IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL BATTERIES to bo as follows
Year: 1884

page_text: I FARNHAM MAXWELL LYTE, of Cotford, Oakhill Road, Putnoy, in the County of
Surroy, Analytical Chemist do horoby declare the nature of tho said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL BATTERIES to bo as follows:-
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This Invention rolatos to primary galvanic batteries which may also be used as
secondary batterics, the elements being rogonerated by passing a current through
the batteries in the reverso direction after exhaustion.
According to my invontion when used as a primary battery the positive olement
may be zinc or finely divided lead. or spongy lead produced from insoluble or
sparingly soluble salts of load, and the negative olement is of lead peroxide.
n
The construction of the batteries may be variod. According to one method I
proceed as follows: At the bottom of a glass jar is placed a box of sheet lead or
antimonial lead about 1 inch in depth and containing peroxide of lead and forming
the negativo element. To this box is attached a thick wiro of lead, or covered with
lead insulated from the positive element by means of an indiarubber or gutta percha
tubing and extending from the box (to the exterior of which it is fastened) nearly
to tho top of the jar." The positive element consists of a thick zinc wire coiled in
the form of a flat spiral. The positive element passes up through a cover with
which the jar is provided, being enveloped where it passes through the cover with
a short length of indiarubber tubing for insulation and provided with a torminal
above the cover.
A wire froin the negative element also passes through a hole in the cover and
forms the other terininal.
The battery may also be made as follows. In this I employ peroxide of load
formed into blocks about half an inch thick with tho least possible quantity of
plaster of Paris.
A jar like the one above mentioned is provided with a cover of copper which
carries two vertical rods of lead, or rods covered with lead screwed into it on each
side so that when the cover is put on, these rods may reach to the bottom of the
jar. Against these rods, which may be joined by a cross piece, two agglomerated
plates of peroxide of lead aro fixed and are hold in their places against the rods on
each side of the jar by suitable means such as indiarubber bands. The cover
which may be of metal carries a terminal which constitutes the positivo pole.
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page_text: The zinc consists of a single rod insulated by passing through a short bit of tube
of indiarubber and passing through a hole in the cover; it forins the positive
element.
In another form of battery a cell which carries the positive pole of the battery
may be of sheet lead autogenously soldered or it may be of porcelain or other
nonconductor with a net of silver wire placed in the bottom of it. The bottom
may be covered with a layer of peroxide of lead and a horizontal plate of zine is
supported over it, close to but not touching the peroxido at its four corners
by porcelain insulators and kept at the same time from touching the walls of the
cell if they be of metal. A conductor of wiro is placed in contact with the walls
of the cell if of metal (or in case the cell is made of porcelain by a conductor with
the silver net) and forms the positive polo.
The exciting liquid in all cases may either be dilute sulphuric acid or a diluto
solution of one of the sulphates or acid sulphates (acid sulphate of aminonia for
instance) oxalic acid or phosphoric acid or bin-oxalates or acid phosphates.
These arrangements may be varied and the zinc may be replaced in all casos by
spongy lead from fused or compressod chloride of lead or sulphate or phosphate or
oxalate or chromate of lead cast when fusible or moulded by pressure around
a conductor and afterwards reduced to the metallic state by being inimorsed in salt
and water in contact with zinc or otherwise or any other form of finely divided
lead may be used, or even a plate of metallic lead.
By treating an exhausted battery as an accumulator, that is to say, by passing a
current through it in the opposite direction, the battery can be restored to its
original condition, the reduced lead protoxide being converted into peroxide while
the zinc or other motal becomes de-oxidised or deposited,
A battery may also be made with the negative element of a plate of agglomerated
peroxide of lead or of a plate of zinc or lead or any form of finely divided lead
and the positive element of agglomerated or coherent spongy lead, these last namod
plates in both cases being ramifiod throughou. by a wire conductor. In this case I
proceed as follows: A box or tray is prepared of wood or metal about half an inch
deep and of the longth and breadth intended to be given to the plato. Through
any two opposite sides of this are to be bored a couple of holes on each side at
about or of an inch from the bottom. Through these holes (four in nll)
are inserted pegs or nails of wood which may project slightly on the inside of the
box. On the other hand a net or tissuo is made of the size of the intended plato.
This may be of lead wire, silvor wire, platinum wire, or any other convenient
conductor. Instead of the wire net a plato of porforated load, perforated silver foil
or any convenient conductor may be used. The not or tissuo or a perforated plate
or a plate with studs or projections on it made of wire, or otherwise, is placed in
the tray, the nails or pegs having been inserted in their places, the net, tissue, or
plate will thus be supported by two of its opposite ends by the pegs passing
through the opposite sides of the tray and will thus form a kind of false bottom
being supported at from 1 to 1th of an inch from tho bottom of the tray. The
tray is now to be filled with a paste composed of peroxido of lead and plaster of
Paris as above described, and when the latter sets the pegs or nails may be
withdrawn and the plate then lifted out. Thus is forined a plato of peroxide of
load agglomerated by plaster with a metallic conductor in the middle of it and
ramified throughout it. Bows of wire may be formed on one side of the plate, or
any other form of suitable conductor may bo made to inako electrical contact with
the conductor ramifying throughout the plate
This pluto will form the negative element of the battery. The positive element
is made in a similar way but the insoluble salts of lead already mentioned muy bo
employed in place of peroxide of lead for the sake of economy or one of the other
oxides of lead may be employed or any finely divided lead which can be thus
agglomerated or a plate of lead may be employed, or to juake this positive element

