US1995294A - Electric dry cell - Google Patents

Description

March 26, 1935.

J. R. CULLEN ELECTRIC DRY CELL Filed April 15, 1935 INVENTOR- BY 0 ATLIO EYT 0 i Hl 3 n 1,..1 #7 w 1 h I :3, r m 2 Z 9 a 0% 4 a 2 1 Patented Mar. 26 i935 siren sa as 1,995,294 nrno'raro par CELL John R. Cullen, West Hartford, Conn. Application April 15, 1933, Serial No, 666,243

l0 Claims. (Cl. 136-114) I This invention relates to electric dry cells wherein the elements of the cell are assembled with the exception of the activating material,

and said material in the form of an electrolyte or other suitable material in a semi-fluid or pasty condition ,is introduced into the cell when it is desired to put the cell into use, and it is the primary object of the invention to provide.

posed about the exterior surface to increasesuch surface area for exposure to the activating material of the cell and facilitate the moldingand withdrawal of the bobbin from the mold and quantity production of the bobbins.

' A further object of the invention is to provide an expansion chamber within the cell arranged to permit a ready discharge oi gases created by the activating of the cell into said chamber but prevent the flow of the activating material therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cell of the deferred action type having a filler opening arranged whereby the activating material may readily be introduced into the cell between the bobbin of depolarizing material and a zinc container constituting an electrode of the cell and the bobbin having a recess in one" end for a reserve supply of the activating material, and the filler opening being arranged for the releasable connection of a closure member of hollow or shell structure adapted to communicate with the expansion chamber when in closing position and receive excess gases from said chamber.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved means to insulate the electrodes from each other and capable of being positioned in the cell as an integral unit thereby greatly facilitating the assembling of the cells t is still another object of the invention to provide a depolarizing core or bobbin for dry cells arranged with the exterior surface adapted to be exposed to the activating material of increased area without an increase in the size of the'en'closing container electrode of the adopted commercial dry cell and arrange the core with integral ,means" to maintain the core in rigid spaced relation to the container and the center electrode centrally of the container and thus eliminating additional means to maintain said core in fixed spaced relation to the container 5 of the cell. y

In carrying out the invention there is utilized a metallic container to constitute an electrode of the cell, said container having one-end closed and the other end arranged with an expansion to chamber formed by a cupped member having a series of perforations and engaged in the container with the open end facing outwardly from the container, and said bottom end of the container and cupped member closed by a closure 15 member having an opening in a depressed tubular portion extended through-the c pp d member into a recess in an end of a core or bobbin of depolarizing material of cylindrical form engaged inand of slightly less diameter than the 2g container in juxtaposed relation to the cupped member, said bobbin having equidistantly spaced flutes about the periphery thereof forming with the wall of the container elongated chambers in communication with the bobbin recess to permit of the passage of the activating material into the chambers filled into the cell through the opening in the closure member of the container into the bobbin recess. The opening in-the closure is closed by a releasable closure 3g plug of hollow structure having a circular row of perforations to communicate through a series of perforations in the depressed portion of the container closure member with the expansion chamber to permit excess gases from said 35 chamber to escape into the closure plug. To insulate the depolarizing bobbin from the metallic container there is provided a member preferably of unitary structure embodying a cup shaped portion to engage in the bobbin recess a with equidistantly spaced strips extended therefrom and over the endof the bobbin inficontact with the cupped member forming the expansion chamber and longitudinally of the bobbin and interposed between the fillets of the bobbin alternating with the flutes and the wall of the container. A carbon electrode is extended centrally-through the bobbin with one end abutting the cupped portion of the insulating member and the other end extended through and insullated from-"the end of the container having a contact cap attached thereto. g

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dry cell embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the cell taken on the line 22 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of an end portion of the cell taken on the line 4-4 .tainer with certain of the eap that is attached to the ofFigure 3 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the member to insulate the depolarizing core from the conequidistantly spaced strips broken away to show the cupped portion of said member.

Figure 6 is a view of the insulating member looking at the top of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a perspective viewof the closure for the open end of the, container and looking at the interior thereof to show the depressed portion with an opening therethrough tofill the activating material into the cell.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the hollow closure plug for the filler opening in the closure member shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the contact extended end of the carbon electrode. 3

Figure 10 is a plan view and Figure 10a a cross sectional view of theperforated cupped member'ior forming the expansion chamber.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the molded bobbin of depolarizing mix; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the closure plug, on an enlarged scale, looking at the bottom thereof.

