Improvements in Electrical Batteries.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Batteries.
We, JAMES KENT PUMPELLY, residing at the corner of Lake Avenue and
37th Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Electrician, and FRANK BUTTERWORTH,
residing at the Leland Hotel, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Capitalist, do hereby
declare the nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Heretofore electrical storage batteries have been constructed in such manner that
the electrolite rapidly evaporates, and, being in a liquid mass, splashes and spills out
of the cells when placed in a moving vehicle for motive or for illuminating purposes.
It's the object of our invention to avoid the objections enumerated above, and this
we are enabled to do by means of certain material and the combination of other
ingredients therewith, and also the manipulation of the same in a manner at once
simple and comparatively inexpensive, substantially as hereinafter fully explained, and
as illustrated in the drawings, which show a cross-section of an electrical secondary
battery with our improvement applied thereto.
In the drawings A represents the cell; B represents the pole of the negative
electrode, and C the pole of the positive electrode. Each electrode is composed of a
set of metal plates; those of the negative electrode marked a, a, a, alternating with
those of the positive electrode marked b, b, b, which generally has one more plate
than the negative electrode. Each plate of each electrode has applied to it the active
material c. We prefer, however, in order to obtain the best results, adopt and use
plates having perforations in them in which the active material is placed, as shown in
Figure 1 in those plates which we have shown in cross-section.
After the plates are * formed we fill the cell with cellulose D, packing the same
between and around the plates of the electrodes so as to effectually separate and cover
said plates.
When this cellulose is thus packed in the cell a sufficient quantity of electrolitic
solution is poured into the same so as to thoroughly saturate said cellulose, whereupon
the battery is ready to be charged" and "discharged."
:
The loose cellulose packed in the cell in the manner above explained, prevents the
gravitation and consequent concentration of the acid in the electrolite in the bottom of
the cells, thus rendering the upper plates just as efficient as the lower ones, which
heretofore has not been the case.
The use of cellulose in this manner makes practically a dry battery from which the
liquid solution will not spill when the batteries are used for traction work or
illuminating purposes on moving vehicles or vessels. It has also been demonstrated
that by the use of cellulose in the manner described, there is very little ovaporation
and the batteries will last from three to five months without requiring replenishing of
tho solution. Moreover the plates being thoroughly protected will not sulphate, but
will remain clean, even though used or allowed to remain unused (the worst thing
that can befall an electrical secondary battery).
Pure cellulose will last for ever in an electrical battery, and its use is much preferred,
but commercially and for the practical purposes of our improved battery, cellulose
mixed with certain kinds of wood pulp fibre, as for instance, spruce or poplar or woods
possessing a like character, will answer just as well. It makes no difference as far as
the spirit of my invention is concerned what the proportions of the admixture of
cellulose and wood pulp fibre are; we prefer, however, to use not less than forty per
cent. of cellulose.
In the process of preparation of wood pulp fibre from certain woods, sufficient
cellulose is developed to permis of our using the saine as a homogeneous mass without
further manipulation. Other wood pulp fibre, however, would have to be mixed with

page_text: pure cellulose. In either case, we wish to be understood as considering the same as
within the scope of our invention.
We have hereinbefore spoken of the admixture of cellulose and wood pulp fibre, as
being in a loose state. We do not desire to be understood as meaning, however, that
such condition is the only one in which it can be used. As a matter of fact, it can be
compressed into a cardboard or paper form, or into thick porous pads, or converted
into other fabric and inserted between the plates, or between and around the plates of
the battery, although, in any of these cases, there would be more or less free liquid
solution, which, not being absorbed, would be subject to all of the objections
now existing to the use of free electrolite. Compressed cellulose and wood pulp fibre
combined could be used in conjunction with the loose cellulose and wood pulp fibre
so as to overcome by absorption the objection to the presence of the free electrolite.
Besides using cellulose and wood pulp fibre combined in the loose, or in the compact
form independent of the plates of the electrodes, it is but a step to appreciate their use
in the construction of the plate itself for the purpose of retaining the active material
or peroxides used in the construction of the plate, also for the purpose of preventing
buckling and consequent short-circuiting of the plates, and also for the purpose of
lightening the weight of the cell.
What has been said herein before about the advantages of the admixture of cellulose
and wood pulp fibre in secondary batteries, applies with equal pertinency to electrical
primary batteries.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :--
First The combination with an electrical battery of cellulose, as set forth.
Second The combination with an electrical battery of an admixture of cellulose
and wood pulp fibre, as set forth.
Third The combination with an electrical secondary battery and the electrodes
thereof of cellulose, as set forth.
:
Fourth The combination with an electrical secondary battery having electrodes
each consisting of a suitable number of plates and arranged with reference to one
another, of cellulose, as set forth.
:
Fifth The combination with an electrical secondary battery and the electrodes
thereof, of cellulose and wood pulp fibre interposed between said electrodes so as to
separate the same.
:
Sixth The combination with an electrical secondary battery having electrodes each
consisting of a suitable number of connected plates and arranged with reference to
one another, of cellulose and wood pulp fibre interposed so as to separate said electrodes
so that the plates of the one will not touch the plates of the other.
Dated this 9th day of October 1890.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.