Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date claimed for Patent under Sect. 103 of Act,
being date of first Foreign Application (in (31st Jan., 1895
United States of America),
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
I, RALPH WARDLAW GORDON, of Boston, County of Suffolk, State of
Massachusetts, Post Office address 82 West Broadway, New York, United
States of America, Electrician, 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 :-
The present invention relates to galvanic batteries and is embodied in a cell of
improved construction, in which the positive and negative elements and the
depolarizing agent are arranged to obtain the greatest possible output of current
with a minimum deterioration caused by the action of the battery.
The materials used in the battery forming the subject of this invention may be
such as have been heretofore used in certain classes of batteries and are preferably
zine, as the active metal or positive element, copper or iron as the negative
element, and black oxide of copper as the depolarizing agent, all being immersed
in an exciting fluid, preferably a solution of caustic soda. The batteries heretofore
used embodying these agencies have been objectionable, as the arrangement has
been such that the materials resulting from decomposition of the active agents have
formed deposits that interfere with the free action of the battery, or in some cases
short circuits have been formed in the battery, thus rapidly consuming the active
materials thereof and detracting from the current to be utilized in the external
circuit. The present invention aims to obviate these difficulties and at the same
time to greatly simplify the construction of the cell, the arrangement, moreover,
being such that the exciting fluid can permeate through the depolarizing agent
from all directions, the said depolarizing agent being supported in a receptacle
which in itself forms the negative element of the battery, thus reducing the number
of parts to be constructed.
To attain these ends, the cell which forms the subject of the present invention
consists, mainly, of a jar adapted to be filled with the exciting fluid, the said jar
being provided with a cover from which are suspended the positive element,
consisting of a piece of zinc, and the negative element, which consists of a
perforated metallic receptacle in which the depolarizing material, preferably black
oxide of copper, is contained, the said depolarizing material thus being accessible
to the action of the exciting fluid from all sides, and in order to increase the
surface of the negative element and depolarizing material exposed to the direct
action of the exciting fluid the space within the perforated receptacle,. constituting

page_text: the negative element, is provided with hollow perforated chambers, preferably
extending from one wall to another thereof, thus practically dividing the said
receptacle into a number of compartments which contain the depolarizing agent
and are substantially surrounded on all sides by the exciting fluid.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the preferred form of battery embodying this
invention;
Figure 2 a top plan view of the battery with the cover removed and with one of
the hollow partitions shown in section;
Figure 3, a perspective view of the cylinder forming the inner wall of the
chamber which constitutes the negative element, and i
Figure 4 a detail showing a portion of the lower end of the perforated-receptacle
in section.
A jar or receptacle a, preferably cylindrical in form, which may be of any
material not affected by the action of a solution of caustic soda; glass being
usually used, is employed to contain the various agents which make up the
complete cell.
The depolarizing agent, which consists of particles of black oxide of copper,
is contained in a perforated receptacle b, which is preferably metallic, and forms
the negative element of the battery, the said receptacle being suspended within
the jar a in any suitable way, it being preferable, however to secure it to the cover a²
of said jar by means of ears or lugs 62 riveted or otherwise secured to the walls
of the said receptacle and fastened to the under side of said cover by means of
screws passing upward through said cover and secured, as by a nut and washer,
on the outer surface thereof, thus rendering the said receptacle readily detachable
from the cover. The external circuit wire may be connected with one of the said
supports by a suitable clamping-nut 6 whereby it is preferably held between
two washers 6, as shown in Figure 1, the said support and nut constituting the
positive pole of the battery.
The perforated receptacle constituting the negative element has concentric outer
and inner perforated walls connected at their lower end by an annular plate 68,
thus making the receptacle of annular form, the space between its inner and outer
perforated walls being filled with the black oxide of copper for the depolarizing
agent of the battery. A central space or well is thus formed within the inner
wall of the annular receptacle, which contains the positive element c, which is a mass
of zinc, preferably of the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, supported in said central
well concentric with the walls thereof. The surface of said positive element c is
preferably fluted, as shown at c, in order to afford a greater surface for the action
of the exciting fluid. The annular receptacle thus formed, having perforated walls
on both sides, is capable of being thoroughly permeated by the exciting fluid,
which thus has access to the surface of nearly every particle of the depolarizing.
agent. It is obvious, however, that the outside particles of the mass-that is,
those next to the walls of the receptacle-are in the most intimate relation to the
fluid and to the material of the said receptacle itself, and it is desirable, therefore,
to increase, so to speak, the wall-area of the receptacle. To this end hollow
perforated chambers 610 are provided within the receptacle, thus forming spaces for
the free access of the depolarizing agent, and the said chambers preferably extend
from the inner wall 6? to the outer wall 6, thus practically dividing the receptacle
into a number of spaces 6, each of which has perforated walls, so that the surface
of the depolarizing agent contained therein is exposed to a larger degree to the
action of the exciting fluid than would otherwise be the case. In constructing
the receptacle the inner wall or cylinder is preferably made separate and the
chambers 60 are U-shaped, the edges of the open sides thereof being riveted or
otherwise secured to said wall, while the outer wall of the receptacle is provided
with a bottom 68, having a central opening and a short upwardly-extending
supplemental wall 612 extending upward from the edge of said opening, around

page_text: hich wall the lower end of the inner wall of the receptacle is adapted to fit when
place. The whole receptacle b is thus very simple and easily constructed, the
wo parts thereof being readily assembled, since the chambers 61° serve to centre
he inner wall & when it is put in place in the outer wall of the receptacle, it being
bvious, however, that this specific construction is not essential to the invention.
The chambers 60 are provided at the top with covers 613 to prevent the depolarizing
gent from passing down through them into the main cell of the battery, especially
while the receptacle is being filled. By this construction the contact-surface
between the metallic walls constituting the negative electrode and the exciting
Huid and the surface through which said exciting fluid has direct access to the
depolarizing agent is largely increased, the area of surface through which the
exciting liquid passes to the depolarizer being practically increased by the combined
area of the walls of all the said chambers 10
After the parts thus far described are in place, the jar a is nearly filled with a
solution of caustic soda d, the said solution forming the exciting fluid. Since the
receptacle is perforated, it is obvious that the exciting fluid may permeate the
same and come in contact with each particle of the depolarizing agent contained
therein, and while metallic copper is set free by the action of the battery, thus
tending to copper-plate the negative element, the said metallic copper is deposited
on the surface of the perforated receptacle b, and it has been found in practice that
while the said receptacle b becomes, as it were, copper-plated, sufficient copper is
not deposited thereon to fill up the perforations, so that the oxide of copper. is
exposed to the action of the exciting fluid until it becomes entirely reduced to
metallic copper. During the action of the battery the zinc element c becomes
gradually dissolved, it being found, however, that the action takes place mainly at
the top, owing to the fact that a percentage of oxide of zinc is given off and held
in solution, and since the said solution is heavier than the solution of caustic soda
it sinks toward the bottom of the bath, the upper portion of the bath, therefore,
It is necessary,
being purer and consequently more active in attacking the zine.
therefore, in order that the zinc may be fully utilized to provide means for
preventing the action of the battery, in dissolving the upper portion of the zinc,
from breaking the supporting connection of said zinc with the cover, as would be
the case if a simple rod, cylinder, or strip of zinc were connected at its upper end
to the cover. Such result is accomplished in accordance with the present invention,
as follows: The zinc element c is supported by a suspending rod 3, which may be
of copper, and which extends axially some distance into the upper end of the zinc c,
or headed
as shown in dotted lines, Figure 1, said rod being preferably enlarged
or screw-threaded or scored, as shown, so that when the zinc is cast upon the rod
the latter becomes firmly embedded therein. The said suspending rod c³ passes
through an opening in the cover a² and is secured in an insulating-plug a³, which
may be of wood, by means of a binding-socket e, constituting the negative pole of
the battery, to which the external conductor may be connected. The opening in
the cover a² is preferably made, as shown, of sufficient size to admit of the insertion
of the zinc c, and the insulating-plug a³ is made in the form of a cover for.said
5 opening. In order to secure the zinc c to the said insulating-plug, an opening at is
provided in the centre thereof, through which the suspending rod is passed, the
upper portion of said rod being then secured to the binding-socket by screw-
threads or otherwise, and the binding-socket being of a diameter larger than that
of the opening a', so that it is supported upon the top of the pluga. By this
C construction the zine c may be removed from the battery, if desired, without
removing the cover a² by simply lifting out the plug a³ with the zinc attached
thereto.
