Improvements in Accumulators or Secondary Batteries, and Apparatus for their Manufacture.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1898.
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 13th May, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Accumulators or Secondary Batteries, and Apparatus
for their Manufacture.
I,FRANZ HEIMEL, of III Dampfschiffgasse No. 160, Vienna, Engineer and
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates in the first place to an improved positive electrode for
secondary batteries or accumulators, which is formed of metallic lead serving
as the conducting material, and peroxide of lead as the active mass, and in the
second place to a negative electrode of lead sponge or of amalgamated zinc,
the electrolyte employed in the former case being dilute sulphuric acid, and in
the latter case a mixture hereof with zinc sulphate and magnesium sulphate.
The positive electrodes are composed of a plate-like layer of uniform thickness
of the, active mass (such as red lead, lead sulphate, lead carbonate, peroxide of
lead, or a mixture of any of these) which layer is closely surrounded by sheet
lead pressed thereon, the combined lead sheathing and internal layer of active
material being then perforated with holes placed closely together, so that the
total active mass is divided up into thin homogeneous layers which are in direct
contact on two sides with the conducting sheet lead, while they are wetted all
round by the electrolyte in the holes.
.:
For the production of such electrodes a suitable apparatus consists of a table
over which is stretched a travelling endless wel passing round a roller at one
end of the table, a polygonal drum at the other end and two guide rollers, the
motion being imparted through the shaft of the polygonal drum. Above the
first mentioned roller is adjustably mounted another roller preferably of the same
diameter, and surrounded by a loose endless cloth. These two rollers constitute
the delivery opening of a charging hopper which is supplied with the 'filling
material to be worked.
i.. t
It will be evident, that on the rotation of the rollers the filling mass will issue
between the before mentioned travelling web and loose endless cloth in a
uniformly thick layer. The width of the apparatus will of course depend on the
size of the plates to be produced.
Underneath the polygonal drum and extending upward with a concentric
curvature are arranged guide rails between which another pair of rollers revolve
that also have an endless web passing round them.
Sheet lead is cut into plates of the required size, and these are stamped into
a flanged pan shape, or such pains may be made by casting. The depth of these
pans is dependent on the required thickness of the electrodes to be formed, two
such pans fitted together being employed to produce an electrode of the requisite
thickness.
For the purpose of filling one of these pans it is introduced into a frame pro-
vided with guide rollers. The flanges of the pan are bent over the angular edges
of the frame and the pan is pressed into the layer of material which is upon the
web on that face of the polygonal drum which for the time being happens to be
uppermost, so that by this means a corresponding slab is cut out of the mass.
On the continued motion of the web the guide rollers of the frame engage

page_text: with the aforesaid guide rails and pass with the filled lead pans round the
polygon, being thus reversed in position so as to be brought over the before
mentioned lower web which is between the guide rails; from here the pans with
their filling are then taken off.
The filled pans are next placed in pairs with their flanges coincident and are
compressed and at the same time perforated, the perforations being as narrow
and small as may be; the perforating punches are preferably blunt so that when
they are pressed into the lead they form a burr round the hole, which serves to
hold the active material firmly in its place. The perforating machine may work
only on one side or on both sides and may be of any ordinary construction. The
electrodes may be prepared so that the perforations are without burrs but the
internal lead surfaces are provided with inequalities while they are being formed,
which serve the same purpose.
Pole pieces are soldered on to the sheets thus prepared and the flanges of the
pans are covered with clamps or slit tubes of acid proof material (celluloid,
ebonite).
Between every plate prepared in the above described manner and a negative
electrode is placed a grid shaped frame work made of a number of parallel rods
of acid proof material (celluloid, ebonite, glass rods); the rods are of equal
width and are united at a little distance from each other by top and bottom trans-
verse ties. The plates are thus held equidistant from each other and are pressed
together with the same degree of pressure over their whole surface; at the same
time narrow vertical passages are formed for the escape of gas, for the fall of
particles of electrode and for the circulation of acid.
Positive plates, grids and negative plates are arranged alternately and clamp-
ing plates are laid against the end plates, the whole being held together by
springs which may be of steel made acid proof by a lead covering. The springs
may be any kind of flexible spring interposed between the clamping plates
and the walls of the vessel, or stays opposite to each other on the clamping plates
may be held together by tensional spiral springs, in this way neither expansion
nor contraction of the plates by oxidation or reduction is hindered.
Cells intended for transport may be prevented from splashing by a cover of
acid proof material floating on the electrolyte.
When the negative electrode is of spongey metallic lead it may be prepared
in the manner hereinbefore described and the lead shells may be of thin sheet
and the clamps may be omitted.
