Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1889
Specification Accepted 18th May, 1889
I PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON of the office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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, communicated to me by my foreign correspondent William Main,
is described by him in the following manner :-
My invention relates to secondary or storage batteries, and in part to those formed
to operate upon the general principle of the battery patented to Henry Harris Lake,
on a communication from Abraham V. Meserole, dated March 22nd 1887, No. 4311.
In other respects it consists of improvements applicable to any kind of storage
battery.
In the Meserole battery to which I have referred, as described in the said patent,
the active material of the hydrogen plate is zinc and mercury, the oxygen plate
being composed of lead or any other suitable material.
The action of this battery is the formation of zinc and mercury deposit or sponge
on the hydrogen pole piece during the process of charging, and the solution of a
portion of the zinc constituting the hydrogen pole piece during the process of
discharge, said zinc going into the liquid partly in the form of sulphate. In said
battery, as patented, the arrangement of plates is vertical. I have discovered that
a horizontal arrangement of the plates is much better for this battery than a vertical
arrangement, and my invention consists in part in giving such a disposition to these
plates.
Where the plates are vertical, the tendency of the zinc sulphate given off into the
liquid from the plate during the process of discharge, and the zinc sulphate normally
in the electrolytic liquid, in case zinc salts are used therein, is to drop to the bottom
of the cell, and accumulate on the lower parts of the plate; in this way, in time,

page_text: more or less disorganizing the structure of the cell, and causing a liability to short
circuiting of the plates at their bases.
In the form of cell which I propose to adopt, the superior gravity of the zinc in
solution merely tends to throw it back upon the hydrogen pole piece, where it properly
belongs, and has no tendency toward the disorganization of the battery, or the
production of a short circuit.
A further superiority of the form of cell which I apply to this battery, arises
from the fact that after the cell has been discharge of its stored up or secondary
current, it is in a condition to act as a primary battery, and give forth a primary
current of a considerably less electromotive force, however, than that given off when
the battery acts in its secondary capacity. The effect upon the battery of this
generation of a primary current, is injurious where the plates are vertical, for the
reason that it causes the zinc plate to be irregularly dissolved, whereby starting points
for further irregularities, arising from the electrolytical deposition of the metal; are
furnished, so that in the process of use, the irregularities of the zinc plate may be
increased, until they furnish short circuiting connections between the plates, or result
finally in the disorganization of the plate.
Were it always possible to place batteries of this sort in skilful bands, the danger
incident to the use of the battery, as a primary cell, could be avoided; but as the
batteries must generally be placed in the hands of unskilled persons, this liability of
injury to the battery is a serious one in practice. It is absent from the horizontal
form of cell which I propose, for the reason that there will always be a tendency
to level off the irregularities of the horizontal zinc plate, however formed, the
projections from the mass of the plate being acted upon more effectively by the
discharging current than the other portions of the mass, and being thereby more
readily dissolved, and the deposit from the sulphate being thrown equally over the
entire surface of the plate. It is thus obvious that the normal tendency of the process
of charge & discharge will be to promote & maintain the homogeneity of the positive
plate or pole piece, and to distinctly and effectively oppose short circuiting formations.
Thus, much closer proximity of the plates to each other, and consequent economy of
space and weight, is possible, than where the plates are vertical.
My invention further consists in a special formation of the hydrogen pole piece of
this battery, and consists, in this respect, in the use therefor of granulated zinc
lying in the bottom of the cell, and supplied with a sufficient quantity of mercury
to thoroughly amalgamate it.
The zinc may be granulated in any of the well known ways; thus, it may be
thrown, while molten, into water, or it may be kept in a state of agitation while
cooling, which results in a finer and more uniform, and, on that account, preferable,
granulation; or it may be finely subdivided by grinding. This form of hydrogen
pole piece I find to be specially adapted to the horizontal disposition of the plates,
and particularly susceptible to the equalizing tendencies of the operation of the
chemical processes of the battery above referred to, and to be, for these reasons, a
. superior formation of pole piece.
