AN IMPROVED VOLTAIC BATTERY
Year: 1885

page_text: SAMUEL WILLIAM MAQUAY 22 Redburn St Tedworth Square Co of Middlesex
London S.W. Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN
IMPROVED VOLTAIC BATTERY to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the production of electric currents by an
improved method in the construction of the cells, in the material composing the
positive and negative elements, and in the manner of applying liquids: so as to
produce the least amount of waste, and the most powerful lasting effects by a small
consumption of the positive elements.
The positive element is composed preferably of two parts of lead and ninety
eight parts of commercial zinc, and either cast into rods or plates, or rolled out and
used in any convenient shape. When the plates or rods are formed in the shape
intended to be used they are coated with mercury, and submitted to heat in an
oven, of about 100° Far, and again coated and again heated, until the mercury is
intimitely mixed with each particle of the aloy.
For the negative element, I use any convenient one, such as carbon platinum &
either in plates or any other form, but I dip a portion of such plates or rods into
liquid sulphur, so that one eighth of the plate or rod be covered with a film of
sulphur, or I place broken granules of the sulphur in the cell along with the
plates, in about the same proportion, that is to say, that the surface of the sulphur
granules will be about one eighth the surface of the plates.
In the formation of the battery I use double cells, the inner one being of any
suitable porous material but preferably I use cells of carbon and the negative
exciting liquid is poured into them.
The outer cells are made in any convenient material, such as glass, porcelain,
wood &, but preferably I use ebonite or other nonconducting light material.
The cells are placed side by side, either in a circle or square and each cell has
a communication to the next right through the whole series, from about inch of
the bottom the number of cells being calculated to the power required, but the
communication between each cell is so arranged that it can be closed or opened at
pleasure. The same applies also to the porous cells, this being for the purpose of
emptying or filling the cells without interfering with or removing the plates.
The solution I use for the outer cells, is one part of sulphuric acid of common
trength to twenty parts of water, I may also use a solution of common salt, the
L

page_text: solution being composed of the amount of salt that can be taken up by water at
about 60° Far.
For the liquid in the porous cells, I may use any that will most readily absorb
the hydrogen and prevent polarization, but I prefer when using carbon plates or
rods, to use a saturated solution of Bichromate of potash, " 40 parts" Sulphuric
acid 20 parts" and Nitric acid 40 parts, The liberated hydrogen being greatly
assisted in its absorbtion by the film of sulphur, on the bottom or sides of the
plates, and by which means, a very small proportion of fumes escape, making it
almost an inodorous battery, particularly so when carbon cells are used, the action
taking place within the thickness of the walls, and the remaining portion is
absorbed on the surface of the inner plate.
I also as a further protection against the escape of fumes, place a shelf or wire
screen over the top of the tray containing the cells and inside the case containing
the completo battery, and on it I place some sheets of blotting paper, or like
material and on the paper I place broken pieces of fresh burned lime, or potash,
or other absorbent, when all fumes or vapours that may escape the cells will be
immediately taken up.

page_text: I, SAMUEL WILLIAM MAQUAY of 22 Redburn Street, Tedworth Square, County
of Middlesex, London, S.W. 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 has for its object the production of electric currents by an
improved method in the construction of the cells; in the material composing the
positive and negative elements; and in the manner of applying the exciting,
liquids, so as to produce the least amount of waste and the most powerful lasting
effects by a small consumption of the positive element.
"
The positive metal may be composed of two parts of lead and ninety eight parts
of commercial zinc coated with mercury and heated until the mercury is intimately
mixed with each particle of the alloy. Although this alloy will give good results
I find by experiment that still better results will be obtained by the admixture of
a small percentage of tin and mercury to the molten metal, as this will ensure a
more perfect amalgamation of the metals than if the mercury alone were simply
coated on and the whole mass submitted to heat. I therefore prefer to compose
the positive element of about
1 part by weight of Mercury
2 parts
"
"
"
2
"
"
"
>>
95
"
"
"
"
Tin
Lead
Common Zinc.
'
The tin being first smelted, the mercury is added and well mixed, and the lead
being melted in a separate.ladle is added and well stirred in. The zinc is melted'
in a separate ladle, and when at as low a temperature as it will properly melt at,
the composition is added and well stirred in, so as to mix it completely, it is then
either cast into rods or rolled into plates and used in any convenient shape.
When formed in the shape intended for use a convenient number of plates or
rods are dipped into a bath of pickle made of two parts of sulphuric acid in twenty
parts of water and shaken until thoroughly clean, when they are at once plunged
into a bath of mercury for a minute, taken out to drain and submitted to a heat of
100 degrees Fahrenheit, for 5 minutes when they are again dipped into the pickle
and again into the mercury, and again heated until each pound of metal has taken
up about of an ounce of mercury when it will be found that the plates having
become amalgamated with the mercury instead of simply plated will require no
further attention for the whole term of their life, caro having been taken that the
fluid used to excite them in the cells does not become mixed with the fluid of the
negative element as should that happen the plates would require cleaning.
For the negative element I use any convenient one such as carbon, platinum &c.
either in plates or in any other form, but I dip a portion of such plates or rods
into liquid sulphur so as to leave a film of sulphur equal to from " to " of
the area of the plate or rod or I place broken granules of sulphur in the cells along
with the plates or rods in the same proportion.

