Improvements in Electrodes for Primary and Secondary Batteries in Chemical Cells.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrodes for Primary and Secondary Batteries
in Chemical Cells.
I, RICHARD FABIAN, of 11, Krupp Strasse, Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German
Empire, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to electrodes for primary and secondary batteries and
has for its object some improvements in the construction of the same.
It is a well known scientific fact, that as regards the physical properties, hollow
spheres, balls and similar hollow bodies offer great resistance to mechanical and
inner molecular influence, and are therefore more durable than plates and similar
flat surfaces.
My invention consists in utilising the above mentioned qualities of hollow
bodies in the construction of an improved galvanic cell or battery with durable
electrodes.
In order to make my invention clear, I refer to the accompanying drawing,
in which:
Figure 1 is a vertical and
Figure 2 a horizontal section of my improved battery.
In the drawing I illustrate my invention in connection with a secondary
battery or accumulator, in which I employ as electrodes, hollow spheres of lead,
I wish it, however, to be understood, that I do not limit myself to this application
my invention.
of
I prefer to divide the hollow bodies or spheres in two or more parts, inserting
in the larger hollow bodies, other. bodies of smaller-dimensions.
1 A
At the points where such hollow bodies are divided, I provide either tooth-
wheel-surfaces, screw-threads or other suitable means, so that the hollow bodies
can at any time be, united, so as to form and possess the advantages of a com-
plete body:
As a support for the said hollow spheres comprising this battery; strong.tubes
of suitable insulating material are employed, the two ends or extremities of such
tubes being held or secured by suitable means in any required position. The
tubes pass through suitable openings in the hollow body, in a diametrical direc-
tion as regards the battery or cell.. The distance of the electrodes from each
other can be. regulated by nuts of insulating material, arranged. so as to he
movable over or upon the said tubes, by means of suitable screw-threads.
"
An electric current is produced in the cell by the employment of an. electrolyte.
The electric current is conducted to and taken from the said tubes by means of
suitable openings in the interior of, the supporting tubes, as shown in the
drawing.
When employing my improved electrodes in galvanic cells, the same are pro-
ided at their lowest surfaces with suitable perforations e, which, facilitate the

page_text: circulation of the electrolyte (acids), these perforations afford any particle of the
electrodes, which might exceptionally have separated from the same, an outlet
to the bottom of the cell, upon which such particles fall in consequence of the
laws of gravity and in consequence of the constant development of gas in the
electrolyte at the bottom of the vessel or container g, from which such particles
may be easily removed and without any injury to the cell.
The before mentioned insulating tube (a) may be cylindrical and may be manu-
factured of gutta-percha or any other suitable material. The said insulating
tube is provided at its lower end with screw-threads (f) and at its upper end with
screw-threads (b). and upon the upper half of the said insulating tubes are the
diametrical spaces or openings o mentioned in the preamble of the specification.
The halves of the hollow balls or spheres are provided, as hereinbefore
described, with suitable openings, by means of which they are placed upon the
said supporting or insulating tubes in a central direction to each other, and
subsequently united to complete balls or spheres by means of nuts of insulating
material, engaging with the before mentioned screw threads upon the tubes.
The point of contact of the hollow bodies may also, if desired, be soldered.
In the drawing is also illustrated the cylindrical container or vessel for. the
battery which may, for instance, be of glass and be provided with a suitable
cover, said container or vessel also having a projection at the bottom of the same
to retain in proper position, the supporting tubes or supporting axis of the
hollow bodies. This projection will also be clearly seen from the drawing.
As regards the preparation or manufacture of my improved electrodes it may
be remarked, that there would be no difficulty in casting or producing such
hollow bodies of the kind above described.
In conclusion I may remark, that my invention is capable of use for accumula-
tors or secondary batteries, in which both solid and net-work electrodes are
employed, as also for many other electrotechnical purposes.
Tlated this 1011
100%
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Electrodes for Primary and Secondary Batteries
in Chemical Cells.
I, RICHARD FABIAN, of 11, Krupp Strasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Electrician, 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 greater strength and resistance against exterior mechanical and inner
molecular influences, which hollow balls and similar hollow bodies offer in
comparison with plates and similar bodies, is utilized in this invention in order
to produce elements with durable electrodes.
For this purpose one divides the hollow balls or similar hollow bodies of suit-
able material in two or more parts so that one can place in each hollow body of
larger dimensions a hollow body of smaller dimensions. The dividing surfaces
are provided with devices such as dovetails, screws or other suitable means in
order to be able to connect the parts of the hollow body in such a manner, that
the necessary solidity is given to the hollow body as a whole.
As supports for such an element a conveniently strong tube of suitable

page_text: insulating material is used the two ends of which are kept in a desired position
by appropriate means. The tube is guided by means of sufficiently large bores
in the electrodes diametrically through the element or cell. The distance of
the surfaces of the electrodes from one another is regulated preferably by nuts
of insulating material, which are threaded on the tube. The whole is exposed
to the electric current in the presence of an electrolyte.
The positive and negative conductors of the electric current pass through holes
in the carrier tube to the inner hollow chamber of the latter."
The drawing left with my Provisional Specification shows the invention as
applied for instance to a secondary element (electric accumulator, secondary
battery) and its electrodes are formed of hollow balls of appropriate material,
for instance hard lead.
These electrodes are provided at their under parts with sufficiently large
holes e, by which the circulation of the electrolyte (acid) is facilitated and which
give an escape outwards to particles, which by exception might become loosened.
The said particles according to the law of gravity and in consideration of the
continuous gas development in the electrolyte must pass to the bottom of the
vessel, where they are harmless and can be easily removed.
Fig. 1 represents the accumulator in vertical section. Fig. 2 shows the same
accumulator in horizontal section.
The cylindrical insulating tube d for instance of hard rubber has outside on
its under end the screw threads f', and at its upper end the screw threads b¹ and
in its upper half the side holes o. bis a collar screwed on the tube d to carry
the binding posts 6º 12.
On this carrier tube there are slid the bottom hollow hemi-spheres d' separated
by the nuts f and above them are put the corresponding upper hemi-spheres d
connected concentrically to the former to constitute whole hollow balls.
One can also solder the contact place.
In the drawings there is further shown a vessel g for instance of glass and
with appropriate cover h, and with a corresponding projection on the bottom
for receiving the carrier tube. aa are the negative and positive conductors.
With regard to the production of the new electrodes, it may be mentioned
that in the foundry there are no difficulties in producing the hemi-spheres.
This invention is for instance applicable in accumulators both of the solider
kind and also of grate like construction, and also for various other electrolytical
purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1. Electrodes consisting of hollow bodies of diminishing sizes insertable one
into another, the single parts of which are connected with one another in an
electrically conductive manner.
2. For the electrodes as under Claim 1, rod or tube shaped carriers of insulating
material with screw threads, and nuts of insulating material for fixing the elec-
trodes on the carriers and for separating them from one another.
Dated this 15th day of April 1898.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.