One process employed by me for forming up the hydrogen pole piece constructed
in this way, consists in depositing upon its surface, from a mercury and zinc solution
in the cell, the zinc and mercury sponge referred to in the aforesaid Meserole patent,
and then mechanically mixing or stirring the mass so as to throw down the sponge
amongst the zinc granules, and then, if desired, further continuing the sponge
formation, and again mixin, until the mass in the bottom of the cell contains
quantity of the aforesaid sponge distributed throughout it. I find that the pole
piece so formed is one of the most effective hydrogen pole pieces which can be used
in the battery referred to.
The process will not be substantially changed if the amalgamated granulated zine
be immersed in a nere acid bath containing no zinc or mercury solution. The
action of the current then causes an electrolytically formed layer of zinc-mercury
sponge, upon the exposed surface of the zinc granules; and by stirring, this is
distributed through the mass, and a new surface exposed to current action. Again,

page_text: the electrolyte used may contain zinc in solution without mercury, mercury being
present upon or in the hydrogen pole piece. But if zinc is not originally in the
solution, more or less will be taken up from the pole piece, and the result will be
practically the same.
My invention further consists in a peculiar treatment of the plates of lead, or
other plates used for any variety of secondary batteries before they are subjected
to the forming process, and consists, in this respect, of giving such plates a coating
of powdered plumbago, graphite, or other finely divided carbon. This I apply to
the surface of the plates by means of a brush, or in any other suitable manner,
spreading it evenly so as to form a thin continuous coating upon the metallic surfaces.
If necessary, the plates may bo moistened in order to cause the finely divided carbon
to adhere more perfectly, or the carbon may be moistened with water or other liquid;
and applied to the plates in the form of a paste. The efficiency of the carbon consists
in its superior conductivity, whereby electrical action upon the plate in the process of
formation is facilitated and expedited, and whereby a superior degree of conductivity
in the plate, after it is formed, is permanently secured. find that this process is
particularly valuable when applied to the laminated form of plate heretofore invented
and patented by me in patent dated March 22nd 1887, No. 4303, and that when the
thin plates so treated are fastened together to form a compound plate, the graphite,
being unattacked by the electrolytic action, is effective to maintain conductivity
during and after the oxidation of the plates, by which their metallic continuity is
more or less destroyed. I do not confine myself to the use of plumbago or graphite
for this purpose. Any other form of finely divided carbon may be employed. Also,
I may place sheets of carbonized fabric between the layers, instead of finely divided
carbon.
My invention further consists in a new construction of battery cell, more compact,
simple and less liable to disarrangement by jarring or rough usage than any heretofore
devised, as will hereafter be more fully set forth, and further, in certain features and
details of construction.
In the drawings annexed
Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of one of my improved cells. Fig. 2 is a vertical
section of the same on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 and 4 are details.
-.-
Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the oxygen battery plates, showing its laminated
formation, and on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 6 is a section of one of the oxygen plates on a still larger scale; and
Figs. 7 & 8 are top and sectional views respectively of another form of cell in
which each cell contains but two elements, the cells being adapted to be superimposed
upon each other.
Referring first to figures 1 to 6 inclusive, in an ordinary cell A, I place a rack
consisting of two plates B, preferably of hard rubber, united at the top and bottom
by rods or tubes, C, of insulating material, preferably hard rubber, joined to the
plates by screws or other appropriate means. Other rods or tubes C¹, also of
insulating material, preferably glass, are placed in horizontal rows from top to bottom
of the plates, B, and rest at their ends in holes in said plates, affording support
for the oxygen elements, D, and the hydrogen elements, E, of the battery, alternately
arranged. I do not, however, confine myself to the use of insulating material for
rods, C, C, although I prefer it.
