Improvements in Electrical Accumulator or Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application. 5th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Accumulator or Secondary Batteries.
I WILLIAM EDWARD LANGDON Electrical Engineer, Midland Railway Derby, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the employment of an alkali and in the arrangement of electrical accumu-
lator battery coils so that the obnoxious portions of the fumes which at certain
times and under certain conditions arise from the cells may be arrested.
To this end l'arrange the cell in such a manner that the fumes shall pass by means
of a hole in the top of the lid through a suitably arranged cell or chamber in the
outer chamber of which I place an alkali, preferably crushed limestone (carbonate of
lime). The fumes escaping from the battery are charged with particles of sulphuric
acid, and it is these particles which are so offensive to persons when in their
presence. As the fumes pass through the doubled walled chamber referred to, they
come into contact with the limestone and are absorbed by it, forming, in combination
with the limestone, sulphate of lime, until the whole of the limestone has thus been
converted, when the cell is replenished with fresh limestone.
Other alkaline substances possessing the necessary affinity for the particles of
sulphuric acid may be employed in the place of limestone.
Where the lids of the battery cells are not screwed down I prefer to employ a form
of cell provided with a groove around its upper edge, the inside edge of which
groove is somewhat lower than the outer edge. I employ this groove to receive the
edge of a lid or cover for the cell. In the top of this lid I provide a hole so that the
fumes from the interior of the cell may escape by it, and over this hole I arrange the
decomposing cell referred to above. On either side of the lid, or other convenient
positions, I also provide slots, or holes, for the accommodation of the wires, or con-
nections, leading to the poles of the battery within the battery cell.
I arrange the lugs of the plates so that instead of their inclining outwards, i.e.,
ovor the edges of the cell as at present, they shall incline inwards, and so come within
the cover of the colls.
In this manner the complete cell being arranged as described will have its plates
arranged in the necessary liquid within it in the usual manner, and the two connecting
wires carried therefrom through the slots cut in the lid. The lid being in its position
in the groove and the decomposing cell arranged over the hole provided for it on the
top of the lid, the whole of the interior will be covered in, and any moisture or
fumes which may arise from the contents of the cell will either pass through the
decomposing cell, and coming into contact with the alkali there deposited, be deprived
of the obnoxious particles held in suspension by the fumes; or will gather upon the
interior surface of the lid, travel down it and so flow into the groove in which the
lid rests, until the groove is filled to the height of the inner edge of the said groove,
when it will flow-over and return to the body of liquid, &c., within the cell.
The groove around the edge of the cell may, if preferred, be filled with water, oil,
wax, or any other constituent for the purpose of preventing leakage between the lid
and the groove or upper part of the cell.
The battery cell, as also the decomposing cell, may be rectangular, round, or of
any convenient shape.
Dated this Third day of April 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Accumulator or Secondary Batteries:
I, WILLIAM EDWARD LANGDON Electrical Engineer, Midland Railway, Derby 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:
In the employment of an alkali and in the arrangement of Electrical accumulator
batteries so that the obnoxious portion of the fumes which at certain times and under
certain conditions arise from the cells may be arrested.
To this end I arrange the cell in such a manner that the fumes of the battery
shall pass by means of a hole in the top of the lid through a suitably arranged cell
or chamber in the outer chamber of which I place an alkali preferably crushed lime-
stone (carbonate of lime). The fumes escaping from the battery are charged with
particles of sulphuric acid and it is these particles which are so offensive to persons
when in their presence. As the fumes pass through the double walled chamber
referred to they come into contact with the limestone and are absorbed by it forming
in combination with the limestone sulphate of lime until the whole of the limestone
has been converted when the cell is replenished with fresh limestone.
Other alkaline substances possessing the necessary affinity for the particles of
sulphuric acid may be employed in place of limestone.
When the lids of the battery cells are not screwed down I prefer to employ a
rectangular form of cell of which A, Fig. I, is a cross section. provide the upper
edge of this cell with a groove B. the inside edge of which groove I make somewhat
lower than the outer edge. I employ this groove to receive the edge of a lid or
cover, C, for the cell. In the top of this lid I provide a hole D, so that the fumes
from the interior of the cell may escape by it; and over this hole I arrange the
decomposing cell E, more fully explained in Figs. II and III. On either side of the
lid, or other convenient positions, I provide slots or holes for the accommodation of
the wires or connections leading to the poles of the battery plates, F, within the
battery cell. G G are knobs or handles provided for convenience in removing the
cover C.
The lugs of the plates I arrange so that instead of their inclining outwards, i.e.,
over the edges of the cell as at present, they shall incline inwards and so come within
the cover of the cell.
"In this manner the complete cell as described will have its plates arranged in the
necessary liquid within it in the usual manner and the two connecting wires carried
therefrom through the slots cut in the lid. The lid being in its position in the groove
and the decomposing cell arranged over the hole provided for it on the top of the lid,
the whole of the interior will be covered in and any moisture or fumes which may
arise from the contents of the cell will either pass through the decomposing cell and
coming in contact with the alkali be deprived of their obnoxious particles or will
gather upon the interior surface of the lid travel down it and so flow into the groove
in which the lid rests until it is filled and will then flow over the inner (lower)
edge to the body of fluid etc. within the cell.
The groove around the edge of the cell, may, if preferred, be filled with water,
oil, wax, or other constituent for the purpose of preventing leakage between the lid
and the groove or upper part of the cell.
The battery cell may be rectangular, round, or of any convenient shape, and it
may be formed of glass, stoneware, wood, or other material.
Where any other form of closed cell is used it is, in order to make use of the
said decomposing cell, only necessary to provide a suitable vent hole or holes for
the fumes and to place the said decomposing cell over such vent hole or holes.
Fig. II. is a vertical mid section view and Fig. III. a view in perspective of
the decomposing cell with the internal arrangement shown in dotted lines. H is the
outer portion of the cell, open at the top, but provided with an apperture, I, at its base.

page_text: Arranged over this apperture and homogeneous with the outer shell, H, is an inner
tube, K; and again over this is placed an inverted cell, L, so fixed that it shall leave
a suitable space between it and the inner tube, K, and that its base shall also
leave a proper space for the fumes to pass between the base of the cell, H, and the
lower edge of the inverted cell, L.
Thus arranged and placed over an apperture provided in a closed accumulator
cell such fumes as may arise from the contents of the cell or the action going on
within the cell will pass through the apperture, M, as indicated by the arrows, thence
down the passage, N, and out through the space, O. If in there is placed some
crushed limestone or other alkali possessing the necessary affinity for the particles of
sulphuric acid carried away with the fumes, the particles of acid will be arrested and
eliminated from the said fumes.
In Fig. II. P is a small plug which is, where the accumulator cell is formed of
wood or other similar material, screwed into the cover or lid Q, of the same, and
It will
which serves to form a holdfast or position of rest for the decomposing cell.
be manifest that if preferred the said decomposing cell may be formed to fit into any
hole cut in the lid of the battery, or to fit into any such hole provided in the lid of
a glass or stoneware cell.
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
Firstly. The formation of cells for the reception of accumulator battery plates
substantially as described with reference to Fig. I.
Secondly. A means by which the fumes from an accumulator battery is caused to
pass through an alkali possessing the necessary affinity for the absorption of sulphuric
acid or other deleterious particles emitted by the action of the battery substantially
in the manner described.
Thirdly. The formation of a decomposing cell as and for the said purpose and as
substantially described with reference to Figures II and III.
Fourthly. The general combination and arrangement of parts described with
reference to Figures I, II, and 11[.
Dated this 4th day of October 1889.