Improvements in or connected with Dry Batteries and the like...
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1896-Accepted, 18th July. 1806
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Dry Batteries and the like...
A communication by CHARLES CHRISTIAN LESENBERG, of Rostock, Mecklenburg,
in the Empire of Germany, Banker.
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, 118 New Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, and 322, 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:-
This invention has for its object improvements in or connected with dry
batteries and the like.
The invention consists first in a special and peculiar construction of gas vent or
exhausting valve and second in forming the connecting wire or terminal of the
positive electrode of spring spiral wire soldered directly to the electrode end.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a dry battery to which the invention has
been applied.
Figure 2 a modified arrangement of the spiral wire terminal and
Figures 3 and 4 details of the gas vent or exhausting valve.
In these a is the battery vessel, b the positive and the negative electrode.
The gas vent or exhausting valve consists of a small tube c of metal, ebonite or the
like extending into the interior of the battery and having its outer end covered by
an elastic cap d of indiarubber, the said tube being formed with an external groove
which may however only extend along the upper part thereof.
The cap d must sit so firmly upon the end of the small tube c that no air can
penetrate from the outside, whilst the gases developed in the interior of the battery,
when they have attained a certain pressure may raise or expand the upper side of
the elastic cap d and escape through the longitudinal groove e. After the normal
pressure (depending on the elasticity of the indiarubber cap d) is again restored in
the interior of the battery, the indiarubber cap again sits closely upon the upper
edge of the small tube c producing thereby a thoroughly air-tight joint which far
excels any gas exhausting valves for dry batteries known up to the present time.
The longitudinal groove e can be replaced by lateral perforations or equivalent
means which permit the escape of the gases but prevent the entrance of the
outer air.
The connecting wire strip or terminal generally soldered to the positive
electrode and which in consequence of the great demands made upon it usually
breaks off, is according to this invention constructed as an elastic spiral wire 6,
which can be bent in every direction, whilst only making little demand on its limit
of elasticity. It is perfectly impossible for the same to break off. It is fastened
by a whole turn or coil of the spiral being soldered onto the electrode end, instead
of only one end of a wire as hitherto. Any desired arrangement with regard to
the positive electrode end can be adopted. In Figures 1 and 2 two different
examples are shown.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion 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. In dry batteries or the like the arrangement of a gas vent or exhausting
valve with air tight connection, consisting of a small tube (c) of metal, ebonite or
the like provided along its upper part with an external longitudinal groove (e)
lateral perforations or equivalent means and projecting into the interior of the
battery, and an elastic indiarubber cap (d) fixed firmly over the upper external
end of said tube without however filling up the longitudinal groove but covering
over the said groove lateral perforations or the like, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. In dry batteries or the like, a connecting wire or terminal (b) formed of an
elastic spiral wire and soldered to the positive electrode end by a whole turn or
coil of the spiral, substantially as for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 12th day of June 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.