Improvements in the Manufacture of Electric Batteries.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 6th June, 1896
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES WILLMS, of the City of Baltimore,
State of Maryland, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in the Manufacture of Electric Batteries.
I PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, 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:-
The present invention relates to an improved battery of the class which consists
of a considerable number of small cells, one of the especial objects of the invention
being to provide a construction by which the individual cells may more readily be
placed in, and removed from, their support in the battery, than by batteries
previously in use. A further object is to improve the construction of the
individual cells, and to provide a simple and more efficient method of sealing the
same.
For a full understanding of the invention, a detailed description will now be
given of a battery embodying all the features of the same in their preferred form,"
and certain modifications thereof,-reference being had to the accompanying
drawings forming a part of this Specification, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the complete battery and case, with the
cover of the case raised, and partly broken away.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the support, with the cells in place.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the elements removed from a cell.
Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a detail. perspective of one of the connecting plates of the preferred
form.
Fig. 6 is a detail view similar to Fig. 1, showing, in section, a construction in
which two cells, are grouped within a single case, so as to form a double cell, and
this mounted in the cell support.
Fig. 7 shows a modified form of cell.
Referring to the drawings, X is the battery case, shown as having the usual
hinged cover, on which is supported the switch y and conductors z, by which the
current is taken from the battery, according to the number of cells included in the
circuit. Within the battery case is the cell support A, this support A consisting,
in the form shown, of a plate of non-conducting material supported within the cell
case, so as to hold the cells B above the bottom of the case, and to be readily
removable from the case. The cells B are shown as glass chloride of silver dry
cells, the lower part of the cell containing the battery fluid 11 and the elements a, b,-
such cells being now well-known, except as the construction is varied in accordance
with the present invention.
In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, each of the glass cells B is inserted
within a case C, preferably of metal, but which may be of hard rubber or other
suitable material, and the cell preferably rests upon cotton 10 or similar material
at the bottom of the case, and a space at the top of the cell also left and filled with
similar absorbent material 10, as shown, this cotton receiving the battery fluid in
case of breakage or leakage of the cell. The cell case C is covered by a cap 12
of suitable non-conducting material, preferably vulcanized fibre, which is secured
thereon by screw rods 13 soldered or otherwise secured to, or formed. ou, the
outside of the case C, and passing through holes in the cap 12, with nuts 1 outside

page_text: the cap, by which means the cap may be forced down hard upon the case, so as to
close it tightly. Two of these screw rods are shown, but this number may be
varied, and the cap may be secured by other means..
.
The céllis secured in the support A by two screw rods 14, carried by the
cap 12, and preferably screwed into the cap at opposite sides, as shown, these rods
having thereon nuts 4, as shewn, by which close contact is made with the
terminals 5, which consist of the usual wires connected to the respective
elements a, b, and passing through openings in the cap 12 to the outside of the
cell, where they are twisted about the rods 14, the rods 14 thus forming extended
and enlarged supporting terminals. These enlarged cell-supporting terminals form
a strong support for the cells, and permit of securing them to the cell support A
by a suitable removable device, and preferably by a screw cap of proper form.
As shown, these terminals 14 are screw-threaded at their outer ends, and passed
through holes in the cell support A, in which they fit tightly, and are secured in
place in the cell support by nuts forming screw caps 9 screwed onto the screw-
threaded outer ends of the terminals, conduction between the terminal and the
connectors c of the battery being secured by means of conducting plates 15 through
which the terminals 14 and the connectors c pass. While sufficient conduction
inay be secured by the contact of the connector e with the edge of the hole in the
plate 15 through which the connector passes, a construction is preferably provided
by which a large conducting surface is provided with a thin plate, by forming on
the plate 15 a stud 2, which presses against the connector c. For the purpose of
securing proper contact between the stud and connector, independently of wear in
use, or other conditions, the plates 15 are preferably made adjustable transversely
to the connectors c by providing them with a slot 3 through which the terminals 14
pass, so that these plates 15 may be shifted laterally to keep the studs 2 pressed
against the connectors c.
