IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY OR STORAGE BATTERIES FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF ELECTRICITY
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick John Cheesbrough of the Office for Patents,
15 Water Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster Consulting Engineer
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY OR STORAGE BATTERIES
FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF ELECTRICITY". Communicated to bim
abroad by Asahel Knowlton Eaton of Brooklyn in the County of Kings and
State of New York United States of America.
from
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick John Cheesbrough
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th September 1882.
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH, of the Office for Patents, 15, Water Street,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer
SECONDARY, OR STORAGE BATTERIES FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF ELECTRICITY
[Communicated to him from abroad by Asabel Knowlton Eaton of Brooklyn
in the County of Kings and State of New York United States of America.]
"
The object of this Invention is to obtain the greatest amount of surface in the
storage reservoirs with the least possible weight, and to give the greatest possible
efficiency to the same.
In order to show the points of advantage resulting from this Invention, I will
briefly describe the principal storage batteries heretofore in use.
Planté, who may in a practical sense be considered as the originator of the
secondary battery made use of two large sheets of plate lead rolled together in a
cylindrical form with strips of rubber intervening to prevent contact of the two
plates; the roll being placed in a cylindrical vessel containing water acidulated
with sulphuric acid and the two sheets connected with the poles of a proper
battery, one sheet being connected with the positive and the other with the negative
pole of the same.
The action of the primary battery current upon the lead plates of the secondary
in the Plantè Battery is as follows:-The water being decomposed hydrogen is
released from the lead sheet connected with the negative pole of the battery and
the oxygen developed at the surface of the sheet connected with the positive pole

page_text: combines with the lead, forming a layer of peroxide of the metal. The battery is
then disconnected and the accumulated electricity is discharged through a conductor
connecting the different lead sheets. The battery is again connected, the poles
having been reversed with reference to the two poles of the secondary; ie, the
sheet of lead connected with the positive pole in the first charge is connected with
the negative in the second. In the second charging the hydrogen which is
developed upon the surface of the previously oxidised sheet combines with the
oxygen of the peroxide of lead and reduces it to the form of a spongy coating of
lead and the opposite sheet becomes peroxidised. The secondary is again discharged
and the poles of the battery again reversed. This change is repeated again and
again until a sufficiently thick layer of lead sponge is formed on one sheet and a
corresponding layer of oxidised sponge is formed on the opposite sheet, when it is
ready for use. The time occupied in this (Plantè's) process involved weeks, or even
months of time and very considerable expense, thereby making it practically of
very little use,
Faurès improvement, which consists in coating the lead plates with red oxide of
lead enabled him to secure the desired surfaces of spongy lead on one plate and
peroxide of lead on the other by the first charge from the battery, and gave at
once real value to the idea of storing, or accumulating electricity by means of
secondary batteries.
The main objection to this form of battery lies in its weight, which makes it
unwieldy.
This present Invention aims at the production of the greatest amount of surface
with the least weight of metal and in addition a much greater facility in charging
and discharging the accumulator.
The following is a description of this method of constructing and preparing a
secondary, or storage battery.
A skeleton plate is formed of very thin sheet lead which acts mainly as a
conductor, or the skeleton may be an open wicker work of lead wire for the same
purpose.
The skeleton is filled in and entirely embedded in very fine spongy crystalline
lead by the following treatment.
Two pieces of sheet zinc are first prepared by coating each, on one side, with
japan, or any varnish that will protect the surface. One of these sheets is then
placed with the naked side of the zine upwards in a shallow platter, the lead
skeleton is placed upon this, the other zinc sheet is placed with its naked side
downwards upon the lead skeleton. I then pour into the platter a sufficient
quantity of a saturated solution of acetate of lead, or its equivalent, to cover the
lead net work. In a short time the lead of the acetate is deposited on both sides
of the lead skeleton so as to entirely envelope it with lead sponge. The lead plates
thus prepared, after washing, are pressed between two sheets of paper,
parchmentized paper, cloth, asbestos board, or other material (asbestos being
preferred). These enclosing sheets of asbestos with the included lead sponge are
then ready for use. The plates may be made of considerable length and the two
rolled together after the manner of Faure, or, which is preferable in smaller plates,
say 8 by 9 inches, and then so packed in a box that the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, etc, plates
shall all be connected to form one pole, and the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, etc, plates joined to
form the other pole.
