Year: 1897

page_text: Date Claimed for Patent under Sect. 103 of Act,
being date of first Foreign Application (in 4th May, 1897
Belgium),
Date of Application (in the United Kingdom), 2nd Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898
I, CLEMENT PAYEN, of 27, Boulevard, St. Marcel, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer and Electrician, do heroby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an electrical accumulator of an improved construction
mainly characterized by the special arrangements of its block of active material and
of the case thereof.
My invention substantially consists in constructing this block of active material
in the shape of a grooved or fluted truncated cone or pyramid, and enclosing such
block in an open-work case, being a good conductor of electricity, so that the solid
parts of the same shall correspond to the ribs of the block of active material, and
the openings, to the depressions or grooves of the said block.
This arrangement ensures a very wide contact-surface between the paste and the
conductive case, while at the same time it offers a greatly extended surface for the
electrolyte to act upon.
In the improved accumulator contact between the active material and its enclosing
conductive case is ensured by the pressure resulting from the conical outline of the
same and from the expansion due to electric "formation "; also by the pressure of
the material contained in the ease against this containing case itself, owing to the
weight of the "contained" material and especially in consequence of the vibration
attending the use of the accumulator for purposes of locomotion.
The invention will bo best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which an improved accumulator constructed in accordance with my invention is
shewn by way of example.
Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating the arrangement of a cell, the conductive case
being represented in section;
Figure 2 is a plan thereof;
Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 1-2 of Figure 2,
Figure 4 is a cross section on line 3-4 of Figure 1.
Figure is an elevation of the conductive case; and
Figure 6 is a horizontal section of a modified arrangement of the improved
hccuinulator.
In these figures like letters of reference designate identical parts.
The improved accumulator cell mainly consists of a block a of active material, in
he shape of a truncated cone, preferably consisting of pure crystallized lead or
rystallized lead peroxide, enclosed in a conductive case b capable of resisting the
DQ37

page_text: chemical action of the electrolyte and also to the mechanical action of excessive
pressure caused by an increase in the volume of the active material whilst "electric
formation is taking place.
This block in the shape of a truncated coue is fluted or grooved as shewn in
Figures 1 and 2, the width of the grooves being equal to the intermediate space.
between any two consecutive grooves.
In the centre of the block a there may be provided an internal empty space c of
conical shape.
And I may also place in the axial line of the block a cylindrical rod of lead as
shewn in Figure 6. This arrangement may readily be carried out, for example, by
pouring somewhat rapidly into a mould the contents of a capsule in which chloride
of lead with an addition of metallic zine has been melted; when the lead, which is
precipitated to the bottom of the capsule, drops axially, into the block of chloride
before it has had time to solidify, and forms a space sufficient for its reception in
the axial line of such block.
The number of grooves or flutings may be determined at will, and they may be
arranged so as to assume the shape of a St. Andrew's cross in section, in which case
the block of material will be formed like a truncated pyramid.
In order to obtain as large a contact surface as possible with the conductive
case the ends of each arm should be slightly rounded off as shewn in
Figure 6.
Or 1 may give the block a a cylindrical shape.
The conductive casing b in which the block of active material is enclosed presenta
vertical rows of apertures d arranged along the generating lines corresponding to
the grooves provided in the block a, and also full or solid parts facing the grooves or
flutings.
The cells may cousist of two, three, four or more concentric cylinders or truncated
cones, an odd number being preferable.
And further, I may place the cells side by side, and they may rest either on their
broad bases, or preferably on their narrow bases; or the arrangement may be alter-
nating, the positive elements, for example, being placed on their broad bases, and
the negative elements on their narrow ends.
This last-mentioned arrangement will cause the several cells to be wedged together
as it were, whereby a perfectly close contact between the conductive case and the
active material will be secured; in addition to which this construction reduces the
space occupied to a minimum,
The several cells may rest upon insulating supports and be separated from each
other by intermediate insulators of any suitable construction.
And I may furthermore suspend the cells by means of their enclosing case, instead
of supporting them by the bottom surface of such case.
It will be understood, also, that I may modify the shapes and dimensions
both of the main parts and accessories of my improved apparatus, according to
circumstances.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1897.

