Improvements in Storage or Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 5th Apr., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Storage or Secondary Batteries.
I, CHARLES JAMES HARTMANN, of Summit, New Jersey, United States of America,
Broker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement:-
.
The object of my invention is to provide an electrode for storage batteries which,
by its construction, exposes the largest amount of surface of active material to the
battery fluid, in proportion to the amount of conductive material in the plates which
sustain said active material, in order to obtain the greatest efficiency and storage
capacity in proportion to the weight of the electrode and of the battery, and at the
same time to avoid the falling away of the active material from the plates, and also to
prevent the buckling and polarizing of the plates, and to simplify the method of
manufacture, and reduce the cost of the battery; and to this end my invention consists
in certain elements and combinations of elements fully set forth in and claimed at the
end of this schedule.
I will proceed to describe my invention, referring to the accompanying drawings
forming part of this Specification, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my electrode
before it is folded, and after it has been cut and shaped from a thin sheet of conductive
material preferably of ordinary commercially pure lead or aluminium or other equivalent
metal, punched with flanged holes, near together, by forcing a tool through the plate,
so as to stretch the material and form a burr around the hole or perforation, but not
to remove any of the substance of the plate as is ordinarily done. These holes or per-
forations are designed to permit of free circulation of the battery fluids through them.
In the main body of the plate A these flanged holes are made so that the flanged part
or the burrs alternate in direction, one is directed to the right and the next one to the
left side of the plate, but in the laps A' and A' the burrs are all in one direction in
each lapping plate, so that when these laps are folded around the main body A,
these burrs in each lap will project inwardly toward the surface of the main
plate A.
These flanges or burrs around the perforations act as conducting edges or points to
more freely conduct the electricity to and from the active storage material located and
held between them and retain the active material in place. This view also shows the
surface of the main plate A formed into alternately raised and depressed diamonds or
pyramids, quadrangular, but they may be made of any number of angles. The
surfaces of these hollow pyramids are serrated or fluted crosswise to form sharp
corners on the metal to aid the flow of electricity to and from the active storage
material in contact therewith. The whole surface of this plate is not shown as
perforated and formed into pyramids but they will be in use.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross section of Fig. 1 on line xy, showing the
perforations with flanged edges and the indentations in the plate A, A², and A',
and the direction of the flanges to the perforations, in each portion of the
plate.".
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the whole electrode, on line a y₁ of Fig. 5,
showing the laps A¹ and A' folded around the central portion A so as to form spaces
between for the active storage material. It shows the manner in which the pyramids
fit into each other, but no perforations.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, in section of the pyramids to show more distinctly
the several features of my invention.

page_text: Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the whole electrode, a portion being broken away to
show the active storage material in place between the several portions A, A¹, A³ of
the electrode.
In these figures I have not shown the central conducting plate, surrounded by an
encasing plate; but such a construction may be used in lieu of the one shown
herein. I have shown and described only the method of construction which I
prefer to use; I have shown the serrations or flutes running at right angles to
the perpendicular line of the pyramids, but the serrations or flutes may run so as
to converge toward the apex of the pyramids. A is the central portion of the
conducting plate. A' is one flap and A³ is the other flap, which folds around
the central portion; A, A are flat portions provided with inwardly. projecting
flanged or burred perforations, which sides A³ form the ends of the lapping folds,
and their widths determine the distance which separates the central portion of the
plate A and portions A¹ and A². A' is the portion of plate A which folds under
all of the plates, at the bottom. B is the tongue or lug at the top of the elec-
trode on plate A, by which the attachments to the other electrodes and conducting
wires are made. It extends to one side as shown, starting from the center por-
tion of plate A, so as to cause the electrical current to flow from and to all
portions of the electrode evenly. It is a part of the plate itself. The portions A¹
and A³ may also be provided with tongues to match the tongue on portion A, but
it is not essential. C and C are the flanged or burred perforations in plate A, A¹
and A³, A³ respectively. They alternate in direction in plate A, but in the
plates A, A and A' they are flanged inwardly toward the central part A. These
flanges prevent the storage material from falling out and increase the active conduc-
ting surface and the surface of the active storage material in contact therewith, and
present conducting points and sharp edges to facilitate the electric flow to and from
the active storage material.
D are the serrations or flutes on the surfaces of the plates, shown as formed in
squares, but they may take any other form and direction.
