IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES OR MAGAZINES OF ELECTRICITY AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of Kensington, Middlesex for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES OR MAGAZINES OF
ELECTRICITY AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH A communication
to him from abroad by Charles Francis Brush of Cleveland, Ohio, United
States of America, Electrical Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION' left by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st July 1882.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
"
SECONDARY BATTERIES OR MAGAZINES OF ELECTRICITY AND IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH.' A communication to me from abroad by Charles
Francis Brush of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, Electrical Engineer.
The invention relates to secondary batteries, or apparatus for the absorption of
electric energy and subsequent exhibition of the same, and also to apparatus for
use in connection with secondary batteries, whereby a number of said batteries
can be grouped under and operated as an automatic system.
For the sake of convenience in describing and referring to the various embodi-
ments of the invention that I shall herein set forth, I shall specify them separately
and successively, and distinguish each alphabetically.
DIVISION A.
"Division A" of the invention refers to a method or process of "forming" the
plates or elements of a secondary battery, that is, of causing them to assume the
best condition for the purpose to which they are applied.
The most common form of secondary battery consists of two sheets or plates
of lead, placed near each other, but not in contact, and immersed in dilute
sulphuric acid.
These sheets are often of large surface, in which case they are frequently rolled
into a cylindrical spiral, caro being taken that they do not touch each other,

page_text: so as to effect economy of space, and to expose both sides of each sheet to its
neighbour.
When an electric current is passed through such an apparatus, water is decom-
posed; hydrogen is occluded by, or combines with, one of the lead plates, while
oxygen combines with the other plate, and forms a coating thereon of peroxide of
lead. This oxide of lead, not being capable of combining with any acid, is not
affected by the presence of the sulphuric acid employed.
Now, if the exciting current be removed, it will be found that the apparatus has
become a powerful battery, giving a current in a direction opposite to that of the
exciting one. But this current is of short duration, and will not long remain
stored. Repeated or long continued charging of the apparatus increases its
capacity, but the latter will always remain small. It has been found, however,
that the capacity of the apparatus may be greatly increased by reversing the
charge from time to time, frequently during the first few days and more rarely
afterwards.
This process may continue for several months, the apparatus continually
improving rapidly at first, more slowly later. This series of reversals of charge
constitutes the customary method of "forming" the plates of a secondary battery.
I have carefully investigated the chemical and mechanical action involved in the
above indicated process, and have arrived at a satisfactory explanation of the
results produced.
The formation of peroxide of lead on one of the plates continues indefinitely as
long as the exciting current is maintained, becoming constantly slower as the
metallic surface acquires an increasing protection against further action by the
constantly increasing thickness of the coating of peroxide of lead thereon.
Peroxide of lead being a good conductor of electricity, the coating thereof above
described becomes a part of the conducting plate or element of the battery, and
free oxygen is evolved at the surface of the coating.
Now, if the exciting current be stopped, "local action," somewhat similar to
that in galvanic batteries, and electrical in its nature, commences between the
peroxide of lead and the backing or support of metallic lead with which it is in
contact. By this "local action," the peroxide of lead is gradually reduced to a
lower state of oxidation, while more of the metallic lead of the plate is oxidized by
the oxygen thus made available.
The fresh lead thus oxidized doubtless acquires the same condition of oxidation
that the original peroxide finally assumes. But the peroxide is never by this
action reduced to the state of protoxide, as is proven by the colour of the coating,
and the non-action on it of the ever present sulphuric acid.
When peroxide of lead is thus reduced to a state of lower oxidation, it becomes
useless for the development of a secondary current until freshly charged or re-
oxidized. Thus is explained, so far as the oxygen plate is concerned, the cause of
the gradual loss of charge observed in lead secondary batteries.
Further, since the conducting power of peroxide of lead rapidly decreases as its
oxygen is removed, the reason of the high electrical resistance of the oxidized
plates after long standing uncharged is also explained. When such a plate as I
have described, that is, one having gradually lost its original charge by local
action, is re-charged by an electric current as at first, it will hold a larger charge
than before; because all of the lower oxide of lead is now raise to the condition
of peroxide, and thus more of the latter is present than at the previous time of
charging. This explains why the oxygen plate of secondary batteries constantly
increases in capacity, even though the exciting current be applied at long
intervals.
Let us now consider what takes place at the opposite side of the secondary
battery, that is the action on the lead plate where the hydrogen appears. Here
the hydrogen is absorbed at the surface of the plate, being simply occluded, or
more probably forming a definite but feeble chemical combiuation with the lead.
If such a combination exists, it is a nearly or quite stable one, so far as “local

page_text: action" is concerned, for experience shows that the capacity of the plate for the
reception of hydrogen increases very slowly, if at all, when the plate is left charged
a long time, but without the action of the exciting current; even the continued
action of the exciting current increases the capacity of the hydrogen plate very
slowly indeed, as compared with the improvement of the oxygen plate during the
same time.
The capacity of the hydrogen plate never becomes at all considerable when it is
subjected to the above action alone. Hence, in practice, the oxygen plate soon
acquires much greater capacity than the hydrogen plate; but this is of no advan-
tage, since its usefulness is limited by that of the hydrogen plate. But if now the
charge of the two plates be reversed, by changing the direction of the exciting
current, the former hydrogen plate will absorb oxygen freely as did the other
plate at first, while the former oxygen plate will have its coating of oxide of lead
reduced to the metallic state by the nascent hydrogen evolved upon it, and will
thus be left with a corresponding coating of porous lead. This porous metal is
now in a condition to absorb and retain an amount of available hydrogen about
equivalent to the available oxygen which it before held.
Thus it will be seen that the simple act of reversing the charge of the two plates
increases the capacity of the apparatus up to a point attained only by the oxygen
plate before the reversal. Again, what is now the oxygen plate continues to
improve, as in the first instance, while the hydrogen plate remains nearly or quite
stationary in this respect.
Hence, after a time, a further increase of capacity in the apparatus may be
effected by another reversal. Thus is explained the reason for the many reversals
of charge customary in " forming" the plates.
When a previously-excited secondary battery is discharged, the peroxide of lead
is thereby reduced to a state of lower oxidation, as already explained in connection
with the spontaneous loss of charge. Thus, what was at first a good conducting
coat or envelope on the metal plate, is now reduced to a poor conductor, as pre-
viously explained, while at the same time pure water is formed within the mass of
lead-oxide by the combination of hydrogen with a portion of the oxygen of the
peroxide of lead; and, since pure water is a very poor conductor of electricity, a
further barrier to the passage of current between the sulphuric acid solution and
the metallic plate within the envelope of lead-oxide is raised.
These two causes (lower oxidation and presence of pure water) account, so far as
the oxygen plate is concerned, for the increase of resistance in secondary batteries
during their discharge, and especially toward the end of the process.
In the case of the hydrogen plate, pure water is also formed by the union of
oxygen with its hydrogen, whereby the necessary liquid conductor within the
porous metal has its resistance largely increased.
The cause of the gradual spontaneous loss of charge, in case of the hydrogen plate
of secondary batteries, is not the same as that already described in connection with
the oxygen plate. The hydrogen in this case seems to be gradually dissolved and
carried away from its plate by the dilute sulphuric acid, which then discharges it
gradually into the atmosphere.
If, in charging a hydrogen plate, a chemical component of lead and hydrogen is
formed, as I have before suggested, this compound would appear to be gradually
decomposed in the presence of the acid water, giving up its gas to the latter.
There are certain evils incident to the above-described process of " forming "the
lead plates of secondary batteries, which attendant evils prevent the attainment of
the best results and limit the ultimate capacity of the apparatus to a comparatively
small field of usefulness.
The coating of peroxide of lead which is formed on one of the plates, necessarily
occupies more space than did the metallic lead which it contains. The shell of
oxide must then expand in forming. To accommodate this expansion, which
evidently occurs in all directions, the structure of the deposit must be more or less
broken up at numerous points, or else the lead plate itself must expand.

page_text: The occurrence of the latter action may readily be observed when the lead sheet
is thin.
When, now, the direction of charge is reversed, by which operation the oxide of
lead is reduced to the metallic state, the previously-expanded mass shrinks.
Both the expansion and subsequent shrinkage may be illustrated by treating one
side only of a sheet of lead, the other side being protected from action by varnish,
or otherwise. When such a plate is oxidized, the exposed side becomes convex ;
when the oxide is subsequently reduced, this side becomes concave.
During the process of reduction the shrinkage does not occur in all parts of the
mass at once, as the reduction is not simultaneous in all parts at once, but is pro-
gressive. The converse of this is true when the reduced lead is again oxidized.
Hence there is a disintegrating action in the changing mass itself, as well as
between it and the solid plate behind it. This alternate expansion and contraction
of the action and valuable portion of the lead plate does not lead to serious dis-
turbance when it is allowed to occur only once, or a very small number of times.
But if these changes are many times repeated, the coating peels off from the lead
plates to a considerable extent, and thus becomes useless. This evil is especially
noticeable in the case of thick deposits.
Again, every time the deposit of oxide of lead is reduced, a notable quantity of
sulphate of lead is formed within the mass.
This inert and useless substance, when allowed thus to form, soon exercises a
very deleterious influence, wasting in its formation the otherwise available oxide of
lead, stopping the pores of the essentially porous mass, and tending to disintegrate
the latter by occupying a much larger space than the oxide of lead from which it
is formed.
The reduction of the oxide of lead is also attended with danger of separating
the mass from its supporting lead plate, by the liberation of gas between the two,
especially when the reducing current is of sufficient strength to effect the change
at all rapidly.
The frequent reversal of charge is also expensive, in that much energy of charging
current is wasted at each operation.
Further, it will be seen that the oxygen, which is the active though slow agent in
improving the plates, acts not on both plates simultaneously, but on only one at a
time.
The method or process of "forming" the plates or elements of secondary
batteries, which constitutes the special subject of "division A" of the invention,
avoids or eliminates the above enumerated evils almost entirely; whereby, with
plates of any given size or form of construction, I produce ultimately, or within a
given time, an apparatus of much greater capacity than was heretofore found
possible.
The process consists in charging the plates which are ultimately to constitute the
battery in such a manner that a coating of peroxide of lead of sufficient thickness
is formed on both of them; these plates are then associated together in the usual
manner, and an electric current passed through the apparatus in the manner
customary in charging; whereby one of the plates remains unchanged, and con-
stitutes the oxygen element of the battery, while the other has its charge reversed,
and now constitutes the hydrogen element of the battery.
In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, are diagrams illustrating the method of
"forming" the elements of secondary batteries.
In Fig. 1, a, b, are the lead plates, which are ultimately to form the secondary
battery. They are both connected, as shown, to the oxygen-producing pole of a
current generator H.
c is a third plate, similar, or not, to the others, and connected to the hydrogen-
producing pole of the generator H. All the plates are immersed in dilute sulphuric
acid contained in the vessel I.
Fig. 2 shows the plates a, b, arranged for the reversal of the charge in b, the
latter being now connected with the hydrogen-producing pole of the generator H,

page_text: This is also the arrangement for charging the battery for use after its plates are
duly "formed."
Obviously, the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be modified almost
indefinitely, while producing the same result. Many plates a, b, may be charged at
once, using only one plate c.
The vessel, I, may be of lead or copper, and constitute the plate, c.
The plate, c,
may consist of one or more previously-charged plates, a or b, which thus become
reversed, and are then ready, without further treatment, to be paired with other
charged plates, a or b, in the construction of secondary cells ready for use.
The plates, a, b, while acquiring their coating of lead peroxide, may, for this purpose,
be charged continuously; or (and this is equally effective and more convenient)
they may be charged at intervals only-short at first, which may be increased in
length as the process progresses, thus allowing the "local action" between the
peroxide of lead already formed and the metallic lead to continue the oxidizing
process during the time the charging current is not acting.
Several months of continuous of intermittent charging is required when ordinary
sheet lead alone is employed for the plates, a, b, in order to produce a satisfactory
coating of peroxide of lead.
"
The process of reversing the charge of one of the plates, a, b, need not occupy
more than a few hours." It will be apparent that this process of "forming'
possesses, among its many advantages, that of producing a given capacity
(supposing such to be attainable by the old method) in the apparatus under
treatment, in a very much less time than would be required by the "forming"
process commonly employed; in that, both plates simultaneously, instead of one at
a time, are acted upon by the oxygen, which is the active agent in improving or
developing the plates.
Uncharged plates, a, b, may be arranged at once as in Fig. 2, and charged until
plate a has become sufficiently coated; after which the direction of the charging
current may be reversed, thus making a hydrogen plate of a.
If now the reversed charging action is continued until plate b has acquired a
sufficient coating, we will reach the same result as when both plates are simul-
taneously charged with oxygen and one afterward reversed; but the process will
have occupied twice the time.
This process of "forming" the plates of secondary batteries, is applicable not
only to the flat or plain plates ordinarily used, but equally so to corrugated and
to ribbed, honey-combed, perforated, slotted, or otherwise-fashioned plates, such as
will be hereafter described under other divisions of this specification; also
especially to plain corrugated or otherwise-fashioned plates coated or filled with
spongy or porous or reduced lead, as will also be specially described hereaftër in
this specification.
DIVISION D.
"Division B" of this invention consists in providing the plates, or elements of
secondary batteries, with a suitably thick coating of electrically-deposited coherent
metal previous to the process of “forming" the said plates or elements.
In preparing or coating plates or elements according to the present division of
the invention, the coherent porous lead is deposited thereon by electrical, action, in
the manner customary in any ordinary process of electro-plating; the plates to be
coated first being made chemically clean, and the plating solution consisting of
oxide of lead dissolved in a solution of a caustic alkali, or of an equivalent solution
of lead. Any solution of lead may be used, provided it is such as to produce a
coherent deposit of metal, and not a spongy or non-coherent deposit. The latter
kind of deposit is always produced when the sulphate, chloride, acetate, nitrate, and
some other salts of lead are reduced electrically, and possesses properties different
from those of the coherent form of metal; being vastly inferior to the latter in
efficiency as a material for secondary batteries.

page_text: The coherent metal may be deposited with greater or less rapidity as may be
found most expedient or desirable in practice, the character of the deposit varying
to some extent according to the rate and other circumstances of its formation.
Corrugated, ribbed, or cellular slotted or otherwise perforated plates are well
adapted to receive and retain the coherent coating, and the corrugations or other
spaces or cavities in the plates may be entirely filled with the deposit if desirable.
When such plates are treated to a deposit of coherent lead in the manner customary
in electro-plating, the interior of the cells or cavities or corrugations will receive a
less heavy deposit than the more exposed portions. I avoid this difficulty by
adopting the following method of working.
The drawing Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a simple method of lining or filling
the grooves in ribbed or similar plates with the deposited metal. The plate a, being
first thoroughly cleaned, has the grooves or cavities on one of its sides filled with
protoxide or other suitable compound of lead, either dry or made into a paste with
water or saline solution.
The plate is then placed horizontally, prepared side up, in a suitable vessel, I,
containing a solution of caustic soda or potassa, or other alkali, when protoxide of
lead is used in the grooves..
Any liquid may be used, provided it is capable of dissolving the lead compound,
whatever it may be, in the grooves or, corrugations of the plate a, and of depositing
the metal, when electrolised, in a coherent .state. In the same solution, but not
touching the plate, a is suspended or placed a lead or equivalent plate, k. Current
from a suitable source, H, is then passed through the apparatus in the proper
direction until the lead oxide in the grooves or corrugations is exhausted, and its
metal deposited on the sides and bottom of the grooves. More lead oxide may be
added if it is desired to increase the deposits. The solution may be heated, to
hasten or facilitate the process, if found expedient. When one side of the plate is
prepared, the other side may be treated in the same manner.
By this method a strong solution of lead is maintained within the grooves or
corrugations, while other portions of the solution remain poor in metal, whereby a
heavy deposit of metal is secured on the sides and bottom of the grooves.
If a grooved plate is simply suspended in a solution of lead oxide, and thus
treated, the principal deposit of metal will occur on the exposed edge of the ribs,
and comparatively little metal will be deposited within the grooves.
Plates of other metals than lead may be employed to receive and support the
deposited lead; thus, gold or platinum may be used, and in this case the oxygen
element of the battery, if fully peroxidized, cannot lose its charge by the spontaneous
"local action" described in Division A.
Carbon, or even copper, may be used in the case of the hydrogen plate or element
of the battery for receiving the deposited metal.
When lead or other plates coated or filled with deposited coherent lead are
associated together in a secondary battery and charged, the reduced metal of one of
the plates is peroxidized much faster than ordinary cast or rolled lead, but not
nearly so fast as spongy or non-coherent lead; while the coherent lead of the other
plate absorbs hydrogen more freely than cast or rolled lead, but not nearly so fast
as the other plate of the battery absorbs available oxygen.
"
It becomes advisable, then, to resort to a "forming process as described in
Division A, and the improved process, as therein set forth, is preferable to any
other

