Improvements in or relating to Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Secondary Batteries.
I, FREDERICK GRIFFIN, of 69 Fore Street, in the City of London,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in the construction and arrange-
ment of electrodes for use in secondary batteries, the object being to increase the
efficiency and reduce the weight of such electrodes, for a given storage capacity,
and likewise to facilitate and cheapen their construction.
An electrode according to this invention is composed of suitable filling or
active material held in an openwork frame or support, so shaped that one
or each side of the electrode is formed by a series of ribs separated by grooves
of the same or approximately the same form in cross section as the ribs so that
when two or more such electrodes are arranged in a cell, the ribs on one can
partly enter the grooves in the other opposite to it, thereby enabling large active
surfaces to be obtained in a comparatively small space. The alternately arranged
ribs and grooves can be made of various forms in cross section and be variously
arranged. They may advantageously be made of triangular or approximately
triangular form, and be arranged vertically. The ribs may be made in one with
each other or may consist of a series of rod electrodes suitably connected together
as by a plate or by metallic connections at suitable parts of their length, the
connection in the two latter cases being effected preferably by "burning."
When the ribs are made in one with each other, I prefer to construct the
metallic support for holding the filling or active material in position, in the form
of an openwork frame consisting of vertical and transverse bars and bent along
vertical lines so as to form a series of A or other shaped ribs separated by
correspondingly shaped grooves and secured in any suitable manner, as for
example by lead wire or rivets either to a flat perforated or non-perforated
plate, or to a similarly bent openwork frame according as one or both sides of
the finished electrode is or are to be placed opposite other electrodes.
space thus formed between the two side portions of the frame or support, as well
as the recesses in the openwork or perforated portion or portions thereof, are
completely filled with the active material employed. Electrodes constructed and
arranged as described can be connected up and supported in various ways to
form, in conjunction with suitable vessels, storage cells.
Dated this 5th day of May 1894.
The

page_text: .
poor relating to Secondary Batteries.
1, FREDERICK GRIFFIN, of 69 Fore Street, in the City of London,
Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention has reference to improvements in the construction and arrange-
ment of electrodes for use in secondary batteries, the object being to increase the
efficiency and reduce the weight of such electrodes for a given storage capacity,
and likewise to facilitate and cheapen their construction.
An electrode according to this invention is composed of suitable filling or active
material held in an openwork frame or support so shaped that one or each side of
the electrode is formed by a series of vertical ribs separated by vertical grooves of
the same or approximately the same form in cross section as the ribs so that when
two or more such electrodes are arranged in a cell, the ribs on one can partly enter
the grooves in the other opposite to it, thereby enabling large active surfaces to
be obtained in a comparatively small space. The alternately arranged ribs and
grooves can be made of various forms in cross section. and be variously arranged.
They may advantageously be made of angular or V form in plan or cross section.
The ribs may be made in one with each other, or they may consist of a series of
rod electrodes suitably connected together as by a plate or by metallic connections
at suitable parts of their length, the connection in the two latter cases being
effected preferably by "burning."
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and
Figs. 2 and 3 plans, showing a plate electrode according to this invention in
which the said ribs are made in one with each other.
In this case I prefer to construct the metallic support for holding the filling or
active material in position, in the form of an openwork lead frame consisting of
vertical and transverse bars 1 1 respectively (Fig. 1) and bent along vertical
lines so as to form a series of vertical ribs 1 of angular or V form in cross section
separated by correspondingly shaped vertical grooves 2 and secured in any suitable
manner, as for example by lead wire, or rivets or by burning, either to a flat
perforated or non-perforated plate, 3, as shown in Fig. 2, or to a similarly bent
openwork frame 14, as shown in Fig. 3, according as one or both sides of the
finished electrode is or are to be placed opposite other electrodes.
In the arrange-
ment shown in Fig. 3 the two sides of the electrode may be made in one piece, in
which case the zig-zag shaped plate is bent upon itself at one end and suitably
secured together along the adjacent vertical abutting surfaces by one or other
of the means described; or the two sides of the electrode may be made separate
from each other and be secured together by burning or otherwise at the required
parts.
The space formed between the two side portions of the frame or support as
described, as well as the openings or recesses in the openwork or perforated
portion or portions thereof, are completely filled with the active filling material 4
employed.
Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 2 showing a modified construction in which the
ribs 1 are made separate from each other so as to constitute a number of vertical
rod electrodes, each shown as of angular form in cross section and connected
together by a perforated or non-perforated plate 3 to which they are independently
secured, preferably by burning.
Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 3 showing another construction in which the ribs
made separate from each other, and each of rhomboidal or diamond form in cross

page_text: section or plan, are directly connected together along their adjacent vertical edges,
also preferably by burning.
In each of these modified constructions, the metallic support consists of an
openwork frame of the kind hereinbefore mentioned. The sides of the vertical
and transverse bars 1, 1 in each construction are preferably bevelled so that
the recesses or openings in the frame are of gradually decreasing cross sectional
area in an outward direction, as shown to a larger scale in cross section in Fig. 6,
so as to lock the filling material 4 in place.
Fig. 7 is a plan view showing another modified construction in which the plate
electrode consists of a single openwork frame or support of the kind herein referred
to bent along vertical lines into the zig-zag or pleated form shown so as to form a
series of vertical ribs 1 and corresponding grooves 2 on each of its sides, the holes
in the said frame or support being contracted at their outer ends and filled with
active material 4 as shown.
To permit the electrolyte to freely pass from one side to the other and to the
interior of plate electrodes constructed as described, such electrodes may be
perforated at intervals along their length as indicated at 5 in Fig. 1. The
faces of each rib 1 may conveniently be each about three-eighths of an inch in
breadth, though this may be varied.
Electrodes constructed and arranged as described can be connected up and
supported in various ways to form, in conjunction with suitable vessels, storage
cells.
Fig. 8 shows in plan part of a cell with two plate electrodes, each of the kind
shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 8, shewing a cell with several plate electrodes of
which the outer ones are of the kind shewn in Fig. 2 and the inner ones of the kind
shewn in Fig. 3.
Fig. 10 is a similar view to Fig. 8 but in which the outer plate electrodes
are of the kind shewn in Fig. 7 and the inner plate electrodes of the kind shewn
in Fig. 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A plate electrode for a secondary battery composed of suitable filling or
active material held in an openwork frame or support formed of vertical and
transverse bars 1ª, 1° and so shaped that one or each side of the electrode is
formed by or with a series of vertical ribs separated by vertical grooves of the
same or approximately the same form in cross section as the ribs so that when
two or more such electrodes are arranged in a cell the ribs in one can partly
enter the grooves in the other opposite to it, thereby enabling large active
surfaces to be obtained in a comparatively small space substantially as described
and shown.
2. My improved plate electrodes for secondary batteries constructed as herein-
before described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1 and 2; in Fig. 3; in
Fig. 4; in Fig. 5 and in Fig. 7 of the drawings annexed.
3. In a secondary battery, plate electrodes constructed and arranged substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in Fig. 8; in Fig. 9 and in
Fig. 10 of the drawings annexed.
DL: FAL 1
100-