IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES, AND IN THE COMPOSITION, PREPARATION, AND REGENERATION OF THE MATERIALS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GALVANIC BATTERIES, AND IN THE COMPOSITION, PREPARATION, AND
REGENERATION OF THE MATERIALS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication
from abroad by Nicolas Emile Reynier, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES, AND IN THE
COMPOSITION, PREPARATION, AND REGENERATION OF THE MATERIALS EMPLOYED
THEREIN." [A communication from abroad by Nicolas Emile Reynier, of Paris,
France.]
This Invention relates, 1st, to improvements in the composition, preparation, and
regeneration of the liquids employed in galvanic batteries; and, 2nd, to the
manufacture of the porous vases of such batteries.
It is well known that the substitution of a solution of caustic potash for the
acidulated water or saline solutions ordinarily employed in galvanic batteries
augments the electro-motive force. This alkaline solution, which oxidises and
dissolves the zinc when the circuit is closed, acts but slightly upon it when the
circuit is broken. Caustic soda possesses the same properties but is more soluble
in water than potash; it is also cheaper, and its chemical equivalent is less. It is
therefore preferred to employ soda instead of saline or acid solutions, or even
potash as the base of the exciting liquids.
Conformably with existing usage I have applied the term "exciter" to the
liquid in which the negative plate is immersed in one or two fluid batteries, and
the term "depolariser" to the liquid in which the other plate is immersed in two
fluid batteries.
An aqueous solution of sulphate of copper is the most effective depolariser known
among ordinary chemical products; it is also comparatively cheap, and sufficiently
soluble in water. This salt therefore forms the base of the improved depolarising
liquids herein described. The cell, zinc, soda, copper, sulphate of copper, is con-
stant, and does not give off any noxious vapors. As the sulphate of copper cannot

page_text: Water
Soda
=
1ST FORMULA.
1200 parts by weight.
300
"
100
"
20
"
->
20
"
20
"
Potash
Chlorate of potash
Chlorate of soda
Chloride of potassium
Chloride of sodium
Sulphate of potash
Sulphate of soda
20
"
20
"
20
"
Decant and throw away the residue.
The liquid, which is a good conductor, may be employed with advantage not
only in batteries depolarised by salts of copper, but also in the majority of single 3
or two fluid batteries, and especially in Groves'.
DEPOLARISING LIQUIDS.
The
To increase the conductibility of the sulphate of copper, which is the base of
the depolarising liquids, I add several other soluble salts in varying amounts.
following formula, which is the one employed by preference, may therefore be 3
modified as regards proportions, and one or more of the salts may be omitted when
the maximum conducting power is not required :-
Water
Sulphate of copper
-
-
"
Nitrate of copper
Chlorate of potash
Chlorate of soda
Chloride of potassium
1200 parts by weight.
-
240
60
"
20
"
20
وو
20
"
20
"
20
"
20
"
20
"
20
"
Chloride of sodium
Chloride of zinc (saturated solution)
Sulphate of potash
Sulphate of soda
-
Sulphate of zinc
4
4
The resistance of the cell, zinc-copper with the two above solutions, is much lower
than with simple solutions of caustic soda and sulphate of copper, but its electro 5
motive force is rather less.

page_text: solutions ready prepared; 2nd, by preparing either in a dry state or in solution.
the above mixtures of chemical products (with the excoption of the soda and the
sulphate of copper) which are to be added respectively to the soda and the sulphate
of copper procured separately and dissolved by the consumer.
REGENERATION OF THE LIQUIDS.
After the battery has been working the matters employed in the liquids herein-
before specified are found differently combined but without loss, and it is possible
to regenerate the products, that is to say, bring them back to their former com-
position or nearly so. For this purpose the current produced by magneto-electric
machines is employed by preference, the quantity of electricity expended being
slightly greater than that produced by the exhausted liquids.