It is better, but not essential, that a metallic skeleton be used for the preparation
of these sponge plates. The following substitute may sometimes be adopted. Any
open or loosely woven cotton cloth, bibulous paper, or asbestos is taken as the
skeleton and treated exactly like the metallic skeleton. As the lead sponge is
precipitated on both sides of the cloth, or other substitute, it strikes through the
meshes, or pores of the sheet and the two opposite layers knit themselves together
forming a continuous spongy metallic felting that is used in the same manner as
the plates first described. In this case wires, or strips of lead are imbedded in the
sponge to act as polar connections.

page_text: By this arrangement it will be seen that a small amount of lead will expose an
enormous amount of surface, and further, that the lead in so far as one element
of the accumulator is concerned is already in complete condition for work, and the
other being in this finely divided spongy form is peroxidized with the greatest
facility by the first action of the battery. In some cases one half of the plates
(the positive electrode) is covered with a paste of peroxide of lead in which case
the accumulator needs no action of the battery for its first charge, but is ready for
work immediately upon being put together.
in use.
Batteries made in accordance with these directions receive the charge from the
battery, or dynamo-machine with very short exposure to its action accumulate an
unusually large amount of potential energy and retain it for a long time without
material loss. The amount of surface exposed by the sponge thus previously
prepared is more than ten times that possible to be formed by the methods now
It is found that storage batteries of this construction are vastly superior
to those made with solid sheet lead. Lead hair or fibre made under Letters
Patent of the United States of America granted to Asahel Knowlton Eaton, dated
March 9th 1880, is also suitable for use in the preparation of the battery (herein
described) upon the skeleton lead plates (which may be made of wire cloth) and
with good effect. The same principle has also been applied to the form of
accumulator known as " Suttons in which one of the plates is of copper and
the solution sulphate of copper, the other element of the accumulator being
amalgamated sheet lead. Spongy copper is precipitated in a similar manner upon
a skeleton plate, copper wire cloth being most suitable for the purpose. The other
element is of the same character as in the accumulator first described.
"
To facilitate the formation of the peroxide upon the plate connected to the
positive pole, the surface of the lead sponge plate may be painted with a paste
composed of red lead mixed with acidulated water.
A modified form of the sponge plate can also be formed of a mixture of red lead
and metallic sponge. This mixture soon hardens and becomes a strong porous
solid, so that strong sponge plates can be made of it and form a very good substitute
for the lead sponge plate.
The construction of the battery is very simple. On the upper end of each of
the skeleton plates there is made a projection. The plates having been treated as
described are set in a jar, or box between sheets of asbestos board. The plates
being arranged in pairs and the projections of the respective plates of each pair
are set in opposite ends of the box. The projections are then bent over on the
frame and secured by binding screws, one of which is connected with the negative
and the other with the positive pole of the primary battery, the plates being of
course properly insulated. The current is taken off from the binding posts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick John Cheesbrough in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th March 1883.
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH, of the Office for Patents, 15 Water Street,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer
SECONDARY, OR STORAGE BATTERIES FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF ELECTRICITY.
A Communication to me from abroad by Asahel Knowlton Eaton, of Brooklyn,
in the County of Kings and State of New York, United States of America.
The object of the improvements which constitute this Invention is to obtain the
greatest amount of surface, in the storage reservoirs with the least possible weight
and to give the greatest possible efficiency to the same.
The following is a description of this Invention in such full, clear, concise and
exact terms, as to enable any one skilled in the art to which it belongs, or with
which it is most nearly connected to make and use the same, reference being had
to the accompanying Drawings making a part of this Specification, and to the
letters and figures of reference marked thereon.