A zinc negative electrode is however advantageous in conjunction with the
herein before described positive clectrode. The following arrangement being
suitable:
A flat acid proof pan has an opening cut in its bottom which opening is covered
on the outside of the vessel by the metallic plate which serves as one of the pole
pieces, the plate being cemented to the pan. The cavity thus formed is filled
with mercury or zinc amalgam and a zine plate or a layer of zinc amalgam is
laid on the bottom of the vessel so as to be in contact with the metal in the
cavity.
A trellis of acid proof material is laid on the zine plate or the zinc amalgam
and on this is laid a sheet of asbestos paper, silk, woollen material or nitrated
linen to prevent particles of positive material from falling on the zine layer.
The positive electrode is next laid in the vessel; then another trellis and so on.
As electrolyte a mixture of water, sulphuric acid, zinc sulphate and magnesium
sulphate is used.
In closed vessels a small tube for the escape of gas is provided.
In such a cell there is only one pair of electrodes and if necessary any desired
number of cells may be arranged above each other and connected in parallel series.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1898
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Accumulators or Secondary Batteries, and Apparatus
for their Manufacture.
I, FRANZ HEIMEL, of III Dampfschiffgasse No. 160, Vienna, Engineer and
Electrician, 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 aud
by the following statement:-
:
This invention relates in the first place to an improved positive electrode for
secondary batteries or accumulators, which is formed of metallic lead serving
as the conducting material, and peroxide of lead as the active mass, and in the
second place to a negative electrode of lead sponge or of amalgamated zinc,
the electrolyte employed in the former case being dilute sulphuric acid, and in
the latter case a mixture hereof with zinc sulphate and magnesium sulphate.
The positive electrodes are composed of a plate-like layer of uniform thickness
of the active mass (such as red lead, lead sulphate, lead carbonate, peroxide of
lead, or a mixture of any of these) which layer is closely surrounded by sheet
lead pressed thereon, the combined lead sheathing and internal layer of active
material being then perforated with holes placed closely together, so that the
total active mass is divided up into thin homogeneous layers which are in direct
contact on two sides with the conducting sheet lead, while they are wetted all
round by the electrolyte in the holes.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shews a diagrammatic view
of an apparatus for the production of uniformly thick layers of the active mass.
Over the table a is stretched a travelling endless web e passing round the roller b,
polygonal roller c and pair of rollers d, the motion being imparted through the
shaft of the roller c. Above the roller b is adjustably mounted a second roller f
preferably of the same diameter and surrounded by a loose endless cloth g. The
space between rollers baud f constitutes the delivery opening of the charging
hopper, which is supplied with the material to be worked.
It will be evident that on the rotation of the rollers the filling mass will issue
between the webs e and y in a uniformly thick layer.
The width of the apparatus will of course depend upon the size of the plates
to be produced.
Underneath the polygon c and extending upward with a concentric curvature
are arranged guide rails & between which another pair of rollers kk revolve, that
also have an endless web passing round them.
Fig. 2 shews an end view, front view and plan of a frame having guide
rollers m, the object of which will be presently described.
Sheet lead is cut into plates of the required size, and these are stamped into
a pan shape as at Fig. 3, or such pans may also be made by casting.
The depth of these pans is dependent upon the required thickness of the
electrodes to be formed, two such pans fitted together as shewn at Fig. 4 being
employed to produced the required thickness.
Such a pan is introduced into the frame Fig. 2, the flanges being bent over,
the edges of the frame as shewn, and during the working of the machine at
Fig. 1 it is pressed down by hand into the layer of material which
upon the
web e on the side of the polygon c which for the time being is uppermost, so
that by this means a corresponding slab is cut out of the. mass.
On the continued motion of the frame the guide rollers m' thereof pass with
the filled lead pans round with the polygon the rollers m running round on
the rails i.
On arriving at the first roller & the position of the pan and rollers will conse

page_text: quently have become reversed, the pan a being uppermost, and in this position
it will pass along over the web 7, between this and web e and when it issues from
between the two, the pan is removed with its charge of compound from the
frame of rollers m.
The filled pans are next placed together in pairs as shown in Fig. 4 and are in
this form compressed and at the same time perforated so that they have the form
shewn in section in Fig. 5 or 6; from which it will be seen that the perforations
are narrow and small; it is advisable that the perforating punches be not sharply
edged so that when they are pressed into the lead they form a burr round the
hole which holds the active material firmly on the shell without further treat-
ment. The perforating machine may work only on one side or on both sides of
the shell and may be of any ordinary construction acting in any known manner.
The electrodes may be formed so that the perforations are without burrs but the
lead surfaces are provided on the inside with inequalities while they are being
pressed, which serve the same purpose.
Pole pieces are soldered on to the sheets thus prepared, and the flanges of the
pans are covered with clamps or slit tubes o (Fig. 7) of acid-resisting material
(celluloid, ebonite &c.).
