US1657543A - Primary cell - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3l, 1928. 1,657,543

R. B. LYNN PRIMARY CELL Filed Feb. 9. 1925 Patented .lan`. 31 1928.

UNITED STATES i 1,657,543 PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH B'. LYNN, 0F LA. SALLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGN'OR TO NATIONAL CARBQN COM- INCORPORATED, A CRPOBATIUN 0F NEW YORK.

PRIMARY CELL.

appiicauen and reti-nary a, ieee. serial no. 37,148.

This invention relates to primary cells of the type comprising a zinc anode, an alkaline electrolyte and a depolarizer of granular or pulverulent material such as copper oxide, and particularly toa cell of this type in which all of the elements of the cell are enclosed in a cylindrical sheetmetal container which also functions as the, cathode.

A n object olf the invention is to produce a primary cell in which the containing vessel and cathode is made of spun metal parts which may be easily assembled to form a sealed sell without resorting to soldering or other similar operations. A further .object is to form a cell lwhich is secured against leakage of the electrolyte by joining a metal cover to the container by crimping or spinning" the material to' form a liquid tight seam at the line of intersection of the cover and the container. Another object of the invention is to forni a cell of simple construction which may be manufactured at a relatively` low cost so that the cell may be sold on a basis which will justil 'running it to description and then discarding it as is the practice in using the ordinary dry cell.

The invention will be more particularly described gin connection with the accomu panying drawing, in which is shown a. vertical sectional view through a cell embodying the invention..

In the figure shown, 1 designates a cylindrical sheet metal container, preferabl ot tinned sheet iron. The container 1 is c osed at the lower end by a sheet metal closure 2 and at the upper end by a sheet metal cover 3, both of which are joined to the side wall ot the container by crim ing or spinning the metal to form a liquid tight seam at the line of intersection ot the side wall and the respective end closures. Au annular inwardly projecting bead 4 is formed by a' spinning operation in the side wall of the container l on a line some distance above the lower end of the container but adjacent thereto. A perforated cylindrical sheet metal member 5 o en at the ends is provided with an outwar ly projecting bead v6 adjacent one end. This member 5 is of such diameter and length as to tit within the container 1 with its outwardly projecting portion 6 resting upon the inwardly projecting portion 4 of the container 1, thus defining an annular space 7. This space is filled with granular depolarizing material, for example cop-y per oxide. ln order to hold the partition member 5 firmly seated on the inwardly projecting bead 4, a disc 8 of suitable insulating material, for example porcelain or glass, is fitted upon the upper end of the partition 5. This disc is provided with an annular downwardly projecting ridge 9 on its lower side adapted to t within the upper end of the perforated partition member 5 to hold it in, suitable spaced relation to the side walls of the container 1. On the upper side of the disc 8 there is. provided a centrally disposed annular boss 10. This boss serves to space the body of the disc 8 from the cover 3 and to thereby define a space 11 at the upper end of the cell which is filled with a suitable electrolyte absorbent such as bibulous ground paper, sawdust, etc.' Should any electrolyte leak pass the disc 8 into the space 7, it will'be absorbed by the bibulous material therein.

The zinc electrode, `preferably in the form of an open-ended cylinder 12, is suspended from the cover 3 by means of a bolt 13 which passes throughv an opening 14 in the disc 8` and boss 10. The threaded end of the bolt 13 projects through the cover 3 and is engaged by a nut 15 which seats upon a liber washer 16 insulating the nut fromv the `cover 3. The threaded end of the bolt projects above the nut15 vand serves as the negative of somewhat greater diameter than the openings in washers 16 and 17, so that b tightening the nut 15 the ortion of the so rubber washer not confine between' the cover 3 and the boss 10 will be drawn into the annular space between the edge of the opening in the cover 3 and the bolt 13 and thereby serves to in insulate the bolt 13 from the cover 3 and also to prevent lateral movement of the bolt with res ect to the cover. The zinc electrode 12 is preferably provided with slits 18 at spaced intervals to permit of free circulation of the electrolyte 19.

If desired, 'a layer of paraffin or other sealing material 2O may' be poured upon the up er surface of the disc 8 before the absor nt material is filled into the space 11, thus providing greater insurance aga' -,1.Ina

leakage of electrolyte. As a 'cathode terminal, a threaded member 2l is attached to the cover 2. Nuts 22 cooperate with the respective terminals for connecting the cell into the operating circuit.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a substantial space for electrol te is provided below the lower ends of bot the copper oxide element and the Zinc element. This serves to insure against short circuiting due to bridging of the space between the two elements by copper oxide which may have sifted through the perforations of the partition 5.

It will be seen from the drawing and the above description that the cell is composed of elements which are simple in form and which may be manufactured at a relatively low cost. These elements may be easily as sembled to form a finished cell which may be handled without danger of leakage of' electrolyte and is ready for use when shipped by the manufacturer.

The cell is adapted for use in many situations where dry cells heretofore have been employed. It is particularly suitable for use in radio A batteries.

I claim:

rimary cell, in combination, a combined siieet metal container and cathode having a cover joined thereto by a spun seal connection, a zinc electrode supported by, and spaced and insulated from said cover, a layer of depolarizer held in contact with the sidewalls of said container by a cylindrical perforated partition seated upon an inwardl projecting portion of the side wall of sai container, and an alkaline electrolyte associated with said electrodes.

2. In a primary cell, in combination, a sheet metal container having an annular inwardly projecting bead in its side wall near the lower end thereof, a cylindrical erforated sheet metal member loosely fitting within said container and supported by the inwardly projecting portion of said container, means holding said perforated member seated against said container, said means consisting of a disc of insulating material held against the upper end of said erforated member by pressure transmitte to a projecting boss on said disc from the cover of said container, and depolarizing material filling the space between the container and the perforated member.

3.111 a primary cell, in combination, a sheet metal container having an annular inwardly projecting bead in its side wall, a cylindrical perforated partition having an annular outwardly projecting bead near its lower end, said bead cooperating with the bead on the container to support said partition and to space it from said container, means to hold said partition against the annular bead on said container, and depolarizing material filling the space between the container and the partition.

4. A primary cell comprising in combination a sealed sheet metal container having top and bottom members joined to the side walls by spun seal connections, an annular inwardly projecting bead in the side walls of said container near the lower end, a cylindrical perforated partition provided with an annular outwardly projecting bead near its lower end, said last mentioned beaded portion being adapted to center the partition with respect to the container and to rest upon the inwardly projecting beaded portion of the container, an insulating disc resting on said partition and adapted to hold said partition in position and to dene a space for electrolyte absorbing means at the top of the cell, depolarizing material filling the space between the container and the artition, an exciting liquid in the cell an an anode depending from the cell cover.

5. In a primary electric cell the combination of a sheet metal container having an inwardly projecting bead in the side walls thereof, a perforated partition of a shape similar to that of the container and having an outwardly projecting bead near its lower end, thel bead oilsaid partition resting on the bead of the container and extending substantially to the side walls thereof, the bead of the container extending substantially to the partition below the bead therein, a depolarizer between said container and said partition, an electrolyte in said container and an electrode within said electrolyte.

In tetimonywhereof,1 affix my signature.

.RALPH B. LYNN.

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