ROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTRICAL BATTERIES FOR CHARGING THE SAME AND OTHERWISE MAIN- TAINING THEIR PROPER WORKING CONDITION
Year: 1881

page_text: $4
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co. Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH
ELECTRICAL BATTERIES FOR CHARGING THE SAME AND OTHERWISE MAIN-
TAINING THEIR PROPER WORKING CONDITION" A communication from
ahmad her Innenh Funnmia tummanst
Dania Tha
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co. Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE
USED IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTRICAL BATTERIES FOR CHARGING THE SAME
AND OTHERWISE MAINTAINING THEIR PROPER WORKING CONDITION" [A com-
munication from abroad by Joseph François Aymonnet of Paris, France]
The apparatus to which this Invention relates can be applied to batteries which
operate either with one or with two liquids and I will first describe the said
apparatus as it is constructed and arranged to be used with one liquid batteries.
Three circumstances have to be taken into consideration that is to say, the
liquid product obtained from the chemical action taking place in the battery is less
dense than the exciting liquid; or it is more dense; or it is nearly of the same
density
When the product of the chemical action or combustion in the battery is less
dense than the exciting liquid the apparatus is constructed and arranged as shewn
in Figure 2 of the accompanying Drawing. I provide a case or box A closed by a
cover B having two apertures a, b and the battery is placed in this case. If all
the elements of the battery are not in the same vessel or receptacle, the several
vessels C¹ C³, C³, are brought into communication by tubes d which engage with
Di 11

page_text: small lateral tubes or sockets adapted at their upper end. If the several elements
of the battery are all in the same vessel or receptacle, the above mentioned case or
box may be dispensed with but this single receptacle or vessel must be provided
with a cover similar to the cover B. In all cases, if the vessels or receptacles and
the case are not made of transparent material a gauge glass D should be provided
which will permit the height of the liquid in the battery to be ascertained. The
aperture b through which a tube passes affords communication between the inside
of the case and the atmosphere. I also provide a reservoir E furnished with two
flanged openings e, f, each having a stopper in which two holes are provided. If
this reservoir which is placed higher than the case A is not made of transparent
material, a gauge glass is attached to it.
A vessel G is placed lower than the case A and its aperture 7 is closed by a
stopper in which there are two holes; it contains either exciting liquid or liquid
which has been used in the battery.
I also provide a pump barrel in which there is a piston, or I provide a collapsible
apparatus or bellows H which may be of any suitable shape; either the pump
apparatus or the bellows may be worked by hand or by any suitable motor. It is
preferable to operate it by means of a dynamo or magneto electric machine which
could be set in motion by the current of the battery itself. This pump-barrel or
the bellows apparatus-is-provided-with-two-apertures_0_01_into_which_tubes h, h¹
are fitted, or the aperture O may be provided with a valve which shuts when the
apparatus is drawing in or aspiring and opens during the exhaust, while the
aperture O' is provided with a valve working in a contrary manner; or the two
tubes h, are provided with cocks which will permit driving back or drawing in,
at will, the air from a receptacle by the same tube which puts this receptacle in
communication with the pump or the bellows.
A tube is provided which may extend to a greater or less distance through the
aperture a into one of the vessels, say for example c² as shewn. This tube partly
made of flexible material, is provided with a cock r¹ and communicates with the
reservoir E by passing through one of the holes in the plug or stopper in the
opening e. I provide also a tube made of two rigid parts i, j connected by a
flexible tube; the part is provided with a cock 2 and enters the reservoir E
through the stopper in the opening e; it is divided into two parts at its end. One
of the branches reaches nearly to the upper part of the reservoir E and the other
branch me is bent and furnished at its end with a funnel or cone shaped piece
covered by a diaphragm provided with holes. Above the diaphragin there is a
small ball which can float in the exciting liquid, but which will not float in the
liquid products of the chemical combustion or action effected in the battery. By
rising in the funnel this small ball can hermetically close the branch m.
