Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
We, WILLIAM WALKER, of 103, Bristol Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire,
Electrician, and FRANK RICHARD WILKINS, of Selborne Road, Handsworth,
Staffordshire, Chemical Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention consists of the hereindescribed improvements in those galvanic
batteries in which carbon forms one of the elements.
Heretofore when using the carbon element in the form of a pot or vessel con-
taining the electrolyte it has been customary to coat the outside of the pot or
vessel with paraffin wax, pitch or other substance to prevent moisture on the
outside caused by the electrolyte soaking through and when using the carbon
element in the form of a rod or plate, or in other form partly immersed in or
covered by the electrolyte, such carbon elements have been made solid. It is well
known that one fluid batteries when at work soon become polarized through
acquiring a film of gas upon the carbon elements which prevents the electrolyte
acting. This defect we overcome or minimize as follows:-
We e so arrange the carbon element that while one side is exposed to the action
of the electrolyte the other side of the carbon is exposed to the atmosphere then
the hydrogen formed on the inside of the carbon (that is the side exposed to the
electrolyte) combines with the oxygen of the atmosphere through the pores of the
carbon and prevents polarization.
When applying this part of our invention to those galvanic batteries in which
one of the elements is a carbon pot or other carbon vessel containing the electrolyte
as aforesaid, we omit the usual outer protective coating of the said vessel so that
the outer surface of our carbon pot or other carbon vessel is exposed to the
atmosphere; or when the electrolyte is outside the carbon element, as in those
batteries in which the carbons are immersed in the electrolyte, we make the carbon
of a tubular or other hollow form in which the atmosphere can enter but closed at
the bottom end to keep out the electrolyte.
According to the second part of this invention we produce a simple non fuming
one fluid battery in which a cheap electrolyte is used and the consumption of zinc
is almost nil for a large amount of work obtained and which is recuperative and
gives a very constant current and which requires no technical knowledge to
maintain it in working order. We thus make electric light possible by battery
power, to compete with other forms of lighting, and our improved battery is also
invaluable for telegraph, telephonic, bell, electro motors, medical domestic,
manufacturing and other purposes.
In a galvanic battery constructed according to this second part of this invention
the elements consist of carbon and zinc or carbon and an amalgam of zinc and
mercury in conjunction with a solution of caustic soda or caustic potash in water,
or other strong alkaline solution, as the electrolyte. The zinc is by preference
prepared by being cleaned with sulphuric acid and placed in mercury for a few
days; or the amalgam of zinc and mercury may be otherwise prepared. We do
not confine ourselves to any particular arrangement or shape of the zinc or amalgam
and carbon as the zinc or amalgain and carbon with the said electrolyte in any
vessel will generate a current and will work for many hours without polarizing if
the carbon element or each of the carbon elements is exposed on one side to the
electrolyte and on the other side to the atmosphere as aforesaid, but the form of
battery which so far as we have found to answer best is a carbon box either plain
or corrugated round square oval or any other shape containing the said electrolyte

page_text: and not coated in any way on the outside, and hanging centrally in the said box is
a flat corrugated or other shaped plate of zinc or amalgam or a cylinder or other
hollow, body of zinc or amalgam prepared as aforesaid. Then any oxide that may
be formed will fall to the bottom of the carbon box without bridging across and
short-circuiting the battery. We prefer the whole of the zinc or amalgam to be
covered by the electrolyte as otherwise a deterrent oxide will be formed on the
part of zinc or amalgam not under the electrolyte, thereby spoiling connection and
quickly eating away that portion of the zinc or amalgam. In order to ensure the
whole of the zinc or amalgam being covered with the electrolyte we may screw
or otherwise fix to the zinc or amalgam a rod of suitable metal which is pro-
tected from the electrolyte by a covering tube such as ebonite; or the top of
the zinc or amalgam may be rivetted or otherwise fixed to malleable iron or
other angle pieces in which are holes to fit on to corresponding upright studs
on a cross bar or cover of the cell.
For dry batteries we may use the same form of carbon and zinc or amalgam and
electrolyte as above described and as an absorbent of the electrolyte we use
Portland cement, Roman cement, or asbestos fibre or other suitable substance or
substances. The carbon box may be protected by being placed in an ebonite, tiu,
wood, or other suitable outer casing which is perforated or otherwise arranged to
admit air to the outer surface of the carbon element.
