AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY AND MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paul Jablochkoff, of Paris (France), Engineer, for the In-
vention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY AND
MOTIVE POWER."
Sealed the 13th July 1877, and dated the 5th February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Paul Jablochkoff at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1877.
PAUL JABLOCHкOFF, of Paris (France), Engineer. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY AND MOTIVE POWER."
In ordinary galvanic batteries, the electric current results from the chemical action
of a liquid acid upon a metal.
According to my present Invention, the current is produced by the action upon
carbon of a solid body in a state of fusion.
Instead of taking a metal for the negative electrode of a battery, that is, the
electrode which is consumed in the action, I take coke or an artificial conglomerate
of carbonaceous matter possessing the same qualities, and I act upon this electrodo
by means of nitrate of potash or of soda or of ammonia in a state of fusion. I prefer
to employ the nitrate of soda on account of its cheapness.
The carbonaceous matter is acted upon by the molten nitrate in the same manner
as zinc is acted upon by the different acids or salts in the ordinary batteries. As
the second electrode, I place in the same liquid either platinum or other metals that
are not acted upon by the liquid in the presence of carbon. The crucible itself, in
which the nitrate is fused, may constitute the positive electrode.
For introducing the carbon into the liquid, the former may have attached to it
a metal rod which serves for attachment of the conducting wires, or I place a metal
grating or perforated metal receptacle in the liquid in which the carbon is contained,
such grating or receptacle being insulated from the crucible if this constitutes the
second electrode. In the latter arrangement the carbon may be added from time to
time, as in a furnace, in proportion as it is consumed.
For bringing the battery into action in the first instance, the nitrates may either
be fused in advance in the crucible, and the carbon be then introduced, or the
Pavine 71

page_text: nitrate may be placed in the crucible in a pulverulent state, and the carbon be
ignited and plunged into the nitrate, which will become fused thereby.
While the battery is in operation, large quatities of gases are developed similar
in their nature to those produced by the combustion of gunpowder. These gases,
collected by any suitable arrangement, as for instance, in a boiler or closed chamber,
may be utilized as motive power, so that my improved battery serves as a source
both of electricity and of motive power.
By mixing various metallic salts with the nitrates, the double effect may be
obtained of regulating the intensity of action of the battery, and of obtaining
metallic deposits upon the positive electrode, as in the ordinary electro-plating
process.
According to one arrangement of batteries, constructed according to my before
described Invention, the crucible containing the nitrate and carbon forms the
positive electrode, the carbon being suspended in the liquid nitrate in a wire-gauze
cylinder attached to a cross bar, the ends of which rest upon a ring of insulating
material on the top of the crucible. The latter is closed in by a hinged cover having
an aperture, to which is connected a pipe for conveying the gases generated to
wherever required.
According to another arrangement, the crucible is made of earthenware, glass,
or other suitable non-metallic substance, centrally within which is placed the
wire-gauze cylinder containing the carbon, and surrounding this is a metal cylinder
constituting the positive electrode, or this may simply consist of a rod or bar of
metal.
If it be desirod to employ the battery principally or entirely for utilizing the
gases generated as motive power, as before described, the crucible or vessel con-
taining the nitrate and carbon is closed at top, and is provided with a pipe leading
to a boiler or closed vessel for collecting the gases under any desired pressure. The
top or dome of the crucible may in this, as also in the previous arrangements, bo
provided with a hopper by a valve, through which carbonaceous matter may be
introduced from time to time, and also with a second hopper for the addition of
nitrate when required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Paul Jablochkoff in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 27th July
1877.
PAUL JABLOCHKOFF, of Paris (France), Engineor. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
GENERATING ELECTRICITY AND MOTIVE POWER."
In ordinary galvanic batteries, the electric current results from the chemical
action of an acid liquid upon a metal.
According to my present Invention, the current is produced by the action upon
the carbon of a solid body in a state of fusion.
Instead of taking the metal for a negative electrode of a battery, that is, the
electrode which is consumed in the action, I take coke or an artificial conglomerate
of carbonaceous matter possessing the same qualities, and I act upon this electrode
by means of nitrate of potash, or of soda, or of amnionia, in a state of fusion. I
prefer to employ the nitrate of soda on account of its cheapness.
The carbonaceous matter. is acted upon by the molten nitrate in the same manner
as zinc is acted upon by the different acids or salts in the ordinary batteries. As
the second electrode, I place in the same liquid either platinum or other metals that
are not acted upon by the liquid in the presence of carbon. The crucible itself,
in which the nitrate is fused, may constitute the positive electrode.
For introducing the carbon into the liquid, the former may have attached to it
a metal rod, which serves for attachment of the conducting wires; or I place a

