Improvements in the Manufacture of Accumulator Plates.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1899-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Accumulator Plates.
We, DR. WILHELM MAJERT, of Grünau, in the Empire of Germany, Chemist,
and FEDOR BERG, of 9, Königgrätzer Strasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Banker, 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 relates to the manufacture of accumulator plates by means of
a special cutting tool such as described in the Specification of Patent 996 of 1897.
The tool referred to is provided with a cutting edge and a forming edge the first
of which cuts or displaces material from the accumulator plate to make a groove
whilst the latter sets up the displaced material as a rib. In the specification
above mentioned the tool is described as operated in conjunction with a lathe
to form circular grooves and ribs and with a planing machine to form them
rectilinearly. The first method has been found to involve considerable loss of
material whilst either method necessitated subsequent hand labour to completely
finish the plate as a frame with pole piece and supporting lugs had to be soldered
on after operation by the tool.
The object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned dis-
advantages and this is accomplished by imparting an oscillating movement to
the tool so as to form arc-like grooves and ribs in the plate which is held station-
ary relatively to the tool. Several tools can be arranged to work simultaneously,
the tools also being arranged to cut at each movement.
The plate to be operated on may be formed with suitable frame supporting
lugs and pole piece by casting and afterwards subjected to a pressure to increase
its hardness.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively side elevation, front elevation and plan of
a machine constructed in accordance with the invention.
Figure 4 illustrates in front elevation, sectional side elevation, and sectional
plan, a prepared plate previous to operation thereupon by a cutting tool.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are respectively side elevation, front elevation and plan of
a shaping machine adapted for the manufacture of accumulator plates according
to the invention.
Figure 8 illustrates in front and side elevation an improvement in the cutting
tool to be hereinafter fully referred to.
In carrying the invention into effect an accumulator plate P is formed by
casting, and has a pole piece, supporting. lugs 73 and strengthening ribs ?).
Grooves or channels p₁ are formed on each side of the ribs and the plate is
thereby divided into a series of panels 72. The plate so prepared is then ready
to be operated on by the cutting tool before referred to, which by means of the

page_text: machine illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 forms grooves and ribs in the panels p
as hereafter described.
gear c.
i
The plate P is fixed to a sliding bedplate b which is supported on the machine
frame a and fed forward at proper intervals by a pawl' and ratchet or like feed
A framework d erected above the frame bed a supports a set of ver-
tical shafts i and driving gear for working them. The driving gear consists
of a pulleye on a shaft e¹ which through pinions (transmits motion to a
vertical side shaft g, carrying on its upper end a driving disc h. The disc h
oscillates the shafts by means of a connecting rod h and levers which latter
are connected together by a link . Tool holders 7 project from the lower
extremities of the shaft i and each carries a tool f of the kind before referred
to. The plate l' is fed forward until the tools f lie in their respective channels pl
and the machine is started.. The tools oscillate about the shafts i and form at
each movement arc-like grooves and ribs in the panels ². The plate is of course
fed forward by the feed gear c at the end of each oscillation so as to present
fresh material to the tools.
In manufacturing plates by means of a machine similar in action to a planing
machine such as described in the before mentioned specification it is necessary
that the plate be firmly retained on the bedplate so that it remains steady under
the action of the tool. The plate can be prevented from shifting in a horizontal
plane by placing it in a frame but this method of securing it does not prevent
warping or distortion. Clamping strips placed over the plate would of course
prevent warping but then repeated clamping has been found to elongate the
plate whereby the work is retarded.
The above disadvantages are avoided by using a pressure roller in conjunction
with the cutting tool. The roller is situated in close proximity to the cutting
edge and pressing down on to the plate prevents distortion of the same and insures
a uniform depth being cut by the tool. Such a roller is illustrated in Figure 8
wherein is the plate, and f the cutting tool. The roller is supported by
an adjustable holder g held in the tool box. In passing over the plate it has
a polishing effect thereon and at the same time prevents the plate shifting or
warping.
Figures 5 to 7 illustrate a shaping machine adapted for actuating a tool pro-
vided with a pressure roller such as that above described. The tool fand
roller are reciprocated together with a slide 5 which derives its motion from
an oscillating lever in such a manner that its return stroke is quicker than
its forward or working stroke. Suitable feed arrangements are applied to the
machine for feeding the plate laterally as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. A process for the production of accumulator plates, being a modification of
that which is the subject matter of Letters Patent No. 996 of 1897, consisting
in the cutting and displacing from the material of the plate, of ribs by means of
a cutting tool having a reciprocating are movement, between whose movements
the plate is shifted substantially as described.
2. Means for the production of plates for accumulators according to the process
of Claim consisting of a machine having a tool or tools with a vibratory
motion for the formation of ribs upon the surface of the plate substantially as
described.
3. In means, for the production of plates for accumulators, such as those of
Claim 2 in which tools such as those described in the Specification to Letters
Patent No. 996 of 1897 are employed, a pressure roller which is fixed beside
and somewhat in front of the cutting edge of the tool for the purpose of prevent-
ing the distortion of the plate and to press smooth and polish it.

page_text: 4. An accumulator plate and means for the production thereof substantially
s and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated.
Dated this 28th day of February 1899.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.