US913563A - Method and apparatus for revivifying dry-cell batteries. - Google Patents

Description

HORACE B. RAMEY,`0F ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

` METHOD AND PLPARATUS FOR BEVIVIFYING DRY-CELL BTTERIES.

No; elenca.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application mea mme so, 190s. serial No. 441,030.

Patented Feb. z5, 1909.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Hormon B. Rincer, s citizen of the United States, residing at Alexandrie, in the county of Alexcndricaind State of Virginia, have invented certain new,

enduseiul Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Rcviviiying` Dry-Cell Battenes, of which the following is a specification. A

My invention relates to a method of and means for revivifying dry battery cells when the saine have become worn out or used up so that they no longer give c sufficient voltage to be of any practical use.

The object 'of my invention is to provide an. inexpensive ineens whereby the user of dry cells een reviyily the seme with very little trouble, so that the life of the cells can Y be more than doubled, whereby avery material saving is accomplished..

It is well known that batteries of the class in question commence to deteriorate from the time they are merle end that therefore it is alu/'aye e matter of uncertainty, in purchasing e cell whether it will continue to be efficient forl several inonthscr only for a few da Ts. At the present time, :is soon as the voltage of such :i cell falls 'below a certain amount, the cell must be discarded-end c cell and, the latter being perforated, ceusesl electrical action to be again produced.

I willjrst describe the casing or cup, which constitutes a ert of my invention sind by means of Whicli the reviyiiicetion of the cclls is performed, reference 'being hed to the accompanying drawing' in whiche- Figure l, is a perspective view, showing Lin vertical sectionone of these cups with a' cell lto be-revivified in place therein. Fig. 2, is c art vertical section of one of the cups; and gig. 3, is a side View of the cup collapsed.

'The cup consists essentially of an external waterproof:l casing 1, and im internal absorbent linin,r 2 which is impregnated with chemicals, suitable to form an electrolyte. AThe outer casing 1, is preferably mede of paper or similar cheap materiell and the mino` 2 is preferably of pc er'bu-t of the kind which is bibulous or u-bsoiifient in its nature.

The referred method of making the cup is as follows: A sheet of the absorbent paper of the proper size, to form a cylinder of the desired diameter, is impregnated with a,- solution containing ten 'parts of muriate of am momie, four parts ol' bichromate of potasli and ten. parts of chlorid of sodium. VlThis sheet is then dried, preferably by passing it between rollers which serve to incorporate the said chemicals firmly 'thereini and to extrude the excess of water therefrom, and is wrapped around a, wooden cylinder of eppropriste diameter. It is then coated externally with e waterproofing peste., indicated. at 3. Around this 1s then wrapped e coating l of Manila paper or the like, which may be doubled, the end of the cup bein r formed by placing a disk or disks Il, of simi er pc er at the end of the cylinder in 'the inside an folding thcreover the sheet of Manila paper l; a disk or disks 5 is then placed in the bottom of the cup, the whole being secured by the paste or glue above mentioned. When dry the cup may be dip )ed in melted paraffin, indiceted at 6, in the drawing, so as toI form a. water tight external coating thereon.

The method of using the cup to, revivify c worn-out dry cell is as follows: The usual external casing of peper is removed from the cell and the external zinc surface of the same is then cleaned, as by placing it in la week lye solution and letting it stand therein for several hours. After wiping off the surface the zinc is perforated in :i number of places with a small shar) instrument and the coal ter in the top of t e cell is removed by tapM ping around the edge with a hammer. The cell is then placed wlthin the cup and the top is filled with clean witter, preferably rain water. u stel be produced between the outer surface of t e zinc andthe electrolyte contained in the porous lining;- of the cup and the terminals ofthe cell Will show practicall r the same voltage as they did when the cell was new. By repleni'shing the water from time to tirfie, say once n'month for example, the life 'of the ced can be prolonged for a considerable Chemical action will then immcdi IOC longer period than the average life of a cell bought upon, the market.

It is to be noted that While the battery cell is practically used up and lifeless, it can however, by m invention be made active a ain audits lite greatly prolonged. Furt erf more, by cleaning the external zinc surface of the cell, and suppl ing a fresh electrolyte thereto the same conditions' are set up on the outside that existed when the battery Was newly made.

In addition to the advantages obtained by my invention, which l havev mentioned a o ve, the fact that the cup is collapsible and which consists in perforatlng the outer zinc casing of thesame andsurrounding it with an imperviously coated labsorbent material impregnated With an electrolyte.

2.A The' process of revivifying a dry battery Which consists in removing the Wrapper therefrom, cleaning the Zinc surface-and perforating the same, and surrounding it With an absorbent material containing a dry electrolytic substance.

3. The process of reviv'fying a dry .btir-QTY.'

which consists vin removing the Wrapper therefrom, cleaning the zinc surfaceand perforating it in a plurality of places, and surrounding it with an vabsorbent material containing an electrolyte.'

Ll.. The process of revivifyingadrybattery, which consists in cleaning and perorating f the zlnc casing of the same, surrounding it v With an imperviously coated absorbent masupplying Water in the top of theceL.n

5. The process of revivifying a dry battery,

which consists in removing 'the Wrapper top of the cell.

6. For use with a dry cell, an electrolyte, and a collapsible receptacle of imperviously coated absorbent material impregnated with said electrolyte. I '-1, 7. In a dry cell, an electrolyte, a collapsible cup for the purpose described,`consist ing 'of a Water-prooled casing and a lining oi absorbent material impregnated with said electrolyte.

v8. A cupl for the purpose described, and an electrolyte, said cup consistin of a Waterproof casing and a linin secure thereto by an im ervious glue, sai `lining consisting of absor ent paper impregnated with saidelectrolyte. i

9. In combination, an electrolyte a receptacle for the purpose described consisting of an impervious casing and lining of-abs'orbent material impregnated with said electrolyte, 'and a cell inclosed in said rece tacle perw 'orated for su plyin Water to t eelectrolyte whereby 131e life ess cell and electrolyte K are made active for the purpose and substan ,tially as described.

vln testimony whereof l allixmy signature, in presence of two Witnesses. N

. HORACE B. RAMEY.

Nitnessesa M. E. SHAFrER, Julius. lnLroN.

terial impregnated With an electrol te and an electrolyte, and pouring Water into the

Images