IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VOLTAIC BATTERIES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Leo Hartmann at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd September 1882.
LEO HARTMANN of Myddleton Square in the County of Middlesex Electric[al]
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VOLTAIC BATTERIES"
The object of this Invention is the production of a cheap effective and constant
voltaic battery designed for domestic and public lighting and for other useful
purposes where electric energy can be employed
First The invention relates to the means whereby the whole bulk and weight of
the Battery is reduced while at the same time the surface of the elements is
increased In carrying out this object I construct the battery of wood divided into
a number of cells coated with any suitable waterproof insulating material. These
cells contain the elements which may be separated from each other by a porous
diaphragme or not.
As the positive element I use zinc immersed in a solution of potassium or
sodium hydroxide or bichromate of potassium acidulated water and as a negative
element I use Silver Copper iron Carbon, broken coke and the like.
The
In cases where the porous diaphragme is used relatively to the kind of negative
element I employ either water mixed with a small quantity of Sulphuric acid or
solutions of caustic soda or potassium or sulphide of copper or chloride of silver.
In order to reduce the bulk of the elements and increase their surface I give to the
zinc a shape or formation which will give it the greatest superficial area.
negative element I give a wire drawn shape which is wound round the zinc and
also round the porous cell if used or such element may be formed of a fine net work
or it may be deposited electrically on the inner walls of the outer cell in which case
the Electrode is directly connected by solder to such deposit.
To give a greater increase of surface the negative element is brought into contact
with small fragment sheets or net work of nonconducting material which are
coated electrically with the same negative metal and so fill the spaces or intertices
formed between the positive and negative elements.
To avoid any polorization and decrease of electric motive force the bottom of the
porous cell has a V formation the bottom of which is provided with an outlet into
a glass tube or other suitable material which passes from the inner to the exterior
[Price]

page_text: of the outer cells, this passage or thoroughfare is provided for the escape of oxide
of zinc and also for the change of Liquid.
In order to regulate the escape of the oxide of zinc I close this outlet with a ball
or a valve of a nonconducting material which is acted upon by separate elements
and mechanical means hereinafter mentioned in such a manner that the said oxide
and the solution is discharged when the ball or other valve is lifted.-Or the same
result may be obtained by a system of pipes connecting the cells with a reservoir or
reservoirs placed on an higher elevation than the battery containing the liquid or
liquids necessary for working of the said battery and secondly with a reservoir or
reservoirs placed below the battery. This system of pipes form the passage for the
liquids supplying the battery the flow of which is regulated by means of one or
more of the elements out of one hundred the action of which through the medium
of make and break mechanism allows the liquids to be stopped or discharged from
the reservoir or reservoirs to the battery and from thence to the lower reservoir.
Secondly the Invention relates to means by which all the cells composing the
battery or a section of them are connected to lamps machines or other places where
Electricity may be used.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I use switches inserted in the circuit
which are arranged not only to make and break the circuit for lighting or
extinguishing the lamps but at the same time to make the required changes in the
connections between the cells and at the same time allows of the action of the
switches to be performed by employees other than experts acquainted with
electrical knowledge.
The simplicity of construction and arrangement of the battery herein described
has by reason of its novel instalation the advantage of not requiring any attendance
or supervision for a given length of time say three or four weeks.