If we examine the composition of the liquids removed from the battery it will
be found that the exciting liquid has lost part of its soda and potash, which have
entered into combination to form zincates in the zine compartment, and sulphates
and nitrates in the two compartments by contact with the sulphate and nitrate of
copper, and the sulphuric and nitric acids set free by the reduction of these salts.
The depolarising liquid has also lost part of its sulphate and nitrate of copper,
these salts having been reduced by the hydrogen, which has precipitated their
copper, and attacked by the potash and soda, which have precipitated a little of
their oxide of copper.
The metallic copper precipitated is partly deposited on the copper plate and
partly thrown down in a loose state in the copper compartment.
The loss in weight of the zinc element is nearly equal to that of the copper
precipitated, the respective equivalents of these two metals being almost equal.
The two liquids aro regenerated in the following way:-They are removed
separately and filtered in order to retain in each the oxide of copper precipitato
and the reduced copper thrown down in a loose state. The liquids are then used
to form a battery (termed a secondary regenerating battery) with the old zinc and
coated copper plates, and a powerful current from a magneto-electric machine is
then passed through it in the reverse direction to that of the current, which the
battery would itself tond to produce. The copper now dissolves and reforms for
the most part sulphate or nitrate of copper, the electrolysed zinc deposits partly on
the zinc plates and partly in the compartment containing them. After a certain
time the liquid in the zinc compartments reattains the desired degree of alkalinity,
while the liquid in the copper compartments becomes acid. The alkaline liquid is
then decanted, and the zinc coated zinc plates and zinc slime (which are to be
remelted) and the oxide of copper precipitate are collected. The liquid after being
filtered and brought to the proper degree of alkalinity by concentration or dilution
is then fit for use again in the primary battery first described. The acid liquor is
collected separately, and after having removed the crystals of sulphate and nitrate
of copper the oxide of copper previously collected is added, and it is boiled together
with the copper slime, which is to be dissolved therein. The liquid is then
neutralised by the addition of a sufficient quantity of the alkaline liquid, and the
sulphate and nitrate of copper are redissolved in it. The slightly acid solution
thus obtained may serve again as depolarising liquid after it has been brought to
the required strength in copper by concentration or dilution.
The liquids thus regenerated do not present exactly the same composition as the
original liquids, but they contain the same salts, and doubtless others in addition
(double, triple, sub and per salts). For convenience in supplying consumers the
liquids may be completely evaporated in order to bring the regenerated products
to a dry state. The zinc coated zinc plates and zinc slime may be sold for melting,

page_text: to partly pay for the cost of new zinc plates. The copper plates attacked in the
secondary regenerating battery are again placed in the primary battery, where they
again become coated with a deposit of copper. Thus the cost of the renewal of the
liquids and metals of the batteries is mainly that of the motive power expended.
The electricity economically produced in the regenerating works by means of
powerful machines is stored in the regenerated liquids as energy in an available
and portable form. The indirect conveyance in the above manner of electricity
generated by machines would be in many cases easier and more economical than
its direct transmission by means of conducting wires. Applied to small electric
motors, the regenerated liquid batteries would also serve in a still more indirect but
advantageous manner for the transmission of motive power.
The second part of the Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of
the porous partitions or vases employed in these batteries. They are usually either
made of ceramic materials (clay, terra cotta, porcelain, &c.) or composed of flexible
septums made of parchment or other paper fabrics, animal membranes, leather,
skin, &c. Those of ceramic material are most generally employed, but those made
of pliant materials, and more especially of parchment paper, possesses great advan-
tages, being light, strong, and inexpensive; they can also be made of almost any
size, and what is of great importance in these batteries, they offer but slight
resistance to the passage of the current. The deep cylindrical vases of parchment
paper or albumenised paper formerly made by Carré for his large Daniell batteries are
complicated, fragile, and liable to open at the sewn, glued, or rivetted joints, and
also where the cylinder is attached to its base. Moreover, the important results
obtained with the Carré batteries, in which these large paper cylinders are
employed, tend to show the advantages which would attend the use of deep vases
free from the disadvantages above cited. The object of the present improvement is
to produce a paper or other vase or receptacle of this kind, which shall be of
simple construction, strong, cheap, and, more especially, free from leakage, as it is
made without any seam or joint. I make these improved deep porous vases of
prismatic or quasi-prismatic form from flat sheets of paper or other material, several
examples being shown in the accompanying Drawings. Sheet 1 shows the mode of
making a vase in the form of a square prism.
