US1207382A - Primary battery. - Google Patents

Description

I. A. Eulso'N.'

' PRIMARY BATTERY. APPLxcvmoN man MAY 24...l s'|o.

n 'pgtgnfea Dee. 5', 19m

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 OFFICE.

- THOMAS A. EDISON, OELLEWELEYN PARK, WESTOEANGE, 'NEW JEES'Eg. ESSIGNoRf-fro NEW' JERSEY PATENT QOMEEEY, 0E WEST-'GRANGE NEW JERSEY 0Ev NEW' JERSEY.

applicati-Qn mea may amelie. Serial En. 563,043.

" ToaZZ whom t may o once'm:

a citizen pf the .United States', and aflesident of L 51 Jersey, azifi/ ieinventedl certain newv :incluse-- -iful Impteitelnents in Primary Batteries; of

-ivhicli'the fol-lowing" is a description.'-

My invention relates `to in1proe1`nents in voltaic'n'" primary batteries-, and 1ny'-obplate construction;antlparticularly to pro- -vilea negative electrode 'plate of n'o'velcon- 15 Structiom in Whicli'a compressed depolarnieta'llic container, which' is 'se consti'uctecl as to be practically non-'clefornieble the electrode thus produced beingof 'electrodes by molding' plates of copper xicl 'or' otlieij de} o'larizing agent'. and -a binding, c

` container with cori'ngatio desired manner-the depolagi n .so compressed within irlaterial. l My improvednegatiye electrode 25 haga numbei of advantages, both mecheni- 'ical'n'i'id electrical, ever' this conetruction, es,

Among- .to maintain Shape .all conditions.

will be hereinafter pointedout. t theee ma;y"liere be mentonedgreater reliebility. 'f When' ag molded plate of copper-01nd "thin ilin' of nietallic copper, and if this be- "e'onee bn'i'clized or tarnished, the. current :"clenfpreSsure anrlf'ag'glom'erated .11n-sin pen-.

-formsinmjpcsitive and'rejliable Ina-nner the' function-wliicl-*was perfor-ined by' thelcopa 'pei-' 'surface-'upon 'the n'iol'cled o'Xicl plate,

i5 bririgiiig-tlie copper- .oxicl throughout the container -into.-'.igoodf.metallic Contact with 4the connectingsupport. -Furth'erniije, nay in'i'provecl cell. is yst l'perior,:tojone in Which tii'e negative electrodel con-siete. of a metallic neiiforated-.containe 'th mase'of copper Qniltli 11i sincef-tlielatte it'inislieebu "because zu. cni- 4coppen- .-.ni'iis aan if mea. Ema-ele. ll'sia "PRIMARY initier!Emir.`

Specification ai Letteis Patent.

` Withtlie molded plate; making result attainable;A became elements -i n the batte- 'may provide-a "plurality f .negative-elements in a eel the.sefrne, and inthe (let le oEPoE @Troia 1 fr. I l

* Patenteane 5,19

crate c! licient ly, aiiczlfoe'c electrical Contact beti- "en th Such. ,pressure that' tl rinotlier, and fone 'of of my improved const the negative' plate ca"n '1 leSS thickness than isf- Apiiactlica poesible Gable the multiple pla.te "fleiige practice,` Without in'Oi'eaeinggr amount of space occL surface 'and s'trengthene good Contact therevai Withtheobjects abeja my 'invention ,resides` ative pla-te asy a nevi7 turefin anelectlve pip 5S struction 'llerei'naftenl Referring. nonT to.

. Avertical section and enileleitmn;

@plurality-ef positive iid- 1e xs-* suspended fromj the a 'Similap 'Section f-f 'eg tive? lioii'ing a 'el by a metallic frame' 5 which rests in contact ywith the edges of the electrode.

The" shell or containers of electrode 2 of two members 6 and 7, the member 6' comprising alat top or side portion 8 and turned-over edges 9 and 10, while member 7 comprises a iiat sideor bottom 11 having turned-up edges 12 and 13. As stated, the topxand bottom 8 and 11 of members 6 and 7 are Hat, the corrugated form shown in Figs. 3 and et being the result-of a Subsequentfoperation. Members 6 and 7 iit Vone withintli'e other, turned-up edges 12 'and-1&3 of member '(ritting Within turned dow edges 9 andilO of member 6.

