Improvements in Storage Batteries.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Storage Batteries.
I, ALBERT PREISS, of Edward Street, Norwood, in the Province of South
Australia, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is by a special construction of storage or other
secondary batteries to greatly reduce the weight without affecting their
efficiency.
I find in practice that the electricity is stored in the positive pole or plate and.
that the negative pole acts simply as a conductor.
My improved construction of secondary or storage batteries consists essentially
in providing plates or poles of unequal size. The positive pole consists of a load
plate formed in any known way and of the same dimensions as at present in use.
The negative pole is however simply a thin sheet of suitable metal having the same
surface dimensions as the positive pole. The negative pole may be of any suitable
metal such as zinc or aluminium, a chemically pure metal being preferred and each
cell may be provided with one or two negative poles. As a casing or cell I propose
to use vulcanite, pure gutta-percha, papier-maché, or other suitable material,
but prefer papier-maché. The electrolito may cousist of diluted sulphuric acid or
weak solution of sulphate of ammonia.
By the above construction of storage cells arranged singly or in series I am
enabled to store the same quantity of electricity as in cells of the same size of the
present construction. In practice I find that the electricity from my cells is
discharged more evenly and is better under control, with the great advantage that
the weight of the cells is reduced fully two-thirds.
Dated the 1st day of September 1898
or tho Applicant,
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
London, Chartered Patent Agent.
I, ALBERT PREISS, of Edward Street, Norwood, in the Province of South
Australia, Plumber, 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 :-
The object of my invention is by a special construction of secondary or storage
batteries to greatly reduce the weight without affecting their efficiency.
I find in practice that the electricity is stored in the positive pole or plate and
that the negative pole or plate acts simply as a conductor.
My improved construction of secondary or storage batteries consists essentially
in providing plates or poles of unequal thickness or weight. The positive pole
consists of a lead plate formed in any known way and of similar dimensions
Price 8d.]

page_text: according to the size of the cell to those at present in use. The negative pole is
however preferably simply a thin sheet of metal having the same surface dimensions
as the positive lead pole. The negative pole may be of any suitable metal such as
zinc or aluminium, a chemically pure metal being preferred and each cell may be
provided with one or two thin plates acting as a negative pole.
In order to still further reduce the weight I propose to use in the construction
of the cell or casing, vulcanite, pure gutta-percha, papier-maché, or other similar
material, but prefer papier-maché. As an electrolite I prefer a diluted solution of
sulphuric acid and sulphate of ammonia shewing by the hydrometer a density of
about 1-200° and by the use of such an electrolite prevent the disadvantage
of creeping salts.
By the above construction of secondary or storage cells I am enabled to store
the same quantity of electricity in each cell as in the cells of the same size of the
present construction, with the great advantage that in my cells the weight is reduced
fully two-thirds.
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 secondary or storage batteries providing plates or poles of unequal
thickness or weight the negative plate acting simply as a conductor or pole.
2. In secondary or storage batteries the combination with a positive pole of lead
of any usual construction and size, of a negative pole or poles consisting of a thin
sheet of zinc, aluminium or other suitable metal substantially as herein
described.