Electrodes for Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1802
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Electrodes for Secondary Batteries.
A. communication from abroad by WILLIAM MORRISON, of Des Moines, in the
County of Polk, State of Iowa, United States of America, Electrician.
I, JOHN CORRY FELL of the firm of Fell and Wilding, of 1, Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, 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 :-
My invention relates to that class of secondary battery or voltaic accumulator
known as the "Plante" type in which type the material of the electrode is "formed"
by the action of the current as contradistinguished from that class of battery in
which the active material or material to become active is mechanically applied to
a supporting plate or grid.
In the well known secondary plate of the Plante type the material to become
active consists of a solid mass of metallic lead, which is formed into a porous
condition by repeated, successive and reversed primary charges, and secondary
discharges, with intermediate intervals of rest, this process of formation being of
long duration and expensive by reason of the amount of current necessary to
complete the formation of the plate, and ultimately providing a plate capable of but
a small output.
In the well known Faure type the plate is constructed by the mechanical
application of lead oxide in the form of a paste or cement, so also metallic lead and
mercury in a granulated state has been mechanically applied to the supporting
plate or grid, the mercury being eliminated to produce permeability or porosity,
but it is well known that the greatest difficulty experienced in plates of this
character arises from the scaling or falling off of the active material from the grid
in the operation of the battery.
The object of my present invention is to so construct a battery plate as that the
utmost extent of surface is presented to the action of the electrolyte in the
operation of the battery, which plate may be formed with the utmost facility and
readiness, and which shall also be of such a character as to permit free expansion in
the charge and thus prevent the injurious effects incident to warping and buckling,
and which shall be firmly and securely bound and held together in such a manner
as that the parts thereof resist all tendency to separate under the charge.
My object further is to provide a plate which is formed practically and with
expedition wholly and solely by the current of electricity, without the mechanical
application of oxides to a support, frame or grid, which plate is intimately bound
along its edges, and which has approximately equal spaces extending from one side
of the plate to the other, whereby ample opportunity is given for the free and equal
expansion of the material in the primary charge, so that the parts of the plate
cannot by any possibility be severed or disjoined, these results being accomplished
by means which produce a completed electrode of much less weight, and which is so
produced at a materially less expense, and in addition to the other advantages
enumerated also providing an electrode of maximum conductivity,
In the manufacture of electrodes of the Plante type in which the electrode is
"formed" by the electric current, my invention consists in providing suitable
lengths of material to be acted upon by the current, which material is cut into
strips of a ribbon or tape form, and, as a preliminary step before being secured and
built up in the form of a plate or electrode, in winding said lengths of ribbon or
tape of material in the form of elongated coils, in such manner as that said coils
have interior spaces extending from end to end thereof, and afterwards arranging a
plurality or number of the coils so preliminarily constructed, side by side in the

page_text: form of a plate, and then securing them at their ends firmly in a fixed position by
any suitable means, or in preliminarily positioning lengths or strips of said material
so as to form bundles, and afterwards arranging the bundles so preliminarily
formed adjacent to each other side by side in such a manner as to be built up in
the form of a plate, and provide spaces between the bundles from end to end,
and then securing the ends of the bundles firmly in a fixed position by any suitable
means.
In the manufacture of electrodes of the Plante type in which the electrode is
"formed" by the electric current, my invention consists further in coils or bundles
of material preliminarily constructed from lengths of material cut into a tape or
ribbon form and afterwards built up in the form of a plate, providing spaces
extending from end to end of the coils or bundles to admit of free and equal
expansion in the primary charge, and in holding the ends of said coils or bundles by
means of conducting rods firmly secured along or at the ends of the coils or bundles
so built up in the form of a plate.
A further object of my invention is to so construct a battery plate of the type
described, as that the utmost extent of surface is presented to the action of the
electrolyte in the operation of the battery, which plate may be formed with the
utmost facility and readiness, and which shall also be of such a character as to
permit free expansion in the charge and thus prevent the injurious effects incident
to warping and buckling, and which shall be firmly and securely bound and held
together in such a manner as that the parts thereof resist all tendency to separate
under the charge.