E are the hollow pyramids, serrated and perforated with flanged edges or burred;
these pyramids are shown as quadrangular, but they may be formed by any other
angles into triangular, hexagonal or octagonal figures. They are pressed into the
thin conductive material of which the electrode is made, alternating with each other
in direction, that is to say, the apex of one pyramid is on one side of the thin plate
and the next one is on the other side, and are so located in the several parts of
the plate of which the electrode is composed that when the parts A' and A' are
folded around upon the part A, that the apex of one pyramid will enter the
depression of another, separated a sufficient distance to allow storage material to lie
between their surfaces. I have spoken of the portions of the electrode A, A¹, A', A³, A',
as separate plates for the convenience of expression, but they are parts only of the
same plate, although in some cases they may be merely encasing plates, held in the
respective positions and relations to each other by suitable fastenings.
Fig. 1 represents a front view of the central conducting plate of another con-
struction of my electrode, in the primary stage of its construction. It is formed
from a sheet of conducting material, preferably of ordinary commercial pure lead,
cut to the required shape and provided with flanged or jagged holes through its
thickness, for the free circulation of the battery fluids, their flanged or jagged edges
serving as conducting points. In this view a few only of these holes are shown, but
the whole plate is similarly constructed. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section. of
Fig. 1 and it shows these said holes for circulation throughout its whole length and
a portion of them with flanged edges. Fig. 3* shows a vertical central section of
Fig. 1 in the secondary part of its construction, after said plate has been fluted or
serrated horizontally across its face. Fig. 4 shows a vertical central section of Fig. 1
in the third stage of its construction, after it has been shaped into larger flutes to
form triangular grooves or pockets across its face. Fig. 5. shows the same, with

page_text: rectangular grooves formed across the face of the plate, instead of triangular_ones.
The holes for circulation are not shown with flanged edges in these views. Fig. 6
is an elevation of the encasing plate, formed of conducting material and is provided
with inwardly flanged or jagged holes and slots for the circulation of the battery
fluids through said plate, the Hanges acting as conducting points. This plate is fluted
or serrated similarly to the central conducting plate, and may be grooved to conform
to the grooves in plate A when folded around it. It is shown bent at right angles
on one side, and flattened out at the other. At both sides it is constructed with
projections for the purpose of securing it to another similar plate, shown in Fig. 8
in cross section, and in Fig. 7 in front elevation. Fig. 7 is a perspective elevation
of the whole structure when completed, showing the central conducting plate boxed
in by the encasing plate, a portion being broken away to show the internal pockets
or triangular grooves, with the active material placed in one of them. Fig. 8 is a
horizontal cross-section of Fig. 7 on line XY. Fig. 9 is a vertical central section
of Fig. 7 on line X1 Y¹. These holes and slots and the holes in all the other figures
I do not generally punch out or drill but punch through the metal with a sharp
tool, so as to force the metal ahead of it and leave a burr or flange around the holes,
not only to prevent the active material falling out but to facilitate the flow of the
current to the interior of the body of active material. In this view the encasing
plates are shown without the grooves to conform to grooves Es in plate A*.
A is the central conducting plate; B is the hole through said conducting plate
by which the electric conducting wire is connected to it. C are the flanged or
jagged holes through said conducting plate for the circulation of the battery fluid and
conduction of electricity to and from the active material; D₁ are the flutings or
serrations in the central conducting plate, and D the serrations in the encasing con-
ducting plates. E are the grooves or pockets across the face of the central conducting
plate, made triangular as in Fig. 4*, or rectangular as in Fig. 5". F is the encasing
or conducting plate, also serrated or fluted, and may be grooved similar to plate A*.
It is provided with sides I, and with projections J, for bending into and fastening
said plate to its sister encasing plate G, also serrated or fluted and grooved. These
plates F and G are constructed with internally flanged holes Cal and slots H, to
permit the battery fluid to circulate through them. I, are the side pieces or flanges
of the plate F, which fold at right angles to said plate on lines K L and K' L'.
J are the projections which secure the plates. Fa and G together, which surround the
central plate A to hold the active materials in the grooves E. These projections J
fold into the slots H in plate G and hold the two together.
For my active material I use a dry powder and compress it into the internal
serrations D and pockets Es, or I bind the active material together in the form of
a plastic mass by mixing it with rosin or gum reduced to a semi-fluid condition by
alkali. This plastic material I compress into the grooves or pockets E* and serrations D³,
and hold it in position by the encasing plates F and G, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
I then dry it and place it in an acid bath which neutralizes the alkali and leaves the
mass in a porous or spongy condition. This largely increases the active surface of
the storage material. The slots H in the plates F and G and the holes C" admit the
admit
battery fluid to circulate into the grooves E, and the holes C, in the plate A",
the battery fluid to pass through it.
