No. 723,449.

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

T. A. EDISON.

ELECTRODE FOR STORAGE BATTERIES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 28, 1902.

NO MODEL.

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. No. 723,449.

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

T. A. EDISON.

ELEOTRODE FOR STORAGE BATTERIES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 28, 1902.

so MODEL.

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~ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

THOMAS A. EDISON, OF J",LEWELL'Y;N' .PA~K" NEW 'JERSEY.

ELEOTRODE fOR STORAGE BATTERIES.

SPEOIFIOATION forming part of Le\ters Patent No. 7S!3,449, dated March 24,.1903.

Applioation'filed November 1l8, 1901l. Beri&11Jo.lSS.1l6. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Fig. 7, a plan view of one of thegrids,_show-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a ing a single pocket or receptacle in position citizen of the United States, residing at Llew- therein; Fig. 8, a cross-sectional view, on an 55 eUyn Park, Orange, in the county of Essex enlarged scale, showing,the two parts of one

5 and State of New Jersey, have invented a of the pockets introduced in position within certain new and usefnl Improvement in Elec- one of the openings in the grid; and Fig. 9, trodes for Storage Batteries, of which the fol-· a corresponding view on the same scale,

lowing is a specification. . showing the smooth dies for effecting acrimp- 60

My invention relates to storage batteries ing of the poc-kets and for also concaving the

10 of the type invented by me, and wherein an same.

alkaline. electrolyte is employed with insolu- In all the above views corrosponding parts ble active materials. The preferable mate- are represented by the same numerals of ref-

rial used for depolarizing purposes is an elee- erence. ' 65

trolytically-active oxid of nickel, and that 1 represents the gridor plate, made of iron

IS for the oxidizable element on discharge is or steel, carefully nickel-plated and formed electrolytically - active iron or compound with openings 2 therein, and 3 represents one thereof. These .aetive materials are sup- of the sheet-metal nickel-plated corrugated

, 'ported in position withln sheet-metal nickel- pockets or receptacles crimped into posttlon 70 plated perforatedcorrngated pockets or re- in one of the openings. Each of these pockets

20 ceptacles crimped In position within open- or receptacles is composed of two cup-shaped ings formed in suitable plates 'or grids .. I parts 4and 5, the formes reeeivingthe latter. have found in practice, and especially so in The briquet is first introduced into the part connection with the nickel element, that tlie 5 and the edges are turned down underneath 75 active material when immersed in the elee- the briquet, so as to firmly lock the briquet

25 trolyte and subjected to a charging-current in the part 5. (See Fig. 8.) The part 5, cartends to objectionably bulge at the center, rying the briquet, is then Introduced into the

so that the plates cannot be placed sufficiently part 4, so that when a crimping pressure is close to each other, as is desirable where applied to both parts the part 5will be locked So weight of electrolyte is sought to beredueed, within the part 4, and the pocket 01'\ reeepta-

30' I have found that by concaving the . pockets . cle as a whole will be crimped around the or receptacles when the electrode is first a$- edgesot the opening.inwhicbitisintirodnceQ, sembled the swelling of the aettve material 80 as to be firmly J9cked in place, ~herei.n ..

. does not o1.Jjectionably bulge the latter, where- By tumingthe edges'ofthe'part-lj around the. 85 by I am enabled to overcome bhe objection briquet, as explained, the briquet will be held

l5 noted, a~d it is to this feature that the .in- more rigidly in position than when it is merely vention principally relates. I have also found introduced into the part 5, as I have described that the best results are secured in practice in previous patents; As shown in Fig. 9, the when the manufacture follows a definite line pockets or receptacles are eoneavedJongltu- 90 ofprocednre, and this process constitutes the dinally, so tha.t when any swelling of the ae- .

",0 second part of my invention. tive material takes place it will not objec-

In order that my invention may-be better tionably- bulge the pockets. 'I'his inward understood, attention is directed to the ac- concaving or arching of the pockets also companying drawings, forming part of this strengthens them somewhat to resist bulging 9S

specification, and in which- , strains, as will be obvious. The concaving

'5. Figure 1 is a plan view of a set of inde- and crimping of the pockets in place are ofpendently-mounted smooth concaving-dies; fected by means of pies, which apply pressure Fig. 2, a sectional view through the same to all the pockets of a single plate, so that a

and illustrating also the opposing set of 801- complete electrode will be formed by a single 100 idly-mounted eoncavlng-dies ; Fig. 3, a cr08S- compressing operation. I find, however, in

So sectional view through the latter dies; Figs. practice that the best results are secured in 4, 5, and 6 viewS corresponding to Figs. 1, the manufacture of corrugated pockets when 2, and 3, illustrating the eorrugating-dies ; I two sets of dies are employed, one for,effect-

798,449

Ing the erlmping and concaving of the pockets pockets and inevitable ,i~a .manutaeturlng and the other for effecting the corrngating operation carried out on a large scale.

thereof, SInce in this way the application of Having.now described my invention, what 70

the first pressure tends. to evenly distribl,teI claim as new, and desire to secure by I .. et- .

