Патент USA US2572329

Oct. 23, 1951
2,572,324
J. C. DUDDY
STORAGE BATTERY CONSTRUCTION
Filed ‘Sept. 9, 1948
2 SHEETS—-SHEET l
INVENTOR
JOSEPH CHARLES DUDDY
Oct. 23, 1951
J. c. DUDDY
2,572,324
STORAGE BATTERY CONSTRUCTION
Filed ‘Sept. 9, 1948
2 SHEETS-SHEET 2
IHVENTOR,
* JOSEPH
CHARLES
DUDDY
Patented Oct. 23, _1951
-.
2,572,324
UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE.
STORAGE i BATTERY CONSTRUCTION‘
Joseph Charles. Duddy, Philadelphia, Pa., as
signor to The Electric. Storage. Battery Com
pany, a corporation of'New Jersey
1
Application September 9, 1948;.Serial No. 48,399
10 Claims. (01. 219-15.).
This. invention relates to. improvements in bat.
2
Figure 7 is an isometric viewof a battery con
structed in accordance with this invention and
employing they end wall forming means of: Figure
6.
Fig. 8 is.- an isometric- partially exploded view
showing. an alternate device for forming the end
walls of the container in» cooperation with the
teries and, in particular, to an improved: con
struction for a pile type battery from which
relatively high rate discharges can be obtained
for relatively low weights and volumes and in
which spillage or creepage of electrolyteis avoid
ed.
In accordance with‘ this invention there is pro
insulating barriers.
vided a compact battery construction. capable of
Referring now to the- drawing, l0- represents
delivering a rate of. current that is substantially 10 generally a grid" comprising a- plurality of vertical
higher inrelation to-battery size andweight than
bars H" and horizontal» bars I2 and having a top
can be? delivered by batteries presently known in
bar l3- of substantially greater dimensions than
theiart. The battery is shown here to be of. the
the‘ remainder of the grid. Grid I0: is adapted‘
lead peroxide-sponge leadesulphuric. acid type
tobepasted or provided? in any suitable manner
merely for purposes of illustration. It. should be 15 withpositive or negativeactive material, or ma—
understood that. my invention is. not, limited to
terial to become active, as may be desired.
any speci?c type 01 battery but is. applicable to
In Figure 2 is shown a duplex element composed
the construction of may different types of batter
ofa grid pasted-with anyv suitable positive active
ies, primary as well as secondary. This construc
material, hereinafter- designated as positive plate
tion is characterized by a new and, improved
I4, and a grid. pasted with negative active ma
duplex element comprising relativethin positive
terial,.hereinafter designated as- negative plate I'5.
and negative plates separated by an impervious
Positiveplate l4 andnegative plate 15 are joined
insulating barrier. These elements are assembled
together by fusing or by welding along the upper
as a unit which can be separately handled and.
edgesthereof asat l6, topbars it of the respective
packed into a compact battery construction. In 25 grids. being of su?icient size to provide the opti
accordance with this invention, means are pro
mum electrical connection. between said plates
vided by utilizing. the insulating barrier to form
and thusv decrease the usualdrop- in voltage due
a container for the assembled duplex units with
to.internalresistancaand to provide an extensive
out. interferring with the compact structure of
surfacefor heat dissipation.
the assembly. Moreover, there is provided in ac 30 In. order e?ectively to- prevent any possible
cordance with this invention, an improved sepa
electrolytic contact between positive plate l4 and
rator which absorbs sufficient electrolyte to per
negative. plate. l5. constituting aduplex element,
mit discharge of the assembled duplex units at
there isprovided'barrier ll. adapted to be inserted,
high rates and permits free gassing of the unit.
between saidplates andextendbeyond the ends
Other features of the invention Will‘be‘apparent
thereof, thus serving. tov prevent intercell short
from the description and claims that follow.
circuits as might occur by reason of linking
In the drawing likeinumeralsv are used‘ to.-desig
electrolyte paths-from adjacentelements. Barr
nate like parts.
rier I1 is, preferably, formed of “Vinylite” which
Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a grid‘
is. a solid, synthetic, thermoplastic. resin. result
used. in the construction of the positivezand'nega 40 ing from thepolymerizationof compounds of the
tive plates forming a part of the invention.
vinyl. group CH2=CH—.v It. is- to. be understood,
Figure 2 is an isometric view of a new and.
however, that any other suitable material can
improved duplex element which forms a basic
be used, such material being (1) immune from
unit of this invention.
electrolytic attack and from oxidationreactions,
Figure3 is a view similar to Figure. 2 showing 45. (2') electrically insulating, (3) non-porous, (.4)
the. insulating barrier inserted between the arms
non-wetting, (5)v unoriented and having. a high
of the duplex element.
heat distortion characteristic and (6) of high.
Figure 4 is an isometric view of a separator
mechanical strength for relative thinness.
used. between adjacent duplex elements.