In forming'the electrode 2, a member as T..

isplaced within the corresponding member as 6,theedges as @9 and 12 at one end being, liowevennot turned'in. The boxflik'e receptacle thus formedis placed Within a former or mold formed to receive the same, the open end 'of theI container' being uppermost. Depolarizi'ng 'mateifial, preferably oxid of copper` in granular' Vform, is then dumped into `the container-through the open upper end in uniform small increments, the copper oxid being, 'after each increment is added,

tamped down by 4a 'plunger exerting a very considerablev pressure-'uponthe limited area of the'copper oxid inthe container. A considerable pressure is obtained in this or any other suitable manner, the.' copper oXid being uniformly packed ivitli'i'n the container,

which latter is preyented'from bulging" or becoming deformed di. ring ,the illinglby the former or.`mold in which it i's held.' v `Then theI container has been uniformly packe'djvith",copper oxid, the open end of the container 'isclosed by bending the edge of' member 7 within the edge or.v member 6,- and the loaded container is then iitted into a `metallic frame such as the Wire 5 shown in "Figsa2and-3. At the central portion of the 'upper edge of the loaded container a metallic .bridging'member 33 is Vprovided which is preferably channel shaped 1n seep tion with its iiages extending downwardly.

The `wire 5 is p roi-'idedwith upturned spaced-apart ends V21, .21, ivhieh extend through holes vin ,the bridging member' near its ends. The ends yof the bridging member. .embrace portions of therwire 5.ad.-- jacent the u-pturned ends 21, 21;"- Tlie'brldging member 33 serves to prevent spreading i 65' of thespaced portions of the Wire 5. The

plate is then placed within a corrugatinl die, and subjected to great pressure, prei lably hydraulic, whereby the container and lnclosed copper oxid are compressed, the container being corrugated or bent byl the press in 'any suitable manner as-shown for example in Figs. 3 and 4. The metal frame 5jl encircling the edges of the 'electrode being held in the die against movement, the compression of the electrode results in forcing the material of the container somewhat around the inner edge of frame 5 as shown, flanges 9, 10, 12, 13 of the' upper and lower members of the lcontainer being thereby curved around frame 5 and secured-in locking engagement thereby. The corrugations or ribs formed upon the Vcontainer by the press 'have the effect of stiiening and strengthening the same and 'rendering it practically `non-deformable. The mass of copper oXid within the container takes, of course, the same conformation as the container within which it is closely compressed. If desired, in place of the wire frame 5 surrounding the electrode, a turned-up meta-1 piece 5, as shown in Fig. 1, can be used. The container may be corrugated by the action of the hydraulic press in parallel corrugations or ribs as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or in any desired manner, as, for example,

in concentric and radial lines as indicated in Fig. 5. When the electrode has been formed as described, I prefer to immerse the same in a solution of any suitable binding agent for the copper oxid, as or ex ample, a solution of caustic soda. After the plate has been immersed for a suiiicient time in the solution it is removed and dried at moderate heat. The electrode is then ready to be mounted in position in the battery. It is to benoted that inv my improved electrode the depolarizing mass is agglomerated in sit-u in its container.

