IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY RATTEDIES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Henry Emmens, of Argyll Street, in the county
of Middlesex, Actuary for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY
RATTEDIES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Henry Emmens
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th June 1882.
STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS of Argyll Street, in the County of Middlesex, Actuary.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES"
My invention relates to improvements in the structure of electrodes for secondary
batteries, whereby a large surface is comprised within a small space, and further to
a method of charging.
In my improved battery I employ narrow strips of sheet lead or lead foil. These
strips I coil into flat coils, or into hollow cylinders with the planes of division at
right angles to the axes of the cylinders. Where the strips are in the form of
cylinders, they may be annular, or they may be laterally coiled from a straight strip,
notched so as to facilitate the coiling.
In the case of the flat coils, the electrodes are arranged side by side. In the
case of the hollow cylinders, they are arranged concentrically, that is to say, that
within an outer cylinder of annular or coiled strips, but insulated therefrom, is a
second similar cylinder of smaller diameter. Flat discs may be substituted if
desired for the inner cylinder. In either case I connect the current connections to
the outside surface of the outer electrode, and to the inner surface or centre of the
opposite electrode.
For the forming of the battery, I employ each pair for the electrolysis in the usual
manner of a solution of any suitable lead salt (preferably the nitrate or acetate)
and thus cause a deposit of finely divided metallic lead and lead peroxide
respectively to be formed in the interstices of the electrodes, and then the batteries
are ready for charging. Alternatively to the chemical deposition aforesaid, I some-
tines pack the finely divided lead and the peroxide during the coiling or building
of the electrodes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Stephen Henry Emmens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th December 1882.
STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, of Argyll Street in the County of Middlesex, Actuary.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES
My invention relates to improvements in the structure of electrodes for secondary
batteries whereby a large surface is comprised within a small space and further to
a method of charging same.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I now proceed to
describe it with reference to the drawings hereunto annexed and to the letters and
figures marked thereon.
vary the construction of my improved electrodes according to whether it is
desired to combine many elements in a small space or whether the cells may be
kept conveniently separate.
With the first object in view I take strips of sheet lead or lead foil or lengths of
-lead wire and roll them into a series of spiral Cylinders of short lengths as shown
in Figure 1. These short spiral Cylinders A. I then form into a long Cylinder-
Figure 2. by superposition separating each pair from the other by an insulating
diaphragm B and the elements of cach pair by a porous diaphragm or strips of
insulating material C.
1 connect the superposed Cells in series and then form a complete battery of
many pairs of elements as shown in Figure 2. having a very large operative surface
in small compass and with every part of each electrode in circuit
On the other hand where the Cells of a Battery may conveniently be kept
separate. I construct my improved electrodes by winding strips of sheet lead, lead-
.foil or lead-wire into cylindrical spirals as in Figure 3 notched where needful at
the outer circumference to facilitate the winding. Or I may use flat lead rings,
washers, or discs D. E. (Figure 4) which superposed will form two concentric
Cylinders F. G. (Figure 5) of which the inner Cylinder G may be either hollow or
solid according to whether rings. or dises be used for that Cylinder or pole.
These two concentric Cylinders thus form two poles of extremely distributed
surface and permeable in the interstices by the surrounding liquid
As a means of expediting the forming and charging of my improved electrodes
to act as a secondary battery or accumulator I use an electrolyte consisting of a
solution of the acetate, nitrate, or other salt of lead, capable of yielding metallic
lead and peroxide of lead by electrolysis. I then pass a strong electric current
through the battery and thus cause my electrodes to become permeated and coated
by metallic lead, and peroxide of lead, respectively. They are then fit for use in
combination as a secondary battery to be alternately charged and discharged in the
usual inanner.
In lieu of, or in addition to, this clectro-chemical method of formation of my
electrodes I sometimes mechanically pack the interstices of my electrodes with
finely divided metallic lead and peroxide of lead respectively.
Having now fully ascertained and described the nature of my said invention and
the manner in which it is to be performed be it known that what I consider novel
and desire to protect by Letters Patent is
1st. In a secondary battery the construction of the electrodes by the superposition
of short spiral Cylinders of Sheet lead, lead foil, or lead wire, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
2nd. In a secondary battery the construction of the electrodes by a continuous
superposed cylindrical spiral of materials as aforesaid, substantially as and for the
nurnoses described

page_text: 3rd. In a secondary battery the construction of the electrodes by the super-
position of lead rings or discs forming concentric Cylinders one within the other
substantially as and for the purposes described
4th. In a secondary battery the charging of electrodes as above described
with metallic lead and peroxide of lead respectively, either by mechanical packing
or electrolytical deposition substantially as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof I the said Stephens Henry Emmens have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Eighteenth day of December in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness:
JOHN C. FELL.
23 Rood Lane
.
Fenchurch Street
London E.C.
Patent Agent.
STEPHEN H. EMMENS, (LS.)

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