IMPROVE- MENTS IN AND RELATING TO GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, CARL JOHANN DAVID OPPERMANN, of 2 Albany Road Leyton, in the County
of Essex, Electrician do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO GALVANIC BATTERIES to be as follows:-
This invention supplies the means for a constant circulation of the fluids in a
series of cells or battery by providing a simple mechanical arrangement for the
pumps now used to raise the fluids above the level in the cells, and substituting
syphons to effect intercommunication between the cells, where fixed pipes attached
to or forming part of the cells are now in use for that purpose.
A vessel open on the top is by means of a motor or other suitable machine
alternately dipped below and raised above the surface of the fluid in each tank,
which contains the same description of liquid as the cells with which it is
connected; into this vessel one arm of a syphon dips, so that the fluid, when raised
above the level of the fluid in the next adjoining cell, into which the other arm of
the syphon leads, escapes into that next cell, and from there through syphons into
the other cells, untill it returns through a specially constructed syphon or outflow
pipe into the tank.
To prevent the return of fluid into the tank from the first cell, a valve actuated
by a float resting on the fluid in the open vessel closes one end of the syphon when
required, or a self-acting valve may be used.
One arm of the syphons connecting the cells reaches nearly to the bottom of one
cell, while the other arm reaches a little below the surface of fluid in the next.
To prevent the accumulation of gas from interrupting the action of the syphons,
I provide them with a reservoir which is filled with fluid and into which the gas
may escape without disturbing their action. I also bend the terminals of the
syphons upwards and insert pieces of sponge or similar material to prevent the
entry of gas.

page_text: I, CARL JOHANN DAVID OPPERMANN of 2 Albany Road Leyton in the county
of Essex, Electrician do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO GALVANIC BATTERIES and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
This invention supplies the means for a constant circulation of the fluid or fluids
in a battery or series of cells by providing a simple mechanical arrangement to
raise the fluids from tanks or reservoirs into the cells, and substituting moveable
syphons or pipes to effect intercommunication between the cells where fixed pipes
attached to or forming part of the cells are now employed for that purpose.
When a
An open vessel is by means of an electric motor or other suitable machine
alternately dipped below and raised above the surface of liquid in the tanks or
reservoirs which contain the fluids for charging the cells. One arm of a syphon
dips into this open vessel, the other arm leads into the next adjoining cell, the
bottom of which it reaches, and being U shaped is continued upwards again, the
open end being just above the level of fluid in the cell. The open vessel may be
joined directly or by means of a flexible tube to a pipe or syphon supplying the
cell, or the fluids may first be stored in an auxiliary reservoir of higher level from
which the first cell is supplied through a tube or pipe by gravitation.
battery consisting of separate pairs of cells is to be employed I use syphons with
the ends of both arms bent upwards, one arm of which reaches to the bottom of
the first cells and the other arm discharges into the second pair, the opening in the
upper arm regulates the height of level in the first cells; similar syphons join the
second and third pair and so on through the whole series of cells, the fluid entering
the syphons about an inch above the bottom of one cell and discharging near the
surface in the next, till the last cells are filled to their proper level, when they
discharge all fluid above that level through similar syphons into the tank or main-
reservoir back again.
Where large numbers of cell are required I arrange them in two or more series,
supply two or more pairs of cells simultaneously from the tanks and provide two
or more pairs of returnflows to the tanks from the cells in each series; this keeps
the solutions in the first and last cells of a more uniform strength than if only a
single flow and return is provided for each fluid.
The outer cells are made joined to one or both reservoirs in the form of long
tanks and may be constructed of wood, slate or other suitable material put together
after the manner of common washing-trays. The reservoirs are placed at one end,
and partitions of any suitable material, preferably of glass, let into grooves cut
into the sides form the divisions for outer cells. These partitions are arranged so
as to leave an aperture (or they may be perforated) alternately at top and bottom,
so that the fluids of the first and second cells communicate at the bottom, the
second and third at the top, the third and fourth at the bottom, and so on to the
last division which communicates through an outflow pipe or syphon with
the main-reservoir, the inner cells are connected by syphons as described before.
Such cells may of course be made without reservoirs and used in addition to
those previously described with which they are connected by means of syphons.
When made of wood they should be put together and covered with a coating of
red lead, pitch, dissolved rubber or gutta percha according to the nature of the
solution they are to contain.

page_text: To prevent the accumulation of gas from interrupting the action of the syphons
both their ends are bent upwards and they are provided with a fixed or moveable
reservoir at the top, which is filled with fluid and into which the gas escapes which
would otherwise disturb the action. This moveable reservoir, which may be a
glass bulb is joined to the highest part of the syphon by a small flexiblo tube. If air
has accumulated in it the reservoir is removed while the flexible tube is kept closed
by slight pressure, and replaced after being filled with solution or water. If the
reservoirs fixed to the syphons have become filled with gas or air, they are bodily
removed, placed into the solution in such a manner that the air escapes and when
filled with fluid they are replaced, it being only necessary to close one of their
openings while moving them back into their previous position.
Where the nature of the solution admits, solid crystals of its salts are placed in
the tank or main-reservoir in such a position, that the partly exhausted fluid
returning from the last cells dissolves part of them before mixing with the bulk of
solution, so as to keep it at a uniform strength.
In the accompanying drawing Fig I represents the apparatus for raising the
fluid.
The Syphon S after being filled with solution is placed in position as represented,
when the fluid in the outflow-pipe a will sink level with the fluid in the Tank T
which is shown in part.
The open
Vessel V being raised full of fluid to the position of V' the fluid enters
at b and overflows at a into the Cell C.
The Syphon S keeps the fluids in C and C₁ at the same level.
R is the Reservoir joined to S by means of a flexible tube.
Fig 1 shows a Syphon with fixed air Reservoir.
Fig III represents perspective view of Tank and outer Cells joined; the
partition & separates the main-reservoir from the first Cell.
The partition e, similar to g does not touch the bottom and joins first and
second Cells.
The partition f, similar to h allows communication of fluids at the top between
second and third Cells.
"
i is a partition perforated at the bottom is a partition perforated at the top.
The dotted line in Cells and Tank shows level of fluid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The use of open vessels dipped into and raised above the solutions by
mechanical means, for the purpose of producing circulation of fluids in galvanic
batteries.
2. The use of moveable syphons for the same purpose.
3. The use of syphons or pipes in conjunction with open vessels for the same
purpose.
4. Syphons with fixed or moveable reservoirs in which gas may accumulate
without disturbing their action.
5. Syphons with ends bent upwards to prevent entry of gas.
6 Circulation of fluid in batteries over and under or through partitions in tank
which form outer cells as described, or through alternate sides of partitions.