My object further is to provide a plate which is formed practically and with
expedition wholly and solely by the current of electricity without the mechanical
application of oxides to a support, frame or grid, which plate is intimately bound
along its edges, and which has equal spaces extending alternately from one side of
the plate to the other, whereby ample opportunity is given for the free and equal
expansion of the material in the primary charge so that the parts of the plate
cannot by any possibility be severed or disjoined, these results being accomplished
by means which produce a completed electrode of much less weight and which is
produced at a materially less expense, and in addition to the other advantages
enumerated also providing an electrode of maximum conductivity.
In the manufacture of electrodes of the Plante type in which the electrode is
"formed by the electric current my invention consists further in providing a
suitable length or lengths of material to be acted upon by the current, which
material is cut into a length or lengths of a ribbon or tape form, and, as a
preliminary step before being secured and built up in the form of a plate or
electrode, in winding a single length or a plurality of said lengths of ribbon or tape
of material in a serpentine form in such a manner as that spaces are formed between
the turns, compressing and bringing together the turns of the length or lengths at
their ends and then securing their ends firmly in a fixed position by any suitable
means, so that alternately equal spaces are provided extending from one side or end
of the completed electrode to the other.
In the manufacture of electrodes of the Plante type in which the electrode is
"formed" by the electric current my invention consists further in providing a
suitable length or lengths of material of a tape or ribbon form, and as a preliminary
step winding said length or lengths in a serpentine form in such a manner as that
after the ends of the turns are compressed and brought together alternate spaces
are provided extending from end to end of the electrode to admit of free and equal
expansion in the primary charge, and in holding the ends of said turns of material
by means of conducting rods firmly and securely along or at the ends of the
same.
My invention has for its object also further the provision of means by which the
edges or sides or ends of an electrode for secondary batteries may be so secured,
firmly and intimately bound together as that in charging the battery by an
electrical current the electrode cannot be severed, disrupted or torn apart by the

page_text: arping and buckling of the material, or from any other causes, this result to be
ccomplished by means which are simple and inexpensive, each plate being so bound
ntimately, securely and firmly together at its edges, sides or ends by a minimum
xpenditure of labour and time.
In the manufacture of electrodes for secondary batteries my improvement consists
lso in applying to the edges, or sides or ends of the electrode a suitable solder or
uitable binding agent, by immersing or dipping the edges, sides or ends of the
electrode in a suitable molten bath of said solder or binding agent and permitting
the latter to set and harden intimately to, upon and with said edges, or sides or ends
of the electrode, so that the edges or sides or ends of the electrode are so firmly
and intimately bound as to resist successfully all tendency toward the disruption,
severing or breaking apart of the electrode under the action of the primary
charge.
My invention consists also in certain details about to be described, reference
being now had to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a completed electrode constructed in accordance with
one of my improved plans.
Figure 2 is a detail view showing the preliminary act of winding.
Figure 3 is a view of a portion of an électrode showing crossing conducting rods.
Figure 4 is an edge view of one of the plates shown in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is an edge view of the electrode shown in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is an edge view of the form of plate shown in Figures 7 and 8.
Figure 7 is a side view of another form of electrode.
Figure 8 is a detail view showing the preliminary act of forming or winding the
individual coils of material, subsequently joined.
Figure 9 is another view showing individual bundles made of strips of material.
Figure 10 is an edge view of the connecting frame.
Figure 11 is a detail view of the surrounding frame of conducting rods shown
joined.
Figure 12 is a detail edge view of one of the coils of material, showing the
notched edges.
Figure 13 is a detail edge view of the form of plate shown in Figure 9.
Figure 14 is a view of an electrode made up of a single wound strip of tape
material.
Figure 15 is a view showing the act of forming the single length.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of a bath of molten solder, illustrating the
dipping of one side of an electrode therein.
Figure 17 is a side view of an electrode, the dotted lines indicating the extent of
the application of the solder to the edges, sides or ends of the electrode.