In carrying out the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing there is provided a metallic electrode and constituting the anode of the cell in the form of a zinc container of cup shape comprising a tubular body 13 having a central opening in the end wall, as at 14 in Figure 2, for a purpose to be hereinafter described, and the opposite end adapted to be closed by a zinc disk' 15 secured to said end of the body 13 in any suitable manner, as by soldering, to constitute the bottom of the container. The disk 15 is arranged with a central tubular portion 16 to extend into the container body 13 with the wall converging from the disk and having an opening through the apex to form a conical filler opening into the container with the wall of said tubular portion extending from theapex in a plane parallel with the axis of said tubular portion, as at 17. A series of perforations 18 are circumferentially disposed about the conical wall 16 adjacent the closure disk 15 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The container is provided with an expansion chamber 19 to receive the gases generated during the activating of the cell, said chamber being formed by a. shallow dishedor cup-shaped member 20 of insulating material, such as paper, having a diameter to permit the same to be inserted within the end of the container body 13 with the open end opposed to and the flange of said member abutting the closure disk 15 and forming with the closure disk 15 the chamber 19. The cupped member 20 has a central opening 21 to snugly fit about the inclining wall of the tubular portion 16 beyond the perforations 18 so that the expansion chamber is in "'communi cation with the tubular portion of the closure disk. The chamber-forming member 20 is provided with a series of restricted perforations 22 disposed circularly about the disk portion of said member to serve as vents 18 to permit of the passage of gases from the interior of the container to the expansion chamber 19.

A cathode is mounted in the zinc container before the closure disk 15 and the cupped member 20 are applied to the container and comprises a bobbin or body 24 of a depolarizing mix or material disposed about a carbon electrode 23 of the usual stickiorm having the opposite ends tapered. The depolarizing mix 24 is molded about the carbon electrode and may consist of suitable material, as powdered graphite, a. depolarizer, such as manganese dioxide, and conducting salts, such as ammonium chloride and zinc chloride. To provide a bobbin of depolarizing mix which has a maximum amount of surface area to be exposed to the action of an activating material or electrolyte 25, and also to facilitate the molding and removal of the bobbin from its mold, the bobbin is formed to cylindrical shape with a series of flutes 26 equidistantly spaced about the periphery and extending the full length of the body thereof to cooperate with the wall of the container to formelongated chambers by arranging the fillets 27 or portions between the flutes adjacent the zinc container with an insulator interposed between said fillets and container wall, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The length of the bobbin is such that when the closure disk 15 and-the cupped member 20 are applied to the container the one end of the bobbin in the container will abut the container end 14 with a disk 28 of insulating material, such as a suitable paper, interposed between the bobbin and the container end, the opposite end of the bobbin abutting the cupped member 20 and the surface of all of the flutes exposed and in opposed relation to the container body 13. The

one tapered end of the carbon stick 23 projects beyond the bobbin and engages the wall of a central opening in the insulating disk 28 which is of less area than the opening in the container end 14, as at 29, the exposed end of the carbon having an electric contact terminal 30 in the form of a cap is arranged with a central protruding nipple 31 and is engaged on the pro- ,iecting end of the carbon stick and retained thereon by a layer of material having insulating properties, such as pitch or a suitable wax, placed upon the insulating disk 28 within the opening in the end wall 14 of the container and surrounding the side wall of the cap contact, as shown at 32 in Figure 2, said material also serving as a moisture proof seal.

The end of the bobbin 24 abutting the cupped member 20 is arranged with a central recess 32 in enclosing relation to the outlet or tape ed end of the depressed portion 16 of the closure 15, said recess being in communication with the longitudinal flutes 26 of the bobbin through radial passages formed by channels 33 in the end of the bobbin radiating from the recess in alinement with and constituting a continuation bf the flutes, and in spaced relation to the disk portion of the cupped member 20 to form passages therewith, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The cell is activated by the filling of the flutes 26 with an electrolyte, as indicated at 25, by filling the same through the opening in the tubular portion is of the closure disk 15 into the recess 32 in the body of the depolarizing mixture from which it flows through the radial passages 33, the recess and passages also being filled with the electrolyte to assure the filling of the flutes to capacity, and constitute a reserve supply of the electrolyte.

