IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY VOLTAIC CELLS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Wilson Swan, of the Town and County of
Newcastle-on-Tyne, Chemist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SECONDARY VOLTAIC CELLS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Wilson Swan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th December 1881.
_JOSEPH WILSON SWAN of the Town and County of Newcastle on Tyne Chemist.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY VOLTAIC CELLS."
My Invention has for its object the preparation of lead plates, to be used in the
construction of cells for secondary batteries upon the principle proposed by Planté,
with a view to diminish the time usually occupied in their preparation.
In carrying out my Invention I take plates of lead of any suitable form but
preferably corrugated grooved or cellular plates as described in the Specification
of my Letters Patent No. 2272 dated 24th May 1881 and I expose them to the
combined action of acetic acid, carbonic acid, and atmospheric air, as in the well
known process of making white lead; which action results in the formation of
carbonate of lead on the lead plates; this formation may extend to a depth
greater or less according to the time such plates are subjected to the vapours
and gases. After this action has taken place to a sufficient depth, a portion of
the plate being generally allowed to remain unacted upon.-I subject the treated
plates to the action of electrolytic hydrogen by making them the cathode of an
electric generator, (which may either be a voltaic battery, a dynamo- or magneto-
electric machine, a thermopile or any other suitable electricity generator in a
suitable electrolyte). When the carbonate of lead has been transformed into
metallic lead by the said electrolytic action, I arrange and use the plates so treated
in the well known manner of arranging and using lead plates in the construction
and charging and use of Planté secondary cells.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Wilson Swan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th June 1882.
JOSEPH WILSON SWAN of the Town and County of Newcastle on Tyne Chemist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY VOLTAIC CELLS."
My said Invention has for its object the preparation of lead plates to be used in
the construction of cells for secondary batteries upon the principle proposed by
Planté in such a manner as to diminish the time usually occupied in their
preparation.
In carrying my Invention into effect I take plates of lead of any suitable form
but preferably with corrugated grooved or cellular plates as described in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 2272 granted to me as of the 24th day of May
_in_the_year_of_our_Lord.1881-so-as-to-be-capable-of-retaining-in-the-cells grooves-
corrugations or interstices spongy or finely divided lead and I expose these plates
to the combined action of acetic acid carbonic acid and atmospheric air as in the
well known process of making white lead which action results in the formation of
carbonate of lead on the lead plates; this formation may extend to a depth greater
or less according to the time such plates are subjected to the action of the vapours
and gases.
After this action has taken place to a sufficient depth a portion of the
plate being generally allowed to remain unacted upon I subject the treated plates
to the action of electrolytic hydrogen by making them the cathode of an electric
generator which may either be a voltaic battery a dynamo or magneto-electric
machine or thermo-pile or any other suitable electricity generator in a suitable
electrolyte. When the carbonate of lead has been transformed into metallic lead
by the said electrolytic action I arrange and use the plates so treated in the well
known manner of arranging and using lead plates in the construction and charging
and use of Plantés secondary cells.
.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said.
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is :--
The preparation of lead plates for use in secondary voltaic cells by the combined
action of acetic acid carbonic acid and atmospheric air and the subsequent
reduction of the carbonate of lead formed to metallic lead substantially as
herein before described.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Wilson Swan have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this Fourteenth day of June One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
JOSEPH WILSON SWAN. (L.S.)