Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries.
WALTER ROWBOTHAM, 47, Vittoria Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
I construct my cell in the ordinary way out of some suitable material, such as
ebonite, enamelled iron, glass, stone-ware &c. using an ordinary metal electrode,
such as iron, zinc, lead &c. for one pole, & carbon or graphite for the other pole.
My improvement relates in particular to my method of using the carbon or graphite
to minimise polarisation. To carry my improvement out I employ carbon or
graphite tubes, preferably porous, & place or fix them in the cell either vertically,
horizontally or in any position between the aforesaid positions, taking care that
both ends of the carbons or graphite protrude through the top & bottom of the cell,
when they are vertically placed, & through each side when they are horizontally
placed, leaving the ends free to permit the air to pass through the carbon or
graphite tubes & also to allow the drained solution to discharge itself. Sometimes
I place or fix the carbon or graphite tubes in the cell in such a manner that
the top end only is exposed to the air, & the other end placed in the solution.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1895.
WALTER ROWBOTHAM.
Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries.
I, WALTER ROWBOTHAM, of 47 Vittoria Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates more particularly to primary batteries of the kind set
forth in the Specification of a prior Application for Patent No. 13730 filed by
myself and H. Levetus on the 18th July 1895.
In the battery therein described it was proposed to employ carbon and iron
elements the former consisting of tubes whose lower ends entered chambers situated
within the cells.
It is the object of my present invention to so arrange the carbon elements that
the aforesaid chambers into which the lower ends of the tubular carbons entered can
be dispensed with.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a battery and Figure 2 is a transverse section
thereof taken on the line 1. 1.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a modified construction of the battery; Figure 3 being
a transverse section similar to Figure 2, and Figure 4 a vertical section taken on
the line 2. 2 of Figure 3.

page_text: A is the outer vessel of the battery. B the iron elements. C the carbon
elements. D, D' non-porous partitions dividing the outer vessel into three main
compartments, each partition having therein circulation apertures d d.
The aforesaid outer vessel A is similar in construction to that described in the
Specification of the Application for Patent herein before mentioned.
The carbon elements C are made in the form of tubes and are composed of porous
carbon or graphite. These tubes exten1 through the bottom of the outer vessel A
and their upper ends lie above the level of the exciting fluid within the cells. Both
ends of the porous carbon tubes are thus fully open to the atmosphere and in this
manner, any of the exciting fluid that percolates the pores of the carbon will be
able to escape from the battery at the lower ends of the tubes. The underside of
the battery is provided with feet A× so that it is supported a short distance from
the surface upon which it rests. Sufficient space is thereby left to permit of a tray
or similar receptacle being placed beneath the battery to receive the fluid dripping
from the tubes.
Although the vertical arrangement of the tubes above described is preferable, I
do not confine myself thereto as they may be arranged in any other position that
may be found suitable so long as both their ends are open.
For instance in the modified construction shown in Figures 3 and 4 the said tubes
are arranged horizontally and extend from side to side of the outer cell A thereby
passing completely through the outer compartments.
It will be found more advantageous not to arrange the aforesaid carbon tubes
perfectly horizontal as shewn in Figures 3 and 4 but to give them an inclination so
that the exciting fluid percolating the porous carbon of which the tubes are
composed will be able to escape as fast as it collects, so that both ends of the tubes
will always remain open to the atmosphere.
The aforesaid tubes are all connected together with a suitable metallic plate for
collecting the current.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A primary cell or battery in which the carbon elements consist of porous
carbon or graphite tubes which are open to the atmosphere at both ends substantially
as described and for the purpose specified.
2. A primary battery in which the carbon elements are arranged substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.