page_text: This feature of the invention may be applied not only to plain plates, but also
to corrugated, ribbed, cellular, perforated or slotted, or otherwise-fashioned plates or
elements.
In preparing or coating plates according to "Division C" of the invention, the
porous lead may be reduced thereon from the oxide of the metal by means of an
atmosphere or current of carbonic oxide or hydrogen, at a temperature insufficient
to fuse the reduced metal.
Either of the gases mentioned will do this readily, and they may be used pure
or mixed together, or with any neutral gas, such as nitrogen. The plates having
been made chemically clean, are placed in a horizontal position and covered to a
sufficient depth with lead oxide. This may be applied dry, or preferably in the
form of a paste, with water or with some liquid such as nitric acid, which partially
dissolves the oxide and when evaporated leaves the latter in a coherent compact
condition. Solution of nitrate of lead may be employed directly to form the
paste. The oxide of lead may be fused before use, if found desirable, and applied
either as a coarse or fine powder, or mixture of both. A lead plate having been
thickly sprinkled with coarsely pulverized lead oxide may have the latter securely
imbedded in its surface by means of a parallel flat plate of iron applied with
hydraulic pressure, or other means. When corrugated or ribbed plates are used,
the corrugations or spaces between the ribs may be filled with the lead oxide if
found desirable. The lead oxide may be fused, and poured in a thin layer over
the plates, chilling thereon before fusion of the plates takes place, or the corruga-
tions or grooves of the plates may be filled with the fused oxide.
When plates
other than lead are employed, such, for instance, as gold or platinum, they may be
dipped into the fused oxide, and when withdrawn will retain a coating thereof.
Previous to the application of a coating of lead-oxide, the plates may receive a
preliminary coating of oxide by treatment with a current of electricity in a
charging battery. This preliminary coating will assist in attaching the principal
coating, and the subsequently reduced metal, firmly to the plate.
After the plates are coated with oxide, they are packed, sufficiently separated
from each other, in a suitable vessel or chamber, where they may be raised to a
sufficiently high temperature and exposed for a sufficient length of time to the
action of a reducing gas.
In the drawings, Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a convenient method of
treating the plates to a stream of carbonic oxide mixed with nitrogen, and hydrogen
if desired. Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of the apparatus in Fig. 4 through the
line x-y.
In Fig. 4, L is a chamber of sheet iron, having a cross-section slightly wider
than a plate to be treated and considerably longer, as shown in Fig. 5. The
chamber is provided at the top with a chimney, and at the bottom with a grate
supporting a thick layer of ignited charcoal or coke, all as shown.
a, a, a, are plates to be treated, coated on the upper side with oxide of lead and
supported at a sufficient distance from each other by ribs (not shown) attached to
the sides of the chamber.
The plates are arranged so as to leave openings at alternate sides of the chamber
as shown, in order to direct the current of gases from the fire across the faces of
the plates. m is a plate of metal or slate to properly direct the gases from the
fire, and to protect the lead plates from the direct heat thereof. n is a similar
plate to confine and direct the gasses over the top lead plate, and prevent too
great radiation of heat therefrom. The operation of the apparatus is obvious.
Air, in passing upward through the thick bed of incandescent fuel, has its
oxygen converted into carbonic oxide, and the hot carbonic oxide and nitrogen
pass upward between the plates, thereby heating them, and ultimately reducing
the oxide of lead to the metallic state. The gases finally escape at the chimney.
If steam is introduced with the air, hydrogen is also formed.
Obviously, many forms of apparatus other than the one shown may be employed
to effect the reduction of the lead oxide.

page_text: www.
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metal, such as gold or platinum, or any alloy of these metals with lead. Secondary
battery elements constructed according to this division of the invention, are well
adapted to be "formed " by the process specified in Division A.
DIVISION E.
"Division E" of my invention consists in, and relates to, a secondary battery.
plate or element of any form, consisting of a supporting core or body, composed of
an alloy of lead and some non-oxidizable material (such as gold, platinum, an alloy
of these metals, or other suitable substance) to which alloy-core or body, is in any
effective way applied, connected, or attached, an active-coating.
It is desirable, in a secondary battery, that the elements should present the
greatest amount of active material, and have a minimum quantity of the idle, or
non-acting material, that merely serves as an electro-conducting support for the
active portion of the element; and one of the objects sought, and to a high degree
attained, by the present division of the invention, is a large reduction in the
amount of material usually necessary for the non-acting, supporting, and conducting
portion of a secondary battery element.
I do not limit myself to any specific form of element, as my invention is equally
applicable to many forms.
My invention is admirably adapted to the construction of elements made up of
very thin strips, plates, wires, or filaments.
Among the substances that may be applied to the alloy-core may be mentioned
the following, viz.: oxide of lead, electro-deposited lead, a mixture of metallic lead
and lead oxide, or superficially oxidized particles of lead. The alloy-core may be
suitably roughened, scored, or perforated, to insure retention of the active coating
when applied.
In the operation of "forming" such an element, the electric current will not
only act upon the coating or covering just described, but it will also superficially
affect the core, by converting the lead in the surface of the alloy into peroxide of
lead; thus rendering the platinum (or gold) surface of core rough or porous, and
greatly facilitating and insuring the adhesion to the core of the active coating,
because the pores are now filled with peroxide of lead, which is integral with the
peroxide of lead of the active coating proper.
In case the alloy-core is in the sheet form, it may be bent, corrugated, roughened,
perforated, slotted, or otherwise prepared; and if the wire or filament form of core
be used, a number of these may be electrically connected together, either at one or
both ends, and arranged in a substantially parallel relation with each other; or
they may be twisted into a skein, or bunched together in any manner; or they
may be woven into a netting or fabric. Instead of the alloy being composed simply
of lead and platinum, or lead and gold, it may consist of lead with any other
unoxidizable alloy or substance whatever.
The amount of lead in the alloy should be so limited in quantity that the
oxidizing action in "forming" the element shall be confined to the surface of the
alloy; the interior portions being practically protected by the excess of non-
oxidizable inetal. Such a construction will permit of the use of very thin wires,

page_text: sheets, or strips of alloy, without danger of complete oxidation; thus effecting an
economy in the amount of the non-oxidizable material forming the supporting and
electro-conducting core, and. obtaining a very large amount of available active
material for any given amount of space occupied by the element.
Such a construction as I have described prevents the spontaneous loss of charge
in a secondary battery, due to "local action" between the active portion of the
element and t is supporting body.
PP5
DIVISION F.
"Division F" of my invention consists in the following specified plan or
arrangement in constructing the elements of secondary batteries:-
In the drawings Figs. 6 and 7 are front views representing various embodiments
of my invention according to "Division F."
Fig. 8 is an edge view of the forms shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
"
a a are two or more strips, bars, or sheets of lead (or any other material suitable
for use in secondary battery elements), "formed or provided with an active
coating in any suitable manner.
b is a uniting and sustaining piece, made of any material from which the parts a
can be constructed. The parts a and b may be joined by being soldered together
in the relation indicated, or the parts a may be held in proper position and relation
while the part b is cast upon the ends of the parts a; or the entire structure may
be cast at one operation.
The parts a may be united not only by the bar b, but by one or more additional
rods, bars, webs, or other stays, c, to give greater stability to the structure, as shown
in Fig. 7. The parte need hot necessarily make electrical connection with the
parts a, but may consist of a rod passed through suitable perforations in the latter,
the parts c being used simply to retain the otherwise free ends of the parts a in
proper relation to each other.
Among the advantages pertaining to a battery element constructed as above
specified, may be mentioned: first, the element presents many small surfaces
instead of a few large ones, upon which small surfaces the active coating of the
element can expand or contract, without that liability to blister or peel off that
exists in the case of more extended surfaces; second, there is a large amount of
aggregate active surface exposed in a small space, and a free circulation of the
battery-liquid secured around and throughout the element; and, third, the parts a
may be separately prepared, as for instance, according to "Division D," and after-
wards associated together.

page_text: current to establish itself in before the automatic apparatus shall have thrown the
battery into circuit. This resistance also lessens the spark which occurs when the
"short-circuit" is opened at the time of throwing the battery into the charging
circuit.
In the drawings, Fig. 9 represents my automatic device, wherein the "short-
circuit" is not provided with a resistance.
Fig. 10 shows the device provided with a resistance in the "short circuit."
Fig. 11 shows a system wherein three secondary batteries are charged in series
by the same current, each battery being provided with the automatic apparatus.
Fig. 12 illustrates a system wherein three batteries, each provided with the
automatic apparatus, are charged in "multiple-arc" from one source of current.
Fig. 13 represents a system wherein four batteries are charged in "series "
the same current, one automatic apparatus controlling the current for all.
by
Fig. 14 illustrates a system wherein three batteries are charged in " 'multiple-arc,"
one automatic apparatus controlling the current for all.
In Fig. 9, A represents a current generator, which may consist of a dynamo-
electric machine, thermo-electric, or other apparatus capable of furnishing current.
B is a secondary battery. C is an electro-magnet located in the circuit a, a², a³, a³,
connecting the generator and battery. D represents a number of electric lamps,
or other electro-receptive devices. E is a lever, pivoted at b, and provided with an
armature at c, facing the pole or poles of the magnet C. The lever E may be of
iron, and the armature c dispensed with. The lever É may be provided with an
adjustable weight d. The free end of the lever carries contact points e, f, which
are insulated from each other. gis a stationary contact point, which makes contact
with f, and serves as a stop to the lever E when the latter rises in obedience to the
attraction of the magnet C.
The contact g is connected with the charging circuit a, as is also the contact c,
by means of a flexible connection, as shown.
The contact f is also connected by a flexible conductor with the charging circuit a.
h is a stationary contact point which makes contact with e, and serves as a stop to
the lever E when the latter falls.
h is connected by a conductor F of low resistance, with the charging circuit a³.
A conductor of the fusible metal, H, may be employed for the purpose of opening
that part of the circuit by fusion, if the charging or discharging current becomes
greatly abnormal in quantity from any cause.
The diagram just explained shows, the lever E in the position which it occupies
while the generator A is charging the battery B. The current passes from the
generator through the line a, contacts g, f, line a², conductor H, battery B, line a³,
magnet C, and line a³ back to the generator. When the charging current stops, or
becomes greatly reduced, the magnet C being no longer able to support the lever E,
the latter drops, separating the contacts g, f, and making contact between e and h.
Thus, the end H of the battery B is disconnected from the charging-line a, and
the circuit of the generator is completed through another path, viz., through the
line a, contacts e, h, conductor F, line u³, magnet C, and line a³.
When the charging current is again started, the magnet C raises the lever E into
the position shown in the diagram, and the charging of the battery B is resumed.
The electro-receptive devices D, here shown as arranged in "multiple-arc," are
operated by the discharge of the battery B, when the charging current from the
generator is not acting.
If they are left in circuit while the charging current is acting, they may be
regarded as being operated wholly or in part, by the charging current direct. If.
they require less than the charging current, the excess of the latter will pass
through the battery B, augmenting its charge; if they require more than the
charging current, the latter will be supplemented by a discharge from the battery.
Fig. 10 shows a resistance, G, in place of the conductor F of Fig. 9. This
resistance may be made adjustable if desired.
Fig. 10 also shows various electro-receptive devices to be operated, such as arc.
"

page_text: and incandescent lamps, and electro-motors. It also shows these electro-receptive
devices arranged both in "multiple-arc" and in "series."
Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 show systems wherein generators A, circuits a a,
automatic current controlling devices K, secondary batteries B, and electro-
receptivo devices D, are variously associated and combined, as has been herein before
described.
I prefer to make the contact points e, f, g, h, Fig. 9, of carbon, such as is used in
electric-arc lighting, so that their surfaces may not become impaired by the sparks
which may occur between them. Obviously, an axial magnet with movable core,
may be employed instead of the form shown at C.
When the lever E, Fig. 9, rises, a spark or are must be formed between the
points e and h during the time the lever is moving and until contact is established
between fand g.
The ultimate distance apart of e and h is so adjusted that the resistance to the
passage of current offered by the spark or are between these points is considerable,
or even greater than that offered by the battery B; so that when fg make contact,
the passage of current between e and h ceases. When a resistance, G, Fig. 10, is
placed in the "short-circuit "F, of Fig. 9, the points eh may be worked at a less
separation, and the spark or are between them greatly reduced. This is because the
resistance, G, replaces more or less of that which was in the first instance necessarily
"Division H" of the invention also relates to secondary batteries; and it consists
in devices hereinafter described, or their equivalent, for automatically manipulating
the current employed in charging such batteries. The devices for this purpose are
such that (1st), when no current is acting in the charging circuit; the one or more
batteries in connection therewith will be open-circuited, so far as the charging
circuit is concerned, and the latter will be short-circuited around each battery;
also (2nd), when the charging current is fully established in the charging circuit
or line, the "short-circuit" around each battery will be opened, and the battery
thrown into circuit; also (3rd), when each battery becomes fully charged, it will,
independently of any other battery in the charging circuit, be thrown out of the
charging circuit, and the latter will be "short-circuited" around the battery as at
first. Again, when the charging current stops, or becomes greatly lessened, each
battery, whether fully charged or not, will be thrown out of circuit, and the line
"short-circuited" as before; also (4th), while the charging current is acting, each
battery, whether fully charged or not, may be automatically disconnected from its
individual working or discharging circuit.
These automatic operations prevent the inverse discharge of the batteries through
the charging line when the charging current is discontinued; prevent reversal of
polarity of the dynamo-machine when such is employed for charging; leave a closed
circuit for the charging current to re-establish itself in, when recharging or continued
charging of the battery is desired; and avoid waste of current energy by stopping
the current through a battery when the latter is fully charged.
Other important advantages attend the use of the automatic apparatus, as will
appear later in the specification of this division of the invention.
The automatic apparatus, although well adapted to control the charging of a
single secondary battery, is especially designed to regulate the charging, from a
single circuit-source, of many batteries.
Each battery may consist of any desired number of elements, or cells, irrespective
of the number of elements in any other battery. The several batteries may be
charged in "multiple-arc," or "series-multiple-arc," or in simple "series." The latter
is the preferable method, and is the one I shall more particularly describe. In order
to secure all of the advantages pertaining to this division of the invention, each
battery should, in either case, be provided with current controlling device.