Part j
passes through the stopper or plug in the aperture g and dips nearly to the bottom
of the vessel G
A tube J provided with a cock passes through one of two holes in the stopper
or plug in the aperture f and dips very slightly into the reservoir E. It is used
for providing communication b-tween the reservoir E and a vessel K¹ or a series of
such vessels containing the exciting liquid to be used in the battery. Each of
these vessel K, K², however many they may be, is provided with a stopper or
plug having two holes. They are united by siphons such as L each of which is
provided with a cock 7. These siphons comprise three parts joined together by
india-rubber tubes. The tube J dips nearly to the bottom of the first vessel K¹,
siphon L dips slightly in K', and reaches nearly to the bottom of vessel K³. If
there were three, four, or more of these vessels the second syphon dipping slightly
in the second vessel would dip nearly to the bottom of the third vessel, and so on.
There is a tube n pq comprising three parts joined together by india-rubber tubes;
part n goes through the stopper of the last or end ves-el (in this case K2) and dips
slightly therein, part p is provided with a cock 2, part q dips slightly into the last
or end vessel M¹ of a series of vessels resting on the same level or support as the
vessel G. The Drawing shews only two of the vessels, viz.: M', M*, but there

page_text: may be more. These vessels are designed to receive the product of the chemical
combustion or action effected in the battery and are closed by stoppers, each provided
with two holes. The said vessels communicate through syphons N, each of which
which is provided with a cock as at r; these siphons made of three parts joined
together by india-rubber tubes dip very slightly in the vessels. The end vessel M*
communicates with the vessel G through a syphon P provided with a cock 77. This
syphon made also of three parts joined together by india-rubber tubes, dips very
slightly in vessel M² and in vessel C. I also provide a tube Q dipping slightly in
the reservoir E. This tube is provided with a cock 8, which is in communication
with tube by means of an india-rubber tube. If tube h is provided with a cock,
the cock can be dispensed with.
The
With the above described apparatus the battery is charged or filled as follows,
that is to say. The vessels K¹ and K2 having been filled with the exciting liquid
2. C., the liquid to be used in the battery, the tube b being in communication with
the atmosphere the tube I slightly dipping into the battery, the cocks 4, 7, 8,
being open and the cocks 71, 7, being closed. the cocks R R are operated in such a
manner as to cause the air in the reservoir E to be drawn out or exhausted.
pump or the bellows being set in motion the liquid contained in the vessels K' K'
will pass into the reservoir E; the cock is then closed; remaining shut, cock r¹
is opened and cocks R R' are turned so as to compress the air in the reservoir E.
The exciting liquid will then flow from the reservoir E into the battery. If this
reservoir should not contain enough liquid to fill the battery, the same operation
will have to take place again, as many times as may be found necessary.
The continuous working of the battery takes place in the following manner,
that is to say. The battery being charged, and the reservoir E containing liquid
above the bent part of tube m, the following operations are necessary in order that
the product resulting from the chemical action in the battery may be continually
replaced by exciting liquid, that is to say-the communication between Q and
the bellows is closed by turning the cock R.; cock r¹ remaining open, cocks ºª, ³,
,,,,re then opened. The products resulting from the chemical action or
combustion ascend from C into E, while the exciting liquid descends from E into C²,
When the part of the liquid where the small ball of the funnel m is situated loses
enough of its density to prevent the further floating of the ball. part of the liquid
flows out of E into G, M² and M', driving before it the air in these last vessels
into K. The liquid in the vessels K2, K1, being thus pressed passes partly into E
in such a manner that the liquid that has been used is replaced in the receptacle E
by an equal quantity of exciting liquid.
When a vessel of the series K (K² for instance) is empty I shut the cocks b
and and replace it by a full vessel.
I can in the same manner replace several empty vessels of the series K by as
many full ones. When one of the vessels of series M, (M2 for instance) is full I
close cocks and ' and replace it by an empty one. I can in the same manner
replace several full vessels of series M by as many empty ones.
For emptying or discharging the battery I proceed as follows:-that is to say, I
close the cocks 32 and cause the tube I to dip to the bottom of the battery.
The cock being open I set the bellows in motion after having turned cocks
R R' so as to draw in the air from the reservoir E; the liquid in the battery will
then ascend into E. If this reservoir E is large enough to contain the whole of the
liquid from the battery I shut cock if not large enough after having shut this
cock I let tube J dip right to the bottom of the reservoir E (the tube J having
been lengthened sufficiently), the air is compressed in this reservoir, and cock
being shut and cock being open the liquid passes from E into empty vessels
introduced in the series K. I repeat this inanipulation until the battery is empty.
When the exciting liquid is less dense than the liquid which has been used in
the battery the apparatus is arranged as shewn in Figure 3. of the accompanying
Drawing.
