IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES
Year: 1884

page_text: GEORGE PRESCOTT, Electrical Engineer MARMADUKE F PURCELL, B.L. FCS.
Associate Institute Civil Engineers Ireland DAVID SHERLOCK B.L. and WILLIAM
HENRY DUNNE Esquire, all of 51 Dame Street, Dublin, do hereby declare the
nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES" to be as
follows:-
In constructing the plates or anodes of secondary or storage batteries, lead has
been proved to be the best and cheapest substance and has been used in the various
forms of the metal and the oxides, and been introduced into cells or receptacles
forming anodes, so that an electric current sent through the battery may produce
a change in the condition of the lend and oxides respectively at the different poles,
and that a reverse action may be set up to develope an electric current when the
battery is connected in an external circuit.
Our present invention has regard to an improvement in the mode of manu-
facturing the plates or electrodes, whereby the lead and its oxides, and the lead and
its suboxides are more thoroughly mixed and a greater battery capacity can be
obtained in a smaller space than was possible until now. We effect this by melting
the lead and mixing therein in the most perfect manner the oxides and suboxides
and to such an extent as to produce a mass having the smallest resistance possible
consistent with the proper action requisite.
We find that this mixture can be best made whilst the lead is at a temperature.
of from 610-700° or more (F). The same may be mixed in a suitable vessel or
in a special apparatus designed by the Inventors to be heated to a suitable
temperature.
The lead and its oxides or suboxides when properly mixed aro used in the form
of sheets or layers cylinders, or such other manner as may be found most con-
venient and are wrapped by or placed in contact with metallic conductors capable
of forming proper terminals for the plates or anodes.
In addition to fixing the aforesaid compositions on to suitable conductors by
hydraulic or other pressure or forcing same into any suitably shaped vessel:
advantage is taken of the property of the above compositions whereby they
become porous hard and solid masses when treated with solutions of H 2. So 4
(Hydric sulphate) and can therefore be used in blocks alone, or in connection with
suitable metallic conductors in series or singly-advantage is also taken of the gain
Price 6d 1

page_text: derived by making the negative plate of the composition containing the highest
oxide of lead, and the positive plate of the composition containing the suboxide, or
by making the positive plate of the suboxide alone attached to or in connection
with suitable metallic conductors or terminals.
What we specially claim is the production of a mixture of a low resistance and.
of an enormous electrical surface in a comparatively small space.
We also claim that by the invention of using the mixture of lead and the sub-
oxides or of the suboxides alone for the positive plates or anodes in conjunction
with the use of the mixture of lead and the oxides or of the oxides alono for the
negative plates or anodes a great saving of time and also of electrical energy and
consequently of money is effected the battery being by this invention capable of
developing a very high efficiency directly it is made without the loss of time and
money that heretofore had to be expended in the formation of the positive and
negative plates or anodes manufactured under any of the present methods.