It will be seen that by this construction a cell can readily be inserted and
secured in the support, and the proper connections.formed, by placing the plate 15
upon the connector c, passing the terminals 14 through the holes in the cell support,
and securing them by the nuts 9, the two terminals of a cell making contact with
adjacent plates 15, and thus completing the circuit from silver to zinc, etc., as in
the batteries now well known.
Referring now to the features of construction of the individual cells forming
the invention, such cells have previously been closed above the battery fluid by
plugs of viscous or semi-fluid material, such, for instance, as a mixture of resin
and resin oil, which always remains semi-fluid, and sealing plugs outside said
viscous plugs formed of plaster of Paris, or similar material, which forms a tight
joint on setting. In sealing cells in this manner, it has been found that the cell
is liable to leak around the plaster of Paris plug, this result probably being.caused
by the heat and weight of the plaster plug, producing a concave depression in the
top of the viscous plug, so that the plaster of Paris tapers very slightly from the
top downward. I have discovered that a practically perfect sealing of the cells
may be secured by applying, outside of the viscous plug, a plurality of plugs,
the inner plug supporting the outer plug being of any suitable material for
preventing the transmission of heat from the plaster of Paris plug to the viscous
material. This inner or supporting plug is preferably comparatively thin, so, as
to leave space outside the same for a comparatively thick sealing plug,
as shown
in the drawings, 16 being the viscous plug, 17 the supporting plug, and 18 the
sealing plug, but the supporting plug may be thicker, if desired. The supporting
plug may be of leather or any other suitable material, solid when applied, but it
will be found preferable to make this supporting plug also of plaster of Paris or
similar material, which. can be applied in plastic form, and which hardens on
setting, as such material can be more readily placed in position about the terminals,
and it will be found that, with these two plugs of plastic material, the inner of
which forms the supporting plug, and the outer the sealing plug, a satisfactory
sealing is secured.

page_text: In filling the cell, it is important that the elements a hand the terminals 5 shall
be held in proper position, so as to prevent short-circuiting in using the cell, and it
is desirable also that the elements a b be held rigidly at the proper distance apart
within the battery fluid after the cell is completed. For this purpose I have
devised the following construction.
Each of the elements ab is provided at its lower end with an extension or stud 6,
which extensions pass through holes in a separating plate 19, so that the lower or
free ends of the elements are thus held at a fixed distance apart during filling, and
after the cell is completed, the separating plate 19 being formed of any suitable
non-conducting material, preferably vulcanized fibre. In the construction shown,
the projection 6 on the zinc element a is formed on the element, and the projection
on the chloride of silver element, which consists of the usual block of chloride of
silver having the terminal 5 passing through it, is formed by extending the.
terminal below the chloride of silver, and through the opening in the separating
plate 19, and clinching the end on the plate, so as to hold the latter.
It will be understood, however, that, with any other construction of elements,
these projections may be formed in any suitable manner. The upper ends of the
elements a b are also preferably held apart by a second non-conducting separating
plate 20, the zinc element a being formed with a second projection 7 similar to that
at the bottom, and the terminal 5 of the chloride of silver element passing through
the non-conducting plate 20. By this construction the elements are held rigidly in
position at both ends, so that during the filling of the cell, and afterwards, there is
no danger of their being thrown out of relative position. This upper plate 20 is
preferably provided with a recess 22 on the side, for convenience in filling.
.
A further improvement consists in bringing the chloride of silver element close
to the glass, so that it may be examined from the outside, to determine how long
before it will be exhausted. This result is secured without separating the zinc
and chloride of silver too far, by placing the openings in the blocks 19, 20 for the
chloride of silver element to one side, so as to bring the silver element close to the
glass, while the zinc element may be nearer the centre of the cell, and thus
the proper distance between the elements be preserved. It will be understood
that this feature of providing for examination from the outside of the cell may be
applied to both elements in any construction in which this is desirable, but, in the
chloride of silver cell, it is not necessary to examine the zinc element, so that only
the silver element need be brought close to the glass.
