Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1896-4ccepted, 5th Dec., 1396
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries.
We, THOMAS FRANCIS BOLAND, CHARLES JONES HUBBELL and HARRY
CROSS HUBBELL, citizens of the United States of America, doing business at the
factory of The Eclipse Cycle Company, in the City of Elmira, County of Chemung
and State of New York, United States of America, Mechanics, 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:-
Our invention relates to primary batteries, and its object is to provide a compact
battery adapted especially for use in connection with lamps for bicycles or other
like vehicles..
The invention embraces the various features of construction hereinafter fully
described, whereby a central contact of the zinc element of the battery with its
terminal point is effected; a perfect sealing of. the carbon element in place is
insured; and the battery case, as a whole, is rendered compact, efficient, and well
adapted for the service to which we design to specially apply it.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a battery embodying our invention in com-
bination with a bicycle lamp and reflector.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same with the cover and one of the porous plates
removed.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the zinc plates removed, and
Figure 6 is a similar view of one of the carbon elements removed.
The battery casing 1 is preferably of cylindrical form having an integral
bottom 2 and threaded at its upper end to receive a cover 3, the depending
annular flange 4 of which is internally threaded to engage the threads on the
casing. The rear outer surface of the casing is provided with a boss to facilitate
its attachment to a bicycle, and the front of the casing is provided with a circular
flange 6 having diametrically opposite lugs to receive and support the lamp
reflector 8. A central internally threaded socket 9 is provided at the center of the
circular flange 6 for the reception of the incandescent lamp 10.
11 indicates a post rising from the center of the bottom of the casing and
formed with radial longitudinal grooves, 12, 13 and 14. The post 11 is connected
to the wall of the casing by radial partitions 15, which divide the interior of the
casing into three independent cells. Each of these cells is provided with a guide-
way 16 extending throughout the length of the interior of the cell, and across the
bottom thereof where it joins the lower end of the adjacent groove (12, 13 and 14)
in the post 11, said groove also constituting a guide-way. The guide-way 16 is
formed by parallel ribs 17 and 18, projecting respectively from the inner wall and
the bottom of the casing.
These guide-ways, as shown in Figure 2, are arranged at equi-distant points
from the partitions 15, and are adapted to receive and support porous division
plates 19, which divide each cell into two compartments 20 and 21. To prevent
leakage around the side and bottom edges of the porous plates they are suitable
sealed to the acid proof casing.

page_text: In practice we prefer to form all of the parts thus far described, excepting the
porous plates 19, integral from a suitable acid-proof plastic material.
Within each of the compartments 21, a rod 22 of conducting material projects
upwardly from the bottom of the cell, each of said rods constituting one of the
terminals of the battery, and connected in series, preferably by wires imbedded
within the bottom of the casing.
The rods 22 constitute supports for the zinc plates 23, one of which is shown
detached in Figure 5. Each of these plates is provided on opposite sides with
vertical enlargements or projections 24, which extend from the bottom of the plate
vertically to a point about midway the length of the plate. Each plate is bored
for a distance corresponding to the length of the projections 24 to form vertical
sockets 25 to receive the rods 22. The thickness of the projections 24 is equal to
that of the body of the plate, so that the entire plate will be consumed by the
acid solution uniformly. The plates are supported upon the rods, and it will be
apparent that the contact of the upper end of the terminal with the plate is at a
central point, which we have discovered to be highly important inasmuch as
"local action" between the plate and terminal is avoided.
The lower ends of the rods 22 are insulated by the same material from which
the casing is molded.
Each of the compartments 20 is adapted to contain a carbon cylinder or
pencil 26, the lower end of which is provided with a screw-threaded metallic
terminal 27, adapted to extend through a bushing 28, seated in an opening 29 in
the bottom of the casing, and having a central opening 30 through which the
terminal passes. A nut 31, secured upon the terminal below the bottom of the
casing sustains the carbon in position. The lower end of the carbon is circum-
ferentially reduced to adapt it to fit within the portion of the opening 29 in the
bottom of the casing which projects above the bushing 28. The lower end of the
carbon is pressed into this anunlar seat while the casing is in a plastic condition,
and the carbon is preferably slightly heated before insertion. Thus the terminal 27
is insulated and protected from contact with the acid in the cell, and the carbon
sealed to the bottom of the casing and held securely in an upright position.
It will be understood that the several zinc plates and carbons are electrically
connected by wires imbedded in the casing, and the terminal wires 32 and 33 are
led out to the lamp socket.
A break 34 in the circuit is provided adjacent to the lamp socket, said break
being adapted to be closed by any suitable switch to turn the lamp on and off, as
will be readily understood.
To provide for the escape of gases generated within the cells, we provide the
upper end of the post 11 with a depression 35, which communicates by radial
grooves or ducts 36, with each of the cells, and registers with a vent 37 in the
cover through which the noxious gases escape.
The vent or opening 37 in the cover 3, is covered by a thin rubber disk 38,
held in place on the outer side of the cover by an internally threaded ring 39,
which is imbedded in the cover and projects above the plane thereof and is closed
by a screw-plug 40 comprising a disk 41 and a depending threaded flange 42 fitting
within the ring 39.
The underside of the disk 41 is of convex form, to constitute an annular space
or chamber 43 above the rubber disk or diaphragm to receive the gases. The
rubber cover 38 is punctured centrally to permit the escape of gases which arise
into the space 43 and pass out through a central opening 44 in the disk 41.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tiou, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a primary battery, a zinc element provided with a vertical socket, in
combination with a terminal upon which the zinc is supported.

page_text: 2. In a primary battery, a zinc plate provided with opposite enlargements or
projections and formed with a vertical socket to receive a supporting rod.
3. In a primary battery, a carbon element having a metallic terminal imbedded
in its lower end, and projecting through the battery casing.
4. The combination with a battery casing, made from plastic material, of a carbon
element reduced at its lower end and imbedded within a seat or recess in the
bottom of the casing.
5. The combination with a battery casing provided with an opening in its
bottom, of a carbon element having a threaded metallic terminal imbedded in its
lower end, and extending through said opening, and a nut securing the terminal.
6. The combination with a battery casing, of a central post provided with
vertical ways, a series of division plates connecting the post and casing, and a series
of ways projecting from the wall and bottom of the casing.
7. The combination with a battery casing, of a central post having a depression
at its upper end, a series of partitions dividing the casing into independent cells,.
a series of ducts formed in the top of the post and connecting the cells with the
depression in the post, and a cover provided with a vent.
8. In a primary battery, the combination with the casing, of a terminal projecting
upwardly from the bottom thereof, and a zinc plate having a vertical socket
within which the terminal projects, whereby a central contact between the plate
and terminal is effected.
9. The combination with a battery casing provided with an opening in its
bottom and a bushing in said opening, of a carbon element, the lower end of
which is reduced to fit within a portion of said opening, a threaded metallic
terminal imbedded in the lower end of the carbon and projected through the
opening, and a nut for securing the terminal, which nut normally rests in a recess
formed in said bushing.
10. The combination with the central post and its depression and escape ducts,
of a cover provided with an outlet closed by a perforated lug..
11. The combination with the central post having a depression and escape ducts,
of a cover having a central opening, an elastic diaphragm, a ring securing the
latter, and a perforated plug fitting said ring.
Dated this Tenth day of Sontember 1806
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.