IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS, PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
and Cº, Patent Agents Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER APPARATUS communicated to him from abroad by
Messieurs Radiguet et fils of Paris, France
"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th March 1883. *
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC, BATTERIES WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER APPARATUS"-[A communication
to him from abroad by Messieurs Radiguet et fils of Paris, France]
This invention relates chiefly to electric batteries and is designed to render them
not liable to polarization, by the addition, to the positive element, of points for
effecting the incessant liberation of gaseous bubbles produced by the decomposition
of the water. This method, extremely simple, necessitates the employment of only
a single liquid for the working of batteries upon any system
The improved process is based upon the fact that if metallic or non-metallic
points are placed in a liquid containing gas, or even if wires are placed in any
substance unchangeable under the action of the said liquid, the gaseous bubbles
accumulate and escape by reason of their low specific gravity and the small surface
presented by these wires or points which thus constitute means for preventing
polarization.
The said invention therefore consists essentially in the application to the positive
elements of batteries or hydro-electric generators, of points, tongues, sharp pro-
jections of any form, wires or fibres, metallic or non-metallic having for their object
to facilitate the formation and liberation of bubbles of hydrogen; the said points,
tongues or the like can be mounted upon any suitable substance, metallic or
non-metallic, in such a manner as to form combs, cards or the like; these pieces
may be of different dimensions and either straight or undulating, cylindrical or
conical, or they may be constituted simply by a series of wires.

page_text: It will be understood that, by the employment of a great number of wires,
tongues or points arranged upon the positive element of a battery or interposed
between this element and the negative element, the hydrogen gas which causes
the polarization of batteries, comes, in proportion to its production, upon these
wires or points, which are preferably directed towards the top of the vessel, the
gas bubbles are then detached immediately from the said points and rise to the
surface of the liquid.
It will be seen that under these conditions the present invention effects great
economy in batteries of all kinds and especially of two liquid batteries by dispensing
with the porous cells and all the well known chemical depolarizing agents; it
dispenses also, with the mechanical means employed for facilitating or artificially
effecting the depolarization in ordinary batteries; moreover, it presents an
important advantage resulting from the fact that there being no necessity to add
to the exciting liquids, depolarizing salts or liquids, and the porous cells and
substances or liquids which they contain being dispensed with, the quantity of
exciting liquid can be augmented; without changing the dimensions of the
elements; I thus obtain a greater duration of working with less volume of battery
than by the ordinary methods.
I sometimes collect the gas escaping as above described in a constant and
uniform manner from the said batteries and utilize the said gas in any suitable
manner.
It will be understood that this method of expelling the gaseous bubbles from
electric batteries, can also be applied under the same conditions to apparatus in
which is effected a chemical decomposition producing gas, especially in the manu-
facture of hydrogen gas, either in the hydro-platinum or other bricks, or in special
apparatus of large dimensions designed for the production of the oxyhydrogen
light or for filling balloons. Also in the manufacture of other different gaseous
products, such as Seltzer water, or the like and even in the case where it is desired.
to facilitate the escape of gas from a liquid:

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed.
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th September 1883.
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER APPARATUS." A communication
to me from abroad by Messieurs Radiguet et fils, of Paris, France
This invention relates chiefly to electric batteries and is designed to render them
not liable to polarization, by the addition, to the positive element, of points for
effecting the incessant liberation of gaseous bubbles produced by the decomposition
of the water.
This method which is extremely simple, necessitates the employment of only a
single liquid for the working of batteries upon any system.
The improved method of constructing batteries is based upon the fact, that
if metallic or non-metallic points, or even fire wires fixed to any substance
unchangeable under the action of a liquid containing gas, are placed in the said
liquid, gaseous bubbles accumulate, and escape by reason of their low specific
gravity and the small surface presented by these wires or points, which thus
constitute means for preventing polarization
The said invention therefore consists essentially in the application to the positive
elements of batteries or hydro-electric generators, of points, tongues, sharp pro-
jections of any form, wires or fibres, metallic or non-metallic, having for their object
to facilitate the formation and liberation of bubbles of hydrogen. The said points,
tongues or the like can be mounted upon any suitable metallic or non-metallic
substance in such a manner as to form combs, cards or the like. These pieces
may be of different dimensions and either straight or undulating, cylindrical or
conical, or they may be constituted simply by a series of wires twisted together
or not.
It will be understood that, by the employment of a great number of wires,
tongues or points, arranged upon the positive element of a
between this element and the negative element, the hydrogen gas, which causes
battery or interposed
the polarization of batteries, comes, in proportion to its production, upon these
wires or points, which are preferably directed towards the top of the vessel; the
gas bubbles are then detached immediately from the said points and rise to the
surface of the liquid
It
It will be seen that under these conditions the present invention effects great
economy in batteries of all kinds and especially in two-liquid batteries, by dispensing
with the porous cells and all the well known chemical depolarizing agents.
dispenses also with the mechanical means employed for facilitating, or artificially
effecting, the depolarization in ordinary batteries. Moreover it presents an
important advantage resulting from the fact that, there being no necessity to add
to the exciting liquids depolarizing salts or liquids, and the porous cells and
substances or liquids which they contain being dispensed with, the quantity of
exciting liquid can be augmented, without changing the dimensions of the
elements; I thus obtain a greater duration of working than by the ordinary
methods, with the same volume of battery
I will now describe the different means which I employ for carrying this
invention into practice, as well as the general arrangement which I prefer for the
batteries thus improved. This arrangement permits of connecting a large number
of cells in a restricted space, and of readily grouping them in quantity or in tension