Figure 1 of said Drawings is a top view of a storage battery made upon the plan
of this Invention. Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line A. B. Figure 3 is a
vertical section on the line x. y. Figure 4 is a section showing the sponge coating
on each side of the metallic plate as hereinafter described
In order to show the points of advantage resulting from this Invention, I will
briefly describe the principal storage batteries heretofore in use.
Planté who may in a practical sense be considered as the originator of the
secondary battery made use of two large sheets of plate lead rolled together in a
cylindrical form with strips of rubber intervening to prevent contact of the two
plates; the roll being placed in a cylindrical vessel containing water acidulated
with sulphuric acid and the two sheets connected with the poles of a proper battery
one sheet being connected with the positive and the other with the negative pole
of the same.
The action of the primary battery current upon the lead plates of the secondary
in the Plantè battery is as follows: the water being decomposed hydrogen is
released from the lead sheet connected with the negative pole of the battery and
the oxygen developed at the surface of the sheet connected with the positive
pole combines with the lead forming a layer of peroxide of the metal. The battery
is then disconnected and the accumulated electricity is discharged through a con-
ductor connecting the different lead sheets. The battery is again connected, the
poles having been reversed with reference to the two poles of the secondary i.e
the sheet of lead connected with the positive pole in the first charge is connected
with the negative in the second. In the second charging, the hydrogen which is
developed upon the surface of the previously oxidized sheet combines with the
oxygen of the peroxide of lead and reduces it to the form of a spongy coating of
lead and the opposite sleet becomes peroxidized. The secondary is again discharged
and the poles of the battery again reversed. This change is repeated again and
again until a sufficiently thick layer of lead sponge is formed on one sheet and a
corresponding layer of oxidized sponge is formed on the opposite sheet, when it is
ready for use. The time occupied in this (Plante's) process involved weeks, or even
months of time and very considerable expense, thereby making it, practically, of
very little use.
Faure's improvement, which consists in coating the lead plates with red oxide of
lead enabled him to secure the desired surfaces of spongy lead on one plate and

page_text: VUC
Daviery and gave at once
real value to the idea of storing, or accumulating electricity by means of secondary
batteries.
The main objection to this form of battery lies in its weight which makes it
unwieldly.
This Invention aims at the production of the greatest amount of surface with the
least weight of metal and in addition a much greater facility in charging and dis-
charging the accumulator.
The following is a description of this method of constructing and preparing a
secondary, or storage battery
.
There is formed a skeleton plate like Figure 2 of very thin sheet lead that acts
mainly as a conductor, or the skeleton may be an open wicker work of lead wire
for the same purpose.
The skeleton is filled in and entirely embedded in very fine spongy crystalline
lead by the following treatment.
Two pieces of sheet zinc are first prepared by coating each on one side with
Japan, or any varnish that will protect the surface. One of these sheets is then
placed with the naked side of the zinc upwards in a shallow platter, the lead
skeleton is placed upon this: the other zinc sheet is placed with its naked side
downwards upon the lead skeleton. There is then poured into the platter a
sufficient quantity of a saturated solution of acitate of lead, or its equivalent to
cover the lead net work. In a short time the lead of the acitate is deposited on
both sides of the lead skeleton so as to entirely envelope it with lead sponge. The
lead plates a thus prepared after washing are pressed between two sheets of paper,
parchmentized paper, cloth, asbestos board, or other material (asbestos being
preferred). These enclosing sheets of asbestos with the included lead sponge are
then ready for use. The plates may be made of considerable length and the two
rolled together after the manner of Faure, or which is preferable in smaller plates
say 8 x 9 inches and then so packed in a box k Figure 1 that the 1st 3rd 5th 7th
plates a shall all be connected to form one pole and the 2nd 4th 6th 8th plates joined
to form the other pole.
It is better but not essential that a metallic skeleton be used for the preparation
of these sponge plates. Sometimes there is adopted the following substitute.