The vessels c', c², c³, in the case A are in communication by means of tubes &

page_text: which enter openings at the foot of the vessels. The reservoir E placed lower than
the case A is provided with two openings e, f. The first (e) has a stopper or plug
provided with three apertures, through one of which passes the tube I provided
with a cock, this tube dipping more or less into the reservoir E and being in
communication with the bottom of one of the vessels of the battery, for instance
with c²; through the second aperture in the stopper passes tube which is in
communication with the bellows in the same manner as tube Q in Figure 2;
through the third aperture of the stopper passes tube J provided with cock and
which is in communication with the vessels K', K³, containing the exciting liquid.
The vessels of this series K are united in the same inanuer as the vessels of series
K Figure 2.
The opening is closed by a stopper or plug having only one aperture into
which passes tube j, k, l. The part of this tube is provided with a cock ²; it is
bent in the reservoir E and is divided into two branches, one of which reaches
nearly to the top of the reservoir E, while the other terminates in a funnel having
a cover provided with holes. In this funnel beneath the perforated cover there is
a small ball which can float in the combustible liquid, but not in the exciting
liquid. Part j dips right to the bottom of vessel Ġ which is in communication
_with_the series of vessels M M in the same manner as vessel G with vessells
M, M as shewn in Figure 2 A-tube-n-p-q-unites the vessels of the series M
and K, as the tube n p q Figure 2 unites the vessels of series M and K shewn in
that Figure.
The filling or charging and the emptying are effected in the manner described
with respect to Figure 2, and the continuous operation of the apparatus is also the
Bаine. The exciting liquid ascends to the battery and the liquid which has been
used in the battery descends into the reservoir E; when the liquid in which the
ball is situated is dense enough to allow of the floating of the said ball, part of the
liquid in the reservoir E passes into the vessels of the series M and is replaced by
an equal volume of liquid coming from vessels of the series K.
When the exciting liquid and the liquid which has been subjected to chemical
action in the battery are nearly of the same density I arrange the apparatus as
follows.
In this case the battery is placed in a chest A as shewn in Figure 2. It is in
communication through a tube I (Figure 1) provided with a cock r³, with a series of
vessels S S S³ united by siphons P P provided with cocks. The end
vessel S3 is in communication with the bellows by means of a tubo Q similar_to
tube Q shewn in Figure 2. Vessels S¹ S³ S³ contain the exciting liquid. For
charging or filling the battery in this case I compress the air in S³, all the cocks
being open.
For the continuous working I close the cock of the bellows all the other cocks
being open, and the liquid of the battery and of the vessels S' S² S³ will become
mixed by diffusion.
For emptying the battery I turn the cocks of the bellows so as to create a
vacuum in the vessel S³. The liquid of the battery will then ascend in the vessels
S1, S2, S3, and when it is there I close the cock r¹.
I will now proceed to describe the application of the said Invention to batteries
in which two liquids are used. In this case I can make use either of a single
apparatus in communication with one of the liquids, in which case the vessels
containing this liquid communicate with each other; or I can make use of two of
the said apparatus, one of which communicates with one of the liquids and the
other apparatus with the other liquid; in this case the vessels containing the same
liquid should communicate with one another.
If gases or vapors are given off from the battery, I bring it into communication
with a disinfector by means of a tube S passing through the cover B (see Figure 2).
This disinfector is constructed as follows, that is to say, I provide a vessel T with
one or several compartments containing some porous substance impervious to
the action of acids, such as coke, charcoal or pumice stone and other porous

page_text: silicates. These substances are soaked with more or less water. The vessel T
may have its largest dimension more or less inclined with respect to the horizon,
here it is shown vertical in the Drawing. Vessel T is provided with a gauge
glass p, and has five openings, two 7, 8, at the lower part and three t, u, v, at the
upper part; the tube S leads to aperture q, the opening s is provided with a plug
or stopper through which passes a tube x provided with a cock ; to this tube
another tube U may be adapted which will be put in communication with one of
the vessels (C3) of the battery.
A tube Y runs into the opening t putting the vessel T in communication with
the bottom part of the pump or of the bellows H by means of a tube " provided
with a cock R".