Dated this 13th day of December 1892.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
We WILLIAM WALKER of No. 103 Bristol Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire,
Electrician and FRANK RICHARD WILKINS of Selborne Road, Handsworth,
Staffordshire, Chemical Merchant do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention consists of the hereinafter described improvements in those
galvanic batteries in which the negative element is carbon.
In such galvanic batteries as ordinarily made the carbon element is sometimes
employed in the form of a pot or vessel for containing the electrolyte or exciting
liquid and sometimes the carbon is employed in the form of a solid rod or plate,
and when the carbon is in the form of a pot or vessel it has been customary to coat
the outside of the said pot or vessel with paraffin, wax, pitch or other material
which will make the outer surface of the said pot or vessel impervious to liquids.
The electrolyte or exciting liquid is thereby prevented from soaking through the
said pot or vessel. When the carbon element is employed in the form of a rod or
plate or in other form partly immersed in or covered by the clectrolyte or exciting
liquid the said rod or plate is usually made solid. It is well known that single
liquid batteries when at work soon become polarized through acquiring a film of
hydrogen upon the carbon element which gaseous film impedes the action of the
electrolyte or exciting liquid and the electro motive force of the battery rapidly
declines. This defect we overcome or minimize in the following manner.
We so construct or arrange the carbon element that while it is exposed on one
side to the action of the electrolyte or exciting liquid it has an opposite side which
is in contact with the atmosphere and the hydrogen on that surface of the carbon
which is in contact with the electrolyte or exciting liquid combines with the oxygen
of the atmosphere in or through the pores of the carbon and by the removal of the
said hydrogen prevents or reduces polarization.
When applying our invention to galvanic batteries in which the carbon element
is in the form of a pot or vessel containing the electrolyte or exciting liquid, we

page_text: omit the usual outer protective coating of the said vessel so that the outer surface
of the carbon pot or vessel is exposed to the atmosphere; or when the electrolyte
or exciting liquid is outside the carbon element as in those batteries in which the
carbons are immersed in the electrolyte or exciting liquid, we make the carbon
hollow, that is, in the form of a tube closed at bottom; or we make it of a vessel
of other shape open at top. When the carbon element has the form of a tube
closed at bottom, hollow plate or vessel, its exterior when the battery is in action
is in contact with the electrolyte or exciting liquid, while the atmosphere having
free access to the interior of the carbon tube, hollow plate or vessel prevents or
diminishes the polarization of the battery by its oxygen combining with the
hydrogen in or through the pores of the carbon.
When the carbon element is in the form of a box or vessel containing the
electrolyte or exciting liquid we protect it by an outer loosely fitting casing of
ebonite, tin, wood or other material which is so perforated or otherwise arranged
as to admit air to the outer surface of the carbon element. Or the carbon box
may stand on a tray in which any of the electrolyte or exciting liquid of the battery
which may have soaked through the carbon box may collect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that we
claim as our invention of "Improvements in galvanic batteries " ;-
First. Making the carbon element of galvanic batteries into a vessel for con-
taining the electrolyte or exciting liquid of the battery, the exterior of which
carbon vessel is left unvarnished or uncoated with any material which will destroy
the porosity of the said carbon vessel; so that the hydrogen liberated at the inner
surface of the said carbon vessel may combine with the oxygen of the air in the
pores of the carbon and polarization be thereby prevented or largely diminished
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Secondly. Making the carbon element of such galvanic batteries as have the
said carbon element wholly or mainly immersed in the electrolyte or exciting liquid
of the battery, tubular or hollow so that atmospheric air may have free access to
the interior of the said tubular or hollow carbon and by its oxygen prevent or reduce
the polarization of the battery substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated the Second day of September 1893.
WILLIAM WALKER.
FRANK RICHARD WILKINS.

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clamps or Rests for Photographic Cameras and
other Instruments similarly supported.
I, THOMAS BINNIE RALSTON of 234 Buchanan Street in the City of Glasgow,
Iron Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to afford steady support for cameras and like
instruments upon walls, bars of railing or fencing and similar situations where it is
impracticable to employ an ordinary tripod stand or otherwise to obtain a steady
support for the instrument. The apparatus constituting the invention consists of a
horizontal bar the under side of which has a series of ratchet teeth made upon it.