Take any open, or loosely woven cotton cloth, bibulous paper, or asbestos board as
the skeleton and treat it exactly as the metallic skeleton. As the lead sponge is
precipitated on both sides of the cloth, or other substitute, it strikes through the
meshes, or pores of the sheet and the two opposite layers knit themselves together
forming a continuous spongy metallic felting that is used in the same manner as
the plates first described. In this case wires, or strips of lead are embedded in the
sponge to act as polar connections.
By this arrangement, it will be seen that a small amount of lead will expose an
enormous amount of surface and further that the lead in so far as one element of
the accumulator is concerned is already in complete condition for work, and the
other being in this finely divided spongy form is peroxidized with the greatest
facility by the first action of the battery. In some cases one half of the plates (the
positive electrode) is covered with a paste of peroxide of lead in which case the
accumulator needs no action of the battery for its first charge, but is ready for
work immediately upon being put together.
Batteries made in accordance with these directions receive the charge from the
battery, or dynamo machine with very short exposure to its action accumulate an
unusually large amount of potential energy and retain it for a long time without
material loss. The amount of surface exposed by the sponge, thus previously
prepared is more than ten times that possible to be formed by the methods now in
It is found that storage batteries of this construction are vastly superior to
those made with solid sheet lead. Lead hair, or fibre made under Letters Patent of
the United States of America granted to Asahel Knowlton Eaton dated March 9th
1880 is also suitable for use in the preparation of the battery (herein described)
use.

page_text: دو
upon the skeleton lead plates (which may be made of wire cloth) and with good
effect. The same principle has also been applied to the form of accumulators
known as "Suttons in which one of the plates is of copper and the solution
sulphate of copper, the other element of the accumulator being amalgamated sheet
lead. Spongy copper is precipitated in a similar manner upon a skeleton plate,
copper wire cloth being most suitable for the purpose. The other element is of the
same character as in the accumulator first described.
To facilitate the formation of the peroxide upon the plate connected to the
positive pole, the surface of the lead sponge plate may be painted with a paste
composed of red lead mixed with acidulated water.
A modified form of the sponge plate can also be formed of a mixture of red lead
and metallic sponge. This mixture soon hardens and becomes a strong porous solid
so that strong sponge plates can be made of it and form a very good substitute for
the lead sponge plate.
The construction of the battery as it appears in the Drawing is very simple.
The skeleton plate is shown by a. On the upper end of each of the skeleton plates
there is made a projection b. These plates having been treated as described are
set in a jar, or box / between sheets of asbestos board g. The plates being arranged
in pairs and the projections of the respective plates of each pair are set in opposite
ends of the of the box k. The projections are then bent over on the frame c
and secured by binding screws ff, one of which is connected with the negative and
the other with the positive pole of the primary battery, the plates being of course
properly insulated. The current is taken off from the binding posts d d. In
Figures 1 and 3 of the Drawing the sponge plate is shown by solid black lines, but
really the sponge is on the surface of the plates as shown by the dotted lines
Figure 4.
Having thus described the improvement in storage, or secondary batteries what
I claim as the Invention communicated to me by my Foreign Correspondent is :
First In the manufacture of storage batteries, the treatment of skeleton plates in
a solution of metallic salts for the purpose of obtaining a coating of sponge metal
upon the skeleton by which the metallic sponge plates are formed previous to the
organization of the battery and without the aid of the battery action.
Second The method substantially herein described of preparing a storage battery,
which method consists of making a series of skeleton plates and of treating them
with acetate of lead in the presence of zinc, or its equivalent for the purpose of
covering them with lead sponge and of then combining them in an electrolytic
solution and electrically connecting them to form the battery substantially as
described.
Third In a storage battery the two electrodes consisting of lead sponge upon
skeleton plates, one electrode being covered with coating of peroxide of lead in
organizing the battery by which it is made ready for use without the aid of a
primary battery substantially as described.
In Witness whereof, I, the said Frederick John Cheesbrough have hereunto
set my hand and seal this Fifth day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
AND TAY
ΤΟ ΙΤΑ
ADRATIC
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH (L.S.)