A receptacle V is placed above the vessel T. This receptacle V is in communi-
cation with vessel T, firstly by means of a tube y reaching nearly to the upper part
of V, secondly by a bent tube of a large diameter at whose end there is a rose or
sprinkler. This receptacle V is also in communication by a tube y' having a very
small bore, with a water reservoir z¹.
To put this apparatus into operation, cock 70 being shut, cocks R", R', are turned
so that a drawing in or aspiratory action may be set up in vessel T; this action
being then conuiunicated to the case A, the pump or the bellows are set in motion,
and the air then comes in by aperture b into the case A; it drives out the vapours
from this case and goes through the damp porous substances of the vessel T. There
the chlorine, the hydrochloric acid and other substances soluble in the water, are
retained and the nitrous vapours are transformed into nitric acid which is also
retained. The remainder of the gases are drawn into the bellows and from thenco
by means of tube Q' driven out into the atmosphere freed of all injurious odour.
While this regeneration is being performed, the water ascends into tube y', slowly
fills the receiver V, and as soon as this is nearly full passes off quickly by siphon =
and drips onto the porous substances of receiver T.
When by means of the gauge
glass, it is seen that the liquid accumulated at the base of T is in too great a
quantity it may be collected by means of tube x or sent back to the battery.
The disinfector instead of being in communication with a pump or bellows by
means of a tube Y can, by means of this same tube; be connected with a chimney
having a strong draught.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Williain Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office. on the
13th June 1882.
"1
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED
IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTRICAL BATTERIES FOR CHARGING THE SAME AND
OTHERWISE MAINTAINING THEIR PROPER WORKING CONDITION" A communi-
cation from abroad by Joseph François Aymonnet of Paris France
This Invention relates to apparatus capable of being applied to batteries which
operate either with one or with two liquids and I will first describe the said
apparatus as it is constructed and arranged to be used with single liquid batteries.
Three different conditions under which the said Invention may be applied have
to be taken into consideration, that is to say, when the liquid product obtained from
the chemical action taking place in the battery is less dense than the exciting
liquid;-when-it-is-more-dense;-and-when-it-is-nearly of the same density,
When the product of the chemical action or combustion in the battery is less
dense than the exciting liquid, the apparatus is constructed and arranged as shewn
in Figure 2 of the accompanying Drawing. I provide a case or box A closed by a
cover B having two apertures a b; in this case or box is placed the battery. If all
the elements of the battery are not in the same vessel or receptacle, the several
vessels C¹ C² C³ are brought into communication by pipes or tubes d which engage
with small lateral tubes or sockets in the upper parts of the said vessels. If the
several elements of the battery are all in the same vessel or receptacle the above
mentioned case or box may be dispensed with but this single receptacle or vessel
must be provided with a cover similar to the cover B. In all cases if the vessels or
receptacles and the case are not made of transparent material a gauge glass 1)
should be provided which will permit the height of the liquid in the battery to be
ascertained. The aperture b through which a tube passes affords communication
between the interior of the case and the atmosphere. also provide a reservoir E
furnished with two flanged openings e f each having a plug or stopper in which two
holes are provided. If this reservoir which is placed higher than the case A, is not
made of transparent material, a gauge glass F is attached to it.
A vessel G is placed lower than the case A and has an aperture g closed by stopper
in which there are two holes; it contains either exciting liquid, or liquid which has
been used in the battery.
I also provide a pump-barrel in which there is a piston or I provide a collapsible
apparatus or bellows H which may be of any suitable shape; either the pumping
apparatus or the bellows may be worked by hand or by any suitable motor. It is
preferable to operate it by means of a dynamo or magneto-electric machine which
could then be set in motion by the current from the battery itself. This pump-
barrel or the bellows apparatus is provided with two apertures O O¹ into which
tubes are fitted; the aperture O is provided with a valve which closes during
aspiration or when the apparatus is drawing in, and opens during the delivery,
while the aperture O' is provided with a valve working in a contrary manner; or
the two tubes h h' are provided with cocks R R which will allow of the delivery
or drawing in at will of the air from a receptacle by the same tube which puts this
receptacle in communication with the pump or the bellows.
