Improvements in Molds for Casting the Plates of Secondary or Storage Batteries.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Molds for Casting the Plates of Secondary or
Storage Batteries.
I, WALDRON SHAPLEIGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Camden, in the
County of Camden and State of New Jersey, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN MOLDS FOR CASTING THE PLATES OF
SECONDARY OR STORAGE BATTERIES, and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statements:-
My invention relates to a mold for casting the plates of secondary or storage
batteries.
A plate to form an element of a secondary or storage battery having as its principal
constituent a salt of a metal, as chloride of lead, is difficult to cast solid owing to the
fact that such material contracts considerably, thereby leaving hollow spaces within
the body of the plate and then air bubbles are apt to be formed therein, both of which
greatly impair the utility of the plate for subsequent use.
The principal object of my invention is to obviate the said objectionable features
and results encountered and to provide a two-part mold adapted to receive a
material or substance to become cast into plates therein prior to these plates being
mounted in another mold to have cast around them a frame of good conducting
material to form by subsequent treatment a plate or element of a secondary or
storage battery.
My invention consists of a mold constructed so as to be rapidly filled from the
bottom in an upward direction, thereby permitting air to escape from the top of
the series of matrices of the mold through preferably knife edge channels com-
municating with larger channels. The material or substance is introduced through
a funnel-shaped feed channel communicating with oppositely disposed risers and
through knife edge channels into the two series of matrices of the mold. The
knife edge channels by preference near the upper ends of the respective matrices
are enlarged in order that as the material or substance becoming cast into plates
therein cools and contracts they may suck in sufficient material from the risers to fill
up any space that may have been formed by the contraction of the series of plates.
Between the series of matrices the horizontal channels for the escape of air communi-
cates with vertical main air channels located on each side of the matrices of the mold
and extending to the top of the mold.
The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more fully understood
by reference to the accompanying drawing, showing my improved two-part mold in
an open position.
Referring to the drawing for a further description of my invention A and A¹ are
the two-parts of the mold hinged together at a. Each part of the mold is preferably
made of brass or bronze of either equal or unequal thicknesses of metal. B and B₁,
are the sections constituting when the mold is closed and in position for use, the
funnel-shaped sprue or feed which communicates with a central feed channel b,
extending downward through the mold. In the lower part of the mold, the feed
channel b, communicates with horizontal branch channels c and c¹, and these latter
channels communicate with vertical channels or risers d and d², extending through and
a short distance above the top edge of the mold.
Adjacent to and on each side of the vertical channels or risers d and d¹, are
provided two series of matrices f, f¹, f² and f³. These matrices are in communi-
cation with the risers d and d₁, through knife edged channels g and g², which are
enlarged at their upper ends g² in order that the material or substance becoming
cast into plates in the respective matrices and necessarily contracting to a greater or
less extent therein, may suck in sufficient material from the risers d and d', to fill up

page_text: any space or spaces that may be formed thereby, as well as affording a free exit
for the escape of air therefrom into the risers d and d', or through the horizontal
channels and ', between the matrices into the main air escape channels i and .
The material or substance poured into the funnel-shaped sprue or ingate B, and
flowing through the central feed channel b, is conducted along the horizontal branch
channels e and c', into the vertical channels or risers d and d', and then flows into
the respective matrices ff, f² and f³, and therein becoming cast into plates. The
matrices of the mold may be made of any preferred size. The mold may also be
arranged so that but one or more plates are cast in the mold instead of two
series of plates provided the arrangement of the knife edge channels, feed channel,
sprue and risers are suitably adhered to, as by maintaining the relative arrangement
of those parts in the interior construction of the mold good results are thereby
ensured.
The horizontal channels and h³, between the respective matrices and communi-
cating with the vertical air channels i and, as well as the channels g and g', are
made of less sectional area than the matrices in order that the material becoming cast
in said matrices may be readily separated or broken away.
2
In each side of the part A of the mold, is provided lugs or pins 3 and 4, and in
each wall of the vertical channels or risers d and d', are formed similar lugs or pins
and To the opposite part A', of the mold are pivotally attached pawls jjj
and which engage when the two parts of the inold are closed together, with the
lugs or pins, and . In the upper inner edge of each part of the mold
are provided a series of vent or air holes k.
When the substance or material cast in the respective series of matrices f,!",ƒ
and, as become cool or perfectly cold, the mold is unlocked and the series of
plates supported by the branches 1, 2 and 3, may be readily removed therefrom
and each plate parted from its neighbor and a series of such plates then mounted in
another mold of suitable construction in order that a supporting frame, of preferably
a good conducting material, may be cast between and around the series of plates to
constitute a plate to form by subsequent treatment, forming no part of my present
invention, an element of a secondary or storage battery.
The particular advantages incident to the use of a mold embodying the features of
my invention and constructed as described, are first, that the material or substance
can freely flow into the matrices through the knife edge channels g and g¹, from the
risers d and d¹, in communication with the horizontal branches c and c¹, of the feed
channel b, to become cast therein into plates and upon opening the two parts of the
mold the two or more series of plates on each side of the vertical channels or risers d
and d¹, may be removed, as the substance or material that has become solid in the
respective channels and risers, is so connected with the edges of the serios of plates as
to enable their removal being effected at one operation, thereby not only saving time
but much labor and expense; second with channels and provided between the
series of matrices any air in the form of bubbles forming in the cast plates is per-
mitted to escape through the same into the main air channels i and i, in vertical
directions and from the mold or through the risers d and d¹, in an upward direction
and from the mold; and third, by providing the knife edge channels g and g',
in communication with the matrices the contraction of the material taking place in its
becoming cast into plates is fully compensated for and perfectly solid and uniform
plates thereby ensured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
1. A two-part mold for casting plates for secondary or storage batteries con-
structed and arranged, substantially as described.
2. The herein described mold for casting plates for secondary batteries, provided
with a sprue or feed merging with a central channel extending through the mold and
communicating with channels c and c', and the latter merging with risers d and d'

page_text: matrices communicating with said risers through the channels g and g¹, horizontal
channels and h¹, between said matrices and in communication with air channels i
and i, and means for clamping the parts of the mold together, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Dated at Philadelphia, Pa., this 23rd day of Angust. A.D. 1889.
WALDRON SHAPLEIGH.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.
Witnesses:
GEORGE WASHINGTON REED.
JOHN WALTER DOUGLASS.
WALDRON SHAPLEIGH.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.