Improvements in and connected with Connections for Storage Cells.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Connections for Storage Cells.
EDWARD JOHN WADE, Engineer, and THE ELECTRIC MOTIVE POWER Co. LTD.,
both of 16, Elm Street, Gray's Inn Road, London, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
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It is well known that great ditliculty has been experienced in forming removable
connections for storage cells owing to the fact that the connecting bolts or clamps
become corroded, & that metallic salts injurious to the battery become formed, &
are liable to fall into the electrolyte.
We have discovered that the corrosion is almost wholly due to galvanic action.
set up between the lead lug & the metal bolt in the presence of the acid
spray, & that by inserting an insulating material at all points where the different
metals would otherwise be in contact the corrosion is practically prevented.
Under these conditions brass or any other metals or alloys upon which dilute
sulphuric acid at ordinary temperatures has little effect, almost entirely escape
any corrosive action, other metals such as iron cannot be used owing to the fact
that they are attacked by the acid apart from any galvanic action.
Any suitable insulating material not attacked by acid may be used, either in the
form of sleeves & washers or as a covering on the metal surfaces such as a layer
of enamel or of vulcanised rubber, or in any other suitable manner.
Doted this Tenth day of December 1807
Improvements in and connected with Connections for Storage Cells.
EDWARD JON WADE, Electrical Engineer, of 84, Beechdale Road, Brixton
Hill, S.W., and THE ELECTRIC MOTIVE POWER CO. LTD., Motor Carriage Builders,
having registered offices at 17, Tower Royal, Cannon Street, London, E.C., both
late of 16, Elm Street, Gray's Inn Road, London, 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:-
It is well known that great difficulty has been experienced in forming removable
connections for storage cells owing to the fact that the connecting bolts or clamps

page_text: become corroded, & that metallic salts injurious to the battery become formed &
are liable to fall into the electrolyte.
We have discovered that the corrosion is almost wholly due to galvanic action
set up between the lead lug and the metal bolt or clamp in the presence of the ucid
spray, & that by inserting an insulating material at all points where the different
metals would otherwise be in contact the corrosion is practically prevented.
Under these conditions brass or any other metals or alloys upon which dilute
sulphuric acid at ordinary temperatures has little effect, almost entirely escape
any corrosive action, other metals such as iron cannot be used owing to the fuct
that they are attacked by the acid apart from any galvanic action.
Any suitable insulating material not attacked by acid, such as ebouite may be
used, either in the form of sleeves and washers for nut & bolt connectors or as a
covering on the metal surfaces such as a layer of enamel or of vulcanised rubber,
or in any other suitable manner.
According to one method of carrying out our invention which we illustrate in the
accompanying drawing, holes are made through the lugs a, a, of the cells, and
they are brought close together in pairs, so that the holes coincide. Two Hanged
washers d, d of ebonite or other suitable insulating material are then inserted into
the holes, one in each lug, & the two lugs clamped tightly together by a bolt b,
passing through the insulating washers, & nuts c, c, of brass or other suitable metal.
It is advisable to put metal washers e, c, on either one or both sides of the insulat-
ing washers in order to distribute the strain evenly over them, and reduce the
liability to breakage.
We are aware that it has often been proposed to protect the bolts or clamps used
for storage cell connections from corrosion by covering the whole of their exposed
parts with some acid resisting material, to prevent the acid spray from reaching
them, but these methods invariably fail, as sooner or later the acid penetrates to
the metal, and produces corrosion. We do not therefore make any claim for the
employment of acid resisting materials in this manner, but
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
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I. In ecamectors for the lugs or terminals of storage cells the interposition of
suitable insulating material between the metal of the terminals & the metal of the
connector us & for the purposes described.
II. The improved non-corrosive connector for the lugs or terminals of storage
cells substantially as described, & as shown in the accompanying drawing.
CHO
1741
Septe
GOOT
E. J. WADE,
THE ELECTRIC MOTIVE POWER COMPANY LIMITED.
ARTHUR PAGET,
.Director.