IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES
Year: 1884

page_text: I EDWARD JONES of Westhill Terrace Chapel Allerton, Leeds in the County
of York Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct a simple and efficient secondary or
storage battery. Various attempts have been made to attain this result. In some
cases, finely divided lead has been packed in reticulated plates of metallic lead,
while in others it has been proposed to cast a support or framework of lead around
studs, prisms, or cones, formed of finely divided lead compressed to the desired
shape.
One defect common to such batteries is due to the difficulty of effecting a perfect
union between the so called "active material " (finely divided or spongy lead) and
the material (lead or lead alloy) of which the supporting plates are formed, as
unless a perfect union is effected, the acid gradually gets between the plugs or pieces
of spongy or finely divided lead and their supports, the plugs or prisms work loose
and fall to the bottom of the battery and great inconvenience and loss of efficiency
result.
It has been proposed to remedy this defect by casting the lead or lead alloy
around the bases of the studs or prisms of spongy or finely divided lead, but no
practical means has been hitherto devised for carrying this into effect. Now in
constructing secondary batteries according to my invention I dispenso entirely with
the use of spongy or finely divided lead in the construction of the electrodes prior
to "forming" the battery, and I construct my electrodes entirely of metallic lead
in the manner hereinafter described.
In my improved secondary battery, each electrode in a pair is a counterpart of
the other, and each is formed entirely of metallic lead so disposed as to present
a very large extent of surface to the action of the exciting fluid in the battery.
I obtain this large surface of metallic lead by forming the electrode with a
number of strips, ribbons, or wires of metallic lead, arranged in rows and integrally
united with a base or wall of similar material, and preferably at right angles
thereto.
The two electrodes for every pair have their projecting strips, ribbons, or wires,
so arranged, that when in their proper relative position, the bases or walls will be
opposite and parallel the one with the other, and the rows of strips, ribbon, or

page_text: wires projecting from one plate or base, will interlock or alternate with those on
the other plate or base, and will leave room for the insertion between them of
insulating plates of glass or other suitable material.
I preferably attach the rows of lead strips or wires to their respective bases or
walls by fusing them together, but they may be cast in one therewith in a mould.
I have found by experiment that if a row of lead strips be suspended over a
mould so that the ends dip into the mould and molten lead be run into the mould,
not only does the molten metal fuse the ends which actually dip into it, but the
heat is so great that a considerable portion of the lead strips above the surface of
the molten metal becomes fused, and falls into the mould, leaving the strips ununited
with the metal in the mould, when cool.
I have found that a practical way of uniting the wires or strips of metallic lead
with a base or wall of metallic lead, for the purposes of my invention, is to clamp
n row of the said wires or strips in a frame, between two or more blocks or plates
of cold iron or other suitable non fusible substance, leaving the extremities of the
several wires or strips projecting the required distance, and just before running the
lead, which is to be integrally united with these strips or wires, into the mould, to
place the chill clamping frame and blocks containing the row or rows of strips or
wires over a hot mould, and admit the molten metal.
This will fuso the extremities of the strips or wires until it reaches the chill
surface, when the lead will at onco set around the said strips or wires, and when
cool, will be found to bo firmly united thereto. I do not limit myself to this
precise mode of chill casting as applied to the construction of electrodes in secondary
batteries, as other means equally efficient may be devised without deviating from
the principle of my invention, which consists in the construction of electrodes of
secondary batteries out of metallic lead disposed in a series of comb-like rows of
strips, wires, or ribbons, projecting from and integrally connected with a common
base or wall, also of metallic lead.
The form of strip which I prefer, as giving a large surface and adapting itself
to the other requirements of the case, is that of a lozenge or elongated diamond
shape in cross section and the lead may be squirted under hydraulic pressure in
this form. I prefer to arrange these strips side by side in rows with their narrower
axes in line and touching, and the corresponding rows of strips of the other
electrode alternating between the rows of the first electrode, and to insulate the
several rows by plates of grooved glass or other suitable insulating material placed
between them. The grooves or channels formed on each side of each row of strips
and the grooves in the insulating plates between them give ample space for the
action of the liquid on the elements after the battery has been " formed " by electric
current in the usual manner, and also allow the evolved gases to escape freely.
Dated this 7th day of April 1881