page_text: I have specified that when a battery becomes fully charged, it will be thrown
out of circuit, and the latter closed through another channel This may, and
generally will occur while the charging current is in full force. In the per-
formance of this operation it certainly will not do to close the "short-circuit" around
the battery before disconnecting the latter from the line, because then the battery
would at once commence to discharge itself with very great energy through this
short circuit, and the subsequent disconnection of the battery from the line would
be attended by the destruction of the parts where the break occurred.
On the other hand, the battery could not be entirely disconnected from the
charging line before closing the "short-circuit," as this would entail the stoppage
of the current in the whole system of batteries. A partial break might be made
by establishing an arc at one end of the battery, long enough to prevent the
discharge of the latter across the interval when the "short-circuit" is established;
but this would be very objectionable, not only on account of the burning of the
points where the separation occurs, but because of the extra resistance (that of the
arc) suddenly introduced into the charging circuit. Obviously, similar difficulties
would occur in throwing a battery into the charging circuit.
I avoid these difficulties by using a resistance, and by making the operation of
throwing a battery out of, or into, the charging circuit consist of a series of steps as
follows In throwing a battery out of circuit, the first step consists in the intro-
duction of a resistance parallel with the battery, between which and the battery
the charging current may divide itself; but I make this resistance so small that
substantially the whole of the charging current passes through it, while at the same
time the resistance is great enough, being occupied by the charging current, to
prevent a discharge from the battery through it.
The next step disconnects the battery from the line, leaving in lieu thereof the
resistance.
The third step "short-circuits" the resistance, and completes the operation. Thus
a battery may be thrown out of the charging line without any disturbance of the
latter's current, and without any sparks whatever, if the resistance be carefully
adjusted. Even if the resistance is only approximately adjusted, the sparks will be
small, and entirely harmless. In throwing a battery into the charging circuit
these steps are reversed. First, the "short-circuit" is opened, throwing the current
into the resistance. This will, of course, be attended by a flash, which, however, is
comparatively small, and is harmless. This flash may be divided into a number
of much smaller ones by introducing successively increasing resistances, but this is
an entirely unnecessary refinement, and I will not again allude to it, aftor stating
bere that while I prefer to use a single resistance, I do not wish to be understood
as confining myself to it. The next step connects the battery, and the third and last
step opens the resistance, throwing all of the current through the battery. This
last step will, of course, be attended by another flash, which, however, is smaller
than the first, and quite unimportant.
When the charging current stops, or diminishes in the act of stopping or other-
wise, then any battery which has not already become fully charged and switched
itself out of the circuit will be thrown out by the same series of operations which
would have occurred had it been previously fully charged.
In designing and adjusting the automatic mechanism, I prefer to so arrange
matters that the function of throwing the batteries into the charging circuit, which
is exercised when the charging current is established, shall not be called into action
until the charging current has approximately reached its normal strength. By this
precaution I secure an advantage of much importance when a large number of .
batteries are to be charged.
I have neglected to mention that one of the objects of this division of the
invention is to provide for the unequal use of the several batteries of a system
between or during the times of charging; and here call attention to this point as an
aid to my present explanation. I will also add that I contemplate locating the
several batteries of the system, not necessarily in one place, but at many points,

page_text: '
which may be widely separated, to the end that the batteries may be independently
employed in different buildings or localities for lighting or other purposes, all the
batteries being connected by the charging line. Suppose now that we have a
hundred or more batteries all connected with one charging line, and that the
dynamo-machine used for charging is capable of simultaneously charging, say,
twenty batteries only. Suppose, also, that the hundred batteries have been unequally
exhausted since the last time of charging. Now, since it would be impossible to so
adjust the automatic devices pertaining to the several batteries, that the latter would
all be thrown into the circuit by the same strength of current, it follows that, as the
charging machine is set in motion and the charging current approaches normal
strength, first one battery (that whose current-regulating device responds to the
least current) will be thrown into circuit; then another, and so on until any further
increase of current will be prevented by the opposing electro-motive force of the
batteries already in circuit. We will now have, say, twenty batteries in circuit, and
these will continue to receive the charge until one or more of them (those of the
twenty which have been least exhausted since the previous time of charging) become
fully charged and are thrown out of circuit, and the line "short-circuited" around
them. This will slightly increase the charging current, owing to the decrease of
resistance in the line, and one or more new batteries will be thrown into the circuit,
until increase of current is checked as before. Thus the whole hundred batteries
will, in time become charged; an automatic current regulator at the dynamo-machine
preventing undue increase of current when the last twenty batteries are one after
another thrown out of circuit. When the last twenty batteries on the line begin to
cut out, which may be known by the action of the current regulator at the charging
inachine, another line of discharged or partially discharged batteries may be
switched into the circuit; and when it is deemed that the remaining batteries of the
first line have finished charging, this line may be switched out of circuit. Thus it
will be seen that one charging machine may be made to charge an indefinite
number of secondary batteries; the number depending only on the initial capacity,
of the machine, the length of time it is run, and the amount of charge used from
the batteries. It will also be seen that the various batteries of an extended system
may be used little or much, discharging a small or large current continuously, or at
irregular intervals, while the operation of recharging is under perfect and automatic
control, and no current energy is wasted in overcharging any battery.
In the drawings, Fig. 15 illustrates one convenient form of apparatus embodying
the invention. Fig. 16 shows a further development of Fig. 15, wherein both ends
of the battery are disconnected from the charging circuit when the battery becomes
charged or the charging current stops.
Fig. 17 shows an addition to the devices illustrated in Fig. 15, whereby a battery
is disconnected from its working or discharging circuit, while the charging current
is acting in the charging circuit.
Fig. 18 represents a system of secondary batteries, all charged from one line, each
battery being provided with a current manipulator.
Fig. 19 shows a combination or compound arrangement of the magnets O and R
of Fig. 15.
In Fig. 15 A represents a current generator, which may consist of a dynamo or
magneto-electric machine or other apparatus capable of furnishing a suitable
current. B is a secondary battery. C is an electro-magnet located in the circuit a, a³,
a³, a, a, connecting the generator and battery. D represents a number of electric
lamps, electric motors, or other electro-receptive devices. E is a lever pivatod at b.
This lever may be provided with an adjustable weight d, if desired. The free end
of the lever E carries a contact point e, which is connected by a flexible conductor,
or otherwise, with the charging line a. G is another lever pivoted at l, and
provided with an armature, c, facing the pole or poles of the magnet C. This lever
may be of iron, and the armature c dispensed with. The lever G may be provided
with an adjustable weight, m, if desired.
n is an adjustable stop limiting the downward motion of the lever G.

page_text: By means of an arm, o, attached to the lever, E, and which engages with the
lever G after the latter has commenced to rise in obedience to the attraction of the
magnet C, the lever E is also raised.
I is a lever pivoted at p and connected by. catches q (or an equivalent link) with
the lever E in such a manner that I is held up by E when the latter rises, while E
may fall independently of I.
The lever I carries contact points f i, which are insulated from each other. The
lever I also carries a counterweight, r, sufficient to raise the other end of the lever
carrying the contacts. The contact point f is flexibly connected with the line a¹:
and the double contact piece i is flexibly connected with one end of a resistance L,
the other end of which is connected with the line a³. This resistance may be made
adjustable if desired. g is a stationary contact piece connected with the line a³.
This contact piece forms a stop to the upward, motion of the lever I, and ultimately
to the levers E and G, through the intervention of the catches q and arm o. h is
another stationary contact piece directly connected with the line a³ by a con-
ductor, F. This contact piece forms a stop to the downward movement of the
lever I, and also to that of the lever E, through the intervention of the double
contact pieco i.
O is a small magnet located in the charging line a a¹. It is provided with an
armature attached to a lever, P, which is pivoted at 8. The whole lever may be of
iron, and the separate armature dispensed with. When P is drawn up by the
magnet O, it makes contact with a stop, t; and when P falls, it is arrested by a
stop, u.
R is a magnet of high resistance arranged as a shunt around the whole, or a part
of, the battery B by means of the conductor v, lever P, stop t, conductor v v', and
conductors a³ ³. The magnet R is provided with an armature lever S pivoted
When the lever S is raised by the magnet R, it makes contact with a stop
(which may be made adjustable), which stop is connected with the line at y is an
adjustable stop limiting the fall of the lever S.
at w.
The diagram just explained shows the various movable parts of the apparatus in
the positions which they occupy while the generator A is charging the battery B.
The current passes from the generator through the line a, magnet O, line a¹,
contacts fg, line a³, battery B, line a³, magnet C, line a, and through any
other apparatus there may be in the working circuit, back to the generator. The
magnets O and C being energized by the current, will retain their armatures in
the positions shown.
While the battery B is charging, the difference of potential between its ends, or
between any two points of the battery, remains nearly constant; but when the
battery becomes fully charged, free gases are evolved from its elements, and the
difference of electrical potential between any two parts of the battery at once
increases materially. The number of elements of the battery B, working the shunt
magnet R, and the distance of the armature S from the poles of the said magnet,
are so adjusted that while the battery B is being charged, the magnet R will not
be sufficiently energized to raise its armature S; while at the same time, the
adjustment is such that when the potential of the battery B rises at the completion
of the process of charging, the increased current thereby shunted through the
magnet R shall enable the latter to raise its armature.
This adjustment may also be effected through the agency of an adjustable
weight (not shown) attached to the armature, or armature lever S. When the
armature lever S rises and makes contact with the stop x, the magnet C will be
"short-circuited," because the current from the line a³ may now pass through the
lever S, and stop a to line at. Thus the magnet C is paralyzed sufficiently to
allow the lever G to drop. This in turn allows the lever E to fall, and the contact
point e to make contact with the conductor i i. Thus the whole or a part of the
current from the line a¹ is shunted from the battery B through the resistance L.
The continued fall of the lever E, carrying with it the lever I, next breaks
contact between the points ƒ and g, and thus disconnects the battery B from the
.

page_text: line a³, and leaves the whole current from the latter in the resistance L. Finally,
the contact piece ii makes contact with the piece h, thus "short-circuiting" the
resistance Ĺ through the conductor F. This completes the operation of dis-
connecting the battery from the charging line, and "short-circuiting" the latter
around the battery.
When a secondary battery discharges its current through a resistance sufficient.
to prevent a too-rapid discharge, the electro-motive force of the battery remains
nearly constant until its charge is nearly exhausted, after which the electro-motive
force falls rapidly. Hence by suitably adjusting the minimum distance of the
armature S from its magnet by means of the adjustable contact stop x, the 1
armature S will fall when the electro-motive force of the battery B is reduced
toward the close of the process of discharging. This will allow the magnet C to
be energized if current is acting in the line a a¹, etc., and the lever G will be
raised, and with it the levers Ĕ and I, thus throwing the battery B into the
charging circuit.
1
If current is not acting in the circuit a a¹, etc., then the magnet C will still be
left ready to act when the charging current again starts. But there are many
objections to letting the battery B become nearly or quite discharged before
recharging, one of which is, that should the battery become exhausted while the
line a a¹, etc., is not supplied with current, the battery will for the time being 2
become useless. To avoid these difficulties I use the magnet O, through the agency
of which, when energized by the charging current, the shunt circuit through the
magnet R is established and maintained. But when the charging current stops,
the armature lever P falls; the shunt circuit through R is opened, the armature
lever S falls, and the "short-circuit" around the magnet C is opened, leaving the 2
latter ready to act when the charging current again starts; and all of this
irrespective of any particular condition of the battery B. Again, the opening of
the shunt circuit while the charging circuit is not acting, prevents any unnecessary
waste of current through the shunt.
Let us now follow the operations which take place when the charging current 3
starts, and the levers G, E, and I are at their lowest points. Matters have been
so adjusted by means of the adjustable weight m, or the stop n, or both, that the
lever G will not respond to the attraction of the magnet C until the charging
current which excites the magnet has reached a certain strength, which is
approximately its normal strength. Before this point is reached however, the 3
current may have been for some time charging other batteries as herein before
explained. When the proper current strength is reached, the lever G rises, and
presently engages the arm o attached to the lever E. By this time the armature c
has approached nearer to its magnet, whose attraction has thus become sufficient
to carry upward not only the lever G, but also the lever E which is finally stopped
by the contacts f g coming together. It will be noticed that the weight of the
lever E is available to maintain a good contact between the points e i, i h, until
the instant of their positive separation. The reason for employing the independent
lever G is now apparent. If the magnet C were made to act directly on the
lever E, then the contacts e i, ih, might for long periods be almost entirely 4
relieved from the weight of the lever, whereby these contacts would be liable to
destruction by burning.
When the lever E begins to rise, the contact-end of the lever I follows, owing to
the counter-weight r as before specified. Thus the contact ei is preserved, while
the contacts h are opened, which operation throws the resistance L into the
charging circuit. Immediately thereafter, the contact points f g come together,
arresting further movement of the lever I, and throwing the battery B into the
charging circuit. The lever E continuing to move upward separates the contact
points e i, and opens the resistance L, thus throwing all of the charging current
into the battery B. Finally, upward movement of the lever E is arrested by the
catches q, and the strong attraction of the magnet C for its armature is then

page_text: .
exerted in maintaining a good contact between. the. points fand g, through which
all of the charging current now. passes.
In Fig. 16, the lever F, replacing the conductor F of Fig. 15, is pivoted at 1, and
at one end carries the contact point h, and 'at the other end the contact point 2,
which is flexibly connected with the line a. The lever F electrically connects h
and 2. 3 is another contact, which, in conjunction with the contact 2, connects the
battery B with the line a³. The lever F is weighted at 4 to insure contact
between 2 and 3 when contacts h and i are separated. By means of this mechanism,
boths ends of the battery are disconnected from the charging circuit when the
lever I falls, because the contacts 2 and 3, as well as fand g, are thereby separated.
In Fig. 17, the circuit from the battery B to the electro-receptive devices D, is
broken at two points by the separation of the pairs of contact pieces 5-6, 7-8.
The contacts 6 and 8 are attached to a block 9, and are insulated from each other,
but are flexibly connected with the ends of the battery as shown.
The contact pieces 5 and 7 are connected respectively with the two conductors
leading to the electro-receptive devices D. The block 9 is connected by a link 10
with the free end of the armature lever P. When current is active in the charging
line a a¹ a³, etc., the magnet O is excited, and the armature P is raised as explained
in connection with Fig. 15. This by means of the link 10, raises the block 9, and
separates the contacts 5-6, and 7-8, thus disconnecting the electro-receptive
devices D from the battery B, and from the charging circuit a³ a³. When the
charging current stops, the magnet O drops its armature, the contacts 5-6 and 7—8
come together, and the electro-receptive devices D are connected with the battery.
The object of the device shown in Fig. 17 is to insulate the electro-receptive
devices from the charging circuit when the working current is acting therein, and
need be used only when such insulation becomes desirable, as, for instance, when a
very large number of batteries are charged in one line by means of a current of
very high electro-motive force. In such a case, there might be danger of the
current "grounding" at two points in the circuit through defective insulation
between the electro-receptive devices, and the various earth connections which are
present in all buildings.
I prefer to make the contact points or pieces e, f, g, h, etc., of carbon, such as is
used in electric-arc lighting.
Fig. 18 of the drawings illustrates a system wherein a current generator A,
charging circuit or line a a, automatic current-controlling devices K, secondary
batteries B, and electro-receptive devices D, are associated. and combined as has
been herein before described.
Fig. 19 shows a combination or compound arrangement of the magnets O and R.
(Fig. 15), wherein the helix of the magnet O is combined with that of the magnet R,
the core of the latter being common to both helices. The electrical connections are
so made that the main or charging current, and the shunt current, circulate in the
same direction around the common core, and thereby act jointly in magnetizing the
latter and attracting the armature lever S. The main current remaining constant,
increase of current in the shunt circuit due to rise of potential in the battery at the
completion of its charge, will enable the magnet to raise its armature and produce
the results already described in connection with Fig. 15. When, however, the
charging current stops, the magnet R will be so weakened as to drop its armature
the same as when the shunt circuit was opened by the fall of the armature.P
in Fig. 15.

page_text: This division of the invention is especially applicable to a system including
several secondary batteries charged at intervals, wherein the several batteries are
liable to be utilized or discharged to different extents from time to time, or
continuously.
In carrying out this part of the invention, I provide each battery of a system
with an automatic mechanism for manipulating the charging current, such as
described in division H, so constructed, arranged, and electrically connected that
when a battery becomes fully charged, the charging current will be shunted away
from the battery into another channel or into another battery to be charged.
With this automatic current-manipulator I combine a time-measuring device in
such a manner that while the charging current is acting to charge the battery,
the length of time it so acts will be recorded; but when the battery becomes fully
charged, or the charging current stops, the time-recording mechanism stops
recording, or stops entirely. Now since the strength of the charging current may
readily be known, and may at all times be approximately constant, we have all
the data necessary to determine the amount of electrical energy spent in charging
each battery of a system of many batteries during any convenient length of time
between observations of the recording apparatus, say one month.
Again, the amount of energy required to charge a secondary battery is an
accurate measure of (although in excess of) the amount of energy drawn from the
battery since the previous time of charging.
This draught of energy from the battery between, or between and during, the
times of charging may obviously be little or much of the total capacity of the
battery, and may be made rapidly or slowly, continuously or intermittently,
according to the purposes for which the discharge is utilized.
As a unit of electrical energy used from a secondary battery (as indicated by the
energy spent in charging it) I propose a current of one ampere, of one volt electro-
motive force, acting for one hour. The electro-motive force of one cell of a
secondary battery of lead elements is rather more than two volts. The charging
current must be of higher electro-motive force than this, while the discharging
current is of somewhat less electro-motive force, and is, under ordinary conditions
of discharge, approximately two volts. Hence by multiplying together twice the
number of cells of a battery, the strength of the charging current in amperes, and
the number of hours it has acted, we arrive at the number of arbitrary units of
electrical energy used from the battery.
In constructing the apparatus, I may employ any known time-measuring device,
so arranged as to record time only when the charging current is acting in a battery.
To this end, the time-measuring device may stop when the charging current in the
battery stops, or it may continue to run while the recording mechanism, only, is
stopped. Again, the time-measuring mechanism (such for instance, as a common
clock movement) may be actuated by a spring or weight, and allowed to run only
while the charging current is acting in the battery; or it may be actuated by the
said charging current through the intervention of a magnet or other suitable
device, which will thus drive the clock only while the battery is being charged.
The clock in either case, is provided with a series of dials whereby its record of
hours may be carried to any suitable number.
Although I shall describe a simple marine clock-movement as the time-measuring
device, I do not in any manner limit myself to this, as any known sort of time-
measuring mechanism may be employed without in any manner departing from
the spirit of the invention.
In the drawings Fig. 20 illustrates an automatic current - manipulator for
secondary-battery charging, combined with a time-recording apparatus.
Fig. 21 shows the time-recording apparatus actuated by the charging current.
In Fig. 20 is shown an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery
charging, so constructed, arranged, and electrically connected, that while the secondary
battery B in connection therewith is receiving the charging current, the lever E
will be raised and retained by the magnet C in the position shown; but when the