. As shown in Figures 4 and. 5, a separator I 8
Figure 5 is an isometric view partially in cross 50. having a plurality of diagonal slots l9 and. a
section of an assembly of the elementsshown in
recessed portion 28' is inserted between positive
Figures 2, 3 and 4.
.
plate M. of. one duplex element and negativev
. Figures 6 is an isometric view of- the. insulating
plate. [5. ofv the next. adjacent duplex element.
barrier having end. Wall forming means con-.
separator. I8 ispreferably. of an electrolytic re- '
structed integrally therewith.
55 sistant, absorbent, material, such asv matted red
2,572,324.
3
wood ?bres held together by a permanent binder,
that is adapted to receive and retain battery
electrolyte. Recessed portions 28 of separators
l8 provide a well to receive electrolyte and the
diagonal slots 19 are a de?nite factor in quicken
ing the absorption of electrolyte by the separator
4
a pile type battery that is capable of being dis
charged at high rates for relatively low weights
and volumes. Furthermore, by using the special
end wall forming means as shown in either Fig
ure 6, 7 or 8 and plate shown in Figure 8, I have
provided a novel compact container for the as
sembled duplex units.
While I have shown and described my inven
gases formed during the charge and discharge of
tion in connection with a lead peroxide-sponge
the battery.
The assembled battery, comprising the parts 10 lead-sulphuric acid type of storage battery, it
is to be understood that my invention relates to
described above, is formed. vas follows. A single
the construction of a battery, such construction
negative plate l5 having a terminal lug 2| is
provided with separator l8 adjacent thereto. A
producing the desired results, and is not limited
to any particular type of battery. The novel
duplex unit composed of positive plate I4, nega-_
tive plate I5 and barrier i1 is placed adjacent 15 construction disclosed and claimed herein is
said separator and spaced from the next duplex
valuable as well in a lead-zinc battery, a silver
unit by another separator. Any desirable number
cadmium battery, a nickel-iron battery, and
of units can be used depending on the desired
many other types, those few being listed merely
output and projected uses for the battery. The
for purposes of illustration. Therefore, I do not
cell is completed by a single positive plate I4 20 Wish to be limited by the disclosure set forth but
provided with terminal lug 22.
only by the scope of the appended claims.
It will be apparent that, by this construction,
I claim:
there are provided a plurality of electrolytic cells
1. In a pile type battery, a plurality of closely
each consisting of a negative plate, a separator,
juxtaposed U-shaped duplex elements, an im
and a positive plate, each such cell being isolated 25 pervious insulating barrier inserted between the
from the adjacent cells by means of insulating
component parts of each such element, an ab
barriers II, the only contact therebetween being
sorbent slotted separator interposed between each
across the top of said barrier at [6.
pair of adjacent duplex elements and electrolyte
To supply the necessary electrolyte, the entire
absorbed by said separators.
unit may be dipped into said electrolyte or it 30
2. In a pile type battery, a plurality of alter
may be poured over the top of the battery. It
nate positive and negative plates, adjacent posi
will be noted that connections 16 between the
tive and negative plates being joined to form a
positive and negative plates are at a point higher
plurality of U-shaped duplex elements, an im
than the remainder of the unit to permit drain
pervious insulating barrier inserted between the
age of excess electrolyte without the formation 35 component parts of each such element, an ab
of an electrolytic path across the top of the du
sorbent slotted separator interposed between each
plex elements.
pair of adjacent duplex elements, and electrolyte
Figures 6, 7 and 8 show, both individually and
absorbed by said separators.
in assembly, novel means used to form end walls
3. In a pile type battery, a plurality of alter
of the battery container, In Figure 6 a barrier 40 nate positive and negative plates, adjacent posi
l1, similar to that shown in Figures 3 and 5, is
tive and negative plates being autogenously joined
provided with shoulders 23 and 24 adjacent the
along the upper edges thereof to form a plurality
vertical edges thereof. As best shown in Fig
of duplex elements, a non-wettable impervious
ure 7 the portion of each shoulder extending to
insulating barrier inserted between the compo
one side of the barrier is one half the combined
nent parts of each such element, and a slotted
width of the adjacent plate and separator. The
separator for receiving and retaining electrolyte
shoulders of the barriers will, therefore, abut and
interposed between each pair of adjacent duplex
when fastened together, as by cementing or other
elements.
suitable fastening means, form a solid container
4. In a pile type battery, a, plurality of grids,
wall. The container is completed by the use of 50 successive grids bearing positive and negative ac
wall plates 28 and 29 as shown in Figure 8. While
tive material respectively, each grid bearing posi
it is preferable to form the shoulders integrally
tive active material being autogenously joined to
with the barrier as by injection molding, the
an adjacent grid bearing negative active material
same result could of course be reached by in
substantially co-extensively with the upper edges
serting separate strips between the ends of the 55 thereof whereby a. plurality of duplex elements
as well as supplying a channel for the escape of
barriers.
