IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC SECONDARY OR STORAGE BATTERIES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Henelade Courtenay at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st August 1883.
ROBERT HENELADE COURTENAY, of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC SECONDARY OR STORAGE BATTERIES
My present invention relates, firstly, to a method of preventing or lessening the
leakage of the electric current in electric secondary or storage batteries when such
batteries are charged but not in actual use.
According to this part of my said Invention I arrange the said batteries.so that.
the two elements required in their construction are entirely separate from each
other when out of use, but can easily be put. in connection with each other when
required for use,
The method by which I prefer to effect, this. result is as follows:-I place the.
positive element in one cell and the negative element in an entirely separate cell,
and I couple up as required in the usual way for quantity or intensity with the
conductors between each pair of cells, and in order to charge such cells by means
of a dynamo-machine or other electric source. I place one or more conductors made
of a suitable metal or combination of metals between the two elements, such
conductors being placed in the liquids and capable of being removed. or acted upon.
by a switch or switches in order to separate the two elements when the battery is
out of use as above described. The cells thus constructed with the positive and
negative elements apart can be when separated by long distances charged by
metallic conductors being, connected with the liquids as described above, and
wholly under control from the source of supply. It will be seen that in this way
the chemical and electrical condition of the cells may be entirely separated at will,
thereby lessening the local action in such cells when not in use.
The object of the second part of my present invention is to improve the condition.
of secondary or storage battery cells; that is to say, to render thein more suitable
for receiving an electrical charge.
According to this part of my invention I charge the cells with oxygen gas by
any suitable well understool means until the positive elements are fully saturated,
the amount of oxygen being further increased in the metallic oxides and also in
the spongy lead or other metal plates, castings or substances employed, together
with the fluid with which they are charged, this latter retaining a large amount

page_text: of oxygen under pressure, and in this way such cells can be charged in much less
time than has horetofore ordinarily been the case. I also in the case of large
storage cells submit the negative elements to the action of sulphuretted Hydrogen
gas by any known method.
In order to charge the positive cells with an additional current of oxygen in
the way described these cells must be enclosed in air-tight vessels so that when
oxygen gas or its equivalent in atmospheric air is forced into such cells the
metallic and liquid elements may absorb as much of such oxygen as possible
previous to being charged with the electrical current.
Another part of my invention relates to an improved method of construction of
secondary or storage batteries, by which portability is obtained as well as large
surfaces for storage capacity.
For this purpose I carbonize fruit of a saccharine nature in the ordinary way
combined with suitable substances of a fibrous nature, and I use the carbon so
prepared in combination with oxy-chromate of lead or copper or a mixture of both
lead and copper or any other suitablo metal easily oxidized.
For purposes of conductivity. I use either a sheet of lead bent in the form of a
cylinder, or a sheet of copper, or carbon slabs either of which is placed in a suitable
water tight and air tight cell fitted with a safety valve to prevent too great
pressure of gas in the cells when charging.
Or the cells can be made without the valve and open in the ordinary way, and
in either case the cells are filled up with any carbonized refuse saccharine fruit,
previously coated with a thick mixture of plumbago and dried previously to
carbonizing. Currants, raisins, or dates will be found with the plumbago to
answer the purpose well, with the oxychromate of lead and copper mixed with the
carbon layer upon layer alternately, or the prepared carbon and oxychromate can
be made into spherical balls and placed in the cells and by this means a regular
surface is obtained between the points of contact with each ball of carbon or oxides
allowing ample room for the necessary play of the gases. The above arrangement
is used for the positive cells of the battery.
The negative cells are made with a copper cylinder or other good conductor
with carbon balls or scraps or the carbonized fruit as belore described, with scrap
copper or other metal to receive a deposit of copper from a sulphate of copper
solution.
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A second method of construction which I sometimes apply is the following:-
Rods or slabs of solid carbon are wound with strips of carbonized Fibrous
material such as stout calico or canvas or other material of a liko nature, having
been previously conted with a mixture of lead in a fine state of division mixed
with chromate of lend. Or sheets of the same of any convenient size can be
placed side by side having been coated with the lend or other metallic compound
and arranged as alreadly described. The above form the positive elements.
The negative elements are constructed by winding upon either sheets or strips
of copper or carbon Rods the fibrous carbonized material previously coated with
oxide of copper the whole being secured with twine coated with shellac varnish.or
otherwise made waterproof, and a porous wrapping material.
The above negative and positive Elements can be used in the ordinary way
coupled up in the same cell or in the way first above described. The oxide of
copper can be used with zinc elements for primary positive elements with either
salamonine or other solutions or excitants of a similar nature as well as dilute
acids, the zinc being wound with the prepared carbon, and it can be used either in
porous cells or otherwise.