Improvements in Storage or Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
[Communicated from abroad by Professor HUGO WALTER, of Cincinnati, Ohio,
United States of America.]
Improvements in Storage or Secondary Batteries.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to storage or secondary batteries.
Heretofore the electric current has been stored in batteries holding metallic
electrodes, mostly lead and the great objection to them has been the corroding and
wearing away of the electrodes by the action of the electric current upon them and
moreover their excessive weight.
The chief object of my invention is to obviate the above defects by providing
electrodes, which are indestructible and therefore need no renewal and which give a
far larger surface of electrode for the reception of current-rendering material, while
weighing out of all proportion less, than any known storage battery of the same
capacity.
forth.
My said invention comprises moreover various other improvements hereinafter set
It is a well known fact, that from a solution containing a metallic salt, its metal or
oxide may be deposited upon any conducting matter, which is placed into such a
solution and in a proper manner connected with a source of olectricity: such for
instance is the plating process. It is also true that by inserting carbons, into a
solution containing some material, which will make the water a good conductor of the
electric current, and on connecting the carbons to some source of electric current, as a
primary battery or dynamo machine, an action takes place within the liquid and upon
the carbon, which makes these carbon electrodes of a different potential electrically,
and on disconnecting them from their feeding source of electricity and connecting
them up with some instrument demanding current for its operation, the instrument
will at once indicate by its working, that a current flows from the carbon electrodes,
and will continue it very nearly for the same length of time, that the carbon electrodes
received the current from the other source of electricity above mentioned.
Since the capacity of a battery as to quantity depends mainly upon the surface of
the electrodes exposed, 1 sometimes employ crushed or granulated, broken carbon
packed tightly around a rod or block or stick of carbon, which block or stick serves to
lead the current into and out of the broken or crushed carbon. For general purposes
simple blocks or plates of carbon in a solution will answer very well but where large
quantities of current are required, I use the broken or crushed carbon: the surface
thereby obtained becomes enormous, and the quantity of current stored and rendered
in proportion.
A very powerful secondary battery may be made thus, I dissolve acetate of lead in
vinegar and insert into the solution thus obtained two carbon electrodes, which I
.connect with a generating source of electricity. After letting the current run into
this improved secondary battery for a certain time, I disconnect the electrodes from
the generating source and find the said carbon electrodes in a state of high difference
of potential, and giving out, or joining them a strong electric current. They act then
as the carbon and zinc electrodes do in a powerful primary battery.
In all storage batteries known there is a deterioration from chemical wear and
evaporation, which has to be always attended to, and demands much time, expense and
labor. In my invention this is reduced to a minimum, as the simple filling in a little
of the solution used, will at once entirely restore the secondary battery to its greatest

page_text: power. For the purpose of depolarization I use in the composition of my batterie
fewer of the receiving electrodes, on the same principle as double carbon electrode
are used with a single zinc electrode in many primary batteries. A modification o
the composition of the storage battery as herein before shown is as follows. In a
storage battery made of two carbon electrodes for one pole and one carbon electrode
for the other pole, the electrodes being crushed, carbon held in a porous cup or a bag
of horsehair or asbestos cloth or other suitable material, which the acid of the solution
will not destroy, and a solution of water acidulated by one tenth its volume of
sulphuric acid and some red lead stirred into such solution I find that when I mixed
the red lead with the crushed carbon of the electrodes in the different cups or bags
the secondary effects of the battery were much prompter and lasting than in the case
where the red lead was mixed in the solution. Any salt dissolved or held in a
_conducting solution, wherein carbon electrodes are placed, and fed from a source of
electricity, will in its electrolytic separation by the feeding current produce a tension
between the electrodes which becomes current on joining said carbon electrodes by
wire or through some electric work, and the strength and duration of such current is
entirely proportional to the quantity of electricity fed, the surface of carbon elec-
trodes receiving and the conductibility of the solution surrounding said carbon
electrodes. In mixing starch or flour with the liquid of the secondary battery, I
obtain a more solid, pasty solution, preventing the spilling of the same, when used,
where there may be motion.