My improved cell may be set up in the manner indicated in'Figs. 1 and 2. An insulator 1l of any suitable material, as porcelain, is employed, the positive or zinc elements ..1 being suspended below the same by connectors 15, preferably formed of Aamal gamated copper, or iron plated with copper and amalgamated', through holes in the upper ends ofwhch passes a conducting bolt 16 which is mounted horizontally in the upper portion of insulator 1i. If a plurality of elements is used, insulator 14 may be split as shoun in the drawings, connectors 15 of the zinc or positive elements then being placed in grooves on the outer edges of the insulator as shown at 17 and 18, and between thecontacting faces of the two portions of the split insulator, as shown at 19. A conducting member'QO isplaced upon the upper surface of 'insulator 14 and to this negative elements 2 are connected, the ends 21, 21 of'fram'e 5 surrounding each negative 130 eleetrod being I'sh-own en" prol Videdtwitlrsoe threaded-rends"upoli'm'liiclr T asf-2 31fupon op' dsi-t'e"`faces of insulator 14, fre'nei ne'nfiberfs'f' 211 of negative 'elenien'ts 2 1,"sit1it'dupon the front anlbztel: of hewn inthe drawings', while jbositiveelemente l are lo-l sides of the block 14.1 'Frame z 'throuf'h' lio'les'i'n c'sirfductlplu pnfthe top of in'sulzitor l-l andere. clamped-seci'lrely'in place by nuts ien being mounted in the battery'ja-r by means of e crew passing through ver 2 .result 'may Ibe attained by as' by forcing the tops' of nuts contact 'withithe .under side the POSGVe binding post ereby. through conducting 27-is secuied'to bolt 16 liio positive plates 1 are hung, and i i' lllthe cover 24 of thebattery negative pole 'of `the battery. upon.. boltA 1G. are screwed. tightly goth thesplit insulator und serml-y together., lf 'desired, e. mounted upon bolt 16 on contact between the: zinc b lt 16.. The battery 1jairmay i solution, and the elements i Supportwhicli be te-is' used, as shown-in Fig.

'binnen1 th th led by.

in connection with Fig thin-flut metallic plates 21 whichnre Se vcured at their lower ends to or ure integral with' frame members 5 of the negative elelerably placed in grooves `plate-cell it is trebled, 'com a-rlsoi'with fi thi'eesplate cell having positive and neg. nnectors 1 5 of zinc plates 1 ith a suitable' electrolyte,v

firloweiedgtlleneim co'ei- 2% restlig upon the onged frame 5 surrounding ""laee of he. wire-frame 5 -shown n. irsfrsliowninlig, the zinc -or-.posif vplu es 1.- oi which the outside ones' may ,-.eells 1 ut` the. sumedlscherge i'ete, or the cells iter-"mediate ones', can be. discharged.. 'at higher"f 'ra,te 'Wlnle nnjeotois" 15" -fjom bolt 1.6 `I'is m'ountdlioiizontally through iney sulators 14 in the same manner 'usdel'scribe'de endl-2.1' Negsitive-v elements 2 ere-supported and connected under the=o v that the connections lbetween the electrodes ments.. Plates .21 are clamped between the the flatter are through which ebelt 25muy be piissedgand :idjusted by nuts 26 yabove the `cover 24 of the buttery jur and bead B1 'below horizon `tel members 2 8, 29 and 30, cover Z'l'preferably being provided on itsunder-sidewith lugs' 32', 32, pressing uponfthe upper surface of member 28, whereby 'members 2 8,

.Q9 'and 30 are forced int'o 'ir'u'eleetlficcl contact with each'oth'enf: A cell containingone or 'more' negative electrodes formed in the `mei-nner; described.

'z wts, 'as has. been stated, with'greater reliebil. i'ty than it lcell in`wliicli tlie'oxids :ire of I ewing into vplete 20 upon or lll. P lsite" 20 muy be. ee 01' :other 'suittble num'- d integi'a'llugs 20 which" firm Contact with 'the under Zflblfscrew 251e hold the dlyfin position with relation to=A tiple-p'late, moreover, 1 am' en bled'to real- 'ige a. much higher .capacity 1n a given slze 'of cell thun'h'as heretofore been practicable. At constant temperature the cepeity'of a given yolume'o'f` the electrolyte; that is, the.95 quantity of zinc which it will dissolve, de- 'pende upo'n the current rute persqure inch of active zinc, 01j positiye electrode, surface. .By my invention I am 'enabled to' construct live-plate i-ndseyen-plate'cells -occup i ng no more space than the former tbreeplatef' cells containing one molded oxid plate and two` zinc plates. .111 the five-plete celljthe ac- -tve zinc'surface is doubled tiveV plates of thesume dimensions, respectively. Furthermore, with the same vspacing of pla-tes the internal resistunc'e'oithe lveplete c ell would Abe about '.one-lmlf, \nd of the Seven-plaltev cell, 'one third thut'fof the three-platecell mentioned; my C OlStruction, .however,-the distance`-between'plates may be mode considerbly'les's than itis in thepresent threeplite c'ell, with consequent further. decreuse'in-interuel resistance-. Also,

because of the decreased'internalresistance,' fthe working fvolta'geof the.fmultlpleplntel tidprae tice.i l4 'fAnother advontage-otmy construction 1s and the outside'circut. are made insi'de the jaiabove' the level of the electrolyte. The