are formed, a non-wettable impervious insulat
Figure 8 shows a comb comprising a back por
ing barrier inserted between component parts of
tion 25 and a plurality of teeth 26 adapted for
each such duplex element, and a slotted separa
insertion between adjacent ends of barriers I‘!
tor for receiving and retaining electrolyte inter
and to be affixed thereto to form the container 60 posed between each pair of adjacent duplex ele
wall as shown in Figure 8 in lieu of the construc
ments.
tion shown in Figure 7. Such comb is further
5. A pile type battery, which comprises in com
provided with recessed portion 21 to receive either
bination
a plurality of alternate positive and neg
terminal lug 2! or terminal lug 22. Also shown
are wall plates 28 and 29 adjacent single nega 65 ative plates, each positive plate being autogen
tive plate I 5 and single positive plate [4, respec
tively, and coacting with the end wall forming
ously joined to the next adjacent negative plate
to form a duplex element, an impervious insulat
ing barrier inserted between the component parts
of each such duplex element, an absorbent
It is apparent, therefore, that by the use of
the above described construction, particularly the 70 slotted separator interposed between adjacent
duplex elements, each separator having a re
duplex elements, impervious barriers, and ab
cessed portion whereby a well to receive electro
sorbent separators, and by so arranging said
lyte is formed by an adjacent negative plate, an
parts as to permit the completed battery to be
adjacent positive plate, and the walls of said re
open to the atmosphere at the top and bottom
thereof, I have achieved my object of producing 75 cessed portion, and wall forming means asso
means to constitute a compact unitary container.
5
2,572,324
ciated with said barriers and coacting therewith
to form the walls of a battery container.
6. A pile type battery, which comprises in com
bination a plurality of alternate positive and neg
ative plates, each positive plate being autogenous
ly joined to the next adjacent negative plate to
form a duplex element, an impervious insulating
barrier inserted between the component parts of
each such duplex element, an absorbent slotted
separator interposed between adjacent duplex
elements, each separator having a recessed por
tion whereby a well to receive electrolyte is
formed by an adjacent negative plate, an adja
cent positive plate, and the walls of said recessed
6
electrolyte absorbed by said separators, and wall
forming means associated with said barriers and
coacting therewith to form the walls of a battery
container at a level lower than that at which said
grids are joined.
9. In a combination in a pile type battery, a
plurality of duplex elements, each such duplex
element comprising a positive plate and a nega
tive plate autogenously joined together and an
impervious non-wettable insulating barrier in
serted between said plates, an absorbent slotted
separator between adjacent duplex elements
whereby a plurality of electrolytic cells, consist
ing of the negative plate of one duplex element,
portion, and comb means, the teeth of which are 15 the separator adjacent thereto, and the positive
adapted to be inserted between adjacent barriers
. plate of the next succeeding duplex element, are
and coact therewith to form the walls of a battery
formed, and electrolyte absorbed by each separa
container.
tor.
7. A pile type battery, which comprises in com
10. In a non-spill, pile type battery containing
bination a plurality of alternate positive and neg 20 a plurality of alternate positive and negative
ative plates, each positive plate being autogenous
ly joined to the next adjacent negative plate to
plates, successive positive and negative plates
being autogenously joined to form a plural
form a duplex element, an absorbent slotted sep
ity of duplex elements, and an impervious non
wettable insulating barrier between the plates of
each duplex element, a slotted absorbent separa
arator interposed between adjacent duplex ele
ments, each separator having a recessed portion 25
whereby a well to receive electrolyte is formed by
tor interposed between adjacent duplex elements,
an adjacent negative plate, an adjacent positive
each separator having a recessed portion whereby
plate, and the walls of said recessed portion, and
a well to receive electrolyte is formed by an ad—
an impervious insulating barrier inserted between
jacent negative plate, an adjacent positive plate,
the component parts of each such duplex element,
and the walls of said recessed portion, at least
said barrier being provided on each face with a
two edges of each such separator being exposed
shoulder adjacent the vertical edges thereof to
to the atmosphere.
receive the adjacent plate and a portion of the
JOSEPH CHARLES DUDDY.
separator adjacent said plate whereby a unit of
35
the battery container wall is formed.
REFERENCES CITED
8. A pile type battery, which comprises in com
The following references are of record in the
bination a plurality of grids, successive grids
?le of this patent:
bearing positive and negative active material re
UNITED STATES PATENTS
spectively, each grid bearing positive active ma
terial being autogenously joined to an adjacent 40 Number
Name
Date
grid bearing negative active material substantial
389,186
Askew et a1 _______ __ Sept. 11, 1888
ly co-extensively with the upper edges thereof
1,515,738
Hiatt et a1 ________ __ Nov. 18, 1924
whereby a plurality of duplex elements are
1,775,763
Heise et al. ______ __ Sept. 16, 1930
formed, an impervious non-wettable insulating
OTHER REFERENCES
45
barrier inserted between the component parts of
each such duplex element, an absorbent slotted
separator interposed between adjacent elements,
Willard: Modern Plastics, August 1943; page
62,