I sometimes employ electrodes, consisting of bags of fabric holding crushed carbon
tightly packed around carbon pieces which are connected by wires to a .binding post
or posts a cover having suitable air holes is moreover provided. These electrodes
are surrounded by a salty solution. The current is let in at one of the binding
posts.
I sometimes employ a square or oblong battery cell wherein there are perforated
partitions. The electrodes are in this case formed by packing crushed carbon tightly
with carbon pieces so as to leave a space for the solution between all the electrodes.
Three of the electrodes having carbon pieces are connected with a binding post and
two of the said electrodes having carbon pieces are connected to another binding
post.
In some cases moreover I employ electrodes formed simply of carbon blocks sticks
or plates immersed in a solution and held from shaking by moulds. The electrodes
are connected to their binding posts in a similar manner to that above described.
It will be seen that in order to make an all carbon electrode, operative space must
be allowed for free circulation of the electrolyte between and among the particles of
carbon. An attempt has been made in storage batteries to form the electrodes of
pulverized or powdered carbon, but this is not practical for the reasons given.
Moreover, when the electrodes are carbon, or solid pieces of carbon it is convenient
to support their bases in a transversely slotted plate on the bottom of the ceil,
whereby lateral movement is prevented.
In a further modification of my said invention 1 provide a battery jar, of a storage
battery containing an acid bath having any suitable number of sections or cells.
Non-conducting division plates, preferably perforated are moreover provided having
active material, such as crushed carbon or the like, between and held in position by
the non-conducting surfaces of the said division plates and surrounding the electrode
so as to be furnished with the current of electricity from all sides of the electrode.
I prefer to make this electrode U-shaped and have it embrace the active materials on
all sides. These electrodes are provided with thumb-screws or terminals adapted to
receive connecting wires.
Owing to the great decomposing power of the electric current it is difficult to find
a material which can be used as an electric conductor and not decompose under a
continuous current charge in an acid bath. Only the noble metals-such as gold,
platinum, iridium and the like, whose solvents are not used in bullion will serve for
this purpose. These are not practical electrodes owing to the expense incurred in
securing electrodes of the necessary size, formed of these metals. I therefore prefer

page_text: to employ electrodes of any base metal or carbon, which I cover by the galvano-
plastic process with a layer of either gold, platinum, or iridium or other noble metal
and theroby obtain good conductivity of current and non-destructibility of electrode,
thus obviating the difficulties which have arisen in the electrodes used in the former
batteries.
Although I have hereinbefore described convenient and advantageous methods of
carrying my said invention into practice it is obvious that I can somewhat further
modify my said invention without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Dated this 13th day of November 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Storage or Secondary Batteries.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 :—
My invention relates to storage or secondary batteries.
Heretofore electric energy has been stored in batteries containing metallic electrodes,
mostly lead, and the great objections to them have been the corroding and wearing
away of the electrodes by the action of the electric current upon them, and also their
excessive weight.
The chief object of my invention is to obviate the above defects by providing
electrodes which are indestructible and therefore need no renewal, and which give a
far larger surface of electrode for the reception of current-rendering material, while
weighing much less than those of any known storage battery of the same capacity.
My said invention comprises moreover various other improvements hereinafter set
forth.
It is a well known fact that from a solution containing a metallic salt, its metal or
oxide may be deposited upon any conducting matter which is placed in such solution
and in a proper manner connected with a source of electricity; such for instance is
the electro-plating process. It is also true that by inserting carbons into a solution
containing some material which will make the water a good conductor of electricity,
and connecting the carbons to some source of electric current such as a primary
battery or dynamo-electric machine, an action takes place within the liquid and upon
the carbon which makes the carbon electrodes of a different potential electrically; and
on disconnecting them from their feeding source of electricity and connecting them
up with some instrument demanding current for its operation, the instrument will at
once indicate, by its working, that a current flows from the carbon electrodes, and will
continue very nearly for the same length of time as that during which the carbon
electrodes received the current from the source of electricity above mentioned.
