IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES
Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES" which Invention has been communicated to me. from
abroad by Lucien Alfred Wilhelmine Desruelles of Paris in the Republic of France
to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object providing an electric battery yielding a
maximum amount of electric energy with a minimum of weight and it consists in
an improved combination of the form and arrangement or relative position of the
electrodes and the employment of liquids or electrolytes prepared as hereinafter
described the said liquids being capable of allowing the soluble electrode to remain
immersed in the liquid without being appreciably affected thereby when the circuit
is open.
This improved battery is capable of being charged and discharged with facility
and is closed sufficiently tightly to prevent the escape of the liquid or. liquids but
allows for the escape of the gases resulting from the electrolytic action,
Two liquids are employed in the improved battery one being an exciting liquid
employed for dissolving the soluble electrode the other a depolarising liquid whose
function is to absorb the hydrogen set free during the electrolysis. The exciting
liquid is composed of water sulphuric acid which has macerated for about seven
or eight days with peroxide of manganese bisulphate or sulphate of peroxide of
mercury oil and glycerine in the proportion of say about one thousand paris by
weight of water to three hundred of the prepared sulphuric acid (at about
66° sp. gr) eight parts of the sulphate, one part of colza oil, for example and two
of glycerine.
The depolarising liquid is composed of water with the addition of an alkaline
bichromate such as bichromate of Soda or potash in proportion varying from,
say about one hundred to one thousand parts by weight of the bichromate to
one thousand parts of water, and an equal quantity of Sulphuric acid at about
071

page_text: 66° sp gr-This sulphuric acid is soaked or macerated with peroxide of
manganese for about one month before it is used. To this mixture is added about
one quarter of its weight of nitric acid at about 40° sp: gr.
The zinc employed as the soluble electrode is carefully covered before being
introduced into the existing liquid prepared as hereinbefore described with a fatty
or greasy coating composed of, say about one hundred parts by weight of tallow,
twenty five parts by weight of paraffin and three hundred of mercury ground or
pounded together. The electrical resistance of this coating is not sufficient to
interfere with the working of the battery but it protects the metal from the
corroding action of the acid when the circuit is open. The positive electrode of
the battery is constituted by plates of carbon prepared by soaking in water
containing Sugar after which the plates are dried and exposed to a smoky flame
so that the Sugar melts and is converted into caramel or burned Sugar. This
renders adhesive the particles of carbon which are deposited upon the plates by
the flame. The depolarising power or capacity of the carbon electrodes is thus
increased. The superficial area and consequently the depolarising capacity of the
carbon plates is also increased to a considerable extent by means of grooves or
channels formed in their sides.
An improved battery constructed according to this Invention is composed of an
external vessel, preferably in the form of a cube and made of ebonite glass porcelain
or other material capable of resisting the action of the acids. This vessel is
provided with a flange extending all round its upper edge and to which is secured
a cover of ebonite or the like forming a tight joint with sides of the vessel by
means of a caoutchouc or rubber packing ring. This cover presents a circular
opening in its centre admitting of the introduction of a porous vessel preferably
of cylindrical shape, the upper edge of which is provided with a flange, the under
surface of which rests upon the aforesaid cover. The flange on the porous vessel
is entirely covered or enveloped by a rubber or caoutchouc ring or band which laps
round it in such a manner as to pack the joint between the flange and the cover
and also between the flange and an insulating ebonite disc which closes the porous
vessel. Over this insulating disc is placed a metal supporting disc provided with
a strengthening rib or web and presenting slots in its edges forming a species of
bayonet joint by engaging with nuts on screwed pillars on the cover of the external
vessel and enabling a tight joint to be made on both sides of the flange of the
inner vessel.
The insulating disc or cover of the porous vessel is attached to the metal disc by
copper rods screwed at both ends which descend a short distance into the porous
vessel, and support the zinc plates or electrodes, say four in number. Each rod is
protected by an India-rubber tube at the part where it enters the porous vessel;
the lower end of this tube comes in contact with the upper edge of the zinc plate
at the part where it is screwed to the rod and effectually protect the latter from
contact with the acid liquid contained in the porous vessel.
These
The carbon plates, preferably of prismatic form and, say sixteen in number, are
ranged side by side along the sides in the interior of the external vessel.
plates are supported by bolts passing through the sides of the external vessel and
provided with counter-sunk heads, so arranged that a space is formed above the
heads which is partially filled with lead poured in over the head of the bolt and
covered with paraffin. The lead ensures perfect contact and the paraffin protects
the lead. The shank of each bolt supporting the carbon plates projects on the
outside of the outer vessel and is provided with a screw thread for the reception
of a nut which draws the bolt tight by being screwed up against a copper hoop
surrounding the vessel and serving to connect all the bolts electrically.-By these
means, all the carbons are joined in quantity-A caoutchouc washer is placed over
each bolt between the carbon plate and the side of the vessel for the purpose of
preventing leakage and protecting the shanks of the bolts. This arrangement also
has the advantage of imparting a certain degree of elasticity to the points of
suspension of the carbon plates.