page_text: I, EDWARD JONES of Westhill Terrace, Chapel Allerton, Leods in the County
of York, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN SECONDARY BATTERIES and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is to construct a simple and efficient secondary or
storage battery. Various attempts have been to attain this result. In some cases
finely divided lead has been packed in reticulated plates of metallic lead, while in
others it has been proposed to cast a support or framework of lead around studs,
prisms, or cones, formed of finely divided lead compressed to the desired shape.
One defect common to such batteries is due to the difficulty of effecting a perfect
union between the so-called "active material" (finely divided or spongy lead) and
the material (lead or lead alloy) of which the supporting plates are formed, as
unless a perfect union is effected the acid gradually gets between the plugs or
pieces of spongy or finely divided lead and their supports, the plugs or prisms
work loose and fall to the bottom of the battery, and great inconvenience and loss
of efficiency result.
It has been proposed to remedy this defect by casting the lead or lead alloy
around the bases of the studs or prisms of spongy or finely divided lead, but no
practical means has been hitherto devised for carrying this into effect.
Now in constructing secondary batteries according to my invention I dispense
entirely with the use of spongy or finely divided lead, or lead previously "formed"
or provided with an active coating in the construction of the electrodes prior to
forming" the battery; and I construct my electrodes of metallic lead or lead alloy
in the manner hereinafter described.
"
In my improved secondary battery each electrode in a pair is a counterpart of
the other and each is formed throughout of metallic lead or lead alloy so disposed
as to present a very large extent of surface to the action of the exciting fluid in
the battery.
I obtain this large surface by constructing each electrode with a number of
strips, ribbons, or wires of metallic lead arranged in rows and integrally united
with a base or plate of similar material, and preferably at right angles thereto.
The two electrodes for every pair have their projecting strips, ribbons, or wires
so arranged, that when in their proper relative position in the cell the said bases
or plates will be opposite and parallel the one to the other, and the rows of strips,
ribbons, or wires projecting from one plate or base, will interlock or alternate with
those on the other plate or base and will leave room for the insertion between the
said several rows, of insulating plates of glass or other suitable material.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1. is a plan view of a complete cell constructed
according to my invention.
Fig 2: is a longitudinal section on the line 1-2 of Fig: 1; and
Fig: 3 is an end elevation of the cell partly in section.
:
Fig 4 is a plan of a pair of interlocking electrodes constructed according to
my invention but having their projecting strips arranged in concentric circles.
A is the jar or cell which forms the receptacle for the electrodes and the exciting
liquid, and which is of porcelain or other suitable acid-proof material. B B¹ aro
the end plates of the electrodes formed of lead integrally united to a number of
strips, ribbons, or wires C, C', also of lead, arranged in rows. D D¹ are the

page_text: terminals of the electrodes for connecting two or more cells together and for
connecting the cells with the charging dynamo, or with the circuit on which they
are to be used,
E E are the insulating strips which serve to keep the several rows of strips
separate, and which may be of any insulating material such as glass, vulcanite, or
wood suitably prepared to resist the action of the electrolyte, which preparation
may be conveniently effected by boiling the wood in paraffin wax.
F F¹ are rods or bars also of insulating material which pass through holes in
the insulating strips E E and keep them in place. The lower rods or bars F form
supports for the lead strips of the electrodes to rest upon, and keep the said
electrodes clear of the bottom of the cell A, thereby obviating all risk of short
circuiting the electrodes by means of any foreign matter which may get into the
cell and be deposited on the bottom. The strips E E and rods or bars F F¹,
constitute an insulating and supporting frame by which the pair of electrodes aro
held in their proper relative positions, and by temporarily connecting the upper
bars F to a rod or common support, the pair of electrodes can be readily lifted in
or out of the cell.
The form in which I prefer to use the strips C C² is illustrated in cross section
in Fig 5, on a scale of about 5 to 1, and is that of a lozenge or elongated
diamond.
I prefer this form because it exposes a large surface to the exciting liquid while
leaving intact a sufficient centre or core of metal to render the conductivity
exceedingly good; because strips of this form will pack closely and are not liable
to crumble at their edges, and because they are well adapted to promote the
unimpeded circulation of the exciting liquid and the free escape of the evolved
gases.
I prefor to form the lead strips of this section in a machine by expressing or
squirting the lead under hydraulic pressure, the strip being straightened by means
of roughened drawing rollers which will grip it firmly and it is then cut up
into lengths.
I prefer to arrange these strips in rows with their narrower axes in line and
touching; the rows of strips C, in one electrode, alternateing or interlocking with
the rows of strips C¹ in the other electrode; and to insulate the several rows from
one another by strips of wood suitably treated to resist the attack of the acid, or
by strips of other suitable insulating material such as glass, which may be plain or
corrugated as shown in Figs: 6; and be pierced with holes to allow of the insertion
of the connecting rods F F¹, also of insulating material.
The strips C C¹ might be arranged side by side in horizontal rows instead of
resting the one on the other in vertical rows; or they might be curved so as to
interlock concentrically as shown in Fig. 4, but the arrangement shown in
Figs 1, 2 and 3 is that which I prefer.
By this construction and arrangement of the electrodes all chance of the plates
bulging in a direction which will cause them to touch each other is obviated,
while the strips in each row are free to rise and fall as the lead expands or
contracts. Moreover each strip being integrally united to a supporting plate or
base of similar material to itself, an unbroken metallic conduction in each electrode
is secured, which greatly promotes the efficiency of the battery.
The terminal bolts D are preferably. made of tinned iron, and the electrodes
which connect together the terminals of similar electrodes in a battery of several
cells may be of copper, tin or other metal.
dd are washers which prevent the nuts from cutting into the lead when the
terminals D are clamped to their respective electrodes.
I will now proceed to explain the method by which I unite the rows of lead
strips or wires to their respective bases or plates. It has been found by experiment
that if a row of lead strips be suspended over a mould so that the ends dip into the
mould, and molten lead be run into the mould, not only does the molten metal fuse
the ends which actually dip or protrude into it, but the heat is so great that a

