IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY OR POLARI-
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Lawrence Winch, of Madras; East Indies, but at
present of No. 7 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, 'in the County of
Middlesex, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY OR POLARI-
21
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Lawrence Winch at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1882.
GEORGE LAWRENCE WINCH of Madras, East Indies but at present of N° 7
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SECONDARY OR POLARIZATION BATTERIES FOR THE STORAGE OF ELECTRIC
ENERGY "
This Invention relates to what are known as secondary batteries which are
incapable themselves of producing electricity but which become electrical storage
batteries when charged from some other source such as a galvanic battery or
Gramme or other dynamo machine.
These batteries may consist of plates of lead or alternate plates of lead and
copper or lead and zinc.
The form of battery may be like that of Planté, a pair of plates rolled together
but separated by some insulating substance or material so as to allow free
circulation of the fluid or fluids but to prevent the contact of the plates with each
other.
The pairs of plates may be placed horizontally, perpendicularly, or diagonally with
their surfaces preferably parallel but separated from each other and the succeeding
pairs as may be found most advantageous.
The method of separation and insulation may be by grooves in the framework
of the surrounding vessel, frames or strips of wood, gutta percha or other non-
conducting substance and the interstices between such plates may be filled with
saw dust or other inert substance.
The plates of lead may consist of sheet lead, perforated or intact, or may be cast
in the required shape with perforations or cells extending partially or entirely
through the plate.

page_text: The plates of copper or zinc may consist of sheet copper or sheet zinc, perforated
or intact.
With a view to prevent the metallie deposits and oxide from becoming detached
from the plates a sheet or sheets of cork are closely attached to the sides of the
plates which are further held in position by means of the saw dust or other inert
substance.
The plates so put together are inserted in a suitably shaped water-tight vessel
of wood lead or iron, protected by varnish or other cooling material chiefly to
prevent corrosion and leakage and the plates are alternately connected with each
other so as to form the two poles of the exciting battery or machine.
The fluids with which these secondary batteries are to be filled may be :-
(1) Sulphate of copper and sulphate of aluminum.
(2) Sulphate of copper and potash alum.
(3) Sulphate of copper and soda alum.
(4) Sulphate of copper and ammonia alum.
(5) Sulphate of zinc and sulphate of aluminum.
(6) Sulphate of zine and potash alum.
(7) Sulphate of zinc and soda alum.
(8) Sulphate of zinc and ammonia alum.
(9) Sulphate of aluminum.
(10) Potash alum.
(11) Soda alum.
(12) Ammonia alum.
The novel points of this Invention are,
The use of cork as a protection to the deposits and chemical formations upon
the plates.
The use of the salts of aluminum and double Salts of alum separately and in
conjunction with sulphate of copper and sulphate of zinc with plates of lead and
copper, lead and zinc and lead only.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Lawrence Winch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th January 1883.
GEORGE LAWRENCE WINCH of Madras East India but at present of 7
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SECONDARY OR POLARIZATION BATTERIES FOR THE STORAGE OF ELECTRIC
ENERGY
"
This Invention relates to what are known as secondary batteries which may
be incapable themselves of producing electricity but which become electrical storage
batteries when charged from some other source such as a galvanic battery or
Gramme or other dynamo machine.
These batteries may consist of plates of lead or alternate plates of lead and
copper, or lead and zinc, or other combination of metals or conducting material,
and may be constructed of a pair or series of plain, cellular-grated or shelved, flat
plates of lead, copper, zinc, carbon, or other metal or conducting material rolled or
cast so as to assimilate to the form of "Plantes" presenting opposing surfaces
preferably parallel but separated by some insulating substance or material so as to
allow free circulation of the fluid or fluids whilst preventing the contact of the
plates with each other.
These batteries may consist of plain, cellular grated, or shelved plates, or cells of
lead, copper, zinc, carbon, or other metal or conducting material, cast rolled or.
manufactured, and be of one or many pieces and may be formed into rectangular
flat plates, triangular, rectangular square, rhomboidal, hexagonal, octagonal, round,
oval, concave, or convex cells, or plates or a combination of these forms.
They may be formed so as to admit of being placed within each other or so as
to oppose their external surfaces only.
The method of preparing these plates and cells is by attaching to the surface
and filling into the cells and placing on the gratings, or shelves of plates or cells of
lead, carbon, or other conducting material, spongy or finely divided lead, obtained
by mechanical, chemical, or electrical means such as lead filings, and raspings, or the
precipitate obtained by immersing zinc in a solution of lead salt, or by electrolyzing
a salt of lead, or by using a salt or oxide of lead such as the peroxide of lead or by.
using a combination of any of these substances.
