Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Casting Frames or Supports for Battery Plates or Elements.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Uct., 1390-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPERIATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Casting Frames
or Supports for Battery Plates or Elements.
I, HENRY HERBERT LLOYD, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, but now
residing at Camden, in the County of Camden and State of New Jersey, United States
of America, Electrician and Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING FRAMES OR
SUPPORTS FOR BATTERY PLATES OR ELEMENTS, and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statements:-
My invention relates in general to the method of and apparatus for forcing molten
metallic substances or materials to form frames or supports for battery plates or
elements by means of compressed air or other gases into suitable appliances to become
cast to or around the plates or elements. The invention is not confined particularly
to the employment of atmospheric air as in some cases other gases such as hydrogen
or a mixture of hydrogen and carbonic oxide commonly known as water-gas may
be employed owing to the reducing properties of such gas or gases.
It is well understood by those skilled in the art of manufacturing battery plates or
elements, that lead and certain alloys thereof are peculiarly adapted for the frames
or supports of battery plates or elements, and therefore these materials have been
largely, if not exclusively employed for such purposes and in the practical employment
of battery plates or elements it has been discovered that the presence of oxides,
dross or other impurities in the frames or supports has a deleterious effect upon
then, that is, causes them to become rapidly per-oxidized and honey-combed in use.
Heretofore in the manufacture of frames or supports for battery plates or elements
it has been customary to melt lead or an alioy thereof, for instance, a mixture of
lead and antimony or lead, antimony and mercury and to pour the molten mass
by means of a ladle into a mould, but this method in practice possessed some
disadvantages, for instance, it lead was employed the surface of the inolten metal
running into the mould became oxidized by contact with the atmosphere and this
oxide or dross becoming diffused throughout the frame or support materially
lessened the life or durability thereof. If an alloy of lead, for example, a mixture of
lead and antimony was the metallic material employed the molten mass became chilled
and hardened before it had time to completely fill the mould, thus rendering the
finished casting defective. In both instances the dross collected upon the surface
of the molten metal and was apt to be dipped up in the ladle and poured into
the mould.
The principal objects of my present invention are first, to obviate the above
mentioned defects and disadvantages and to provide an expe litious, effective and
economical method of and a simple, durable and efficient apparatus for casting
frames or supports to or around battery plates or elements; second, to avoid the
introduction of dross, oxides and other impurities into the moulds containing tho
active material or material to become active to form the plates or elements of a battery;
and third, to employ air or gas or both under pressure for driving a metallic substance
or materials at a comparatively low temperature into a mould or other suitable
appliance to become fixed or set therein and in order that the active material or
material to become active may be applied thereto, for use in an electric battery.
To carry the invention into effect the molten metallic substance or materials are
forced by means of compressed air or gas or both, without permitting the molten
substance or materials to come in contact with the atmosphere, into an appliance or
mould to form a frame or support onto which active material or material to become
active is applied.

page_text: :'
The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more fully understood
from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings
illustrating an apparatus found practically efficient for the conduct of the said method;
and in which
Figure 1, is a sectional elevation of an apparatus embodying the features of my
invention; and
Fig. 2, is a top or plan view of a device for supporting the mould.
In the accompanying drawings A, is a crucible supported in a suitable frame-work B.
This frame-work B also supports a table B', upon which the mould or flask B² rests.
B is a hand-lever for forcing and retaining the sprue of the mould in close contact
with the pipe h. C is a furnace for heating up the crucible A. D is a gas-holder
provided with a pipe E, communicating with a pump or other device for compressing
gas. G is a pipe or other conductor provided with a safety valve g, a pressure gauge gl
and a three-way cock g². communicating with the air. This pipe G communicates
with the gas-holder D, and with a cylinder H. The cylinder H, rests upon the bottom
of the crucible A, and is provided near the bottom thereof, with a pipe h, leading to
the mould B2, and with a pipe 4, leading to a pressure-valve I, having an inlet
opening, located beneath the surface of the molten metal. It may be remarked that
good results have been obtained in practice by making the contents of the cylinder El,
equal the contents of the mould B2, and therefore preference is given to such a
construction.