The oxygen elements are of any suitable construction, but I prefer the laminated
perforated plates described in my patent, above referred to. These plates are attached
to a vertical conducting strip F, by solder or other suitable connection, such as angle
pieces f. The plates themselves are precisely of the construction described in my
patent referred to, except that I place between the sheets of lead, carbon, either
finely divided, or in the form of carbonized fabric. When the former material is
used, I prefer to employ plumbago, and I apply it in any convenient manner to the
plates, as above stated. This coating of carbon maintains conductivity in the mass of
the plate, after the metallic continuity of the thin plates has been more or less

page_text: destroyed. The liquid having access to many parts of the plates by reason of the
perforations, and the carbon assisting conductivity from the starting points afforded
by the perforations, I secure a compact plate with very many surfaces fully exposed
to the action of the liquid. I prefer to provide a layer of carbon between each two
laminae; but good results may be obtained with a lesser number of layers of carbon
than if laminae be employed.
a
As above stated, I sometimes employ carbonized fabric instead finely divided
carbon, and such a sheet of fabric is shown at G, Fig. 5. This carbon may be made
from any suitable fabric or fibrous material; sometimes prepare it by subjecting
ordinary cotton cloth, or other fabric used, to a high degree of heat while packed in
charcoal powder or other substance suitable for the exclusion of oxydizing gases while
in the furnace, the degree of heat used being at least a yellow, and preferably a white
heat. This high degree of heat I find necessary in order to secure a product having
high degree of conductivity. Other materials instead of carbon which are inactive in
the fluid, and are conductive of electricity, may perhaps he used between the laminae of
compound plates instead of carbon, with the same results which I secure, and without
departing from the broad scope of my invention. Antimony might perhaps be thus used.
Carbon is, however, the best imaterial now known to me for the purpose. With regard to
this part of my invention, the form or construction of pole piece to which the carbon is
applied is of small importance, as is also the metal of which it is composed, as this may
be any other suitable metal as well as lead, the gist of my invention, broadly considered,
consisting in the use of carbon to promote and maintain conductivity throughout the
mass of the pole piece. The metal to which the carbon is applied may be in other
forms than plates; as that of granules, blocks, or irregular pieces fastened or associated
together in any convenient manner; likewise, the same construction, as regards the
use of carbon, may be applied to hydrogen pole pieces. Where the pole piece is made
up of layers, strata or laminae, the position of the layers is immaterial. They may be
of sheet metal, or composito compressed masses, or other construction.
I do not, however, limit myself to this, or any particular construction or form of
oxygen element, as the one to be used with the other features of my present
invention.
The hydrogen elements of this cell are each composed of a plate of copper, E,
preferably having raised edges, whereby it is given the shape of a tray; and provided
with a number of perforations, H, stamped through it; the edges of these perforations
being raised above the level of the plate, to the same amount as the rim of the plate.
In this tray is placed the granulated material, I, preferably amalgamated zinc, though
any other material which is electropositive with reference to the metal composing the
oxygen pole piece of the cell, may be employed. I do not confine myself to copper
as the metal for the plates or trays constituting a part of these elements. Other
metals may be used. Copper has the advantage of high conductivity; that it is not
acted upon chemically in the presence of zine; and that trays made of it may be
light and thin, taking up the least possible space. I may here state that I find it best
to amalgamate the copper of the trays in order to further guard against electro-
chemical action; although enough mercury will usually be taken up by the copper
from the liquid or the amalgamated zinc to effect this, without special application.
While I intend to cover in this application the use of copper of any sort for these
supporting trays or plates, I prefer rolled copper, because it best withstands the
tendency of mercury to destroy the metallic cohesion of the plates, and break them
down. Rolled copper is not, in fact, injuriously affected by the mercury, but cast
copper is rendered to brittle by it for convenient use. While I prefer to employ a
metallic supporting plate or tray of a metal inert in the electrolyte, it would be within
my invention to employ a plate or tray of inert insulating material, such as, for
instance, hard rubber, placing therein, or not, as preferred, metallic strips to facilitate
the access of the current to the mass of amalgamated zinc. The perforations permit
circulation of the fluid through the plates, and facilitate battery action; but I do
not limit myself to perforated plates, as the perforations may be omitted without
seriously detracting from the efficiency of the battery. The plates are attached by

page_text: The rack
bolts J, or in other convenient manner, to a conducting strip K, preferably, but not
necessarily, placed diagonally opposite to the other conducting strip F.
formed of the plates B, and the rods, is merely a convenient form of support for the
elements. Any other supporting device may be adopted, if preferred.