page_text: considerable portion of the lead strips above the surface of the molten metal
becomes fused, and falls into the mould, leaving the strips ununited with the metal
in the mould when cool.
I have found that a practical way of uniting the wires or strips of metallic lead
with a base or wall of metallic lead for the purpose of my invention, is to clamp a
row or rows of the said wires or strips in a frame between two or more blocks or
plates of cold iron or other heat conducting substance, leaving the extremities of
the several wires or strips projecting a short distance from the frame; and just
before running the lead which is to be integrally united with those strips or wires
into the mould; to place the chill clamping frame and blocks containing the row
or rows of strips or wires, over a hot mould, and admit the molten metal.
This will fuse the extremities of the strips or wires until it reaches the chill
surface, when the lead will at once set around the said strips and wires and when
cool will be found to be integrally united thereto.
In Figs 7. 8. 9 and 10 I have illustrated one form of casting box such as
I employ for integrally uniting the several rows of lead strips to their respective
end plates or bases.
Fig: 7 is a plan view and
Fig: 8. a section on the line 1-2 of Fig 7 of the upper part of the casting box
in which the said rows of strips are clamped.
Fig 9 is a plan view of the lower part of the casting box, and
Fig: 10 is a section on the line 3-4 of Fig: 9.
G is the frame preferably of cast iron in which the lead strips are clamped.
preparatory to the casting operation. This frame is grooved vertically at its sides
to receive metal plates H which fit loosely within the said grooves. The plates H
have flanged tops which rest on the side edges of the frame G and in that position
their bottom surfaces are flush with the bottom of the frame G.
I, I, are clamping screws.
The strips of lead are filled into the spaces between the metal plates H, with
their ends projecting equally therefrom for a distance slightly in excess of the depth
of the recess in the mould J, (Fig: 10).
The screws I, I, are then turned and the several rows of strips are securely
clamped in the frame G ready for the casting operation.
KK are stops or guides on the mould by which the two halves of the casting
box may be rapidly and accurately fitted together. L is a pin or core for casting
the hole in the end plate which is to receive the terminal bolt.
The mode of procedure is as follows:-
The strips having been fixed in the frame G as above described, and the ends of
the strips having been lightly smeared over with a mixture of resin and oil, the
mould J is heated to a dull red, the frame G is placed thereon with the ends of the
strips resting on the bottom of the recess j. As soon as the ends of the lead strips
are melted by contact with the hot metal of the mould, which occurs almost
immediately, the molten lead which is to form the plate to which the strips are to
be united is poured into the mould, the whole of the ends of the several strips
becoming united by fusion with the lead contained in the recess.
This molten lead becomes fused with the ends of the strips of lead within the
mould, but is chilled on reaching the frame G and plates or blocks H, and this
chilling effectually prevents the further melting of the strips. When cool the whole
of the strips will be found to be integrally united to a plate of solid metal and the
electrode is then removed from the casting box.
I do not limit myself to this precise mode of chill casting as applied to the
construction of electrodes in secondary batteries, as other means equally efficient
may be devised without deviating from the principle of my invention, which
consists in the construction of interlocking electrodes for secondary batteries out of
metallic lead or solid metal disposed in a series of comb-like rows of strips, wires,
or ribbons, projecting from and integrally connected with, a common base or wall
of like material,

page_text: It will be obvious that interlocking electrodes for secondary batteries may be
constructed in the manner above described from other metals than lead or from
alloys and I do not therefore limit my invention to electrodes of lead, though I prefer
to employ that metal; and also that the metal strips may be arranged in concentric
curves or circles as well as in straight lines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The construction of interlocking electrodes for secondary batteries as and for
the purpose described with reference to the Drawings.
2. In a secondary battery the combination and arrangement of interlocking metal
electrodes B B', and insulating supports E F F' substantially as described with
reference to Figs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Drawings.
3. An electrode for secondary batteries having strips or wires integrally united
to a common supporting plate or base and extending therefrom in parallel or
concentric comb-like rows, the independent strips or wires in each row lying
closely together, but preferably touching, and being in section of elliptical or
lozenge shape, or of such other form as will present a large surface to the exciting
liquid and facilitate the escape of gases; clear spaces being left between the several
rows of strips, for the reception of the rows of strips of another electrodo similarly
constructed.
4. The means above described with reference to Figs 7 to 10 of the Drawings for
connecting together strips or wires of easily fusible metal such as lead to form
electrodes for secondary batteries.