page_text: battery B becomes fully charged, or when the charging current in the main or
charging circuit stops, the lever E will fall a certain distance. A is a marine clock-
movement provided with a series of dials registering the number of hours the
movement is allowed to run. The spring which actuates the clock-movement is
manually wound from time to time as may be necessary. D is the balance of the
movement A. F is a wire or other flexible arın attached to the lever E, and is so
adjusted that when the lever is held in the raised position shown, that is, while the
battery B is charging, the wire F will be free from the balance-wheel D, and the
latter will vibrate in obedience to the impulse given by the spring of the clock-
movement. This adjustment is also such that when the lever E falls, which will
happen when the battery B becomes fully charged, or when the charging current
stops, the wire F will engage the balance D, and stop its movement, and thereby
arrest the registration of time.
When the lever E again rises, the wire F will not only free itself from the balance D,
but will give the latter an impulse sufficient to insure its starting.
In Fig. 21, H is a ratchet-wheel at the beginning of a clock-train (not shown).
similar to that shown at A in Fig. 20. The revolution of this ratchet-wheel
actuates the train, which is not provided with other actuating mechanism.
I is a pawl acting to rotate the wheel H, and attached to the free end of a stiff
spring K carried by the lever E.
When the lever E falls, the pawl assumes the position shown; and when the lever
rises, the spring K is flexed as shown, and gives impulse to the ratchet H, whereby
the clock-train thereto attached is actuated, and time recorded. The spring K
continues to drive the clock until it has, owing to the partial revolution of the
ratchet H, assumed the position shown by the dotted lines. But before this point
is reached, the battery B will have become charged, the lever E will have fallen
and the registration of time will be stopped.
What I claim is :—
1st. The process or method of "forming" a plate or element of a secondary
battery or current-storing apparatus, consisting in primarily storing or producing
upon said plate or element a large amount of peroxide of lead by electrical action,
substantially as set forth in "Division A."
2nd. The process or method of "forming" the hydrogen plate or element of a
secondary battery or current-storing apparatus, consisting in primarily storing or
producing upon said plate or element a large amount of peroxide of lead by electrical
action, and then reducing the oxide of lead to the metallic state by the reverse action
of the charging current, substantially as set forth in "Division A."
3rd. In a process of "forming" plates or elements of secondary batteries or
current-storing apparatus, electrically charging, simultaneously, two or more elements
with peroxide of lead, substantially as set forth in "Division A."
4th. In a secondary battery or current-storing apparatus, one or more plates.
coated or combined with electrically-deposited coherent lead, substantially as set
forth in "Division B."
5th. In a secondary battery or current-storing apparatus, one or more corrugated
plates coated or combined with electrically-deposited coherent lead, substantially a
set forth in "Division B."
6th. In a secondary battery or current-storing apparatus, one or more ribbed,'
cellular, or perforated plates coated or combined with electrically-deposited coherent
lead, substantially as set forth in "Division B.”
7th. In a secondary battery or current-storing apparatus, elements coated or
combined with electrically-deposited coherent lead, and "formed" as specified in
"Division A," substantially as set forth in "Division B."
8th. In secondary batteries or current-storing apparatus, ribbed, cellular,'
perforated, or equivalent elements, coated or combined with electrically-deposited
coherent lead, and "formed" according to the process described in "Division A,"
substantially as set forth in "Division B."

page_text: 9th. The process described in "Division B," of depositing coherent metal within
the cells, grooves of corrugations of a secondary battery plate or element.
10th. As a new article of manufacture, a substance formed of small pieces of lead
having oxidized surfaces, that have been united by pressure into a coherent mass,
substantially as set forth in "Division D."
11th. As a new article of manufacture, a mass consisting of a mechanical
mixture or association of metallic lead and oxide of lead, united by pressure into a
coherent and firm body, substantially as set forth in "Division D."
- 12th. A process for manufacturing a material from which the elements of a
secondary or electric-storage battery can be constructed; said process consisting
in uniting into a compact and firmly coherent body or mass, small particles of lead
having oxidized surfaces, substantially as set forth in "Division D."
13th. A process for manufacturing a material from which the elements of a
secondary or electrical-storage battery can be constructed; said process consisting
in taking finely divided, granulated, or pulverized lead, the particles of which have
oxidized surfaces, and subjecting said oxidized particles to pressure sufficient to
unite them into a compact and firmly coherent body or mass, substantially as set
forth in "Division D."
14th. For use in an element of a secondary battery, a metallic' core, or body, to
one or more sides of which is attached a mass or substance primarily consisting of
metallic lead and oxide of lead united by pressure, so as to be strong and firmly
coherent, substantially as set forth in "Division D."
15th. A secondary battery element. consisting of a metallic core or body having
attached to it a coating primarily consisting of mixed lead and oxide of lead
firmly united by pressure into a strong and firmly coherent mass, substantially as
set forth in "Division D."
16th. A secondary battery element consisting of the combination with a metallic
supporting core or body, of a coating attached or united to said core; said coating
primarily consisting of metallic lead and lead-oxide in an intimately commingled
state united by pressure into a strong and firmly coherent mass, substantially as
set forth in "Division D."
17th. A process for making secondary battery elements (or material from which
said elements can be constructed); said process consisting in covering one, or more,
or all of the surfaces of a suitable metallic and electro-conducting core or body
either with superficially oxidized particles of lead, or with a mixture of particles of
pure lead and lead-oxide, and, afterwards, applying pressure sufficient both to
unite said particles or mixture. into a compact and firmly coherent mass, and to
unite the mass to the core or body, as set forth in "Division D."
18th. An alloy of lead and a non-oxidizable substance as a material entering
into the primary construction of a secondary battery element, substantially as set
forth in "Division E."
19th. In a secondary battery element the combination (in the form of an alloy)
of lead and a non-oxidizable substance, substantially as set forth in "Division E."
20th. A secondary battery element, having. its active or absorbing coating,
substance, or surface, applied to and connected with a core or body consisting of
an alloy of lead and a non-oxidizable substance, substantially as set forth in
"Division E."
21st. An element for a secondary battery consisting of the strips, bars, or
plates a, end connections b, and stays or supports c, substantially as set forth in
"Division F."
"
22nd. An element for a secondary battery consisting of a series of narrow sheets
or plates, associated together substantially as indicated, and all connected by a
common bar or support b, substantially as set forth in "Division F."
23rd. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, so
arranged, constructed, and electrically connected, that when the charging current
stops or becomes reduced, the battery will be thrown out of the charging circuit,

page_text: and will again be brought into the said circuit when the current in the latter is
re-established, substantially as set forth in "Divisions G and H."
24th. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, so
constructed, arranged, and electrically connected, that when the charging current
stops or becomes reduced, the battery will be thrown out of the charging circuit,
and the latter will be closed around the said battery, substantially as set forth in
Divisions G and H."
"
25th. In an automatic apparatus for charging a secondary battery, the combination.
with the current-generator, of a main line or charging circuit, a magnet located in
the main line, and an armature or lever actuated by the said magnet and operating
to throw the said battery into the said charging circuit, substantially as set forth
in "Divisions G and H."
26th. In an automatic apparatus for charging a secondary battery, the combination
with a current-generator, of a main line or charging circuit, a magnet located in
the main line, and mechanism actuated by the said magnet and operating to throw
the said battery into the said charging circuit, substantially as set forth in
"Divisions G and H."
27th. In an automatic apparatus for charging a secondary battery, the combination
with a current-generator, of a main line or charging circuit, and a magnet located
in the main line and energized by the current therein, and adapted, by releasing
its armature or core when the current in the charging circuit stops or becomes
sufficiently reduced, to throw the said battery out of the said charging circuit,
and to close the latter around the battery, substantially as set forth in "Divisions G
and H."
28th. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, a
resistance G, substantially as set forth in "Division G."
29th. A system consisting of a suitable current-generating apparatus;`a main
line or charging circuit energized by said current-generating apparatus; two or
more secondary batteries included within said charging circuit, and automatic
apparatus associated with said secondary batteries, and constructed to be actuated
by the current in the charging circuit; said apparatus operating to automatically
throw said batteries out of the charging circuit, and to close said charging circuit
around said batteries, whenever the charging current ceases or becoines sufficiently
weakened, substantially as set forth in "Divisions G and H.”
30th. A system consisting of a suitable current-generating apparatus; a main
line or charging circuit energized by said current generator; two or more
secondary batteries included within said charging circuit, and automatic apparatus
associated with said secondary batteries, and constructed to be actuated by the
current in the charging circuit; said apparatus operating to automatically throw
said batteries out of the charging circuit when the charging current ceases, or
becomes sufficiently weakened, and to reinstate them in the charging circuit when
the charging current is re-established, substantially as set forth in "Divisions G
and H."
31st. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, so
constructed, arranged, and adjusted, that when the charging current has
approximately reached its normal strength (and not until then), the secondary
battery in connection therewith will be thrown into the charging circuit, substan-
tially as set forth in "Division H."
32nd. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, an
intermediate lever G, or its mechanical equivalent, substantially as set forth in
"Division H."
33rd. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging,
intermediate mechanism, operating between a working magnet C and the current-
switching mechanism, whereby the latter is not affected by the magnet C until
said magnet has become sufficiently energized to properly operate the said current-
switching mechanism, substantially as set forth in "Division H."

page_text: 34th. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, a
resistance L, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
35th. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, so
constructed, arranged, and adjusted as to operate to switch the said battery out of
the charging circuit when the electrical potential of said battery shall have reached
a predetermined maximum, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
36th. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, wherein
the rise of electrical potential of the battery attending the completion of its
charge, is the initial agency employed to actuate mechanism for switching said
battery out of the charging circuit, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
37th. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, a
shunt circuit v v¹ v³ substantially as set forth in "Division H."
38th. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, a
shunt circuit, and a magnet included therein, and energized by the current of said
shunt circuit, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
39th. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, a
shunt circuit; a magnet included therein and energized by the current of said
shunt circuit; and mechanism associated with, and controlled by, said magnet, for
performing the switching functions of said manipulator, substantially as set forth
in "Division H."
40th. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, wherein
the fall of electrical potential of the battery attending the near exhaustion of its
charge, is the initial agency employed to actuate mechanism for switching said
battery into the charging circuit, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
41st. The shunt circuit v v¹ vs in combination with mechanism for breaking or
open-circuiting the said shunt, when the charging current stops, substantially as set
forth in "Division H."
42nd. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, a
main or working magnet located in the main or charging circuit, and provided
with suitable mechanism for short-circuiting, or shunting the charging current
away from said magnet when the charging of the battery or batteries with
which it is associated is sufficiently advanced, substantially as set forth in
"Division H."
43rd. The combination with an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-
battery charging, and with the discharging circuit of the secondary battery
associated there with, of a device constructed and arranged to disconnect or separate
said discharging circuit from the said battery while the charging current is acting
in the charging circuit, substantially as set forth in "Division H.”
44th. The combination with an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-
battery charging, and with the discharging circuit of the secondary battery
associated therewith, of a magnet located in the charging circuit, and energized by
the current therein, and adapted, when thus energized, to disconnect and separate
the said discharging circuit from the said secondary battery, substantially as set
forth in "Division H."
45th. A system including a current-generating apparatus; a main or charging
circuit connected therewith; two or more secondary batteries located upon said
charging circuit, and an automatic current-manipulating apparatus constructed,
- arranged, and adjusted to automatically switch a battery out of the charging circuit
when it is sufficiently charged, through the initial agency of the rise of potential of
Baid battery which attends the completion of its charge, substantially as set forth
in "Division H."
46th. A system.including a current-generator; a main line or charging circuit
connected therewith; two or more secondary batteries located upon said charging
circuit, and an automatic current-manipulator associated with each of said
batteries; said current-manipulating apparatus constructed, arranged, and adjusted
to automatically switch a battery into the charging circuit when sufficiently

page_text: discharged, through the initial agency of the fall of potential of said battery
which attends the near exhaustion of its charge, substantially as set forth in
15 Division H."
47th. A system including a current-generating apparatus; a main line or charging
circuit connected therewith; two or more secondary batteries located upon said
charging circuit, and an automatic current-manipulator associated with each of said
batteries; said current-manipulating apparatus constructed, arranged, and adjusted
to automatically switch a battery out of the charging circuit whenever its electrical
potential shall have reached a predetermined maximum.
48th. A system including a current-generating apparatus a; main line or charging
circuit connected therewith; two or more secondary batteries located upon said
charging circuit, and an automatic current-manipulator associated with each of
said batteries; said current manipulator so connected, arranged, and adjusted that
when the charging current has approximately reached its normal strength (and not
before), the battery with which said current manipulator is associated will be thrown
into the charging circuit, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
49th. A system including a current-generating apparatus; a main line or charging
circuit connected therewith; two or more secondary batteries located upon said
charging circuit, each battery provided with an automatic current-manipulator and
a discharging circuit; and mechanism for disconnecting and separating each dis-
charging circuit from its battery; all so constructed, combined, arranged, and
electrically connected, that when the charging current is acting in the charging
circuit, the discharging circuit of each battery will be disconnected and separated
therefrom, substantially as set forth in " Division E."
50th. A method of measuring and indicating the amount of current-enorgy
stored by a secondary battery; said method consisting in automatically recording
the length of time during which a current of known strength is acting in said
battery, substantially as set forth in "Division I."
51st. A method of indirectly metering the discharge from a secondary battery;
said method consisting in automatically registering the amount of energy expended
in charging the battery from time to time, substantially as Bet forth in
" Division I."
52nd. A method of measuring or indicating the amount of current-energy
received by a secondary battery; said method consisting in automatically operating
a time-recording mechanisin only during the time that a current of known strength
is acting in said battery, substantially as set forth in "Division I."
53rd. The combination of a secondary battery in the charging circuit of an
electric-current-generating apparatus, a time-recording device, and mechanisin
whereby the time-recording device operates only when the charging current is
acting in said secondary battery, substantially as set forth in "Division I."
54th. The combination with a secondary battery and the apparatus for charging
said battery, of a time-recording mechanism, and a device for giving a starting
impulse to said time-recording mechanism, so as to insure its starting at the time
when the charging current begins to act in said secondary battery, substantially as
set forth in "Division I."
55th. The combination with a secondary battery and its current-charging
apparatus, of a time-recording mechanism, and a device for preventing or stopping
said time-recording mechanisin from performing its recording function while the
charging current is not acting in the secondary batteries, substantially as set forth
in "Division I."
56th. A system including an electric-current-generating apparatus, a main line
or charging circuit connected therewith, two or more secondary batteries within
said charging circuit, and an automatic contrivance associated with each secondary
battery for recording the length of time that the charging current is acting in said
battery, substantially as set forth in "Division I."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th December 1882.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex
SECONDARY BATTERIES OR MAGAZINES OF ELECTRICITY AND IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," A communication to me from abroad by Charles Francis
Brush of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, Electrical Engineer
.
The invention relates to secondary batteries, or apparatus for the absorption of
electric energy and subsequent exhibition of the same, and also to apparatus for
use in connection with secondary batteries, whereby a number of said batteries can
be grouped under and operated as an automatic system.
For the sake of convenience in describing and referring to the various embodi-
ments of the invention that I shall herein. set forth, I shall specify them separately
and successively, and distinguish each alphabetically.
:
"Division A" of the invention refers to a method or process of "forming" the
plates or elements of a secondary battery, that is, of causing them to assume the
best condition for the purpose to which they are applied.
The most common form of secondary battery consists of two sheets or plates of
lead, placed near each other, but not in contact, and immersed in dilute sulphuric
acid.
: These sheets are often of large surface, in which case they are frequently rolled
into a cylindrical spiral, care being taken that they do not touch each other,
so as to effect economy of space, and to expose both sides of each sheet to its
neighbour.
When an electric current is passed through such an apparatus, water is decom-
posed; hydrogen is occluded by, or combines with, one of the lead plates, while oxygen
combines with the other plate, and forms a coating thereon of peroxide of lead. This
oxide of lead, not being capable of combining with any acid, is not affected by the
presence of the sulphuric acid employed.
Now, if the exciting current be removed, it will be found that the apparatus has
become a powerful battery, giving a current in a direction opposite to that of the
exciting one. But this current is of short duration, and will not long remain stored.
Repeated or long continued charging of the apparatus increases its capacity, but
the latter will always remain small. It has been found, however, that the capacity
of the apparatus may be greatly increased by reversing the charge from time to
time, frequently during the first few days and more rarely afterwards.
This process may continue for several months, the apparatus continually improving
rapidly at first, more slowly later. This series of reversals of charge constitutes the
customary method of "forming" the plates of a secondary battery.
I have carefully investigated the chemical and mechanical action involved in the
above-indicated process, and have arrived at a satisfactory explanation of the
results produced.
The formation of peroxide of lead on one of the plates continues indefinitely as
long as the exciting current is maintained, becoming constantly slower as the
metallic surface acquires an increasing protection against further action by the
constantly increasing thickness of the coating of peroxide of lead thereon.
Peroxide of lead being a good conductor of electricity, the coating thereof above
described becomes a part of the conducting plate or element of the battery, and
free oxygen is evolved at the surface of the coating.

