Improvements in Electrodes for Storage Batteries.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrodes for Storage Batteries.
I, GEORG EDUARD HEYL, of 101/102 Leipziger Strasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, Empire of Germany, Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to electrodes for storage batteries, and consists in
employing compounds containing tungsten or chrome, with or without the addition
of lead.
The active material in the storage batteries now used is generally an oxide of
lead, and it is known that the capacity of such batteries is limited and that they
are subject to rapid wear when employed frequently. As a result of manifold
experiments I have found that these defects may be overcome and the electrodes
greatly improved by the employment of compounds formed by the combination of
lead or oxide of lead with tungstic or chromic acid, or with various oxides or other
compounds of tungsten or chrome.
I have found that the use of tungstates or chromates of lead is especially
appropriate to attain the desired results, but a very good effect is also secured by
the employment of organic compounds of tungsten or chrome, in combination with
lead. Further experiments have revealed the fact that the organic compounds of
tungsten or chrome, and more particularly the oleates and resinates of the same,
may be very conveniently employed by themselves, without causing them to combine
with lead; these compounds are very plastic and therefore admirably suited for
filling up the cavities of electrodes for secondary batteries, and are considerably
lighter than compounds containing lead. The plates yield a current of great con-
stancy. These qualities are valuable especially when employing the storage
batteries for propelling cars, boats and lighting up trains, and the like.
The process by which the electrodes are manufactured is a very simple one,
consisting mainly in taking the chemical compounds to be used, for instance
chromate or tungstate of lead (PbCrO, or PbWO) and in bringing them into
moulds of the required shape, where they are subjected to pressure so as to form
a compact mass, with or without the addition of a cementing material. Or the
said compounds may be pressed into the cavities of a suitable electrode-frame or
grid.
When employing compounds of oleic or resinic acid, I preferably proceed as
follows: The compound of chrome or tungsten, for instance chromic acid (Cro),
is finely ground and brought into a kneading-machine, which is heated up to 285° F.,
and I gradually admix small quantities of a resin or heavy oil, just as much as
necessary for effecting a complete combination with the chromic acid. The result
of this treatment is the formation of insoluble resinates or oleates of chrome. When
the mass has been thoroughly kneaded, so as to become perfectly homogeneous, it
is pressed into an electrode-frame as usual.
I do not confine myself to the employment of resin or of a heavy oil separately,
such as for instance the residues from the distillation of naphtha, but I wish to
state expressly that I may use the resin and oil conjointly in order to obtain an
insoluble and solid compound of chrome or tungsten. I may also further cause the
said compounds of chrome or tungsten to combine with lead, in combination with
other metals, and employ the double compound in the above described manner.
Dated thin 21 1
& Mauch 1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrodes for Storage Batteries.
I, GEORG EDUARD HEYL, of 101/102 Leipziger Strasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, Empire of Germany, Chemist 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 :-
My invention relates to electrodes for storage batteries, and consists in employing
for the same compounds containing tungsten or chrome, with or without the addition
of lead.
The active material in the storage batteries of usual construction is generally an
oxide of lead, and it is known that the capacity of such batteries is limited and that
they are subject to rapid wear when employed frequently. As a result of manifold
experiments I have found that these defects may be overcome and the electrodes
greatly improved by the employment of compounds formed by the combination of
lead or oxide of lead with tungstic or chromic acid, or with various oxides or other
compounds of tungsten or chrome.
I have found that the use of tungstates or chromates of lead is especially
appropriate to attain the desired results, but I have ascertained that a very good
effect is also secured by the employment of organic compounds of tungsten or
chrome, in combination with lead. Further experiments have revealed the fact that
the organic compounds of tungsten or chrome, and more particularly the oleates and
resinates of the same, may be very conveniently employed themselves, without
causing them to combine with lead; these compounds are very plastic and
therefore admirably suited for filling up the cavities of electrodes for secondary
batteries, and considerably lighter than compounds containing lead. Besides, the
plates yield a current of great constancy. These qualities are valuable especially
when employing the storage batteries for propelling cars, boats and lighting up
trains etc.
The process by which the electrodes are manufactured is a very simple one,
consisting in mainly taking the chemical compounds to be used, for instance
chromate or tungstate of lead (PbCrO, or PbWO₁) and in bringing them into
moulds of the required shape, where they are subjected to pressure so as to form a 3
compact mass, with or without the addition of a cementing material. Or the said
compounds may be pressed into the cavities of a suitable electrode-frame.
When employing compounds of oleic or resinic acid, I prefer to proceed as
follows: The compound of chrome or tungsten, for instance chromic acid (Cro),
is finely ground and brought into a kneading-machine, which is heated up to 285° F., 3
and I gradually admix small quantities of resin or of heavy oil, just as much as
necessary for effecting a complete combination with the chromic acid. The result
of this treatment is the formation of insoluble resinates or oleates of chrome. When
the mass has been thoroughly kneaded, so as to become perfectly homogeneous, it is
pressed into an electrode-frame as usual.
I do not confine myself to the employment of resin or of a heavy oil separately,
such as for instance the residues from the distillation of naphtha, but I wish to state
expressly that I may use the resin and oil conjointly in order to obtain an insoluble
and solid compound of chrome or tungsten. L may also further cause the said
compounds of chrome or tungsten to combine with lead, also in combination with 4
other metals, and employ the double compound in the above described manner.
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 :-
1. An electrode for storage batteries, in which the active mass is a chemical 5
compound of oxide of lead and chromic or tungstic acid, or of lead and other
compounds of tungsten or chrome, for the purpose as described.

page_text: 2. An electrode for storage batteries, in which the active mass is a chemical
compound formed by the combination of organic compounds of tungsten or chrome
with lead, for the purpose as described.
3. An electrode for storage batteries, in which the active mass is a chemical
compound formed by the combination of resinate or oleate, or resinate and oleate of
chrome or tungsten with lead, for the purpose as described.
4. An electrode for storage batteries, in which the active mass is an organic
compound of tungsten or chrome, for the purpose as described.
5. An electrode for storage batteries, in which the active mass is resinate or
oleate, or resinate and oleate of chrome or tungsten, for the purpose as described.
Dated this 6th day of January 1893.
GEORG EDUARD HEYL,
By Fredk. Walker,
Agent for the Applicant.
GEORG EDUARD HEYL,
By Fredk. Walker,
Agent for the Applicant.