By means of the hollow pyramids, flutes, grooves, serrations, flanged and burred
perforations, cause the surfaces of the conducting plates to approach as closely as
possible to every portion of the active storage material, I increase the amount of active
material in use. I hold it all firmly in place, and I facilitate the flow of the electricity
to and from the storage material; cheapen the cost of manufacture; obtain the largest
amount of conducting surface in proportion to the size and weight of the plates, and
I cause the electric current to approach as near as possible to each portion of the
active material, and to flow from points or jagged edges to said active material, and
thereby facilitate the charging and discharging of the battery; and provide a battery
of the greatest efficiency and durability.

page_text: These electrodes thus constructed are assembled in a battery glass or receptacle,
connected to the electrical circuit and operated in the usual manner.
The several figures in the drawings are not made to scale but are drawn merely to
illustrate the principle of my invention.
:
Having now. particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said. inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
.claim is:
1. In an electrode for storage batteries, the main conducting plate A, constructed
with diamonds or pyramidal depressions, substantially as specified.
2. In an electrode for storage batteries, the central conducting plate A, con-
structed with serrated or fluted diamond or pyramidal depressions; substantially as
specified.
3. In an electrode for storage batteries, the central conducting plate A, con-
structed with diamond or pyramidal depressions, serrated or fluted upon their surfaces
and with burred or flanged perforations, substantially as specified.
4. An electrode for storage batteries, constructed with the lug B extending from
the central portion of the top of plate A, to its outer edge, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
5. In an electrode for storage batteries, the conducting plate, constructed with the
central portion A, the end folds A³, the flaps A' and A³, and the bottom fold A* arranged
as shown, to fold upon the central portion A, so as to leave a space between for
active material; and the lug B, substantially as shown and described.
6. In an electrode for storage batteries, the conducting plate, substantially as shown
and described, consisting of the central portion A and flaps A and A; the end
folds A3 and A and the lug B; the portion A, A1 and A2, being covered with
depressed serrated pyramids, and provided with flanged perforations, substantially as
and for the purposes herein before specified.
7. An electrode for storage batteries, consisting of the conducting plate, con-
structed with side flaps A¹ and A' and arranged to fold around a central portion A
for the purpose of securing active material between their surfaces, and perforated
and formed into diamond or pyramidal depressions, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
8. An electrode for storage batteries, consisting of a conducting plate constructed
with pyramidal or diamond shaped depressions, alternating in direction and arranged
to fold one upon the other, so that the apex of one pyramid or diamond coincides
with and enters the depressions of another pyramid or diamond opposite it, and
retains active material between their surfaces, substantially as specified and for the
purposes set forth.
9. An electrode for storage batteries, consisting of a central conducting plate A,
and the side flaps A¹ and A³, constructed with serrations and arranged to fold the one
upon the other, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
10. An electrode for storage batteries consisting of a central conducting plate A
and side flaps A' and A³, constructed with flanged or burred perforations, substantially
as and for the purposes specified.
11. An electrode for storage batteries, consisting of the central plate A, side
flaps A¹ and A², constructed with serrations or flutes, and flanged perforations, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes specified.
12. The conducting plate A constructed with serrations D³ and grooves or
pockets E, combined and arranged to operate substantially as described.
13. An electrode for storage batteries consisting of the doubly serrated or grooved
plate A, substantially as described, and the encasing conducting plates F and G, all
combined and arranged to operate substantially as herein before set forth.
14. The storage material for batteries, composed of rosin or other similar. gum,
dissolved by alkali and mixed with active material, dried and made porous' by
neutralizing the alkali with acid, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
12

page_text: 15. An electrode for storage batteries, consisting of the central conducting
plate A, serrated and grooved on its faces; the serrated encasing and conducting
plates F&G, and the active storage material, pressed into the internal serra-
tions D and the grooves E, all combined and arranged to operate substantially as
described.
16. In an electrode for storage batteries, the piate A", constructed with serra-
tions D*, grooves E and flanged perforations Ca, all combined and arranged
substantially as set forth.
17. In an electrode for storage batteries, the plate A., constructed with flanged
perforations, C, substantially as described.
18. In an electrode for storage batteries the encasing plates F and Q, constructed
with serrations D1, and flanged perforations C1, arranged substantially as described,
to encase the central conducting plate A and to hold storage material between the
said conducting plate A and the encasing plates F and G, substantially as set
forth.
TIL: KIL
B
1800
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.