Improvements relating to Electric Accumulators or Secondary Batteries and to the Manufacture of Plates or Electrodes therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Feb., 1890-Accepted, 8th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Electric Accumulators or Secondary
Batteries and to the Manufacture of Plates or Electrodes therefor.
I, CHARLES POLLAK, of 23, Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows.-
This invention has for its object the preparation of plates for electric accumulators,
and the construction of accumulators by means of such plates.
The plates are prepared by mechanically forming grooves or notches on the two
sides of sheets of lead, these sheets being caused to pass between two cylinders covered
with wire gauze, or carrying indented discs, or alternately full discs and indented
discs, in such a manner that the grooves or notches made on either side of the plates
in these rolling motions shall be of a sufficient length and depth to receive and
maintain spungy lead
The above mentioned discs, which consist of metal, and preferably of unhardened
steel, are pressed against each other, and are held upon either of the cylinders of the
rolling machine by a disc of metal composed of two parts connected by pressing
their
screws having nuts which maintain all the above mentioned discs upon
cylinders.
When after a certain time of service the discs have become soiled with lead they
can be disconnected by unscrewing the nut and removing the pressing disc, which
permits the displacement of the steel discs relatively to each other, so that the particles
of lead which owing to the pressure have entered the spaces between the teeth can
be detached therefrom
Rollers of rolling machines, engraved in any desired manner can also serve for the
preparation of the plates in order to obtain the necessary grooves or notches, but the
cleansing will in this case be troublesome and take a long time. To obviate tlus
inconvenience I prefer the movable discs slid upon each of the two cylinders of the
rolling machine to engraved rollers or rollers covered with wire gauze as herein before
described
Thus I obtain plates of lead, in the sides of which are formed longitudinal and
transverse grooves or notches By interposing from distance to distance between
the above-mentioned discs other full discs or discs having notches of other dimensions,
longitudinal or ti ausverse ribs are formed by which a greater rigidity is imparted to
the plates
When for the purpose of producing the grooves or notches upon the plates, discs
are employed each of which is toothed; the full part of one disc is placed opposite the
indentation or notch in the disc which touches it The discs upon the upper cylinder
are likewise so arranged that a notch will be juxtaposed to a full part of the lower
cylinder, and vice versa
These discs are of a size exceeding the diameter of the cylinder by from two to
four centimeters, the indentations in the toothed discs being from one to three or
four millimeters according to the depth of the notches to be obtained.
These notches or indentations with which the plate of lead is thus provided
upon its two sides serve to receive spungy lead which I deposit upon the same, and
they augment the surfaces of contact of this spungy lead and of lead of the plate
forming the core.
To obtain the spungy lead necessary for this preparation 1 can employ one of the
known means, but I give preference to the following.
I form a paste of pulverulent sulphate of lead with a solution of sodium, potassium or
other chloride This paste, by means of a roller of the kind used as an ink roller

page_text: employed for printing purposes is spread and incrusted upon the two sides of the
plates of lead provided with notches or indentations as above described. It is then
dried in the air if the temperature permits, or else by the aid of heat. When the
paste is dry I plunge the plate into a solution of the same chloride The passage of
an electric current supplied from an external source or of the interior current
supplied by a plate of zinc immersed in the chloride and connected to the mass under
treatment effects the reduction of the salt of lead, eliminating the chloride introduced
into the water for making the paste. In this manner a very spungy lead is
obtained.
Even when in the case of the formation of the plate of this paste upon a core of
lead, the plate has been reduced to spungy lead by the above mentioned electric
current, it can serve directly for forming an accumulator plate
In certain cases it may be useful to compress the pores of the spungy lead by
rolling or otherwise, whether this lead forms a plate by itself or whether it is formed
upon a core of lead.
The plates thus constructed can be used as positive and negative plates of an
accumulator the formation of which, in accumulators of the Planté kind is effected by
an electric current after the accumulator has been mounted.
Moreover, in accumulators wherein a battery is constituted by every apparatus
which I designate multiple accumulators to distinguish them froin simple accumu-
lators, either of which will hereinafter be described, each of the plates, excepting the
two extreme plates, 1s or becomes negative on one side and positive on the other
side.
In order to mount a simple accumulator in the receptacle containing the exciting
liquid, the plates of different names are connected by a rod of lead soldered to each
plate and extending to the outside The extremity of this rod consisting of a strip
of lead is U-shaped, and bolt and nut of copper, the extremity of this rod is applied
to the extremity of the rod of another accumulator and is pressed by the bolt or
terminal so as to establish a complete contact.
Each plate is moreover arranged in a shit formed in a wooden plate or other
insulating material placed on each lateral wall of the receptacle. The positive and
negative plates are thus suspended without touching the bottom of the receptacle,
and the plates are each separated from each other vertically by pieces of impregnated
wood or India-rubber, in such a manner that there will not be any contact with the
active materials which may become detached from the side of the aforesaid plates.