In the construction of that form of electrode having alternate spaces, I provide a
continuous length, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, or a plurality of continuous
lengths as shown in Figures 1 and 2, of the material lead, cut into the form of a
tape or ribbon, and designated by the letters A, which I wind or bend about
separate cores B, into the form shown in Figure 2, and afterwards remove the said
cores B and compress the ends C of the turns and bring said ends together. I then
cut grooves or slots D, (Figure 12), in that which is now in the form of an
electrode, on each side thereof, and insert and secure in said grooves D the side
conducting rods E, E. I also provide top and botton conducting rods H, H³, the
rod H having the terminal H³, these rods being connected to the ends of the side
conducting rods E, E.
I preferably secure the conducting rods firmly in position and also the ends C of
the turns of the material by immersing the sides of the plates in a suitable molten
solder, which process is hereinafter described and claimed, but I do not desire it to
be understood that I limit myself to conducting rods of any description joined
with the plates constructed as shown, nor to the manner in which the said
conducting rods are secured to the plate, although the same constitutes a part of
my invention.

page_text: In Figure 3I have shown a form of plate employing coils such as are hereinafter
described, and also crossing conducting rods J, disposed at intervals between said
coils and extending across from one of the side conducting rods E to the other, the
purpose of these conducting rods J being to materially lengthen the life of the
plate as they serve to brace and strengthen the plate by reason of the greater
thickness, when by reason of long continued use the thinner leaves or strips become
weakened.
22
By this means of construction I provide an electrode for secondary batteries
"formed by the primary current, consisting in a multiplicity of leaves or strips of
material so securely held as that equal alternate spaces are provided extending
from one side of the electrode to the other, and thus affording ample opportunity
for the free expansion of the material under the charge, so that the injurious
results following from warping, binding and buckling are avoided, and providing a
plate in which the formation is materially expedited, since the current enters
immediately to the interior of the plate and thus shortens the time occupied in
superficial attacks.
I am aware that electrodes for storage batteries of this type have heretofore been
constructed, in which material has been "fluted," built up into a plate, and after-
wards each individual and separate one of the flutes severed or cut to provide
spaces, but this mode is impracticable in view of the laboriousness of the process
and the length of time required to construct a plate.
In Figures 14 and 15 I have shown a single continuous length, which is also
wound about the core B, in a like manner to those shown in Figure 2, compressing
the ends of the turns and securing them in place with the conducting rods also in
the same manner as in Figure 1.
Referring to another form of electrode shown in Figures 6 and 7, A² designates
one of a number of coils constructed by winding a length of lead cut into the form
of a ribbon or tape about a suitable core piece B, these coils being thus formed
preliminarily to their arrangement side by side in the shape of a plate.
The ends of the coils A2, when arranged side by side and after removing the
core piece 13, present side edges B3, B5, of the completed electrode C, and
also provide intermediate spaces B, B, extending from one side of the electrode
to the other.
When so arranged the ends of the coils A² are slotted or grooved as at D,
(Figure 12), and by reason of the disposition of said ends the slot or groove
extends continuously along the side edges of the completed electrode C, side
conducting rods E, E, being let into the said groove or slot D, these conducting
rods being connected with top and bottom conducting rods H, H2, the rod H
having the terminal H*.
When the parts are all connected and positioned I preferably bind the edges B³, B³,
and the conducting rods E, E, HI and H2 intimately and firmly together by
immersing the said ends of the coils A, constituting said edges, in a suitable molten
solder, but I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the conducting
rods or their manner of joinder with the coils or with each other, although the
same constitutes a part of my invention.
In Figure 9 the plate is built up of a number of bundles J, which are
preliminarily constructed by cutting lengths of lead, in the form of a tape or
ribbon, into strips and arranging these strips in these bundles J2, which latter are
cut and grooved in like manner to the coils A, and arranged adjacent to each other
side by side with the spaces between them. The side conductor rods E, E, are
let into the groove and connected with the top and bottom conductor rods, the
side edges of the completed electrode K being secured in the manner hereinbefore
described as preferable.
