Year: 1898

page_text: I, JOHANNES VON DER POPPENBURG, of 65, Kant Strasse, Charlottenburg, near
Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in galvanic batteries and has for its
object various improvements in the construction of the same, more especially for
the purpose of producing a battery of increased efficiency.
My improvements in galvanic batteries relate more especially to a galvanic
battery, which can simultaneously be employed as a primary battery and also as
a secondary battery or accumulator, the characteristic features of my improved
battery being that the same possesses a high tension, occupies a small space and
generates a strong current, can be conveniently transported in a dry condition,
and is immediately rendered fit for use by the addition of water or diluted sul-
phuric acid.
The new battery or pile is also characterised by the fact that two different
circuits are produced, which imparts to the battery a high tension of current at
the terminals.
The under portion of the battery is filled up to about 1/3 of its height with a
sulphate, insoluble in water and which only slowly dissolves in sulphuric acid
together with, (or without) the addition of a chlorate. To give an instance:
Plaster of Paris and chlorate of soda in a dry state are mixed together and tightly
compressed still in a dry state into the under portion of the battery.
Upon this
tightly compressed mixture or mass a hollow carbon electrode is placed in the
centre of the said mixture and the inner hollow space surrounding said carbon
electrode filled with metallic oxides and peroxides insoluble in water and sul-
phuric acid, together with (or without) the addition of double sulphates insoluble
in sulphuric acid.
The latter substances are placed within the battery in a moist state and tightly
pressed into the aforesaid inner space of the carbon electrode, whereupon the
opening is covered or coated over with an asphalt-varnish
In the intermediate space between the carbon electrode and the wall of the
battery and above the compressed sulphate mass or mixture a diaphragm of porous
material, about 10 mm. thick is tightly pressed, said diaphragm, as indicated,
interposing between the carbon and the outer wall of the battery.
In the center of the space between the carbon and the wall of the battery, and
upon the said diaphragm ring in the lower portion of the battery, the zinc electrode,
(or any other suitable metallic electrode) is placed, whereupon the remaining space
in the battery is filled with chloride of ammonium, or any other suitable exciting
liquid to about the height of the metallic electrode.

page_text: When diluted sulphuric acid is employed as exciting liquid the remaining space
herein before indicated is left empty.
The battery thus prepared is now provided with a cover and the said cover
coated with asphalt, an opening being left in said cover for the purpose of intro-
ducing water or the said sulphuric acid when it is desired to put the battery into
operation.
After the battery has been put into operation the following chemical process
takes place within the same:
In consequence of the carbon electrode being in contact with the tightly pressed.
mixture in the under portion of the battery, (the latter substance forming a
second positive and non-metallic electrode), and the said carbon electrode saturated
with the exciting liquid in the upper portion of the battery, a second current of
high tension is generated, which current circulates through the diaphragm into
the metallic electrode and back again through the carbon electrode and imparts to
the second current generated by the metallic positive electrode and the carbon
electrode, a high and constant tension at the terminals of above 2.00 volts.
The constancy of the higher tension at the terminals may also arise from the
fact, that the electric current produced by the non-metallic electrode has at the
same time a depolarisation-influence upon the battery.
When the battery described in the foregoing specification is required for use
as a secondary battery, or accumulator, the said battery in accordance with the
Known form of accumulators can at once be provided with oxide of lead plates
or the said lead plates can later on be introduced into the battery as soon as or
when the battery is found to give off a much reduced electrical current after having
been employed as a primary battery.
After my improved battery has been charged and discharged three times
successively, the same receives similar properties as an accumulator with the
oxide of lead plates.
When the battery forming the subject of this invention is at once transformed
into an accumulator by the special charging of the same, the process which takes
place within the battery is as follows:-
The herein before described mixture in the under portion of the battery in-
soluble in diluted sulphuric acid, as herein before described, substitutes or here
takes the place of the oxide of lead-plates for the purpose of storing the electric
energy, (or oxygen), as positive electrode. The zinc electrode (or the metallic
electrode) does not in such case serve any other purpose than simply as a con-
ductor for the discharge of the electric current, the one electrode in such cases
being formed by the gas contained in the compressed mixture or mass in the
lower portion of the battery, and the second electrode being formed by the contents
of the inner space of the carbon electrode.
When the improved battery, forming the subject of this invention is arranged
in the above described manner, and operates as accumulator, the electromotive
force obtained from the same, by the charging, as above mentioned, will even
amount to approximately 3.00 volts per battery or cell.
Doto this 10th day of Ton 1908

