Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
"
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
I, JOB THOMAS NIBLETT of 20 Devonshire Road, Greenwich in the County
of Kent, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of the present invention is the production of an electrical storage or
secondary battery of high capacity, and of a form little liable to injury, either in
ordinary use or accidental rough treatment.
A battery constructed according to my invention, may consist of one or more
cells composed of leaden receptacles arranged on separate compartments of a case
of wood or other suitable material. Within each leaden receptacle is a porous
pot of earthenware, or some such insulating porous material.
The cubical contents of the space between the leaden receptacle and the porous
pot is preferably about equal to the cubical contents of the pot; both spaces are
filled in with spongy lead or active material, sometimes in conjunction with inert
material.
The spongy lead which I prefer to use is prepared as follows:-Ordinary
metallic lead is heated to a red heat, and poured in a thin stream into hot water.
Immediately the molten metal reaches the surface of the water, it spreads, and
assumes a woolly or flaky character, having innumerable cells therein (probably
owing to the rapid formation of steam at the moment of contact between the hot
metal and water), and in this condition sinks to the bottom of the water. By
regulating the temperature of the water & metal, and the height from whence the
latter is allowed to fall, the fineness of the flaky lead particles may be varied as
required.
When the cells of the battery are packed with flaky lead thus produced, the
forming" of the battery, which may be effected by the well known method of
charging and reversing, is a very short and simple operation, by reason of the
exceeding porous character of the lead, and the extension surface which it presents.
To still further facilitate the "formation," I may chemically treat the flaky lead,
but I find that simply heating the cell to a somewhat high temperature during the
formation, has a great tendency to open the pores of the metal, and so shorten the
period necessary to produce the requisite depth of peroxidation of the one element,
and the chemical porosity of the other.
As an electrolyte, I may employ any of the well-known solutions, but I prefer
one containing a larger per centage of acid than is usually adopted. The cell or
cells is or are preferably secured within the case by a layer of wax, gutta percha,
or other non conducting material, applied in a liquid or plastic condition, which,
when set, fills up all the space between the leaden receptacle and the outer case,
and converts the whole battery into what is practically a solid block, which no
ordinary amount of concussion or jolting can injure. The expansion and contrac-
tion of the elements during forming or working, which in other batteries too
frequently results in buckling and disintegration of the plates, and consequent
short-circuiting, has practically no effect on the battery constructed according to
my invention, as the whole is solidly contained within a casing, which may be of
any strength requisite, and the elements are incapable of displacement.
Either the metal within the porous pot or outside may become the positive plate,
that outside by preference, the contents of the pot being in that case the negative.
The terminals are formed, one, by the extension of one side of the leaden receptacle,
the other by a leaden strip inserted in the midst of the contents of the porous pot.
In batteries of more than one cell, connection is made between the cells by the

page_text: side extension of the leaden receptacle, bent down, and inserted into the porous pot
of the next cell, and so on throughout the series:
The receptacles are preferably closed; each with a vulcanite cover, and the whole
case is covered with a lid of suitable material, means being arranged for the
passage of the terminals. Filling holes also are arranged for supplying the elec-
trolyte, which, moreover; serve as rents for the escape of gases, if too largely
formed during the working or " forming" of the battery..
gas
The cellular nature of the elements gives them the peculiar property of self
regulating their own internal resistance. If the cell be charged at a too high rate,
or when it is on the point of receiving the full complement of its charge, the
generated tends to drive the solution from the pores of the metal, and itself to
remain imprisoned therein, thereby greatly increasing the internal resistance of the
electrode. In the same way, as a discharge proceeds, the occluded gas reënters
into chemical combination, and allows the liquid to refill the pores.
The battery cells are not entirely filled with the porous metal and electrolyte,
so that some small space for the action of gas is possible, without causing the
electrolyte to overflow by the rent above mentioned.
When porous pots of earthenware are employed, I propose to prepare them by
boiling in acidulated water to neutralize all alkaline matters, and afterwards forcing
pure water through the pores, to clear away all soft and earthy matter.
Dated this 12th day of September 1890.
NEWTON & SON,.
Agents for the Applicant..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
I, JOB THOMAS NIBLETT of 20 Devonshire Road, Greenwich in the County.
of Kent, 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 :-
This invention has for its object the production of an electrical storage battery
or secondary battery of high capacity, and free from many disadvantages to be
found in secondary batteries previously brought out.
An important feature which it is desirable to provide in a storage battery, and
which has not hitherto, so far as I am aware, been satisfactorily secured! is
mechanical solidity, so that ordinary use, or accidental rough treatment; is not
liable to derange or damage the battery.
Attempts have been made to supply solidity by employing a solid electrolyte,
which, were it not open to objections on other grounds; would solve the difficulty.
Lead shot and wire too has been used for the elements with a fluid electrolyte, but
the absence of porosity in these materials renders them incapable of properly.
fulfilling the functions essential in the elements of a storage battery.