The method of separation and insulation of these plates and cells may be by
grooves in the framework of the surrounding vessel by frames of wood or strips of
wood, gutta percba, vulcanized fibre, or other non-conducting substance or combi-
nation of these substances, and by covering the opposing surfaces with cork,
porous-wood, or perforated wood, vulcanized fibre, vegetable pith, felt or other
porous non-conducting substance. The "formed "plate and the porous covering
are pressed, fastened and secured to and by and in the grooves in the framework of
the surrounding vessel or to, by, and in frames of wood or strips of wood, gutta
percha vulcanized fibre or other non-conducting substance separately or combined.
Tlie fastening may consist of wooden or vulcanized fibre pegs, rivets, or screws,
or by using glue or cement of a character to resist the corroding and destructive
influence of the acid or other solutions with which they may into contact. Or
the several parts may be held in position by pressure exerted by wedges.
The plates or cells of lead carbon or other metal or conducting material may be
used with or without attaching to the surface and filling into the cells and placing
on the gratings or shelves spongy or finely divided lead obtained by mechanical,
chemical, or electrical means herein before referred to. The plates or cells so

page_text: "
" formed may be placed in the surrounding vessel or tank horizontally perpen-
dicularly, or diagonally, with their surfaces preferably parallel but separated or
combined with each other as may be found most advantageous.
The spaces or interstices between the plates or cells may be filled with sawdust
or other inert porous substance.
The terminals of the plain, cellular grated shelved plates, cells or structures may
be prolongations of the same or may be cast into them or attached to them by
welding, soldering, rivetting or any convenient process and may consist of lead,
copper zinc, brass, iron, carbon, or other conducting material and may be coated
with varnish tar, pitch, or other compound if deemed necessary for the whole or
part of their length.
These terminals may be used as supports as well as conductors and may be of
any form.
The containing or surrounding vessel or vessels or tanks may be constructed of
wood, metal, paper, cardboard woven fabrics, brick, hydraulic cement or other
substance separately or combined and coated with tar pitch or
other non-
conducting compound to protect them from corrosion as particularly described
hereafter.
The plates or cells of lead, copper zinc, carbon or other metal or conducting
material having been formed and arranged in one of the before mentioned con-
taining or surrounding vessels or tanks the plates or cells are connected in multiple
are by joining together the terminals of alternate plates or cells.
In batteries composed of lead cells or plates only, the arrangement needs no
special explanation but when copper or zinc are used in combination with lead
the copper or zinc are always constituted the negative electrodes of the exciting
or source of electric energy when being charged with the electric current.
"
It is preferable to construct a battery in such a manner that the plate or cells
attached to one pole of the exciting battery or source of electric energy are all of
similar metals or combinations. In combinations of formed" lead plates or cells
with any of the others herein described or referred to the "formed" lead plates or
cells are generally attached to the positive pole of the exciting battery or source of
electric energy.
The fluids used in the secondary batteries may be varied according to the
combinations of the plates.
Acid solutions of sulphate of copper may be used in conjunction with sulphate of
aluminum, potash-alum soda-alum ammonia-alum, sulphate of potash or sulphate
of soda for combinations of copper and formed lead plates.
The negative pole of the exciting battery or machine being attached to the copper
plates and the positive pole to the "formed" lead plates.
Acid solutions of sulphate of zine may be used in conjunction with sulphate of
aluminum, potash alum, soda alum, ammonia alum, sulphate of potash or sulphate
of soda for combinations of zinc and "formed" lead plates. The negative pole of
the exciting battery or machine being attached to the zinc plates and the positive
pole to the formed lead plates.
Any of the above acid solutions or d lute sulphuric acid may be used with
batteries of lead plates only, provided the current is always passed in one direction
when using a solution containing copper zinc or aluminum.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I will now proceed
to describe the same with the aid of the figures and letters on the accompanying
drawings.
Figure 1 shews a detached view in perspective of one form of a cellular or
grated plate A the cells B and gratings Ċ being filled and overlaid by the salt or
preparation of lead. D represents a support and E the terminal which may be
obviously extended.
Figures 1 1 1 and 1d shew other inodifications of the "form" of plate to which
similar letters of reference refer.
Figure 2 shews a section of the plate when clamped or secured in its frame G.

page_text: In this case a piece or plate of cork F or thin porous or perforated wood, pith felt
or other porous substance, is first placed on a surface, then upon this is placed the
prepared plain or cellular grated plate and over this a piece or plate of one or other
of the before mentioned porous materials F these being firmly held together are
pressed into the several grooves before or after the frame is put together as may
be most convenient and the top is then fastened to the two sides or uprights of the
frame by means of strips of wood or other material.
