IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES OR CELLS FOR PRIMARY OR SECONDARY BATTERIES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, FRANK GEERE HOWARD, of 36 Cleveland Street, London, W. Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOXES OR CELLS FOR PRIMARY OR SECONDARY BATTERIES to be as follows:-
The methods usually adopted in the construction of boxes or cells for primary
or secondary batteries, when wood is the material employed, are, either to join the
sides and ends by means of screws, or to dovetail them into each other, and then
to line the box or cell so constructed with some suitable composition to resist the
action of the electrolyte. These methods, however, are objectionable and fail to
effect their purpose (namely, the formation of a permanently acid-proof and water-
proof cell) for the following reasons: in cases where the parts of the box or cell
are (i) scrowed together, if (as frequently happens) the wood warps, the screws are
liable to get drawn out, or become exposed in such a way as to be attacked by the
electrolyte, so that the box or cell leaks and is rendered useless; in cases where
the parts are (ii) dovetailed together, if the wooden sides or ends warp, the
dovetails are liable to come apart and so render the box or cell useless.
The object of my Invention is to overcome these difficulties. I find that a joint
made by grooving the end of one piece (of the wood used in making a box or cell)
into the side of another is more likely to remain water tight than one made by
screwing or dovetailing.
I take two pieces of wood, (which I shall sometimes hereinafter call "side-
pieces") each of which shall be of suitable thickness (having regard to the weight
and size of the intended box or cell, as also to the grooving hereinafter specified) and
in area somewhat larger in every direction than the intended internal size of the
side of the proposed box or cell. I cut a groove at about one inch from either end
of each of these pieces of wood on the side that is to be inside the box or cell, and
in the direction from top to bottom of the intended box or cell. These grooves
should be cut of proper dimensions to hold the end-pieces hereinafter mentioned.
I then take two pieces of wood (which I call "end-pieces") of such size as shall
be equal to the exact size desired for the inside of the end of the proposed box or
cell with an addition at either end equal to the depth of the grooves in the side-
pieces, and of such size from top to bottom as shall be equal to the internal
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page_text: dimension desired with an addition sufficient to allow of a groove to hold the
bottom piece as hereinafter specified. These end-pieces I slide into the grooves at
either end of the side-pieces.
I hold the side-pieces in their place by means of stretchers dovetailed into the
ends of the side-pieces that project beyond the grooves holding the end pieces.
The stretchers so placed are on the outside of, and parallel to, the end-pieces.
The number of stretchers (not less than two at each end in any case) and their
size must depend on the size and weight of the box or cell.
Both the side-pieces and end-pieces are grooved lengthwise, in the part that is
intended to be towards the bottom of the proposed box or cell, so as to allow a
piece of wood to be inserted which shall form a bottom to the box or cell.
The box or cell is then insulated or lined inside with any material suitable to
resist the action of the electrolyte to be employed.
Boxes or cells constructed according to my Invention may be manufactured more
easily and more rapidly, and are of greater strength, though less costly than boxes
or cells constructed according to the methods usually employed. The objectionable
features attendant on other forms of boxes or cells as described above are overcome;
for if the wood forming the sides of a box or cell constructed according to my
Invention commences to warp, the dovetailed stretchers will prevent the sides from
moving, and the joints will remain water-tight.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1884

page_text: '
I, FRANK GEERE HOWARD, of 36 Cleveland Street, London, W., Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOXES OR CELLS FOR PRIMARY OR SECONDARY. BATTERIES and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The methods usually adopted in the construction of boxes or cells for primary
or secondary batteries when wood is the material employed, are either to join the
sides and ends by means of screws or to dovetail them into each other, and then
to line the box or cell so constructed with some suitable composition to resist the
action of the electrolyte. These methods, however, are objectionable and fail to
effect their purpose (namely the formation of a permanently acid-proof and water-
proof cell) for the following reasons: in cases where the parts of the box or cell
are (i) screwed together, if (as frequently happens) the wood warps, the screws are
liable to get drawn out or become exposed in such a way as to be attacked by the
electrolyte, so that the box or cell leaks and is rendered useless; in cases where
the parts are (ii) dovetailed together, if the wooden sides or ends warp, the
dovetails are liable to come apart and so render the box or cell useless.
The object of my Invention is to overcome these difficulties.
I find that a joint made by grooving the end of one piece into the side of
another (as is shown in Fig. I) is more likely to remain watertight than one made
by screwing or dovetailing.
I take two pieces of wood (which I shall sometimes hereinafter call "side-
pieces") of suitable thickness (having regard to the weight and size of the intended
box or cell, as also to the grooving hereinafter specified) and in area somewhat
larger in every direction than the intended internal size of the side of the proposed
box or cell. I cut a groove (a. in Fig. II) at such distance from each end of each
of these pieces of wood, as, having regard to the size of the box, shall be com-
patible with strength. I find that about the same distance from either end as
the side-piece is thick is sufficient. I cut these grooves on the side that is to be
inside the box or cell and in the direction from top to bottom of the intended box
or cell. These grooves should be cut of proper dimensions to hold the end-pieces
hereinafter mentioned.
I then take two pieces of wood (which I call "end-pieces") each being of such
size as shall be equal to the exact size desired for the inside of the end of the
proposed box or cell with an addition at each end equal to the depth of the groove
in the side-piece (into which it is to be fitted) and of such size from top to bottom
as shall be equal to the internal dimension desired in that direction, with an
addition sufficient to allow of a groove to hold the bottom piece as hereinafter
specified. These end-pieces (B, B. in Fig. II) I slide into the grooves (a, a) at each
end of the side-pieces.
I hold the side pieces (A, A) in their places by means of (C) stretchers dovetailed
into the ends of the side-pieces that project beyond the grooves holding the
end-pieces (as shown in Fig. III). The stretchers so placed are on the outside
of and parallel to the end-pieces. The number (not less than two at each end in
any case) of the stretchers, and their size must depend on the size and weight of
the box or cell.
Both the side-pieces and end-pieces are grooved lengthwise in the part that is
intended to be towards the bottom of the proposed box or cell, so as to allow a
piece of wood to be inserted which shall form a bottom to the box. or cell.

page_text: The box or cell is then insulated or lined inside with any material suitable to
resist the action of the electrolyte to be employed.
The accompanying Drawings will serve to illustrate the mode of performing my
Invention, like letters representing like parts.
Fig. I. represents a joint made by grooving.
Fig. II is the plan of a box: A, A. being side-pieces; B, B, end-pieces; and
C, C, stretchers,
Fig. III. is an end elevation of a box, showing stretchers (C. C.) dovetailed into
the ends of the side-pieces A. A.
Fig. IV represents a stretcher (C.).
Fig. V is a section through a box showing the method of grooving in the
bottom: D. being the bottom-piece to the box.
Boxes or cells constructed according to my Invention may be manufactured
more easily and more rapidly and of greater strength, though at less cost, than
boxes or cells constructed according to the methods usually employed. The
objectionable features attendant on other forms of boxes or cells as described
above are overcome; for, if the wood forming the sides of a box or cell constructed
according to my Invention commences to warp, the dovetailed stretchers will
prevent the sides from moving, and the joints will remain water-tight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The construction of boxes or cells for primary or secondary batteries substantially
as above described.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1884.