Improvements in Secondary Electrical Storage Batteries or Accumulators.
Year: 1893

page_text: being date of first Foreign Application (in 11th July, 1892
United States),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 2nd Feb., 1893
Complate Specification Left. 2nd Feb. 1893-Accented. 2nd Sent.. 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Secondary Electrical Storage Batteries or
Accumulators.
1, NATHAN HUNTLEY EDGERTON, of the Township of West Whiteland, the
County of Chester, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
"
11
My invention relates to electric accumulators, commonly known as "secondary
or storage batteries" the object sought to be attained being a cheap, simple and
compact construction of battery, and at the same time to develop an increased
voltage or tension of electrical energy, and to the end sought consists in a con-
struction and use of a battery hereinafter particularly explained which shall
possess advantages in the points of simplicity of construction and efficiency in
operation.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a battery constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the same.
Fig. 3, a side view of one of the series of frames, showing a layer of active
material within the same, and Fig. 4, a view of the perforated plate employed in
conjunction with the frame in the preliminary preparation of the battery.
Reforring to the drawings in which the several parts are indicated by numerals
similar numerals denoting like parts in the several views-1, is a frame, preferably
rectangular in outline and of hard rubber or other suitable non-conducting
material-centrally or midway placed within this frame is a metal plate 2. In
practice a series of such frames and plates is employed and to both sides of said
respective plates is applied a layer of active material 3. In order to make each of
Baid plates both a positive and negative plate-that is to say, one side or surface
of the plate of positive polarity and the opposite side or surface of the same plate
of negative polarity, each plate is provided as to one side with a layer of red lead,
and as to its other side with a layer of litharge, or their equivalent active material,
and arranged in a manner presently made clear. The active material is baked
onto said metal plate and this is conveniently accomplished in the following manner :-
The metal plate and active material being in place within the frame 1, a perforated
plate 6 is removably secured to each side of the frame in a suitable manner next the
active material, and intermediate each perforated plato 5 and active material 3 is
placed a sheet of asbestus paper 4 or suitable equivalent moisture absorbing
naterial, which has been previously soaked with an electrolytic liquid.
The frames constituting the respective ends of the battery as a whole, differ in
heir make up from the other frames in the series ouly, in that, in each of said
frames the metal plate is loft free as to one side; aud in one instance is provided
•

page_text: with a layer of active material such as" red lead," and in the other instance with
a layer of active material such as litharge. To the free sides of said plates
preferably at or near the center thereof, are connected or attached the positive and
negative wires respectively, and the current sent through the whole in a manner
presently explained.
The perforated plates 5 admit the liquid electrolyte to the active mass, while the
layers of asbestus paper 4 or the like serve the double purpose of absorbing and
holding liquid electrolyte to keep the active mass moist and to prevent the escape
of the active mass through the perforated plates. The series of frames constituting
the battery are set up, in such manner that the red-lead active material of one
frame faces the litharge active material of the next frame and the sheet of asbestus
paper between the same, and so on throughout the series.
After the active mass has been sufficiently baked, the perforated plates 5 are
removed-the series of frames and their contents are then clamped together or hold
in close contact in a suitable manner; in the drawings I have shown for this
purpose an elongated box or trough 8 and provided at each end with a tightening
Borew 9-and tho battery is ready for use and may be charged or discharged free
of being contained in a bath of electrolytic liquid, sufficient moisture inay be
imparted to the battery as desired through the asbestus paper or other moisture
holding or absorbing medium employed intermediate adjacent or facing layers of
active material, by pouring the electrolytic liquid over the battery or by seating
the battery for a short time in a shallow vessel containing such liquid.
In the construction of battery described, as stated, the connecting positive and
negative.wires of the battery are attached to the free sides of the metal plates at
the respective ends of the battery proper, and the current caused to pass centrally
so to speak, through the battery as a whole, that is to say, the current comes to the
positive pole as at 6, and leaves by the negative polo, as at 7, in its passage first
reaching the metal plate 2 which has positive polarity, passing through the
moistening medium and the layer of active material (litharge) of the next frame
to the nonr side of the metal plate 2 in that frame which has negativo polarity,
delivered from thence to the opposite side or surface of said plate 2 and adjacent
layer of active material (red lead) which has positive polarity, and so on from plato
to plate in each frame in like order to the delivery wire 7.
It will at once be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention
appertains that such a construction of hattery overcomes the difficulties heretofore
existing in construction and adaptability of storage batteries, in that all inter-
mediate couplings or connections between the metal plates are unnecessary, the
overpresent electrolytic bath with its accompanying pungent odor, and swashing or
overflow when mounted on a moving support avoided, thus providing a superior
battery for use in street car locomotion, further, greater compactness for use,
cheapness in construction, and there being but little internal resistance greater
efficiency in oporation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declaro that what I
claim is :-
•
1. A secondary or storage battery constructed, arranged, and adapted to operate
free, of any characteristic surrounding electrolytic liquid, consisting of a series of
independent frames unsusceptible to the action of electricity or electrolytic liquid,
each provided with a metal plate, the plate in the respective end frames of the
battery provided on one side with a layor of active material, and the respective
intermediate plates provided as to both sides with a layer of active material, a
moisture-absorbing agent of the character described, intermediate adjacent layers
of active material of neighboring fraines, the end metal plates in the series adapted
to become of different polarity upon the passing of the charging ourrent, and each
intermediate plate adapted to become of different polarity as to its respective sidos
or surfaces upon the passing of the charging current, in successive order throughout.

page_text: the series to preserve polarity, and electrical connections with the respective end
metal plates, as and for the purposes set forth.
2. A secondary or storage battery constructed, arranged and adapted to operate
free of any characteristic surrounding electrolytic liquid, consisting of a series of
independent non-conducting frames, each frame provided with a inetal plate, the
respective plates in the end frames of the battery provided on one side with a
layer of active material, and the respective intermediate plates provided as to both
sides with a layer of active material, a moisture-absorbing agent of the character
described, intermediate adjacent layers of active material of neighboring frames,
the metal plates in the respective and frames adapted to become of different
polarity upon the passing of a charging current, and each intermediate metal plate
similarly adapted to become of different polarity as to its respective sides or
surfaces upon the passing of a charging current, in successive order throughout the
series to preserve polarity, and electrical connections with the end plates only, as
described and for the purposes set forth.
3. A secondary or storage battery constructed, arranged, and adapted to operate
free of any characteristic surrounding electrolytic liquid, consisting of a series of
independent frames unsusceptible to the action of electricity or electrolytio liquid,
each frame provided with a metal plate, the plate in the respective end frames of
the battery provided on one side with a layer of active material and the respective
intermediate plates provided as to both sides with a layer of active material, a
moisture-absorbing agent of the character described, intermediate adjacent layers
of active material of neighboring frames, the end metal plates in the series adapted
to become of different polarity upon the passing of the charging current, and
each intermediate metal plate similarly adapted to become of different polarity as
to its respective sides or surfaces upon the passing of the charging current in
successive order throughout the series to preserve polarity, electrical connections
with the respective end metal plates only, and means for compactly holding said
series of frames, as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1893.
J. C. CHAPMAN, C.P.A.,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Filing Agent..