A tube I is provided which may extend to a greater or less distance through the
aperture a into one of the vessels say for example C as shewn. This tube partly
made of flexible material is provided with a cock 7º¹ and cominunicates with the

page_text: reservoir E by passing through one of the holes in the plug or stopper in the
opening c. I provide also a tube made of two rigid parts i j connected by a
flexible tube ; the part i is provided with a cock 2 and enters the reservoir E
through the stopper in the opening e; it is divided into two parts at its end; one
of the branches reaches nearly to the upper part of the reservoir E and the other
branch m is bent and furnished at its end with a funnel or cone-shaped piece
covered by a perforated plate. Above this perforated plate there is a small ball
which will float in the exciting liquid, but which cannot float in the liquid products
of the chemical combustion or action effected in the battery. By rising in the
funnel this small ball will hermetically close the branch m. The part of the pipe
passes through the stopper or plug in the aperture g and dips nearly to the bottom
of the vessel G.
A tube J provided with a cock 3 passes through one of two holes in the stopper
or plug in the aperture fand dips very slightly into the reservoir E. It serves to
enable communication to be made between the reservoir E and a vessel K¹, or a
series of such vessels containing the exciting liquid to be used in the battery. Each
of these vessels K' K' however many there may be, is provided with a stopper or
plug having two holes. The said vessels are connected by siphons such as
represented at L each of which is provided with a cock These siphons are
formed of three parts joined together by india rubber tubes. The tube J dips
nearly to the bottom of the first vessel K¹ the siphon L dips slightly in the vessel K¹,
and nearly to the bottom of vessel K². If there were three, four, or more of these
vessels, a second siphon dipping slightly in the second vessel would extend nearly
to the bottom of the third vessel and so on. I also provide a tube n, p, q, composed
of three parts joined together by india-rubber tubes; the part n passes through
the stopper of the last or end vessel (in this case K') and dips slightly therein, the
part p is provided with a cock, the part q dips slightly into the last or end
vessel M of a series of vessels resting on the same level or support as the vessel G.
The Drawing shows only two vessels ML' M2 of the said series, but there may be
more. These vessels are designed to receive the products of the chemical
combustion or action effected in the battery and are closed by plugs or stoppers
each provided with two holes. The said vessels communicate with one another by
means of siphons N each of which is provided with a cock, as at r; these siphons
composed of three parts joined together by india-rubber tubes dip slightly into
the vessels. The vessel M is connected to the vessel G by a syphon P provided
with a cock. This siphon is also composed of three parts joined together by
india-rubber tubes, and dips slightly into the vessel M2 and into the vessel G.
also provide a tube Q dipping slightly into the reservoir E and having a cock ³ ;
this tube is in communication with the tube h by means of an india-rubber
tube. If the tube h is provided with a valve-cock the cock may be dispensed
with.
I
With the above described apparatus the battery is charged or filled as follows,
that is to say:-The vessels K and K having been filled with the. exciting
liquid, the tube b being in communication with the atmosphere, the tube I slightly
dipping into the battery, the cocks being open and the cocks r¹² being
closed the cocks R R' are turned in such a manner as to allow the air in the
reservoir E to be drawn out or exhausted. The pump or the bellows being set in
motion, the liquid contained in the vessels K' K2 will pass into the reservoir E.
The cock is then closed 3 remaining shut the cock is opened and the
cocks R R are turned so as to compress the air in the reservoir E. The exciting
If this reservoir E
liquid will then flow from the reservoir E into the battery.
should not contain enough liquid to fill the battery, the same operation will require
to take place again as many times as may be found necessary.
The continuous working of the battery takes place in the following manner that
is to say; The battery being charged, and the reservoir E containing liquid above
the bent part of tube m, the following operations are necessary in order that the
products resulting from the chemical action in the battery may be continually

page_text: replaced by exciting liquid, that is to say, the communication between Q and the
bellows is closed by turning the cock R the cock remaining open, and the
cocks are opened. The products resulting from the chemical action or
combustion ascend from C³ into E while the exciting liquid descends from E
into. C². When the portion of the liquid where the small ball of the funnel m is
situated loses enough of its density to prevent the further floating of the ball, part
of the liquid flows out of E into G M² and M₁ driving before it the air in these last
vessels into K. The liquid in the vessels K₁ K' being thus acted upon passes
partly into E in such a manner that the liquid that has been used is replaced in the
receptacle E by an equal volume of exciting liquid.
