected with Plates for Primary and Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Plates for Primary and
Secondary Batteries.
We, Justus B. ENTZ and WILLIAM A. PHILLIPS, both of Schenectady in the
County of Schenectady and State of New York United States of America, Electricians,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the samo is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to battery plates containing certain novel features of
arrangement and construction which are equally important and available for use in a
primary or in a secondary battery.
The nature of these Improvements may be outlined by observing that a plate or the
foundation of a plate constructed according thereto consists of a Hexible wire having
braided or woven thereon a net-work of finer wire in the meshes of which a metallic
oxide or salt may be firmly imbedded. A battery plate of any desired shape may be
made by bending or weaving this wire-braided flexible core into a grid or mat, or the
braided flexible core may be manufactured in bulk and sold in any desired quantities
either before or after the application of the oxide leaving the purchasers free to use
and treat it as they may desire. The metallic part of a battery plate or of the wire
braided core constructed according to these Improvements may consist of either of the
metals usually employed for similar purposes but it is preferred to employ a copper
wire core around which is spun or braided the net-work of finer copper wires in wbich
case the coating will consist of a layer of oxide of copper. If now this plate be
used as the negative element of a zinc and copper primary battery in a solution
of caustic potash, the hydrogen set free in the cell and tending to coat the plate,
will combine with the oxygen in the oxide leaving a deposit of pure metallic
copper in the meshes of the net-work. The plate is therefore non-polarizable and
to reoxidize it, it is simply necessary to heat the plate when it will oxidize in the air.
When a similar plate is used as the negative element in a secondary or storage
battery, the copper oxide serves as the active material to which goes the oxygen
liberated during the change. The wire net work holds the material firmly in place
so that the plate will stand the heaviest discharge uninjured.
These Improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,
Fig. 1 represents a perspective view shewing a plain copper wire covered with the
oxide paste and enveloped by an insulating sheathing, the paste and sheathing
being represented as partly removed in order to shew the construction more clearly.
Fig. 2 is a similar view shewing the wire core and net-work with the oxide paste
applied upon a portion of the wire."
Fig. 3 shews the wire core with the network and paste and also the sheathing.
Fig. 4 shews a battery plate formed of the wire.
A represents in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a flexible solid wire core of copper though it is not
intended to be in any wise limited to this particular metal, and B is an open network
of finer wire of the same metal as A braided around the core and having firmly
embedded in its meshes an oxide of the metal D which will be applied usually in the
form of a paste or cement. As an additional means for moulding and securing the
oxide upon the core as well as in order to prevent contact of the plates in the
solution, there may be braided around the wire a sheathing of insulating textile
material E such as cotton, similar to the covering of the ordinary insulated electric
wire, but this is not an essential part of this Invention and may be dispensed with
when desired. The wire prepared as herein before described may be sold as a new
article of manufacture, or battery plates similar in form to those already in use
may be made therefrom by bending the wire back and forth upon itself to form

page_text: a series of parallel loops as at C, Fig. 4, and these loops may be connected together
by wires F or by suitable threads or cords or similar devices to hold them
in place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is ;-
(1) As an article of manufacture, a wire core covered with a braid or net work and
adapted for use in a battery element substantially as described.
(2) As an article of manufacture adapted for use in a battery element, the flexible
wire covered with a braid or net work of finer wire and having a suitable oxide
embedded in the net work substantially as described.
(3) As an article of manufacture adapted for use in a battery element, a flexible
wire having a suitable metallic oxide applied thereto as a paste or cement, and a
sheathing of insulating textile material substantially as described.
(4) A secondary battery consisting of a core or support and a surrounding woven
or braided wire net work for holding the active material in place substantially as
described.
(5) A secondary battery element consisting of a solid flexible wire core, a net work
of finer wire around the core and an active material embedded in the meshes of the
net work substantially as set forth.
(6) A battery element consisting of a wire core a surrounding net work of finer
wire with active material embedded therein and a sheathing of insulating textile
material substantially as described.
(7) A battery element consisting of a copper wire core, a surrounding net work of
finer copper wire embedded therein and a sheathing of insulating textile material
substantially as described.
(8) A battery plate consisting of a flexible wire core and surrounding wire net
work bent into parallel loops to form a grid or mat with a suitable active material
secured to said plate by being embedded in the net work substantially as described.
(9) A battery plate consisting of a wire having a metallic net work surrounding it
active material embedded in the meshes of said net work and a sheating of insulating
porous material substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of November 1889.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.