I trace upon the centre of a sheet of parchment paper or other material to form
the porous vase the Figure A, B, C, D, Figure 2, of the base a, b, c, d, Figure 1, and
upon the four sides of this Figure I construct the four rectangles, A B ba, BC
cb, CD dc, DA a' d¹, and cut out the square obtained by prolonging the four
sides a b, cd, b¹ c¹, a¹ d¹. I then take as a former a square prism, Figure 3, of the
same sectional area but slightly longer than the vase to be made, and place it in the
centre of the square A¹, B, C, D, Figure 2, with its base coinciding with A, B, C, D.
I then form the folds A B and CD, and raise the sides 1, 2, which are held against
the former Y, Figure 4, by means of a clamp X, or by other suitable means.
I then form the folds AD, A A, D D', and apply the side 3 against the former Y.
I then fold the corner A¹ A a¹ to the right along the fold A a, so that it lays flat
against the former and against the corner D₁D d¹. I then fold both corners
together to the left along D d¹, and then to the right along A a¹, and so on to the
right and left alternately until all the paper which projected beyond the side
A D da has been folded down in alternate right and left superposed folds, as
shown in Figure 6. The two opposite corners are then similarly folded against the
side BC cb to complete the form of the vase (see Figures 5 and 6). The folds
are then fastened together and to the sides of the vase by inserting a rivet or
fastener through each of the sides AD d' a', BC c¹ b', which holds the whole
firmly. In this manner a deep vase of prismatic form is produced without seams
or joins.
The thick lines in Figure 2 indicate the concave folds and the thin lines the
convex folds. It will be observed that the folds of the vase are formed by those
parts of the paper exterior to the polygon required to form the sides and base of
the vase, and the same remark applies to all forms of vases made according to this

page_text: method. It is preferred to wet the paper before making it up into shapo and to
allow it to dry upon the former, upon which it is secured by tying. To facilitate
its removal from the former it may be made slightly larger at top than at bottom,
and in this case the position of the folds would be slightly different, and if the
folds project above the top edge of the vase they should be trimmed off.
practice the vases need not always be made to a true geometrical figure.
In
Sheet 2 shows a vase in the form of a rectangular prism. The foregoing
description applies to this form also, and the same numbers, figures, and letters of
reference are employed to indicate the same parts.
Sheet 3 shows the mode of forming a vase in the form of an octagonal prism
(Figure 1). Upon the sheet of paper or other material I draw the base of the
prism A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, Figure 2, and from the 8 sides of this octagon I draw
the 8 pairs of parallel lines equal in length to the intended height of the vase, and
I cut out the large octagon thus formed. I then take as a former an octagonal
prism whose base is equal to and whose length is rather greater than that of the
intended vase, and I apply its base on A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H. Forming the folds
AB, CD, EF, GH, the sides 1, 2, 3, 4, are folded against the former and held
there by a clamp X, shown in Figure 4, or by other means. The side 5 is then folded
against the former, thus making the folds or creases AH, Aa, AA¹, A a¹, and H h¹,
H H¹, Hh. The left hand corner piece is then folded down to the right along
fold A a¹ against the side A H ha¹ of the former, and the two superposed corner
pieces are then folded down to the left along fold Hh', and then to the right again,
and so on to right and left alternately until all the surplus paper has been doubled
down in superposed folds alternately to the right and left. The same having been
done on the other 3 sides, and each set of folds secured by a fastener or rivet, the
vase is complete, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In the three preceding examples
the folds are on alternate sides of the vases, but it will be obvious that they may
be on two adjacent sides. This arrangement is shown in Sheet 4, in which the
Figures are numbered and lettered as in the preceding Sheets. In this case the
vase is in the form of a hexagonal prism. Here the order of the folds is altered,
the clamp X, Figure 4, retains only one out of 3 sides, and the surplus material is
folded against each of the others. Other forms of vases might be adopted, such as
right or oblique prisms, whose bases are regular or irregular polygons having any
number of sides, but the examples shown will be sufficient to explain the method
of construction of this Invention.