It will be observed that the bobbin of the depolarizing mixture is insulated from the container (Figures 5 and 6) comprising a cupped section 34 adapted to engage in and cover the exposed surface of the bobbin recess 32 and having a central inwardly depressed portion 35 in the bottom ,of

the cup corresponding to the shape of and engaging the tapering endof the carbon stick electrode to support one end of said electrode, the opposite end of the carbon, electrode projecting beyond' the cell, as hereinbefore described and clearly disclosed by Figure 2. The rim of the cupped section 34 is arranged with equidista'ntly spaced cut outs 36 conforming in shape toand adapted to register with the channels 33 inv the end of the bobbin, and strips of the insulating material extending from the rim of the cup shaped section are interposed between the cut outs 36 to form sections 3'7 adapted to cover the exposed per-- tion of the end of the bobbin between the channels 33 and flutes 26, and sections 38 continued from the sections 37 are extended in a reverse direction, said sections 38 being of a length equal to the length of the bobbin and adapted to cover the outer surface of and to be interposed between the fillets 2'7 and body of the container, as clearly shown in Figures'3 and 4. The insulating jacket may be applied to the bobbin as it is molded by first placing the jacket in the mold for the bobbin, then positioning the'carbon stick with'the end engaged inthe depression 35, and then filling the depolarizing mix into the mold and tamping it about the carbon stick, the insulating jacket, bobbinand carbon stick being removed from the mold as a unit. The cupped section 34 may be constructed separate from the strips 3'7, 38 to facilitate the forming of the insulating jacket.

In the constructing and assembling of the cell there is provided the container having the closed end 14 with the insulating material 32' and contact terminal 30 arranged in the opening thereof. The insulating disk 28 is then positioned in the container when the bobbin of depolarizing material molded about the electrode 23 and enclosed by the insulating jacket is engaged in the container. The insulating cupped member 20 is then positioned in the container abutting the end of the bobbin and the closure disk 15 secured to thecontainer. By the construction and arrangement of the parts as described the elements of the cell will be assembled in the container in' compact and substantially rigid position and the possibility of the parts being. displaced-and the cell rendered useless by the jarring or dropping of the cell reduced to a minimum.

To activate the cell sufficient electrolyte is supplied to the cell to fill the spaces formed by the bobbin flutes 26, recess '32 and channels 33 con nect'lng the recess with the flute spaces. To pro-v duce an activated cell at the factory the electroafter which theinlet means 16.is sealed. To produce a deferred action cell afterthe elements,

with the exception of the electrolyte have been assembled and secured in the container by. the closure 15, a releasable closure is engaged in the outlet means 16. r r ,H

In the deferred action type'of cell the electrolyte 25 is supplied to the cell from a suitable 7 container, such as a collapsible container or tube,

not shown, that is kept in stock by the'merchan-i diser and supplied to the purchaser with the inactive cell, the tube having a capacity to contain tainer 13, the bobbin recess 32 and the passages sufficient electrolyte to fill the "spaces in the cell, formed by the flutesv 2.6 and the wall of the con: I

, -l5 33. The filling of vtherecess 32andpassages 33 I assures the filling of the elongated chambers to capacity, providing a reserve supply of the electrolyte', the insulatingcup 34 preventing a chemical reaction between the electrolyte and the depolarizing mix exposed by the recess 32 and posv j sible short eircuiting of the cell. The electrolyte is introduced 1 to'the cell while the cell is in inverted position to facilitate the flowing of the electrolyte into the elongated chambers. ,After the cell is filled with electrolyte the filler opening of the cell is closed by a plug closure member,

preferably of zinc, comprising a hollow conical body 39 shaped to conformto theinterior shape of the tubular portion 16 of the closure and hav-,

v mg a cylindrical wall portion 40 extended from the apex corresponding to the wall extension 17 of the'tubular portion 16 arranged with diametrically opposite pins 41 extending laterally'therefrom to slidably engage diametrically opposite lcngitudinal grooves,42 in the'wall extension 17 of the closure tubular portion 1 6. The portion 40 is of greater length than the portion 1'7 and the pins 41 are arranged so that they will engage at the end edge of theportion 17 between the grooves 42 by the rotation of the closure "plug, and the end edge ofportion 17 may be inclined forming with pins 41 a bayonet joint connection between the closure plug and the filler opening, and firmly draw and releasably retain the closure plug to the filler opening. To form a closed chamber in the shellor body of theclosure plug 1 a disk 43 is secured in the larger end of the tub'u-' lar body 39 and is arranged with a pair of spaced indentions 44 for the application of a tool to facilitate the rotation of the closure plug in applying and removing the same.