When one vessel of the series K (K2 for instance) is empty, the cocks and r
are closed and the empty vessel replaced by a full one. In the same manner
several empty vessels of the series may be replaced by as many full ones. When one
of the vessels of the series M (M³ for instance) is full the cocks 6 and 7 are closed
and the vessel replaced by an empty one. In the same manner several full vessels
of series M may be replaced by as many empty oues.
For emptying or discharging the battery I proceed as follows, that is to say,
I close the cocks 32 and cause the tube I to dip to the bottom of the battery;
the cock being open I set the bellows in motion after having turned the
cocks R R so as to draw in the air froin the reservoir E; the liquid in the battery
will then ascend into E. If this reservoir E is large enough to contain the whole of
the liquid from the battery I close the cock r; if it is not large enough, after
having closed this cock, I cause the tube J to dip to the bottom of the reservoir E
(the tube J being made of sufficient length for this purpose); the air is compressed
in the reservoir E and the cock being closed and the cock open, the liquid
then passes from E into empty vessels introduced in the series K.
manipulation until the battery is empty.
I repeat this
When the exciting liquid is less dense than the liquid which has been used in
the battery the apparatus is arranged as shewn in Figure 3 of the accompanying
Drawing.
The vessels C1 C2 C3 in the case A are in communication by means of the tubes d
which enter openings of the lower parts of the vessels. The reservoir E placed
lower than the case A is provided with two openings ef. In the first opening (e)
is fitted a stopper or plug provided with three apertures, through one of which
passes the tube I provided with a cock this tube dipping more or less into the
reservoir E and being in communication with the lower part of one of the vessels
of the battery, for instance with C2; through a second aperture in the stopper passes
the tube which is in communication with the bellows in the same manner as the
tube Qin Figure 2; through the third aperture of the stopper passes the tube J
which is provided with the cock and is in communication with the vessels K' K³
containing the exciting liquid. The vessels of this series K are united in the same
manner as the vessels of the series K in Figure 2.
The opening f is closed by a stopper or plug having only one aperture into which
is inserted one end of the tubej kl. The part 1 of this tube is provided with a
cock ; it is bent within the reservoir E and is divided into two branches, one of
which reaches nearly to the top of the reservoir E while the other terminates in a
funnel covered by a perforated plate. In this funnel, beneath the perforated cover
there is a small ball which will float in the liquid which has been used in the
battery but not in the exciting liquid. The part j dips to the bottom of the
vessel G which is in cominunication with the series of vessels M M in the samo
manner as the vessel G with the vessels M' M2, as shewn in Figure 2. The
tube mpg connects the vessel of the series M and K as the tube n 1 g, Figure 2
connects the vessels of the series M and K shewn in that Figure.
The filling or charging, and the emptying of the battery, are effected in the
manner described with respect to Figure 2 and the continuous operation of the.
apparatus is also the same. The exciting liquid ascends to the battery and the
liquid which has been used in the battery descends into the reservoir E; when the

page_text: portion of the liquid in which the ball is situated is dense enough to allow of the
floating of the said ball part of the liquid in the reservoir E flows into the vessels
of the series M and is replaced by an equal volume of liquid coming from the
vessels of the series K.
When the exciting liquid, and the liquid which has been subjected to chemical
action in the battery, are nearly of the same density I arrange the apparatus as
follows, that is to say, the battery is placed in the case A as shown in Figure 2, it
is in communication by means of the tube I (Figure 1) provided with a cock r
with a series of vessels S' S S connected by siphons P¹ P provided with
cocks The end vessel of the series (in this case S³) is in communication
with bellows by means of a tube similar to the tube Q shewn in Figure 2. The
vessels S¹SS contain the exciting liquid.
For charging or filling the battery in this case I compress the air in 8³ all the
cocks being open; and in order that the operation may be continuous I close the
cock of the bellows, all the other cocks being open and the liquid of the battery
and of the vessels 81 82 83 will become mixed by diffusion. For emptying the
battery I turn the cocks of the bellows so as to create a vacuum in the vessel 89.
The liquid of the battery will then pass into the vessels 8' 82 83 and when this has
taken place I close the cock 2.1.
I will now proceed to describe the application of the said Invention to batteries
in which two liquids are used. In this case I can make use either of a single
apparatus in communication with one of the liquids, in which case the vessels
containing this liquid communicate with each other; or I can make use of two of
the said apparatuses one of which communicates with one of the liquids and the
other apparatus with the other liquid; in this case the vessels containing the same
liquid should communicate with one another.