page_text: Now, if the exciting current be stopped, "local action," somewhat similar to that
in galvanic batteries, and electrical in its nature, commences between the peroxide of
lead and the backing or support of metallic lead with which it is in contact. By this
"local action," the peroxide of lead is gradually reduced to a lower state of oxidation,
while more of the metallic lead of the plate is oxidized by the oxygen thus made
available.
The fresh lead thus oxidized doubtless acquires the same condition of oxidation
that the original peroxide finally assumes. But the peroxide is never by this
action reduced to the state of protoxide, as is proven by the colour of the coating,
and the non-action on it of the ever present sulphuric acid.
When peroxide of lead is thus reduced to a state of lower oxidation, it becomes
useless for the development of a secondary current until freshly charged or re-
oxidized. Thus is explained, so far as the oxygen plate is concerned, the cause of
the gradual loss of charge observed in lead secondary batteries.
Further, since the conducting power of peroxide of lead rapidly decreases as its
oxygen is removed, the reason of the bigh electrical resistance of the oxidized plates
after long standing uncharged is also explained. When such a plate as I have
described, that is, one having gradually lost its original charge by local action, is
re-charged by an electric current as at first, it will hold a larger charge than before;
because all of the lower oxide of lead is now raised to the condition of peroxide, and
thus more of the latter is present than at the previous time of charging. This
explains. why the oxygen plate of secondary batteries constantly increases in
capacity, even though the exciting current be applied at long intervals.
Let us now consider what takes place at the opposite side of the secondary
battery, that is the action on the lead plate where the hydrogen appears. Here the
hydrogen is absorbed at the surface of the plate, being simply occluded, or more
probably forming a definite but feeble chemical combination with the lead. If
such a combination exists, it is a nearly or quite stable one, so far as "local action"
is concerned, for experience shows that the capacity of the plate for the reception
of hydrogen increases very slowly, if at all, when the plate is left charged a long
time, but without the action of the exciting current; even the continued action of
the exciting current increases the capacity of the hydrogen plate very slowly
indeed, as compared with the improvement of the oxygen plate during the
`ame time.
The capacity of the hydrogen plate never becomes at all considerable when it is
subjected to the above action alone. Hence, in practice, the oxygen plate soon
acquires much greater capacity than the hydrogen plate; but this is of no
advantage, since its usefulness is limited by that of the hydrogen plate. But if
now the charge of the two plates be reversed, by changing the direction of the
exciting current, the former bydrogen plate will absorb oxygen freely as did the
other plate at first, while the former oxygen plate will have its coating of oxide of
lead reduced to the metallic state by the nascent hydrogen evolved upon it, and
will thus be left with a corresponding coating of porous lead. This porous metal
is now in a condition to absorb and retain an amount of available bydrogen about
5 equivalent to the available oxygen which it before held.
Thus it will be seen that the simple act of reversing the charge of the two plates
increases the capacity of the apparatus up to a point attained only by the oxygen
plate before the reversal. Again, what is now the oxygen plate continues to
improve, as in the first instance, while the hydrogen plate remains nearly or quite
stationary in this respect.
Hence, after a time, a further increase of capacity in the apparatus may be effected
by another reversal. Thus is explained the reason for the many reversals of charge
customary in " forming" the plates.
When a previously-excited secondary battery is discharged, the peroxide of
5 lead is thereby reduced to a state of lower oxidation, as already explained in
connection with the spontaneous loss of charge. Thus, what was at first a good
conducting coat or envelope on the metal plate, is now reduced to a poor conductor,

page_text: as previously explained, while at the same time pure water is formed within the
mass of lead-oxide by the combination of hydrogen with a portion of the oxygen
of the peroxide of lead; and, since pure water is a very poor conductor of electricity,
a further barrier to the passage of current between the sulphuric acid solution and
the metallic plate within the envelope of lead-oxide is raised.
These two causes (lower oxidation and presence of pure water) account, so far
as the oxygen plate is concerned, for the increase of resistance in secondary batteries
during their discharge, and especially toward the end of the process.
In the case of the hydrogen plate, pure water is also formed by the union of
oxygen with its hydrogen, whereby the necessary liquid conductor within the
porous metal has its resistance largely increased.
The cause of the gradual spontaneous loss of charge, in case of the hydrogen plate
of secondary batteries, is not the same as that already described in connection with
the oxygen plate. The hydrogen in this case seems to be gradually dissolved and
carried away from its plate by the dilute sulphuric acid, which then discharges it
gradually into the atmosphere.
If, in charging a hydrogen plate, a chemical component of lead and hydrogen is
formed, as I have before suggested, this compound would appear to be gradually
decomposed in the presence of the acid water, giving up its gas to the latter.
There are certain evils incident to the above-described process of "forming" the
lead plates of secondary batteries, which attendant evils prevent the attainment of
the best results and limit the ultimate capacity of the apparatus to a comparatively
small field of usefulness.
The coating of peroxide of lead which is formed on one of the plates, necessarily
occupies more space than did the metallic lead which it contains. The shell of
oxide must then expand in forming. To accommodate this expansion, which evidently
occurs in all directions, the structure of the deposit must be more or less broken up
at numerous points, or else the lead plate itself must expand.
9
The occurrence of the latter action may readily be observed when the lead sheet
is thin.
When, now, the direction of charge is reversed, by which operation the oxide of
lead is reduced to the metallic state, the previously-expanded mass shrinks.
Both the expansion and subsequent shrinkage may be illustrated by treating one
side only of a sheet of lead, the other side being protected from action by varnish,
or otherwise. When such a plate is oxidized, the exposed side becomes convex;
when the oxide is subsequently reduced, this side becomes concave.
During the process of reduction the shrinkage does not occur in all parts of the
mass at once, as the reduction is not simultaneous in all parts at once, but is
progressive. The converse of this is true when the reduced lead is again oxidized.
Hence there is a disintegrating action in the changing mass itself, as well as between
it and the solid plate behind it. This alternate expansion and contraction of the
action and valuable portion of the lead plate does not lead to serious disturbance
when it is allowed to occur only once, or a very small number of times. But if these
changes are many times repeated, the coating peels off from the lead plates to a
considerable extent, and thus becomes useless. This evil is especially noticeable in
the case of thick deposits.
Again, every time the deposit of oxide of lead is reduced, a notable quantity of
sulphate of lead is formed within the mass.
This inert and useless substance, when allowed thus to form, soon exercises a
very deleterious influence, wasting in its formation the otherwise available oxide of
lead, stopping the pores of the essentially porous mass, and tending to disintegrate
the latter by occupying a much larger space than the oxide of lead from which it
is formed.
The reduction of the oxide of lead is also attended with danger of separating
the mass from its supporting lead plate, by the liberation of gas between the two,
especially when the reducing current is of sufficient strength to effect the change at
all ranidl

page_text: The frequent reversal of charge is also expensive, in that much energy of
charging current is wasted at each operation.
Further, it will be seen that the oxygen, which is the active though slow agent
in improving the plates, acts not on both plates simultaneously, but on only one at
a time.
The method or process of "forming" the plates or elements of secondary batteries,
which constitutes the special subject of "division A" of the invention, avoids or
eliminates the above enumerated evils almost entirely; whereby, with plates
of any given size or form of construction, I produce ultimately, or within a
given time, an apparatus of much greater capacity than was heretofore found
possible.
The process consists in charging the plates which are ultimately to constitute the
battery in such a manner that a coating of peroxide of lead of sufficient thickness
is formed on both of them; these plates are then associated together in the usual
manner, and an electric current passed through the apparatus in the manner
customary in charging; whereby one (of the plates remains unchanged, and con-
stitutes the oxygen element of the battery, while the other has its charge reversed,
and now constitutes the hydrogen element of the battery.
In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, are diagrams illustrating the method of
" forming" the elements of secondary batteries.
In Fig. 1, a, b, are the lead plates, which are ultimately to form the secondary
battery. They are both connected, as shown, to the oxygen-producing pole of a
current generator H.
c is a third plate, similar, or not, to the others, and connected to the hydrogen-
producing pole of the generator H. All the plates are immersed in dilute sulphuric
acid contained in the vessel I.
Fig. 2 shows the plates a, b, arranged for the reversal of the charge in b, the
latter being now connected with the bydrogen-producing pole of the generator H.
This is also the arrangement for charging the battery for use after its plates are
duly "formed."
Obviously, the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be modified almost
indefinitely, while producing the same result. Many plates a, b, may be charged at
once, using only one plate c.
The vessel, I, may be of lead or copper, and constitute the plate, c. The plate, c,
may consist of one or more previously-charged plates, a or b, which thus become
reversed, and are then ready, without further treatment, to be paired with other
charged plates, a or b, in the construction of secondary cells ready for use.
The plates, a, b, while acquiring their coating of lead peroxide, may, for this purpose,
be charged continuously; or (and this is equally effective and more convenient)
they may be charged at intervals only-short at first, which may be increased in
length as the process progresses, thus allowing the "local action" between the
peroxide of lead already formed and the metallic lead to continue the oxidizing
process during the time the charging current is not acting.
Several months of continuous or intermittent charging is required when ordinary
sheet lead alone is employed for the plates, a, b, in order to produce a satisfactory
coating of peroxide of lead.
"
The process of reversing the charge of one of the plates, a, b, need not occupy
more than a few hours. It will be apparent that this process of "forming"
possesses, among its many advantages, that of producing a given capacity (supposing
such to be attainable by the old method) in the apparatus under treatment, in a
very much less time than would be required by the "forming" process commonly
employed; in that, both plates simultaneously, instead of one at a time, are acted
upon by the oxygen, which is the active agent in improving or developing the
plates.
་
Uncharged plates, a, b, may be arranged at once as in Fig. 2, and charged until
plate a has become sufficiently coated; after which the direction of the charging
current may be reversed, thus making a hydrogen plate of a.

page_text: If now the reversed charging action is continued until plate 6 has acquired a
sufficient coating, we will reach the same result as when both plates are simul-
taneously charged with oxygen and one afterward reversed; but the process will
have occupied twice the time.
This process of "forming" the plates of secondary batteries, is applicable not
only to the flat or plain plates ordinarily used, but equally so to corrugated and to
ribbed, honey-combed, perforated, slotted, or otherwise-fashioned plates, such as
will be hereafter described under other divisions of this specification; also especially
to plain corrugated or otherwise-fashioned plates coated or filled with spongy or
porous or reduced lead, as will also be specially described hereafter in this
specification.
DIVISION D.
"Division B" of this invention consists in providing the plates, or elements of
secondary batteries, with a suitably thick coating of electrically-deposited coherent
metal previous to the process of "forming" the said plates or elements.
In preparing or coating plates or elements according to the present division of
the invention, the coherent porous lead is deposited thereon by electrical action,
in the manner customary in any ordinary process of electro-plating; the plates
to be coated, first being made chemically clean, and the plating solution consisting
of oxide of lead dissolved in a solution of a caustic alkali, or of an equivalent
solution of lead. Any solution of lead may be used, provided it is such as to
produce a coherent deposit of metal, and not a spongy or non-coherent deposit.
The latter kind of deposit is always produced when the sulphate, chloride, acetate,
nitrate, and some other salts of lead are reduced electrically, and possesses properties
different from those of the coherent form of metal; being vastly inferior to the
latter in efficiency as a material for secondary batteries.
The coherent metal may be deposited with greater or less rapidity as may be
found most expedient or desirable in practice, the character of the deposit varying
to some extent according to the rate and other circumstances of its formation.
Corrugated, ribbed, or cellular slotted or otherwise perforated plates are well
adapted to receive and retain the coherent coating, and the corrugations or other
spaces or cavities in the plates may be entirely filled with the deposit if desirable.
When such plates are treated to a deposit of coherent lead in the manner customary
in electro-plating, the interior of the cells or cavities or corrugations will receive
a less heavy deposit than the more exposed portions. I avoid this difficulty by
adopting the following method of working.
The drawing Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a simple method of lining or filling
the grooves in ribbed or similar plates with the deposited metal. The plate, a,
being' first thoroughly cleaned, has the grooves or cavities on one of its sides filled
with protoxide or other suitable compound of lead, either dry or made into a pasto
with water or saline solution.
The plate is then placed horizontally, prepared side up, in a suitable vessel, I,
containing a solution of caustic soda or potassa, or other alkali, when protoxide of
lead is used in the grooves.
Any liquid may be used, provided it is capable of dissolving the lead compound,
whatever it may be, in the grooves or corrugations of the plate a, and of depositing
the metal, when electrolised, in a coherent state. In the same solution, but not
touching the plate, a is suspended or placed a lead or equivalent plate, k. Current
from a suitable source, H, is then passed through the apparatus in the proper
direction until the lead oxide in the grooves or corrugations is exhausted, and its
metal deposited on the sides and bottom of the grooves. More lead oxide may be
added if it is desired to increase the deposits. The solution may be heated, to
hasten or facilitate the process, if found expedient. When one side of the plate is
prepared, the other side may be treated in the same manner.
By this method a strong solution of lead is maintained within the grooves or

page_text: corrugations, while other portions of the solution remain poor in metal, whereby
a heavy deposit of metal is secured on the sides and bottom of the grooves.
If a grooved plate is simply suspended in a solution of lead oxide, and thus
treated, the principal deposit of metal will occur on the exposed edge of the ribs,
and comparatively little metal will be deposited within the grooves.
Plates of other metals than lead may be employed to receive and support the
deposited lead; thus, gold or platinum may be used, and in this case the oxygen
element of the battery, if fully peroxidized, cannot lose its charge by the spontaneous
"local action" described in Division A.
Carbon, or even copper, may be used in the case of the hydrogen plate or element
of the battery for receiving the deposited metal.
When lead or other plates coated or filled with deposited coherent lead are
associated together in a secondary battery and charged, the reduced metal of one
of the plates is peroxidized much faster than ordinary cast or rolled lead, but not
nearly so fast as spongy or non-coherent lead; while the coherent lead of the other
plate absorbs hydrogen more freely than cast or rolled lead, but not nearly so fast
as the other plate of the battery absorbs available oxygen.
"
It becomes advisable, then, to resort to a forming process as described in
Division A, and the improved process, as therein set forth, is preferable to any
other.
DIVISION C.
"Division C" of this invention relates to providing the plates or elements of
secondary batteries with a suitably thick coating of porous metal, reduced from the
oxide or any suitable compound thereof, through the agency of any suitable
reducing gas or gases, and at a temperature insufficient to cause the reduced metal
to assume a compact or fluid condition through fusion.
This feature of the invention may be applied not only to plain plates, but also
to corrugated, ribbed, cellular, perforated or slotted, or otherwise-fashioned plates
or elements.
In preparing or coating plates according to "Division C" of the invention, the
porous lead may be reduced thereon from the oxide of the metal by means of an
atmosphere or current of carbonic oxide or hydrogen, at a temperature insufficient
to fuse the reduced metal.
Either of the gasses mentioned will do this readily, and they may be used pure .
or mixed together, or with any neutral gas, such as nitrogen. The plates having
been made chemically clean, are placed in a horizontal position and covered to a
sufficient depth with lead oxide. This may be applied dry, or preferably in the
form of a paste, with water or with some liquid such as nitric acid, which partially
dissolves the oxide and when evaporated leaves the latter in a coherent compact
condition. Solution of nitrate of lead may be employed directly to form the paste.
The oxide of lead may be fused before use, if found desirable, and applied either as
a coarse or fine powder, or mixture of both. A lead plate having been thickly.
sprinkled with coarsely pulverized lead oxide may have the latter securely
imbedded in its surface by means of a parallel flat plate of iron applied with
bydraulic pressure, or other means.. When corrugated or ribbed plates are used,
the corrugations or spaces between the ribs may be filled with the lead oxide if
found desirable. The lead oxide may be fused, and poured in a thin layer over the
plates, chilling thereon before fusion of the plates takes place, or the corrugations
When plates other
or grooves of the plates may be filled with the fused oxido.
than lead are employed, such, for instance, as gold or platinum, they may be dipped
into the fused oxide, and when withdrawn will retain a coating thereof.
Previous to the application of a coating of lead-oxide, the plates may receive &
preliminary coating of oxide by treatment with a current of electricity in a charging
battery. This preliminary coating will assist in attaching the principal coating,
and the subsequently reduced metal, firmly to the plate.
After the plates are coated with oxide, they are packed, sufficiently separated