Fig. 8 shews a grid shaped frame-work of acid-resisting material (celluloid,
ebonite, glass rods &c.) made of a number of parallel rods of equal width and
united at a little distance from each other by the top and bottom transverse
ties 2. These grids are placed between every two plates so that these are held
equidistant from each other and pressed together with the same degree of pressure
over their whole surface; at the same time narrow vertical passages open at the
top and bottom are formed, through which the gases can escape upwards, particles
of electrode can fall, and the acid can circulate freely.
are
Referring to Fig. 9 the positive plates 1, grids q, and negative plates
arranged alternately, and clamping plates.s are laid against the end plates, the
whole being held together by springs which may be steel plate or spiral springs
made acid-proof by being covered with lead which is soldered together at the
edges.
Any kind of flexible spring may be interposed between the clamping plates
and the wall of the vessel, or, as shewn in Fig. 9, stiff cross pieces s may be
arranged at the sides and be held together by any kind of spiral springs whereby
neither expansion nor contraction of the plates by oxidation or reduction is
hindered.
Cells which are intended for transport may advantageously be covered with a
cover of acid-resisting material floating on the electrolyte to prevent the latter
from splashing.
When spongy metallic lead is used as the negative electrode, it may also be
prepared in the herein before described manner, and the lead shells may be of
very light sheet (lead foil) and the edging (Fig. 7) may be omitted.
It is however especially advantageous to use a zinc negative electrode in -con-
junction with the herein before described positive electrode, for which purpose
the following arrangement is suitable:-
A flat vessel (Fig. 10) of acid-resisting material has an opening cut in its
bottom and one end of the amalgamated copper, iron or zinc negative contact
strip (pole piece) covers externally this. hole and is cemented acid tight to the
vessel.
:
The opening thus forms.a cavity which is filled with mercury or zinc amalgam.
A zinc plate or a layer of zinc amalgam is laid on the bottom of the vessel.
thus being in contact with the mercury in the cavity. On the zinc or layer of
amalgam there is laid a trellis of acid-proof material, and on this a sheet of
asbestos, paper, silk, woollen material or nitrated linen, to prevent the particles
of positive material from falling on the zine layer.
J. i
**. I
The positive electrode y (of which the pole piece is led upwards or outside), is
next laid in the vessel and on this another trellis, and so on.

page_text: As electrolyte a mixture of water, sulphuric acid, zinc sulphate and magnesium
sulphate is used, these being employed in about the following proportions, which
may, however, be varied according to circumstances:
Water about SO parts: Sulphuric acid, concentrated and chemically pure 10
to 15 parts; and sulphate of imagnesia 10 to 5 parts. To this mixture is added
an equal volume of a solution of zinc sulphate having a specific gravity between
13 and 14.
In closed vessels a small tube 3 is led outside for the escape of gases. There
is thus only one pair of electrodes in a cell and if necessary any desired number
of these may be arranged above each other and connected in parallel circuit.
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. Electrode plates for accumulator or secondary batteries consisting of a layer
of active mass which is confined by pressure between two sheet lead coverings,
the combined layer and sheet covering being perforated with holes, substantially
as described.
2. Apparatus for the production of electrode plates consisting of a layer of
active mass confined between sheet lead coverings, consisting of an endless web e
passed round rollers b d, over a table a and round a polygon drum c, a roller f
having a loose endless cloth y passed round it, which, in combination with the
roller forms the material coming from the charging hopper into a layer from
which a slab is cut by means of a lead pan in a frame substantially as described.
3. In apparatus such as is referred to in the second claim, the combination
with the polygonal drum c of concentrically curved rails, an endless web/
passing over rollers, and the frame running with rollers m on the said
rails so as to assume an inverted position when arriving at the web 7, substantially
as described.
4. Electrodes for accumulators consisting of a layer of active material confined
between two dished and flanged lead plates secured together by means of clamps
or slit tubes such as formed of acid-resisting material, substantially as described.
5. For separating the positive and negative electrodes p, r, from each other,
the use of intermediate gratings q formed of a number of bars of equal width, 1,
which are connected together by lateral transverse bars 2, substantially as
described.
C. For pressing together the electrodes of a battery, the use of springs & coated
with lead which are either arranged as abutment springs between the end plates
and the sides of the cell, or as tensional springs connected to transverse pieces s
on the end plates, substantially as described.
7. For moveable secondary batteries, a cover of acid-proof material floating
on the electrolyte for preventing the splashing thereof, substantially as described.
8. In secondary batteries, a negative zinc electrode of amalgamated zinc or a
layer of zinc amalgam placed on the bottom of a flat pan, the connection with
the pole piece being effected through the bottom of the pan by means of mercury
or zinc amalgam, substantially as described.
Tad thi 1011
Wahman 1900
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.