5
C
The external negative conductor e' may be suitably secured in the binding-
socket c, as by a thumb screw c³.
The zinc e preferably surrounds the suspender c³ up to the under surface of the
insulating-plug a³, and thereby protects said suspender from the action of the
'

page_text: battery solution, and inasmuch as the consumption of zinc by the action of
the battery increases toward the upper surface of the exciting fluid, as before
pointed out, the zinc is made in the conoidal form shown, being of greater diameter
at the level of the upper surface of the exciting fluid, and tapering toward its
lower end, so that it will be consumed by the gradual reduction of its sides without
substantially diminishing its length until used up to such an extent as to require the
substitution of a new zinc. It is found, also, that the best results are secured by
terminating the zinc at some distance above the lower end of the perforated
receptacle constituting the negative element.
The materials exposed to the action of the battery fluid are either of such
nature as not to be injured by the caustic soda, or may be treated by amalgamation,
_so as not to be injuriously affected thereby.
It is essential for the best operation of a battery in which a solution of caustic
soda is employed, as the exciting fluid, that the said solution should be entirely
protected from the air, since it otherwise becomes deteriorated by the absorption of
carbonic-acid gas therefrom. For this reason the cover a is tightly secured to the
top of the receptacle a, said cover being shown as of sheet metal having a rim a',
which fits down over the upper edge of the receptacle a, and is tightly sealed by
a rubber band as stretched around the same and lapping over from the rim of the
cover on to the side of the receptacle a.
In order to completely protect the active parts of the battery from contact with
air, it is preferable to pour in, after all the elements are in place, a small amount
of mineral oil, indicated at e, which floats on the top of the solution d, and
effectually prevents the absorption of any deleterious gases from the air by said
solution. Any mineral oil may be used for this purpose; but it has been found
best in practice to use paraffine oil.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a battery cell the combination with a jar containing a solution of caustic
soda, of a cover for said jar fitting tightly thereon and having a central opening
and plug of insulating material therein, a perforated receptacle secured to the
under side of said cover and extending downward into the said solution and having
concentric inner and outer walls and containing oxide of copper between said walls,
and a positive element consisting of a mass of zinc suspended in said solution from
the said insulating plug in the cover, substantially as described.
2. In a battery cell, the combination with a jar containing an exciting fluid;
of a negative element consisting of a receptacle containing a depolarizing agent and
having empty chambers therein, the walls of said receptacle and chambers being
perforated for the better permeation of said exciting fluid; and a positive element
in said exciting fluid, substantially as described.
3. A negative element for a battery cell composed of concentric cylindrical
perforated walls and a bottom piece closing the space between said walls, combined
with hollow chambers extending from one of said walls into said space, said
chambers being composed of U-shaped perforated strips connected at their open
ends to one of said cylindrical walls, said element being adapted to contain
depolarizing material, substantially as described.
4. A negative element for a battery cell composed of concentric cylindrical
perforated walls and a bottom piece closing the space between said walls, combined
with hollow chambers composed of U-shaped perforated strips interposed between
said cylindrical walls and having the space between their side walls covered at the
top, substantially as and for the purpose described.
outer
5. The herein described negative battery element consisting of an
perforated wall having a bottom piece with a central opening therein and a short
supplemental wall extending upward from the edge of said opening, combined with

page_text: an inner perforated wall having perforated chambers extending outward from the
outer surface thereof, and adapted to be inserted within said outer wall and to fit
around said supplemental wall, as described.
Dated this 20th day of July 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.