Improvements in Electrical Accumulators or Storage Batteries.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Accumulators or Storage Batteries.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of London
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by La Société "L'Accumulateur Fulmen" of
58bs Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, in the Republic of France) and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to accumulators or storage batteries in which each of the
electrodes is enclosed by an envelope, case or sheath, made of celluloid or other
equivalent and suitable material, having numerous small perforations which are
filled with the active material; there being inserted into the centre of the said
sheath a core-piece of lead which serves as a current collector. This case or sheath
of celluloid or the like serves as a support for the layer of oxide and protects the
plate from any disintegration or decomposition. This arrangement, which fully
answers the desired purpose in the case of small electrodes, has no useful effect,
however, when the electrodes are of larger dimensions; for in that case the sheath,
which at first has the shape in which it is represented in Figure 1 of the accom-
panying drawings, is soon deformed, its appearance being changed to that shewn
in Figure 2. Owing to the hollow spaces a and b thus formed the layer of oxide is
no longer retained by the outer envelope, which therefore no longer serves any
useful purpose, while within that envelope or sheath, the material before long
collapses, thereby rendering in a very short time the accumulator or storage battery
unfit for use.
The object of the arrangement hereinafter described is to remedy this defect.
The improved arrangement consists in connecting the two surfaces A and B of
the case or sheath of the accumulator (Figure 1) by means of cross sides of peculiar
shape as hereinafter described in detail.
Before closing the case or sheath C (Figure 3), there is inserted into it a
grate D (Figure 4). A series of small cylindrical or rectangular celluloid blocks
are next fastened (which may be done by means of a few drops of acetone) to one
of the inner surfaces of the casing, at suitable distances apart. The length of
these blocks should be equal to the internal thickness of the casing, and care
should be taken, in arranging them, that they are not interfered with by the bars
of the grate D and will pass through openings between them. After doing this the
electrode is closed by similarly fastening the other internal surface of the casing to
the opposite ends of the small blocks. After allowing them to dry the construction
of the electrode is completed, and the electrode obtained is undeformable, since the
distance between the two surfaces of the casing or sheath is, by the small
intermediate blocks connecting them, prevented from being bent or warped out of
shape.
Instead of simply arranging a series of small blocks as stated, there may be
provided in the grate or plate serving as a core piece, suitable openings or
perforations through which rectangular rods E (Figure 5) of celluloid are passed,
they being, (like the blocks in the first case) fastened to the internal surfaces of the
sheath or envelope so as to really form partitions extending throughout the length
of the electrodes. The partitions E may be arranged either horizontally or
vertically.
Instead of solid celluloid blocks, hollow pieces or lengths of tubes, either
perforated or not, as may be preferred, can be secured to the two surfaces in the
same way as it is done in the case of the blocks.

page_text: In order to secure the grate properly in the centre of the casing or sheath there
may be provided ribs F of lead, of suitable thickness, as indicated in the section
represented in Figure 6.
If in consequence of the method of filling adopted (flat filling for example) the
intermediate blocks or ties can only be put in after the electrode is filled, the blocks
may be fixed in position in the following manner.
When the construction of the electrode is completed, it is perforated at suitable
points by means of a punch so that the perforations extend right through it, and
then there are inserted into them celluloid rivets, to the opposite ends of which
suitable rivet heads are fitted to fasten them in position.
These rivets may also be formed by folding a small celluloid band measuring say
from 5 to 10 millimetres, as indicated in Figure 7. Into the loop H thus formed
there is passed a small celluloid rod, which is secured to the said loop which can be
done by means of a little acetone or acetic acid, and the rivet thus constructed is
then introduced into the rectangular opening which has been provided beforehand
in the electrode (Figures 8 and 9). By means of a heated punch or suitable tool
"the two sheets constituting the rivet are then separated so as to form the other end
of a loop H¹ similar to the first loop (Figure 9), and into this second loop a
celluloid rod is inserted and fastened therein as was done with the other rod.
Whatever the method adopted in manufacturing the rivets may be, the two
sheets of celluloid which they connect are, owing to their presence, prevented from
moving away from each other further than is desirable and the material securely
retains its original position and shape.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
-claim is :-
The improvements in electrical accumulators or storage batteries hereinabove
described, mainly consisting in the provision of rivets, tie rods or partitions for the
purpose of preventing the two surfaces of the celluloid case or sheath from moving
away from each other or from their original position substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Dated the 4th day of June 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, Agents.