Two or more sheets of the same or different materials, such as woven fabric and
paper, may be superposed and folded together to increase the strength and
durability of the vase and diminish the diffusive action; or portions only of the
vase may be thickened or strengthened, such as the base and certain of the sides or
parts of sides of which it is required to diminish the porosity.
Lastly, the vases may be rendered impermeable at any part by immersion in
paraffin, wax, or other substance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd September 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES, AND IN THE
COMPOSITION, PREPARATION, AND REGENERATION OF THE MATERIALS EMPLOYED
THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Nicolas Emile Reynier, of Paris,
France.
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in the composition, preparation,
and regeneration of the liquids employed in galvanic batteries, and, secondly, to the
manufacture of the porous vases or partitions of such batteries.
It is well known that the substitution of a solution of caustic potash for the
acidulated water or saline solutions ordinarily employed in galvanic batteries
augments the electro-motive force. This alkaline solution, which oxidises and
dissolves the zinc when the circuit is closed, attacks it but slightly when the
circuit is broken. Caustic soda possesses the same properties but is more soluble
in water than potash; it is also cheaper, and its chemical equivalent is less.. In
carrying out the Invention therefore soda is employed in preference to saline or
acid solutions, or even to potash, as the base of the exciting liquids. Conformably
with existing usage the term "exciter" is applied to the liquid in which the
negative plate is immersed in one or two fluid batteries, and the term "depolariser "
to the liquid in which the other plate is immersed in two fluid batteries.
aqueous solution of sulphate of copper is the most effective depolariser known
among ordinary chemical products; it is also comparatively cheap, and sufficiently
soluble in water. This salt therefore forms the base of the improved depolarising
liquids herein described. The cell (zinc, soda, copper, sulphate of copper) is constant
and does not give off any noxious vapors. As the sulphate of copper cannot diffuse
in the alkaline solution it does not uselessly attack the zinc; the waste in this
battery is therefore almost nominal. Its electro-motive force is between that of a
Daniell and Bunsen, and nearly equal to the clectro motive force of the cell (zinc,
potash, copper, sulphate of copper) described and investigated by Joule and others.
COMPOSITION OF THE LIQUIDS.
An
The sulphate of copper and caustic soda solutions possess but medium con-
ductibility, and I render them highly conducting and therefore capable of producing
currents of quantity by the improved process hereinafter described.

page_text: Decant and throw away the residue. The liquid, which is a good conductor,
may be employed with advantage, not only in batteries depolarised by salts of
copper, but also in the majority of single or two fluid batteries, and especially in
Groves'.
DEPOLARISING LIQUIDS.
To increase the conductibility of the sulphate of copper, which is the base of the
depolarising liquids, several other soluble salts are added.
The following formula is preferred, but it may be modified as regards the
proportions of the salts, and one or more of them may be omitted when the
maximum conducting power is not required;-
Water
Sulphate of copper
Nitrate of copper
1200 parts by weight.
240
"
60
"
20
"
20
20
ガラ
Chlorate of potash
Chlorate of soda
Chloride of potassium
"
Chloride of sodium
20
"
Chloride of zinc (saturated solution)
20
>>
20
">
Sulphate of soda
20
"
Sulphate of zine
20
"
Sulphate of potash
The resistance of the cell, zinc-copper, with the two above solutions is much
lower than with simple solutions of caustic soda and sulphate of copper, but its
electro-motive force is rather less.
