Improvements in Insulators for Electric Batteries.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1839-Accepted, 3rd Aug.,
1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Insulators for Electric Batteries.
I, STANLEY CHARLES CUTHBERT CURRIE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain,
but now residing at 813 Drexel Building Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia
and State of Pennsylvania, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of iny
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN INSULATORS FOR ELECTRIC 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 insulators adapted more especially for use in connection
with the plates or electrodes of secondary or storage batteries having large surfaces
or proportions of active matter, as a means of insulating the plates or electrodes from
one another mounted in battery.
The principal object of my invention is to provide insulators for separating the
plates or electrodes of storage batteries from one another while at the same time.
affording free action and circulation of the fluid that the plates or electrodes are
immersed in and as well permitting of the free escape of all gases and affording as
little resistance as possible to the electric current.
My invention consists of a perforated corrugated insulating plate or diaphragm con-
structed and arranged so as to afford a free circulation of the electric current and
liquid through the perforations and of the liquid and gases through and along the
several grooves or recesses of the corrugated structure.
In the mounting of the plates in battery it should be understood that as much of
the surface of the material as possible should be accessible to the action of the electro-
lyte and the surfaces of the respective positive and negative elements be as near as
possible to one another with of course space being left for the relative amount of liquid.
Moreover, it is necessary that there should be a free circulation of the liquid as well
as a free escape of all gases and my invention in a marked degree possesses the
capabilities of affording the fulfilment of these conditions in a most satisfactory manner.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in one of the forms
found practically efficient; and in which
Figure 1, is a perspective view of a vessel or cell containing a series of plates
mounted in battery with the corrugated insulating plates shown in application between
them.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the corrugated insulating plate or diaphragm ; and
Fig. 3 is a top view thereof showing the plane of corrugation of the insulating
plate or diaphragm.
Referring to the drawings for a further description of the invention a, is the plate
of any desired size or form made of a hard insulating material not capable of being
acted upon by the electrolyte. This plate is perforated with a series of holes b, as
large and numerous as compatible with strength. The plate is corrugated in any
suitable manner with preferably the line of corrugations thereof lying in a vertical
plane. The material for the formation of the plate may be of rubber or any other
material but preference is given to rubber owing to its adaptability for the purpose.
After perforating the plate or diaphragm it is subjected to the action of steam or other
softening agent to render it more or less pliable when it is pressed or caused to assume
in a suitable appliance a corrugated shape or form.
In Fig. 1, is illustrated a cell, vase or vessel B, with a series of positive and
negative plates c and d, mounted therein and a series of insulating plates or
diaphragms a, between said battery plates and which with an electrolyte constitute
one foru of secondary or storage battery. An insulating plate or diaphragm con-
structed an arranged substantially as described for use in connection with battery
plates presents this especial feature of guarding most satisfactorily against short

page_text: circuiting as well as buckling of the plates. Moreover, while these plates perform
their respective functions most efficiently they can be made very economically for such
purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. A perforated corrugated insulating plate or diaphragm permitting of the free
passage of the current as well as the free circulation of the liquid and gases in
or through the perforations and around or along the grooves or recesses of the
corrugations thereof, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. A perforated corrugated insulating plate or diaphragm having the lines of
corrugation lying in a vertical plane, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
3. A perforated insulating plate or diaphragm formed with corrugations; sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Philadelphia, Pa., this
99nd da.. SMAD 1000
Witnesses
THOMAS MILLER SMITH.
STANLEY CHARLES CUTHBERT CURRIE.
AUGUSTUS BURBANK STOUGHTON.