page_text: according to the purpose for which they are required; it also comprises means for
evacuating or permitting the escape of the considerable quantity of hydrogen
which is liberated from the liquid during the operation of the battery
In the accompanying drawing
Figures 1 to 13 illustrate different forms of projections for the battery elements
Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the system of grouping several
battery cells
Figure 15 is a longitudinal vertical section of one of the said cells.
Figure 16 is a transverse vertical section, and
Figure 17 is a plan of the same.
I employ by preference for effecting the immediate evacuation of the hydrogen
liberated in the battery, numerous groups A of very fine wires (say one tenth of a
millimetre) of pure platinum or pure nickel, which are fitted in a similar manner
to the wires of an ordinary brush in the plate B Figures 1 and 2 formed either of
metal unattackable by the acid, or, by preference, of conducting carbon, and which
are immersed in the liquid of the battery of which they constitute either the
positive elements or the conductors in electric communication with these elements;
The
I thus succeed, in a simple manner, in multiplying to the required extent the
number of points employed, which is an essential feature, the hydrogen being in
reality liberated at all parts of the exciting liquid traversed by the current.
employment of very fine wires presents also this advantage, that by reason of the
very slight surface which they offer, the body of these wires causes or assists in
the formation of gaseous bubbles, which by reason of their lightness, are incessantly
detached from the points and rise to the surface of the liquid.
The result is that the poralization [sic] due to the adherence of the bubbles of
hydrogen to the surface of the positive element does not occur, since these bubbles
are eliminated in proportion to their formation,
In the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4, the metal plate B forming the
positive element has a cylindrical form, which may be advantageous in certain
special arrangements of batteries; the wires A are fitted in a manner similar to
that above described.
.
use a metal
Instead of employing metal plates to receive the wires designed to effect or
ensure the formation and elimination of the gaseous bubbles, I can
trellis or fabric unattackable by the exciting liquid
.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6, the fine wires D are fixed in a
kind of metal fabric C manufactured and felted in any suitable manner.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 7, these wires are simply fitted into the
knots formed at the intersection of the wires of the trellis E composed of wires of
metal unattackable by the exciting liquid.
In order to effect economy in the manufacture, I employ, by preference, for the
reception of the fine wires, plates or cylinders of carbon, into which they are
introduced during the moulding of the said plates or cylinders; this arrangement
saves the expense of metal.unattackable by the acids for making. the plates,
cylinders, fabric or trellis above indicated.
As stated in the first part of this specification I can also make use of points or
thin blades of various forms either stamped or cast integrally with the plate, or
formed in any other suitable manner; these arrangements although not per-
mitting the utilization of as large a number of points upon a given surface, are
however useful in numerous instances
In the form represented in Figures 8 and 9 the points F have the shape of
cones acute at the ends; in the type represented in Figures 10 and 11 the form
of the points G is pyramidal; and in the type represented in Figures 12 and 13
the points are replaced by thin blades H fixed to: or formed integrally with the
metal plate.
In all the arrangements I have shown by way of examples, the two sides of the.
metal plates, fabric or trellis are furnished with points, but it will be understood
that in certain cases, one of these faces only will be so furnished, especially, for

