An Improved Connector for the Electrodes and Cells of Primary and Secondary Electrical Batteries.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1890–Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
An Improved Connector for the Electrodes and Cells of Primary
and Secondary Electrical Batteries.
I, ALFRED JAMES JARMAN, of 158 High Street Clapham, 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 :-
-
My invention relates to improvements in the connections or couplings of the
clectrodes and cells of electrical batteries generally, but especially applicable to
secondary storage batteries, the object thereof being to provide a connection that is
of negligible resistance in the circuit, and is not liable to be ruptured or fractured by
the fatigue of metal incidental to vibration when this is continued for any length of
time, as in cases where the cells are used for electrical propulsion.
It is a well known fact, that when the connections between the cells of a storage
battery are made by extensions from the plates or electrodes being connected together
the lugs or positive and negative extensions, frequently break off, which entails the
removal of the electrodes for the purpose of renewing the broken lug. When the
connections are constructed according to my invention, hereinafter to be described,
the coupling is rendered doubly secure.and the electrical resistance reduced consider-
ably, and the necessity for the use of a spanner or other portable tool is entirely
obviated.
In order that my said invention may be the better understood, I have appended
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figure 1 represents an elevation of the improved connector, shewn detached from
the electrodes, and Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same, Figure 3 is a longi-
tudinal section and Figure 4 a transverse section. Figure.5 is a plan view of the
supplementary coupling forming part of my invention, and Figure 6 shews two cells
of an ordinary secondary storage battery, coupled and the electrodes connected by
means of my improved connector. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views.
In carrying my invention into effect. I employ a rod or bar a of copper or an alloy
of copper and lead, copper and aluminium, any suitable alloy, or of aluminium alone.
Said rod a may be furnished with a screw thread at the ends b b¹ for the purpose of
fitting thumb, fly, or other nuts thereon, in order to couple the cells together. Said
rod a is coated with tin, or solder, and then cast into a solid bridge d of lead, copper
and lead alloy, or of other suitable metal, so that the ends bb' project above the caps
or lugs e e formed in casting the bridge d. Said bridge d may be furnished with
grooves as shewn for holding the plates or electrodes, or these may be attached
thereto by soldering, brazing burning or other suitable method. A coupling C, shewn
detached by the plan view Figure 5, and formed of pure copper, or any of the alloys
previously mentioned, is arranged so as to fit over and upon the projecting ends b b¹
of the rod a. for the purpose of affording an additional precaution against fracture by
vibration, and also to diminish the electrical resistance of the connector. Said
coupling is held in position upon the faces of the lugs e e¹ by nuts c, and I may
provide suitable extensions upon the couplings C for the purpose of connecting the
several cells of an electrical battery together, or 1 may effect this object by means of
separate links g, as shewn by Figure 6, which fully illustrates the method of applying
my said invention in practice.
It will be readily perceived that the enclosure of the rod a by the casting of the
bridge d around it relieves the metallic structure of said bridge of the conduction of
the current from and to the several plates or electrodes attached thereto, and perfect
contact is established by means of the coating of tin, solder, or the like, hereinbefore

page_text: referred to. The employment of the coupling C also effectually relieves the lugs e e¹,
the projecting ends b b of the rod a, and the connector as a whole, of the strains
resulting from the vibration attending the use of electrical batteries for purposes
of propulsion or traction, and by the adoption of this device the resistance of the cells
of such batteries is materially diminished..
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;
First. The improved connector for primary and secondary electrical batteries sub-
stantially as herein described and shewn by the appended drawings.
Second. In a connector for the electrodes of a primary or secondary electrical
battery, the combination of a tin or solder coated metal rod a, a bridge d nuts e and
a coupling C substantially as and for the purposes herein described, and shewn by the
appended drawings. ⚫
Third. In a connector for primary or secondary electrical batteries, as referred to
in the preceding claims, the method of coating a metal rod a with tin or solder, and
casting it into a metal bridge d, substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and shewn by the appended drawings.
Dated this oth an of M. 1000
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE.
4. Moorfields. Fore Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.