Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries for Light, Motive Power, and like purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries for Light, Motive
Power, and like purposes.
We, WILHELM DECKER, Commercial Councillor, of Decker Strasse, and GEORG
VON STRUVE, Engineer, of Albert Strasse, both of Mittweida, Saxony, in the
Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to that type of battery known as primary, in which
exciting liquids act upon suitable anodes and cathodes immersed in them, and it
is adaptable to either a primary battery with the anode and cathode immersed in
a single exciting liquid as in the well-known "bichromate battery," or in a double
cell, as in the "Bunsen "
type.
This invention consists of special arrangements for immersing the elements in
the exciting liquid, and devices whereby the exciting liquid may be withdrawn
and replaced at will, and its object is to provide compact and convenient forms of
batteries on a large scale so that they may be used for motive power or lighting
purposes.
The accompanying sheet of drawings illustrate different modifications of the
invention as follows;-
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one modification.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively front and end elevations of the modification
shown at Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a part sectional elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of the
emptying and filling devices applied to the batteries shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3
of the drawings.
Figure 5 is a plan of the plug C, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 1, 2, Figure 4.
Figures 7 and 8 are part sectional views of a modification of the emptying and
filling arrangements previously illustrated.
Figures 9 and 10 are sectional views of a further modification of the emptying
and filling arrangements.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
The battery here illustrated consists of two longitudinal boxes A having a
dividing partition a, and transversely divided by ribs a¹ into cells ¹³. The
walls of these cells are constructed of vulcanised rubber or similar acid-proof
material, and they have situated centrally underneath them and running parallel
with the dividing partition a, two longitudinal plug casings b, formed of the same
material. This plug casing b is bored conically as shown, and has rotating within
it a long plug cock c packed in a suitable manner at the end e, and having a
square or hexagonally formed head f upon its exterior as a means for rotating the
plug c when so desired. The opposing end of the plug e fits against the flange
of an acid-proof cock d, while an interior groove h communicates directly with the
said cock when the plug is rotated so that its groove faces the bottom portion of

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the casing b. When the plug is placed in such a position that its groove his at
the top, this groove is open in its entire length to ports g, g¹, g, leading into the
cells, and similarly the groove h communicates by a port y¹ with a filling
compartment y. Immediately underneath this port y¹ is a port i, which, when the
plug has its groove in the bottom position, causes the filling compartment y to
communicate with the plug c and to be shut off from the cells¹³.
The operations of filling and emptying the battery cells by means of the herein-
before described devices is as follows:-The cock d is turned off. The conical
plug c is rotated until its groove h is at the upper most position, and in communica-
tion with the ports y¹, 9, 9, 92. The acid or exciting liquid is poured into the
compartment y, and flowing down through the port y³, passes along
the groove h, and rises up through the ports g, g', g², and fills the
cells to any required level. When sufficient liquid has been
admitted to these cells the cock c is rotated by means of its end f until the groove h
is in its lower position. Then the liquid still left in the compartment y can be
drained off by the opening of the cock d. When the liquid in the cells is exhausted
and it is found necessary to drain the same off, the plug c is rotated until its
groove is in the uppermost position, and as the end of that groove can be arranged
to communicate with the cock d, the opening of that cock will allow the exhausted
liquid to drain off by the ports ggg along the groove h and out at the nozzle of
the cock into a suitable receptacle.
A modified arrangement of the filling and emptying devices is shown in
Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings. Instead of two plug cocks c arranged underneath
each series of cell's as previously shown, a single plug cock c' is provided, having two
longitudinal grooves h, h2, and having ports u, u, leading from the sides of the
casing into the bottom of each opposing cell. It is evident that if the plug is
rotated so that its grooves are in the uppermost position (as shown in Figure 7)
a single filling compartment with a double port leading into these grooves h¹, h³
will fill all the cells simultaneously and to one predetermined level, while again,
if it is desired to empty the filling compartment, the rotation of the plug to
the bottom position (as shown in Figure 8) will allow the filling compartment
to communicate by means of a port with an exterior cock in a similar manner to
the previously described arrangement. It is also evident that the draining out of
the exhausted liquid from the cells can be effected by the single plug c¹ when the
cock is-rotated to its uppermost position, providing that an opening from the two
grooves at h¹h leads to a similar exterior cock d to that previously described..
な
Upon Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings devices for emptying and filling the
cells of a similar battery, are shown, which it is preferable to use when a simple
and cheap construction is required. All the cells of the battery, such as x¹ 2³, 2³,
have arranged in one partition and at the bottom portion a port k in which a soft
rubber pipe m is fixed, one end of this rubber pipe m being attached to a hard vulcan-
ised pipe. Each of these vulcanised pipes are fixed to collars n and connecting
röds n', which in turn are operated by a single shaft n². When it is desired to
fill the cells simultaneously, the movement of the shaft n², connecting rods n', and
collars n, rotate the vulcanised pipes until they lie flat upon the bottoms of their
respective cells. It is evident that all the cells will then be in communication one
with the other, and the pouring of the exciting liquid into one cell will fill all
the others to one, and the same level. When the cells have been filled the pipes
are rotated into an upright position, thus cutting off communication. The vertical
position of the pipes is shown in Figure 9, and the horizontal position in
Figure 10. The cells, by this device, can be rapidly and simply filled or emptied
as may be, required, an acid-proof drain cock being provided at the bottom of
the cell as shown for a similar purpose to the acid proof drain cock d herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.
The portion of the invention relating to the devices employed for immersing the
anode and cathode elements of the battery in the liquid as required, is clearly
illustrated at Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
A shaft 2

page_text: Theso
mounted upon suitable bearings has fixed upon it two pulleys rr.
pulleys have attached to them bands t, t', which in turn are attached to an
insulating connection board s carrying the respective anode and cathode elements
of the battery. Upon the centre of the shaft is placed a small groove pulley v,
while a similar groove pulley is fixed to another portion of the supporting frame
of the battery, and a cord fastened to the insulating plate s, passes over these two
pulleys and is attached to a balance weight z. This balance weight is made equal
to the total weights of the elements 2 and insulating boards so that the crank q
fastened to the end of the shaft 9 may be easily rotated, and the immersion of the
elements p in the liquid accurately arranged and determined.
Upon Figure 3 of the drawings an indicator fastened to the crank q' is shown,
having a suitable dial fixed upon the framing by means of which the exact
immersion of the elements in the liquid may be determined and regulated.
By means of this arrangement of raising or lowering the elements the resistance
and amperage of the battery can be suitably changed within certain limits, accord-
ing to the amount of current required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In primary batteries consisting of a group of cells, the provision of a
longitudinal plug cock and casing situated underneath these cells and having a
groove or grooves communicating by ports with the cells, in combination with an
external plug cock, the whole as a means for draining off simultaneously the
exhausted liquid in the cells, or filling the cells simultaneously with fresh liquid
to one pre-determined level, all substantially as herein before described.
2. In primary batteries consisting of a group of cells the provision of a rotary
or swinging tube, which, when depressed, causes all the cells to be in communica-
tion, and when elevated isolates each cell; as a means for draining off the
exhausted liquid simultaneously through one cell, or filling the cells simultaneously
with fresh liquid to one predetermined level, all substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. In primary batteries consisting of a group of cells the provision of an
insulating board carrying the cathode and anode elements of the battery supported
by cords or bands from an overhead shaft, and suitably balanced, the shaft being
capable of rotation, and having a pointer and dial attached, the whole as a means
for regulating and determining the immersion of the anode and cathode elements
in the exciting liquid, substantially as herein before described.
4.--The improvements in primary batteries having a group of cells substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
1
eptembe
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.