In cases in which the terminals are soldered to the elements, it is important to
avoid short-circuiting between the solder and the element or terminal, and this
result is secured in the construction shown, in which the terminal 5 is soldered to
the projection 7 at the end of the element a, by extending the element outside the
fluid, or into the viscous plug 16, and forming the connection with the terminal
within the latter, so that there can be no electrical action between the solder and
metal of the terminal or element, as there might be, in case this connection was
made at points within the battery fluid.
Before placing the cell in the case C, a sheathing of paper 21 is preferably
placed about the glass, extending from the open end of the cell within the case a
suitable distance. I am thus enabled to secure a tight joint between the cell and
case, and moreover thus strengthen the construction.
Soft rubber sleeves 8 are preferably put upon the wires 5 before they are passed
through the cap 12, these sleeves thus covering the wires between the cap and the
top of the cell, as shown, but it will be understood that such sleeves are not
absolutely essential. These rubber sleeves, however, aid in preventing possible
short-circuiting, especially by the absorption of moisture by the absorbent material.
These sleeves also may be used to close the openings through the cap 12, so as to
prevent the escape of the battery fluid through these openings, in case of breakage
or leakage, but the absorbent material and paper wrapping above described has
been found sufficient to prevent this.
It will be understood that it is not essential that a single glass cell. be used in

page_text: each case, although this is preferred, but the cell secured to the support may
consist of two or more such individual glass cells within a single case, the latter
being secured to the support, as in the construction above described.
In Fig. 6, such a construction is shown in which a case C for each two glass
cells B is used, the respective terminals of the individual cells being connected
inside the case C, so that only one pair of terminals pass to the outside.
In this construction, each of the glass cells is preferably placed in a tube D,
preferably of paste-board, to avoid breakage of the cells, and the space within the
cell case about the tubes, and above and below the cells, is packed with absorbent
material 10, as in the construction previously described.
While it is preferable that the cells be enclosed in cell cases, and the latter be
closed by caps 12, and the enlarged cell supporting terminals be carried by the
caps, so that the connections for supporting the cell are made between the cell
case and support, and are independent of the cell, as in the construction above
described, as this construction avoids strain upon the cell and danger. of breaking
it in connecting and disconnecting from the support, and provides a very simple
and convenient arrangement for substitution of cells, the enlarged cell-supporting
terminals may be carried by the cell itself, and the invention, considered broadly,
includes such a construction.
In Fig. 7, one form of such a construction is illustrated, in which the enlarged
supporting terminals 14 extend into the cell, and are connected to the cell
elements ab therein, these terminals 14 being screw-threaded at their outer ends,
so as to be secured in the cell support A by nuts 9, as in the construction previously
described, the cell thus being removably secured in the cell support directly, and
without a case.
While the terminals in this construction may be straight, with the small dry
cells now preferably employed, to avoid danger of short-circuiting, I prefer to
bend the terminals 14 outward, as shown, so as to separate the outer ends of the
terminals further than would be convenient with straight terminals.
With the cell shown, in which plaster of Paris or other sealing plug 18 forms a
rigid body in which the terminals 14 cannot be moved, it is necessary that the
terminals should be exactly positioned during the filling of the cells, and before
the plug has become rigid. In order to secure this result in the most convenient
manner, I preferably employ the construction shown in Fig. 7, in which each of
the terminals 14 is connected to the battery element by a flexible portion, which
may be the usual wire terminal, as shown in connection with element b, but may
consist of several strands of small wire, as shown in connection with element a,
which increases the flexibility, and, at the same time, provides for conduction,
even if one or more of the strands should be broken in making the cell. In the
construction of this cell, the elements a bare placed in position in the battery
liquid at the bottom of the cell; the viscous plug 16 or part thereof is introduced;
and the terminals 14 can then be properly positioned, by bending the flexible
portions, so as to bring the outer ends of the terminals at the proper distance
apart, and in exact position to correspond with the holes in the cell support A.