According to my invention, I retain the fluid electrolyte, which has been proved'
to give far superior results to any solid electrolyte hitherto known; and I use, in'
conjunction therewith, elements composed of finely divided metallic or other
material of such porosity. that, though the battery. may be closely packed
mechanically with these materials, there is still ample space for the requisite.
amount of fluid electrolyte.
In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated a secondary battery, embodying'
my invention in its simplest form.
Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation of a battery of two cells:
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line of Fig. 1.
A is a casing of wood or other suitable insulating material, divided into two
compartments by the partition a, of insulating material. B B' are two boxes or cells
formed of sheet lead or other metal which is electrically suitable.

page_text: Within the cells B B' are porous pots CC, the internal capacity of which should
be about equal to the cubical contents of the space outside the pots C C'and within
the cells B B¹.
The space within and without the porous pots is filled in with the metallic or
other substance d. d' which is to constitute the active material.
The material with which the spaces are filled is preferably lead, prepared in
the following manner:
Ordinary metallic lead is heated to a red heat, and poured from a ladle in a thin
stream into hot water. Immediately the molten metal reaches the surface of the
water, it spreads, and assumes a woolly or flaky character, having innumerable cells
therein (probably owing to the rapid formation of steam at the moment of contact
between the hot metal and water), and in this condition sinks to the bottom of the
water. By regulating the temperature of the water and metal, and the height
from whence the latter is allowed to fall, the fineness of the flaky lead particles may
be varied as required.
This flaky metal, when packed into the battery cells, both within and without the
porous pots, is sufficiently spongy, even when tolerably well compressed, to absorb
into its pores sufficient of the fluid electrolyte for the proper working of the battery.
If it is not deemed desirable to fill the whole interior of the cells with spongy metal,
inert porous material may be employed to occupy some of the space, as, for instance,
the space e e, indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, so as to maintain the solid character
of the battery.
When the cells of the battery are packed with flaky lead thus produced, the
"forming" of the battery, which may be effected by the well known method of
charging and reversing, is a very short and simple operation, by reason of the
exceeding porous character of the lead and the extensive surface which it
presents.
.
To still further facilitate the formation, I may chemically treat the flaky lead,
but I find that simply heating the cell to a somewhat high temperature during the
formation, has a great tendency to open the pores of the metal, and so shorten the
period necessary to produce the requisite depth of peroxidation of the one element,
and the chemical porosity of the other.
As an electrolyte, I may employ any of the well known acid or alkaline solutions,
but if an acid solution, I prefer one containing a larger percentage of acid than is
usually adopted. The cells B B' are preferably secured within the case by a layer
of wax a', gutta percha, or other non-conducting material applied in a liquid or
plastic condition, which, when set, fills up all the space between the leaden
receptacles B B and the outer case A, and converts the whole battery into what
is practically a solid block, which no ordinary amount of concussion or jolting can
injure.
The expansion and contraction of the elements during forming or working,
which in other batteries too frequently results in buckling and disintegration of the
plates, and consequent short-circuiting, has practically no effect on the battery
constructed according to my invention, as the whole is solidly contained within a
casing, which may be of any strength requisite, and the elements are incapable of
displacement.
Either the metal within the porous pot, or outside, may become the positive
plate, that outside by preference, the contents of the pot being in that case the
negative. The terminals are formed, one by the extension of one side of the
metal receptacle, the other by a metal strip inserted in the midst of the contents of
the porous pot (see Fig. 1).
In batteries of more than one cell, connection may be made between the cells by
the side extension of the metal receptacle, bent down, and inserted into the porous
pot of the next cell, and so on throughout the series.
The receptacles are preferably closed, each with a vulcanite cover, and the
whole case is covered with a lid of suitable material, means being arranged for the

page_text: passage of the terminals. Filling holes also are arranged for supplying the elec-
trolyte, which moreover serve as rents for the escape of gases, if too largely formed
during the working or "forming" of the battery.
The cellular nature of the elements gives them the peculiar property of self-
regulating their own internal resistance. If the cell be charged at a too high rate,
or when it is on the point of receiving the full complement of its charge, the gas
generated tends to drive the solution from the pores of the metal, and itself to
remain imprisoned therein, thereby greatly increasing the internal resistance of
the electrode. In the same way, as a discharge proceeds, the occluded gas
reënters into chemical combination, and allows the liquid to refill the pores.
The battery cells are not entirely filled with the porous metal and electrolyte, so
that some small space for the action of gas is possible, without causing the
electrolyte to overflow by the rent above mentioned.
When porous pots of earthenware are employed, I propose to prepare them by
boiling in acidulated water, to neutralize all alkaline matters, and afterwards
forcing pure water through the pores, to clear away all soft and earthy matter.