Since the capacity of a battery as to quantity depends mainly upon the surface of
the electrodes exposed, I sometimes employ crushed, granulated or broken carbon
packed tightly around a rod, block or stick of carbon, which block or stick serves to
lead the current into and out of the broken or crushed carbon. For general purposes
simple blocks or plates of carbon in a solution will answer very well; but where large
quantities of current are required, I use the broken or crushed carbon; the amount of
surface thereby obtained is enormous and the quantity of current stored and rendered
is proportionate thereto.
A very powerful secondary battery may be made as follows riz. :-1 dissolve acetate
of lead in vinegar and insert into the solution thus obtained two carbon electrodes,
which I connect with a generating source of electricity. After allowing the current to
flow into this improved secondary battery for a certain time, I disconnect the
electrodes from the generating source and find the said carbon electrodes in a state

page_text: of high difference of potential, so that on joining them, a strong electric current
will be produced or given out. They act then as the carbon and zinc electrodes do
in a powerful primary battery.
In all storage batteries known, there is a deterioration from chemical wear and
evaporation, which has to be always attended to, and demands much time, expense
and labour. In my invention this is reduced to a minimum, as the simple filling in
of a little of the solution used, will at once entirely restore the secondary battery to
its greatest power. For the purpose of depolarization I use in the composition of
my batteries fewer of the receiving electrodes, on the same principal as double carbon
electrodes are used with a single zinc electrode in many primary batteries. A
modification of the composition of my storage battery. is as follows, that is to
say In a storage battery made of two carbon electrodes for one pole and one
carbon electrode for the other pole, the electrodes being crushed carbon held in a
porous cup or a bag of horsehair, asbestos cloth or other suitable material, which the
acid of the solution will not destroy, and a solution of water acidulated by one tenth
its volume of sulphuric acid, and some red lead stirred into such solution, I have
found that when I mix the red lead with the crushed carbon of the electrodes in the
different cups or bags, the secondary effects of the battery are much prompter and
more lasting than in the case where the red lead is mixed in the solution. Any salt
dissolved or held in a conducting solution wherein carbon electrodes are placed and
fed from a source of electricity, will in its electrolytic separation by the feeding
current produce a tension between the electrodes, which produces a current on joining
the said carbon electrodes by wires or through some electric work, and the strength
and duration of such current is entirely proportional to the quantity of electricity fed,
the amount of receiving surface of carbon electrodes and the conductibility of the
solution surrounding the said carbon electrodes. By mixing starch or other flour with
the liquid of the secondary battery, I obtain a more solid, pasty solution, thus
preventing the spilling of the same when used where there may be motion.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section and
Figures 2 and 3 are elevations showing one form of my improved storage
battery.
Figure 4 is a plan and
Figure 5 a vertical longitudinal central section on the line a Figure 4 showing
another form or modification thereof.
Figure 6 is a plan the top or cover and other parts being removed.
Figure 7 a vertical longitudinal central section on the line ' ' Figure 6 and,
Figure 8 a front elevation showing another modification of the said.storage
battery.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal central section, and
Figure 10 a perspective view showing a further modification of the said battery.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, A is a portion of a battery jar containing an acid
bath B, and divided into sections or cells by means of non-conducting division
plates C.
Each battery may comprise any suitable number of such sections or cells.
The non-conducting division plates are preferably provided with perforations as at C².
An active material D, such as crushed carbon or the like, is placed in the sections or
cells formed by the said division plates C and surrounds the electrodes E in such a
manner that the, said electrodes are furnished with the current of electricity from all
sides of the same. I prefer to make the electrodes U-shaped, as more clearly shown
in Figure 2, so that they embrace the active material on all sides. The electrodes E
are provided with terminals F adapted to receive connecting wires G.