page_text: We GEORGE PRESCOTT Electrical Engineer MARMADUKE F PURCELL, B.L. F.C.S.
Associate Institute Civil Engineers, DAVID SHERLOCK B.L. and WILLIAM HENRY
DUNNE Esquire all of Number 51 Dame Street in the City of Dublin do
hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY
BATTERIES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In constructing the plates or anodes of secondary or storage Batteries lead has
been proved to be the best and cheapest substance and has been used in the various
forms of the metal and the oxides and been introduced into cells or receptacles
forming anodes so that an electric current sent through the Battery may produce a
change in the conditions of the lead and oxides respectively at the different poles
and that a reverse action may be set up to develop an electric current when the
battery is connected in an external circuit.
•
Our present invention has regard to an improvement in the mode of manu-
facturing the plates or electrodes whereby the lead and its oxides, and the lead and
its suboxides are more thoroughly mixed and a greater battery capacity can be
obtained in a smaller space than was possible until now. We effect this by
melting the lead and mixing therein in the most perfect manner the oxides and
suboxides and to such an extent as to produce a mass having the smallest resistance.
possible consistent with the proper action requisite.
We find that this mixture can be best made whilst the load is at a temperaturo.
of from 610° to 700° or more (F) the same may be mixed in a suitable vessel or in
a special apparatus designed by the inventors such vessel or apparatus to be heated
to the suitable temperature.
The load and its oxides or sub oxides when properly mixed are used in the form
of sheets or layers, Cylinders or such other manner as may be found most convenient
and are wrapped by or placed in contact with suitable metallic conductɔrs capable
of forming proper terminals for the plates or anodes.
In addition to fixing the aforesaid compositions on to suitable conductors by
hydraulic or other pressure or forcing same into any suitably shaped vessel
advantage is taken of the property of the above composition whereby they become
porous hard and solid masses when treated with solutions of H₂ SO. (Hydric
sulphate) and can therefore be used in blocks alone or in connection with suitable
metallic conductors in series or singly. Advantage is also taken of the guin derived
by making the positive plate of the composition containing the highest oxide of
lead and the negative plate or anode if the composition containing the suboxide or
by making the negative plate or anode of the suboxide alone or in connection with.
suitable metallic conductors as may be found most advantageous in working also
by using a composition consisting of the lead and "suboxide" (a substanco hitherto
not used for battery purposes) for the negative plate or anode in conjunction with
the lead and oxide or other form of positive plate or anode we are enabled to
produce a cell ready for immediate use thus obviating the trouble and expense
hitherto inevitable in all other forms of secondary batteries or accumulators which
must first be formed by electrical charging and discharging for varying periods of
time before they reach their proper efficiency.
The shape of the plates electrodes or anodes and the method of using the same
and connecting said plates electrodes or anodes or the general form of the battery

page_text: required for. In like manner the acid solution may be of any character or specific
gravity known and most suitable for the special work the battery may be designed
to accomplish while the vessel holding same may be such as will be found most
desirable in each case.
In some instances the battery will be formed by filling a stoneware or other
trough with the compositions the negative composition being in one compartment
formed by the trough being divided by a porous diaphragm and the positive
composition in the other compartment of said trough each having a suitable
metallic conductor in contact with the mass and both compositions being in a state
of sludge being wet with the acidulated water-In the drawing accompanying this
specification, Fig I is a prospective view of one of a group of cells.
Fig II. is a section through W. X. Y. Z.
Fig III cross section.
"
A A A A. trough of stoneware or other material with grooves B B to receive
porous diaphragm C which divides each cell into two portions allowing the
composition containing the suboxide to be put into one compartment in connection
with a suitable metallic conductor forming the negative anode and the composition
containing the oxide into the other compartment and in connection with a suitable
metallic conductor forming the positive anode, E head of Conductor, D section of
Conductor in this case made X shape for convenience and consisting of four
wings of lead of a size found most convenient in working joined together at the
inner edges forming an X with solid head into which connecting wire or binding
screw can be cast or otherwise fastened. F. composition.
Fig II same letters apply.
Fig III Do
Do
Do
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare what we
claim is
1. Composition of lead and oxides in a state of mechanical division the lend
mixed throughout the oxides in a manner and with a completeness hitherto
unattainable and made substantially as set forth.
2. The use for the negative plate or anode of the suboxide in connection with
the metallic lead substantially as set forth.
3. Besides using these compositions for plates or anodos formed in the usual
manner we claim the use of them as sludges using troughs of earthenware or other
material as may be found most suitable for the purpose with a porous diaphragm
dividing same into two halves one of which contains the composition for the
negativo anode the other contains that for the positive anode.
A8 WILness our hands LIS Litn daY OF Vecember 180%.
A8 WILness our hands LOIS Istn da O Vecember 180%.
.
GEORGE PRESCOTT.
W. H. DUNNE.
MARMADUKE F. PURCELL.
DAVID SHERLOCK.
Witness,
W J. MOLLOY,
51, Dame Street,
Dublin.