Improvements in Electric Batteries.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPI
TION.
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
We, RICHARD COLLINS, Corn Merchant, and FREDERICK COGAN, Engineer, both
of 202 Kennington Park Road, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to electric batteries and has for its chief object to render such
batteries when in a charged condition more portable than heretofore.
According to this invention instead of supplying the battery with the active fluid
in a liquid condition we employ an absorbent substance preferably consisting of
suitably prepared cocoa-nut or other fibre which is saturated with the active fluid.
To render the cocoa-nut or other fibre suitable for our purpose we may first treat
it with dilute sulphuric acid, or other suitable acids, or alkalies to cleanse the fibre
of any grease, oily matter and such like impurities that would impair the porosity
or absorbent quality of the finished product. The action of the acid or alkali on
the fibre moreover tends to break up the structure of the fibre.
After the fibre has undergone this treatment it is dried in any convenient manner
whereby the fibre is rendered capable of assuming a more or less pulverulent or
powdered condition.
The space between and around the elements of the battery is filled or packed with
the powdered fibre, and the active fluid is then introduced within the battery and the
fibre allowed to absorb as much as possible of the said fluid, the residue thereof being
subsequently drained off.
The battery is in this way rendered as portable as a "dry" battery, while the
internal resistance is little if any higher than that of a similar battery charged with
active fluid in the ordinary manner without the fibrous or absorbent substance. These
batteries can be readily sent in a charged condition through the post or be otherwise
transmitted from place to place, without any injury to the battery plates or loss of
electric energy.
We find, by the addition to the cocoa-nut fibre of a small quantity of sago before
treating the said fibre with the acid or alkali, that the length of time required to
cleanse the fibre and render it porous or absorbent is reduced. We prefer to add
about 25 parts of sago to about 75 parts of the fibre; we do not however confine
ourselves to these proportions.
Our invention is applicable to either primary or secondary batteries.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants

page_text: Improvements in Electric Batteries.
We, RICHARD COLLINS, Corn Merchant, and FREDERICK COGAN, Engineer, both
of 202 Kennington Park Road, in the County of Surrey, 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 :-
Our invention relates to electric batteries and has for its chief object to render such
batteries when in a charged condition more portable than heretofore.
According to this invention instead of supplying the battery with the active fluid
in its ordinary condition we employ an absorbent substance preferably consisting
of suitably prepared cocoa-nut fibre which is saturated with the active fluid.
To render the fibre suitable for our purpose we may first treat it with dilute
sulphuric acid, or other suitable acids, or alkalies to cleanse the fibre by the removal
of grease, oily matter and such like impurities that would impair the porosity or
absorbent quality of the finished product. The acid or alkali moreover tends to break
up the structure of the fibre.
After the fibre has undergone this treatment it is dried in any convenient manner
whereby the fibre is rendered capable of assuming a more or less pulverulent or
powdered condition.
The space or spaces between and around the elements of the battery is or are filled.
or packed with the powdered fibre and the active fluid or fluids is or are then
introduced within the battery and absorbed as much as possible by the fibre, the
unabsorbed remainder being subsequently drained off.
The battery is in this way rendered as portable as a "dry" battery while the internal
resistance is little if any higher than that of a similar battery charged with active
fluid in the ordinary manner without the fibrous or absorbent substance. Batteries
charged as above described can be readily sent through the post or be otherwise
transmitted from place to place, without any injury to the battery plates or loss of
electric energy.
The saturated fibre will last a considerable time without requiring
renewal.
We find that by the addition to the cocoa-nut fibre of a small quantity of sago
before treating the said fibre with the acid or alkali, the time required to cleanse the
fibre and render it porous or absorbent is reduced. We prefer to add about 25 parts
of sago to about 75 parts of the fibre but we do not confine ourselves to these
proportions.
Our invention is applicable to either primary or secondary batteries.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An electric battery having the spaces between and around the elements filled or
packed with cocoa-nut fibre for the purpose of absorbing the active fluid or fluids,
substantially as described.
2. For use in an electric battery, cocoa-nut fibre treated as herein described for the
purpose specified.
ليم
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.