page_text: The copper hoop connecting the bolts as aforesaid is connected to a strip of metal
which is bent over the cover of the cell and is fixed thereto by a terminal or
binding screw.
Upon the metal disc or cover of the porous vessel there is provided a terminal
or binding screw which forms the negative pole of the cell.
Holes are made in the covers of both vessels each of the said holes being closed
by a stopper provided with a very fine perforation serving for the escape of the
gases.
After introducing into the external vessel a suitable quantity of the depolarising
liquid the porous vessel is introduced through the central opening in the cover
having been previously filled with the exciting liquid and the cover of the latter
vessel with the zinc plates suspended therefrom is then secured in position by
means of the bayonet joint and screws hereinbefore described whereby leakage is
effectually prevented.

page_text: I JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Lucien Alfred Wilhelmine Desruelles of Paris in
the Republic of France and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention has for its object providing an Electric battery capable of
delivering a powerful current and for this purpose combining the form and
arrangement and relative position of the electrodes to the best advantage and
providing liquids or Electrolytes of the most advantageous chemical composition
as hereinafter described whereby the soluble electrode is also enabled to remain
immersed in the liquid without being appreciably attacked or corroded.
The construction of the cells or elements is also improved as hereinafter
described with a view to obtaining a cell or element of minimum weight capable
of being charged and discharged with facility and closed sufficiently tightly to
.prevent the escape of the liquid or liquids but allowing for the escape of the gases
resulting from the Electrolytic action.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures..
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a vertical section, Figure 2
a horizontal section (taken along the line 1-2, Figure 1,) and Figure 3 a plan of a
battery constructed according to this Invention.
This improved battery belongs to that class in which two liquids are employed,
one being an exciting liquid employed for dissolving the soluble electrode, the
other a depolarising liquid, whose function it is to effect the absorption of the
bydrogen set free during the process of Electrolysis. The exciting liquid is
composed of about One thousand parts by weight, (say 1,000 grammes) of Water
mixed with about three hundred parts by weight, (say 300 grammes) of Sulphuric
acid at 66° Sp: gr: (which has been macerated for about seven or eight days with
peroxide of manganese), about eight parts by weight, (say 8 grammes) of bisulphate
or sulphate of peroxide of mercury, about one part by weight, (say 1 gramme) of
Colza Oil, for example, and two parts, by weight, (say 2 grammes) of glycerine.
The depolarising liquid is composed of about one thousand parts by weight, (say
1,000 grainmes) of Water with from about One hundred to One thousand parts
by weight, (say from 100 grammes to 1,000 grammes) of bichromate of Soda,
according to the depolarising power it is desired to obtain, and an equal quantity
of Sulphuric acid at about 66° Sp: gr: always equal to the quantity of bichro-
mate of Soda. This sulphuric acid is soaked or macerated with peroxide of
manganese for about one month before it is used. To this mixture is added about
one quarter of its weight of Nitric acid at about 40° Sp: gr.

page_text: The zinc employed as the soluble Electrode is carefully covered, before being
introduced into the aforesaid exciting liquid with a fatty or greasy coating com-
posed of about One hundred parts by weight, (say 100 grammes) of tallow, about
25 parts by weight, (say 25 grammes,) of paraffin, and about Three hundred parts
by weight, (say 300 grammes,) of mercury, ground or pounded together. Thus
protected, the zinc may be allowed to remain for a considerable period in the
exciting liquid without being appreciably attacked when the circuit is open, and
the Electrical resistance of a coating thus prepared, is not sufficient to appreciably
impede the action of the battery when the circuit is closed. The positive electrode
of the battery is constituted by plates of Carbon, preferably prepared by soaking
them in water containing a small quantity of Sugar. When dried, these plates of
carbon are exposed to a smoky flame so that the Sugar melts and is converted into
caramel or burned Sugar. This renders adhesive the particles of carbon which
are deposited upon the plates by the flame. Such preparation greatly increases
the depolarising capacity of the carbon Electrodes. The Carbon plates being
moreover provided with a certain number of grooves as hereinafter explained the
superficial area, and consequently the depolarising capacity of the Carbon plates,
is also increased to a considerable extent by means of the said grooves or channels
formed in their sides.
The improvements in the construction and arrangement of the vessels and
electrodes are next hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying
Drawings, which represent a portable battery constructed according to this Inven-
tion and provided with an external Vessel A in the form of a cube and made of
Ebonite, Glass, Porcelain or other material capable of resisting the action of the
acids. This vessel is provided with a flange a, extending all round its upper
edge and to which is secured by suitable bolts or screws a cover B of Ebonite
or the like, forming a tight joint with the external sides of the vessel A, by means
of a caoutchouc or rubber packing ring, not shewn in the Drawing, interposed
between the cover and the flange on the Vessel. This cover presents a circular,
opening in its centre, admitting of the introduction of a porous vessel C preferably,
of cylindrical shape (Figure 2,) the upper edge of which is provided with a flange c,
the under surface of which rests upon the cover B. The flange on the porous
vessel C, is covered by a rubber or caoutchouc ring or band which laps round it, as
indicated in figure 1 in such a manner as to pack or fill the joint between the
flange c and the cover B and also between the upper surface of the flange c and
àn ebonite or insulating disc b, which closes the porous vessel C. Over this ebonite
or insulating disc is placed a metal disc D for the purpose of imparting greater
rigidity to the ebonite disc, being provided in the middle with a strengthening rib
or web. The two extremities of this rib or web are in the form of lugs d, Figure 3,
presenting slots in opposite directions so as to form a species of bayonet joint by
engaging with two screws e, provided with nuts e¹. These nuts when tightened
press the ebonite disc b on to the rubber packing between it and the flange con
the porous vessel and at the same time press the flange c on to the packing inter-
posed between the latter and the ebonite cover B, thus accurately closing both the
porous vessel C and the ebonite vessel A. The insulating disc b, is attached to the
metal disc D, covering it by copper rods t, screwed at both ends-These descend
a short distance into the porous vessel beneath the ebonite disc and support zinc
plates or electrodes L which are screwed to the said rods-Each rod is entirely
covered and protected by an india rubber tube at the part where it enters the
porous vessel the lower end of this tube comes in contact with the upper edge
of the zinc plate at the part where it is screwed to the rod as indicated in
figure and effectually protects the latter from contact with the acid liquid
contained in the porous vessel.
Carbon plates E preferably of angular or prismatic form are ranged side by side
in the interior of the external vessel A and against the sides of the latter. These
plates are preferably grooved as indicated in figure 4 which represents an elevation
and transverse section of one of the plates and are attached to the ebonite vessel as

