Improvements in Electric Battery Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct:, 1892
Complete Specification Left. 28th July, 1893-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Battery Apparatus.
I, THOMAS FROGGATT of 55 Thomas Street, Kennington Park, in the County of
Surrey, File Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object to so construct the containing apparatus of electric
batteries in which liquid is used in the cells, as to prevent such liquid escaping
whilst at the same time permitting the gases to escape and thereby facilitate the
construction of batteries capable of being safely transported on the person, in the
pocket or otherwise avoiding leakage of liquid.
In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable outlet tube from each cell into
an outer chamber and so as to project thereinto and within a semi spherical or other
suitably shaped chamber, within the second chamber, and closed therefrom except
by a pin hole or pin holes, or tube with pin hole or holes. From the secondary or
intercepting chamber proceeds another tube, or tubes projecting inwards and
outwards of the outer casing of the secondary chamber to give vent to the escaping
gases. The leads to and from the cells are carried through in a suitable and
substantially ordinary manner.
By these means escaping liquid is intercepted, in its escape by the inner tubes,
by the small basins and if it fills those and should pass into the larger intercepting
chamber or chambers it is periodically removed therefrom by means of a valve
or valves operated by a stem or stems controlled by spring or springs and button
or operative part on the outside so that the liquid may be run back into the cells
should it be so desired.
Dated the 28th day of October 1892.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Battery Apparatus.
I, THOMAS FROGGATT of 55 Thomas Street, Kennington Park, in the County
of Surrey, File Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object to so construct the containing apparatus of electric
batteries in which liquid is used in the cells, as to prevent such liquid escaping,
while at the same time permitting the gases generated to escape therefrom for the
prevention of fracture of the apparatus, and thereby facilitate the construction of
such batteries so that these may be safely transported on the person, in the pocket
or otherwise, without the liquid leaking therefrom, and applies more particularly to
storage or secondary batteries to be carried upon the person for supplying current
to a small incandescent electric lamp, and which may be carried and used by
omnibus and tramcar conductors or inspectors to enable them to examine the cash or
tickets received from or handed to the passengers.
The principle of my invention may be employed in connection with any type of
pocket battery containing liquid, but in order that the manner of its operation may
be clearly understood I have hereunto appended a sheet of drawings in which I have
chosen to illustrate my invention in connection with a secondary battery or
accumulator.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a secondary cell, constructed according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a section of same taken upon the line A' B..
Figs. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional views of alternative methods of
constructing the cup shaped chamber of the apparatus, as hereinafter explained.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide an outer case or container A of
vulcanite or other non conducting and acid proof material, which in cross section I
prefer to be of the shape shewn in Fig. 2 so as to conveniently fit the vest or other
pocket, and in which is placed negative and positive plates in the usual order, and
above and enclosing these and the liquid therewith I provide a horizontal diaphram
or fluid tight partition C, of the same material as A, through which the lugs of the
plates B may pass and be rendered fluid tight therewith, by which means I form a
fluid tight chamber C' above the cells, and in C I may provide two or more tubes
communicating with the cell and C₁, and upon the upper end of these within C,
I fix semi spherical or cup shaped chambers D, or in lieu of said tubes I may form
internally threaded holes in C, and arrange the stems of the cups D to screw there-
into as at Fig. 1.
At a suitable distance abore C, I provide a second and like partition E, thus
forming a second fluid tight chamber E', and in E may be provided a tube or tubes
communicating with the cover A¹ of the outer case A, but in lieu of this, I prefer
to provide a horizontal tube F. below, and passing upwardly through, and rendered
fluid tight with, two holes in the diaphram E, communicating with the chamber E¹,
and in the cover A' I form two or more vent holes G. The + and terminals
of the plates B may be led upward through the cover A¹ as shewn.
The stem of the cups D is provided with a pin hole aperture H which forms a
communication between the interior of the cups and the cell, these being the only
apertures open through which the liquid in the cell could possibly pass if the whole
apparatus was inverted.
Each of the cups D is provided internally with a crescented or other shaped pin
hole tube I, one end of which passes out through the cover of D.
The tube F is provided with two or more pin hole apertures a b, upon the upper
surface thereof, and the action of the apparatus is as follows.
The gas generated in the cell escapes through H, I into the chamber. C', and
from this through a b and F into the chamber E', and from this out through the
apertures G, and these same passages are the only channels through which the
liquid could escape, and to prevent this, these operate in the following manner.
If through inadvertance the battery should get out of the perpendicular whilst
in the pocket some of the liquid might get through one of the apertures H into the
cup D thereof, but it must rise therein sufficiently to overflow the inner end of I
before it could get into the chamber C¹, and when in this, it must rise a sufficient
height to overflow the holes ab before it could pass out through F into the
chamber E, and from here it must pass out through G before it could enter the
pocket, and to prevent this I provide a valve K, which passes. down through A',
and is seated in a hole in the diaphram C, and there kept by the tension of any
suitable spring, which for preferance may be by the tension of a rubber tube L,
surrounding the stem of K, and the wearer could by periodically raising K, (when
the battery is in a perpendicular position) and thereby compressing the tube L,
raise the valve from its seating in C, when any liquid that may have got
into C¹ would pass down into the cell again, and by releasing the hold of K,
the. tension of L would place the valve in its normal, position, but as only
a very infinitesimal quantity of liquid would be likely to get into C',, I
may dispense with the valve K L, and the hole in C, therefor, and pack
the cups D, and the chamber C, or E', or both, with, asbestos, crocidolite, or any
otlier fibrous acid proof material suitable for the purpose, which would absorb ail
the liquid that would, under any ordinary circumstances, escape from the cell, and
in order that such escape of liquid may not reduce the area of the active surface of
the plates B, I may pack around these, or the upper portion, or as much thereof
...

page_text: as desired, with a cord or yarn made of asbestos or crocidolite, either in the manner
shewn by the dotted lines ou B in Fig. 1, or at right angles thereto, which by
capillary attraction would absorb sufficient liquid to keep the whole of the plate..
wet, whatever might be the level of the liquid.
In Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 I show enlarged sectional views of modifications I may
adopt in the construction of the cups D either of which may be employed in the
position shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, and by the foregoing explanation of the said cups,
the-modifications shewn and the manner of their operation will be clearly understood
without further description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
"
1st. In combination with any type of pocket primary or secondary battery con--
taining liquid, for generating or giving forth electrical energy, the application
thereto of the herein described device for ventilating the same, and preventing the
liquid escaping therefrom, substantially as herein set forth and shewn by the
accompanying drawings.
2nd. In an improved pocket battery for generating an electric current, the com--
bination of a cell A, positive and negative plates B, diaphrams C and E, with cup.
shaped chambers D, having an internal tube I or its equivalent, and aperture H,
arranged as at Figs. 1. 3. 4 5. 6. 7 or 8, and connected to C in the manner stated,
the tube F, with apertures a b, connected to the diaphram E, as set forth, the-
whole connected and operating in combination with a valve K for preventing
escape of the liquid contained in the cell, and in combination with vent holes G for-
permitting the escape of gas substantially as herein described and shewn.
Dated this 28th day of July 1893.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant..