Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
We, SIEMENS BROTHERS & Co., LIMITED, of 12, Queen Anne's Gate, West-
minster, in the County of London, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (as communicated to us from abroad by Siemens &
Halske Aktien Gesellschaft, of Markgrafen Strasse No. 94, Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany, Electrical Engineers), 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 an improved construction of portable battery with
liquid electrolyte, so arranged that, like a dry battery, it can be placed, in any
position without leakage of liquid therefrom.
The construction includes the employment of a gas chamber separate from
the chamber containing the liquid, such as has already been proposed, into which
the gases generated in the battery pass and from which they escape into the
atmosphere.
According to the present invention the said gas chamber communicates with
the electrolyte chamber only through the depolarising material which allows the
gases generated to pass through but prevents the escape of the liquid.
By this means a reliable enclosure of the liquid is ensured, while at the same
time the escaping gases have a continual loosening action upon the depolarising
mass.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing shews by way of example a vertical section
of one mode of construction of the improved battery; Fig. 2 shews a plan of the
same.
In a vessel A, which may either be rectangular as shown, or cylindrical and
which is preferably made of cardboard, is inserted a zine vessel B of corre-
sponding configuration the bottom C of which is either made of zine or as shewn
on the drawing it may be of asphalte material, firmly united to the zinc sides
so as to prevent any escape of liquid.
In the middle of this zinc vessel is placed the carbon electrode D which is
surrounded by a porous depolarising mass E of any suitable known composition;
this mass is secured round the carbon. electrode by any suitable means, such as
by a gauze bag F, or by winding strips of gauze or other suitable material round
it, so as to prevent particles from falling away.
The space G left between the electrode thus prepared, and the zinc vessel
serves for the reception of the electrolyte. H is a layer of asphalte which her-
metically encloses the upper surface of the eletrolyte. I is a layer of rice husks
or the like, and above this is a second layer of asphalte or equivalent material K
that secures the card board casing, the zinc vessel and the carbon electrode un-
alterably in the relative positions described, so that they can only be removed
after breaking up this layer. In this layer are secured some small capillary
glass tubes L which extend down into the layer of rice husks and serve to dis-
charge into the atmosphere any gases that are generated in the space G, which
011....מ

page_text: gases find their way through the porous depolarising mass E into the layer of
rice husks I which constitutes the herein before mentioned gas chamber of the
battery.
By this means it will be seen that any escape of the liquid from the battery is
effectually prevented.
Access is gained to the space G for filling it with the electrolyte and for
renewing the latter when necessary by means of a tube M of insulating material
such as vulcanite which is cemented into the layer K and carries a tube N of
caoutchouc or other suitable insulating material which reaches down into the
space G. The projecting upper end of the tube M is provided at top with a cap O
of vulcanite or the like adapted to hermetically close the communication with
the electrolyte.
Through the tube M may be introduced the necessary quantity of sal-ammoniac,
water being added when the battery is to be used; or the chamber G may be at
once charged with a concentrated solution of sal ammoniac. When the electro-
lyte becomes expended, it can be removed through the tube M and replaced by
a fresh charge.
Fig. 3 shews a vertical section of a somewhat modified form of the battery.
A is again a card board casing, B the zinc vessel with zinc bottom C, D) the carbon
electrode, E the surrounding depolarising mass, enclosed in a network bag F,
or the like. Before introducing the carbon electrode, a thin layer of hot asphalte
compound P is poured onto the bottom of the zinc vessel, or it might be a mixture
of paraffin and resin, and upon this layer the bottom of the carbon electrode is
placed, and is secured in its central position by pouring a small quantity of
asphalte l'round it.
The upper end of the electrode is previous to its introduction coated with a
thin layer of paraffin Q extending partly down the sides and partly over the top
surface, as shewn.
After insertion the space between the electrode and the walls of the zinc vessel
is closed by a thin flat layer of asbestos R, through which the before described
charging tube M is passed.
Over the asbestos layer may be poured a thin coating of asphalte, taking care
that the top of the carbon electrode is kept free from the asphalte. Upon the top
of the depolarising mass of the carbon electrode is then placed a thin cardboard
ring S this being dipped in hot asphalte so as to make it adhere, after which a
quantity of asphalte is run into the space surrounding the ring S, so as to secure
it firmly in position.
The space within the ring S which constitutes the gas chamber, is then filled
with rice husks, and it is then closed by a cardboard disc T through which are
passed the before described capillary glass tubes L for the discharge of the gases
generated below.
The cardboard casing A having been partly filled with hot liquid asphalte, the
zinc vessel B is then pressed into it so that the liquid asphalte in rising in the
space between the two shall flow over the edge of the zinc vessel into the interior
thereof so as to connect the two vessels firmly together.
If necessary, a further quantity of asphalte is then run in so as to nearly fill
the vessel A to the top, the remaining space being then filled in, in the usual
manner.
The action of the battery is precisely the same as previously described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A galvanic battery with enclosed liquid electrolyte wherein the electrolyte
chamber communicates with a gas collecting chamber only through a porous
depolarising mass surrounding the positive electrode, so that while the said
depolarising mass allows the gases generated to escape into the said gas chamber

page_text: and thence into the atmosphere, it prevents any escape of the electrolyte, sub-
stantially as described.
2. Galvanic batteries such as referred to in the first claim constructed and
operating as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of November 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.