IMPROVEMENTS IN PLATES FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hochhausen, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN PLATES
FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hochhausen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1883.
WILLIAM HOCHHAUSEN of the City and State of New York, United States of
America "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLATES FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES."
In constructing the plates or anodes of secondary or storage batteries lead has
been employed in various forms and red lead or other forms of oxide of lead has
been introduced into cells or receptacles in the anodes so that an electric current
sent through the battery may produce a change in the chemical condition of the
lead and oxide respectively at the different poles, and that a reverse chemical action
may be set up to develope an electric current when the battery is connected in an
external circuit
My present invention relates to an improvement in the mode of manufacturing
the plates or electrodes, whereby the lead and its oxide are more intimately
commingled and a greater battery capacity can be obtained in a less space and of
less weight than heretofore
I accomplish this object by melting the lead and mixing into the same red lead
or litharge in the most intimate manner, and to as large an extent as consistent
with the requisite conductivity of the mass so that the metallic lead may be in
close contact with the particles of oxide of lead
I find that this intimate admixture can be most easily effected while the lead is
in a semi-liquid condition, the same may be mixed in a crucible or pot, or upon a
table that is heated to the proper temperature.
The lead and its oxide when intimately mixed are preferably spread out in
sheets or layers of the proper thickness upon or between lead frames to which the
plastic mass adheres, and which frames strengthen the sheet sufficiently to cause
it to retain its proper shape or form in the secondary battery; and this lead frame
•

page_text: also serves to ensure the proper conductivity to the whole of the electrode, and it
is to be understood that the plate is rendered porous by, and the pores or cells of
the plates are filled with, the metallic oxide.
The shape of the plates or electrodes and the mode of connecting or coupling up
the same in the battery or the general form of the battery may be of any desired
character, and the acid solution and the vessel holding the same may be of any
known character.
In some instances the lead foundation for the secondary battery plates are made
in the form of slats in a frame or of plates channelled transversly on both sides
with V shaped grooves, and into these channels the red lead or the oxide of lead
mixed with the lead is placed so as to be supported by such channelled plates while
in place in the vessel containing the acidulated water.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Hochhausen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th November 1883.
;
WILLIAM HOCHHAUSEN, of the City and State of New York United States of
America, IMPROVEMENTS IN PLATES FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES.
In constructing the plates or anodes of secondary or storage batteries, lead has
been employed in various forms and red lead or other forms of oxide of lead has
been introduced into cells or receptacles in the anodes so that an electric current
sent through the battery may produce a change in the chemical condition of the
lead and oxide respectively at the different poles, and that a reverse chemical
action may be set up to develop an electric current when the battery is connected
in an external circuit.
My present invention relates to an improvement in the mode of manufacturing
the plates or electrodes, whereby the lead and its oxide are more intimately
commingled and a greater battery capacity can be obtained in a less space and of
less weight than heretofore, I accomplish this object by melting the lead and
mixing into the same red lead or litharge in the most intimate manner and to as
large an extent as consistent with the requisite conductivity of the mass so that
the metallic lead may be in close contact with the particles of oxide of lead.
I find that this intimate admixture can be most easily effected while the lead is
in a simi-liquid condition; the same may be mixed in a crucible or pot or upon a
table that is heated to the proper temperature.
The lead and its oxide when intimately mixed are preferably spread out in sheets
or layers of the proper thickness upon or between lead frames to which the plastic
mass adheres and which frames strengthen the sheet sufficiently to cause it to
retain its proper shape or form in the secondary battery, and this lead frame also
serves to ensure the proper conductivity to the whole of the electrode and it is to
be understood that the plate is rendered porous by the metallic oxide which fills.
the pores.
The shape of the plates or electrodes and the mode of connecting the same up in
the battery or the general form of the battery may be of any desired character and
the acid solution and the vessel holding the same may be of any known character.
In some instances the lead foundation for the secondary battery plates are made in
the form of slats in a frame or of plates channeled transversely on both sides with
V shaped grooves and into these channels the red lead or the oxide of lead mixed
with lead are placed so as to be supported by such channeled plates while in place
in the vessel containing the acidulated water.
In the drawing
Fig. 1. is a perspective view of one of the battery plates.
Fig. 2. is a plan view. and
Fig. 3. is a section of the battery plates and cell.
The plate A. is channeled as at c. c. with grooves that are V shaped or similar to
saw teeth and the arms B. B. at the upper part project over the edges of the cell
or box H. and suspend the plates
The arms B. are the longest and by placing these at alternate opposite sides of
the box, the same may be connected by the longitudinal conductors M, M, to the +
and binding posts. The grooves or channels of these plates A, are to be filled
with the oxide of lead and in consequence of the large extent of surface and the
reliable manner in which the oxide can be held to and in intimate contact with the
-

page_text: lead, I am able to obtain a battery of great capacity with little weight I claim as
my Invention
First. The plates for secondary or storage batteries made of oxide of lead
mixed with lead, substantially as set forth.
Second. The lead foundation for the battery plates having transverse channels
for the reception of the oxide of lead, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Hochhausen have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty fifth day of September A.D. 1883.
Witnesses
CHA H. SMITH 140 Nassau St
J. STAIB 140 Nassau St.
New York
New York
WILLIAM HOCHHAUSEN (LS.)