When these parts are properly positioned, the cell is finished by completing the
viscous plug 16, and inserting the supporting and sealing plugs 17, 18. In order
to secure the proper position of the terminals, and hold them thus during the filling
of the cell, it will be found convenient to use a small block having holes corre-
sponding in position to those in the cell support A, in which the terminals may be
used, so as to be held rigidly in position during the filling of the cell. When the
cell is completed, and the plaster of Paris plug has set, this block may be removed,
and the cell is then ready for placing in the battery. It will be understood,
however, that any other suitable means may be used for this purpose.
It is obvious that many modifications may be made in details of the construction
shown, or by a substitution of equivalents, without departing from the invention
as defined by the claims, and I am not to be limited to the specific form of the
devices as illustrated, as these are shown only in their preferred form.

page_text: It will be found that this invention provides a very simple and efficient cell
construction, and a very convenient arrangement by which the cells are firmly
held in proper position, and, at the same time, may readily be placed in and
removed from the support, and the proper connections secured without special
apparatus or special skill on the part of the operative. It is possible, therefore,.
to supply dealers at distant points with a stock of cells, so that, upon the exhaustion
of any battery, the exhausted cells may readily be replaced by new cells at short.
notice, and without return of the battery to the factory.
In the preferred construction, employing the cap on the cell case, it will be
seen that a very simple, clean, and efficient construction of is thus provided, which.
may be handled, and inserted in and removed from the cell support without
special skill, and without danger of breakage. The cap 12 closes the cell case
tightly, and the battery fluid is taken up within the case, if the cell breaks or
leaks, so that there is no leakage to the outside, while at the same time the cell
case may conveniently and quickly be uncapped, and the cell and absorbent
material be removed, for the recovery of such material as it is desirable to
preserve.
By the term "enlarged cell supporting terminal" used in the claims, I mean,
and intend to cover, a terminal enlarged beyond what is necessary for the purpose
of carrying the cell current, for the purpose of affording a firm and convenient
support for the cell.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
from abroad, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the cell support of an electric battery, of cells
provided with enlarged supporting terminals, and removable devices securing said
terminals to the cell support, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the cell supporting plate of a battery, of cells having
enlarged supporting terminals passing through said plate, and removable devices
on the ends of the terminals, securing said terminals in the cell support, substantially
as described.
3. The combination with a cell support, of a cell case, a removable non-conducting
cap carried by and closing said cell case, supports carried by said cap, removable
devices securing said supports to the cell support, and a cell enclosed within said
cell case, but free from said cap, and provided with terminals extending through
said cap, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a cell support, of a cell case, a removable non-
conducting cap carried by and closing said cell case, supporting terminals carried
by said cap, removable devices securing said supporting terminals to the cell
support, and a cell enclosed within said cell case, but free from said cap, and
provided with terminals extending through said cap and connected to the said
supporting terminals outside the cap, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a cell support, of a cell, a cell casing enclosing said
cell, a non-conducting cap closing said cell case, through which the cell terminals
pass, screw threaded supporting terminals carried by said cap, nuts on said
supporting terminals connecting with said cell terminals, and removable devices
securing said supporting terminals to the cell support, substantially as described.
6. The combination with cell supporting plate A and connectors con said plate,
of cells having terminals 14 screw-threaded at their ends, and passing through the
support, connecting plates 15 engaging the connectors c, and through which
the terminals pass, and screw caps 9 securing the terminals, substantially, as
described.
7. The combination with cell supporting plate A and connectors c on said plate,
of cells having terminals 14 screw-threaded at their ends and passing through the
support, and connecting plates 15 having contact arms 2 engaging the connectors c,

page_text: and slots 3 through which the terminals, pass, and screw caps 9 securing the
terminals, substantially as described.
