Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Apr.. 1895-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1895
Improvements in Secondary Batteries.
I, ALEXANDER SCHANSCHIEFF, of Clifton Villa, The Avenue, Upper Norwood,
in the County of Surrey, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to secondary batteries; its objects being to reduce the
weight, to keep the active paste in position, to obtain under certain conditions a
comparatively high electromotive force, to prevent the escape of liquid, to reduce
the internal resistance, and to perinit of the employment of materials which have
hitherto been regarded as objectionable owing to their giving off poisonous or
offensive fumés.
A secondary battery constructed in accordance with my invention can be
bermetically sealed, and the pressure of the gas generated within the same can
then be utilized for reducing the internal resistance by diininishing the effect of
polarisation, the bubbles of gas given of from the positive elements being reduced
in size in other words, the liquid being forced into more intimate contact with the
electrodes.
According to one mode of carrying out my invention, in which the plates are
coupled in series, I employ a box of hard rubber, wood or other suitable material.
The box, when made of wood, should be coated with a water-proof substance, such
as marine glue. The top and one side of the box are removable, and may be
attached by wood-screws or bolts and nuts to the body of the box.
A vertical lead
plate or electrode is glued or cemented to the internal surface of the removable
side and to the opposite side of the body of the box. On each plate there is a
projection, which serves as a contact-piece. A layer of minium or litharge
formed into paste with treacle or mixed with sugar is placed next the lead plate in
the body of the box. This layer, which does not extend to the top of the box, is
evenly compressed and overlaid with asbestos cloth, perforated celluloid or other
insulating and porous substance unaffected by acid. The next layer consists of
vegetable or other fibre. Then there is insulating material (asbestos clotli,
perforated celluloid or other porous substance unaffected by acid), a layer of
minium or peroxide of lead and treacle or sugar, a plate consisting of a sheet of
aluminium, iron, rolled brass or other metal covered with lead, a layer of minium'
or litharge and treacle or sugar, insulating material, a layer of vegetable or other
fibre, insulating material, a layer of minium or peroxide of lead and treacle or
sugar, and so on, until the required number of plates or elements have been laid.
The removable side is then put on and hermetically sealed. The plates are so
fixed and secured in position that the cells between them are liquid-light in order
to avoid short-circuiting. The plates may be kept apart at the edges by strips of
hard rubber or other material. A mixture of water and sulphuric acid is then
poured in until it reaches just above the active surfaces of the electrodes.
A strip
of hard rubber or other suitable substance is placed on the tops of the plates.
A tube for the passage of hydrogen leads from each cell to the space at the top of
the box; the tubes passing through the strip. The terminals are then connected
to the projections and the top of the box is put on and hermetically sealed. On
charging the battery, the hydrogen evolved collects in the space at the upper end
of the box and creates a pressure which, acting on the bubbies of gas given off

page_text: from the plates, compresses them, thereby reducing their area and consequently
their polarising effect.
If a large current be desired, the plates are joined in parallel by means of lugs
and transverse bars in the usual way. Under these circumstances, the lead plates
glued or cemented to the body of the box and to the removable side are dispensed
with, and layers of fibre placed next the removable side and the opposite side of
the hox; the other materials following in the order above specified.
Instead of employing layers of fibre, I sometimes leave spaces between the parts
described as being separated by fibre, and distance pieces or stands may be formed
on or attached to the insulating material so as to maintain these spaces.
The plates, instead of being arranged vertically in the box, may be placed
horizontally, in which case provision is made for enabling the hydrogen evolved
from each of the plates to escape to the space at the top of the box.
Although I have described my improved secondary battery as comprising lead
plates, minium, litharge and peroxide of lead and dilute sulphuric acid, it will be
understood that, when the box is hermetically sealed, other metals and chemicals
may be employed, the gas evolved, whether noxious or otherwise, being contined
within the battery casing.
1, ALEXANDER SCHANSCHIEPP, of Clifton Villa, The Avenue, Upper Norwood,
in the County of Surrey, Electrical Engineer, 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 secondary batteries; its objects being to reduce the
weight, to keep the active paste in position, to obtain under certain conditions, a
comparatively high electromotive torce, to prevent the escape of liquid, to reduce
the internal resistance, and to permit of the employment of material which have
hitherto been regarded as objectionable owing to their giving off poisonous or
offensive fines.
A secondary battery constructed in accordance with my invention can be
hermetically sealed.
According to one mode of constructing a battery in accordance with my invan-
tion and in which the plates by preference corrugated are compled in series as
shewn in the vertical section Fig. I and plan section Fig. 2, employ a box A
of hard rubber, wood or other suitable material. The box, when minde of wood,
should be lined or coated internally with a waterproof substance, such as marine
glue.
The top A and one side A of the box are removable, and may be attached by
wood-screws or bolts and nuts to the body of the box.
A vertical lead or other suitable plate B, or a plate consisting of a sheet of
aluminium, iron, rolled brass or other metal covered with lend or silvered to serve
as an electrode, is glued or cemented to the internal surface of the removable side
of the box; the opposite side of the box being similarly furnished. On each
plate B there is a prolongation, which serves as a contact-piece for a terminal C
or C. The intermediate plate or plates B are not connected up, and the

