Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Plates or Electrodes for Electric Accumulators or Secondary Batteries, and to Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 9th Mar.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Plates or Electrodes
for Electric Accumulators or Secondary Batteries, and to
Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
We, ARTHUR JAMES SMITH, of Kingston-on-Thames, in the County of Surrey,
Chemist, and HENRY JOHN WRIGHT, of 68 Cadogan Gardens, Chelsea, in the
County of Middlesex, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Our invention relates to plates or electrodes for electric accumulators or
secondary batteries, such as are described in the Specification of former Letters
Patent granted to the said A. J. Smith and dated 13th August 1892, No. 14658.
One object of our said invention is to further improve the manufacture of the
said plates or electrodes.
Our said invention is also designed to provide a suitable machine for kneading
the oxide into the metal plates in the manufacture of such electrodes.
In the said former Specification, the said A. J. Smith has stated that, in making
his electrodes, he first applies to the metal plate a layer of the metallic oxide an
then kneads the oxide into the metal by driving pointed rods or needles into the
same, these operations being repeated as often as may be necessary.
In the method or process of manufacture more particularly described in the said
former Specification, the depth to which the pointed rods or needles are driven into
the plate is gradually diminished in successive operations, so as to make an electrode
having a graduated conductivity.
The said A. J. Smith has since discovered that better results in respect of the
quality and charge-bearing capacity of the electrode, can be obtained by gradually
increasing in successive operations the depth to which the pointed rods or needles
are driven into the plate.
According to one part of our present invention, therefore, we manufacture the
electrodes as follows, viz. :-
We first apply the oxide or active material to the metal plate and force or knead
it into the metal by driving the pointed rods or needles a short distance into the
plate. We then apply a second coating or covering of the active material to the
surface of the plate and drive the same into the said plate to a slightly greater depth
than in the preceding operation. We repeat these operations as often as may be
required, driving the needles more and more deeply into the plate in successive
operations. We also find it advantageous to apply the oxide in the form of powder
moistened with water, and to drive the needles into and withdraw them from the
plate very rapidly. By these means we more effectually obviate any liability to
lateral expansion or spreading, warping, bending and thinning of the plate in the
preparation or manufacture of the electrode, and at the same time increase the
charge-bearing capacity, hardness and durability of the clectrode.
It is of great importance, in the production of the said electrodes, that the
kneading in of the oxide shall be effected uniformly over the entire surface of the
plate, that is to say, that the amount of oxide driven into the plate on either side
thereof shall be uniform at all depths throughout the surface of the electrode,
whilst the proportion of particles of oxide to particles of metal increases from the

page_text: solid metal core to the surface of the plate so as to produce the required graduated
conductivity. Because, in such case, the electrode is capable of receiving
and yielding much higher charges than when the kneading operation is performed
irregularly.
According to another part of our present invention, therefore, we provide a
machine which will very effectually perform the operation of kneading in the oxide
in the manner required.
For this purpose we construct the machine with one or more reciprocating bars
or holders, in each of which is secured a bundle of pointed rods or needles, and to
which motion is imparted by means of a tilt-hammer or a drop-hammer or by
cranks, cams or other convenient devices. Our improved machine is, moreover,
provided with feed-mechanism so constructed that, in the operation of the machine,
the said pointed rods or needles, whilst being reciprocated perpendicularly to the
plate, will be automatically moved relatively to the work in such a manner that
they will act successively upon every part of either face of the plate, commencing
at one corner of the plate and traversing the said plate alternately in either direction
until they arrive at the other end thereof; and will thus knead into the entire
surface of either face of the plate the oxide applied thereto; and the feed-movements
will then be reversed so that the needles will repeat their perpendicular operations
upon the plate, traversing the same alternately in either direction until they arrive
at the corner from which they first started, thus kneading more oxide into the
metal throughout the entire surface of either face of the plate, and so on until the
electrode is found, by placing it in the cell, between the kneading operations, to
have risen to the desired charge-bearing capacity.
In one form of our improved machine, we provide a tilt-hammer which is
arranged to be raised by a cam, and the blow of which is effected by gravity with
or without the aid of one or more springs. Such springs are sometimes made
adjustable to permit the regulation of the force of the blow. The needle-holder
may, in this arrangement, be carried by a spring which, by its reaction, will effect
the rapid withdrawal of the needles from the plate.