These simple accumulators can be easily removed from the receptacle forming, as
it were, only a whole by the fitting of each plate into each of the two wooden plates
above described, accordingly the accumulator can only be removed as a whole from.
its receptacle.
Besides this form of simple and removable accumulator, I also make this improved
accumulator immovable for certain cases, more especially for obviating the
inconveniences experienced in a long transport necessitating exceptional strength
For this immovable accumulator forming one piece with the receptacle for the exciting
liquid I first make a receptacle or case of lead in the interior of which I put the plates
connected by poles of the same name as in the ordinary accumulator. For the
purpose of keeping the plates at a distance from each other I place rods of
impregnated wood or other insulating material between every two plates, and between
the extreme plates and the walls of the receptacle or case of lead. Externally and
parallel to the plates I arrange upon the two sides of the receptacle of lead two
wooden plates of appropriate size, and upon the two wooden plates I place two
metallic plates of the same size. The rods between the plates having been placed in
the same plane, a pressure is brought to bear upon the exterior wooden plates and
metal plates.
After this pressing operation of the whole I secure metal bands upon the metal
plate which bands serve to connect the whole and to maintain the pressure.
In order to mount a multiple accumulator the plates forming a battery are

page_text: separated from each other by frames made either of wood impregnated with an
insulating material or of india-rubber or other insulating material applied to each
plate upon the four sides or upon three sides only, the upper side in the latter case
remaining free. In their lower part either a cavity or a protuberance can be
provided on each frame so that if active materials should fall down they will not
make a short-circuit.
Each plate is thus inserted between two frames, and with the plate opposite forms
an element. The joint of each plate with the frame is rendered tight by means of a
mastic of resin, glue, india-rubber, guttapercha or other suitable insulating_material
with which the frames and parts of plates adhering thereto are provided. Tightness
being thus obtained, the communication of the liquid in one cell with that in another
cell is prevented.
All the plates and frames are connected at the two ends by two sides of
impregnated wood, and the whole is pressed together through the medium of screw
threaded rods or rings with or without a screw-tightening device, or by other suitable
Dieans. When the pressure has been exerted by two plates the whole is soldered
together by bands surrounding them.
Each cell of the apparatus thus forms an element. An accumulator composed for
example of eleven plates constitutes a battery of ten elements, which can be charged
by primary batteries or by a dynamo
Only the two extreme plates are provided with connections forming holes of
different names, and each plate, excepting the two extreme plates, is and becomes as
above stated, negative upon one side and positive upon the other
I can also prepare these plates as follows, that is to say -Either I make them of
double size prepared upon one side only and fold them, putting between the two parts
prepared paper or other appropriate insulating substance so as to obviate any com-
munication of the liquid, or I prepare a single side of each plate and place two
plates together with their unprepared side, putting an insulating material between the
two parts
These parts are then connected so as to form a single plate.
Whether the plate is folded as described or whether it is composed of two sheets
which are secured to each other, the interior sides do not require to be prepared, but
only the exterior sides. If however they are prepared on both sides, the insulator
interposed between the two sheets which form one plate will prevent any commu-
nication of the liquid and of the current.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Electric Accumulators or Secondary
Batteries and to the Manufacture of Plates or Electrodes therefor.
I, CHARLES POLLAK of 23 Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris in the Republic of
France, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object the preparation of plates for electric accumulators,
and the construction of accumulators by means of such plates.
The plates are prepared by mechanically forming grooves or notches on the two
sides or in one side only of sheets of lead, these sheets being caused to pass between
two cylinders formed of discs that are all indented or alternately full and indented
in such a manner that by the effect of this rolling action the sheet of lead shall be
provided upon its two sides or upon one only with grooves or notches of a sufficient
width and depth to receive and maintain spungy lead.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the figures of which are
hereinafter referred to.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and

page_text: '
Figure 2 an end view of the rollers, or the rollers of a rolling mill for preparing the
plates for the accumulator.
The axes AA at one extremity receive a keyed_disc a upon which cbear the discs b
and the former of which are smooth or plane and the latter indented or toothed.
Figures 3 and 4 show a side view and section of a disc b with a smooth periphery.
Figures 5 and 6 show a steel disc having teeth.
The above mentioned discs which are pressed against each other, and bear against
the disc a are held by a disc d composed of two parts connected by screws having
nuts e which keep all the discs forced against each other.
When after a certain time the discs have become soiled with lead they can be
disconnected by unscrewing the nut e and removing the two-part disc d Then the
steel discs can be displaced relatively to each other so that the particles of lead which
adhere to them can be detached.