The mode of operation of the above described apparatus is as follows:-
The three-way cock g², being turned so that the cylinder H, is in communication
with the atmosphere, lead or an alloy thereof is melted in the crucible A, by means
of a fire in the furnace C, and flowing through the pressure valve I, fills the cylinder 1,
while at the same time gas under pressure is introduced into the vessel D, through the
inlet pipe E. A mould or flask B2, is placed upon the table B', and the sprue of the
mould is forced into air tight connection with the pipe h, by means of the hand
lever B. The three-way cock g², is then turned so that the gas from the vessel D,
passing through the pipe G, into the cylinder H, forces the molten metal through the
pipe, into the mould. When the mould is filled the three-way cock g², is turned so
that the gas is confined in the vessel D, and the gas remaining in the cylinder H, is
permitted to escape through the cock g², into the atmosphere or into a suitable holder
for use again in order that a fresh charge of molten lead may flow from the crucible A,
past the pressure valve I, into the vertical cylinder H. The mould B2, may then be
replaced by another mould and the above described process or operation repeated.
By drawing the metal from the bottom of the crucible A, all danger of forcing dross
or other impurities into the mould is obviated, because such impurities collect and
float on the surface of the metal in the crucible A. In most cases atmospheric air is
the gas employed in the conduct of the above described method of casting frames or
supports to or around the battery plates or elements, but if lead was used to cast, the
supports, the use of atmospheric air would be deleterious, because it would oxidize the
surface of the lead within the cylinder H, with which it came in contact, therefore
preference is given to the employment of other suitable gases such as hydrogen or a
mixture of hydrogen and carbonic oxide, commonly known as water-gas, for the reason
that such gas or gases tend to reduce any oxide that may be present in the molten.
metal or ordinary illuminating gas may be used. By providing an air tight connection
between the pipe h, and the sprue of the mould, the molten metal or metallic materials
is or are forced into the mould without coming in contact with atmospheric air, and
this result is very beneficial, inasmuch as it tends to prevent the formation of oxides
.or dross. After the frames or supports have been permitted to cool they are removed
from the moulds or flasks B2, and are covered with or otherwise embedded in active
material or material to become active by pressing such material into suitable interstices
formed in them or in any other preferred manner. It should be understood that the
frame or support may be made of any form, shape or condition for the application of
the material thereto to adapt the same for use in an electric battery.

page_text: Having thus 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 1
claim is :-
:-
1. The method of casting a frame or support to or around a battery plate or element,
which consists in melting or fusing a metal or metallic substance or materials in a
vessel mounted in a furnace, then forcing the same under pressure into an air tight
appliance and then applying active material or material to become active thereto,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The method of casting a frame or support for a battery plate or element, which
consists in melting or fusing a metal or metallic substance in a crucible and
automatically introducing the molten mass into a cylinder located in and heated by
the contents of the crucible and then forcing said mass by means of a reducing gas
under pressure into a mould, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The method of casting a frame or support to or around a battery plato or element,
which consists in melting lead or lead alloy in a vessel mounted in a furnace,
then forcing the same under pressure into an air-tight appliance and then applying
active material or material to become active thereto, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
4. The combination of a crucible, means for heating the same, a cylinder located in
said crucible and in communication therewith, a mould, a holder and pipe connections
from said holder to and through said cylinder and to said mould, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth
5. The combination, of a crucible, means for heating the same, a cylinder located in
said crucible, a pressure valve in communication with said cylinder, a holder, pipe
connections provided with a three-way cock and extending from said holder to said
cylinder, and a delivery pipe from said cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
6. The combination, of a crucible and furnace having a cylinder mounted in and
supported by said crucible, a ball valve mounted in said cylinder and in communication
therewith, a gas holder located adjacent to said crucible, pipe connections from said
holder to said cylinder and a delivery pipe from said cylinder, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
7. The combination, of a cylinder for containing a fluid or molten metal, a mould, a gas
holder, pipe connections from said cylinder, to said mould and to said gas holder and
a three-way cock interposed between said cylinder and gas-holder, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
8. The combination, of a cylinder, a pressure valve in communication therewith for
admitting fluid metal thereto, a gas-holder, a pipe provided with a cock and extending
from said gas-holder to said cylinder and a delivery pipe from said cylinder,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
a
9. The combination, of a frame-work for supporting a crucible and furnace, a table
attached to said frame-work and provided with a hand-lever, a mould, a gas holder,
cylinder provided with a pressure valve in communication with said crucible, a pipe
provided with a three-way cock and conecting said gas-holder and cylinder, a delivery
pipe from said cylinder to said mould and said mould held to place upon said table by
said hand-lever, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
10. The combination, of a cylinder, a pressure-valve in communication therewith for
admitting fluid metal thereto, a holder, a pipe provided with a cock, a safety valve
and a pressure-gauge and said pipe extending from said holder to said cylinder and a
delivery pipe from said cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this Sixteenth day of September 1890.
HENRY HERBERT LLOYD.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.