We sometimes provide for imparting the required reciprocating motion to the
pointed rods or needles by means of a crank so that they will be pressed into and
withdrawn from the plate by the slow motion of the crank when passing the dead
centres. In other cases we employ a cam for this purpose, and by varying the
curves of the can thus employed, we can vary the action of the needles upon
the plate, the relative times which they occupy in entering and withdrawing from the
plate and during which they remain in the plate, and also the distance or depth to
which they are driven into the plate. Or we provide for driving the needles into
the plate by a dead-weight blow; for instance, we provide the reciprocating bar or
needle-holder with removable weights so that the force of the blow can be readily
varied, and we employ a cam which will alternately raise and permit a drop-motion
of the said bar or necille-holder. Or we combine with the said bar or needle-holder
and with a cam for operating the same, adjustable springs whereby the action of
the needles upon the plate can be very accurately regulated, so as to produce a
properly graduated electrode.
We find it advantageous to construct our improved machine with a suitable
sliding saddle or head which is arranged to be moved or fed transversely to and
fro upon a longitudinally moving slide or saddle mounted on a stationary slide on
the bed-plate of the machine. The said transverse sliding saddle or head carries a
vertical reciprocating bar or needle-holder, which is mounted on suitable guides on
the said saddle or head.. The shaft provided with the crank or cam for imparting
reciprocating motion to the needle-holder is mounted in bearings on the said saddle
or head.
Suitable mechanism is provided for effecting the automatic and recurrent feed of
the transverse sliding saddle or head as required, so that, when the needles have
operated upon one part of the plate across the entire width thereof, the feed move-
ment of the said saddle or head will le automatically reversed. And to permit of

page_text: this feed movement taking place without interfering with the transmission of motion
to the perpendicularly reciprocating needle-holder, we make the crank-shaft or
cam-shaft which drives the same telescopic. For instance, we make the said shaft
in two parts which are so connected that, while one is free to slide longitudinally
relatively to the other, they must rotate simultaneously.
Suitable mechanism is also provided for effecting the automatic and recurrent
feed of the longitudinally moving slide or saddle, so that, when the needles have
operated upon one part of the plate across the entire width of the same, the said
slide or saddle will be moved longitudinally so as to bring the needles over the
adjacent part of the plate, and so on; and, when the plate has been operated upon
by the needles throughout its width and length, the feed movement of the
longitudinally moving slide or saddle will be automatically reversed.
For driving the feed-mechanism, we sometimes employ a pulley connected by
suitable means, such as a crank-pin and connecting-rod, with reciprocating racks
which engage with ratchet-wheels on the feed-screws substantially as described in
the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to the said A. J. Smith and
dated 9th February 1893, No. 2886. The said pulley, in the case of the transverse
saddle or head with the telescopic shaft, is driven by means of a belt or band passed
under the said pulley and over guide-pulleys at either side of the same, so arranged
that motion will be imparted to one set of feed-mechanism, notwithstanding any
change in the relative position of the parts brought about by the other set of feed-
mechanism. The said reciprocating racks are combined with suitable means
whereby they will be moved as required to automatically reverse the feed-motion
at the termination of each stroke or movement of the saddle.
For driving the feed-mechanism of the longitudinally moving slide or saddle, we
sometimes provide suitable means whereby the transversely moving saddle or head
will, at the termination of its stroke or travel in either direction, impart motion to
the feed-mechanism of the lower saddle or slide. For instance, we firmly attach a
bracket to the longitudinally moving saddle or slide and another bracket to the
stationary slide; in these brackets is supported another telescopic shaft the
several parts of which can slide longitudinally relatively to each other but must
turn together. On this shaft is mounted an arm which is coupled by a connecting
rod to the reciprocating racks of the feed-mechanism for the longitudinally moving
saddle or slide. Another arm or crank is also mounted on the said telescopic shaft
and this arm or crank, at either end of the stroke or travel of the transversely sliding
saddle or head, is moved through a suitable angle to effect the required longitudinal
feed at the moment of completing each transverse feed. Suitable means are com-
bined with the said racks for automatically shifting the same to reverse the feed-
motion as required.
The needles, while being reciprocated vertically or perpendicularly to the plate,
will therefore be moved or fed intermittently in such a manner that they travel
from one corner of the plate across the said plate near one end thereof, and then
move a short distance in a longitudinal direction and then back across that part of
the plate adjacent to the strip already operated upon, and so on, alternately in either
direction; and, after the whole of the surface of the plate has been acted upon by
the needles, the longitudinal feed movement will be automatically reversed and the
whole of the surface of the plate again acted upon by the needles, the depth to
which they are driven into the plate being slightly greater, or slightly less as the
case may be, than in the preceding operation; and so on until the electrode has the
desired charge-bearing power electrolytically.
