Improvements in Conductors for Coupling Cells of Voltaic Batteries.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Conductors for Coupling Cells of Voltaic Batteries.
I, WILLIAM STEPNEY RAWSON, of 86 York Street, Westminster, in the
County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
When a conductor for coupling one cell of a voltaic battery to another cell is
connected directly to the + electrode at the end of the one cell and to the electrode
at the end of the other cell, the connections at the electrodes, when they are of
metal different from the electrodes tliemselves, are liable to be acted on by the
exciting liquid or its vapour, and, owing to the galvanic action set up between the
different metals, they become rapidly deteriorated.
My invention relates to means of providing against this evil by making the con-
nections in such positions and protecting them in such a manner that they are not
liable to be acted on.
For this purpose I make the insulated conductor which connects the two cells
in two lengths, the one length terminating in a spring plug and the other in a
socket into which the plug can be inserted and scoured in position by a nut as in
a union joint for two lengths of pipe.
I protect the joint thus formed by covering it and parts of the insulated con-
ductor on each side of it with a piece of caoutchouc tube, which in the first place
can be rolled on the end part of the one length, and then unrolled so as to cover
the joint and end part of the other length after the junction is made. By making
all the lengths of conductor which extend from + electrodes terminate with plugs
and all those which extend from electrodes with sockets, or conversely, no
mistake can be made in connecting cells, as a + electrode cannot be coupled to
a +, nor a to a. The two lengths of conductor may have their ends con-
nected to the electrodes by bolts and nuts or by union screws, or in other known
ways; but, when the electrodes are of metal different from the conductor or from
the bolts, nuts or other appliances which secure the connection, I protect the
coupling by a piece of caoutchouc tube rolled over it. In case of accumulator
battery cells having lead plates as the electrodes to be coupled, I prefer to connect
the lengths of conductor to those plates in the following manner. I remove the
insulating material from the end of the conductor so as to leave a part of the con-
ductor bare. I tin this part and then, placing it in a suitable mould, I cast on it-
a piece of lead which forms a socket enclosing the end of the conductor and has
a projecting portion long enough to be conveniently burnt to the terminal lead lug
of the cell.
Dated this 27th day of April 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Conductors for Coupling Cells of Voltaic Batteries.
I, WILLIAM STEPNEY RAWSON, formerly of 86 York Street, Westminster,
but now of 21 Greycoat Gardens, Victoria Street, in the County of London,
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 :--
When a conductor for coupling one cell of a voltaic battery to another cell is
connected directly to the + electrode at the end of the one cell and to the
- electrode at the end of the other cell, the connections at the electrodes, when
they are of metal different from the electrodes themselves, are liable to be acted on
by the exciting liquid or its vapour, and, owing to the galvanic action set up between
the different metals, they become rapidly deteriorated.
My invention relates to means of providing against this evil by making the
connections in such positions and protecting them in such a manner that they are
not liable to be acted on as I shall describe referring to the accompanying
drawings.
For this purpose, according to one arrangement shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, I make
the insulated conductor which connects the two cells in two lengths C¹ C³, the one
length as in Fig. 1 terminating in a spring socket S, and the other in a plug P, or,
as in Fig. 2, the one length terminating in a spring plug P1 and the other in a
socket S, into which the plug can be inserted and secured in position, if desired, by
a nut N as in a union joint for two lengths of pipe.
I protect the joint thus formed by covering it and parts of the insulated con-
ductor on each side of it with a piece of caoutchouc tube A, which in the first place
can be rolled on the end part of the one length, and then unrolled so as to cover
the joint and end part of the other length after the junction is made.
caoutchouc tube may be in two lengths A A' as in Fig. 2.
-
1
The
By making all the lengths of conductor which extend from + electrodes
terminate with plugs and all those which extend from electrodes with sockets, or
conversely, no mistake can be made in connecting cells, as a + electrode cannot be
coupled to a +, nor a to a The two lengths of conductor may have their
ends connected to the electrodes by bolts and nuts, as shewn in Fig. 24, or it
might be by union screws, or in other known ways; but, when the electrodes are
of metal different from the conductor or from the bolts, nuts or other appliances
which secure the connection, I protect the coupling by a piece of caoutchouc tube
rolled over it. In case of accumulator battery cells having lead plates as the
electrodes to be coupled, I prefer to connect the lengths of conductor to those as
shewn in Fig. 2B. I remove the insulating material from the end of the conductor
so as to leave a part C³ of the conductor bare. I tin this part and then, placing it
in suitable mould, I cast on it a piece of lead which forms a socket enclosing
the end of the conductor and has a projecting portion long enough to be conveniently
burnt to the terminal lead lug T of the cell.
lo a similar manner, as shewn in Fig. 3, two lengths of conductor may be coupled
by removing the insulating material so as to leave bare parts C4 which are tinned,
placed in a sleeve S and have molten lead or other readily fusible metal poured
in upon them through a lateral hole.
In this, as in the jointings shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 24 and 28, pieces of caoutchouc
tubing A are drawn over the jointed metals so as to protect them against any
voltaic action being set up as it might be if the exciting or electrolytic liquids
employed had access to the metals.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A conductor for coupling cells of voltaic batteries made in two parts, the one
terminating in a socket the other in a plug, substantially as and for the purpose set.
forth.
2. In combination with the joint of a conductor, a protecting cover of caoutchouo
tube, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 15th day of February 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.