page_text: from each other, in a suitable vessel or chamber, where they may be raised to a
sufficiently high temperature and exposed for a sufficient length of time to the
action of a reducing gas.
In the drawings, Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a convenient method of treating
the plates to a stream of carbonic oxide mixed with nitrogen, and hydrogen if
desired. Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of the apparatus in Fig. 4 through the
line x-y.
In Fig. 4, L is a chamber of sheet iron, having a cross-section slightly wider than
a plate to be treated and considerably longer, as shown in Fig. 5. The chamber
is provided at the top with a chimney, and at the bottom with a grate supporting
a thick layer of ignited charcoal or coke, all as shown.
a, a, a, are plates to be treated, coated on the upper side with oxide of lead and
supported at a sufficient distance from cach other by ribs (not shown) attached to
the sides of the chamber.
.
The plates are arranged so as to leave openings at alternate sides of the chamber
as shown, in order to direct the current of gases from the fire across the faces of the
plates. m is a plate of metal or slate to properly direct the gases from the fire, and
to protect the lead plates from the direct heat thereof. n is a similar plate to
confine and direct the gasses over the top lead plate, and prevent too great radiation"
of heat therefrom. The operation of the apparatus is obvious.
Air, in passing upward through the thick bed of incandescent fuel, has its oxygen
converted into carbonic oxide, and the hot carbonic oxide and nitrogen pass upward
between the plates, thereby heating them, and ultimately reducing the oxide of
lead to the metallic state. The gases finally escape at the chimney.
If steam is introduced with the air, hydrogen is also formed.
Obviously, many forms of apparatus other than the one shown may be employed
to effect the reduction of the lead oxide.
The coating of porous metal described, as applied to the plates of secondary
batteries, possesses properties differing from those of either spongy lead or the
electrically-deposited coherent lead described in "Division B." It may be regarded 3
as being intermediate in character between the two, but possessing many of the
advantages of the latter and being free from the disadvantages of the former.
Plates of other metals than lead may be used to receive and support the porous
lead; thus, gold or platinum may be used, and, in this case, the oxygen element of
the battery, if fully peroxidized, cannot lose its charge by the spontaneous "local 3
action "described in "Division A." Carbon, or even copper, may be used in the
case of the hydrogen plate, or element of the battery, for receiving the reduced
metal.
As before indicated, the properties of the reduced porqus lead are similar to
those of the electrically-deposited coherent metal described in "Division B."
Hence the remarks there made in reference to the association together of prepared
plates or elements, and to the process of " forming" them for use, will apply equally
well here.
DIVISION D.
"Division D," of this invention, consists in another construction of secondary
battery elements, and, as this construction is more or less closely related to the
various specific subjects of the foregoing divisions of this specification, I refer the
reader to said preceding divisions, as far as may be necessary, for a full understanding
of the present division of the invention.
In this division I shall describe a secondary battery element, wherein, before
treatment by a "forming" process, either the entire body thereof, or only the
conting or covering of a suitable core or. body, consists of a mass, composed of
metallic lead and lead-oxide, in an intimately mixed condition, pressed or united
together into a compact and firmly coherent mass. In constructing this mass, I
take metallic lead in a pulverized, granulated, precipitated, or other finely-divided

page_text: state, and allow the surface of the lead particles to become oxidized, either by
exposure to the air, or by any suitable artificial oxidizing process or application.
Or, instead of employing the superficially-oxidized particles of lead as above
specified, I may take particles of metallic lead and oxide of lead and effect a
thorough mechanical mixture of the two.
In either of the above cases it will be seen that metallic lead and lead oxide
are thoroughly intermingled. I now subject the mixture to heavy pressure,
hydraulic or otherwise, whereby its particles are united and consolidated into a
compact and firmly coherent mass.
The mass thus formed consists of metallic lead having minute veins of oxide of
lead everywhere ramifying and extending through it; and these veins of lead-oxide
within and throughout the mass greatly facilitate the penetration of the electrical
action in "forming" the plates for operative use in secondary batteries.
I do not limit myself to any particular temperature that the oxidized lead
particles or the mixture of lead and lead-oxide particles must have when subjected
to the pressure by which they are united together. Any temperature short of the
fusing point may be employed that may be found desirable.
In constructing battery elements from the above-described mass in either of its
forms, the particles can, if desired, be originally pressed in moulds that will give to
the finished product the shape required for said elements; or it can be made into
blocks, sheets, bars, strips, wires, or otherwise, and afterward be manipulated as
may be desired to form or construct any style of element. I do not limit myself
in the degree of fineness to which the particles of lead or oxide must be reduced,
nor to any exact amount of pressure to be exerted in solidifying them into a mass,
so long as said pressure is sufficient to unite them into a suitably compact and
coherent body.
As already intimated, the above-described mass may be made to constitute the
entire body of the battery element, or it may form the active coating or covering
of any suitable supporting and electro-conducting core or body.
To form an element having a core or body coated with the mass described, I
take a sheet or other suitable piece of lead, or of other substance suitable for the
purpose, and, if necessary, roughen or score its surface, or pierce it with numerous
perforations to insure a firm adhesion of the mass which is to constitute the active
coating. I cover it with the finely-divided superficially-oxidized lead (or the
mixture of metalic lead and lead-oxide particles), and apply heavy pressure. The
result is that the finely divided particles are not only pressed into a firm and
strongly coherent mass, but the mass is also firmly united to the supporting core
or body. This core may be of lead, or it may consist of a non-oxidizable metal,
such as gold or platinum, or any alloy of these metals with lead. Secondary
battery elements constructed according to this division of the invention, are well
adapted to be "formed" by the process specified in Division A.
DIVISION E
"Division E" of my invention consists in, and relates to, a secondary battery
plate or element of any form, consisting of a supporting core or body, composed of
an alloy of lead and some non-oxidizable material (such as gold, platinum, an alloy
of these metals, or other suitable substance) to which alloy-core or body, is in any
effective way applied, connected, or attached, an active coating.
It is desirable, in a secondary battery, that the elements should present the
greatest amount of active material, and have a minimum quantity of the idle, or
non-acting material, that merely serves as an electro-conducting support for the
active portion of the element; and one of the objects sought, and to a high degree
attained, by the present division of the invention, is a large reduction in the
amount of material usually necessary for the non-acting, supporting, and con-
ducting portion of a secondary battery element,

page_text: I do not limit myself to any specific form of element, as my invention is equally
applicable to many forms.
My invention is admirably adapted to the construction of elements made up of
very thin strips, plates, wires, or filaments.
Among the substances that may be applied to the alloy-core may be mentioned
the following, viz.: oxide of lead, electro-deposited lead, a mixture of metallic lead
and lead oxide, or superficially oxidized particles of lead. The alloy-core may be
suitably roughened, scored, or perforated, to insure retention of the active coating
when applied.
In the operation of "forming" such an element, the electric current will not only
act upon the coating or covering just described, but it will also superficially affect
the core, by converting the lead in the surface of the alloy into peroxide of lead;
thus rendering the platinum (or gold) surface of core rough or porous, and greatly
facilitating and insuring the adhesion to the core of the active coating, because the
pores are now filled with peroxide of lead, which is integral with the peroxide of
lead of the active coating proper.
In case the alloy-core is in the sheet form, it may be bent, corrugated; roughened,
perforated, slotted, or otherwise prepared; and if the wire or filament forin of core
be used, a number of these may be electrically connected together, either at one or
both ends, and arranged in a substantially parallel relation with each other; or
they may be twisted into a skein, or bunched together in any manner; or they
may be woven into a netting or fabric. Instead of the alloy being composed
simply of lead and platinum, or lead and gold, it may consist of lead with any other
unoxidizable alloy or substance whatever.
The amount of lead in the alloy should be so limited in quantity that the
oxidizing action in "forming" the element shall be confined to the surface of the
alloy; the interior portions being practically protected by the excess of non-
oxidizable metal. Such a construction will permit of the use of very thin wires,
sheets, or strips of alloy, without danger of complete oxidation; thus effecting an
economy in the amount of the non-oxidizable material forming the supporting and
electro-conducting core, and obtaining a very large amount of available active
material for any given amount of space occupied by the element.
Such a construction as I have described prevents the spontaneous loss of charge
in a secondary battery, due to "local action" between the active portion of the
element and its sunporting body

page_text: Among the advantages pertaining to a battery element constructed as .above
specified, may be mentioned: first, the element presents many small surfaces
instead of a few large ones, upon which small surfaces the active coating of the
element can expand or contract, without that liability to blister or peel off that
exists in the case of more extended surfaces; second, there is a large amount of
aggregate active surface exposed in a small space, and a free circulation of the
battery-liquid secured around and throughout the element; and, third, the parts a
may be separately prepared, as for instance, according to "Division D," and
afterwards associated together.
DIVISION G.
"Division G" of my Invention relates to secondary batteries, and it consists in
devices now to be described (or their equivalent) for automatically manipulating
the current employed in charging such batteries.
The devices for this purpose are such, that (1st) when no current is acting in
the charging circuit, the one or more batteries in connection therewith will be open-
circuited, so far as the charging circuit is concerned, and the latter will be
short-circuited around each battery; also (2nd), when the charging current is
established in the charging circuit or line, the "short-circuit" around each battery
will be opened, and the battery thrown into circuit. Again, when the charging
current stops each battery will be thrown out of circuit, and the line "short-circuited"
as at first.
These automatic operations prevent the inverse discharge of the batteries through.
the charging line, when the charging current is discontinued; prevent reversal of
polarity in the dynamo machine, when such is employed for charging, and leave a
closed circuit for the charging current to re-establish itself in when re-charging or
continued charging of the batteries is desired. If desirable, a suitable passive
resistance may be placed in, or substituted for the “short-circuit" before alluded to,
in order to offer a normal, or approximately normal resistance for the charging
current to establish itself in before the automatic apparatus shall have thrown the
battery into circuit. This resistance also lessens the spark which occurs when the
"short-circuit" is opened at the time of throwing the battery into the charging
circuit,
In the drawings, Fig. 9 represents my automatic device, wherein the
"short-circuit" is not provided with a resistance.
Fig. 10 shows the device provided with a resistance in the "short-circuit."
Fig. 11 shows a system wherein three secondary batteries are charged in series
by the same current, each battery being provided with the automatic apparatus.
Fig. 12 illustrates a system wherein three batteries, each provided with the
automatic apparatus, are charged in "multiple-arc" from one source of current.
Fig. 13 represents a system wherein four. batteries are charged in "series" by the
same current, one automatic apparatus controlling the current for all.
Fig. 14 illustrates a system wherein three batteries are charged in " multiple-arc,"
one automatic apparatus controlling the current for all.
In Fig. 9, A represents a current generator, which may consist of a dynamo-
electric machine, thermo-electric, or other apparatus capable of furnishing current.
B is a secondary battery. C is an electro-magnet located in the circuit a, a,¹ a³, a³,
connecting the generator and battery. D represents a number of electric lamps,
or other electro-receptive devices. E is a lever, pivoted at b, and provided with an
armature at c, facing the pole or poles of the magnet C. The lever E may be of
iron, and the armature c dispensed with. The lever E may be provided with an
adjustable weight d. The free end of the lever carries contact points e, ƒ, which are
insulated from each other. g is a stationary contact point, which makes contact
with, and serves as a stop to the lever E when the latter rises in obedience to the
attraction of the magnet C.
•
The contact g is connected with the charging circuit a, as is also the contact c,
by means of a flexible connection, as shown.
-

page_text: The contact is also connected by a flexible conductor with the charging
circuit a. h is a stationary contact point which makes contact with e, and serves
as a stop to the lever E when the latter falls.
h, is connected by a conductor F of low resistance, with the charging circuit a².
A conductor of the fusible metal, H, may be employed for the purpose of opening
that part of the circuit by fusion, if the charging or discharging current becomes
greatly abnormal in quantity from any cause.
The diagram just explained, shows the lever E in the position which it occupies
while the generator A is charging the battery B. The current passes from the
generator through the line a, contacts g, f, line a¹, conductor H, battery B, line a²,
magnet C, and line as back to the generator. When the charging current stoɔps or
becomes greatly reduced, the magnet C being no longer able to support the
lever E, the latter drops, separating the contacts g, f, and making contact between
e and h.
Thus, the end H of the battery B is disconnected from the charging-line a, and
the circuit of the generator is completed through another path, viz., through the
line a, contacts e, h, conductor F, line a³, magnet C, and line a³.
When the charging current is again started, the magnet C raises the lever E
into the position shown in the diagram, and the charging of the battery B is
resumed.
The electro-receptive devices D, here shown as arranged in "multiple-arc," are
operated by the discharge of the battery B, when the charging current from the
generator is not acting.
If they are left in circuit while the charging current is acting, they may be
regarded as being operated wholly or in part, by the charging,current direct. If
they require less than the charging current, the excess of the latter will pass
through the battery B, augmenting its charge; if they require more than the
charging current, the latter will be supplemented by a discharge from the battery.
Fig. 10 shows a resistance, G, in place of the conductor F of Fig. 9. This
resistance may be made adjustable if desired.
Fig. 10 also shows various electro-receptive devices to be operated, such as arc
and incandescent lamps, and electro-motors. It also shows these electro-receptive
devices arranged both in" multiple-arc" and in "series."
Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 show systems wherein generators A, circuits a a,
automatic current controlling devices K, secondary batteries B, and electro-
receptive devices D, are variously associated and combined, as has been hereinbefore
described.
I prefer to make the contact points e, f, g, h, Fig. 9, of carbon, such as is used
in electric-arc lighting, so that their surfaces may not become impaired by the
sparks which may occur between them. Obviously, an axial magnet with movable
core, may be employed instead of the form shown at C.
When the lever E, Fig. 9, rises, a spark or are must be formed between the
points e and h during the time the lever is moving, and until contact is established
between fand g.
The ultimate distance apart of e and h is so adjusted that the resistance to the 4
passage of current offered by the spark or are between these points is considerable,
or even greater than that offered by the battery B; so that when fg make contact,
the passage of current between e and h ceases. When a resistance, G, Fig. 10, is
placed in the "short-circuit" F, of Fig. 9, the points e h may be worked at a less
separation, and the spark or arc between them greatly reduced. This is because
the resistance, G, replaces more or less of that which was in the first instance
necessarily in the spark between e and h.