The metallic oxide is to be applied to the plate from time to time by hand or in
any other convenient manner. We find it advantageous to apply the oxide in the
form of powder mixed with water, as, by this means, better results are obtained in
respect of the hardness and cementation of the peroxide kneaded into the metal.
When the desired quantity of peroxide has been kneaded in, we allow the plate to
dry, and we find that, when it is put into the electrolyte and subjected to
the charging current, greater cementation occurs than if the powdered oxide is

page_text: mixed with the electrolytic solution as described in the said former Specification
No. 14658.
It is obvious that we can somewhat modify the construction of the machine with-
out departing from the nature of our invention. For instance, we can, if desired,
provide for feeding the work relatively to the needles for the purposes above
specified, that is to say, we can arrange the bed or table which carries the plate to
be treated, so that it will slide upon suitable guides on another slide or saddle, the
two sets of feed-mechanism being so arranged that, while vertical reciprocating
motion is being imparted to the needles, the plate will be fed as required beneath
the same.
Dated the 7th dox of Annil 1904
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Plates or Electrodes
for Electric Accumulators or Secondary Batteries, and to
Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
We, ARTHUR JAMES SMITH, of Kingston-on-Thames, in the County of Surrey,
Chemist, and HENRY JOHN WRIGHT, of 68, Cadogan Gardens, Chelsea, in the
County of Middlesex, Builder, 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 plates or electrodes for electric accumulators or secondary
batteries, such as are described in the Specification of former Letters Patent
granted to the said A. J. Smith and dated 13th August 1892, No. 14,658.
One object of our said invention is to further improve the manufacture of the
said plates or electrodes.
Our said invention is also designed to provide a suitable machine for kneading
the oxide into the metal plates in the manufacture of such electrodes.
In the said former Specification, the said A. J. Smith has stated that, in making
his electrodes, he first applies to the metal plate a layer of the me llic oxide and
then kneads the oxide into the metal by driving pointed rods or needles into the
same, these operations being repeated as often as may be necessary.
In the method or process of manufacture more particularly described in the said
former Specification, the depth to which the pointed rods or needles are driven into
the plate is gradually diminished in successive operations, so as to make an electrode
having a graduated conductivity.
The said A. J. Smith has since discovered that better results in respect of the
quality and charge-bearing capacity of the electrode, can be obtained by gradually
increasing instead of diminishing, in successive operations, the depth to which the
pointed rods or needles are driven into the plate.
According to one part of our present invention, therefore, we manufacture the
electrodes as follows, viz.: We first apply the oxide or active material to the metal
plate and force or knead it into the metal by driving the pointed rods or needles a
short distance into the plate. We then apply a second coating or covering of the
active material to the surface of the plate and drive the same into the said plate to
a slightly greater depth than in the preceding operation. We repeat these
operations as often as may be required, driving the neulles more and more deeply
into the plate in successive operations, leaving a conducting layer or cure of solid
metal of sufficient thickness. By these means we more effectually obviate any

page_text: liability to lateral expansion or spreading, warping, bending and thinning of the
plate in the preparation or manufacture of the electrode, and in its electric current
formation and wear, and at the same time increase the charge-bearing capacity,
hardness and durability of the electrode.
It is of great importance, in the production of the said electrodes, that the
kneading in of the oxide shall be effected uniformly over the entire surface of both
sides of the plate, that is to say, that the quantity of oxide driven into the metal
and the amount of kneading performed on either side of the plate shall be uniform
throughout the said plate, whilst the proportion of particles of oxide to particles of
metal increases from the solid metal core to the surface of the plate so as to produce
the required graduated conductivity outwards from the solid layer or core. Because,
in such case, the electrode is capable of receiving and yielding much higher
charges than would be practicable if the kneading operation were performed
irregularly.
According to our present invention, therefore, we provide a machine which
will very effectually perform the operation of kneading in the oxide in the manner
required.
