IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Mauris at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th December 1881. A communi-
cation from abroad by Achille Thomas of Nantes in the Republic of France.
CHARLES MAURIS of Great Western Road Westbourne Park in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES." [A communication from
abroad by Achille Thomas of Nantes, in the Republic of France.]
This Invention has for its object improvements in galvanic batteries.
The elements of the battery are of zinc and carbon or it might be of copper or
other electro negative metal. Their form is that of semicircular discs and they
(especially the zinc elements) are perforated with numerous holes to increase the
area of the surfaces exposed to electro chemical action.
The elements are fixed upon an axis from which they aro electrically
insulated.
This axis passes longitudinally through a box or case which is divided interiorly
into cells by a number of partitions extending from the bottom up to the axis.
Each cell receives two zines and one carbon or electro-negative element.
The box is lined with bitumenous cement or otherwise so as to render it water
tight. Within each cell or compartment of the box there is a vessel of porous
earthenware into which the carbon or negative element is received and this vessel
has a cover which may be of glazed earthenware. The negative elements are
thus enclosed each within its porous vessel and its cover and there is room in the
enclosure to permit of the axis turning and carrying the clements round with it.
The lower part of the box is charged with sawdust saturated with water acidulated
with sulphuric acid. This is in contact with the zincs.
Within the porous vessels and in contact with the carbons or electro negative
elements nitric acid or a saline solution is employed.
Where the battery has not to be moved froin place to place sawdust need not be
employed.
The elements are coupled upon the axis the zines of one cell being electrically
connected with the carbon or electro negative element of the next and the
conductors are led off at the ends.
The axis has a toothed wheel upon it and with this a worm engages. By
turning a handle on the spindle of the worm the main axis can be inoved round.
D

page_text: The elements can in this way be raised towards the upper part of the box or case
so that a portion only of their surfaces may be exposed to the action of the liquids
of the battery. Or by turning the axis so far as to bring the elements vertically
over the axis the battery can be thrown out of action and the elements be then
removed from contact with the exciting liquids no waste or consumption of the
elements will take place until the battery is again required for use. To render
the battery active it is only necessary again to turn the handle to bring down the
elements into the lower part of the box or caso and again expose them to the
action of the exciting liquids and this either over the whole area of the surfaces
or over so much only thereof as may be needed to yield a current of the required
quantity.
This battery is well adapted for use with incandescent lamps and motive
power.