Figure 3 shews a completed frame in front elevation and partly in section.
Figure 4 is a cross section of a rebated frame for receiving such prepared plate,
the process of construction being in the following order.
Into the rebated frame is laid a piece or plate of cork or thin porous or per-
forated wood, pith, felt, or other porous substances, upon this the prepared plain
cellular grated plate, then a plate of cork or thin porous or perforated wood, pith,
felt, or other porous substance and over this strips of wood are placed overlapping
the edge of the cork wood or other porous support and covering the upper side of
the frame and thus forming a grooved frame when rivetted or otherwise secured
together.
Figure 5 shews a cross section of a plain frame. In this case the porous material
is placed as before below and above the prepared cellular grated plate, and the
three sided frame is placed round the same. Strips of wood broader than the
wooden frame are then attached so as to form a complete four sided frame holding
and clamping the plate and porous plate in the groove thus formed.
Figure 6 shews a cross section of a plate with the porous material placed upon
either side of the "formed" plate with strips of wood or material attached to
either side.
It is unnecessary to describe cells of all possible shapes but the materials are
capable of being used in the manufacture of cells of any desired form and are
inexpensive.
A perspective view of a battery is shewn at Figure 7 in which the terminals can
obviously he modified.
The pilates of lead carbon or other conducting material require no special
explanation as the compound or salt of lead is laid on the plate to any thickness
desired and maintained by strips of non-conducting material of the required
thickness supported by the porous material fastened or rivetted thereto by frames
or devices suitable to their form.
Shelved plates are similarly constructed and also by a combination of the cellular
grated plates so as to make cells of larger size for more protracted and extensive
operations and in this case the cells and gratings may extend perpendicularly as
well as horizontally either or both.
The containing or surrounding vessel or vessels or tanks may be constructed of
wood metal paper cardboard woven fabrics, brick earthenware hydraulic cement
or other substance separately or combined.
To protect them from corrosion leakage of the electro-lyte and escape by means
of earth currents of the electric fluid I find it advantageous to coat the interior of
the vessel with a compound of a hydro-carbonaceous and non-conducting character
of which tar pitch or like materials may form part of the constituents.
After this bydro-carbonaceous material has been poured into the vessel in a
liquid mobile or plastic state, it can be displaced by a plunger or mould a little
smaller than the interior of the vessel thus leaving an annular or rectangular space
so that by the descent of the plunger or mould the herein before described
substances would be caused to ascend to about the height of the outer vessel, or the
plunger may be put in position and the substance poured around it. This plunger
or mould is removed after the material has set and thus assuming the shape shewn
at Figure 8, but in some cases I find it advantageous to use an inner vessel as
shewn at Figure 9 to protect the said material from fracture which may otherwise
occur and this inner vessel may then serve as the plunger or mould.
The liquid mobile or plastic mass or compound may be retained in that state for

page_text: a more or less protracted period by solvents or heat to ensure a more complete
incorporation with the surrounding vessel or vessels.
In Figure 8v is the outer vessel and w the coating material in Figure 9 the
internal vessel is marked x with the coating material to between it and the outer
vessel v.
It is obvious that a series of these case and coatings may be employed and the
coating material may be applied to the outside. The Drawings shew the vessels
constructed of wood but they may be of other material as before described.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is or may be performed I would have it understood that I am
aware perforated plates have been suggested by other inventors and although I
described perforated plates in my Provisional Specification I lay no claim to them
although they may be employed in conjunction with my improvements but what I
do claim is:
-
First In secondary or polarization batteries the employment of cork or pith
placed on the sides of the plate or plates of lead, carbon, or, other conducting
material as set forth and illustrated.
Second. The employment of the salts of aluminum and double salts of alum
and their component salts separately or in conjunction with sulphate of copper or
sulphate of zinc with plates of lead and copper lead and zinc or lend only or
"formed" compound plates as set forth.
Third The coating of the containing or surrounding vessel or vessels with tar,.
pitch, or other non conducting material containing such or the like hydro-
carbonaceous ingredients, which may be run in between the outer vessel and a
plunger or mould or an inner vessel constituting the tank or tanks of secondary or
polarization batteries in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fourth. The means substantially as herein before described and illustrated of
retaining plates of lead carbon or other non conducting material of the constructions
shewn in combination with their respective sheets of cork pith or perforated
wood.
In witness whereof I the said George Lawrence Winch have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twentieth day of January in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three
Witness
JAS FRED PHILLIPS of the firm of
Phillips & Leigh
22 Southampton Buildings W.C.
GL WINCH (L.S.)