The hollow structure of the closure plug con- 'stitutes an auxiliary-expansion chamber and in inlet closing position is adapted to'be'inconsta'nt communication with the expansion 'chamber'19.' For this purpose the body 39 of the closure plug is arranged with an annular recess 45 disposed circumferentially about said'body adjacent the larger end adaptedto be in opposed relation to the perforations 18 in the tubular portion 16 when the plug is in inlet closing position and said re- 4 cess having a series of perforations 46 through the wall thereof for the passage of the gas into the plug chamber, as shown in Figu're2:

The perforations 22 in the expansion chamberforming member 20 are so spaced that several" of said perforations willbe in communication duced into the cell with each of the chambers formedby the flutes 26 topermit'of the'ready passage of the'gases generated by the chemical reaction in the cell'g' .The electrolyte is preferablyof a type which '7 gelatinizes within a short time after being introand in such condition the" j 22. However should any of the electrolyte lodge in any of the perforations it will be dislodged therefrom by the pressure of the gas generated in the cell, and thus maintaining communication with the expansion chamber 19 at all times.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a dry'battery cell, a cup-shaped container electrode having an opening through the end wall, a bobbin of depolarizing material having longitudinal flutes disposed about the exterior thereof, said bobbin being mounted in the container with the fillets intermediate the flutes adjacent the side wall of the container and forming elongated chambers between the fluted surfaces and container, an electrode carried centrally of the bobbin with one end projecting from an end of the bobbin and extended through the opening in the end of and insulated from the container, a closure for the open end of the container having an opening through which to fill activating material into the chambers formed by the bobbin flutes, and means to insulate all of the fillets and ends of the depolarizing mix from the container with the fluted surfaces exposed to the container.

2. In a dry battery cell, a cup electrode having an opening centrally through the end wall, a disk of insulating material contiguous to the end wall of the cup electrode and having a central opening, a bobbin composed of an electrode and a body of depolarizing material molded thereon with the electrode projecting from one end, said body having a recess in the other end with flutes extending longitudinally of and spaced about the exterior surface thereof and the end of the depolarizing body and communicating with the end recess, and said bobbin engaged in the cup electrode with the projecting end of the electrode engaging the opening in the insulator disk and extended through the opening in and insulated from the end wall of the cup electrode and thereby positioning the bobbin centrally of the cup electrode, and the body flutes in conjunction with the cup electrode forming chambers adapted to be occupied by an electrolyte in contact with the cup electrode and surface of the flutes, and means to insulate the recessed end and all the fillets between the flutes of the body from the cup electrode and adapted to hold the recessed end of the bobbin centrally of the cup electrode;

3. In a dry battery cell as claimed in claim 2, a closure for the open end of the cup electrode comprising a disk having a central tubular portion extending into and opening to the bobbin recess, a disk member of insulating ma-- terial interposed between the end of the bobbin provided with the recess and the closure and spaced from and forming with the closure a chamber in the cup electrode, said disk member having a central opening for the passage and engagement of the tubular portion of theolosure and perforations opening to the flute chambers for the passage into said chamber of gas generated in the cell.

4. In a dry battery cell, a cup electrode having an opening centrally through the end wall, a contact terminal carried centrally of said opening and insulating from-the cup electrode a bobbin composed of an electrode and a'body of depolarizing material molded thereon, said body having a recessin one end with flutes spaced about and extending longitudinally of and spaced about the exterior surface and the end"of;.t he; depolarizing body and communicating with-the.

end recess with one end of the electrode projecting from the body and the other and pro-- jecting into the body recess, and said bobbin engaged in the cup electrode with the end oi. the electrode projecting from the body engaging the contact terminal carried in the opening in the end wall of the cup electrode, and the flutes in conjunction with the cup electrode forming chambers in communication with the body recess to be occupiedby an electrolyte in con perforations in the disk member with the flute.

chambers, means adapted to be releasably engaged in and close the opening through the tubular portion of the closure, and means to insulate the bobbin electrode and all of the ends and fillets between the bobbin flutes from the cup electrode and hold the electrode and body of the bobbin centrally of the cup electrode.

