Improvements in and relating to Dry and other Galvanic Batteries,
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Dry and other Galvanic Batteries,
I, ALFRED ERNEST JOSEPH BALL, of West Hooe, near Plymouth, in the County
of Devon, Watch and Clock Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce dry and other voltaic cells of greater
durability & efficency.
In carrying this my invention into effect, I construct voltaic dry cells the
negative element of which consists of a cylinder or equivilent of porous carbou
to which I attach a terminal. Within this cylinder and fitting loosely therein, I
place a second cylinder which may consist of carbon, prepared milboard, or any
other material not effected by the electrolyte used in the cell. Within the
intervening space between these cylinders, I pack tightly a depolorising material
or mixture, which may consist of peroxide of manganese and plumbago, or other
depolorising mixture or agent. Another method sometimes adopt in order to
construct my negative elements, is to employ an inner cylinder or equivilent of
carbon (to which I attach a terminal) and an outer cylinder of any porous material
not effected by the electrolyte; as an example, I may employ thin milboard
lined with linen or equivilent material and the intervening space between the two
cylinders I pack tightly with the depolorising mixture. In order to support this
thin milboard cylinder during the filling process, I surround it with a casing
or mould until filled. The inner cylinder of carbon may be replaced with a plate
or rod of carbon if desired. The positive element consists of a cylinder of zine
surrounding but isolated from the negative element, the whole being contained
in a porcelain or composite containing vessel, or, I may construct the containing
vessel of zinc, in which case the containing vessel constitutes the positive element.
In order that my improved cells may remain active for a lengthened period, I
employ an improved exciting mixture which I produce by dissolving about four
parts of chloride of ammonium and about one part of chloride of magnesium and
about a half part of chloride of alluminum, in about twelve parts of water. To this
improved solution I add about two parts of glycerine and add also plaster of
Paris (with which I usually mix a small quantity of flour) in the proportion of
two parts thereof, to one part of my improved solution and while in the fluid
state (that is to say before it sets) I pour sufficent of this mixture into the cell
between the positive & negative elements, when in a short time it sets to a firm
mass. Sufficent space is left for the sealing up of the cell which I eflect with
bitumen, or with a sealing compound consisting of a mixture of pitch, Japanese
wax & resin.

page_text: In adapting my improvements to voltaic cells of the fluid type, I construct my
negative element of two carbon cylinders one fitting loosely within the other and
within the space between them I tightly pack a mixture of broken carbon and
maganese I fit terminals to either or both of the cylinders, or, when I construct
one cylinder of a material other than carbon, I attach a terminal to the carbon
cylinder only. The outside cylinder I usually perforate with a number of small
holes. The positive element consists of a cylinder of zine surrounding but isolated
from the negative element, the whole being contained in a glass or stoneware
vessel. The electrolyte of this cell may consist of the improved exciting solution
herein before described, or of a solution of salamoniac.
Dated this 28th day of June 1898.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Dry and other Galvanic Batteries.
I, ALFRED ERNEST JOSEPHI BALL, of West Hooe, near Plymouth, in the County
of Devon, Watch and Clock Maker, 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:-
The object of this invention is to produce dry and other voltaic cells of greater
durability & efficency.
In carrying this my invention into effect, I construct voltaic dry cells the
negative element of which consists of a cylinder or equivalent of porous carbon,
to which I attach a terminal. Within this cylinder and fitting loosely therein, I
place a second cylinder which may consist of carbon, prepared milboard, or any
other material not affected by the electrolyte used in the cell. Within the
intervening space between these cylinders, I pack tightly a depolarising material
or mixture which may consist of peroxide of manganese and plumbago, or other
depolarising mixture or agent. Another method 1 sometimes adopt in order to
construct my negative elements, is to employ an inner cylinder or equivalent of
carbon (to which I attach a terminal) and an outer cylinder of any thin porous
material not affected by the electrolyte; as an example, I may employ thin mil-
board lined with linen or equivalent material and the intervening space between
the two cylinders, I pack tightly with the depolarising mixture. In order to
support this thin milboard cylinder during the filling process, I surround it with
a casing or mould until filled. The inner cylinder of carbon may be replaced with
a plate or rod of carbon if desired. The positive element consists of a cylinder
of zinc surrounding but isolated from the negative element, the whole being
contained in a porcelain or composite containing vessel, or, I may construct the
containing vessel of zinc, in which case the containing vessel constitutes the posi
tive element. In order that my improved cells may remain active for a lengthened
period, I employ an improved exciting mixture which I produce by dissolving
about four parts of chloride of ammonium and about one part of chloride of
magnesium and about a half part of chloride of alluminium, in about twelve parts
of water. As alternative methods of producing exciting solutions according to
my invention I dissolve about four parts of chloride of ammonium and about one
and a half parts of chloride of magnesium in about twelve parts of water, or, I
dissolve four parts of chloride of ammonium and three fourths of a part of chloride
of alluminium in about twelve parts of water. To either of these improved solu-