For this purpose we construct a machine with one or more reciprocating bars or
holders, in each of which is secured a bundle of pointed rods or needles, and to
which motion is imparted by means of a tilt-hammer or a drop-hammer or by
cranks, cams or other convenient devices. Our improved machine is, moreover,
provided with feed-mechanism so constructed that, in the operation of the machine,
the said pointed rods or needles, whilst being reciprocated perpendicularly to the
plate, will be automatically moved relatively to the work in such a manner that
they will act successively upon every part of either face of the plate, commencing
at one corner of the plate and traversing the said plate alternately in either
direction until they arrive at the other end thereof; and will thus knead into the
entire surface of either face of the plate the oxide applied thereto; and the feed-
movements will then be reversed so that the needles will repeat their perpendicular
operations upon the plate, traversing the same alternately in either direction until
they arrive at the corner from which they first started, thus kneading more oxide
into the metal throughout the entire surface of either face of the plate; and so on,
the plate being preferably worked in this manner alternately on either side, until
the electrode is found, by placing it in the battery-cell, after successive kneading
operations, to have risen to the desired charge-bearing capacity.
Or, if desired, the bed or table for supporting the plate is fed as above described,
the needle-holder being simply reciprocated perpendicularly as required.
The required feed movements can be advantageously effected by mechanism such
as is described in the Specification of former Letters Patent dated 9th February 1893
No. 2886.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a plan of one form of our improved machine.
Figure 2 is a right-hand side elevation.
Figure 3 is a front elevation.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation.
Figure 5 is a left-hand side elevation, some of the parts being removed.
Figure 6 is a section on the line, Figure 1, some of the parts being
removed.
Figure 6 is a similar view, the parts being shown in a different position.
Figure 7 is a partial section on the line, e, Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a partial section on the line y, y, Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation, illustrating a detail of construction.
Figure 10 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section on the line y¹ y¹,
Figure 11, and

page_text: Figure 13 is a side elevation, and
Figure 14 a front elevation, some of the parts being removed, illustrating a
further modification of our improved machine, and
Figure 15 is a front elevation illustrating a further modification thereof.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 8, A is a sliding saddle or head arranged to be moved
or fed first in one direction and then in the reverse direction upon a movable slide
or saddle B which is arranged to be fed to and fro, perpendicularly to the travel of
the saddle A, upon a stationary slide C fixed on the bed-plate D of the machine.
To the saddle or head A is firmly attached an arm A¹ provided with a suitable
guide A² in which works a perpendicularly reciprocating bar or needle-holder E, in
the lower end whereof is secured a bundle E of pointed rods or needles. The
metal plate to be treated is placed upon a flat surface or table D' formed on or
firmly attached to the bed-plate D, so that the needle-holler will move across the
said plate when the saddle A is fed along the saddle B, and lengthwise of the said
plate when the saddle B is fed along the slide C, or vice versa as the case may be.
A shaft F provided with a cam F for imparting reciprocating motion to the needle-
holder E is mounted in bearings A³ on the arm A' and in a bearing B¹ at the top
of a bracket B2 firmly attached to the saddle or slide B.
Suitable mechanism is provided for effecting the automatic and recurrent feed of
the saddle or head A as required, so that, the same will be fed intermitten:ly
along the saddle or slide B, and, when the needles have operated upon one part of
the plate across the entire width thereof, the feed movement of the said saddle or
head will be automatically reversed, the saddle B being, at the same time fed
through a short distance along the slide C.
This mechanism is constructed as follows, viz.: .A pulley G and crank G¹ are
fixed upon the shaft F and rotary motion is imparted to the said shaft through the
medium of the said pulley. The crank G¹ is coupled by a connecting rod a to a
vertically sliding frame carrying racks b', which are pressed inward by springs b
and are adapted to engage respectively with two ratchet-wheels,, Figures 4
and 7, fixed side by side on the feed-screw H of the saddle A. The frame bis
fitted to slide in a guide movable laterally in the bracket B2 and provided with a
lug or projection 6 in which is fixed a pin or stud 66. This pin or stud extends into
an oblique slot in the head of a sliding reversing rod d supported in brackets A'
attached to the saddle A.