page_text: the current employed in charging such batteries. The devices for this purpose are
such that (1st), when no current is acting in the charging circuit, the one or more
batteries in connection therewith will be open-circuited, so far as the charging
circuit is concerned, and the latter will be short-circuited around each battery;
also (2nd), when the charging current is fully established in the charging circuit
or line, the "short-circuit" around each battery will be opened, and the. battery
thrown into circuit; also (3rd), when each battery becomes fully charged, it will,
independently of any other battery in the charging circuit, be thrown out of the
charging circuit, and the latter will be "short-circuited" around the battery as at
first. Again, when the charging current stops, or becomes greatly lessened, each
battery, whether fully charged or not, will be thrown out of circuit, and the line
"short-circuited" as before; also (4th), while the charging current is acting, each
battery, whether fully charged or not, may be automatically disconnected from its .
individual working or discharging circuit.
These automatic operations prevent the inverse discharge of the batteries through
the charging line when the charging current is discontinued; prevent reversal of
polarity of the dynamo-machine when such is employed for charging; leave a
closed circuit for the charging current to re-establish itself in, when recharging or
continued charging of the battery is desired; and avoid waste of current energy by
stopping the current through a battery when the latter is fully charged.
Other important advantages attend the use of the automatic apparatus, as will
appear later in the Specification of this division of the Invention.
The automatic apparatus, although well adapted to control the charging of a
single secondary battery, is especially designed to regulate the charging, from a
single circuit-source, of many batteries.
"
Each battery may consist of any desired number of elements, or cells, irrespective
of the number of elements in any other battery. The several batteries may be
charged in multiple-arc," or series-multiple-arc," or in simple "series." The
latter is the preferable method, and is the one I shall more particularly describe.
In order to secure all of the advantages pertaining to this division of the invention,
each battery should, in either case, be provided with current controlling device.
I have specified that when a battery becomes fully charged, it will be thrown out
of circuit, and the latter closed through another channel This may, and generally
will occur while the charging current is in full force. In the performance of this
operation it certainly will not do to close the "short-circuit" around the battery
before disconnecting the latter from the line, because then the battery would
at once commence to discharge itself with very great energy through this short
circuit, and the subsequent disconnection of the battery from the line would be ·
attended by the destruction of the parts where the break occurred.
On the other hand, the battery could not be entirely disconnected from the
charging line before closing the "short-circuit," as this would entail the stoppage
of the current in the whole system of batteries. A partial break might be made by
establishing an are at one end of the battery, long enough to prevent the discharge
of the latter across the interval when the "short-circuit" is established; but this
would be very objectionable, not only on account of the burning of the points
where the separation occurs, but because of the extra resistance (that of the arc)
suddenly introduced into the charging circuit. Obviously, similar difficulties
would occur in throwing a battery into the charging circuit.
I avoid these difficulties by using, a resistance, and by making the operation of
throwing a battery out of, or into, the charging circuit consist of a series of steps
as follows:-In throwing a battery out of circuit, the first step consists in the
introduction of a resistance parallel with the battery, between which. and the
battery the charging current may divide itself; but I make this resistance so
small that substantially the whole of the charging current passes through it, while
at the same time the resistance is great enough, being occupied by the charging
current, to prevent a discharge from the battery through.it.
=

page_text: The next step disconnects the battery from the line, leaving in lieu thereof the
resistance.
The third step “short-circuits" the resistance, and completes the operation.
Thus a battery may be thrown out of the charging line without any disturbance of
the latter's current, and without any sparks whatever, if the resistance be carefully
adjusted. Even if the resistance is only approximately adjusted, the sparks will
be small, and entirely harmless. In throwing a battery into the charging circuit
these steps are reversed. First, the "short-circuit is opened, throwing the
current into the resistance. This will, of course, be attended by a flash, which,
however, is comparatively small, and is harmless. This flash may be divided into
a number of much smaller ones by introducing successively increasing resistances,
but this is an entirely unnecessary refinement, and I will not again allude to it,
after stating here that while I prefer to use a single resistance, I do not wish to be
understood as confining myself to it. The next step connects the battery, and the
third and last step opens the resistance, throwing all of the current through the
battery. This last step will, of course, be attended by another flash, which,
however, is smaller than the first, and quite unimportant.
When the charging current stops, or diminishes in the act of stopping or other-
wise, then any battery which has not already become fully charged and switched
itself out of the circuit will be thrown out by the same series of operations which
would have occurred had it been previously fully charged.
In designing and adjusting the automatic mechanism, I prefer to so arrange
matters that the function of throwing the batteries into the charging circuit,
which is exercised when the charging current is established, shall not be called
into action until the charging current has approximately reached its normal
strength. By this precaution I secure an advantage of much importance when a
large number of batteries are to be charged.
I have neglected to mention that one of the objects of this division of the
Invention is to provide for the unequal use of the several batteries of a system
between or during the times of charging; and here call attention to this point as
an aid to my present explanation. I will also add that I contemplate locating the
several batteries of the system, not necessarily in one place, but at many points,
which may be widely separated, to the end that the batteries may be independently
employed in different buildings or localities for lighting or other purposes, all the
batteries being connected by the charging line. Suppose now that we have a
hundred or more batteries all connected with one charging line, and that the
dynamo-machine used for charging is capable of simultaneously charging, say,
twenty batteries only. Suppose, also, that the hundred batteries have been
unequally exhausted since the last time of charging. Now, since it would be
impossible to so adjust the automatic devices pertaining to the several batteries,
that the latter would all be thrown into the circuit by the same strength of
current, it follows that, as the charging machine is set in motion and the charging
current approaches normal strength, first one battery (that whose current-regulating
device responds to the least current) will be thrown into circuit; then another,
and so on until any further increase of current will be prevented by the opposing
electro-motive force of the batteries already in circuit. We will now have, say,
twenty batteries in circuit, and these will continue to receive the charge until one
or more of them (those of the twenty which have been least exhausted since the
previous time of charging) become fully charged and are thrown out of circuit,
and the line "short-circuited" around them. This will slightly increase the
charging current, owing to the decrease of resistance in the line, and one or more
new batteries will be thrown into the circuit, until increase of current is checked
as before. Thus the whole hundred batteries will, in time become charged; an
automatic current regulator at the dynamo-machine preventing undue increase of
current when the last twenty batteries are one after another thrown out of circuit.
When the last twenty batteries on the line begin to cut out, which may be known
by the action of the current regulator at the charging machine, another line of

page_text: discharged or partially discharged batteries may be switched into the circuit; and
when it is deemed that the remaining batteries of the first line have finished
charging, this line may be switched out of circuit. Thus it will be seen that one
charging machine may be made to charge an indefinite number of secondary
batteries; the number depending only on the initial capacity, of the machine, the
length of time it is run, and the amount of charge used from the batteries. It
will also be seen that the various batteries of an extended system.may be used
little or much, discharging a small or large current continuously, or at irregular
intervals, while the operation of recharging is under perfect and automatic control,
and no current energy is wasted in overcharging any battery.
In the Drawings Fig. 15 illustrates one convenient form of apparatus embodying
the Invention. Fig. 16 shows a further development of Fig. 15, wherein both ends
of the battery are disconnected from the charging circuit when the battery becomes
charged or the charging current stops..
Fig. 17 shows an addition to the devices illustrated in Fig. 15, whereby a battery.
is disconnected from its working or discharging circuit, while the charging current
is acting in the charging circuit.
Fig. 18 represents a system of secondary batteries, all charged from one line, each
battery being provided with a current manipulator.
Fig. 19 shows a combination or compound arrangement of the magnets O and R
of Fig. 15.
In Fig. 15 A. represents a current generator, which may consist of a dynamo or
magneto-electric machine or other apparatus capable of furnishing a suitable
current. B is a secondary battery. C is an electro-magnet located in the circuit a, a¹,
a², a³, a, connecting the generator and battery. D represents a number of electric
lainps, electric motors, or other electro-receptive devices.. E is a lever pivatod at b..
This lever may be provided with an adjustable weight, d, if desired. The free end
of the lever E carries a contact point e, which is connected by a flexible conductor,
or otherwise, with the charging line a. G is another lever pivoted at L, and provided
with an armature, c, facing the pole or poles of the magnet C. This lever may be
of iron, and the armature c dispensed with. The lever G may be provided with an
adjustable weight, m, if desired.
n is an adjustable stop limiting the downward motion of the lever G.
By means of an arm, o, attached to the lever E, and which engages with the lever G
after the latter has commenced to rise in obedience to the attraction of the magnet C,
the lever E is also raised.
I is a lever pivoted at p and connected by catches q (or an equivalent link) with
the lever E in such a manner that I is held up by E when the latter rises, while E
may fall independently of I.
The lever I carries contact points fi, which are insulated from each other. The
lever I also carries a counterweight, r, sufficient to raise the other end of the lever
carrying the contacts. The contact point fis flexibly connected with the line a³:
and the double contact piece i is flexibly connected with one end of a resistance L,
the other end of which is connected with the line a³. This resistance may be made
adjustable if desired. g is a stationary contact piece connected with the line a³.
This contact piece forms a stop to the upward motion of the lever I, and ultimately
to the levers E and G, through the intervention of the catches q and arm o. his
another stationary contact piece directly connected with the line a³ by a conductor, F..
This contact piece forms a stop to the downward movement of the lever I, and also
to that of the lever E, through the intervention of the double contact piece i.
O is a small magnet located in the charging line a a¹. It is provided with an
armature attached to a lever, P, which is pivoted at 8. The whole lever may be of
iron, and the separate armature dispensed with. When P is drawn up by the
magnet O, it makes contact with a stop, t; and when P falls it is arrested by a
stop, u.
R is a magnet of high resistance arranged as a shunt around the whole, or a part.
of, the battery B by means of the conductor v, lever P, stop t, conductor v v¹, and

page_text: conductors as v³. The magnet R is provided with an armature lever S pivoted
at w. When the lever S is raised by the magnet R it makes contact with a stop
(which may be made adjustable), which stop is connected with the line a*. y is an
adjustable stop limiting the fall of the lever S.
The diagram just explained shows the various movable parts of the apparatus in
the positions which they occupy while the generator A is charging the battery B.
The current passes from the generator through the line a, magnet O, line a¹,
contacts fg, line, a², battery B, line a³, magnet C, line a, and through any other
apparatus there may be in the working circuit, back to the generator. The
magnets and C being energized by the current, will retain their armatures in the
positions shown..
While the battery B is charging, the difference of potential between its ends, or
between any two points of the battery, remains nearly constant; but when the
battery becomes fully charged, free gases are evolved from its elements, and the
difference of electrical potential between any two parts of the battery at once
increases materially. The number of elements of the battery B, working the shunt
magnet R, and the distance of the armature S from the poles of the said magnet,
are so adjusted that while the battery B is being charged, the magnet R will not
be sufficiently energized to raise its armature S; while at the same time, the
adjustment is such that when the potential of the battery B rises at the completion
of the process of charging, the increased current thereby shunted through the
magnet R shall enable the latter to raise its armature.
This adjustment may also be effected through the agency of an adjustable
weight (not shown) attached to the armature, or armature lever S. When the
armature lever S rises and makes contact with the stop the magnet C will be
"short-circuited," because the current from the line as may now pass through the
lever S, and stop a to line a. Thus the magnet C is paralyzed sufficiently to allow
the lever G to drop. This in turn allows the lever E to fall, and the contact
point e to make contact with the conductor i i. Thus the whole or a part of the
current from the line a' is shunted from the battery B through the resistance L.
The continued fall of the lever E, carrying with it the lever I, next breaks
contact between the points fand g, and thus disconnects the battery B from the
line a', and leaves the whole current from the latter in the resistance L. Finally,
the contact piece i, i, makes contact with the piece h, thus "short-circuiting" the
resistance L through the conductor F. This completes the operation of disconnecting
the battery from the charging line, and "short-circuiting." the latter around the
battery.
When a secondary battery discharges its current through a resistance sufficient
to prevent a too-rapid discharge, the electro-motive force of the battery remains
nearly constant until its charge is nearly exhausted, after which the electro-motive
force falls rapidly. Hence by suitably adjusting the minimum distance of the
armature S from its magnet by means of the adjustable contact stop x, the
armature S will fall when the electro-motive force of the battery B is reduced
toward the close of the process of discharging. This will allow the magnet C to
be energized if current is acting in the line a a¹, etc., and the lever G will be
raised, and with it the levers Ĕ and I, thus throwing the battery B into the
charging circuit.
If current is not acting in the circuit a a¹, etc., then the magnet C will still be
left ready to act when the charging current again starts. But there are many
objections to letting the battery B become nearly, or quite discharged before
recharging, one of which is, that should the battery become exhausted while the
line a, a, etc., is not supplied with current, the battery will for the time being
become useless. To avoid these difficulties I use the magnet O, through the agency
of which, when energized by the charging current, the shunt circuit through the
magnet R is established and maintained. But when the charging current stops,
the armature lever P falls; the shunt circuit through R is opened, the armature
lever S falls, and the "short-circuit" around the magnet C is opened, leaving the

page_text: latter ready to act when the charging current again starts; and all of this
"irrespective of any particular condition of the battery B. Again, the opening of
the shunt circuit while the charging circuit is not acting, prevents any unnecessary
waste of current through the shunt.
Let us now follow the operations which take place when the charging current
starts, and the levers G, E, and I are at their lowest points. Matters have been so
adjusted by means of the adjustable weight m, or the stop n, or both, that the
lever G will not respond to the attraction of the magnet C until the charging
current which excites the magnet has reached a certain strength, which is approxi-
mately its normal strength. Before this point is reached however, the current may
have been for some time charging other batteries as herein before explained. When
the proper current strength is reached the lever G rises, and presently engages the
arm o attached to the lever E. By this time the armature c has approached nearer
to its magnet, whose attraction has thus become sufficient to carry upward not only
the lever G but also the lever E which is finally stopped by the contacts g
coming together. It will be noticed that the weight of the lever E is available to
maintain a good contact between the points ei, ih, until the instant of their
positive separation. The reason for employing the independent lever G is now
apparent. If the magnet C were made to act directly on the lever E, then the
contacts ei, ih, might for long periods be almost entirely relieved from the
weight of the lever, whereby these contacts would be liable to destruction by
burning.
When the lever E begins to rise, the contact-end of the lever I follows, owing to
the counter-weight r as before specified. Thus the contact ei is preserved, while
the contacts ih are opened, which operation throws the resistance L into the
charging circuit. Immediately thereafter, the contact points fg come together,
arresting further movement of the lever I, and throwing the battery B into the
charging circuit. The lever E continuing to move upward separates the contact
points ei, and opens the resistance L, thus throwing all of the charging current
into the battery B. Finally, upward movement of the lever E is arrested by the
catches q, and the strong attraction of the magnet C for its armature is then exerted
in maintaining a good contact between the points fand g, through which all of the
charging current now passes.
In Fig. 16, the lever F, replacing the conductor F of Fig. 15, is pivoted at 1,
and at one end carries the contact point h, and at the other end the contact
point 2, which is flexibly connected with the line a³. The lever F electrically
connects h and 2. 3 is another contact, which, in conjunction with the contact 2,
connects the battery B with the line a³. The lever F is weighted at 4 to insure
contact between 2 and 3 when contacta h and i are separated. By means of this
mechanism, both ends of the battery are disconnected from the charging circuit
when the lever I falls, because the contacts 2 and 3, as well as fand g, are thereby
Beparated.
In Fig. 17, the circuit from the battery B to the electro-receptive devices D,
is broken at two points by the separation of the pairs of contact pieces 5-6, 7-8.
The contacts 6 and are attached to a block 9, and are insulated from each other,
but are flexibly connected with the ends of the battery as shown.
The contact pieces 5 and 7 are connected respectively with the two conductors
leading to the electro-receptive devices D. The block 9 is connected by a link 10
with the free end of the armature lever P. When current is active in the charging
line a a¹ a³, etc., the magnet O is excited, and the armature P is raised as explained
in connection with Fig. 15. This by means of the link 10, raises the block 9,
and separates the contacts 5-6 and 7-8, thus, disconnecting the electro-receptive
devices D from the battery B, and from the charging circuit a a³. When the
charging current stops, the magnet ☐ drops its armature, the contacts 5-6
and 7-8 come together, and the electro-receptive devices D are connected with
the battery.
'
The object of the device shown in Fig. 17 is to insulate the electro-receptive

page_text: devices from the charging circuit when the working current is acting therein,
and need be used only when such insulation becomes desirable, as, for instance,
when a very large number of batteries are charged in one line by means of a
current of very high electro-motive force. In such a case, there might be danger
of the current "grounding" at two points in the circuit through defective insulation
between the electro-receptive devices, and the various earth connections which are
present in all buildings.
I prefer to make the contact points or pieces e, f, g, h, etc., of carbon, such as is
used in electric-arc lighting.
Fig. 18 of the Drawings illustrates a system wherein a current generator A,
charging circuit or line a a, automatic current-controlling devices K, secondary
batteries B, and electro-receptive devices D, are associated and combined as has
been herein before described.
Fig. 19 shows a combination or compound arrangement of the magnets O and R
(Fig. 15), wherein the helix of the magnet O is combined with that of the magnet R,
the core of the latter being common to both helices. The electrical connections
are so made that the main or charging current, and the shunt current, circulate in
the same direction around the common core, and thereby act jointly in magnetizing
the latter and attracting the armature lever S. The main current remaining
constant, increase of current in the shunt circuit due to rise of potential in the
battery at the completion of its charge, will enable the magnet to raise its
armature and produce the results already described in connection with Fig. 15.
When, however, the charging current stops, the magnet R will be so weakened as
to drop its armature the same as when the shunt circuit was opened by the fall of
the armature P in Fig. 15,
DAVISON 1.
"Division I" of this Invention also relates to secondary batteries or apparatus
for the storage of electrical energy, and it consists in devices hereinafter described,
or their equivalents, for automatically measuring, indicating, or recording the amount
of electrical energy spent in charging such batteries, while the charging current may
be applied at irregular intervals and for irregular lengths of time.
This division of the invention is especially applicable to a system including
several secondary batteries charged at intervals, wherein the several batteries
are liable to be utilized or discharged to different extents from time to time, or
continuously.
In carrying out this part of the invention, I provide each battery of a system
with an automatic mechanism for manipulating the charging current, such as
described in division H, so constructed, arranged, and electrically connected that
when a battery becomes fully charged, the charging current will be shunted away
from the battery into another channel or into another battery to be charged. With
this automatic current-manipulator I combine a time-measuring device in such a
manner that while the charging current is acting to charge the battery, the length
of time it so acts will be recorded; but when the battery becomes fully charged, or
the charging current stops, the time-recording mechanism stops recording, or stops
entirely. Now since the strength of the charging current may readily be known,
and may at all times be approximately constant, we have all the data necessary to
determine the amount of electrical energy spent in charging each battery of a system
of many batteries during any convenient length of time between observations of the
recording apparatus, say one month.
Again, the amount of energy required to charge a secondary battery is an accurate
measure of (although in excess of) the amount of energy drawn from the battery
since the previous time of charging.
This draught of energy from the battery between, or between and during, the
times of charging may obviously be little or much of the total capacity of the

