US1032529A - Battery. - Google Patents

Description

C. F. BURGESS & C. HAMBUBGHEN. A

BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1910.

LOSQQQ.

Patented July 16, 1912.

ueber? (`J1IAlR.L1ElS ZF. BURGESS AND CARL HAMBUECHEN, 0F MADISON, WISCONSIN.

BATTERY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1912.

Applcationled July 13, 1910. Serial No. 571,691.

To all whom *it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES F. BURGEss and CARL HAMBUECHEN, both citizens of the United States, residing at Madison, 11i the county of Dane, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

The subject` of the present application is a battery of the general type ordinarily designated as a dry cell. y

The novel features reside particularly inl the special construction and cooperative relation of many of the component parts of the cell whereby high efficiency and durabilitv are attained.

The details of the invention are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims,.for a better understanding of which, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying dra-wings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevationof the battery. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the painted top ofthe zinc container. Figs. 3 and 4 are details of the metal cap used on one end of the carbon electrode of the cell.

In the construction shown, .the positive 0r Zinc .electrode comprises a sheet of zinc rolled into a tube or cylinder l, and having a soldered seam 2 running lengthwise. After this tube has been soldered, it is dipped in hot asphaltum paint. so that one end of the tube is coated with asphaltum both outside and inside, fora distance of neaily an inch from the end of the tube. This paint serves to prevent local corrosionI of the zinc. The 'tube is then provided with a bottom 3, pressed into the shape of a cup and soldered in place. The terminal, or

' binding post L tfor the zinc electrode is solkdered in place at the top end of the side seam. l/Ve have found that by putting the terminal at this particular point, the zinc cup is materially strengthened, and furthermore, the presence, initially, of some solder under the asphalt paint at this point facilitates the soldering operation. The asphalt on the outside of the can serves as a iux dui'- ing the soldering operation. The bottoni of the zinc cup is covered with a disk 5 of tar-paper. This paper is semi-soluble in the zinc chlorid forming part of the battery mixture and changes to a gummy mass capable of flowing downv and filling `any cracks or flaws in the soldered joint beneath. The sides of the cup are lined with a Very porous paper cylinder or wrapping 6, havinffits lower end folded inward at? 7 to overlap the edge of the tarred paper disk. A porous paper bottom 8 covers the inturned edges of the paper tube 6.

The negative or carbon electrode of the cell comprises a cylindrical carbon rod 9 provided at lits top with a brass cap 10, through which current may be conducted from the electrode. electrodes, the carbon rods are soaked for about a minute in hot paraffin, before they brass caps are put in place. The entire electrode is immersed in the paraffin so that it. is impregnated throughout its entire length with a moisture-resistant material. This not only prevents the creeping of electrolyte upward to thenietal terminal, but it also excludes substantially all moisture from the rod when the cell is assembled, thereby avoiding the difiiculties incident to the use of rods which might from day to day vary in their moisture absorbing power. Also, by having the electrode uniformly impregnated, there is no danger of putting the metal terminal on an unimpregnated end. The brass cap 10 is coated with parati-in both inside and outside by dipping, and then is put on the carbon rod with a driving fit. This layer of para'lin on the brass cap protects the cap from incipient corrosion while the active mixture is being tamped into In constructing these place within the cell. In order to avoid the l brass cap is provided with a single indenta-A tion' 11 which forms on the inside of t'he cap a sort of shoulder capable of yielding sufiiciently to allow. the cap to be pressed on the rod. This shoulder collapses as the cap is forced on thehrod, but is resistant enough to insure intimate contact between the cap and rod, even though the rod is slightly below normal size. The indentation is made with a tool having a face so beveled that the shoulder presents an inclined surface, and will slip over the end of ,the carbon rod without tearing or chipping the carbon.

In assembling the cell, the carbon rod is supported inv its' normal position with respect to the zinc cup, and a moist and active mixture and lto a level slightly below the upper edge 13 of the paper lining. This sand and sawdust forms a moisturefabsorbing medium capable of taking -up water when the active mi'xture is too damp and giving up moisture as the active mixture needs it. The absorbing medium thus serves as a sort of regulator to govern the wetness of the active .material This porous layer is in intimate contact with the active material.` This arrangement facilitates theeasy passage of water from one to the other.'