page_text: tions I add about two parts of glycerine and add also plaster of Paris (with which
I usually mix a small quantity of flour) in the proportion of two parts thereof, to
one part of either of my improved solutions and while in the fluid state (that is to
say before it sets) 1 pour sufficient of this mixture into the cell between the
positive & negative elements, when in a short time it sets to a firm mass. Suffi-
cent space is left for the sealing up of the cell which--after having placed over the
mixtures a shallow gas collecting cap furnished with an exit tube -I effect with
bitumen, or with a sealing of pitch, Japanese wax & resin. In adapting my
improvements to voltaic celts of the fluid type, I construct my negative element of
two carbon cylinders one fitting loosely within the other and within the space
between them 1 tightly pack a mixture of broken carbon & manganese; I fit
terminals to either or both of the cylinders, or when I construct one cylinder of
a material other than carbon I attach a terminal to the carbon cylinder only. The
outside cylinder I usually perforate with a number of small holes, but when I
employ a porous material such as cotton-canvas or equivalent these additional
perforations are unnecessary. The positive elements consist of a cylinder of zinc
surrounding but isolated from the negative element, the whole being contained
in a glass or stoneware vessel. The electrolyte of this cell may consist of either
of the improved exciting solutions hereinbefore described, or of a solution of
salammoniac.
Refering to the annexed drawings:-
Fig. 1, shews a sectional elevation of a dry galvanic cell according to my
invention, A being the carbon cylinder or equivalent with its terminal B, C being
the porous cylinder and D the depolarising mixture. E shews the electrolyte
according to my invention mixed with the plaster mixture & F the zinc con-
taining vessel. Above the depolarising mixture I place a gas collecting chamber G,
which communicates with the outside of the cell by means of the small exit tube H.
I shews the bituminous mixture with which the cell is sealed. J shews the con-
nection wire to the zine electrode which is strengthened where it leaves the cell
by the metallic strengthening spiral K which is also in electrical connection with
the zinc electrode.
Fig. 2, shows a sectional elevation of a fluid galvanic cell according to my
invention, A shows the carbon cylinder with its terminal B, C the porous
cylinder & D the depolarising mixture. The depolarising mixture is kept
in place by a sealing E which is preferably composed of 11 rather
brittle mixture such as a mixture of pitch & resin to facilitate its easy
removal in order to renew the depolarising mixture when exhausted. I shews an
insulating foot or base into which the carbon cylinder fits & to which the porous
eylinder is fastened. G shows the zine cylinder with its wire H and I shews the
glass or porcelain containing vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what
1 claim is:--
1. An electrolyte for use in dry & fluid galvanie cells consisting of ammonium
chloride, magnesium chloride, alluminium chloride & water.
2. An electrolyte for use in dry & fluid galvanic cells consisting of ammonium
chloride, magnesium chloride & water.
3. An electrolyte for use in dry & fluid galvanie cells consisting of ammonium
chloride, alluminium chloride & water.
4. A dry galvanic cell which consists of a zinc containing vessel in which is
placed a carbon electrode and the depolarising and exciting mixtures, the said
zine vessel having joined to it a connection wire strengthened where it leaves
the cell by being inserted within a strengthening spiral of wire also joined to the
zine vessel, the cell being sealed with a sealing of bitumen or equivalent, sub-
stantially as herein described and illustrated.
5. A dry galvanic cell which consists of a zinc containing vessel in which is

page_text: placed a carbon electrode and the depolarising and exciting mixtures, the said
mixtures being surmounted with a gas collecting cap or chamber furnished with
a gas exit tube and a final sealing of bitumen or equivalent, substantially as herein
described & illustrated.
6. In galvanic fluid cells the combination of a carbon cylinder, standing within
a porous cylinder, fixed to a foot or base, the space between the two cylinders
containing a depolarising mixture sealed in at its upper end with a mixture of
pitch & resin or equivalent material, substantially as described.
toww