Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 5th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Dec., 1887
[Communicated from abroad by Alfred Dun, Apothecary, and FRANZ HASSLACHER,
Clerk, both of Frankfurt on the Main, German Empire.]
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The secondary batteries or lead accumulators heretofore constructed have the great
disadvantage that they are of very limited durability, the negative lead plates being
more or less rapidly destroyed in proportion to the extent of their use in consequence
of the repeated chargings and dischargings, such destruction taking place under any
circumstances in so short a space of time, that their durability stands in very
disadvantageous proportion to the first cost of these accumulators; which fact
interferes very much with their general use.
The present invention relates to the construction of a secondary battery, the
durability of which is not limited and which nevertheless possesses all the requisite
properties, such as sufficiently high tension, powerful current, and capability of
application immediately after the first charging, the expensive and time-taking so-
called "forming" being avoided.
The battery is constructed as follows:
The negative plate consists of retort or other artificial carbon, or of a metal that is
insoluble in caustic soda or potash solution, such as copper, silver, iron, platinum,
antimony &c.
The depolarising substance consists of a metallic oxide or peroxide insoluble in
caustic alkali solution, or hydrates of such oxides, which have the property of passing
to a higher stage of oxidation by combining with oxygen, in particular oxides of
silver or copper, peroxide of manganese, protoxide or oxide of nickel, protoxide
of cobalt, and and oxide of bismuth, these bodies being used either alone or in
combination.
The use of oxide of copper alone is less suitable because the higher stages of
oxidation thereof are too unstable, but it can well be used in combination with one or

page_text: more of the other oxides, such as with silver oxide, nickel protoxide &c., probably
because as peroxide or acid it assists and accelerates the higher oxidation of the other
bodies by its readiness to part with oxygen.
In order to increase the effectiveness, carbon powder or powdered or finely
granulated metal insoluble in caustic alkali, such as copper, iron, silver and antimony,
may be mixed with the depolarising substance.
The depolarising substances, combined by water or other binding medium to form
a homogeneous plastic mass, is applied in suitably thick layers to the surfaces of the
carbon or metal plates serving as negative electrode, and is dried until it is sufficiently
hard to stand the further treatment without becoming detached from the plate.
The prepared electrode is wrapped in a covering of asbestos or parchment paper or
linen, jute or hemp tissue or other suitable material that will allow the liquid and the
current to penetrate through it. For insuring greater durability, the plate may bo
further enclosed in a tightly fitting covering of iron or copper wire.
The negative electrode, when provided with a conducting strip, is then ready
for use.
Instead of using solid metal plates, plates of copper coated with silver or platinum
or other electroplated metals may be used, such as nickel plated iron, or again, a plate
of one metal can be mechanically covered with another, such as iron with copper.
The positive electrode also consists of a metal or carbon plate insoluble in caustic
alkali, copper being used by preference.
As exciting liquid is employed a more or less concentrated solution of zinc oxide or
lead oxido in caustic alkaline lye, with greater or less excess of potash or soda.
For making up the battery the negative electrodes are arranged alternately with
the positive electrodes in any desired number in a vessel so that spaces intervene
between them, and the negative and positive plates are then respectively connected to
a common pole.
In charging, the electric current is introduced in such manner, that the separation
of oxygen takes place on the negative, or coated plates. The oxides are in consequence
hereof converted into the higher combinations with oxygen while metallic zinc or lead
is deposited on the positive electrode from the solution of zinc or lead oxide and potash
or soda solution.
In discharging, the operation is reversed, the higher oxygen combinations previously
formed becoming deoxydised so as to reassume their original condition, while the zinc
or lead deposited on the positive plates becomes oxydised and dissolves in the alkaline
solution again.
Instead of using zinc or lead, any other metal may be used that will combine with
the alkaline solution on closing the circuit, such as tin in the form of stannate of
potash or soda.
At each successive charging and discharging, the above operations repeat themselves
in the same manner,
without deterioration of the plates, so that a secondary battery
thus constructed is of practically unlimited durability.
It is advisable to amalgamate the copper plates, as the zinc deposit is then not
only more compact but also adheres more firmly than with unamalgamated copper
plates.
By this means also, even the slightest local action between copper and zinc is
prevented, which is of importance if the battery is to remain charged for any length
of time.
In order to prevent particles of zinc, that may become detached when very strong
deposits thereof take place, from falling to the bottom, beyond the action of the
current so as not to become dissolved again, it is advisable to cover the bottom surface
of the vessel with a thin layer of mercury, into which all the positive plates are made
to dip care being taken that the negative plates are not in contact therewith. Or in
place of mercury a plate of copper may be used, which, being first in connection with
the positive plates, will keep the zinc particles under the action of the current. Or
the entire vessel of the battery might be made of iron, copper or other metal, insoluble
in the exciting liquid employed and serve as part of the positive electrode.