page_text: some salt of load may be pressed or fused into contact with the net or porforated
plate and then reduced.
Instead of agglomerating the lead peroxido or salts of lead by means of plaster
these may also be agglomerated by pressure.
In all cases where above I have spoken of the use of salts of lead which I
afterwards reduce in the process of inaking positive elements, I wish it to be
understood that I may mix them with one of the oxidos of lead, massicot, lithargo,
or red lead before reduction and that these oxides of lead may also be employed
in place of the insoiuble salts of lead in the construction of positive elements.
DLL

page_text: I, FARNHAM MAXWELL-LYTE, of Cotford, Oakhill Road, Putney, in the County of
Surrey, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL BATTERIES," 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 primary galvanic batteries which, when exhausted
may be used as secondary batteries, for which purpose the elements are regenerated
by passing a current through the batteries in the reverse direction.
According to my Invention, when used as a primary battery, the positive
element may be zinc or finely divided lend, or spongy lead produced from insoluble
or sparingly soluble salts of lead, and the negative element is of lead peroxide.
Tho construction of the batteries may be varied. According to one method,
which is illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, I construct the
battery as follows
At the bottom of a glass jar A is placed a box or receptacle B of sheet lead or
antimonial lead or other suitable conducting material, about one to one and a half
inches in depth and containing peroxido of lead F forming the negative olement.
To this receptacle is attached a thick wire of lead, (or a wire covered with
Jand) C insulated from the positive element by means of an indiarubber or gutta
percha tubing and extending from the receptacle B to the top of the jar and
through a hole in the cover E. Tho positive element consists of a thick zinc wire D
coiled in the form of a flat spiral or a plate of zinc or spongy or finely divided lead.
This positive element which is connected to the wire constituting the negative polo
of the battery, passes up through the cover E of the jar, being envelopeil where it
passes up through said cover with a short length of indiarubber tubing for
insulation, and provided with a terminal. The wire H, connected with the wire C
of the negative element which passes through another hole in the cover, constitutes
the other terminal or positive pole.
The battery may also be made as illustrated in Figure 2. In this case I employ
peroxide of lead A and B forined into blocks about half an inch or so thick with
the least possible quantity of plaster of Paris, say one part of the latter to three
parts of the former If compressed while moist and still unset and allowed to set
under pressure, the proportion of the plaster of Paris inay be lessened and the
resistance is also diminished; but some plaster is always required to promote adhesion.
A jar C, similar to the one above mentioned, is provided with a cover E of copper
or other suitable metal, to which are secured two vertical rods of metallic lead I) DI,
FF, (or rods covered with load) said rods when the cover is put on, reaching
nearly to the bottom of the jar. Against these rods, which may be joined by a
cross pieco, the two agglomerated plates of peroxide of lead A and B are held by
suitable means, such as indiarubber bands ac. The cover E carries a terminal L
which constitutes the positive pole. The zinc consists of a single rod G extending
through the cover and insulated therefrom by a covering of indiarubber; it forms
the positive element and a wire I is attached to it and forms the negative pole.
Another form of battery is illustrated in Figures 3, 3, and 4, which shew the
battery in section and plan respectively. In this form employ a coll A (which
carries the positive pole M of the battery) made of sheet lead autogenously soldered,
or of porcelain or other suitable substance in the latter case, that is when made of
non-conducting material, having a net of silver wire or other suitable conducting

