Improvements in Electric Batteries.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Mar., 1889
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
I, BENJAMIN WILLCOX of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com- .
municated to me from abroad by Bruno Abdank Abakanowicz and Arsène
d'Arsonval both of Paris in the Republic of France to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to electric batteries and consists in applying a continuous
pressure to the electrodes employed in primary or secondary generators as hereinafter
described in order to obtain a greater area of active surface and diminish the
resistance and depolarisation. To obtain a carbon electrode for example fragments of
broken carbon are enclosed in a porous or foraminous cylinder or other vessel or
receptacle and sufficient pressure is applied to maintain the pieces in intimate contact.
This pressure may be produced by a spring, screw, weight, or other suitable means.
By these means an almost solid block is produced composed of small pieces which
by reason of the pressure to which they are subjected offer a minimum of electrical
resistance. The entire mass is traversed by passages or channels formed by the
interstices between the pieces of carbon through which the liquid can circulate
freely.
In the case of a depolarising battery for example composed of a mixture of carbon
and bioxide of manganese operating with a solution of caustic potash or soda the
mixture is placed in a perforated tube or cylinder of sheet iron for example and a
screwed rod is passed through the centre of the mass being connected at each end.
with discs closing the ends of the tube. A nut or nuts acting through a spring or
springs is or are screwed on to this rod outside the discs and enable the material in
the tube or cylinder to be compressed to the desired extent by screwing up the
nut or nuts.
When bioxide of manganese is employed with hydrochlorate of ammonia or other
material not admitting of the use of iron or metallic cylinders a porous or perforated
.

page_text: cylinder of earthenware or other suitable material is employed or the mixture is
packed in. a non metallic receptacle provided with compartments for example and
pressure is.applied by means of cords attached to the plates. If desired the cords, may
be tightened by means of screws and nuts arranged outside the vessel.
These systems of applying pressure can evidently be employed with zinc shavings
or any other suitable material in any suitable form of receptacle and in the case of
secondary batteries the pressure is exerted on pulverised or granulated peroxide of
lead.

page_text: Improvements in Electric Batteries.
·
I BENJAMIN WILLOOX of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in tho County of Middlesex
Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this Invention, which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Bruno Abdank Abakanowicz and Arsène
d'Arsonval both of Paris in the Republic of France .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 primary and secondary electric batteries and consists in
applying a continuous
hereinafter described. pressure to the materials constituting the electrodes as
pressure has an advantageous effect on certain qualities
or properties of the electrodes such as the resistance and coefficient of depolarisation
and at the same time enables the active surface to be suited to the purpose for which
the battery is employed. To obtain a carbon electrode for example fragments of
broken carbon are enclosed in a porous or foraminous cylinder or other similar vessel
or receptacle and sufficient pressure is applied to maintain the pieces or fragments of
carbon in intimate contact. This pressure may be produced by placing a suitable
weight upon the carbon or by a spring acted on by a screw, or by other suitable
means.
By these means an almost solid block is produced composed of small pieces which
by reason of the pressure to which they are subjected offer a minimum of electrical
resistance. The entire mass is traversed by passages or channels formed by the
interstices between the pieces of carbon and through which the liquid can circulate freely
not being liable to stand or stagnate as in the capillary passages of ordinary porous
carbons.
In case the parts become accidentally displaced or disturbed the action of the
pressure restores the original condition of the materials. Electrodes are thus obtained
presenting a very large area of surface and capable of being manufactured at a small
cost.
,
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed -
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents partly in section an electrode
according to this invention suitable for a depolarising battery for example being
composed of a mixture of carbon and bioxide of manganese operating with a solution
of caustic potash and soda. This mixture marked M in the drawing is placed in a
perforated tube or cylinder A of sheet iron for example and a screwed rod T is
passed through the centre of the mass M being connected at the lower end to a
disc P' forming the bottom of the cylindrical vessel A. A nut E acting through
a spring R on a disc P being screwed on to the rod T enables the material in
the tube or cylinder A to be compressed to the desired -extent between -the-
discs P, P. The electrode thus prepared is simply immersed in the caustic solution
in combination with the zinc and the battery cell is complete.

page_text: When bioxide of manganese is employed with hydrochlorate of ammonia or
other material not admitting of the use of iron or metallic cylinders a porous or
perforated cylinder of earthenware or other suitable material is employed as in
the arrangement illustrated in figure 2 for example the mixture being packed in
a porous cylinder or receptacle A which may be either independent as in the
example illustrated or which may form one compartment of the battery trough and
pressure is applied to the materials by means of a cord C acting on the plates P P1.
One end of this cord is attached to the plate P¹ forming the bottom of the vessel A
and the other end is attached to a hollow screw F on which works a nut E. By
rotating the nut E on the screw F the desired pressure is transmitted to the plate P
through a spring R and the materials M are compressed between the plates P P¹ as in
the arrangement herein before described with reference to figure 1. Any other
suitable combinations of springs weights screws and the like may be employed in order
to apply the continuous pressure to the materials the arrangements hereinbefore
described with reference to the drawings being merely given as examples of the
application of the system of compression forming the object of this invention.
These systems of applying pressure can evidently be employed with zinc shavings
or any other suitable material in any suitable form of receptacle and in the case of
secondary batteries the pressure is exerted on the pulverised or granulated peroxide
of lead or materials usually employed in such batteries.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and in what manner-the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
Subjecting materials constituting electrodes of primary and secondary batteries to
continuous pressure as and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.