Year: 1888

page_text: A communication from abroad by CHARLES DAVID PAIGE GIBSON, of New York,
in the County of New York, in the State of New York, United States of
America, Electrician.]
:
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 :-
The invention relates to storage batteries or accumulators; and it consists in a
novel method of applying the active material to the supporting plate or electrode,
whereby the former is enclosed so as to be reliably retained in segregated masses
within the body of the latter. The construction is such that the active material is
adequately exposed to the action of the electrolytic fluid.while substantially secured
in its place in the supporting plate. The battery thereby remains operative.for a long
period.
The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which figure 1 is an
elevation of an electrode or plate for storage batteries, the small dotted circles
showing the close arrangement of the masses of active material enclosed in the body
of the plate. Figures 2, 3, and 4, show sections of plates with different forms of
receptacle for the active material and the method of securing the same within the
plate.
The efficiency and durability of service of storage batteries depend greatly upon
the secure manner in which the active material is attached to or held in contact with
the supporting plate. When simply placed in contact with the surface of the plate,
it is caused to be separated by the continued charge and discharge of the battery, by
reason of which the battery loses its capacity for storage and eventually becomes
useless. The present invention locks the plate and active material in a practically
close and permanent contact.

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In figure 1 B is the plate, which is formed preferably of metallic lead, the small
circles b representing the places of the enclosed active material. The highest oxide
of lead, or peroxide is now almost universally used, as the active material.
Ordinarily heretofore this has been applied directly to the surface of the supporting
plate, or, when the latter is formed with angular or other forms of depression, these
are filled with the material. In the present invention, however, the material is placed
in receptacles, openings or pouches, formed within the metallic body of the plate,
and provision is made for partially closing the openings thus formed, after they have
been filled with the active material, in such a way that the active material is
securely locked within the plate, without however secluding it from contact with the
electrolytic fluid.
b
Figure 2 shows one method of forming the plate and locking the active material
therein. In this case the plate B is made with cells or openings 6 into its interior,
and around the openings are raised lips, rings or projections. The full openings b
do not extend, in this figure, ontirely through the plate, but a thin portion of the
metal is permitted to remain as shown-at; and through this a small opening ³ is
made. These cells or openings are then filled with active material, as shown at &*
and the cells are partially closed by folding the lips or rings 6 over toward each other.
This may be readily done by the use of a tool or die G, having the angular recess c,
at its end. Its effect is shown at G¹. After this, an even and regular pressure is
exerted, preferably acting on both sides of the plate at the same time, and passing
over the whole surface, whereby the remaining projections and inequalities are made
smooth.
A very convenient method of causing the required pressure is the use of two
rollers, partially shown at D, D, between which the plate is caused to pass. In this
way the masses of active material are somewhat changed in form as shown at b³, and
the plate with the confined masses is made slightly thinner, while its surfaces are
made smooth. As the lips or rings are not-sufficient to entirely cover the openings
of the plate, a small opening 6 remains on that side, and, as described, a similar
opening remains on the other side, through both of which the electrolyte has
immediate access to the active material.
.
Instead of the cells b in figure 2, which extend not entirely through the plate, the
openings may be made to extend quite through, and have the lips or rings on both
sides, as shown in figure 3. In such case, the lips on one side are first closed, or
nearly closed by folding them over upon the opening, as shown in dotted lines, at 62.
The cells are then almost similar to those shown in figuro. 2, at b. They are filled
in the same manner, and the plate completed, as described in referring to the
preceding figure. In figures 2 and 3 the plate with its cells or openings may be
either formed by casting or molding, or a plane sheet of lead may be given the
proper form by pressure. The plastic nature of the metal will readily suggest suitable
methods.
Figure 4 illustrates a further method of securing the active material within the
body of the metallic plate. In this case oblique conical incisions or openings, shown
in section at b, are amado by a suitable-tool or punch. These openings may be made
at any angle with the surface of the plate, and the sharpened point of the tool
should preferably be allowed to extend so far through, as to make a small opening
on the other side. The metal of the plate will also be forced upward about the tool,
on the side where it enters, as shown at 62,62, thus causing lips or rings which are
more or less complete. The active material is then put into the openings, as shown
at 63. By the same methods as are already described, as by the rollers D, D, the
active material is retained, the plate made smooth, and the small holes *, which are
allowed to remain, expose the masses of active material to contact with the
electrolyte.
Plates thus made have this advantage; while the active material is securely held
within the body of the plate, the segregated.masses thereof become equally accessible
to the electrolyte, whereby the whole surface of the plate has a uniform activity.
It will be seen that the invention portains only to the construction of the plates or

page_text: electrodes of storage batteries, and that the nature of the material used, and the
methods of charging and uso do not form any part of the invention. In the present
state of the art, metallic lead is understood to be the most effective material for
the supporting plates, and the peroxide of lead the most useful active material. But
the present invention is equally applicable to other materials, and is not confined
to any.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A storage battery plate, having openings or perforations in which active material
is placed and secured within the body of said plate, while left so as to be open to
contact with the electrolyte, substantially as set forth.
2. The method of forming storage battery plates which consists in making
openings into said plates thereby forming colls or receptacles having raised lips, rings
or edges, filling the openings with active material, and securing said material therein
by pressure or other means upon the said lips, rings or odges, whereby the openings
are partially closed.
3. A storage battery plate, the active material of which is placed within cells or
openings formed in said plate, and partly covered by portions of the metallic body
of the plate, whereby the active material is held in place, and also is kept in contact
with the electrolyte.
T
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