IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITH MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION, APPLICATION, AND REGULATION OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAI. SPECIFICATION left by Isac Louis Pulvermacher at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1878.
ISAC LOUIS PULVERMACHER, of 194, Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Electrician. "IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITH MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE
PRODUCTION, APPLICATION, AND REGULATION OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS."
This Invention has reference,—
First. To improvements in the batteries described in the Specification of my
British Patent, No. 3469 77, and shown in the Drawings thereunto annexed.
Secondly. To improvements connected with my automatic compensating galvano-
meter apparatus, as described in the same Specification, permitting my galvanometers
to be made compensating, and to use them either simply as galvanometers, or as
compensating galvanometers.
Thirdly. My Invention has reference to the employment of my magnetic balanco
and batteries in the manufacture of timekeepers.
Fourthly. To the manufacture of electro-motive engines.
And, Fifthly. To the formation of metallic brushes containing miniature batteries'
made on the principle of the first part of this Invention, and on that of the batteries
described in the before-mentioned Specification.
According to the first part of my Invention the lower part of a battery formed
with elements similar to those described in the Specification above referred to is
composed of a basin or receiver with double bottom, or of two receivers hermetically
joined. The bottom of the upper receiver (when two are employed) is pierced with
holes intended to receive the central rods of plugs or stoppers furnished each with
an annular depending lip for the purpose of providing an annular cavity, remaining
always dry, as described in the said Specification, but with the difference that this
plug or stopper, instead of being at the top of the cylinder, is at the bottom.
The central rod is made fast to the bottom of the upper receiver by a nut, or in
any other convenient manner.
When the plug or stopper (preferably of india-rubber), with a central rod, is in posi-
tion, it is covered by a kind of little hood or envelope of supple or flexible india-rubber
to fit tight, and the plug is inserted into the porous tube or cylinder encircled with the
3

page_text: silver wire; the said cylinder rests on a little ledge terminating the plug or stopper;
this tube is then firmly fixed. The rod has a hole in its centre, running through
its entire length. Opposite the upper. opening of this hole the little hood may be
slit, so as to form a small valve, for which any other kind of valve may be substi-
tuted. The elements thus placed, maintained in a fixed position at bottom by the
plugs or stoppers before referred to, are also maintained at top by a basin with holes
mounted on columns of a height corresponding with the length of the porous
cylinders in the following manner:-In the bottom of this basin are holes corre-
sponding with the number of elements fixed or mounted in the basin with double
bottom. The upper ends of the cylinder have passed over them another appendage
of india-rubber or other material, which secures at the same time a waterproof
lodgment for the upper end of the porous cylinders. The cylinders projecting above
the appendage have each a hole in their side, giving access to the exciting liquid at
the moment when the basin is filled to the level of this hole.
The extreme upper ends of these porous cylinders are mounted with metallic
arms or projection pieces for establishing the contact with the zinc rods or hollow
cylinders placed in the elements.
The double bottom basin is provided with two taps or cocks, one at the bottom
for the exit of the liquid, and the other at the top for the exit of air when needed,
both of which are kept closed so long as the cylinders are to be kept filled with
liquid.
The liquid not being able to run down into the double bottom basin by reason of
the imprisoned air, the element containing zinc is thus charged.
The filling of the porous cylinder is obtained in a similar way to that already
described in my former Specification herein-before referred to, but for emptying
the cylinders of the existing liquid the bottom tap only need be opened, when the
liquid will run out by force of gravity.
A modification of this same battery consists of a basin or receiver, whose edges
are much higher, forming a kind of box.
The appendages only are changed, one being provided with a solid central rod
forcibly penetrating into the bottom of the receiver, while the others are provided
at the centre with a little sheath, receiving the end of the rod fixed to the bottom
of the receiver, and may form part of a movable bottom capable of being taken out
at will for the purpose of removing the elements from the box without separating
them from one another. These elements are maintained at top by a circular plate
with circular holes, with which they are level, and kept in position by little rods.
Either of these two methods of mounting the appendages may be employed as desired.
According to another modification I may form a battery producing the same effects
in the form of a flexible chain capable of being rolled up. In this case the tubes or
porous cylinders have each a cap of insulating material pierced with a hole in its
centre for the introduction of zinc, and its replacement when required.
All the caps of the elements have also a diametrical hole for the passage of a cord
uniting them together, thus permitting movement and flexibility of the elements,
which, although their caps are in contact, are yet insulated one from another.
The other end of the tubes is provided with a foot having the same object as the
caps, with a central rod terminated by an enlarged head furnished with a supple or
flexible india-rubber, and penetrating into the tube for a certain distance from the
lower edge of the tube, to act as a bottom to the latter, and at the same time to
form the annular cavity underneath, so that the air is imprisoned, and the inner
walls of the cylinder and the stem kept perfectly dry, when after having placed the
elements upright in a straight line, or rolled up and dipped in any kind of vessel
the liquid has been free to surround them, entering by the hole in the upper part
of the porous cylinder provided for the purpose, and filling the said porous tubes.
The zinc is a rod or a wire bent double, which is placed astride the cord uniting
the elements. This zinc is connected with a metallic wire lodged in the thickness
or the cap of each element, and in conduction with the silver wire of the neigh-
bouring or nearest element.

page_text: According to the second part of my Invention a galvanometer apparatus, whose
bobbin carries the multiplying wire, is supported by four little columns, so that in
the axis and on the circular plate forming the base of the galvanometer may be
placed a trough intended to contain mercury, and which constitutes the compen-
sator, with the various parts connected with it, described in the Specification of my
former Patent, No. 346977, herein-before referred to. On the bottom of the apparatus
is placed an elongated trough, with a resistance blade mounted as a balance in a
similar manner to that described in my previous Specification. The free end of this
blade is connected by a thin silk wire, with one end of the magnetic galvanometer
balance above it, so as to raise or lower the blade by the movement obtained from
the electric current passing through the multiplicator. According to the direction
of the current it will raise or lower the blade, and thus dip it gradually in the
mercury, or withdraw it gradually therefrom, but when the current is in the
opposite direction the deflection of the balance will not be prevented by reason of
the thin silk thread offering no obstacle thereto. A counterweight is also provided
to equilibrate the weight of the compensator resistance blade or balance and the
plates which it carries.
According to the third part of my Invention I produce a pendulum timekeeper
by fastening a pendulum in the centre of the magnetic balance, and using two
resistance blades instead of one, produced as described in my former Specification,
each resistance blade being connected with the battery in such a manner that the
direction of the current when one blade is in the mercury is opposed to that required
to dip the other blade into the mercury.
The gradual increase and decrease of the current prevents any deterioration of
contacts, as is usual with ordinary commutators, and keeps the apparatus in good
working order for an indefinite period.
According to the fourth part of my Invention I construct an electro-motive
engine by using the above-described method of gradually increasing and decreasing
the electric current by the resistance blades described in my former and present
Specification for changing the direction of the electric current without deteriorating
the points of contact usual with commutators hitherto employed for changing the
direction of the current, whereby electric sparks are produced to the detriment of
good conduction. The supply of current to the electro-magnetic system in such
gradual manner produces induced secondary currents coeval with the primary
currents.
The fifth part of my Invention consists of the application of miniature batteries
constructed, as described above, and in my former Specification herein referred to.
On the external surface of the bottom of the box, containing the battery, is placed
a metallic brush connected with one pole of the battery, whilst the other pole is
connected with a metallic covering of a handle in union with the box.