page_text: battery, and may be made rapidly or slowly, continuously or intermittently,
according to the purposes for which the discharge is utilized.
As a unit of electrical energy used from a secondary battery (as indicated by the
energy spent in charging it) I propose a current of one ampere of one volt electro-
motive force, acting for one hour. The electro-motive force of one cell of a secondary
battery of lead elements is rather more than two volts. The charging current must
be of higher electro-motive force than this, while the discharging current is of
somewhat less electro-motive force, and is, under ordinary conditions of discharge,
approximately two volts. Hence by multiplying together twice the number of cells
of a battery, the strength of the charging current in amperes, and the number of
hours it has acted, we arrive at the number of arbitrary units of electrical energy
used from the battery.
In constructing the apparatus, I may employ any known time-measuring device,
so arranged as to record time only when the charging current is acting in a battery.
To this end, the time-measuring device may stop when the charging current in the-
battery stops, or it may continue to run while the recording mechanism, only, is
stopped. Again, the time-measuring mechanism (such for instance, as a common
clock movement) may be actuated by a spring or weight, and allowed to run only
while the charging current is acting in the battery; or it may be actuated by the
said charging current, through the intervention of a magnet or other suitable device,
which will thus drive the clock only while the battery is being charged. The clock
in either case is provided with a series of dials whereby its record of hours may be
carried to any suitable number,
Although I shall describe a simple marine clock-movement as the time-measuring
device, I do not in any manner limit myself to this, as any known sort of time-
measuring mechanism may be employed without in any manner departing from the
spirit of the Invention.
In the drawings Fig. 20 illustrates an automatic current-manipulator for
secondary-battery charging, combined with a time-recording apparatus.
Fig. 21 shows the time-recording apparatus actuated by the charging current.
In Fig. 20 is shown an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery
charging, so constructed, arranged, and electrically connected, that while the
secondary battery B in connection therewith is receiving the charging current, the
lever E will be raised and retained by the magnet C in the position shown; but
when the battery B becomes fully charged, or when the charging current in the
main or charging circuit stops, the lever E will fall a certain distance.. A is a
marine clock-movement provided with a series of dials registering the number of
hours the movement is allowed to run. The spring which actuates the clock-
movement is manually wound from time to time as may be necessary. D is the
balance of the movement A. F is a wire or other flexible arm attached to the
lever E, and is so adjusted that when the lever is held in the raised position shown,
that is, while the battery B is charging, the wire F will be free from the balance-
wheel D, and the latter will vibrate in obedience to the impulse given by the
spring of the clock-movement. This adjustment is also such that when the lever E
falls, which will happen when the battery B becomes fully charged, or when the
charging current stops, the wire F will engage the balance D, and stop its
movement, and thereby arrest the registration of time.
When the lever E again rises, the wire F will not only free itself from the
balance D, but will give the latter an impulse sufficient to insure its starting.
In Fig. 21, H is a ratchet-wheel at the beginning of a clock-train (not shown)
similar to that shown at A in Fig. 20.. The revolution of this ratchet-wheel
actuates the train, which is not provided with other actuating mechanism.
I is a pawl acting to rotate the wheel H, and attached to the free end of a stiff
spring K carried by the lever E.
When the lever E falls, the pawl assumes the position shown; and when the
lever rises, the spring K is flexed as shown, and gives impulse to the ratchet H,
whereby the clock-train thereto attached is actuated, and time recorded. The
-

page_text: spring K continues to drive the clock until it has, owing to the partial revolution®
of the ratchet H, assumed the position shown by the dotted lines. But before this
point is reached, the battery B will have become charged, the lever E will have
fallen and the registration of time will be stopped.
What I claim is :-
1st. The process or method of "forming" a plate or element of a secondary
battery or current-storing apparatus, consisting in primarily storing or producing
upon said plate or element a large amount of peroxide of lead by electrical action,
substantially as set forth in "Division A."
2nd. The process or method of "forming" the hydrogen plate or element of a
secondary battery or current-storing apparatus, consisting in primarily storing or
producing upon said plate or element a large amount of peroxide of lead by
electrical action, and then reducing the oxide of lead to the metallic state by
the reverse action of the charging current, substantially as set forth in
"Division A.”
.
3rd. In a process of " forming "-plates or elements of secondary batteries or
current-storing apparatus, electrically charging, simultaneously, two or more
elements with peroxide of lead, substantially as set forth in "Division A.”
4th. In a secondary battery or current-storing apparatus, one or more plates
coated or combined with electrically-deposited coherent lead, substantially as set
forth in "Division B."
5th. In a secondary battery or current-storing apparatus, one or more corrugated
plates coated or combined with electrically-deposited coherent lead, substantially as
set forth in " Division B."
6th. In a secondary battery or current-storing apparatus, one or more ribbed,
cellular, or perforated plates coated or combined with electrically-deposited coherent
lead, substantially as set forth in "Division B."
7th. In a secondary battery or current-storing apparatus, elements coated or
combined with electrically-deposited colerent lead, and "formed" as specified in
"Division A," substantially as set forth in "Division B."
8th. In secondary batteries or current-storing apparatus, ribbed, cellular,
perforated, or equivalent elements, coated or combined with electrically-deposited
coherent lead, and "formed" according to the process described in "Division A,"
substantially as set forth in "Division B.".
9th. The process described in "Division B," of depositing coherent metal
within the cells, grooves of corrugations of a secondary battery plate or element.
10th. As a new article of manufacture, a substance formed of small pieces of
lead having oxidized surfaces, that have been united by pressure into a coherent
mass, substantially as set forth in "Division D."
11th. As a new article of manufacture, a mass consisting of a mechanical
mixture or association of metallic lead and oxide of lead, united by pressure into a
coherent and firm body, substantially as set forth in "Division D."
12th. A process for manufacturing a material from which the elements of a
secondary or electric-storage battery can be constructed; said process consisting in
uniting into a compact and firmly coherent body or mass, small particles of lead
having oxidized surfaces, substantially as set forth in "Division D."
13th. A process for manufacturing a material from which the elements of a
secondary or electrical-storage battery can be constructed; said process consisting
in taking finely divided, granulated, or pulverized lead, the particles of which have
oxidized surfaces, and subjecting said oxidized particles to pressure sufficient to
unite them into a compact and firmly coherent body or mass, substantially as set
forth in "Division D."
14th. For use in an element of a secondary battery, a metallic core, or body, to
one or more sides of which is attached a mass or substance primarily consisting of
metallic lead and oxide of lead united by pressure, so as to be strong and firmly
coherent, substantially as set forth in "Division D."
15th. A secondary battery element consisting of a metallic core or body having

page_text: attached to it a coating primarily consisting of mixed lead and oxide of lead firmly
united by pressure into a strong and firmly coherent mass, substantially as set
forth in Division D."
16th. A secondary battery element consisting of the combination with a metallic
supporting core or body, of a coating attached or united to said core; said conting
primarily consisting of metallic lead and lead-oxide in an intimately commingled
state united by pressure into a strong and firmly coherent. mass, substantially as
set forth in "Division D."
17th. A process for making secondary battery elements (or material from which
said elements can be constructed); said process consisting in covering one, or more,
or all of the surfaces of a suitable metallic and electro-conducting core or body
either with superficially oxidized particles of lead, or with a mixture of particles of
pure lead and lead-oxide, and, afterwards, applying pressure sufficient both to unite
said particles or mixture into a compact and firmly coherent mass, and to unite the
mass to the core or body, as set forth in "Division D."
18th. An alloy of lead and a non-oxidizable substance as a material entering
into the primary construction of a secondary battery element, substantially as set
forth in "Division E."
19th. In a secondary battery element the combination (in the form of. an alloy)
of lead and a non-oxidizable substance, substantially as set forth in "Division E."
20th. A secondary battery element, having its active or absorbing coating,
substance, or surface, applied to and connected with a core or body consisting
of an alloy of lead and a non-oxidizable substance, substantially as set forth in
"Division E."
21st. An element for a secondary battery consisting of the strips, bars, or
plates a, end connections b, and stays or supports c, substantially as set forth in
** Division F."
22nd. An element for a secondary battery consisting of a series of narrow sheets
or plates, associated together substantially as indicated, and all connected by a
common bar or support b, substantially as set forth in "Division F."
23rd. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, so
arranged, constructed, and electrically connected, that when the charging current
stops or becomes reduced, the battery will be thrown out of the charging circuit,
and will again be brought into the said circuit when the current in the latter is
re-established, substantially as set forth in "Divisions G and H."
24th. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, so
constructed, arranged, and electrically connected, that when the charging current
stops or becomes reduced, the battery will be thrown out of the charging circuit,
and the latter will be closed around the said battery, substantially as set forth in
"Divisions G and H."
25th. In an automatic apparatus for charging a secondary battery, the combi-
nation with the current-generator, of a main line of charging circuit, a magnet
located in the main line, and an armature or lever actuated by the said magnet and
operating to throw the said battery into the said charging circuit, substantially as
set forth in "Divisions G and H."
26th. In an automatic apparatus for charging a secondary battery, the combi-
nation with a current-generator of a main line or charging circuit, a magnet
located in the main line, and mechanism actuated by the said magnet and
operating to throw the said battery into the said charging circuit, substantially as
set forth in "Divisions G and H."
27th. In an automatic apparatus for charging a secondary battery, the com-
bination with a current-generator, of a main line or charging circuit, and a magnet
located in the main line and energized by the current therein, and adapted, by
releasing its armature or core when the current in the charging circuit stops or
becomes sufficiently reduced, to throw the said battery out of the said charging
circuit, and to close the latter around the battery, substantially as set forth in
'Divisions G and H,”
“

page_text: 28th. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging,
resistance G, substantially as set forth in "Division G."
29th. A system consisting of a suitable current-generating apparatus; a main
line or charging circuit energized by said current-generating apparatus; two or
more secondary batteries included within said charging circuit, and automatic
apparatus associated with said secondary batteries, and constructed to be actuated
by the current in the charging circuit; said apparatus operating to automatically
throw said batteries out of the charging circuit, and to close said charging circuit
around said batteries, whenever the charging current ceases or becomes sufficiently
weakened, substantially as set forth in "Divisions G and H."
30th. A system consisting of a suitable current-generating apparatus; a main
line or charging circuit energized by said current generator; two or more secondary
batteries included within said charging circuit, and automatic apparatus associated
with said secondary batteries and constructed to be actuated by the current in the
charging circuit; said apparatus operating to automatically throw said batteries out
of the charging circuit when the charging current ceases, or becomes sufficiently
weakened, and to reinstate them in the charging circuit when the charging current
is re-established, substantially as set forth in "Divisions G and H."
31st. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging so
constructed, arranged, and adjusted, that when the charging current has approxi-
mately reached its normal strength (and not until then), the secondary battery in
connection therewith will be thrown into the charging circuit, substantially as set
forth in "Division H."
"
32nd. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, an
intermediate lever G, or its mechanical "equivalent, substantially as set forth in
'Division H."
33rd. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging,
intermediate mechanism, operating between a working magnet C and the current-
switching mechanism, whereby the latter is not affected by the magnet C until
said magnet has become sufficiently energized to properly operate the said current-
switching mechanism, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
34th. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, a
resistance L, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
35th. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, so
constructed, arranged, and adjusted as to operate to switch the said battery out of
the charging circuit when the electrical potential of said battery shall have reached
a predetermined maximum, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
36th. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, wherein
the rise of electrical potential of the battery attending the completion of its charge,
is the initial agency employed to actuate mechanism for switching said battery out
of the charging circuit, substantially as set forth in "Division H.”
37th. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, a
shunt circuit v v₁ v³, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
38th. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, a
shunt circuit, and a magnet included therein, and energized by the current of said
shunt circuit, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
39th. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, a
shunt circuit; a magnet included therein and energized by the current of said
shunt circuit; and mechanism associated with, and controlled by, said magnet, for
performing the switching functions of said manipulator, substantially as set forth
in "Division H."
40th. An automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, wherein
the fall of electrical potential of the battery attending the near exhaustion of its
charge, is the initial agency employed to actuate mechanism for switching said
battery into the charging circuit, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
41st. The shunt circuit v v¹³ in combination with mechanism for breaking or

page_text: open-circuiting the said shunt, when the charging current stops, substantially as set
forth in "Division H."
42nd. In an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-battery charging, a
main or working magnet located in the main or charging circuit, and provided'
with suitable mechanism for short-circuiting, or shunting the charging current
away from said magnet when the charging of the battery or batteries with which
it is associated is sufficiently advanced, substantially as set forth in "Division H." *
43rd. The combination with an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-
battery charging, and with the discharging circuit of the secondary battery
associated therewith, of a device constructed and arranged to disconnect or separate
said discharging circuit from the said battery while the charging current is acting
in the charging circuit, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
44th. The combination with an automatic current-manipulator for secondary-
battery charging, and with the discharging circuit of the secondary battery
associated therewith, of a magnet located in the charging circuit, and energized
by the current therein, and adapted, when thus energized, to disconnect and
separate the said discharging circuit from the said secondary battery, substantially
as set forth in "Division H."
•
45th. A system including a current-generating apparatus; a main or charging
circuit connected therewith; two or more secondary batteries located upon said
charging circuit, and an automatic current-manipulating apparatus constructed,
arranged, and adjusted to automatically switch a battery out of the charging circuit.
when it is sufficiently charged, through the initial agency of the rise of potential of
said battery which attends the completion of its charge, substantially as set forth
in "Division H."
46th. A system including a current-generator; a main line or charging circuit
connected therewith; two or more secondary batteries located upon said charging
circuit, and an automatic current-manipulator associated with each of said batteries;
said current-manipulating apparatus constructed, arranged, and adjusted to auto-
matically switch a battery into the charging circuit when sufficiently discharged,
through the initial agency of the fall of potential of said battery which attends the
near exhaustion of its charge, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
47th. A system including a current-generating apparatus; a main line or
charging circuit connected therewith; two or more secondary batteries located
upon said charging circuit, and an automatic current-manipulator associated with
each of said batteries; said current-manipulating apparatus constructed, arranged,
and adjusted to automatically switch a battery out of the charging circuit whenever
its electrical potential shall have reached a predetermined maximum.
48th. A system including a current-generating apparatus; a main line or
charging circuit connected therewith; two or more secondary batteries located
upon said charging circuit, and an automatic current-manipulator associated with
each of said batteries; said current manipulator so connected, arranged, and
adjusted that when the charging current has approximately reached its normal
strength (and not before), the battery with which said current manipulator is
associated will be thrown into the charging circuit, substantially as set forth in
"Division H."
!
49th. A system including a current-generating apparatus; a main line or
charging circuit connected therewith; two or more secondary batteries located
upon said charging circuit, each battery provided with an automatic current-
manipulator and a discharging circuit; and mechanism for disconnecting and
separating each discharging circuit from its battery; all so constructed, combined,
arranged, and electrically connected, that when the charging.current is acting in
the charging circuit, the discharging circuit of each battery will be disconnected.
and separated therefrom, substantially as set forth in "Division H."
50th. A method of measuring and indicating the amount of current-energy stored
by a secondary battery; said method consisting in automatically recording the
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page_text: length of time during which a current of known strength is acting in said battery,
substantially as set forth in "Division I."
51st.. A method of indirectly metering the discharge from a secondary battery;
said method consisting in automatically registering the amount of energy expended
in charging the battery from time to time, substantially as set forth in "Division I."
52nd. A method of measuring or indicating the amount of current-energy
received by a secondary battery; said method consisting in automatically operating a
time-recording mechanism only during the time that a current of known strength is
acting in said battery, substantially as set forth in “Division I.”
53rd. The combination of a secondary battery in the charging circuit of an
electric-current-generating apparatus, a time-recording device, and mechanism
whereby the time-recording device operates only when the charging current is
acting in said secondary battery, substantially as set forth in "Division I."
54th. The combination with a secondary battery and the apparatus for charging
said battery, of a time-recording mechanism, and a device for giving a starting
impulse to said time-recording mechanisin, so as to insure its starting at the time
when the charging current begins to act in said secondary battery; substantially as
set forth in "Division I."
55th. The combination with a secondary battery and its current-charging
apparatus, of a time-recording mechanism, and a device for preventing or stopping
said time-recording mechanism from performing its recording function while the
charging current is not acting in the secondary batteries, substantially as set forth
in "Division I."
56th. A system including an electric-current-generating apparatus, a main line
or charging circuit connected therewith, two or more secondary batteries within
said charging circuit, and an automatic contrivance associated with each secondary
battery for recording the length of time that the charging current is acting in said
battery, substantially as set forth in "Division I."
In Witness whereof I the said Herbert John Haddan have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty-ninth day of December A.D. 1882.
HT HADDAN
01