PREPARATION OF THE LIQUIDS.
The employment of the above liquids is facilitated, 1st, by preparing and selling
the solutions ready for use; 2nd, by preparing either in a dry state or in solution
the mixture above specified, omitting the soda and the sulphate of copper, which
are to be dissolved separately and added by the purchaser.
REGENERATION OF THE LIQUIDS.
In a battery with the liquids herein before specified, after working, the ingredients
are found differently combined, and it is possible to regenerate the products, that
is to say, bring them back to their former composition, or nearly so. For this
purpose the current produced by magneto-electric machines is employed by preference,
the quantity of electricity expended being slightly greater than that which has
been produced by the exhausted liquids.
If we examine the composition of the liquids removed from the battery it will
be found that the exciting liquid has lost part of its soda and potash, which have
entered into combination to form zincates in the zinc cell, and sulphates and
nitrates in the two cells by contact with the sulphate and nitrate of copper, and
the sulphuric and nitric acids set free by the reduction of these salts. The
depolarising liquid has also lost part of its sulphate and nitrate of copper, these
salts having been reduced by the hydrogen which has precipitated their copper,
and attacked by the potash and soda which have precipitated a little of their oxide
of copper. The metallic copper precipitated is partly deposited on the copper plate,
and partly thrown down in a loose state in the copper cell. The loss in weight of
the zinc element is nearly equal to that of the copper precipitated, the respective
equivalents of these two metals being almost equal. The two liquids are
regenerated in the following way-They are removed separately, and filtered in
order to retain in each the oxide of copper precipitate, and the reduced copper
thrown down in a loose state; the liquids are then used to form a battery (termed
a secondary regenerating battery) with the old zinc and coated copper plates, and
a powerful current from a magneto-electric machine is then passed through it in

page_text: .
the reverse direction to that of the current, which the battery would itself tend to
produce. The copper now dissolves and reforms for the most part sulphate or
nitrate of copper; the electrolysed zinc deposits partly on the zinc plates and partly
in the cell containing them.
After a certain time the liquid in the zinc cells reattains the desired degree of
alkalinity, while the liquid in the copper cells becomes acid. The alkaline liquid
is then decanted, and the zinc-coated zinc plates, zinc slime, and the oxide of copper
precipitate are collected. The liquid after being filtered and brought to the proper
degree of alkalinity by concentration or dilution is then fit for use again in the
primary battery first described. The acid liquor is collected separately, and after
having removed the crystals of sulphate and nitrate of copper the oxide of copper
previously collected is added, and it is boiled together with the copper slime which
is to be dissolved therein. The liquid is then neutralised by the addition of a
sufficient quantity of the alkaline liquid, and the sulphate and nitrate of copper
are redissolved in it. The slightly acid solution thus obtained may serve again as
depolarising liquid after it has been brought to the required strength in copper by
concentration or dilution. The liquids thus regenerated do not present exactly the
saine composition as the original liquids, but they contain the same salts, and
doubtless some double, triple, sub, and per salts in addition. For convenience in
supplying consumers the liquids may be completely evaporated, in order to bring
the regenerated products to a dry state. The zinc-coated zinc plates and zinc
slime may be sold for melting to partly pay for the cost of the new zinc plates.
The copper plates attacked in the secondary regenerating battery are again placed
in the primary battery, where they again become coated with a deposit of copper.
Thus the cost of the renewal of the liquids and metals of the batteries is mainly
that of the motive power expended. The electricity, economically produced in the
regenerating works by means of powerful machines is stored in the regenerated
liquids as energy in an available and portable form. The indirect conveyance in
the above manner of electricity generated by machines would be in many cases
easier and more economical than its direct transmission by means of conducting
wires. Applied to small electric motors the regenerated batteries would also serve
in a still more indirect but advantageous manner for the transmission of motive
power.