By reason of the great decomposing power of the electric current, it is difficult to
find a material which can be used as an electric conductor and not decompose under
a continuous current charge in an acid bath. Only the noble metals, such as gold,
platinum, iridium and the like, will serve for this purpose. These are not practical
electrodes owing to the expense incurred in securing electrodes of the necessary size

page_text: formed of these metals, I therefore prefer to employ electrodes of any base metal or
carbon, which 1 cover by the galvano-plastic process with a layer of either gold,
platinum or iridium or other noble metal and thereby obtain good conductivity of
current and nondestructibility of electrode, thus obviating the difficulties which have
arisen in the electrodes used in the former batteries.
In the modification of my storage battery shown in Figures 4 and 5, the battery
jar A is provided with electrodes a formed of bags of fabric holding crushed carbon
tightly packed around carbon pieces a¹ which are connected by wires a² to a binding
post or terminal b. a³ is a similar electrode connected to a binding post or terminal /
by a wire b
e is a cover having suitable air-holes c¹. The electrodes a a³ are
surrounded by a salty solution and the current is let in at one of the said binding posts
or terminals.
Figures 6 to 8 show another modification wherein a square or oblong battery cell A
is employed having suitable perforated partitions or division plates a provided with
perforations as at d. The electrodes a a³ are in this case formed by packing crushed
carbon tightly round the carbon pieces a¹, a space e being left for the solution between
all the said electrodes. The electrodes a are connected by wires a with a binding
post or terminal band the electrodes a³ are connected to the other binding post or
terminal by means of wires ³.
According to a further slight modification of my invention, the electrodes are
formed simply of carbon blocks. In the storage battery shown in Figures 9 and 10,
the electrodes are formed simply of carbon blocks, sticks or plates immersed in a
solution and held from shaking by bottom plates or moulds f. The said electrodes are
connected to binding posts or terminals b, b' in a similar manner to that above
described.
In order to make an all-carbon electrode operative space must be allowed for free
circulation of the electrolyte between and among the particles of carbon.
An attempt
has been made in storage batteries to form the electrodes of pulverized or powdered
carbon; but this is not practical for the reasons hereinbefore mentioned. Morcover
when the electrodes are carbon, or solid pieces of carbon, it is convenient to support
their bases in a transversely slotted plate on the bottom of the cell, whereby lateral
movement is prevented.
I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to any of the shapes or materials
above described, as carbon electrodes of any shape in a salty solution will form a
secondary battery in any receptacle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign Correspondent I wish it understood that I claim :-
First. In a storage battery a current-conveyor or electrode formed of a base metal
or carbon plated with a noble metal substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Second. A storage battery having active material between non-conducting surfaces
and a current-conveyor or electrode of base metal or carbon plated with a noble metal,
substantially as described.
Third. A storage battery consisting of an acid bath, active material between non-
conducting surfaces and a current-conveyor or electrode of base metal or carbon
plated with a noble metal, substantially as described.
Fourth. A storage battery having electrodes composed solely of solid crushed or
broken carbon, sufficient space being left for the proper circulation of the electrolyte
in and around the pieces of carbon composing the said electrode, substantially as
described.
Fifth. A storage battery having electrodes composed of broken carbon, packed
closely about a solid carbon piece by which the current is led in and out, sufficient space
being left between the parts in which the broken particles composing each electrode
are packed, to permit circulation of the enorgizing fluid or electrolyte, substantially
as above specified.

page_text: Sixth. In a storage battery, a cell having a series of compartments separated
from each other by foraminous or perforated walls, the said cells being filled with
carbon crushed to a size to permit free circulation of the energizing fluid, substan-
tially as above 'specified.
Seventh. In a storage battery, a cell having a transversely slotted or channelled.
bottom plate and a series of carbon electrodes arranged parallel to each other in the
said cell and having their ends resting in the transverse slots, substantially as above
specified.
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HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.