On the said rod d are arranged springs e each of which
bears at one end against an adjustable collar d² on the said rod. Suitable catches/
are pivotted to the brackets A' respectively and are adapted to engage with the
corresponding collars so as to permit the compression of the springse alternately,
in the latter part of the stroke or travel of the said saddle in either direction, by an
arm fixed on the saddle A. The said arm g is provided with inclined projections g'
which, in the to and fro movement of the saddle A, lift the catches alternately out
of engagement with the corresponding collars d², thus permitting the longitudinal
movement of the rod d by the springs e in such a manner as to move one of the
racks 6, 62 out of gear and the other into gear with the ratchet-wheels e c¹,
respectively, thereby reversing the feed-movement of the saddle A at the proper
times. The feed-screw H will, therefore, be intermittently rotated about its axis
in one or the other direction according to which of the said racks is in gear with
its ratchet-wheel. By employing longer or shorter catches f, the stroke or travel
of the saddle A can be varied according to the width of the plate to be treated.
To permit of this feed movement taking place without interfering with the
transmission of motion to the perpendicularly reciprocating needle-holder E, we
make the crank-shaft or cam-shaft F which drives the same telescopic. For
instance, we make the said shaft in two parts which are so connected that, while
one is free to slide longitudinally relatively to the other, they must rotate
simultaneously. In the arrangement shown, the rear part of the shaft F is male
square in transverse section and slides in a square hole in the forward part of the
said shaft.

page_text: Upon the saddle A terminating its stroke or travel in either direction, the slide
or saddle B must be fed through a short distance in a direction perpendicular t
that in which the saddle A moves.
Suitable mechanism is, therefore, provided for effecting the automatic and
recurrent feed of the slide or saddle B, so that, when the needles have operatel
upon one part of the plate across the entire width of the same, the said slide or
saddle B will be moved so as to bring the needles over the adjacent part of the
plate, and so on; and, when the plate has been operated upon by the needles
throughout its width and length, the feed movement of the side or saddle B will
be automatically reversed.
For this purpose, in the arrangement shown, we provide a shaft h which is
supported in stationary brackets, 2, and on which is fixed an arm or lever ;
coupled by a connecting rod j¹ to a sliding frame which carries reciprocating
racks pressed inward by springs and adapted to gear respectively with
ratchet-wheels 1, 1, Figure 8, fixed on the feed-screw J of the saddle B. The
frame is fitted in a guide k movable laterally in a bracket C¹ attached to the
stationary slide C. The feed-screw J will, therefore, be intermittently rotated in
one or the other direction according to which of the racks ', is in gear with it
ratchet-wheel.
For reversing the feed-movement of the saddle B, we provide a sliding reversing
rod m having an inclined slot in its head m', into which slot extends a pin or bolt k
in a lug or projection ³ on the guide . The rod m is provided with adjustable
collars m² and springs n and is combined with catches p pivotted to the brackets C²
attached to the stationary slide C, and with an arm q attached to the saddle B and
having inclined projections g', substantially as above described with reference to the
reversing-gear of the saddle A.
In order to reciprocate the frame k at the proper times, a cord, band or chain j
is attached to the free end of the lever and is passed over a pulley ³ carried by
a bracket D2 attached to the bed-plate D, a suitable weight being suspended
from the said cord. An arm or crank is mounted on the shaft in such a
manner that it can slide along the said shaft but must turn therewith.
This arm
or crank is connected with the saddle B by means of pins or bolts 1 2 passed
through curved slots 3, 4, the slot being formed in the arm or crank r and the
pin fixed in the saddle B, whilst the slot is formed in a bracket attached to
the said saddle, and the pin 2 secured in the arın or crank r.
The said arm or
crank will therefore move to and fro with the saddle B but can nevertheless turn
with the shaft h. To the said arm or crank is coupled a connecting rod s
provided with a pin or studs which extends through and works freely up and
down in a vertical slot in a bracket t attached to the saddle B. On the saddle A
is firmly secured a double inclined piece u to the ends of which are pivotted
respectively weighted swinging levers u', the inner arms of which are made with
projections 2 having their lower surfaces inclined so as to form continuations of
the inclines on the underside of the piece . The pin or studs in the connecting
rod s extends beneath these inclines, so that, in the movement of the saddle A in
one or the other direction, the said pin or stud is forced down by one or the other
of the said inclines, thus turning the shaft about its axis and raising the
weight until the said pin or studs passes the end u³ of the inclined projection of
the corresponding weighted lever u, when the weight descends and raises the
lever j, thus feeding the saddle B through the required distance, and at the same
time turning the shaft h about its axis in the reverse direction to that in which
it was moved by the aforesaid incline, and raising the pin or stud s' in the slotted
brackett until it comes into contact with the other incline. After the pin s¹ has
been raised to permit the rotation of the shaft it rests against the incline on
the piece u, within the corresponding arm or projection ² on one of the swinging
levers u', either of which is adapted to yield, when required, to permit the passage
of the pin or stud s¹ between the same and the incline on the piece u, and to then
resume its normal position under the action of gravity.