page_text: To clearly explain the construction of the battery, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and in which Fig. 1,
represents a sectional elevation of the battery box showing the arrangement of
the cells with the negative plates in position, Fig. 2 a sectional elevation on the
line xx of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3, a plan view on the line y, y of Fig. 1.
In the formation of the battery I use double cells, the inner one being of any
suitable porous material but preferably its two walls are formed of a mixture of
2 parts of carbon in fine dust, mixed with "slip" equal to six parts of the usual
material of which cells are made, and baked at the usual temperature but without
the presence of air so that the carbon is not consumed.
I find by experiment that if the cell walls are made solely of carbon difficulty is
experienced in getting them to stand for any lengthened period.
These porous cells as will be seen in the drawing are formed by two flat plates K
of the porous material sliding in the ebonite battery case A.
The outer cells G are made in any convenient material such as glass, porcelain,
wood &c. but preferably I use vulcanite or ebonite or any other such nonconducting
light material. The cells are placed side by side either in a circle or square or in
any convenient shape and each cell has a communication H from one to the other
within about half an inch of the bottom, and this communication between each
cell is so arranged that it can be closed or opened at will by means of the plungers E,
and in the manner hereinafter fully described, it being understood that the negative
cells have only a communication with other negative cells and the positive cells
can only communicate with the positive.
This cominunication from cell to cell is made to enable them to be filled or
emptied or flushed out with water without interfering with or removing the
battery plates I, J, and the arrangement is such that all of the said plates can be
removed at the one operation so as to clean or renew them when required.
This I accomplish by attaching the tops of the plates I, J, as well as the
plungers E, to a top plate D, of ebonite or other material which may be lifted
entirely out of the battery case or may be raised slightly by the eccentrics C, the
shaft of which passes through the battery case. When the ebonite or other
plungers E are raised there is free communication between the cells by means of
openings H. When the eccentrics C are turned down, the plungers E (the ends of
which are preferably coated with an admixture of tallow and paraffine) close the
communicating channels H and the plate D, which is provided with a suitable
under packing D₁, is also held firmly against the top of the cells and prevents the
liquid from escaping during transport. The connections between the battery plates
are preferably above plate D so as to be clear of the acids.
The solution I use for the outer or positive cell is one part of sulphuric acid in
twenty parts of water. I may also use a solution of common salt, the solution
being composed of the amount of salt that will be taken up by water at a
temperature of 60° Fahrenheit.
For the liquid in the porous or negative cells I may use any that will most
readily absorb the hydrogen and prevent polarization but I prefer when using
carbon plates to use a solution of Bichromate of Potash 35 to 40 parts, sulphuric
acid 10 to 20 parts, and nitric acid 40 to 55 parts.
By using this solution a very small proportion of acid fumes escapes, and water
is formed, but as a further precaution against the faint acid smell I place a small
tray B, made of ebonite, inside the battery case and over the cells and plate D, and
in it I place any absorbents which will most readily affect the acid fumes or water.
I at present prefer to use pieces of pumice stone steeped in strong sulphuric acid
and mixed with some powdered sulphur when all fumes or vapours are at once
taken up, if the proportions of the absorbents are properly regulated to the size of
the battery. The size of the absorbing tray I find most convenient is one that will
I form the
cover about two thirds of the space occupied by the top of the cells.
battery of any number or size of cells according to the work proposed to be done

page_text: and I make each set in a separate case for convenience of transport or for lighting
table or bed room lamps &c.
In the drawings a 12 cell battery is represented, but I do not confine myself to
any particular number of cells. This battery may be conveniently formed out of
ebonite, all made in one mould the cells being in four rows, three in each row, end
to end, the side walls of the cell being about of an inch thick, the end wall
joining two cells together being of an inch thick. In the ends of each cell and
along the bottom, I run two grooves 1 of an inch deep and placed of an inch
from each other: into these grooves I slide the porous plates K and fix them firmly
with an acid proof cement; this forms the porous compartment for each cell. In
the thickened portion of the ebonite cell I drill holes straight to within an inch
of the bottom of each cell and then with a cone shape for the next half inch. In
these holes I fit the plungers E of ebonite turned into a cone shape at the end, so
as to fit accurately. I then remove the plungers and drill a hole H, of an inch
in size from one cell to the next, and when the plungers E are replaced they
completely stop the holes H, as before described.
When the plungers E are held up, the screw plug M, may be removed and the
cells charged through the opening while through the discharge pipes T (provided
with the guage S) all the cells may be emptied and the battery flushed out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a primary battery a positive electrode formed of a metallic alloy substan-
tially of the substances and proportions stated and for the purposes set forth.
2. In the manufacture of positive electrodes for primary batteries the treatment
of said electrodes with mercury with a subsequent treatment by heat substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a primary battery a negative electrode formed or combined with sulphur
substantially as and for the purposes described.
4. A primary battery constructed and combined substantially in the manner and
for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 9th day of March 1886
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Applicant's Agent.