IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES OR ACCUMULATORS
Year: 1885

page_text: I JAMES PITKIN of 56 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell in the County of Middle-
sex, Scientific Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention for 'IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES OR ACCUMULATORS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of elements for
secondary batteries or accumulators, and it has for its object to prevent the active
material from becoming detached from the plates or supports and to avoid liability
of short circuiting.
According to my Invention the elements are constructed of a central plate or
support of lead or other conductive material, against which the spongy lead or the
peroxide of this metal is held by frames of ebonite and external perforated plates
of the same material. The frames corrrespond in size to the plates or supports and
if the latter (as would usually be the case) are of rectangular form, said frames
would consist of four strips of ebonite secured together and resembling a picture
frame. These frames rest against the edges of the plate or support and the
perforated plates are clamped over the frames and the whole held in place by bolts
of ebonite which pass through the elements and are secured by ebonite nuts.
The active material is packed between the central support and the external
perforated plates. By this construction I obtain an even layer or layers of active
material upon the whole surface of the support and prevent waste of current in
charging.
The elements are held in place in the cell by resting on blocks of porcelain or
other equivalent material having V or other shaped depressions for the elements to
rest in.

page_text: Improvements in Secondary Batteries or Accumulators.
I JAMES PITKIN of 56, Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex,
Scientific Instrument Maker, do heroby 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 relates to Improvements in the manufacture of elements for
secondary batteries or accumulators, and it has for its object to prevent the active
material from becoming detached from the plate or support, and to avoid liability
of short circuiting. According to my Invention the element is constructed of a
central plate or support (or other form of conductor) of metallic lead or other
conductive material, against which the spongy lead or the peroxide of this metal is
held by perforated plates of ebonite and intermediate marginal frames of the same
material, enclosing a space into which the active material is packed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification wherein Figure 1. is a face view of an element, part of the perforated
non conducting enclosing plate being broken away.
Figure 2 is a vertical section through same.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both Figures.
a is the central supporting plate of metallic lead, b b are the perforated enclosing
plates of ebonite, or other suitable non conducting material, co are the intermediate
marginal frames, and d the active material. The frames c correspond in size to the
plate or support a and if the latter, (as would usually be the case) be of rectangular
form, said frames would consist of four strips of ebonite which may be secured
together at the corners, or not, as preferred They form an open frame serving to
prevent the active material escaping at the edges of the element, and act as distance
pieces to determine the thickness of the layer of active material. These marginal
frames are applied against the opposite faces of the central plate or support a, and
the perforated platos 6 are clamped against the frames c and the whole united by
bolts e of ebonite passing through the element from side to side, and are secured by
ebouito nuts. The marginal frames instead of being separate may be constituted
by flanges or ribs on or integral with the perforated plates b. These marginal
distance pieces, ribs, or flanges, need not be continuous, but might be interrupted at
intervals, if preferred. It will be obvious, also, that the perforated enclosing plate,
and distance pieces, may be applied to one only, or to both faces of the conducting
plate. The active material d is then packed between the central support and the
perforated plates. By this construction I obtain an even layer, or layers, of active
material upon the whole surface of the support, and prevent waste of current in
charging. The elements are held in place in the cell by resting on blocks of
porcelain or other equivalent material, having V or other shaped depressions for the
elements to rest in.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what
I claim is
In the construction of the elements of a voltaic battery, the combination with n
conductive plate, or other form of conductor, of one, or two, perforated plates of non
conducting material, enclosing one, or both faces of the conducting plate and
intermediate distance pieces, frames, ribs, or flanges, the whole united by bolts of
non-conducting material for the purpose of holding the active material in contact
with the conducting plate, substantially as described, and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 14th day of D100%
J. PITKIN.
By A. M. & W Clark, Patent Agents,
53, Chancery Lane, London.