Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries.
We, CHARLES JONES HUBBELL (Manufacturer) and HARRY CROSS HUBBELL
(Electrician), both of 1,311, Capouse Avenue, and WILLIAM DE WALD BOYER
(Lawyer), of Commonwealth Building, Spruce Street, and EDWARD PIERCE MUCKLOW
(Merchant), of Lackawanna Avenue, all in the City of Scranton, County of Lackawanna
and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained, in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to primary batteries, the object being to provide an improved
construction of battery adapted especially for use in combination with an incandescent
lamp for bicycles and like vehicles.
The characteristic features of our invention include means for supporting and
securing the battery elements within their cell or casing; means for permitting the
escape of noxious gases generated by the battery fluid; novel devices for securing
the cap or cover of the battery; and various details of construction hereinafter fully
described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a battery embodying our invention;
Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the battery with cap-plate removed.
Figure 4 is a plan with the entire cover removed.
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical connections between the
battery elements and the lamp socket.
Figure 6 illustrates in detail one of the posts or supports for the positive elements
of the battery.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of cover and cap for the battery
casing or jar, illustrating the cap slightly above and removed from the cover.
Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of said modified form of cover and cap, and
Figure 9 is a reverse or bottom plan view of the same.
The casing, cell or jar of the battery, indicated by the numeral 1 is preferably made
of celluloid, and may be of cylindrical or other shape. By employing celluloid as the
material for the casing, cell or jar, we are enabled to produce a very light structure,
which may be made in different colors, of any desired ornamentation.
The cell is divided by a transverse central partition 2, into two compartments,
each of which is sub-divided by a partition 3, into two compartments 4 and 5.
Within each of the compartments 4 is located a carbon plate, 6 and 7, and within the
outer compartment 5, the zinc elements 8 and 9 are arranged.
The carbon plates 6 and 7, constituting the negative elements of the battery, are
preferably of the cross-sectional construction shown in Figure 4, having the central
vertical cylindrical enlargement 10, the lower ends of which (Fig. 2) terminate in
lugs 11 reduced circumferentially and depending below the lower edge of the plates,
and fitting within metallic rings, collars or thimbles 12, seated and sealed in any
suitable manner within sockets formed in the bottom of the cell.
Each of the zinc elements 8 and 9 is provided with a central vertical opening
adapted to receive a support consisting of a post 13 preferably of phosphor bronze,

page_text: of the cover. Preferably this disc is made of aluminium, but any suitable metal may
be used, the purpose being to prevent warping of the cover.
Also in the modification shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, we have omitted the tubes 34,
and in lieu of the tube 35 we provide the cap 38 with an integral depending tube 38*,
which serves as a vent for the gases which escape through the openings 39 in the
walls of the casings 33. The cap 38 is internally threaded to fit over the ring 29*
which is threaded externally to receive it.
In Figure 9 it will be seen that the metal disc 28 is imbedded in the material
from which the cover is made, and that the material projects through, yet is arranged
flush with the outer surface of said disc, at the points marked 28.
;
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim, is:-
1. In a primary battery, a negative element having a central vertical cylindrical
enlargement provided at its lower end with a depending lug, in combination with a
ring or thimble surrounding said lug.
2. In a primary battery, the hollow plates or elements, a support for said plates or
elements, comprising a metallic post secured within the battery cell and provided
with spring fingers for engaging the inside of the element.
3. In a primary battery, a support for the plates or elements, comprising a metallic
post provided at its upper end with a metallic disc having radial wings or
fingers.
4. In a primary battery, an element support or holder comprising a post
provided with an enlarged base, and having at its upper end radially projecting
fingers.
5. The combination with a battery cell, of a cover divided into a series of chambers,
consisting of a central chamber communicating with the atmosphere, and a plurality
of chambers radially arranged with relation to the central chamber and communicating
with the interior of the cell, means for securing the cover upon the cell, and
communications between said radial chambers and the central chamber.
6. The combination with a battery cell or casing, of a removable cover divided into
a central chamber opening to the atmosphere, and a series of radial gas escape
chambers communicating with the interior of the cell, and a cap-plate for said cover,
and means for securing the cover and cap-plate in position.
7. The combination with a battery cell or casing, of a removable cover divided into
a central gas chamber opening to the atmosphere, and a series of supplemental gas
escape chambers, the latter communicating with the interior of the cell, means for
permitting the escape of gases through said supplemental chambers to the central
chamber, and an escape vent for the latter.
8. The combination with the cell or casing, of a removable cover divided into a
central chamber communicating with the atmosphere, and a series of supplemental
gas-escape chambers communicating with the interior of the cell, communications
between said supplemental chambers and central chamber, a clamping ring
for securing the cover upon the cell, and a cap-plate closing the upper ends of
said chambers.
9. The combination with the cell or casing, of a removable cover divided into a central
chamber opening to the atmosphere and a series of supplemental radially arranged
chambers communicating with the interior of the cell, communications between
said supplemental chambers and central chamber, comprising contracted tubes
the outer ends of which are bent upwardly within the supplemental chambers.
10. The combination with the cover comprising a central chamber opening to the
atinosphere and supplemental gas escape chambers communicating with the interior
of the cell, of conduits connecting the latter with the former, a cap-plate for closing
the upper ends of said chambers, and means for securing the cap-plate comprising a
gas escape and a knob or finger piece.
11. The combination with a cell or casing divided into separate compartments, of a