page_text: indicated in figure 1 by bolts ƒ passing through the sides of the vessel A the heads
of the said bolts being embedded in the plates and protected from contact with the
liquid The height of the head being less than the depth of the recess provided for
their reception in the carbon plates a space is formed above the heads which is
partially filled with lead (indicated at f1 figure 1) poured in over the head of the
bolt and covered with paraffin f2-The lead ensures perfect contact and the paraffin
protects the lead and head of the bolt from the action of the acid. The shanks of
each bolt supporting the carbon plates projects on the outside of the ebonite vessel
and is provided with a screw thread for the reception of a nut f³ which draws the
bolt tight by being screwed up against a copper or conducting hoop f* surrounding
the vessel and serving to connect all the bolts By these means all the carbons are
joined in quantity A caoutchouc washer f³ is placed over each bolt between the
carbon plate and the side of the vessel for the purpose of preventing leakage at
this point and of protecting the shanks of the bolts This arrangement also has the
advantage of imparting a certain degree of elasticity to the points of suspension
of the carbon plates and renders the latter less liable to break under sudden
movements.
The copper hoop f connecting all the bolts is connected to a strip f6 (figure 3)
of the same metal which is bent over the cover of the cell and connects the hoop
with a terminal or binding screw F.
Upon the metal disc or cover D to which are screwed the four rods t which
support the zinc plates L in the porous vessel there is provided at one side of the
strengthening rib or web a terminal or binding screw G (figure 3) which forms the
negative pole of the cell-A hole O is also made through the cover D and
the ebonite disc b and this hole is partially closed by a stopper O provided with a
very fine perforation o' serving for the escape of the gases generated in the porous
vessel C A hole O¹ is formed near one corner of the cover B of the ebonite
vessel A This hole is provided with a stopper likewise perforated with a very fine
orifice through which the gases produced in the external vessel A escape.
This method of construction enables the operations of charging or filling and
emptying the battery to be performed with great facility.-After introducing into
the external vessel A a suitable quantity of the depolarising liquid the porous
vessel C is introduced through the central opening in the cover B having been
previously filled with the exciting liquid The cover D with the zinc plates
suspended therefrom is secured in position by means of the bayonet joint arrange-
ment herein before described and when the nuts e' are tightened the external vessel
and the porous vessel are perfectly closed so that the battery may be shaken or
transported from place to place without risk of spilling or mixing the liquids.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is-
First. An electric battery in which the exciting liquid is composed of sulphuric
acid macerated with peroxide of manganese and mixed with bisulphate of mercury,
oil, glycerine and water substantially as herein before described.
Second. An electric battery in which the depolarising liquid is composed of
sulphuric acid and macerated with peroxide of manganese and placed in the
presence of bichromate of soda or potash or any other alkaline bichromate and
nitric acid and water the said depolarising liquid being employed in combination
or not with the exciting liquid referred to in the preceding claiming clause
substantially as herein before described.
Third. An electric battery provided with carbon plates or electrodes treated or
prepared with sugar and coated with a carbon deposit for the purpose or increasing
their depolarising capacity substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fourth. An electric battery provided with carbon plates or electrodes subjected
to the treatment or preparation referred to in the preceding claiming clause and

page_text: grooved for the purpose of increasing the depolarising surface substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The combination and arrangement of parts for hermetically closing the
external and porous vessels of the battery substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. A battery having carbon plates provided with means for securing the
said plates in position ensuring perfect electric contact and preventing the contacts
from being injured by the action of the liquids substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Seventh. In an electric battery provided with zinc plates suspended by rods the
means for protecting the said rods from contact with the liquid substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Eighth. The general arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the
improved electric battery substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 6th dow of Mo 1000