'The cell is sealed by a layer-of pitch 14 poured in until it fills the cell to the top of the zinc cup. This pitch is in direct con- Y tact with the sand and sawdust, and forms a sort of Vdouble seal at the upper edge of the paper lining, excluding substantially all air and protectingthe upper edge of the zinc cup from corrosion. The lining of asphalt paint initially provided on the zinc cup assists in securing intimate contact between the pitch and the zinc, and coperates with the pitch in limiting local corrosion. The layer Vof parain on the metal capv 10 facilitates the making `of a good seal about the cap. p,

v Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a primary battery, a zinc container having a soldered seam an'd a terminal for said container soldered in place at said seam.

2.' In a primary battery, a zinc electrode serviceable as a container and havingV an ,end portion paintedy insideand out with asphaltum paint, said electrode having a soldered seam anda terminal soldered to said electrode at said seam'.

3. In a primary battery, a zinc electrode serviceable as' a. container and having a soldered seam, and tar-paper over said seam.

4. In a primary battery, a zinc container4 having a bottom soldered in place, a tarpaper disk over said bottom, and a porous pap'er lining for said container, said lining having its upper edge trimmed to lie directly in contact with said container.

5. In a primary battery, a zinc container having a bottom soldered in place, a tarpaper disk over said bottom, a porous paper lining for said container, said lining having its upper edge trimmed to lie directly in contact with said container and having its lower edge folded inward to overlap the edgeof said tarred paper disk, and a porous paper bottom covering the inturned edge of said porous lining. I

6. In a primary battery, the combination ofa cylindrical zinc container, -an asphaltum coating around the top of said container, a tubular paper lining for said containerv having its top edge trimmedto lie in contact with the coated top of said container and having its lower edge crimped inward at the bottom of said container, a porous paper bottom covering the inturned edge of said tubular lining, an active mixture in said container, a layer `of porous inert material above said mixture and .below the top of said paper lining and a pitch seal at the top of said container where it iscoated with asphaltum, said pitch seal contacting directly with the upper trimmed edge of said lining and also contacting with said layer of porous inert material.

7 The combination of a container, a solid carbon rod therein whichv has 'been impregnated throughout its entire length with a moisture-repelling medium, a thin metal cap inclosing onevv of the impregnated ends of said rod, a moisture-resisting .coating on said cap, a moist active mixture in contacty with said rod, and al pitch seal enveloping said coated cap and closing the end of said container.

8. In a primary-battery, the combination of a cylindrical -zinc container having a bot'- tom soldered in place, an asphaltum coating around the top of said container, atar-paper disk placed above'said bottom, a tubular paper lining for lsaid container having its top edge trimmed to lie in contact with the coated top of said container and having its lower edge contacting with said tar-paper disk, an active mixture in said container, a layer of porous inert material above said mlxture and below the top of said paper lining, a carbon rod impregnated throughout its length with paraffin and contacting with said active mixture, a thin sheet metal cap pressed into place on the upper endv of said rod, a moisture-repelling coating on said cap, and a pitch seal at the top of said container where the zinc is coated with asphaltum, said pitch seal contacting directly with the upper trimmed edge of said Alining and also contacting w'ith said layer of porous inert material.

9'. In' a primary battery, the combination of a cylindrical zinc container, an asphaltum coating around the top of said container, a tubular paper lining for said container having its top edge 'trimmed to lie in contact with the coated top ofsaid container and having its lower edge folded inwardly, a porous paper bottom covering the inturnod edge of said porous lining, an active'mixture in said container, a layer of porous inert material above said mixture and below'the AIii) top of said paper lining', a carbon rod impregnated throughout its length with'paraiifin and contacting with said act-ive mixture, a thin imperforate sheet metal cap pressed into place onthe upper impregnated` end of said rod, and a pitch seal at the top of said container WhereA the zinc is coated With asphaltum, said pitch seal contacting -directly with the upper trimmed-edge of said lining and` also contacting with said layer of porous inertmaterial.

10. In-a primary battery, the combination of a zinc electrode adapted to serve as a containernand having a soldered side seam with upper edge lying in contact with said con ltainer, an active mixture packed in said container Within sald lining, a layer of porous material above said mixture and contacting directly therewith, the top of said porous layer being below the upper edge of said porous paper lining, a carbon rod contacting with said active mixture, said rod having a metal cap tightly engaging its upper end, and a layer of pitch forming a seal l"about `said metal cap and about the upper edge of said paper lining.

In Witness whereof, We have hereunto set our hands this 7th day 0f July, A. D. 1919.

CHARLES F. BURGESS. CARL HAMBUECHEN.

Witnesses: l JOHN B. SANBORN,

CHAUNOEY E. BLAKE.

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