Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1896 Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
for favorable conduction of current to said paste or mass and for
gases developed in the battery.
In the annexed drawing
Tree
Figs. 1 and 2 represent respectively two cross sections in vertical planes at right
angles to each other through a secondary battery provided with the improved electrodes..
Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof.
Fig. 4 shows a cross section and longitudinal section of a single tubular electrode
of cylindrical form.
Fig. 5 shows other cross sections of tubular electrodes of different forms.
Fig. 6 shows cross sections of tubular electrodes that are formed of or with an
insulating outer cover.
Fig. 7 shows a cross section and longitudinal section of a trough shaped electrode
of half round shape.
Fig. 8 shows cross sections of trough' shaped electrodes of different forms.
As shown in the drawing the electrodes are formed of tubular or channel like
bodies of any desirablo shape in cross section; in which the paste is so placed that in.
the upper part of each tube, which is filled only to a certain height with paste, a free.
space is left which permits of the free expansion of the..paste and enables the gases
developed to pass freely away.. In the tubular electrodes this upper part is perforated
or broken through so that the electrolyte can freely pass through the openings and
come in contact with the paste but cannot wash the latter out of the electrodes a.
The electrodes a are either made of suitable metal such as lead and will then
conduct the current or they may be made of acid proof insulating material and will
then contain a current conducting inner layer or insertion f for instance lead strips
or shavings which for the improvement of conduction of the current can also be used
for the metallic electrodes.
The production of the electrodes a of insulating material will have the advantage
that the outer side of the electrode will not form gases which in the electrical work
of the battery would be completely lost and in time lead to the destruction of the
electrodes.
On this account the electrodes can also be made with the tubular or channel
shaped conductive material a enclosed exteriorly in casing b of insulating material
perforated above, as shown in Fig. 6. In order to lessen weight the upper part of
the tubular electrode a can be omitted since its effect is given by the casing b, the
electrode a will then have a trough shape as shown in Figs. 6 to 8.
In stationary batteries where the electrolyte is not subject to disturbance and
therefore is not liable to wash out the paste these trough shaped electrodes can be
used alone or within trough shaped insulating casings b open above, and they may
be used with or without the insertions f, as carriers for the paste, with the same
advantages as before described with reference to the tubular electrodes or casings

page_text: that is to say as to porosity and freedom of expansion of the paste, current conduction
and outlet for gases.
The electrodes described are arranged horizontal and electrically connected together
in suitable arrangement to form a battery or cell. Thus the eléctrodes a may be
placed in vertical rows in a vessel c (Figs. 1 to 3) or displaced with regard to one
another, horizontally in frames d insulated from one another and connected by
conductors e in positive and negative groups.
The horizontal position of the electrodes has the advantage that all the particles
of the paste in any one electrode is always acted upon by dilute acid of equal
strength since it is well known that the concentration of the acid increases towards
the bottom of the vessel, and each electrode throughout its length is thus immersed in
acid of the same strength.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. Electrodes for secondary batteries composed of tubes of variable cross section
intended to be partially filled with paste and placed horizontally or substantially so,
the upper lying part of said tubes being perforated or broken away to permit of
entrance of the electrolyte to the paste without washing the latter out of the
electrode.
2. The combination of tubular or trough-shaped electrodes as herein before
described with inserted conductors f for improvement in the conduction of current
to or from the paste.
3. A trough shaped electrode of variable cross section open above and intended to
be filled or partially filled with paste and placed horizontally or substantially so
for the purpose of the advantages herein before set forth.
4. The combination with a tubular or trough shaped conductive electrode, of a
tubular or trough shaped insulating exterior casing therefor, perforated or open above
respectively for the purpose of protecting the exterior of the electrodes from action
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 90th do of T. 1900
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.