Improvements in Electric Storage or Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 19th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1900
Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 19th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Storage or Secondary Batteries.
We, JOB THOMAS NIBLETT and MALCOLM SUTHERLAND, both of 61, Chandos
Street, London, W.C., Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention which refers more particularly to that class of electric storage
or secondary batteries known as the pasted type, relates to improvements in the
means for holding the active material or the material to be rendered active on
the metallic conductors or foundation plates of the battery elements, and for
preventing the buckling or warping of those elements, and the disintegration
of the active material. According to our invention, we cast, stamp or otherwise
suitably form each of the above named metallic conductors or foundation plates
of a thin sheet or film of metal having around its edges a flange projecting from
one or both sides of the sheet or film. This flange is arranged in such a manner
as to form at one or at each side of the plate a receptacle for holding the active
material or the material to be rendered active. The sheet or film of metal may
be either smooth and unperforated or, to secure more perfect adhesion of the
active material it, may be perforated, or have on one or both of it's faces ridges,
grooves, projections, or be otherwise suitably roughened. Suitable lugs are
formed on the metallic plates for enabling several of the elements to be
electrically connected to a common connecting bar. As an additional means
of retaining the active material in position and in intimate contact with the
conducting plate, a slab or plate of porous earthenware or other suitable porous
material, preferably adapted to fit within the flange surrounding the said con-
ducting plate, is placed against it, so as to cover it and prevent its displacement.
This porous slab or plate also acts as a separator between plates of different
polarity and it may be flat or smooth, but, in order to keep the elements a
sufficient distance apart, to allow for the free circulation between them of the
electrolyte, the said plate is preferably corrugated or formed with ridges, grooves,
or projections on one or both of its sides. When flat or smooth porous plates
are used the liquid space is, or may be, provided by the insertion between them
of india rubber or other suitable distance pieces. The porous plates prevent
the warping or buckling of the metallic or foundation plates, and the blistering
or disintegration of the active material, and serve to complete the mechanically
solid nature of the sets of elements.
Either or both of the adjacent surfaces of two elements may be provided
with the before mentioned porous plates. With a view to compensating for
the expansion or contraction which may occur in the active material or con-
ductor, during either the forming process, or the subsequent charging or dis-
charging operations, and also as a means of retaining the various elements in
position, the latter may be held together by an elastic band or bands, but when
elastic distance pieces are inserted between the plates as previously mentioned
the battery elements may be held together by rigid bands, as these distance
pieces will allow for the relative movement of the various elements. The end

page_text: plates of each set of battery elements may if desired be backed with glass or
other suitable rigid plates. The before described conductors or foundation
plates may each be of such a size as to accomodate either only one of the porous
plates or slabs or two or more of such plates or slabs. In the latter arrangement
the porous plates or slabs would preferably be arranged edge to edge, though,
if desirable, the porous plates or slabs. may be slightly separated by ribs, or
projections on the metallic conductor.
111
DAYLI
1
1000
We, JOB THOMAS NIBLETT and MALCOLM SUTHERLAND, both of 61, Chandos
Street, Strand, London, W.C., Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention, which refers more particularly to that class of electric storage
or secondary batteries known as the "pasted" type, relates to improvements in
the means for holding the active material, or the material to be rendered
active, on the metallic conductors or foundation plates of the battery elements
and for preventing the buckling or warping of those elements, and the dis-
integration of the active material.
Our invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2a horizontal section of one form of our
improved foundation plate, Fig. representing in horizontal section another
form of the said plate.
Fig. is an elevation and Fig. 5 a horizontal section of a slightly modified
construction of the foundation plate.
Fig. 6 is an elevation and Fig. 7 an edge view of a porous plate for sup-
porting the active material and
Fig. 8 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of a set of
battery elements constructed and arranged according to our invention.
In carrying our invention into practice as shown in Figs. 1, 2, & 3 we cast, stamp,
or otherwise suitably form each of the above named metallic conductors or founda-
tion plates A of a thin metallic sheet or film a having around its edges a flange at pro-
jecting either from one side of the sheet or film a as shown in Fig. 2 or from both sides
of the said sheet or film as shown in Fig. 3. This flange is arranged in such
a manner as to form at one side (as in Fig. 2) or at each side (as in Figs. 3
and 5) of the plate A, a receptacle for holding the active material or the
material to be rendered active as shown at in Fig. 8.
as
The metallic sheet or film a may be either smooth and unperforated
shown in Figs. 1. 2, and 3, or, to secure more perfect adhesion of the active
material Fig. S it may be perforated or formed as a grid as shown in Figs. 4
and 5, or have, on one or both of its faces, ridges, grooves, projections, or be
otherwise suitably roughened.
Suitable lugs are formed on the plates A for enabling several of the
elements to be electrically connected to a common connecting bar or conductor a²
or a as diagramatically represented in Fig. 8. As an additional means of
retaining the active material in position and in intimate contact with the con-

page_text: ducting plate A, a slab or plate C, of porous earthenware or other suitable
porous material, which may be adapted to fit within the flange is placed
against it as shown in Fig. 8, so as to cover it and prevent its displacement.
This porous slab or plate also acts as a separator between plates of different
polarity, and it may be flat or smooth, but, in order to keep the elements a
sufficient distance apart to allow for the free circulation between them of the
electrolyte. the said plate is preferably corrugated or formed with ridges or
When flat
projections C Figs. 6, and 7 or grooves, on one or both of its sides.
or smooth porous plates are used, the liquid space is or may be provided by
the insertion between them of india rubber or other suitable distance pieces d
as shown in Fig. 8. The porous plates prevent the warping or buckling of the
metallic or foundation plates and the blistering or disintegration of the active
material, and serve to complete the mechanically solid nature of the sets of
elements. Either, or as shown in Fig. 8, both of the adjacent surfaces of
two elements may be provided with porous plates C.
With a view to compensating for the expansion or contraction which may
occur in the active material or conductor, during either the forming process or
the subsequent charging or discharging operations, and also as શ means of
retaining the various elements in position, the latter may be held together by
an elastic band or elastic bands, but when elastic distance pieces are inserted
between the plates as in Fig. 8, the battery elements may be held together by
rigid bands e, as these distance pieces d will allow for the relative movement
of the various elements.
The end plates of each set of battery elements may, if desired be of the
double-receptacle form shown in Figs. 3 and 5 with glass or other suitable
rigid plates fitted in the outwardly presented receptacles as represented in
Fig. 8, or they may be of the single receptacle form shown in Fig. 2, backed
with suitable rigid plates.
The before described conductors or foundation plates may each be of such a
size as to accommodate either only one of the porous plates or slabs C, or two
or more of such slabs. In the latter arrangement, the porous plates or slabs
would preferably be arranged edge to edge, though, if desirable, the porous
plates or slabs may be slightly separated by ribs or projections formed on the
metallic conductor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
1. An electric storage or secondary battery element consisting of a. flanged
metallic plate or grid, active material or material to be rendered active on the
said plate or grid and a porous slab or plate for retaining the active material
in position substantially as herein before described.
2. In an electric storage or secondary battery the combination with the
elements thereof of elastic distance pieces interposed between them substantially
as hereinbefore described.
3. A set of electric storage or secondary battery elements constructed and
arranged substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Fig. 8 of
the accompanying drawings.
J. T. NIBLETT.
MALCOLM SUTHERLAND.