Improvements in Electric Batteries.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
1, MICHAEL MARTIN BAIR, of 12 & 33 Rue de Lorraine Levallois-Perret,
Dear Paris, in the Republic of France, 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 :-
In a certain class of electric batteries, and more particularly those wherein
hydrochlorate of ammonia or sal-ammoniac is employed as the electrolyte as in the
well known Leclanché batteries, the depolarising medium consists of what are
known as "agglomerate" rods or blocks which are mainly composed of peroxide of
manganese and carbon.
The object of this invention is to improve the method of affixing such
agglomerates to the carbon electrode. Hitherto, it has been usual to secure
the said agglomerates in place by means of indiarubber bands or rings, which
however, have proved unsatisfactory, owing to their liability to be injuriously
affected by the electrolyte employed in the battery.
Now, the essential feature of the present invention consists in affixing the
aforesaid agglomerates to the carbon electrodes by means of bolts studs or pins
which are made of some material that is unaffected by the action of the electrolyte
employed in the battery, and which afford the means for securing the agglomerate
in position in a very advantageous manner.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Figure 1 is a vertical section of one form of an electric cell constructed in
accordance with this invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the same on the line 1, 1 of Figure 1, the
external vessel containing the electrodes being shewn in dotted lines.
Figure 3 is a sectional perspective view of a modified form of the cell above
alluded to; and
Figure 4 is a sectional plan thereof on the line 2, 2 of Figure 3, the external
vessel being in this figure also shewn in dotted lines.
Like letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.
a is the external vessel of the cell; the carbon electrode; e the zinc electrode,
and d d are the agglomerate blocks. On reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen
that the cell here shewn comprises two agglomerate blocks d arranged on opposite
sides of the carbon plate to which latter the said blocks are connected by means
of bolts e; each bolt has a nut at one end, and at its opposite end an eye g
for the reception of the zinc rod c. These bolts should be made of insulating
material, or be so insulated as to avoid short-circuiting of the cell between the
carbon and zinc electrodes.
In Figures 3 and 4 a cell is illustrated in which three agglomerate blocks are
employed, the said blocks being placed on the three sides of a centrally arranged
carbon electrode which is triangular in cross-section. The inner ends of the studs
or pins e are here adapted to be screwed into the carbon electrode itself, while
their outer ends project from the agglomerate blocks and receive nuts f. The
outer ends of the studs or pins thus serve in this example as spacing blocks to keep
the zinc electrode c, (which is here made in the form of a hollow cylinder) at the
requisite distance from the said agglomerate blocks.
The remark already made with reference to the insulation of the bolts in
Figures 1 and 2 applies also in this case.

page_text: If desired the perforations in the agglomerate blocks may be dispensed with in
which case the bolts are formed with hook shaped heads and, the nuts have lateral
extensions. The bolts are passed through holes in the electrodes in close proximity
to the ends of the agglomerates and the said hook shaped heads and lateral
extensions of the nuts engage with the sides of the agglomerate blocks and tightly
press them against the carbon electrode.
I wish it to be understood that the cells above described only serve as examples
of the manner of carrying my invention into practice and that their construction
may be considerably varied both as regards the shape and dimensions of the pins
studs or bolts, and the materials employed in their construction, without departing
from the nature of my invention.
Moreover it will be obvious that my improved method of affixing or bolting
the agglomerate blocks in position is applicable to batteries of all kinds,
wherever agglomerates are made use of, irrespective of the shape and nature of
such agglomerates, or of the kind of electrolytes and electrodes employed in the
battery.
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 :-
1. A negative electrode for an electric battery having agglomerate blocks or
pieces secured thereto by screw bolts studs or pins substantially as set forth and
for the purpose specified.
2. An electric battery having agglomerates fixed in position by means of bolts
studs or pins substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or
Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of September 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.