page_text: metal grating or perforated metal receptacle in the liquid in which the carbon is
contained, such grating or receptacle being insulated from the crucible, if this
constitutes the second electrode. In the latter arrangement, the carbon may be
added from time to time, as in a furnace, in proportion as it is consumed.
For bringing the battery into action in the first instance, the nitrates may either
be fused in advance in the crucible, and the carbon be then introduced, or the
nitrate may be placed in the crucible in a pulverulent state, and the carbon be
ignited and plunged into the nitrate, which will become fused thereby.
While the battery is in operation, large quantities of gases are developed, similar
in their nature to those produced by the combustion of gunpowder. These gases,
collected by any suitable arrangement, as for instance, in a boiler or closed chamber,
may be utilised as motive power, so that my improved battery serves as a source
both of electricity and of motive power.
By mixing various metallic salts with the nitrates, the double effect may be
obtained of regulating the intensity of the action of the battery, and of obtaining
metallic deposits upon the positive electrode, as in the ordinary electro-plating
process.
According to one arrangement of batteries, constructed according to my before-
described Invention, the crucible containing the nitrate and carbon forms the
positive electrode, the carbon being suspended in the liquid nitrate in a wire-gauze
cylinder attached to a. cross bar, the ends of which rest upon a ring of insulating
material on the top of the crucible. The latter is closed in by a hinged cover having
an aperture, to which is connected a pipo for conveying the gases generated to
wherever required.
According to another arrangement, the crucible is made of earthenware, glass, or
other suitable non-metallic substance, centrally within which is placed the wire-
gauze cylinder containing the carbon, and surrounding this a metal cylinder
constituting the positive electrode, or this may simply consist of a rod or bar of
metal.
If it be desired to employ the battery principally or entirely for utilising the
gases generated as motive power, as beforo described, the crucible or vessel containing
the nitrate and carbon is closed at top, and is provided with a pipe leading to a
boiler or closed vessel for collecting the gases under any desired pressure. The top
or dome of the crucible may in this, as also in the previous arrangements, be provided
with a hopper closed by a valve, through which fresh carbonaceous matter may
be introduced from time to time, and also with a second hopper for the addition of
nitrate when required.

page_text: to a steam boiler, in which the gases are collected and stored up, and whence they.
are conducted to any suitable motor engine.
This apparatus could be used exclusively for producing gases to be used in motor
engines, that is, the electric current produced need not be made use of.
For supplying the apparatus with carbonaceous matter, without loss of gas,
various arrangements may be employed.
As shewn on the Drawing, the dome B is provided with a hopper T, in which is
a second one t, having a conical valve g, which is kept closed by a weighted lever L.
On opening the valve, by means of the lever, the charcoal is fed into the cylinder
without allowing gas to escape. For introducing the nitrate, a second hopper U,
closed by a cover, is provided.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,-
First. The use of apparatus wherein an electric current is produced by the
reaction of fused nitrates upon carbonaceous matter, the latter constituting the
negative polo, and the former the positive pole of the battery thus formed, sub-
stantially as herein described.
Second. The utilisation of the gases generated in the apparatus, described in the
preceding claim, by collecting them in a closed receiver, whence they are withdrawn
to act as motive power, substantially as herein described.
Third. The use, in combination with the nitrates in the apparatus described in the
first claim, of metallic salts, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Fourth. The construction of apparatus for generating electricity and motive
power, herein described and shewn on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Paul Jablochkoff, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
JULES ARMENGAUD,
of Paris,
23, Boulevard de Strasbourg,
Civil Engineer.
PAUL JABLOCHKOFF. (L.S.)