' level to which the electrolyte -is illed in the jar is below the bolt 16, which result is made possible by thence of the amalgamuted copper connectors 154 for the zinc plates 1, which connectors are secured to bolt 16 mounted inthe upper part of insulators 14. lVhere these connections are made below the surface of the electrolyte, electrolytic acs tion tends to take place between the zinc and the copper or iron of the connections.

It may also be noted that in my improved construction the oxid plate is practically in` tegral with itssupport and thereby the possibility of badV contact between the plate and supportjs prevented. The plates may be spaced close together without danger of short circuit, because of the rigid support furnished in the improved construction.

Having now describedniy invention, what I claim and desire to protect -by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. As a new7 article of manufacture, a negative electrode plate for. primary batteries comprising a perforated metallic container having a mass of copper oXid aggloinerated 27a/situ therein and in intimate contact with the walls thereof, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a iiegative electrode for primary batteries conn prising a perforated metallic container hav ing in intimate contact with the walls thereof'a-nd agglomerated in situ therein a Vdried mass of copper oxid and binding material, substantially as described. n

3. As a new article oi manufacture, a neg ative electrode for primary batteries, comprising a fiat perforated metalliccontainer of substantially rectangular cross section and with corrugated walls, having tightly packed therein under pressure and in' intimate contact with the walls thereof a dried mass of copper oxid and binding material agglomerated in, site in said container,v subn stantially as described,

a. In ajpriinary battery, 'the combination of a battery iar cover, an insulator, a conductingmen-iber supported from the cover below the same and mounted above the insulator, supporting means for said conduct fing member, an electrode plate below the in 'sulator, a metallic frame surrounding said plate and having end portions engaging op posite sides of said insulator, connected d1- rect'ly to said conducting member and 'sus pending 'said electrode plate therefrom', a second electrode of opposite polarity to lsaid first named electrode, and a conducting member supported by said insulator lto which said electrode Ais-connected and. from which itis suspended, substantially as described.

In a primary' b'atteiy, the combination of a 4plurality of positive electrode plates, conducting connectors extending upwardly therefrom, a conducting rod upon which the upper ends .of said connectors-'are removably secured, a negative 4electrode plate, means cover, including a said conducting member and between and in engagement with said upwardly extendedv frame portions, and a plurality of positive electrode plates supported from said insulators, substantially as described.

7. The process of forming an electrode plate for primary batteries, which consists in loading.' and compressing in a perforated metallic container a mass ofcopper oxid,

[then nnpregnating the compressed mass with binding material, and nally drying the saine, whereby the mater1al Within said container is agglomerated n situ therein and in intimate contact with the walls thereof substantially as described.

8. The process of forming an electrode plate for primary batteries, which consists in introducing and tamping a mass of cop per oxid in a fiat perforated metallic con tainer while preventing deformation 0f the container, and subsequently subjecting the loaded plate to external pressure upon the sides thereof, then impregnating the com pressed mass with binding material, and finally Clrying the same, whereby the materialwithin said container is agglomerated n situtherein and in intimate contact with the walls thereof substantially as described.

9, As' a new article of manufacture, an electrode for primary batteries comprising a ilat perforated metallic container, a highly compressed mass of copper oxid contained therein and in intimate contact therewith, a frame comprising al wire surrounding the container and contacting the edges thereof except at a portion of the upper edge, said wire having spaced-apart upturned ends ad- `iacent the uncontacted portion' of the con-- tniner edge, and a bridgingr member connecting said upturned ends in close prox iniityto said container, substantially as described. l

This specification signed and witnessed this 13th day of May, 1910.

THOS. A. EDISON. Witnesses z Dri-:n Smm, Jeux M. CANFJELD.

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