I have found that metals other than lead are suitable for use in storage batteries
such as I am now describing; for instance, the metal outside cases of the cells
which may become with their contents, electrodes, may be either lead, zinc,
copper, steel, iron, aluminium, carbon, or other substance which can conduct
electricity.
The active material (by active material I mean any substance which becomes
capable of storing electrical energy when subjected to the action of an electric
current, or by chemical means) may consist of pure lead, treated as stated above,
or it may be an alloy of lead with zinc, tin, bismuth, antimony, aluminium &c., or
any alloy which may be converted into the flaky condition as described. It may be
granulated or finely divided copper, zinc, aluminium, iron, or any similar metal
capable of being converted into active material. It may consist of granulated
oxide, peroxide, sulphate, or carbonate of lead, or any other salt of a metal. It
may consist of a mixture of a flaky or finely divided metal and granulated metallic
salts. It may also consist of one or both of the above classes of materials in
conjunction with some inert or porous material such as asbestos fibre, wool, paper
pulp, animal hair, granulated porous earthenware, or in fact any porous or absorbent
inaterial.
When a high electrical capacity in a small compass is required, each receptacle
may be partly filled with compressed blocks or plates of spongy or flaky material,
compressed blocks or plates of metallic salts, or grids or plates containing either
spongy metal or metallic salts.
When the negative element is composed of lead, copper, aluminium, or other
similar material, I find its electrical capacity may very quickly be increased by a
deposition of electrolysed lead, which may readily be deposited in the following
manner: The mechanically finished cell is filled with a solution of water, and a
small percentage of nitric or acetic acid. The cell is then heated to a somewhat
high temperature, and a current of considerable strength is caused to flow through
it in the direction of from the positive to the negative element. By this process,
part of the lead from the positive electrode is dissolved off, and is deposited upon
the whole of the surface of the negative element in a chemically spongy condition.
The thickness of the coating may be varied at will, and is regulated by the density
of the current and the duration of its flow. By this process, the negative element
immediately acquires a considerable electrical storage' capacity. After the
depositing operation, the cell is thoroughly washed with water, and, to destroy
all traces of acid, it is treated with a dilute solution of ammonia or soda and
water
For portable batteries, the receptacles are preferably closed, and sealed with some
insulating compound which is not effected by the electrolyte.
As a means of inserting a hydrometer to occasionally test the density of the

page_text: electrolyte, one or more perforated tubes may extend throughout the whole depth
of the active material, the tubes being of such a size as to freely allow of the
insertion of the density-testing apparatus.
The electrode or collector may consist of a plain metal strip or plate, or it may
be a metallic frame, or it may be a wire which permeates throughout the whole mass
of the active material.
It will be obvious that the form of the battery may be extensively varied
according to requirements, without departing from the character of the invention.
In lieu of porous pots, the porous divisions may other forms, such as plates dividing
a box of insulating material into compartments filled with active material and fluid
electrolyte.
It will also be obvious that the present form of grid or plate, as used in electrical
storage batteries, may be employed to form a mechanically solid battery, as, by inter-
posing between each element a plate of porous material or other suitable insulating
porous contrivance and then filling up the interstices either with flaky metal,
granulated metallic salts, or a mixture of both, alone or in conjunction with some
inert porous material, the desired mechanical rigidity is obtained, and yet sufficient
space is secured for the requisite quantity of electrolyte.
The employment of a porous partition in some form, to divide the electrodes, is
essential, but the electrical resistance resulting from the use thereof, is amply made
up by the increased current capacity obtained with the spongy material, as explained.
The absence of disintegration or buckling of plates, and the perfect solidity (mechani-
cally) of the battery, more than counterbalances the disadvantage arising from the
resistance of the porous partitions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A battery for electrical storage purposes composed solidly of active material
in a spongy or divided state, a fluid electrolyte, and a porous partition or partitions,
for separating the elements, substantially as explained with reference to the accom-
panying drawing.
2. In an electrical storage battery, the employment of storage material com-
posed of spongy metal prepared by dropping it, in a melted condition, into hot water,
substantially as explained.
3. Rendering storage batteries mechanically solid by the employment of active
material composed of spongy metal, granulated metallic salts, or a mixture of
spongy metal, and granulated metallic salts, either alone or in conjunction with some
inert porous material, substantially as described.
4. Converting the ordinary grid or plate form of storage battery, into a mechani-
cally solid battery, by the interposition of a porous medium and a packing of spongy
metal, granulated metallic salts, or a mixture of both, either alone or in conjunction
with some inert porous material, in such a way as to leave ample room for the
electrolyte, substantially as described.
5. A mechanically solid storage battery having its negative element formed by
the electrolytic deposition of chemically spongy lead in the manner described.
6. In a mechanically solid storage battery, the employment of an outside con-
aining chamber composed of a electrically conducting substance which forms one
electrode of the secondary couple.
7. A solid storage battery substantially as described and shewn in the accom-
panying drawing.
Dated thin 19th dow of T1001
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.