page_text: example, in the case where the positive element is constituted by the metal cell or
vessel containing the exiting liquid.
Although the different elements composed in the manner above described might
be applied indifferently to the establishment of all kinds of liquid batteries now in
use I adopt by preference a special arrangement of battery which appears to fulfil
the most favorable condition for the application of this system; in fact, on the one
hand, it is important that almost the whole of the parts of the exciting liquid
should be in the neighbourhood of the points of liberation of the hydrogen gas,
and on the other hand, this gas being produced in considerable quantities,
(especially in cases where a large number of elements are employed at once) it is
important to furnish it with a passage to the exterior of the place where the
battery is situated; the arrangement which I employ for attaining these results is
illustrated in Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17.
As shown in these Figures, the negative element is formed of fragments a of
zinc immersed in mercury and the positive element consists of a series of plates b,
preferably of carbon, suspended vertically above the negative element and provided
on both faces with a great quantity of fine wires c as above indicated; the liquid.
employed consists simply of water acidulated or saturated with hydrochlorate of
ammonia
I thus succeed, by placing the positive and negative elements sufficiently near to
one another, in arranging within the exciting liquid a considerable number of fine
wires, thereby ensuring the incessant liberation of gaseous bubbles arising from
the decomposition of the said liquid by the action of the current. The batteries
thus made are combined in one case or box d Figure 14, each of the said batteries
forming a kind of drawer.. For this purpose the elements are, placed in an
elongated receptacle é perfectly water-tight, at the bottom of which receptacle is
placed the mercury either directly or in a small vessel arranged therein for this
purpose; this constitutes with the zinc the negative pole. The upper part of the
receptacle or drawer e carries a frame of metal or carbon k to which are fixed the
plates or blades b constituting the positive pole; the front part f of this receptacle
is provided with a central knob g designed to facilitate its withdrawal from the
case, and with small contact pieces h to, which are connected the positive and
negative conductors of each cell; in this manner it is easy to couple these cells for
quantity or tension, as desired.
The apparatus being thus constructed it is only necessary, in order to change
the liquid in one of the cells, to insulate or disconnect the conductors from those
of the other cells and take out the drawer; the frame k which carries the plates b
is then removed; and the receptacle being inclined the liquid runs out of the same,
and can then be replaced by fresh acidulated water; a small plate i arranged in
one of the corners of the receptacle e as shown in Figure 17 enables the latter to be
inclined to pour out the exhausted exciting liquid without pouring out the mercury
which is at the bottom of the apparatus and which, during this operation is
retained behind the small plate i.
In order to ensure the evacuation or escape of the hydrogen liberated by the
cells contained in the said case d I have arranged at the upper part a pipe j com-
municating with a pipe or conduit extending to the exterior of the place in which
the battery is situated, the hydrogen gas, by reason of its lightness, causes a
sufficient draught in the pipe to enable the liberation to take place readily.
I sometimes collect the gas escaping as above described in a constant and uniform
manner from the said batteries and utilize the said gas in any suitable manner.
It will be understood that this method of expelling the gaseous bubbles from
electric batteries, can also be applied under the same conditions to apparatus in which
chemical decomposition takes place producing gas, and not constituting a battery
properly so called, especially in the manufacture of hydrogen gas, either in apparatus
used for the production of light by means of platinum sponge and water, pyrophos-
phorus or the like or in special apparatus of large dimensions designed for the
production of the oxyhydrogen light or for filling balloons. Also in the manufacture

page_text: of other different gaseous products, such as; Seltzer water, and other gaseous
beverages and even in the case where it is desired to facilitate the escape of gas
from a liquid by immersing in the said liquid thin metallic or non metallic blades,
wires or points.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondents and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim;
First. The improved electric battery rendered non-liable to polarization, by the
addition to the positive element, or between this element and the negative element,
of metallic or non-metallic points, tongues, wires, or projections of any suitable form
and arrangement, the said points or the like being designed to facilitate the
formation and liberation of gaseous bubbles in proportion to their production
Second. The various applications of the mode of construction hereinbefore
described and shown, and more particularly the employment of fine platinum
wires, or other metal unattackable by acids, inserted in carbon plates joined
together by means of a carbon bar, as described with reference to Figures 15, 16,
and 17 of the drawing.
Third. A battery arranged substantially as described with reference to Figure 14
of the drawing, and comprising a series of compartments constituting the various
cells of the battery, the said cells containing in their lower parts pieces of zinc
forming the negative poles, and having suspended above them, by means of a bar
of carbon or other suitable material, a number of carbon plates provided with fine
wires which constitute the positive poles
Fourth. All the applications which can be made of this mode of construction to
all kinds of electric batteries, whatever may be the shape and peculiar arrangements
of the same and the nature of the exciting liquids; and to all kinds of apparatus
or receptacles in which a chemical decomposition causing the production of gas is
effected, and from which from whatever cause, the electricity produced is not
employed.
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty sixth day of September in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.