Improvement in Cells or Boxes of Electric Batteries.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 30th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Cells or Boxes of Electric Batteries.
JOHN MILES MOFFAT Electrical Engineer 2 Heath Villas Cargill Road
Earisfield S. W. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
My invention consists of an improvement in the cells or boxes of electric
batteries by which the acid is prevented from either when the battery is in use or
during the action of charging & discharging. As the cells are at present formed
there is nothing to prevent the acid flowing out if the cell be turned on any side
nor from rising out during the process of charging-the outer sides of the cells &
terminalls may become moistened with acid causing corrosion & leakage.
My invention consists of forming the sides of the cell higher than the sealing
on lid covering the plates-& curling inward the top edge all the way round so as
to form a hollow lip above the cell lid or cover. The height & the size of the
overhanging lip is proportioned to the size of the cell & the quantity of, liquid it is
required to contain & should be of such size & proportion. as that when the
charged cell is laid down on its side the contained liquid does not rise above the
lip the lip may be formed upon the cell at the time of making the cell or may be
affixed afterwards in a box having more cells than one there. should be partitions
with lips on each side.
The cells may be made of any suitable material.
Dated 29th day of May 1894.
Improvement in Cells or Boxes of Electric, Batteries.
I, JOHN MILES MOFFAT, of 2 Heath Villas, Cargill Road, Earlsfield, in the
County of Surrey, Electrical 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 :-
My invention relates to the cells or boxes of electric batteries and is designed to
provide for preventing the escape of the acid or other electrolyte employed therein
either while the battery is in use or transit or during the charging and discharging
thereof. In such cells as heretofore constructed there is nothing to prevent either
the flowing out of the electrolyte if the cell be turned on its side or the rising and
escape of the electrolyte during the process of charging the battery, should a
rapid evolution of gas take place. The outer sides of the cells and the terminals
are therefore liable to become moistened with acid thus causing corrosion and
leakage.
Now according to my said invention I make the walls or sides of the cell extend
higher than the sealing or lid which covers the plates or electrodes and I curl or
turn inward the top edge of the said walls or sides all around the cell so as to form
a hollow lip above the said lid or covering of the plates. The height and the size
of the said overhanging lip is proportioned according to the size of the cell and the
TD 077

page_text: quantity of liquid it is required to contain and should be of such capacity that
when the cell is laid down on its side the contained liquid shall not rise above the
lip. The said lip may be formed upon the cell at the time of making the cell or
may be affixed afterwards in the form of a cap or cover. In the case of battery-
boxes having more than one cell, I preferably form partitions in the said cap or
cover with lips on each side of the said partitions. My improved cells may be
made of any suitable material, and the cap or cover, when separate therefrom, may,
if desired, be of a different material from the body of the cell.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan,
Figure 2 a longitudinal section on the line x, x, Figure 1, and
Figure 3 a transverse section on the line a, a, Figure 2, showing the
application of my improvements to a battery-box having two compartments
or cells.
a is the battery-box which, in the example shown, is provided with a partition b
dividing it into two compartments or cells; c, c are the lids or covers which serve
to enclose the electrodes and other parts of the battery. These lids or covers are
preferably held in position by a layer of suitable insulating and acid-proof cement d
which also serves to protect the connections to the terminals e; ff, are tubes
forming vent-holes to the interior of the cell.
The above mentioned arrangement for sealing or closing a battery box or cell is
well-known and I therefore ma' e no claim thereto except in so far as it forms one
of the parts of my improved battery-box or cell.
A is my cap or cover, which is here shown as made in a separate piece from the
box a.
This cap or cover is made with apertures B in its surface corresponding to
the compartments or cells of the battery-box; around these apertures are inwardly
turned lips B'.
In the arrangement shown, the cap or cover A is made with an internal
partition A corresponding to the end of the partition in the box, the said
partitions being united, when the said cap or cover is fitted on the box a, preferably
by means of the layer of cement d; in this manner the spaces within the cap or
cover A above the coverings c are separated and insulated from each other and
any electrical leakage between the two compartments or cells is thus prevented.
The spaces within the cap or cover A above the coverings e on each side of the
openings B are of such capacity that they will hold all the liquid that will flow
into them through the vents f when the battery-box is laid on either of its sides so
that no loss of liquid can take place. To ensure the return of this liquid to the
interior of the cells when the box is again placed in an upright position, I mould
or shape the upper surface of the layer of cement d, or, if that be not present, the
upper surface of the covering c in such a manner as to cause the said liquid to flow
towards apertures D in the vent-tubes and run back through the said
apertures into the interior of the cells. I further arrange the vent-tubes f so that
their upper ends lie in the space between the outer wall of the cap or cover A and
the internally-projecting lip B¹ so that any spray caused by the bursting of bubble-
films or otherwise will be caught by the said cover and returned to the interior of
the cell as above described. If desired, the said cap or cover can be of such
capacity as to permit of the battery being turned upside down, but this, of course,
would only be necessary in exceptional cases.
To provide a fluid-tight joint between the cap or cover A and the box a, I find
it advantageous to form, in the exterior of the box a, a groove E which extends
around the same and to insert in the said groove a band or fillet of cement, the cap
or cover being fitted closely over the upper end of the box and over the cement in
the said groove as shown. By making the said groove in the box a I increase the
quantity of cement which can be applied for making the joint, and provide for
very readily making and breaking the joint between the box a and the cap or
cover A by applying a hot iron or the like to the exterior of the latter." If

page_text: desired, however, the said groove may be made in the interior of the cap or cover
instead of in the exterior of the box. In other cases I find it advantageous
to close the said joint by means of an india-rubber or other band arranged in the
said groove or in any other convenient manner. Or other suitable joints may be
employed as found most convenient for each particular case.
By my invention, I obviate the necessity for the india-rubber bags heretofore
employed for containing pocket-accumulators and other electric batteries, and the
attendant film of acid which tends to corrode the terminals and to cause leakage.
and waste of the electric energy stored in the cell, as by the use of my cap or cover
any liquid which is forced out of the cells by the shaking of the same or by the
evolution of gas therefrom or otherwise is automatically returned and the battery
may be carried in the pocket or placed in other positions without any risk of
damage to its surroundings by spilling of the acid or other liquid, and without
liability to deterioration of the plates or electrodes by reason of their being left
uncovered with liquid.
My improved cap or cover may be made of ebonite, celluloid or other suitable
material and may be ornamented, or varied in form according to requirements.
It is obvious that my cap or cover is applicable to various kinds of electric
batteries having either one or more cells, and that its construction may be some-
what modified if desired. For instance the partition A' thereof may be made to
extend downward into the layer d of cement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said. inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The herein described method of providing for the retention of the liquid
in the cell or cells of an electric battery.
Second. A battery cell or box provided with a cap or cover having one or
more apertures each surrounded by an inwardly-turned lip, for the purposes above
specified.
Third. A cell or box for an electric battery, provided with my improved cap or
cover and constructed substantially as described with reference to the accom-
panying drawing, for the purposes specified.
Dated the 28th day of February 1895.
D. YOUNG & CO.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.