Improvements in Storage Battery Plates.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Storage Battery Plates.
A communication from abroad by CHARLES DAVID PAIGE GIBSON, of the City, County,
and State of New York, U.S.A., 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 the construction of storage batteries or accumulators, and
it consists in a novel form of supporting plates or electrodes, designed to permit of
the application of the active material in a convenient manner and to reliably retain
it within the body of the plate while exposing it sufficiently to the action of the
electrolytic fluid.
In carrying out the invention a sheet or plate of lead is perforated with holes
which may be rectangular in form. Into each of these holes there is dropped a button
of lead consisting of two flattened or notched heads united by a central stem of such
length as to bring the heads flush with the general surface of the plate. The active
material is then filled into the holes around the buttons, and when it becomes dry the
buttons are retained in position by the active material. The heads of the buttons are
of such shape and size as to touch the sides of the perforations at two or more points,
while leaving sufficient space around them for the active material to be placed within
the perforations.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and,
Figure 2 is a transverse section of a battery plate embodying the features of the
invention.
Referring to the Figures, B represents a sheet of metal, preferably lead. Openings b
are formed throughout its entire surface. These openings may with advantage be

page_text: rectangular in form leaving a narrow web b. The plate is laid in a horizontal position
upon a suitable block, and a button c is dropped into each opening. These buttons
each consists of a central stem c¹, having flattened heads 2 and 3 at its respective
ends. These heads may with advantage be diamond shaped as shown, or of other
suitable form so as to touch the sides of the perforations at two or more points, and
yet not entirely close the openings b. They are of such length that the heads will bo
Hush with the respective surfaces of the plate, or approximately so.
After the buttons
are in position, active material is brushed over the plate and into the openings about
the buttons in the usual manner. The active material is allowed to dry, and the plato
is then in condition to be "trained."
Any suitable well-known form of active material may be employed for filling the
plate. The plates thus constructed are employed in the usual manner.
As each mass of active material is firmly united to the metallic button, tho
latter greatly assists in holding it in place, whereby the plate is made more durable.
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 storage battery plate consisting of a sheet of metal having transverse
openings, a button of the same material extending through each opening and having
an enlarged head at each end, and active material filling the spaces in the openings
about the buttons.
2. A storage battery plate consisting of a sheet of metal having openings, buttons
placed in each opening consisting of a central stem and enlarged heads, and active
inaterial placed in each opening about the said buttons.
3. A storage battery plate consisting of a sheet of metal having rectangular openings,
buttons of metal extending through each opening, and consisting of central stems and
flattened ends of diamond shape, said ends being approximately flush with the
respective surfaces of the plate, and active material about the buttons.
Dated this 1st day of September 1888.