page_text: what manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
'This invention relates to an electrical accumulator of an improved construction
Inainly characterized by the special arrangement of its block of active material and
of the case thereof.
My invention substantially consists in constructing this block of active material
in the shape of a grooved or fluted truncated cone or pyramid, and enclosing
such block in an open-work case, said case being a good conductor of electricity,
in such a manner that the solid parts of the same shall correspond to the ribs
of the block of active material, and the openings, to the depression or grooves
of the said block.
This arrangement ensures a very wide contact surface between the paste and the
conductive case, while at the same time it offers a greatly extended surface for the
electrolyte to act upon.
In the improved accumulator contact between the active material and its en-
closing conductive case is ensured by the pressure resulting from the conical outline
of the saine and from the expansion due to electric "forination," also by the
pressure of the material contained in the case against this containing case itself,
owing to the weight of the "contained" material and especially in consequence of
the vibration attending the use of the acoutnulator for purposes of locomotion.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the drawing accom-
panying any provisional application in which an improved accummulator constructed
in accordance with my invention is shown.
Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating the arrangement of a cell, the conductive
case being represented in section;
Figure 2 is a plan thereof;
.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 1-2 of Figure 2
Figure 4 is a cross section on line 3-4 of Figure 1 ;
Figure 5 is an elevation of the conductive case, and
Figure 6 is a horizontal section of a modified arrangement of the improved
accumulator.
In these figures like letters of reference designate identical parts.
The improved accumulator cell mainly consists of a block a of active material,
in the shape of a truncated cone, preferably consisting of pure crystallized lead
or crystallized lead peroxide; enclosed in a conductive case capable of resisting
the chemical action of the electrolyte and also the mechanical action or excessive
pressure caused by an increase in the volume of the active material whilst " electric
formation" is taking place.
This block in the shape of a truncated cone is fluted or grooved as shown in
Figures 1 and 2, the width of the grooves being equal to the intermediate space
between any two consecutive grooves.
In the centre of the block a there may be provided an internal empty space c of
conical shape.
The axis of the block may consist of a cylindrical rod of lead as shown in Figure 6.
This rod may be produced by moulding for example, by rapidly pouring into a mould
at the centre of the block of active material, the contents of a capsule in which
chloride of lead (to which has been added metallic zinc) has been melted; the lead
precipitated traverses the chloride which has not yet solidified, and thus in depositing
forms the axis of the block.
The number of grooves or flutings may be determined at will, and they may
be arranged so as to assume the shape of a St. Andrew's cross in section, in
which case the block of material will be formed like a truncated pyramid.
In order to obtain as large a contact surface as possible with the conductive
case the ends of each ar a should be slightly rounded off as shown in
Figure 6.
Or I may give the block a a cylindrical shape.

page_text: The conductive casing b in which the block of active material is enclosed
presents vertical rows of apertures d arranged along the generating lines corres-
ponding to the grooves provided in the block a, and also full or solid parts facing
the ribs of the said block a.
The cells may consist of two, three, four or more concentric cylinders or truncated
cones, an odd number being preferable.
And further, I place the cells side by side, and they may rest either on their broad
bases, or preferably on their narrow bases, or the arrangement may be alternating,
the positive elements, for example, being placed on their broad bases, and the
negative elements on their narrow ends.
This last mentioned arrangement will cause the several cells to be wedged
together as it were, whereby a perfectly close contact between the conductive
case and the active material will be secured; in addition to which this construction
reduces the space occupied to a minimum.
The several cells may rest upon insulating supports and be separated from each
other by intermediate insulators of any suitable construction.
And I may furthermore suspend the cells by means of their enclosing case, instead
of supporting them by the bottom surface of such case.
It will be understood, also, that I may modify the shapes and dimensions, both of
the main parts and accessories of my improved apparatus, according to circum-
stances.
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. The improved electrical accumulator the main feature of which is the block o
active material in the shape of a grooved or fluted truncated cone or similarly
grooved truncated pyramid, enclosed in an open-work conductive case, capable of
resisting the chemical action of the electrolyte and the mechanical action of the
excess of pressure due to the increase of volume of the active substance at the time
of formation, substantially as described and shown in the drawing.
2. The improved electrical accumulator wherein the block of active material in the
abape of a truncated cone or pyrainid presents the shape of a St. Andrew's cross in
section, the ends of each arm being rounded off substantially as described and with
reference to the drawing.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.