In order to more clearly explain the principle of the process of increasing the
conductibility of the fluids of the batteries I would here remark that if 1 gramme
of a soluble salt be added to a litre of water its conductibility is greatly increased,
and if a second gramme of the same salt be added its conductibility is still more
increased, but the difference of conductibility between the first and second solutions
is considerably less than between the first solution and pure water. But if to the
first solution containing one gramme of salt be added 1 gramme of another soluble
salt the conductibility of the new solution will be superior to that of a solution
containing two grammes of the same salt. Generally therefore the addition of
another salt to a solution containing one or more salts greatly increases its con-
ductibility when the salt added differs from those in solution. In all cases the
degree of conductibility proper to each salt influences the final result, but the
principle always remains true. Consequently in order to impart great conductibility
to a liquid it is much more advantageous to employ a number of salts in small
quantities than a large quantity of one or two salts only. This principle is
embodied in the preceding formulæ, and constitutes the Invention rather than the
employment of soda and sulphate of copper in the exciting and depolarising liquids
respectively, and I reserve the right to utilise the conducting property of weak
complex solutions to diminish the resistance of electrolytes other than caustic soda
and sulphate of copper. I would also observe that the additional salts undergo
little change in the reactions of the battery, and may be recovered almost intact
from the exhausted liquids fit for use again either in the same liquids after
regeneration or in fresh liquids.
The second part of the Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of

page_text: the porous partitions or vases employed in galvanic batteries. They are usually
made of ceramic materials, or are flexible septums made of paper, parchment-paper,
or other fabrics, animal membranes, leather, skin, &c. Those made of pliant
materials, and more especially of parchment paper, offer little resistance to the
passage of the current, and are light, strong and inexpensive. The object of the
present improvement is to make a vase or receptacle of this kind without any seam
or joint, and which shall therefore be strong, cheap, and not liable to leak. I make
these improved deep porous vases of prismatic or quasi-prismatic form from sheets
of parchment, paper, or other material, in the manner shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Figures 1 to 6 show the mode of making a vase in the form of a square prism.
I trace upon the centre of the sheet the outline A, B, C, D, Figure 2, of the base
a, b, c, d, Figure 1, and upon the four sides of this Figure I construct the four
rectangles ABba, BC c'b', CD dc, DA a' d¹, and cut out the square obtained by
prolonging the four sides a b, cd, b'c', a¹ d¹. I then take as a former a square
prism, Figure 3, of the same sectional area but slightly longer than the vase to be
made, and place it in the centre of the square A¹, B¹, C³, D¹, Figure 2, with its base
coinciding with A, B, C, D. I then form the folds AB and CD, and raise the
sides 1, 2, which are held against the former Y, Figure 4, by means of a clamp X
or by other suitable means. I then form the folds A. D, A A¹, D D', and apply the
side 3 against the former Y. I then fold the corner A¹A a¹ to the right along the
fold A a¹, so that it lays flat against the former and against the corner D'D d'. I
then fold both corners together to the left along D d', and then to the right along A a¹,
and so on to the right and left alternately, until all the paper which projected beyond
the side A D d a¹ has been folded down in alternate right and left superposed
folds, as shown in Figure 6. The two opposite corners are then similarly folded
against the side BC c¹¹ to complete the form of the vase (see Figures 5 and 6).
The folds are then fastened together and to the sides of tho vase by inserting a
rivet or fastener f through each of the sides A D d' a', BC c' b', which holds the
whole firmly. In this manner a deep vase of prismatic form is produced without
seams or joins. The thick lines in Figure 2 indicate the concave folds, and the
thin lines the convex folds. It will be observed that the folds of the vase are
formed by those parts of the paper exterior to the polygon required to form the sides
and base of the vase, and the same remark applies to all forms of vases inade
according to this method. It is preferred to wet the paper before making it up
into shape, and to tie it up and let it dry upon the former. To facilitate its
removal the former may be made slightly larger at top than at bottom, and in this
case the, position of the folds would be a little different, and if they project above
the top edge of the vase they should be trimmed off. In practice the vases need
not always be made to a true geometrical figure. Figures 10 to 60 show a vaso in
the form of a rectangular prism. The foregoing description applies to this form
also, and the same numbers, and figures, and letters of reference are employed to
indicate the same parts.