page_text: material C placed in the bottom of it as in figure 3. A layer of peroxide of
lead C which partly falls through the meshes of the net (if one be used) is placed
in the bottoin of the receptaclo A and a horizontal plate of zinc D is supported
over it, close to but not touching the peroxide by porcolain insulators I, tho zinc
being kept at the same time from touching the walls of the cell if they be of metal;
a wire G from this zinc constitutes the negative polo. If the coll be made of
porcelain or other non-conductor, a wire H is attached to the silver net and forms
the positive pole, but caro must be taken not to allow it to touch the zinc through
which it passes and from which it may be insulated by a short length of india
rubber tube. The exciting liquid, whatever the forin of battery, may be diluto
sulphuric acid or a solution of one of the sulphates or acid sulphates (acid sulphate
of ammonia or of soda for instanco.)
It should be understood that the arrangements may bo varied in their general
detail and that the zinc may be replaced in all casos by spongy lead reduced from
the agglomerated sulphate of lead or other suitable salt of lead moulded around a
conductor and afterwards reduced to the metallic state by being immersed in a
solution of sulphato of soda or the acid sulphate of the same in contact with zinc,
or otherwise. Or any form of finely divided load, reduced from suitable salts of
lead, insoluble or not, may be used, or even a plate of metallic load.
By treating an exhausted battery as an accumulator, that is to say, by passing a
current through it in the opposite direction, the battery can be restored to its
original condition, the reduced lead (protoxide) being converted into peroxide,
whilst the zinc or other metal becomes deoxidised and deposited as motal.
A battery may also be constructed with the negativo element of a plate of
agglomerated peroxide of lead and the positive element of a plate of zinc or spongy
lead or any form of finely divided lead, these plates whothor of spongy lead or
peroxide of load, being ramified throughout by a wire or other conductor."
I will describe by way of example the manufacture of a battery according to
this modification having plates or negative elements 8 inches square not including
the frame in which they are sot, as will be described, promising that the samo
description will apply to one with plates set in frames of any othor size or having
no fraines at all and that the forin may be varied at will.
I proceed as follows:-I take a plate of common perforated lead, a not or tissuo
of silver or platinum wire, or a perforated foil «, 8 inches square (see Figures 5
and 6 of the drawings) and fit the same in a lead frame (Figure 5) of the form of
a square picture frame having an opening 8 inches square in front and 8 inchos at
the back. Against the shoulder & with which the frame is provided of th of an
inch, the plate of perforated lead or foil rests.
th
The frame is to be of such thickness that when the plato or foil (Figure 5) is in
place, the frame will form an external ridge c. say 1/1 of an inch dicep all round
(i,c, with a lead plate, say of an inch thick this frame will be of an inch
thick) The frame is also to be 1h of an inch wide at the bottom and two sides,
and one inch wide at the top.
The plate or foil may be so cut to the size of the frame as to fit into it, fairly
accurately, and may be held in place by some putty or plaster of Paris, a drop of
solder hero and there round the edges, or any other incans. The plate when in
place is conted all over on both sides with a layer of the peroxide and plaster of
Parish of an inch thick, that is, of the thickness of the depth of the ridge
formed by the frame surrounding it, and this mixture of peroxide and plaster goes
through the holes in the plate a and interlocks with a similar layer spread as the
plaster sets on the opposite face. Thus then a negative plato is formed imbued
with a layer of peroxide of an inch thick on each face. The mixture may be
allowed to set and be consolidated under pressure, as above described.
Each completo cell may be made up of 5 plates (sco figure 8) about ½, or ½ of
an inch from one another, 2 negatives and 3 positive plates arranged alternately as
shown.

page_text: There are many other ways of making the negative element of such a perforated
conductor or net or tissue with the peroxide and plaster interlocking through the
holes, the above being only given merely as a convenient method of construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the saine is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1 Tho construction of electrical batteries with a negative element of peroxido
of lead separately and chemically produced, contained in a box or receptaclo of
conducting material in combination with a positive element of coiled zinc wire, or
a plate of zinc, or spongy lead, or finely divided lead moulded around or in contact
with a conductor, substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
The construction of electrical batteries with a negative element of a mass of
lead peroxide agglomerated by means of plastor of Paris or other suitable material
and held against rods of metal, in combination with a positive element of zinc or
finely divided lead or spongy lead in contact with or moulded around a conductor,
substantially as described and shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.
3rd The construction of primary battories with positive elements of analgamated
zine and the negative elements of peroxide of lead choinically produced and placed
in contact with a conductor, substantially as described with reference to Figures 3,
3 and 4, of the drawings.
4th The construction of the negative elements of primary batteries of
agglomerated lead peroxide placed on each side of a conductor of perforated metal,
such as a network or gauze of silver or platinum wire or a perforated foil of the
satne, or a plate of perforated lead, substantially as above described.
5 The omployment of a plato, bar, or mass of spongy or finely divided lead in
contact with or moulded around a conductor in lieu of the zinc in primary battories,
in conjunction with a negative element of peroxide of lead chemically or separately
produced, substantially as above described.
G The employment as secondary batteries or accumulators of either of the
forms of primary electrical batteries herein described when exhausted and charged
by a current in the reverse direction.
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