page_text: ordinary lugs and transverse bars are omitted and a great saving is effected in this
manner.
A layer of minium (for a positive element,) or of litharge (for a negative element).
formed into paste as will be hereinafter described is placed on the lead plate, in
the body of the box. This layer H which does not extend to the top of the plate,.
is evenly compressed and overlaid with asbestos cloth D, perforated celluloid or
other insulating and porous substance unaffected by acid. The next layer not
more than inch thick consists of vegetable or other fibre F. Then there is
insulating material D (asbestos cloth, perforated celluloid or other porous substance
unaffected by acid) a layer of the minium paste ou the plate B*, a layer of th
litharge paste on the other side of said plate, insulating material D, a layer F of
vegetable or other fibre; insulating material D, a layer of the minium paste on
the next plate, & so on until the required number of plates or elements have
been assembled. The removable side A is then put on & hermetically sealed.
To avoid short-circuiting, the plates are so fixed & secured in position that the
cells between them are liquid tight. To accomplish this end there may be inserted
between the elements pertaining to any cell an india rubber frame E of a size
corresponding with that of the plates, and continued up as far as they are coated
or otherwise perforated. The plates may be kept apart at the edges by strips K
of rubber or other non-conducting material. A mixture of water & sulphuric
acid is then poured in until it reaches just above the active surfaces of the
electrodes.
The terminals C C' are then connected to the prolongations, and the top A of
the box is put on & hermetically sealed. On the top is fixed a safety valve G,
which, upon the hydrogen collecting in such quantity that its pressure attains the
limit, opens, and allows the said gas to escape, the sulphuric or other heavy and
noxious fumes being, however, retained in the box.
If a large current be desired, the plates are joined in parallel by means of lugs
and transverse bars in the usual way that is to say the plates are arranged
vertically in an open box A as shewn in the vertical section Fig. 3 and plan Fig. 4.
The plate B shewn in elevation Fig. 5 and vertical section Fig. 6 is covered with
the paste on both sides and placed in an envelope D of asbestos cloth, perforated
celluloid or other suitable porous substance unaffected by acid. Fig. 7 shews a
plate B covered with paste H and placed in a box D of perforated celluloid or
the like.
Instead of employing layers of fibre as in the series arrangement described,
in this case leave spaces between the parts & distance pieces K or studs may be
formed on or attached to the insulating material D so as to maintain these
spaces. I are rubber bands for holding the plates together if desired.
One way to prepare the paste is as follows:-I thoroughly mix about one
ounce of sugar or treacle carbonized by a strong sulphuric acid solution with one
pound of high oxides or lead such as minium, peroxide of lead & others, & about
of an ounce with one pound of low oxides such as litharge & others. I then.
add to each compound gradually a solution of sulphuric acid & water say of
1-300 "Baumé," & mix the paste to the consistency of putty. Large vessels should
be employed in carbonizing the sugar, as the paste increases very largely in bulk
under the action of the above strong sulphuric acid solution, and voluminous acid
fumes are at the same time given off.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. A secondary battery constructed substantially as herein described & where
the elements are connected in series & in which lugs & transverse bars are
omitted.
2. In a secondary battery the employment in the preparation of the active
material of minium litharge or other suitable salt of lead, compounded with

page_text: carbonized treacle sugar or equivalent hydrocarbon and made into a paste with acid,
substantially as herein described.
3. In a secondary battery the employment of aluminium iron or other rigid
metal plates, sheathed with lend or other suitable acid-proof metal, substantially
as & for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of Anil 190x
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.