5 the active material within the pockets; If, ters Patent, is as follows:

on the contrary, t.he concavlng, crimping, and 1. ~ battery-electrode, eomprislug a· plata

corrugating of the pockets were ·elie('ted at a . having an openlng therein, a pocket or "'cap- . single operation, I have found that the active taelesecured in said opening and hl:i.ving a75 material iH not aat.isfuetorlly distributed concaved 'surface, and an active material in '

10 throughout. the several pockets. I preferably said pocket or receptacle, substantlally asset

. t herefore em ploy two sets of dies, one set be-. forth. . .

ing shown in Fig!'!,. I, 2, and 3, and the other 2. A battery-electrode, cOlliptr~ihg a plate

set heing shown ill Figs, 4,5, and G. . Be- having an opening therein; a pocket or reeep- 80 felTing to the first set.," represents Ii. heavy taele secured in said opening and haying con-

15 frame carrled by the movable memberof a hy- caved ¥.urfaces,and anaetlvematertal in said draulie or other powerful press. Mounted in pocket or reeeptaele.substsuttallyas set forth;

this frame are a number of blocks 5, each car- 3. A battery-electrode, comprising a plate.

rying a die G, secured to the blocks by means of having an opening therein, a pocket or reeep- 85 pins 7. 'I'he blocks 5are capable of indepeud- tacle secured in said opening and having a'

.:0 t'llt movement with respect to each other and concaved corrugated surface, and an active with respect to the frame 2 by being strung material in said pocket or receptacle, subOil pins 8, engaging slotted openings in said stantiaUy as set forth,

bloeks, Behind the blocks is a layer of rubber 4: A battery-electrode, comprising a plate 90

\) 01' other SIl itable yield i ng bu t non-com pres- having an opening therein; a pocket or reeep-

2; slble material, whereby anyone of the dies 6 taele secured in said opening and having conis capable of moving independently of the caved corrugated surfaces, and an active rnaother dies. Cooperating with the dies 6 are terial in said pocket or receptacle, substan-

'eorresponding dies 10, carrted by a plate 11, tially as set forth. 9S

secured to the stationary member of the 5. A battery-electrode, comprising a plate

~"pI'ess. As shown in Fig: 3, the dies 6 and 10 having an opening therein, a pocket or reeep-

are provided with smooth convex surfaces. taele having a ooueaved surface and crimped

. It will be obvious that. by assembling the two in position within said opening, and an active parts, 4 and 5, of each receptacle in the sev-material in said pocket or receptacle, snb- 100

eral pockets of the plate and ,by first intro- . stanttally as set forth. ' .

~5 ducing a briquet of the active material in 6. A battery-electrode, comprising a plate

said pockets the application of pressure to having an opening therein,a pocket or reeep-

the frame 4 will cause the dies 6 sud 10 to· taele madeof two parts, crimped in position force the parts 4 and 50f each pocket to- within the opening and having a concaved lOS gether to lock the part 5 within the part 4 to surface, and an active material iri said pocket

40 crimp the pocket or receptacle as a whole or receptacle, substantially as set forth.

around the edges of the corresponding open- 7. A battery-electrode, comprising a plate

iug and to concave the longitudinal faces of having a plurality of openings therein, a each pocket. This application of smooth con- pocket or receptacle in each opening having a 110 caving-dies effects an even distribution of concaved surface, and an active material in

4S the active material throughout each of the said pocket or receptacle, substantially as Bet

pockets. . , . forth. .

The dies shown in Figs, 4, 5, and 6 are 8. A battery-electrode, comprising flo plate

identical with those previously 'described, having a plurality of openings' therein, a ItS except that the dies 12 and 13 (corresponding pocket or receptacle in each opening having

so. to the dies 6 and 10, respectively,') are pro- con caved surfaces, and an active material in vided with transverse oorrngatlons, as shown said pocket or reeeptacle.uubstantlally as set in Fig. 6. When the pockets or receptacles forth.'

have been eoneaved and crimped in position 9. A battery-electrode, oomprisinga plate IlIO

within the grid or plate, the latter is placed having a plurality of openings therein, a

'55 between the dies 12 and 13 and pressure ap- pocket or receptacle crimped in position in plied, whereby the pockets or receptacles each opening and having a concaved surface, will be transversely corrugated, as I have de- and ail active material in said pocket or re-

scribed in patents already granted. "By thus eeptaele, substantially as set forth, 125

transversely corrugating the exposed sur- 10. A 'battery-electrode, comprising a plate

60 faces of the pockets or receptacles the strength ha ving an opening therein, a pocket or reeepof the latter is very materially increased, per- tacle secured in said opening and of less thickmitting the employment of lighter sheet . ness along its longitudinal center than at the

metal. V sides, and an active material in said pocket '30

The purpose of mounting the dies 6 and 12 ·01' receptacle, substantially as set forth.

6S so that they shall be capable of independen t 11. A battery-electrode, comprising a plate

movement is to accommodate variations in' having ail opening thereinand a pocket 01' rethe amount of active materlal in the several eeptaele containing a briquet of active ma-

terial and secured in said opening, the pocket or receptacle being formed of two cup-shaped parts received one within the other, one Of the parts having turned-over edges to lock the

5 briquet therein, and. being in turn 10jJk!3d wlthin the other part by turned-over edges, as and for the purposes set fortb.

12. A battery-electrode, comprising a plate baving an opening therein and a pocket or re-

)0 cept8.cle containing a brique] of active ma. terial and secured in said opening, the pocket I)r receptacle being formed of two ctip-sba_,p.ed parts received one within the other, one' of

728,449

3

the parts having turned-over edges to lock the briquet therein and . being in turn locked IS witbin theotber part b:}rVturned-over edges, and the exposed surfaces of the pocket or receptacle being.concaved, as and for tbe pur-posea set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed tbis ·20

13th day ofNovember, 1902. .

THOS. A. EDISON.

Witnesses:

. FRANK L. DYER, J. F. RANDOLPH.