By this means of construction I provide an electrode for secondary batteries
"formed" by the primary current, consisting in a multiplicity of leaves or strips of
material so securely held as that spaces are provided extending from one side of
the electrode to the other, and thus affording ample opportunity for the free

page_text: expansion of the material under the charge so that the injurious results following
from warping, binding and buckling are avoided, and providing a plate in which
the "formation" is materially expedited, since the current enters immediately to
the interior of the plate and thus shortens the time occupied in superficial
attacks.
I have shown a plate in the act of being immersed or dipped, such as described
herein, but I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the particular
type of plate shown, nor do I desire to be understood as limiting myself to any
particular character of plate, and will now proceed to a description of the manner
of joining the members of the electrode.
A³, designates the electrode, which as shown in Figure 16, is grasped by the
hands of the operator and one of its edges or sides immersed within the bath B,
of a suitable solder, or suitable binding agent contained within the vessel C³.
In Figure 17 the dotted lines D' designate the extent to which the edges or
sides or ends of the clectrode A' is immersed within the solder or binding agent.
It is now apparent that a plate is provided which will resist the tendency to
break asunder or disrupt during the process of charging with the primary current,
since the edges, or sides, or ends of the plates are firmly and securely united in
an intimate bond, the main or body portion of the plate itself being undisturbed,
and thus made capable of performing all of its usual and ordinary functions.
It is further apparent that this means of securing the edges or sides or ends of
an electrode is most simple in character and may be accomplished with the
expenditure of the smallest amount of time and labour, it being unnecessary to
mechanically apply any surrounding rim, frame or rods, or to cast any specific
means for holding said edges or sides or ends, or to fuse the material by the action
of heat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the current of electricity, the
improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of strips or lengths of
material, which material is in the form of a tape or ribbon, constituting separate
members, which members are afterwards built up in the form of a plate or electrode,
and provide spaces or openings extending approximately from one side or end of
the electrode to the other, and suitable means for securing the individual members.
II. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the electric current, the
improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of a plurality of elongated
coils, which coils have spaces or openings extending approximately from one end
of the coils to the other, building up the said coils so preliminarily constructed in
the shape of an electrode, and securing said coils approximately at their ends.
III. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed by the electric current, the
improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of a plurality of bundles
of strips or lengths of material in the shape of a plate, which bundles are so
disposed as to provide spaces between them extending approximately from one
side or end of the plate to the other, and securing said bundles fixedly in position.
IV. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the electric current, the
improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of strips or lengths of
material, which material is in the shape of a ribbon constituting separate members,
which members are afterwards built up in the form of a plate or electrode and
provide spaces or openings extending approximately from one side or end of the
electrode to the other, and conducting rods firmly secured along or at the ends of
the members so built up in the form of an electrode.
V. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the electric current the
improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of a plurality of elongated
coils, which coils have spaces or openings extending approximately from one end

page_text: of the coils to the other, building up the said coils so preliminarily constructed in
the shape of an electrode, and securing conducting rods to the ends of the coils.
22
VI. In the manufacture of electrodes formed by the electric current, the
improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of a plurality of bundles
of strips or lengths of material in the shape of a plate, which bundles are so
disposed as to provide spaces between them extending from approximately one side
or end of the plate to the other, and securing conducting rods to the ends of the
coils.
VII. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the current of electricity,
the improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of strips or lengths of
material, which material is in the form of a tape or ribbon, constituting separate
members, which members are afterwards built up in the form of a plate or electrode
and provide spaces or openings extending approximately from one side or end of
the electrode to the other, said members having slotted or grooved ends, and con-
ducting rods firmly held in said slots or grooves.
VIII. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the current of electricity,
the improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of strips or lengths of
material which material is in the form of a tape or ribbon, constituting separate
members, which members are afterwards built up in the form of a plate or electrode,
and provide spaces or openings extending approximately from one side or end of
the electrode to the other, said members having slotted or grooved ends, side
conducting pieces firmly held in said grooves or slots, together with top and bottom
conducting rods held to the side conducting rods, one of the former having a
suitable terminal.