To prevent end wise movement of the plates in the cell, I insert vertical rods, L, the
liability to clogging and short-circuiting being thus considerably less than if the ends
of the elements fitted against the plates B. The elements are cut away in the vicinity
of the conducting strips to which they are not attached, to obviate short circuiting, as
indicated in Figs. 1 & 5.
The electrical connection to opposite parts of alternate plates, causes an even
distribution of the current to all parts of each plate, provided the positive and
negative plates equal each other in conductivity, as will be the case when they are
properly made. In this respect, horizontal elements arranged as I have herein shown
them, have a decided advantage over the ordinary vertical elements alternately
connected at their top edges, since in the latter the current always has a tendency to
work upon the tops of the elements, and not to the same degree upon the lower
parts. With vertical elements, it is impracticable to make the alternate connections
to opposed parts of the elements, the bottom edges being inacessable; but with
horizontal elements, this is possible, and confers a signal advantage.
The construction above described permits of the ready removal of the elements for
examination and repairs; it only being necessary to lift out the frame-work and
withdraw either of the sets of elements, to obtain complete access thereto. In the use
of a copper plate as a support for granulated material in a secondary battery, I do
not confine myself to the horizontal form of plate, but desire to claim such a plate
in any position, if so shaped as to provide a support for the granulated material.
By granulated zine" in this specification and claims, I mean zinc granulated in
any of the well known ways, or otherwise finely divided. Sufficient mercury is added
to, and mixed with the zinc to amalgamate it. The amalgamated zinc inay
be pressed
into the trays when the battery cell is made; thus, the zine may be heaped into the
tray, and placed in a power press, and then compressed to flat sheet form, its upper
surface on a level with the upturned rims or edges of the tray; or it may be otherwise
pressed into the form of a sheet or plate, having, to a considerable extent, a self-
supporting consistency; but whether pressure is primarily applied or not, the granules
become more or less agglomerated aud solidified through the action of the mercury
perhaps more or less assisted by the action of the current passing through the cell,
until the mass acquires considerable cohesion.
I do not limit myself to the particular form of rack shown, but regard as within
my invention any form of removable frainework adapted to support horizontal elements.
While I regard zinc in granulated form as preferable, I may use zine in the form of a
plate or block, and I intend to include this construction in those claims wherein the
form of the zine is not specified.
In Figures 7 and 8, I have shown a modified construction of cell, to wit, a flat form,
each cell containing but a single element, and the cells being adapted to be
superimposed one upon the other in a tier. A cell of hard rubber or other suitable
material of a shallow flat form is provided at its top with a flange for receiving
the bottom of the next cell above it. The bottom of each cell thus forms a
cover for the next beneath it, and the escape of liquid may be prevented by filling
the space between the cover and the flange with some plastic material. A pair of
elements, one oxygen, M, and the other hydrogen, O, are placed in each of these cells
(one cell only being shown in the drawings). The oxygen element shown is similar
to that already described, although any other suitable form of oxygen element may be
employed, supported in any suitable manner in the cell, the means shown consisting of
stringers M³ resting upon uprights N standing in the cell. In this case, the hydrogen
element is composed of granulated material, such as already described, lying in
the bottom of the cell. The bottom may, if desired, be provided with the ribs P, for
preventing displacement of the granulated material by means of jarring or rough
ausage, and to further assist in keeping the granulated material in place, a perforated

page_text: plate X of hard rubber or other material, inactive in the fluid, or of zinc or other
suitable active metal, and provided with perforations to permit the passage of the fluid,
may be placed upon the top of the granulated mass. In Figure 8, the oxygen plate
is shown broken away in-part, so as to expose the perforated plate X lying upon the
granulated material.
This form of battery differs from that first described only in the structural features
of the cell, and not in the broad principle of the battery.