5. In a dry battery cell, a cup electrode having an opening centrally through the end wall, a disk of insulating material contiguous to-the end wall of the cup electrode and having a central opening, a bobbin composed of an electrode and a body of depolarizing material molded thereon with the electrode projecting from one end of the body, said body having a recess in one end with flutes spaced about and extending longitudinally of the exterior surface and the end of the depolarizing body and communicating with the end recess, and said bobbin engaged in the cup electrode with the projecting end of the bobbin electrode engaging the opening in the insulator disk and extended through the end wall of the cup electrode, and the flutes in conjunction with the cup electrode forming chambers in communication with the body recess to be occupied by an electrolyte in contact with the opposed surfaces of the cup electrode and bobbin flutes of said chambers, means to insulate the end of the electrode extended through the end wall of the cup electrode from the cup electrode and hold said end of the. electrode and bobbin centrally of the cup electrode, a disk member of insulating material juxtaposed to the recessed end of the body having a central opening and perforations open to the. flute chambers, a closure disk for the open end of the cup electrode having a central tubular portion projecting through the opening in the disk member into the body recess to fill an electrolyte into the cell, said closure disk and disk member being arranged in spaced relation and forming a chamber within the cup electrode in communication through the disk perforations with the flute chambers, and the tubular portion ,of the closure disk having an annular row of perforations open to said chamber, a hollow closure member engaged inand closing the opening through the tubular portion of the closure disk having an annular perforated depressed portion in line with the rowof perforations in the tubular portion of the closure disk, and. means interposed,between and insulating the recessed end and iiilets of the bobbin between the flutes from the cup electrode.

6. In a dry battery cell, a cup electrode having an opening centrally through the end wall, a bobbin composed of an electrode and a body of depolarizing material molded thereon having a recess in one end with flutes spaced about and extending longitudinally of the exterior surface and-end of the depolarizing body and communicating with the end recess with one end of the electrode projecting from the body and the other end projecting into the body recess, and said bobbin engaged in the cup electrode with the end of the electrode projecting from the body extendedthrough the opening in the end wall of and insulated from the cup electrode, and the body flutes in conjunction with the cup electrode forming chambers to be occupied by an electrolyte in contact with the cup electrode and surface of the bobbinfiutes, a closure for the open end of the cup electrode, and means to insulate the ends and all of the fillets between the flutes of the bobbin from the cup electrode and hold the bobbin body and electrode centrally of the cup electrode.

7. A dry battery cell as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means to insulate the ends and fillets between the flutes of the bobbin from the cup electrode and hold the bobbin body and electrode centrally of the cup electrode comprises a disk of insulating material interposed between one end of the bobbin and the end wall of the cup electrode having a central opening in which the end of the electrode projecting from the bobbin engages, and a member having a cup shaped section engaged in the bobbin recess and having the bottom depressed inwardly to form a seat engaging the end of the electrode projecting into the bobbin recess and strips radiating from the cup shaped section folded about and interposed between the fillets between the bobbin flutes and cup electrode.

8. In a dry battery cell, an electrode, and a 'tainer wall, and means to body of depolarizing material molded about the electrode having a recess in one end, said body being of greater length than the electrode with one end of the electrode projecting from the body and the other end projecting into the body recess, and said. body having a series of flutes disposed about and extending longitudinally of the exterior surface and the end of the depolarizing body and communicating with the recess.

9. In a dry battery cell, an electrode, and a body of depolarizing material molded about the electrode having a recess in'one end, said body being of greater length than the electrode with one end of the electrode projecting from the body and the other end projectinginto the body recess, and said body having a plurality of flutes spaced about and extending longitudinally of the exterior surface and the end of the depolarizing body and communicating with the recess, and an insulator for said body 1nd electrode embodying a cupped portion engaged in the body recess and having the end depressed inwardly and engaging the end of the electrode projecting into the recess and strips radiating from said cupped portion folded about and enclosing the surface of the fillets between the flutes.

10. In a dry battery cell, a cup electrode, a bobbin composed of an electrode and a body of depolarizing material disposed about the same having a-series of flutes spaced about the exterior surface to increase the area thereof, said bobbin being engaged in the cup electrode with the fillets between the flutes adjacent the wall of said cup electrode and forming therewith chambers to be occupied by an electrolyte in contact with the surface of the flutes and coninsulate the ends and all of the fillets between the flutes of the body of depolarizing material from the cup electrode.

JOHN R. CULLEN.

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