IX. As a new article of manufacture an electrode for storage batteries adapted
to be formed" by the current of electricity, having a multiplicity of leaves,
lengths or strips of the material, providing alternate spaces or interstices extending
completely from side to side or end to end of the electrodes, which spaces or
interstices are of approximately equal distance.
"
X. As a new article of manufacture an electrode for storage batteries adapted to
be "formed by the current of electricity, having a multiplicity of leaves, lengths
or strips of the material, providing spaces or interstices extending completely from
side to side or end to end of the electrode.
XI. As a new article of manufacture an electrode for storage batteries adapted
to be "formed" by the current of electricity, having a multiplicity of leaves,
lengths of strips of the material, providing spaces or interstices extending com-
pletely from side to side or end to end of the electrode, which spaces or interstices
are of approximately equal distance.
XII. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the current of electricity,
the improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of a plurality of strips
or lengths of material in the form of a tape or ribbon, winding or binding said
material in a serpentine form in the shape of an electrode to provide spaces or
openings extending approximately from one side or end of the electrode to the
other of alternate approximately equal size, and suitable means for securing the
ends of the turns.
XIII. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the electric current,
the improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of a plurality of turns
of material in a tape or ribbon form to provide spaces or openings extending
approximately from one end of the turns to the other of alternate approximately
equal size, and securing said turns approximately at their ends.
XIV. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the electric current, the
improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of a plurality of turns or
lengths of material in the shape of a plate, said lengths being of a ribbon or tape
form and which are so disposed as to provide spaces between them extending from
approximately one side or end of the plate to the other, and of approximately
equal size, and securing said turns fixedly in position.

page_text: XV. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed " by the electric current, the
improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of strips or lengths of
material which material is in the shape of a ribbon, winding, bending or turning
the said lengths in a serpentine form and in the shape of a plate or electrode to
provide spaces or openings extending approximately from one side or end of the
electrode to the other, which spaces are alternately of approximately equal size,
and conducting rods firmly secured along or at the ends of the turns of the material
so built up in the shape of an electrode.
XVI. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the electric current, the
improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of a plurality of turns of
material of a tape or ribbon form to provide spaces or openings extending
approximately from one end of the turns to the other and of alternate approximately
equal size, and securing conducting rods to the ends of the turns.
XVII. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the electric current, the
improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of strips or lengths of
material, which material is in the form of a tape or ribbon, winding, bending or
turning the said lengths in a serpentine form in the shape of a plate or electrode
to provide spaces or openings extending approximately from one side or end of the
plate to the other and of alternate approximate equal size, said turns having slotted
or grooved ends, and conducting rods firmly held in said slots or grooves.
XVIII. In the manufacture of electrodes "formed" by the current of electricity,
the improvement consisting in the preliminary construction of strips or lengths of
material, which material is in the form of a tape or ribbon, winding, bending or
turning the said lengths in a serpentine form in the shape of a plate or electrode
to provide spaces or openings extending approximately from one side or end of the
electrode to the other of alternate approximately equal size, the said turns having
slotted or grooved ends, side conducting pieces firmly held in said grooves or slots,
together with top and bottom connecting rods held to the side conducting rods, one
of the former having a suitable terminal.
XIX. An electrode for secondary batteries made up of leaves or strips of
material of relatively small thickness, and cross conducting rods of relatively
greater thickness, disposed at intervals.
XX. In the manufacture of electrodes for secondary batteries, the improve-
ment consisting in applying to the edges or sides or ends of the electrode a suitable
solder or suitable binding agent by immersing or dipping the edges or sides or ends
of the electrode in a suitable molten bath of said solder or binding agent and
permitting the latter to set and harden intimately to, upon and with said edges or
sides or ends of the electrode, so that the edges or sides or ends of the electrode
are firmly and intimately bound.
XXI. As a new article of manufacture an electrode for secondary batteries, the
edges or sides or ends of which are firmly and intimately bound by immersing or
dipping said sides or edges or ends of the electrode in a suitable molten bath of
solder or other suitable binding agent.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.