Year: 1888

page_text: A communication from abroad by CHARLES DAVID PAIGE GIBSON, of New York, in
the County of New York, in the State of New York, United States of America,
Electrician.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil 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 electric storage batteries or accumulators; and consists
in a novel method of applying the active material to the supporting plate or electrode,
whereby the former is enclosed so as to be reliably contained in segregated masses
within the body of the latter. The construction is such that the active material is
adequately exposed to the action of the electrolytic fluid, while always retaining its
place in the supporting plate. The battery thereby remains operative for a long
period.
The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is an elevation of an electrode or plate for storage batteries, the small
dotted circles showing the close arrangement of the masses of active material
enclosed in the body of the plate.
Figure 2, shows, in section, a vesicle of capsule adapted to hold the active material,
and,
Figure 3, is a sectional view illustrating the manner in which the plates are
formed and finished.
The efficiency and durability of service of storage batteries depends greatly upon
the secure manner in which the active material is attached to the supporting plates.
When simply attached to the surface of the plates, it is caused to be separated by
the continued charge and discharge of the battery, by reason of which the battery
loses its capacity for storage and eventually becomes useless. The present inven-
tion locks the plate and active material in close and permanent contact.
In Figure 1, B is the plate, which is formed preferably of metallic lead, the small
circles 6 representing the places of the enclosed active material. The highest oxide
of lead, or "peroxide," is now almost universally used, as the active material.
Ordinarily heretofore this has been applied directly to the surface of the supporting
plate, or, when the latter is formed with angular or other forms of depression,

page_text: these are filled with the material. In the present invention, however, the material
is first enclosed in capsules, a convenient form of which is shown in Figure 2. It
is made in two parts, C and C¹, and is preferably made of thin lead. They are
readily and uniformly made by suitable dies, or forming tools. The body of the
capsule C is filled with the active material, in such form or condition as may be
most convenient. It is then enclosed by the cover C. In this way, active material
in any quantity may be prepared and kept ready for use. Capsules may be made
in many forms.
The plates B are made with holes, shown at b in Figure 3, as close together as
may be consistent with the strength required. These holes are made perpendicular
to the surface of the plate, though they may be at an inclination to the surface,
if desired. The plate is preferably first made of somewhat greater thickness than
it is to have when it is finished. The capsules, filled with the active material are
then inserted in the plates, as shown in Figure 3, at C, C¹, and C. Mechanical
pressure is then applied to the plate, acting preferably on both sides at the same
time, and the two parts of the capsules are firmly closed, while the plate is reduced
in thickness and its surfaces are made into planes. A very convenient method of
causing the required pressure, is the use of two rollers, partially shown at D, D,
between which the plate is caused to pass. The effect is to compress the capsules,
increase their cross-section, and to lock them securely within the metallic body of
the plate, as shown at c³, c³. At the points ct, ct, on each side of the plate the thin
metal of the capsule is quickly oxydized when placed in the electrolytic fluid, and
subjected to the action of the dynamo or other source of electrical energy, and thus
exposes the body of active material to the action required for the storage of energy.
The battery may be more quickly brought into a high state of efficiency, by per-
forating the ends of the capsules, to allow immediate access to the active material
by the electrolyte. This may be done before the capsule is inserted in the plate or
afterwards. If the rollers D have upon their faces projecting points, they will
make the perforations while finishing the plates.
Plates thus made have this advantage:-While the active material is securely
held within the body of the plate, the segregated masses thereof become equally
accessible to the electrolyte, whereby the whole surface of the plate has a uniform
activity.
It will be seen that the invention pertains only to the construction of the plates or
electrodes of storage batteries, while the nature of the material used, and the methods
of charging and use do not form any part. In the present state of the art, metallic
lead is understood to be the most effective material for the supporting plates, and
the peroxide of lead the most useful active material. But the present invention is
equally applicable to other materials, and is not confined to any.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A shell, cell or capsule, filled with the oxydized active material of a storage
battery plate.
2. A shell, cell, or capsule, filled with the oxydizable active material of a storage
battery plate.
3. A storage battery plate, having openings or perforations into which shells or
capsules filled with active material are inserted and secured.
Dated this 19th day of March 1888.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.