page_text: 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 improvements in galvanic batteries and has
for its object improvements in the construction of the same more especially for
the purpose of producing a battery of increased efficiency.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
similar letters denote similar parts and in which Fig. 1 shows a vertical section
of one form of a galvanic battery constructed according to my invention, and
Fig. 2 represents a similar view of the same battery slightly modified in order
to be employed or used as a secondary battery or accumulator.
The improvements in galvanic batteries hereinafter more fully described relate
more especially to a galvanic battery, which may be employed as a primary
battery and also as a secondary battery or accumulator; the characteristic features
of my improved battery being that the same possesses a high tension not yet
achieved in other galvanic batteries, produces a strong current, regenerates itself
in an astonishing short period of time, occupies a proportionately small space, is
capable of being transported and kept in store in an absolutely dry condition,
and of being rendered fit for use immediately by the addition or introduction of
water only.
The under portion of the outer vessel A of the galvanic battery is filled up with
a layer D of a sulphate calcic sulphate or gypsum, CaSO 4 or its equivalents with
or without the addition of a chlorate or its equivalents. If desired a metal plate H
(shown by dotted lines Fig. 1) may be imbedded within the said bottom layer 1. This
metal imbedding or body H which may also have the form of balls, chips or the like,
assists the galvanic battery to get a higher voltage. Upon this bottom layer
(mineral-electrode) D is placed a carbon electrode B having the form of a cup
or hollow cylinder; the interior of the carbon electrode filled with any suit-
able depolarizing substance C (for instance a potassic sulphate or bi-sulphate)
whereupon the opening is closed by means of a suitable insulating cover F con-
sisting of asphalt or the like; the latter, therefore, separates the depolarizing
means contained within the carbon electrode from the bottom layer 1), the
annular base of the carbon cylinder, however, being in direct or intimate contact
with the said bottom layer, as indicated in Fig. 1.
In the intermediate space between the carbon electrode B and the wall of the
vessel A and upon the bottom layer I) is placed a diaphragm E of porous material
(felt or the like); the ring-shaped diaphragm-partition E, as shown, interposing
the carbon electrode B and the battery-vessel A. Upon the porous partition E
rests the metallic electrode G made of zinc or any other suitable metal and pro-
vided with the usual contact or conducting strip G. In the space above the felt
partition E is then filled a sufficient quantity of suitable exciting salts, for instance,
chloride of ammonium, sodic chlorate, boric chlorate or the like, whereupon the
vessel A is air tightly closed by a suitable cover coated with and cemented by any
appropriate cement (asphalt paste or the like) to the vessel A. In the cover
of the battery is fixed a small tube o through which a sufficient amount of water
may be filled or introduced when it is desired to put the battery into operation.
After the galvanic battery above described has been put into operation there
are produced between the metallic electrode G, the bottom layer 1) and the carbon
electrode B electric currents or circuits which assist or support one another whereby
the electro-motive force of the galvanic battery is considerably increased. This
novel effect may be externally observed in that from the galvanic batteries made
in accordance with the present invention it results a tension of above 2 volts
instead of the usual tension of 1.5-1.6 volts obtained by other well known
galvanic batteries. From the peculiar arrangement and co-operation of the three
electrodes namely, the metal electrode G, the carbon electrode B and the auxiliary
electrode or bottom layer D, it results further a very quick regeneration of the
galvanic battery not yet obtained or obtainable in other batteries.
Slightly modifying the battery above described it may also be used or employed

page_text: in well known manner as a secondary battery or accumulator; Fig. 2 of the
accompanying drawing represents such a modified battery. In this arrangement
the hollow carbon electrode B is filled with lead-oxide or manganic oxide but
contrary to the primary battery it is not closed at the bottom, but rests in the
same manner as the metallic electrode G upon the porous partition E, which in
this case separates not only the metallic electrode but also the carbon electrode
from the bottom layer D, which latter consists of spongy lead or the like. Diluted
sulphuric acid or any other suitable exciting liquid may be used as electrolyte.
The manner of using the described battery as an accumulator is quite the same
as in ordinary accumulators and needs therefore no further explanation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1st. In a galvanic battery the combination of a metallic electrode and a carbon
electrode with an auxiliary or mineral electrode, the latter being in direct contact
with the carbon electrode but separated from the metallic electrode by a porous
partition, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In a galvanic battery the combination of a vessel, of a metallic electrode,
of a hollow or cup shaped carbon electrode, of a suitable depolarizing substance
held within the said carbon electrode by an insulating cover or seal, of a bottom
layer of gypsum or its equivalents with or without an addition of sodic chlorate
or its equivalents, the said bottom layer being in contact with the carbon electrode
and forming an auxiliary electrode, of a porous partition separating the metallic
electrode from the said auxiliary electrode and of suitable exciting means filled
into the battery, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd. In a galvanic battery to be used as a secondary battery or accumulator the
combination of a metallic electrode, of an open or unsealed carbon electrode filled
with lead-oxide, manganic oxide or the like of a bottom layer of spongy lead,
of a porous partition separating the latter from the metallic and carbon electrodes,
and of suitable exciting means, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1898.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.