This bar may in circumstances where a tripod stand is provided in conjunction with
the instrument be a section of one of the ordinary legs. At one end the bar has a
pin or stop against which a vertical leg strung on to it abuts. This vertical leg at
its upper end has jointed to it a stand or angled piece capable of movement through
an arc and to which the camera or other instrument is screwed in the ordinary
manner the stand being fixed in the required position by a thumb nut or equivalent
device upon its centre of movement or the stand may have a ball and socket joint
to enable it to be moved in every direction.
On the horizontal bar there is also strung a clamping leg which has a tooth
engaging with the teeth on the lower surface of the bar the said leg being capable
of movement backwards or forwards to suit the thickness of the wall, railing or
other situation to which the rest for the camera or other instrument is to be
secured, and the apparatus is fastened in position by a screw passed through the
said clamping leg and having a head or flange at its inner end which grips upon the
source of support. The screw is carried in a slot in the clamping leg and is capable
of adjustment vertically.
When the apparatus is to be attached to the top bar of a railing or other
comparatively thin horizontal or vertical body the clamping leg and the horizontal
ratchet bar may be dispensed with the leg which supports the camera or other
instrument being provided with a jaw and pinching screw to fix it in situation and
in some cases the said leg may have a stand or feet and be merely rested upon any
horizontal surface.
Dated this 13th day of December 1892.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clamps or Rests for Photographic Cameras and
other Instruments similarly supported.
I, THOMAS BINNIE RALSTON of 234 Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow,
Iron Merchant, 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 :-
This invention has for its object to afford steady support for cameras and like
instruments when it is desired to use them upon walls, bars of railing or fencing and
similar situations and where it is impracticable to employ an ordinary tripod stand
or otherwise to obtain a steady support for the instrument.
The invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 of which is a

page_text: side elevation, Fig. 2 a front elevation, Fig. 3 a plan of the apparatus, Figs. 4 and 5
respectively shewing its application to a wall and chair.
The apparatus constituting the invention consists of a horizontal bar A preferably
jointed at the middle the under side of which has a series of ratchet teeth a made
upon it. At one end the bar A has a jaw B strung upon it and secured in position
by screws or bolts. The open end of the jaw embraces one end of a leg B¹ which
is retained in position by a pin b passed through it and through holes in the jaw.
There is also passed through the jaw B and through the bar A a clamping pin or
stud d having a thumb nut g tapped on to one end and on the said pin or stud there
is carried a spring jaw C capable of being turned through an are vertically on the
pin d and by which the camera is carried. The upper part of the spring jaw C
forms the socket of a ball and socket joint for a screw or bolt f to which the
camera or other instrument is attached in the usual manner the ball and socket
joint of the bolt enabling it to be moved in any direction relatively to the rest.
When adjusted as desired the camera is maintained in position by a pinching pin /
on one of whose ends a thumb nut is threaded by turning which the sides of the
spring jaw C are drawn together thereby locking the bolt f and preventing the
camera from swivelling.
On the horizontal bar A there is also strung a clamping leg D which has a
tooth engaging with the teeth a on the lower surface of the bar the said leg being
capable of movement backwards or forwards to suit the thickness of the wall,
railing or other situation to which the rest for the camera or other instrument is to
be secured, and the apparatus is fastened in position by a screw j passed through
the said clamping leg and having a head or flange k at its inner end which grips
upon the source of support. The screw is carried in a slot in the clamping leg, the
length of which slot is indicated by the dotted lines at / Fig. 1, so as to render it
capable of adjustment vertically.
When the apparatus is to be attached to the top bar of a railing or other
comparatively thin horizontal or vertical body the clamping leg D and the
horizontal ratchet bar A may be dispensed with the leg B₁ which supports the
camera or other instrument being provided with a jaw and pinching screw to fix it
in situation and in some cases the said leg may have a stand or feet and be merely
rested upon any horizontal surface.
The apparatus as shewn may be taken apart for purposes of package in transport
by withdrawing the pin 6 from the leg B' and sliding the leg D backwards off
the bar A.
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. The improved portable clamp or rest for photographic cameras and other
instruments similarly supported and consisting of the ratchet bar A carrying the
adjustable spring jaw bracket C, a swivelling pin on which the instrument is
attached and clamping bars B', D, removably connected to the bar A, substantially
as described with reference to the drawings annexed.
2. A clamp for photographic cameras and other instruments similarly supported
consisting of a bar er leg carrying an adjustable bracket Ca swivelling pin f' on
which the instrument is attached said leg having a clamping jaw to secure it or a
stand on feet to rest it in position substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 13th day of September 1893.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.