New-York tribune., 1901-07-16
DOUBTS ON JONE PATENT.
ENGINEERS THINK ELECTRICITY d.
RECT FROM COAL Is STILL
A PROBLEM.

Electrical engineers in this city were much in
terested yesterday in the discovery which Hugo
Jone OF Chicago. believes will solve the problem
OF producing electricity direct from coal patent
which Jone has taken out new battery en-
bodies ali that is vital. told in yesterday 8
Tribune.
If the battery win do all Jone contends that it
Will, the discovery is OF great Importance. but
electricians here do not believe that the Chicago
man has succeeded IN solving the problem. They
believe that electricity will eventually be produced
direct from coal but say that in Jones discovery
the electrical energy comes from chemical action
in the metals which he and that heat from the
coal simply assists the action.
There has been little actual progress along this
particular line OF electrical development. although
many of the prominent electricians have been
working it for the last ten years. few en-
couraging hints have been thrown out, but no one
has succeeded in burning coal in such way that
the is expressed in electricity rather than
in heat.
Dr. Jaques, who IS employed engineer by
the New-York Telephone Company, some tirse ago
succeeded in burning carbon and getting out cleo
tricity. but there has always been a difference Of
opinion the physics Of the experiment He
has been able TO go further. willard T. Case,
Of Auburn, wealthy young man whose hobby is
science is said to have made astonishing progress
n the same direction. What Edison has done
only himself knows.
T. c. Martin, Editor of THE Electrical World
and Engineer has looked into Jones discovery and
patent He said yesterday Tribune reporter:
This Chicago man has made new battery
which seems TO combine the disadvantages Of the
two old systems i do not believe it will have any
considerable bearing upon the solution OF the great
electrical question, the generation OF electriclty
direct from coal with the production of heat These
attempts are praiseworthy and should be encour-
aged. 1t is through them that the difficult prob
lem will eventually be solved.
The following description Of the Jone patent was
given yesterday by OF the editors of THE
Electrical World:
case containing a battery of four cells. The fur
mace gases from the retort circulate against the
inner side of the containing the cells, thereby
heating the latter Each cell is divided into three
sections 6g paToRs ol porous @ b cay Ce os ction
sulphuric acid and the third and larger section a
lead electrode. and the nitric acid section car.
bon electrode. suitable quantity OF sulpnate OF
coal nearly sufficient 10 reduce the sulphate to
sulphide and the mixture is then heated until the
purities which may have been brought INTO IL py
the COAL and is then mixed with sulphate of lead
sulphur dioxide which reduction is effected by
again supplying fuel heat the retort. The sui
secfon Of the Several cells reducing the ferrc
chloride therein to ferrous chloride; Previous to
started by putting the lead eectrode into
the larger section and suitably connect
rent may be considered consisting of two cur
rents The flow of sulphur dioxide is so regulated
that the sulphuric acid formed is not more than
sufficient decompose the chloride Of lead formed
in the battery reaction. The lead in the retort is
shaped for an electrode The suphate of lead de-
posted by the battery is drawn on by & means "a Sc OF
ulated that the nitric acid which enters into
being passed through a condenser coil and there
condensed again to nitric acid, flowing back into
ess of disti1Iation oxidation and condensation is
kept up by regulating the temperature Of the bat
tery and supplying sufficient cooling water to