Figures 1b to 6b show the mode of forming a vase in the shape of an octagonal
prism (Figure 1b). Upon the sheet of paper or other material I draw the base of
the prism A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, Figure 2b, and from the 8 sides of this octagon
I draw the 8 pairs of parallel lines equal in length to the intended height of the
vase, and I cut out the large octagon thus formed. I then take as a former an
octagonal prism whose base is equal to and whose length is rather greater than
that of the intended vase, and I apply its base on A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H. Forming
the folds A B, CD, EF, GH, the sides 1, 2, 3, 4, are folded against the former and
held there by a clamp X, shown in Figure 4b. The side 5 is then folded against
the former, thus making the folds or creases AH, A a, A A¹, A'a¹, and H h¹ H H¹³,
Hh. The left hand corner piece is then folded down to the right along fold Aa',
against the side AH 'a' of the former, and the two superposed corner pieces
are then folded down to the left along fold Hh', and then to the right again, and
so on to the right and left alternately, until all the surplus paper has been doubled

page_text: down in superposed folds alternately to the right and left.
The same having
been done on the other three sides, and each set of folds secured by a fastener or
rivet, the vase is complete, as shown in Figures 5b and 6b. In the three preceding
examples the folds are on alternate sides of the vase, but it will be obvious that
they may be on two adjacent sides. This arrangement is shown in Figures 1° to
Go, in which the Figures are numbered and lettered as in the preceding examples.
In this case the vase is in the form of a hexagonal prism. Here the order of the
folds is altered, the clamp X, Figure 4º, retains only one out of three sides, and the
surplus material is folded against each of the others. Other forms of vases might
be adopted, such as right or oblique prisms, whoses bases are regular or irregular
polygons having any number of sides, but the examples shown will be sufficient to
explain the method of construction of this Invention..
Two or more sheets of the same or different materials, such as woven fabric and
paper, may be superposed and folded together to increase the strength and durability
of the vase and diminish the diffusive action, or portions only of the vase may be
thickened or strengthened, such as the base and certain of the sides or parts of
sides, of which it is required to diminish the porosity. Lastly, the vases may be
rendered impermeable at any part by immersion in paraffin, wax, or other
substance.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The composition for the exciting liquid of a galvanic battery, containing,
besides caustic soda, all or nearly all of the salts mentioned in the first formula,
substantially as herein specified.
2nd. The composition for the depolarizing liquid of a galvanic battery, containing,
besides sulphate of copper, all or nearly all of the salts mentioned in the second
formula, substantially as herein specified.
3rd. The preparation in a dry state, or in aqueous solution, of mixtures of all or
most of the bodies other than soda mentioned in the first formula, for subsequent
mixture with a solution of soda to form an exciting liquid for use in galvanic
batteries, as described.
4th. The preparation in a dry state, or in aqueous solution, of mixtures of all or
most of the bodies other than sulphate of copper, mentioned in the second forinula,
for subsequent mixture with a solution of soda to form a depolarizing liquid for
galvanic batteries, as described.
5th. The processes of regenerating the above described exciting and depolarizing
liquids, substantially as herein-described.
6th. The manufacture of porous vases of quasi-prismatic form without joins or
seams, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the Drawings.
7th. The method of setting out and folding the porous vases, as herein shown
and described, for the purpose specified.
8th. The manufacture and employment of porous vases rendered less impervious
in parts by the insertion of additional thicknesses of the same or different material,
as described.
9th. The manufacture and employment of porous vases rendered partly impervious
by immersion in paraffin, wax, or other substance, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty first day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.