Thus I obtain plates of lead in the sides of which, as shown to a larger scale in
Figures 7 and 8, are formed longitudinal grooves a and transverse grooves y forming
projections or reliefs z. These grooves serve to receive spungy lead which I deposit
upon the surface of the plates of lead and they augment the surfaces of contact of
this spongy lead and of the lead underneath forming the core
In case the rollers are formed of discs which are all indented a plate having
projections or teeth in relief z in two contiguous lines (see Figures 9, 10 and 11) 18
obtained care being exercised to alternate the teeth of the contiguous discs in order
that the recesses and the reliefs of the plate of lead shall be arranged in quincuncial
order (Figure 9). By interposing between these laminar discs at certain distances
apart full discs of smaller diameter I obtain longitudinal and transverse ribs n,
which impart greater rigidity to the plates.
n²
To obtain the spungy lead necessary for the manufacture of plates of accumulators
with the plates of lead thus prepared I can employ one of the known means but I
prefer the following.
1 form a paste of pulverulent sulphate of lead with a solution of sodium, potassium
or other chloride. This paste is by means of a roller of the kind used as an ink
roller employed for printing purposes spread and incrusted upon the two sides of the
plates of lead provided with grooves as above described It is then dried in the air
if the temperature permits, or else by the aid of heat. When the paste is dry, I
plunge it into a solution of the same chloride. The passage of an electric current
supplied from an external source or of the interior current supplied by a plate of
zinc immersed in the chloride and connected to the mass under treatment effects the
reduction-of-the-salt-of-lead, eliminating-the-chloride introduced-into the water for
making the paste. In this manner a very spungy lead is obtained.
Even in the case of the formation of the plate of this paste with a core of lead,
the plate has been reduced to spongy lead, by the above mentioned electric current
it can serve directly for forming an accumulator plate
In certain cases it may be useful to compress the pores of the spungy lead by
rolling or otherwise whether this lead forms a plate by itself or whether it is formed
upon a core of lead.
The plates thus constructed can be used as positive and negative plates of an
accumulator the formation of which, in accumulators of the "Planté " kind is effected
by an electric current after the accumulator has been mounted.
In order to mount accumulators with these plates I preferably employ one of the
arrangements hereinafter described.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 represent in transverse section, longitudinal section and plan
the arrangement of an accumulator. The negative plates B of lead, which are
prepared as above set forth are fixed upon the sides at their upper part to strips ƒ of
lead. These strips have grooved projections for receiving the plates B that are
fixed by solder to the lead poured into holes pierced from the outside. This
arrangement is shown separately to a large scale in the horizontal section Figure 15
The whole of the negative plates are carried by wooden supports k fixed in the
interior of the box C of wood, ebonite or any other non-conducting material,

page_text: As to the positive plates D, one of which is shown separately in Figure 16, they are
fixed by solder in an upper central cross-piece, the series of positive plates are
placed between the negative plates, the cross-piece / resting upon the negative plates ;
for insulating the cross-piece l, I interpose between them and the negative plates an
ebonite comb m shown separately in plan Figure 17, the teeth of which rest upon the
negative plates. The positive plates D are notched at the corners o, o (Figure 16)
so as not to touch the lateral stripsf which support the negative plates B. Rods p q
one of which is fixed to a lateral strip ŕ and the other to the cross-piece / constitute
the negative and positive conductors.
Another arrangement of the accumulator which is particularly adapted for use on
railways as represented in figures 18 to 22. A sheet E, of lead prepared by rolling
1s cut only on one side, with the outline shown in Figure 18; it is folded along the
lines rrrrtt and the edges thus brought close together are soldered so as to form a
box of lead (Figures 19 and 20), the prepared surface of which is at the interior. This
box constitutes the negative plate, the positive plate F (see the section Figure 21
and plan Figure 22 of a group of acccumulators connected in series) is placed in the
interior, held at the two extremities in the grooves & of wooden plates u one of which
is shown separately to a larger scale in Figures 23 and 24. The groove does not
extend to the bottom of the plate in order that the sheet of lead shall not bear upon
the bottom of the box E of lead
Side by side in a box G of wood are placed a certain of these accumulators, two
and two being insulated by a plate of wood, and the whole is covered with an
India-rubber sheet H in order that the liquid shall not be spilled
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 15.-
First. The preparation of accumulator plates by forming cavities upon one or both
sides of a sheet of lead by the passage of this sheet of lead between two rolling mill
cylinders provided with discs which are alternately smooth and indented or all
indented, a cavity of one of the discs being in the latter case placed beside a full part
of the other disc with the object of forming upon these accumulator plates longitudinal
and transverse grooves and with or without ribs for giving them more rigidity.
Second The employment of these plates of ordinary lead for accumulator plates
by causing spungy lead to adhere thereto upon both sides.
Third. The preparation of this spungy lead by reduction of a salt of lead, as herein-
before described.
Fourth. The employment of plates thus prepared for forming accumulators such as
shown in Figures 12 to 17 with negative plates connected by soldering to small
lateral bars supported in the box or vessel, and with intermediate positive plates
fixed to an upper cross-piece resting upon the negative plates, with an insulating
comb interposed.
Fifth. The construction of an accumulator as herein before described with reference
to figures 18 to 22, with a box of lead constituting the negative plate prepared as
above described, with an interior positive plate held in the grooves of the lateral
cheeks of wood, the various parts being connected in series, located in a box of wood
which is covered with a sheet of India-rubber.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.