Improvements in Primary and Secondary Transportable Galvanic Dry-elements.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1889-Accepted, 27th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Primary and Secondary Transportable Galvanic
Dry-elements.
I, CASTLE SMITH of 34 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, as communicated to me from abroad by
Wilhelm Louis Frederik Hellesen, of Frederiksborggade No. 34 Copenhagen K, in
the Kingdom of Denmark, Wholesale Merchant, to be as follows:
Experiments have shown that in the case of all active galvanic circuits the
formation of gas is inevitable whether it be from local causes, or from the abundance
of the current, and therefore hermetic isolation had to be abandoned.
In order to prevent the humid electrolyte carried away by the gas from
influencing either the isolation or the contact of metals, two closed reservoirs are
placed one in another. They are both provided with several air holes which are
filled with some porous substance, the air holes being so disposed that the gas which
escapes above from the inner reservoir must pass through the space between the two
reservoirs. This space is filled with some drying substance, such as plaster of Paris,
so that the gas comes out perfectly dry through the air holes in the bottom of the
outer reservoir.
By thus admitting the air it is found that the means usually employed to fix the
electrolyte are not practical. Powdery or fibrous ingredients such as gravel, saw dust,
sponge &e.. increase. through their capillarity the injurious effect of the atmosphere
on the anodes, whilst gelatinous substance such as is used for hectographs &c.,
shrink from the effect of the atmosphere and so fall off from the electrodes.
Substances also which like plaster of Paris are suitable for casts cannot be used
since the size and shape of the electrodes are subject to changes during use.
By this invention the electrolyte is transformed into a thick, sticky, phlegmy
substance by adding gums and similar substances, principally tragacanth which is
not influenced by the electrolyte in question, not even by sulphuric acid, and which
does not diminish the capacity of the electrolyte. In consequence of the stickiness
of the tragacanth the electrolyte remains in constant contact with the electrode.
1000
CASTLE SMITII,
Per F. W. Golby,
"
Invention Office, 5+, Fleet Street. London, EC., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Primary and Secondary Transportable Galvanic
Dry-elements.
I, CASTLE SMITH of 54 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, as communicated to me from abroad by Wilhelm Louis Frederik
llellesen, of Frederiksborggade No. 34 Copenhagen K. in the Kingdom of Denmark,
Wholesale Merchant, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:--
Experiments have shown that in the case of all active galvanic circuits the
formation of gas is inevitable whether it be from local causes or from the abundance
of the current, and therefore hermetic isolation had to be abandoned.
In order to prevent the humid electrolyte carried away by the gas from
influencing either the isolation or the contact of metals, two closed reservoirs are
71

page_text: placed
comes
one in another. They are both provided several air holes which are
filled with some porous substance, the air holes being so disposed that the gas which
escapes above from the inner reservoir must pass through the space between the two
reservoirs. This space is filled with some drying substance, such as plaster of Paris,
so that the gas out perfectly dry through the air holes in the bottom of
with
the
outer reservoir.
of
the
By thus admitting the air it is found that the means usually employed to fix the
electrolyte are not practical. Powdery or fibrous ingredients such as gravel, sawdust,
sponge &c., increase, through their capillarity the injurious effect of the atmosphere
on the anodes, whilst gelatinous substance such as is used for hertographs,&c. shrinks
trom the effect atmosphere and so falls off from the electrodes. Substances
also which like plaster of Paris are suitable for casts cannot be used since the size
and shape of the electrodes are subject to changes during use.
By this invention the electrolyte is transformed into a thick, sticky, phlegmy
substance by adding gums and similar substancer principally tragacanth which is
not influenced by the electrolyte in question, not even by sulphuric acid, and which
does not diminish the capacity of the electrolyte. In consequence of the stickiness
of the tragacanth the electrolyte remains in constant contact with the electrode.
The accompanying drawing shews a sectional elevation of the invention. A is the
outer and B the inner reservoir; the air holes in the inner reservoir are marked a.
The space between the two reservoirs is filled with sawdust or some similar drying
stilstúner, ('Is the carbon or other electrode with the metal button or terminal,
whilst ↳ is a piece of copper lastened to the inner reservoir B which forms the other
elertile. is a paste made of some depolarizing substance, enclosed in a porous
bag I surrounded by the phlegmy subsinnee G in which the electrolyte is dissolved.
shows a small boring in the outer reservoir serving for the exit of the gas arising
from the element. E is a layer of plaster of Paris or similar porous material which
is again covered by a layer of pitch F or other closing material, so as to compel
the gas coming from the inner element to pass through the layer of plaster of Paris E
and through the holes a (which are situated at the same height, as shown in the
drawing of the reservoir B into the space between A and B, which is filled with
sawdust as before stated, whence it may emerge through the holes d of the outer
reservoir.
It tound desirable, the gas evolved may be made to pass through an additional
compartment filled with a substance capable of absorbing moisture.
Having now particularly described and uscertained the nature of this invention,
as communicated to me from abroad, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, I declare that what I claim is:
(1) The method and means herein described for fixing the electrolyte by adding
slimy sticky material principally tragacanth for primary and secondary dry batteries.
(2) The construction of a cell for containing a phlegmy substance (, such as
tragacanth in which the electrolyte is dissolved, with a plaster of Paris or similarly
absorbent top E through which the evolved gas pusses and escapes through holes a
into the space contained between the two reservoirs A and B. which said space
contains sawdust or the like moisture-absorbing material, thence through holes d'inta
the open air, or through an additional reservoir containing moisture-absorbing
material and then into the open air, all substantially us and for the purpose herein-
before set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1889.
CASTLE SMITH,