page_text: The pulley G on the shaft F is driven by means of a belt or band K, Figure 4,
passed under the said pulley and over guide-pulleys L L at either side of the
same, the said belt being so arranged that motion will be imparted through
the pulley G to the two sets of feed-mechanism, notwithstanding any change
in the relative position of the parts brought about by either set of feed-
mechanism.
The needles, while being reciprocated vertically or perpendicularly to the plate,
will therefore be moved or fed intermittently in such a manner that they travel
from one corner of the plate across the said plate near one end thereof, and then
move a short distance in a longitudinal direction and then back across that part of
the plate adjacent to the strip already operated upon, and so on, alternately in
either direction; and, after the whole of the surface of the plate has been acted
upon by the needles, the longitudinal feed movement will be automatically reversed
and the whole of the surface of the plate again acted upon by the needles, the
depth to which they are driven into the plate being slightly greater, or slightly
less as the case may be, than in the preceding operation; and so on until the
electrode has the desired charge-bearing capacity electrolytically.
The metallic oxide is to be applied to the plate before starting the machine, or
from time to time as required, by hand or in any other convenient manner.
It is obvious that we can somewhat modify the construction of the machine
without departing from the nature of our invention. For instance, we can, if
desired, provide for feeding the work relatively to the needles for the purposes
above specified, that is to say, we can arrange the bed or table D' which carries
the plate to be treated, so that it will move to and fro upon a slide or saddle
which in turn moves to and fro upon a fixed slide, the two sets of feed-mechanism
being so arranged that, while vertical reciprocating motion is being imparted to
the needles, the plate will be fed as required beneath the same.
In Figure 9 we have shown an arrangement for compensating for wear of the
nut whereby the saddle A is operated by the feed or leading-screw H, and for
preventing back-lash. For this purpose we use two nuts H2 connected together and
to the saddle A by a spindle a, a small space being left between them as shown. The
spindle is formed with right and left-handed screw-threads and 2 which
engage with corresponding internal screw-threads in the nuts H2 respectively.
The spindle is moreover provided with a nut 3 whereby it may be locked_in
any desired position. By turning the spindle in the proper direction the nuts H
may be caused to approach each other and thus compensate for wear thereof and
of the leading-screw H. A similar device may, if desired, be used in combination
with the screw J for operating the saddle B.
In Figures 10 and il we have shown a device for affording additional support
to the end of the arm A¹ while the needles E' are being driven into and withdrawn
from the work. For this purpose we secure a guide-rod A to the end of the
arm A by means of a casting A bolted thereto. This rod A', in the to-and-fro
movement of the saddle A, works in a bearing Q sliding between guides R which
are adjustably mounted in brackets R' secured to the base-plate D of the machine.
As the saddle B moves to and fro the bearing Q moves along between the
guides R. The arm A¹ is thus steadied without interfering with its motion over
the work.
According to another modification of our invention shown in Figure 12, we
employ a number of needles or points El arranged in a row or rows in a metal
block S, this block is held in a clamp S¹ by means of bolts S2 and set-screws S³.
The clamp S is secured to the lower end of the vertically reciprocating rod E;
it is also secured to the upper end of the said reciprocating rod by side rods T and
a cross-head T'. In this case the lateral feed of the saddle A may be effected
either by hand or automatically as may be desired.
In the modification of our invention illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, the table D¹
for supporting the plate to be treated, is formed on or firmly attached to the
saddle A, the perpendicularly reciprocating needle-holder E and the shaft F being

page_text: mounted in a bent arm or standard M rigidly secured to the bed-plate D or to
any other suitable support. The mechanism for feeding the saddle A and table D'
and the saddle B and reversing the feed-movements thereof as required, is similar
to that above described with reference to the feeding of the saddle A and needle-
holder E and the saddle B. To provide for communicating motion to the two sets
of feed-mechanism whilst permitting the requisite to and fro motion of the saddle B
on the slide C, the shaft F is connected by bevel pinions v v¹, with a shaft v²
which in its turn is connected by toothed wheels 3, with a shaft w mounted in
brackets M¹ depending from the top of the standard M. On the shaft w is mounted
au eccentric w the rod w² of which is coupled, by means of a connecting rod a,
to a frame provided with racks as herein before described. The eccentric w¹ is
mounted on the shaft w between the two parts of a forked bracket B' attached to
the saddle B; and the said shaft w is made square in transverse section and fitted
in a square hole in the eccentric w¹ or is otherwise so connected therewith that
the said eccentric, while free to move endwise on the said shaft, must rotate
therewith. The shaft F may, if desired, be provided with a fly-wheel N.
