Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1882-05-23

| terry. IL has been necessary to hold the
| oxides in contact with the plates by
means Of packings or wrappings of cloth
! or other iibrous substances, the use Of
which was always attended with expense
aud difficulty, and has prevented the
actual success Of the instrument. The
action Of the acids soon destroyed tile
| wrsps.
In this new form of battery al the
clumsy w.appings are removed, and
simple perforated plates are used, the
result being the production Of durable
and more powerful cells than heretofore.
! Mr.. SeilOm said that he looked forward
To the time when huge plates of half q
ton or ton each will be used, and thou
sands Of lamps supplied from one battery
or reservoir. He fufther said:
COZ the sizes made. one standard size
of the dimensions of foriy-three one hun
dredths of 4 cubic foot, and containing
of metallic con position about G2 pounds,
will yield when properly charged an ag-
gretgate amount of current equivalent 10
fully one horse power of electrical ener-
gy for one hour, giving of from $50 to
400 amperes nj any required rate up to
40 ampercs per hour. The next stand
ari size contains of metallic composition
rather less than 800 pounds. aud can
yield five horse power of electrical ener-
gy for an hour-giving up its 500 to
loco amperes at any rate up to 200 to $50
If required. One set of 30 such cells viii
he seen working 200 Lane-FoX lamps in
the Alhambra Courts. The plates have
no supports, and are simply in appear
ance solid pieces Of metal separated by
slips Of wood, and immersed In acidulat-
ed water. ia reality they are full of
interstices or holes, which contain the
packed metclial This Is applied in such
a form that it makes \ solid alloy (if
may use the term with the plates them
selves"
He then proceeded to request that n
scientific committee should be appointed
TO examine and verify hiS statements
and test the battery. He then continue
ed:
Vow as to The practical application
of these batteries. TO my mind their
employment will be almost unlimited.
| can conceive no installation OF domest-
ic electric lighting TO be complete with
out them, whether us n supplying or as u
regulating medium. For motive power
anticipate immense demand; and al
though the factory now nearly in course
of construction Is upon n scale somewhat
commensurate with the business in hand,
bet feel confident that IL will form but
the nucleus Of an immense and import
ant industry.
"The application of the forces of ma
ture, such us wind, running and tidal
water, will now, doubtless, receive
more engineering attention than here
fore and electrical energy, which upon
its generation can now be stored and re-
served for Use as required, must become
a much sought for and highly priced
source Of power. To regard the use of
these batteries only as n small mntter of
convenience, take, for instance.
my own case. Up toihc introduction of
these batteries it had been necessary for
me TO keep one OF my gardeners every
evening attending to the engine and
dynamo machine up whatever hour light
be required; for the future he need only
set the charging Of the batteries IN action
during the day, and my store will be
ready for evening use without hnctua-
ton or intermission. The durability Of
the incandescent lamps is also greatly in
creased, and the lights can be regulated
to any required degree of intensity ryou
diminish your clectromotive force by
cutting of so many cells, and you there
by conserve so much of your electrical
power" -
The practical exhibition Of the new
battery is described rs having been at
tended with great success. Many lights
were shown, the brilliancy ofwhich could
be readily increased or diminished by
switching on or OF one or more cells Of
he battery.