A NEW OR IMPROVED ELECTRIC BATTERY
Year: 1884

page_text: I WALTER ALFRED BARLOW of 6 St. Pauls Churchyard in the City of London
Patent Agent and Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED ELECTRIC BATTERY " to be as follows:-
There are two important inconveniences present in primary electric batteries
viz, :-
1. The carbon surfaces are very much too small compared with the zinc.
2. The contacts are always imperfect and too easily put out of order.
This new battery is constructed to avoid these inconveniences:-Its elements are
composed of two boards between which are arranged a certain number of sheets
of zinc, between each of these sheets are arranged a certain number of carbon
plates.
The two boards are pierced with holes in which the extremities of the zines are
engaged. The zincs extend beyond and below one of the two boards and are
connected electrically by a thick rod of metal which traverses through the
extending portions of the zinc.
One terminal is screwed to the central sheet of the set and is thus in communi-
cation with all the others.
The carbons are pierced with two holes.
To construct the battery there is first placed in position the zincs and then by
means of short lengths of wood rods, the carbons are separated therefrom. The
carbons are held apart by blocks of carbon.
I put the carbons in connection by metal wires for which purpose I pass the
wires through the holes in the carbons and in slots made in the small carbons.
This connection is effected under one of the two boards in which small holes are
made through which pass the wires of all the groups and these are connected to
the other terminal.
To avoid the wires being in contact with the zinc or with the wire connections
thereof and for holding all the parts of the group or element of the battery in
place; I cement or fix the whole solidly on the plate by means of an agglomerate
substance which is also insulating,

page_text: To ensure perfect contacts I cover all the connecting wires of the battery with a
layer of paste of finely divided carbon mixed with water forming thus around the
wires and the connections a good conducting mastic.
For securing the proper working of the apparatus, the plate receives a layer or
insulating covering which will cover all except the terminals the connecting wires
being thus completely insulated, thus perfect contact is secured without fear of
oxidation of the metal.
The surfaces of the zinc are proportionately very much less than the carbons
which is indispensable for proper working.
The saline solution for the battery is composed as follows:-In a basin of
refractory porcelain I place about 14 pints (litre) of sulphuric acid at 60° density,
and 22.925 oz. avoirdupois (650 grammes) of bichromate of potash. This mixture
is boiled for eight hours on a very strong fire when it is set to get cold.
Following this there is added to the composition 1.763 oz. avoirdupois (50 grammes)
of sulphate of soda and this is "cooked over a slower fire than at first for eight
hours and thus a complete dissolving of the bichromate is effected; the mixture is
then allowed to cool.
When cool ("the following day") I add a volume of water equal to that of the
acid evaporated during the previous heating and I reheat the mixture and from
time to time I take small quantities for testing and these I allow to cool the
heating of the mass being continued on a strong fire until the testings in cooling
do not produce crystals when the liquid will be finished for use and the battery will
work with great regularity and remarkable energy.

page_text: I WALTER ALFRED BARLOW of 6 St Pauls Churchyard in the City of London
Patent Agent and Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED ELECTRIC BATTERY" and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the Figures
and letters marked thereon that is to say :-
viz.
There are two important inconveniences present in primary electrio batteries
1. The carbon surfaces are very much too small compared with the zina
2. The contacts are always imperfect and too easily put out of order.
This new battery is constructed to avoid these inconveniences and a Sheet of
Drawings is annexed hereto to which reference will be had in the following
particular description.
The battery is composed of two
certain number of sheets of zinc C.
number of carbon plates D.
boards A and B between which are arranged a
Between these sheets ☐ are arranged a certain
The two boards A and B are pierced with holes in which the extremities of the
zincs are engaged. The zines extend beyond and below one of the two boards A
and are connected electrically by a thick rod or bar E which traverses through the
extending portions of the zinc.
One terminal F is screwed to the central sheet of the zincs and is thus in
communication with all the others.
The carbons D are pierced with two holes d.
To construct the battery there is first placed in position the zincs and then by
means of short lengths of wood H the carbons are separated therefrom. The
carbons are held apart by blocks of carbon G see Fig. 3.
I group all the carbons between each two of the zincs C in connection by metal
wires for which purpose I pass the wires through the holes d in the carbons, and
in recesses g made in the separating carbons G. This grouping is effected under
the board A in which small holes are made through which pass the wires of all
the groups and these are connected to the terminal M.
Care is to be taken to prevent the wires of the carbons being in contact with
the zincs or with the connections thereof. For holding all the parts of the group.
or element of the battery in place I cement or fix the whole solidly on the plate A
by means of an agglomerate substance which is also insulating.
To ensure perfect contacts I cover all the connecting wires of the battery with a
layer of paste of finely divided carbon mixed with water forming thus around the
wires and the connections a good conducting mastic.
For securing the proper working of the apparatus, the plate A receives a layer
or insulating covering which will cover all except the terminals F and M the
connecting wires being thus completely insulated and perfect contact is secured
without fear of oxidation of the metal.
The surfaces of the zinc are proportionately very much less than the carbons
which is indispensable for proper working.
The solution for the battery is composed and prepared as follows:-In a basin of
refractory porcelain I place about 14 pints (litre) of sulphuric acid at 60° density
and 22-925 oz. avoirdupois (650 grammes) of bichromate of potash. This mixture
is boiled for eight hours on a very strong fire when it is set to get cold.

page_text: Following this there is added to the composition 1·763 oz. avoirdupois (50 grammes)
of sulphate of soda and this is cooked over a slower fire than at first for eight
hours and thus a complete dissolving of the bichromate is effected, the mixture is
then allowed to cool.
When cool (the following day) I add a volume of water equal to that of the acid
evaporated during the previous heating and I reheat the mixture and from time to
time I take small quantities for testing and these I allow to cool, the heating of
the mass being continued on a strong fire until the testings in cooling do not
produce crystals when the liquid will be finished for use. The battery is contained
in a suitable receptacle and the solution will be supplied and the battery will work
with great regularity and remarkable energy.
These elements may be arranged in series as required and be connected up for
"quantity" or "intensity."
Having now 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 :-
Firstly. The improved element or battery combined in the manner and with the
special arrangements of parts with the coated connections as and for the purpose
herein set forth, and shown by the Drawings.
Secondly. The improved element or battery with the exciting solution as set
forth.
Thirdly. The preparation of the exciting solution of bichromate of potash and
sulphuric acid and sulphate of soda as and for the purpose herein set forth.
D1
T.1 1004
WALTER A. BARLOW,
--6, St. Paul's Churchyard, E.G.- -2