Improved Manufacture of Lead Peroxide, and its application to Electrical Storage Batteries.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1900-Accepted, 23rd June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Manufacture of Lead Peroxide, and its application to
Electrical Storage Batteries.
I, Dr. HERMANN BECKMANN, of Witten an der Ruhr, Germany, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;―
This invention relates to the production of lead peroxide, and the application
thereof as a durable peroxide coating for the electrode plates of storage batteries
of the Planté kind.
While the use of sulphite compounds have heretofore been considered unsuit-
able for the production of peroxide plates of the Planté kind, I have on the other
hand discovered by means of experiments that, for example, the formation of lead
peroxide from metallic lead by means of the electric current, can be effected in
the presence of free sulphurous acid in a much shorter time and in an essentially
more favourable manner than is the case with the method of the Planté formation
boretofore employed.
.
The process may be carried out, in such a way that, for example, metallic lead
in suitable form is introduced as positive electrode in a solution of free sulphurous
acid, and is then subjected to the action of an electric current.
The sulphurous acid solution can be prepared by introducing sulphur dioxide
into water, or by dissolving a salt that, in conjunction with an acid, will generate
sulphur dioxide, in water to which an acid is added.
In the latter case sodium hyposulphite is preferably employed. By the addition
of a definite small quantity of sulphuric acid this is at once partially decomposed
and sulphurous anhydride is set free. If the electric current be then introduced,
a good strong peroxide coating is obtained on the positive electrode plate.
If the introduction of the current be delayed for some time, until the sulphurous
acid has, by oxidation, been gradually converted into sulphuric acid, or has
escaped, and the process be accelerated by stirring or blowing in air, no appreci-
ble quantity of peroxide coating will be obtained, which proves that in this case
the sulphurous acid alone causes the formation of the peroxide.
The advantage of the formation of the plates by means of the above described
invention consists mainly in that no substances that are detrimental to the
duration of the electrodes, such as chlorine, saltpetre &c., are employed. It is
therefore not necessary to subject the plates after termination of the formation
to the discharging action, or otherwise to remove any residues of the forming
liquid. The plates are therefore taken directly as they come from the forming
solution. and are fitted into the storage vessels.
Also the lengthened preliminary charging of the plates in the storage vessel is
rendered unnecessary with the improved process such a charging having heretofore
been frequently necessary with Plante electrode plates, for removing any salt
residues from the same.
The formation of veroside is effected under the conditions above stated in a

page_text: considerably shorter space of time than according to the existing processes.
Already after 30 hours the plate is covered with a peroxide coating of such
thickness as to be capable of being used as pole plate in a storage battery.
Dated this 15th day of November 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
improved macture of Lead Peroxide, and its Application to
Electrical Storage Batteries.
I, Dr. HERMANN BECKMANN, of Witten an der Ruhr, Germany, 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:-
This invention relates to the production of lead peroxide, and the application
thereof as a durable peroxide coating for the electrode plates of storage batteries
of the Planté kind.
While the use of sulphite compounds have heretofore been considered unsuit-
able for the production of peroxide plates of the Planté kind, I have on the other
hand discovered by means of experiments that, for example, the formation of lead
peroxide from metallic lead by means of the electric current can be effected in
the presence of free sulphurous acid in a much shorter time and in an essentially
more favourable manner than is the case with the method of the Planté formation
heretofore employed.
The process may be carried out, in such a way that, for example, metallic lead
in suitable form is introduced as positive electrode in a solution of free sulphurous
acid, and is then subjected to the action of an electric current.
The sulphurous acid solution can be prepared by introducing sulphur dioxide
into water, or by dissolving a salt that, in conjunction with an acid, will generate
sulphur dioxide, in water to which an acid is added.
In the latter case sodium hyposulphite is preferably employed. By the addition
of a definite small quantity of sulphuric acid this is at once partially decomposed
and sulphurous anhydride is set free. If the electric current be then introduced.
a good strong peroxide coating is obtained on the positive electrode plate!:
If the introduction of the current be 'delavd' for some time, until the sulphurous
acid¨ has, by oxidation; been gradually converted into sulphuric acid, or has
escaped, and the process be accelerated by stirring or blowing in air, ho appreci-
able quantity of peroxide coating will be obtained, which proves that in this case
the sulphurous acid alone causes the formation of the peroxide.+
J.
The advantage of the formation of the plates by means of the above described
invention consists mainly in that no substances that are detrimental to the
duration of the electrodes, such as chlorine, saltpetre &c, are employed. It is
therefore not necessary to subject the plates after termination of the formation
to the discharging action, or otherwise to remove any residues of the forming
liquid. The plates are therefore taken directly as they come from the forming
solution, and are fitted into the storage vessels.
Also the lengthened preliminary charging of the plates in the storage vessel is
rendered jinnecessary with the improved process such a charging having heretofore
been frequently necessary with Plante electrode plates: for removing any 'salt
residues from the same.
.. '
*** ...
The formation of peroxide is effected under the conditions above stated in a

page_text: considerably shorter space of time than according to the existing processes.
Already after 30 hours the plate is covered with a peroxide coating of such
thickness as to be capable of being used as pole plate in a storage battery.
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:-
-
1. Manufacture of lead peroxide, particularly as a coating for the electrodes of
storage batteries, by using metallic lead as positive electrode in a solution of free
sulphurous acid through which an electric current is passed substantially as
described.
2. Manufacture of lead peroxide, particularly as a coating for the electrodes of
storage batteries by using metallic lead as positive electrode in a solution of a salt
that in conjunction with an acid will generate sulphur dioxide, to which solution
a suitable acid is added, and through which solution an electric current is passed,
substantially as described.
3. Manufacture of lead peroxide, particularly as a coating for the electrodes of
storage batteries, by using metallic lead as positive electrode in a solution of
sodium hyposulphite in water to which solution sulphuric acid is added and
through which solution an electric current is passed, substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1900.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.