If gases or vapors are given off from the battery I bring it into communication
with a disinfector by means of a tube 8 passing through the cover B as shewn in
Figure 2. This disinfector is constructed as follows, that is to say I provide a
vessel T with one or more compartments containing some porous substance which
cannot be attached by acids such as coke, charcoal, pumice stone, and other porous
silicates. These substances are more or less saturated with water. The vessel T
may have its largest dimension more or less inclined but it is shewn vertical in
the Drawing. It is provided with a gauge-glass p and has five openings, two q s
at the lower part, and three tuvat the upper part, the tubes leads to the
aperture q, the opening 8 is provided with a plug or stopper through which passes
a tube x provided with a cock ; to this tube another tube U may be connected
which will be put in communication with one of the vessels (c³) of the battery.
A tube y is fitted into the opening t putting the vessel T in communication with
the bottom part of the pump or of the bellows H by means of a tube h¹ provided
with a valve R". A receptacle V is placed above the vessed T and is in commu-
nication therewith, firstly by means of a tube y² reaching nearly to the upper part
of V, secondly by means of a bent tube of large diameter at whose end there is
a rose or sprinkler. This receptacle V is also in communication by means of a
tube y', having a very small bore with a water tank or reservoir Z.
To put this apparatus into operation the cock being closed, the cocks R" R¹
are turned so that a vacuum may be created in the vessel T and also in the case A.
The pump or the bellows are set in motion and the air then enters the case A by
the orifice b and drives out the vapours from this case through the moist porous
substances in the vessel T where the chlorine, hydrochloric acid and other sub-
stances soluble in water, are retained and the nitrous vapours are transformed
intro nitric acid which is also retained. The remainder of the gases are drawn
into the bellows, and from thence, by means of the tube Q, are driven out into
the atmosphere freed from all injurious odour.
While this regeneration is being effected the water ascends in the tube y¹, slowly
fills the receptacle V and as soon as this vessel is nearly full, flows away rapidly
by means of the siphon z and is distributed over the porous substances in the

page_text: vessel T. When by means of the gauge glass p, it is seen that too great a quantity
of liquid has accumulated at the lower part of T it may be collected by incans of
the tube or returned to the battery.
The disinfector, instead of being in communication with a pump or bellows by
means of a tube y can, by means of this same tube, be connected with a chimney
having a strong draught.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim :-
In an apparatus for continuously supplying liquid to electric batteries and
partially regenerating the products of the chemical action taking place therein.
First. The battery arranged within the case or box A closed by the cover B, in
combustion with the reservoir E containing the liquid to be supplied to the said
battery, substantially as, and for the purposes set forth.
Second-The combination of the reservoir E with the vessel G for receiving the
liquid to be supplied to the battery, the said vessel being placed in communication
with the reservoir E by the automatic action of a small spherical valve within the
bent pipe m, substantially, as and for the purpose, set forth.
Third The combination of the box or case A, with a disinfecting apparatus T
containing porous material and surmounted by a vessel or receptacle V through
the lower part of which passes a tube having a rose or sprinkler, the said receptacle
being in communication with a water tank, all substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
:-
Fourth The combination with the reservoir E and the disinfecting apparatus T,
of a pump or a bellows H for creating a vacuum or causing a pressure within a
vessel or vessels, substantially as and for the purposes, set forth.
Fifth The combination with the vessel G, of a vessel or series of vessels M' M²
for receiving the products of the chemical action taking place within the battery,
and connected to one another by means of the syphons N P, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
Sixth The combination with the reservoir E and the vessel or series of
vessels M¹ M² of a vessel or series of vessels Ki K³ for containing the exciting
liquid, all the said vessels or receptacles communicating with one another by means
of pipes provided with cocks or valves and joined together by flexible tubes,
substantially, as and for the purposes set forth.
:-
Seventh Placing the reservoir E above or below the box or case A containing
the battery, according to the density of the liquid products of the chemical-action
taking place within the battery as compared with the density of the exciting
liquid, substantially as and for the purpose, set forth.
Eighth A vessel or series of vessels 81 82 83 in communication with the battery
by means of a tube I and with the bellows or the pump by means of a tube Q and
designed to be employed when the exciting liquid and the liquid which has been
used in the battery are nearly of the same density, substantially as described
with reference to Figure 1.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)