page_text: In place of a solid copper plate may be used one or more layers of copper wire
netting or gauze, whereby, not only will the deposit of zinc or lead be facilitated, but
the adhesion of the deposit will be increased. Or perforated copper plates may be
used for this purpose, which may be covered with one or more layers of copper wire
gauze.
In order to prevent the action of atmospheric carbonic acid upon the exciting
liquid, this should be covered with a layer of paraffin oil, or the vessel may be
hermetically closed with a cover of solid paraffin and gypsum, through which the two
polar leads are passed. This cover has an opening closed by a ball valve, permitting
the escape of the gases given off, and serving for the introduction of water to make
good the quantity converted into gases during the charging operations.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, and Patent Agent, 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 secondary batteries or lead accumulators heretofore constructed have the great
disadvantage that they are of very limited durability the negative lead plates being
more or less rapidly destroyed in proportion to the extent of their use in consequence
of the repeated chargings and dischargings such destruction taking place under any
circumstances in so short a space of time, that their durability stands in very
disadvantageous proportion to the first cost of these accumulators, which fact interferes
very much with their general use.
The present invention relates to the construction of a secondary battery the
durability of which is not limited and which nevertheless possesses all the requisite
properties, such as sufficiently high tension powerful current, and capability of
application immediately after the first charging the expensive and time taking so
called "forming being avoided.
"
The battery is constructed as follows :-
-
The negative plate consists of retort or other artificial carbon, or of a metal that is
insoluble in caustic soda or potash solution, such as copper, silver, iron, platinum,
antimony &c.
The depolarizing substance consists of a metallic oxide or peroxide insoluble in
caustic alkali solution, or hydrates of such oxides, which have the property of passing
to a higher stage of oxidation by combining with oxygen, in particular oxides of
silver or copper, peroxide of manganese, protoxide, toroxide of nickel, protoxide
of cobalt, and oxide of bismuth, these bodies being used either alone or in
combination.
The use of oxide of copper alone is less suitable because the higher stage of
oxidation thereof are too unstable, but it can well be used in combination with one or
more of the other oxides such as with silver oxide, nickel protoxide &c., probably
because a peroxide or acid it assists and accelerates the higher oxidation of the other
bodies by its readiness to part with oxygen.
In order to increase the effectiveness, carbon powder or powdered or finely
granulated metal insoluble caustic alkali, such as copper, iron, silver and antimony,
may be mixed with the depolarizing substance.
The depolarizing substances, combined by water or other binding medium to form
a homogeneous plastic mass is applied in suitably thick layers to the surfaces of the
carbon or metal plates serving as negative electrode, and is dried until it is sufficiently
hard to stand the further treatment without becoming detached from the plate.
The prepared electrode is wrapped in a covering of asbestos or parchment paper or
linen, jute, or hemp tissue, or other suitable material that will allow the liquid and the

page_text: current to penetrate through it. For insuring greater durability the plate may be
further enclosed in a tightly fitting covering of iron or copper wire.
The negative electrode when provided with a conducting strip is then ready
for use.
Instead of using solid metal plates, plates of copper coated with silver or platinum
or other electroplated metals may be used such as nickel plated iron, or again,
a plate of one metal can be mechanically covered with another, such as iron with
copper.
The positive electrode also consists of a metal or carbon plate insoluble in caustic
alkali, copper being used by preference.
As exciting liquid is employed a more or less concentrated solution of zinc oxide
or lead oxide in caustic alkaline lye with greater or less excess of potash or soda.
For making up the battery the negative electrodes are arranged alternately with the
positive electrodes in any desired number in a vessel so that spaces intervene between
them and the negative and positive plates are then respectively connected to a
common pole.
In charging, the electric current is introduced in such manner that the separation
of oxygen takes place on the negative or coated plates.
The oxides are in consequence hereof converted into the higher combinations with
oxygen while metallic zinc or lead is deposited on the positive electrode from the
solution of zinc or lead oxide and potash or soda solution.
In discharging, the operation is reversed, the higher oxygen combinations previously
formed becoming deoxydized so as to reassume their original condition, while the zinc
or lead deposited on the positive plates becomes oxidized and dissolves in the alkaline
solution again.
Instead of using zink or lead any other metal may be used that will combine with
the alkaline solution on closing the circuit, such as tin in the form of stannate of
potash or soda.
At each successive charging and discharging, the above operations repeat themselves
in the same manner, without deterioration of the plates, so that a secondary battery
thus constructed is of practically unlimited durability.
It is advisable to amalgamate the copper plates, as the zinc deposit is then not
only more compact but also adheres more firmly than with unamalgamated copper
plates.
By this means also, even the slightest local action between copper and zine is
prevented, which is of importance if the battery is to remain charged for any length
of time.
In order to prevent particles of zinc that may become detached when very strong
deposits thereof take place, from falling to the bottom beyond the action of the
current so as not to become dissolved again, it is advisable to cover the bottom surface
of the vessel with a thin layer of mercury, into which all the positive plates are made
to dip care being taken that the negative plates are not in contact therewith. Or in
place of mercury a plate of copper may be used, which, being put in connection with
the positive plates will keep the zinc particles under the action of the current; or the
entire vessel of the battery might be made of iron, copper, or other metal insoluble
in the exciting liquid employed and serve as part of the positive electrode.
In place of a solid copper plate may be used one or more layers of copper wire
netting or gauze, whereby not only will the deposit of zinc or lead be facilitated but
the adhesion of the deposit will be increased.
Or perforated copper plates may be used for this purpose, which may be covered
with one or more layers of copper wire gauze.
In order to prevent the action of atmospheric carbonic acid upon the exciting liquid,
this should be covered with a layer of paraffine oil or the vessel may be hermetically
closed with a cover of solid paraffine and gypsum, through which the two polar leads
are passed. This cover has an opening closed by a ball valve, permitting the escape
of the gases given off, and serving for the introduction of water to make good the
quantity converted into gases during the charging operations.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In secondary batteries of the kind herein referred to the combination of an exciting
liquid consisting of caustic alkali solution in which is dissolved a metallic oxide the
metal of which only dissolves in the liquid when the circuit is closed, a positive
electrode of a conducting material that is not effected by the caustic liquid and a
negative electrode consisting also of a conducting material that is not affected by the
caustic liquid, surrounded by a layer of a metallic oxide that can assume a higher
stage of oxidation and is not dissolved in the exciting liquid.
Dotal thin 5th se
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