IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC-BATTERIES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC-BATTERIES." A communication from abroad
by John Bryant Wallace, of Ansonia. Connecticut. United States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1882.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES,"
A communication from abroad by John Bryant Wallace of Ansonia, Connecticut,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of batteries in which carbon
is employed and which are some times called "carbon batteries."
The object of the said invention is to construct a battery in which the largest
carbon surface may be provided in the smallest space, and in the nearest or most
uniform relation to the zine; and the said Invention comprises a glass or equivalent
non-conducting covering plate for the battery jar, having a central opening to
receive the zinc, and a series of openings around the central opening, combined
with a metallic plate resting on the top of the glass cover and having openings
corresponding with the openings which surround the central opening, each of the
said openings being constructed to receive and bold a "carbon (that is to say a
rod or piece of carbon) introduced through the openings in the glass cover, and so
as to make an electrical connection between all of the carbons, and a connection
for one wire with the central zinc independently of the carbon connecting plate,
and the said carbon connecting plate being fitted for connection with the other
wire as more fully hereinafter described.
"
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing in which
Figure 1 is a plan or top view and,
Figure 2 a central vertical section.

page_text: opening a through which the zinc C is introduced; the zinc is provided with a
collar bat its upper end to rest upon the glass and with a post, and the usual set
screw d for the attachment of the wire thereto; the glass cover is also constructed
with a series of openings e surrounding the central opening, and substantially
concentric therewith. D is a metal plate arranged to lie upon the upper surface
of the glass cover, and constructed with openings f corresponding with the series
of openings at e in the glass plate, and also lelf open at the centre. This plate is
preferably constructed in the form of a series of connected rings, as shewn in
Figure 1, the openings in the said metal plate or series of rings corresponding with
the openings in the glass cover and corresponding substantially in size and shape
with the carbons to be used.
E E represent the carbons which are first introduced and screwed in the metal
plate by set-screws h or other clamping devices which will firmly secure them in
the said plate. The carbons E, which are by preference of cylindrical shape, and as
long as may be conveniently used in the jar, are secured in the respective openings
in the metal plate, and, so secured, are passed through the corresponding openings
the glass cover, so as to hang suspended within the jar.
After the carbons have been introduced through the cover, and before placing
the cover upon the jar, the cover and plate, with the carbons, are dipped in paraffin
to coat the cover and carbons a short distance below the plate with the paraffin,
which, while protecting the carbons and metal from the action of the acid at
their point of connection, also aids in securing the carbons and the plate to the
cover.
By this arrangement the zinc stands in the centre of the jar and the cylindrical
carbons are arranged equidistantly around it, in a ring of which the zinc forms the
centre; the cylindrical shape of the carbons presents a larger surface than can
be obtained by any other shape of carbon, and all are in the same relation to
the zinc.
The metal plate is fitted with a post i for the attachment of one wire, the other
being secured to the zinc, as above described.
One advantage of this construction of the battery arises from the fact that it
permits the utilization of waste pieces produced in the manufacture and use of
carbons for electric lighting; these carbons are long and thin and in their manu-
facture and use there is a very great loss because of breakage, it being impossible
to utilize the pieces, and this loss adds materially to the expense of electric lighting
therewith, and as these pieces of carbon are of the best quality, they produce a
much better result than the cheaper qualities which are usually necessarily
employed in carbon batteries, the grade of carbons used for electric lighting purposes
being too expensive for practical use in such batteries.
The zinc arranged in the centre, and loosely resting on the cover, is readily lifted
from the jar when occasion requires.
As the zine hangs freely in the glass plate at the top, its lower end would be
liable to be thrown out of its concentric or vertical position but I construct the
jar with a concave or inverted conical shaped seat at the centre, and so that, when
the zinc is introduced through the opening in the cover and strikes the bottom, it
will be brought at once to the centre of this seat, which is the central position in
which it should stand, and from which it is not liable to be thrown, so that its
retention in the proper position, and therefore the most effective action between
the carbon and the zinc, will be insured.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as, communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. A carbon battery, constructed with a jar which has the centrally supported
zinc therein and the metal plate or holder around the said zinc (but not in contact
therewith) and supported on the jar and constructed with a series of openings,
combined with carbons secured in the said openings, the said plate constituting a
metallic connection between all of the carbons and having one conducting wire

page_text: connected thereto, the other conducting wire being connected to the zinc
substantially as described.
Second. A carbon battery, constructed with a jar which has a glass or equivalent
cover constructed with a central opening, and with a series of openings surrounding
the said central opening and substantially concentric therewith, combined with
the zinc extending through the said central opening and supported on the glass
cover and in connection with one wire, a metal plate around the said zinc but not
in contact with it, and constructed with openings corresponding with the openings
in the glass cover, and carbons secured in the openings in the plate and introduced
into the jar through the corresponding openings in the cover, the said plate con-
stituting a metallic connection between all of the carbons and being in connection
with the other wire, substantially as described.
Third. The carbon battery consisting of a jar, a centrally supported zinc therein
and a metal plate or holder around the said zinc but not in contact with it,
supported on the jar, and constructed with a series of openings, combined with
carbons secured in the openings in the plate, the said plate constituting a metallic
connection between all of the carbons, and being in connection with one wire, the
other being connected to the zinc, the bottom of the jar constructed with a central
seat to receive and hold the lower end of the zinc, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty second day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
HENRY H. LAKE, (L.S.)