8. The combination with cell support A, of cell case C, and a cell enclosed
therein, non-conducting cap. 12 on said cell case, screw rods 13, and nuts 1
securing said cap, supporting terminals 14 carried by said cap, and passing
through the cell supports, battery terminals 5 passing through the cap and
connected to said supporting terminals, and removable devices on the ends of the
supporting terminals 14; securing said terminals in the cell 'support, substantially
as described.
9. The combination with a cell case having a cell space larger than the cell,
of a non-conducting cap 12 on said cell case, rods 13 on said cell case, extending
through said cap, nuts 1 securing said cap on said rods, and a glass cell
enclosed within said cell case, and free from said cap, substantially as described.
10. The combination with a cell case having a cell space larger than the cell,
of a non-conducting cap 12 on said cell case, rods 13, terminals 14 carried by said
cap, and a glass cell enclosed within said case and free from said cap, and having
terminals extending through said cap and connected with the terminals 14 outside
said cap, substantially as described.
.
11. The combination with a cell, of a cell case having a cell space larger than
the cell, a removable non-conducting cap on said cell case through which the
terminals pass, and rubber sleeves on said terminals, inside the cap, substantially
as described..
12. The combination with a' cell, of a cell case having a cell space larger than
the cell, absorbent material in said space, a removable non-conducting cap on said
cell case, through which the terminals pass, and rubber sleeves on said terininals
inside the cap, substantially as described..
13. The combination with the sealed cell B, of cell case C, having a cell space
larger than the cell, and a sheathing of paper 21 wrapped about the sealed end of
the cell, and filling the cell space for only a portion of the length of the cell,
whereby the cell is held rigidly in position in the case, and the passage of fluid
from the cell space at the sealed end of the cell prevented, substantially as
described.
14. The method of sealing a battery cell, which consists in inserting outside the
battery fluid, a plug of viscous material, inserting outside of, and upon said viscous
plug, a supporting plug, and inserting outside of, and upon, said supporting plug,
a sealing plug in a plastic condition, and formed of plastic material, which expand's
on setting, substantially as described..
15. A sealed battery cell, having outside the battery fluid a plug of viscous
material, a supporting plug outside of, and resting upon, said viscous plug, and a
sealing plug of plastic material that expands on setting, outside of, and upon, said
Eupporting plug, substantially as described.
16. A sealed battery cell having outside the battery fluid a plug of viscous
material, a supporting plug of plastic material that expands on setting outside
of, and upon, said viscous plug, and a sealing plug of plastic material that
expands on setting outside of, and upon, said supporting plug, substantially as
described.
17. A glass cell having a silver element provided with a projection beyond the
silver at the opposite ends of the latter, and having non-conducting separating
plates supported and carried by said projections and the other cell element, said
plates lying outside of the silver element, and arranged to hold the elements at
a fixed distance apart, with the silver element so close to the glass as to permit
its examination from outside the cell, substantially as described..
18. A glass cell having a viscous scaling plug, a silver element provided with a
terminal extending beyond the silver at the opposite ends of the latter, a second
element extending outside the battery fluid into the sealing plug, and soldered to
its terminal in. said sealing plug, and having non-conducting separating plates

page_text: supported and carried by said elements, said plates lying outside the silver element,
and arranged to hold the elements at a fixed distance apart, with the silver
element so close to the glass as to permit its examination from outside the cell,
substantially as described.
19. The combination with the elements a b, of the plates 19, 20, said element a
having projections at its opposite ends, and supported and carried thereby, said
plates being provided with openings receiving said projections on element a, and
through which the terminal of element b also passes at both ends, whereby the
elements are held at a fixed distance apart at both ends, and the plates supported
without waste of element b, substantially as described.
20. A cell-supporting and connecting construction substantially as described
in connection with Figs. 1, 2, and 5.
21. A battery cell and case construction substantially as described in connection
with Figs. 1 to 6.
22. A battery cell substantially as described in connection with Fig. 7.
Dated this 17th day of January 1896.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.