In another form of our improved machine, we provide for driving the needles
into the plate by a dead-weight blow; for instance, we provide the reciprocating
lar or needle-holder E with removable weights P, Figure 15, so that the force of
the blow can be readily varied, and we employ a cam Q which will alternately
raise and permit a drop-motion of the said bar or needle-holder. Or we combine
with the said bar or needle-holder and with a cam for operating the same,
adjustable springs whereby the action of the needles upon the plate can be very
accurately regulated, so as to produce a properly graduated electrode.
a cam,
In other instances, we employ a tilt-hammer which is arranged to be raised by
and the blow of which is effected by gravity with or without the aid of one
or more springs. Such springs are sometimes made adjustable to permit the
regulation of the force of the blow. The needle-holder may, in this arrangement,
be carried by a spring which, by its reaction, will effect the rapid withdrawal of
the needles from the plate. Or we provide for imparting the required recipro-
cating motion to the pointed rods or needles by means of a crank so that they will
be pressed into and withdrawn from the plate by the slow motion of the crank
when passing the dead centres.
In cases where we use a cam for this purpose, as shown in Figures 1 to 8, we
can, by varying the curves of the cams employed, vary the action of the needles
upon the plate, the relative times which they occupy in entering and withdrawing
from the plate and during which they remain in the plate, and also the distance or
depth to which they are driven into the plate.
The metallic oxide is to be applied to the plate from time to time by hand or in
any other convenient manner. Protoxide of lead may, if desired be used for the
negative electrodes, and peroxide of lead for the positive electrodes. We find it
advantageous to apply the oxide in the form of powder mixed with water, as, by
this means, better results are obtained in respect of the hardness and cementation
of the oxide kneaded into the metal. When the desired quantity of the oxide
has been kneaded in, we allow the plate to dry and we find that, when it is put
into the electrolyte and subjected to the charging current, greater cementation
occurs than if the powdered oxide is mixed with the electrolytic solution as
described in the said former Specification No. 14,658, and the tendency to
sulphating is avoided.
It is obvious that we can somewhat modify the construction of the machine
without departing from the nature of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The improvement in the method or process described in the Specification
of Letters Patent No. 14,658 of 1892, which consists in gradually increasing

page_text: instead of diminishing, in the successive kneading operations, the depth to which
the points or needles are driven into the plate, leaving a solid metal layer or core
of the required thickness, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
Second. The use, in the manufacture of the electrodes, of a mixture of the oxide
of lead with water for the purpose above specified.
Third. A machine for the purpose above specified, comprising a reciprocating
tool-holder and suitable means for automatically moving the work relatively to the
too-holder or the tool-holder relatively to the work as the case may be, in such a
manner that the tool will repeatedly operate upon every part of either side of the
said plate or of any desired area thereof, substantially as herein before described.
Fourth. A machine for the purpose above specified, comprising points or needles
mounted in a holder which is reciprocated perpendicularly to the work, an upper
saddle or head supported upon a lower saddle or movable slide and carrying either
the said holder or the work as the case may be, means for automatically and
intermittently feeding the upper saddle or head to and fro, and for automatically
reversing its feed movement, and means for automatically and intermittently
feeding the lower saddle or slide to and fro perpendicularly to the travel of the
upper saddle or head and for automatically reversing its feed movement, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described.
Fifth. The combination, with the upper saddle or head and the lower saddle or
movable slide, of means for feeding the said lower saddle or slide through a
predetermined distance simultaneously with each reversal of the feed-movement
of the upper saddle or head, substantially as, and for the purpose, above
specified.
Sixth. The improved machine constructed substantially as described with
reference to either of the forms or modifications shown in the accompanying
drawings and operating as and for the purposes above specified.
Seventh. A machine, such as we have hereinabove described, in which the
points or needles are driven into the plate by means of a tilt-hammer, substantially
as described.
Dated the 5th dor of February 1805
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.