New Improved Electropositive Galvanic Battery Electrodes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1894
New Improved Electropositive Galvanic Battery Electrodes.
CARL ANTON JOHANNES HUGO SCHROEDER and HEINRICH EUGEN
RICHARD SCHROEDER, both of Whetstone House, Heslop Road, Balham,
London S.W. in the County of Surrey, Electrical Engineers 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 :-
An electropositive electrode of excellent quality for galvanic batteries is obtained
The exact proportions however have to be taken according to the type of battery in
which the electrodes are going to be used, that is to say in a single fluid battery
the quantity of lead and aluminium have to be larger than in a double fluid
battery.
If the battery is used for electric bells or for telegraphic work where generally
a weak current is required and weak acids or salts are used the quantity of
aluminium and lead for the electrode have to be much less than if the battery is
used for electric lighting or for the production of mechanical power. In such
batteries where strong acids have to be used the proportion of aluminium and lead
have to be larger in order to keep down local action. To produce sufficient action
on the positive electrode in batteries where weak acids have to be employed the
proportion of aluminium and lead has to be much less.
The proportion of aluminium and lead have also to be adapted to the temperature
of the Huids when used in batteries and has further to be adapted to the pressure
which was used in rolling out the electro plates; that is to say when the temperature
in the battery is higher the quantity of aluminium and lead or aluminium or lead
has to be greater whilst if the temperature is lower the quantity of aluminium and
lead or aluminium or lead has to be smaller. If the pressure used in rolling out
the electrode plates is greater less aluminium and lead or aluminium or lead is
needed, and if the pressure used in rolling out is less more aluminium and lead or
aluminium or lead is required. To give an instance; if we take the type of the
Bunsen battery and use for the battery fluids nitric acid of 1,48 specific gravity
and sulphuric acid of 1,22 specific gravity at a temperature of 30 to 50 degree
centigrade and the electrode plates are rolled out under the highest pressure the
"Vieille Montagne Zinc Works" are now able to apply on the metal, the following
proportions give a very good result:

page_text: The thin pieces thus obtained are then amalgamated and under great pressure
pressed together for some time, so as to perfectly unite the separate plates into one
solid piece or electrode, during this manipulation mercury is poured repeated times
on the edge of the plate, the plate being placed in a vertical position.
The electrode now is ready for use, it may if desired be additionally amalgamated
hefore it is placed into the battery. If the electrode is to be used in a battery in
which only one side of the zinc electrode is exposed to the carbon electrode it may
on one side be covered by a thin lead plate, which is placed on same before
undergoing, the procedure of pressure.
Instead of the alloy in this process ordinary thin zinc sheet may be used but not
nearly with such a good result.
Magnesium makes also very good battery plates.
Another very good kind of battery plate is obtained by employing an allov
PROPORTIONS OF THE ALLOY.
96,60 parts by weight of zinc
1,1
39
دو
99
lead
"
0,05
• "
"
aluminium
"
"
0,01
"
"
دو
"
barium amalagam or any other suitable
barium compound
0,01
"
وو
"
» manganese
0,07
2,16
iron
"
"
""
"
"
"
وو
» mercury.
If this last alloy is used in the proportions as now mentioned in other batteries
and under other circumstances it will be found useful, however the result will not
be so satisfactory.
This alloy may be employed in any form, but preferably as a single plate or
electrode; it is amalgamated before being used, its process of manufacture being
as follows:
The less fusible metals are first melted, and the more fusible metals are added
one by one, according to their fusibility. When all the ingredients are thus mixed
and well stirred each time, a soft pasty mass is at length obtained, which is now
introduced into moulds and whilst still hot submitted to great pressure.
The object of submitting the mass to great pressure is to make its structure

page_text: extremely dense which considerably reduces the local action of the mass when
used in a battery. When taken out of the mould the plate is amalgamated and is
ready for use if intended for a vertical battery; when used in a horizontal battery
it is covered with a thick layer of mercury and fixed to the bottom of the cell by
5 a screw or any other suitable device, to prevent its floating on the mercury.
Having now substantially described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner it is to be carried out we declare that what we
claim is :
1 The invention of a calvanic hattere plate or electrade of any chane or form
alloy of:
to 99 parts by weight of zinc
From 50
"
0,04 to 12
"
""
0,001 to 6
"
"
دو
وو
دو
0
to
دو
دو
"
"
0
to
2
"
"
0
to
2
"
"
0
to 18
وو
"
وو
دو
وو
دو
دو
"
"
"
lead
aluminium
" any suitable barium compound
" manganese
iron
3"
" mercury.
6. The application of great pressure to battery plates whilst in a hot condition
in order to render their structure as dense as possible and thus decrease local action
when used in galvanic batteries.
London, the 29th day of November 1893.
CARL ANTON JOHANNES HUGO SCHROEDER.
HEINRICH EUGEN RICHARD SCHROEDER.