The successful action of the battery does not depend on the use of any specified
proportion of mercury to zinc. There should be enough present to amalgamate the
zinc, but a very small quantity is sufficient for the purpose; and the battery will work
effectively if the mercury is present in excess. I find that good results are obtained
when mercury forms fifteen to twenty five per cent. by weight of the hydrogen pole
piece. The mercury may be added after the granulated zinc is introduced into the
cell, or the zinc may be amalgamated and afterwards placed in the cell.
As an electrolyte, I may use a liquid containing zinc and mercury in solution, or
may use a mere dilute acid bath, the hydrogen pole piece being amalgamated. The
material for the oxygen plate, which I prefer, is lead, but I do not confine myself to
that material.
serve
I do not limit myself to a battery formed of a hydrogen plate of granulated
material, nor having a hydrogen plate entirely composed of zinc and mercury,
as other materials may be substituted in part for the zine of the pole piece
without substantial disadvantage. In fact, any conducting material which will
as a basis for zinc and mercury deposition, will furnish a foundation for
a hydrogen plate, when zinc and mercury salts are used in the solution, or the
hydrogen pole piece may be composed in part of zinc and in part of a material
more or less comparatively negative in the battery. So, too, where zinc is used as a
constituent of the hydrogen pole piece, it is not essential to the operation of the
battery, that zinc should be contained in solution in the electrolyte.
While I prefer to place the hydrogen plate below the oxygen, I do not limit myself
to that arrangement, as good results may be obtained when the hydrogen plates are
placed uppermost. When a number of pairs of plates are placed one above the other
in a single cell, it makes little difference whether the hydrogen or oxygen element of
each pair is uppermost.
My invention extends to the processes of forming or preparing the oxygen and the
hydrogen pole pieces, as well as to those polo pieces, or a battery containing either of
them, when completed.
The mercury in my battery may be present in solution. The material of the
hydrogen pole piece may be amalgamated before it is introduced into the cell, or after
it is so introduced.
The finely divided zinc or other material of which the hydrogen pole piece is
composed, after being for a time subjected to the action of the current in the presence
of mercury, becomes solidified into a coherent mass, having more or less selfsustaining
capacity, so that it is not disorganized or changed in shape by jarring or rough usage,
and thus becomes virtually integral with the bottom of the cell or the supporting tray
or plate upon which it rests. My invention consists in part of the process of
Becuring a selfsupporting and coherent element in this manner."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the said is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The process of preparing a secondary battery pole-piece, which consists in
subjecting a layer of granulated zinc to the action of an electrical current in an
electrolyte, and in the presence of mercury, either in the solution, or forming an
amalgam with the zinc, thus causing a spongy formation of the zinc and mercury upon
the granules of said layer, substantially as described.
2. The process of forming a secondary battery plate, which consists in placing finely
divided zinc or other suitable material upon a proper support, and subjecting it to the

page_text: action of a current in an electrolytic bath in the presence of mercury, whereby it
becomes solidified into a coherent mass, substantially as described.
3. A secondary battery having, as an element, a horizontal copper tray, perforated
or not as desired, containing granulated zinc or other suitable electro-positive material,
mercury being present either in solution, or as a part of the element.
4. In a secondary battery containing mercury, a plate or tray serving as a support,
made of rolled copper or equivalent material, as above set forth.
5. In a secondary battery, a series of oxygen and hydrogen elements placed one
above the other in a single cell, the hydrogen elements consisting of plates or trays
containing amalgamated zinc, and the oxygen elements being of any suitable
construction.
6. A secondary battery element consisting of a plate or tray of material substan-
tially inert in the electrolyte, and having a mass of finely divided zinc or other suitable
metal conformed thereto, and solidified thereon, in the presence of mercury, substantially
as described.
7. As a pair of elements for a secondary battery, a horizontal mass of amalgamated
zinc constituting the hydrogen element, and a laminated perforated plate of lead or
other suitable material constituting the oxygen element, substantially as described.
8. The production of compound or laminated plates for secondary batteries as
described, whereby great conductivity in the plate is permanently secured.
9. The means above described for supporting the elements in a horizontal position
in secondary battery cells, and facilitating the removal of the elements from their
support.
Dated this 9th day of April 1889.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.