Improvements in Electric Batteries.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
We, HENRY THOMAS EAGAR, of 31, St. Dunstan Street, Canterbury, in the
County of Kent, Gentleman, and RICHARD PHILIP MILBURN, of 52, Percy
Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Chemist and Electrician, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the use of aluminium as one of the clectrodes or poles in
the construction of batteries or elements, and has for its object to produce batteries,
which are especially suitable for portable electric lamps, for instance miners' lamps.
A double-fluid battery may be constructed by means of an aluminium plate which
dips into a solution of ammonium chloride and hydrochloric acid, with or without
the addition of sulphuric acid; and a carbon cylinder which dips into a solution of
sodium chloride and nitric acid, or into nitric acid only, or into a solution of
potassium bisulphate.
The two liquids are separated from each other by a porous partition, as usual,
and the whole contained in a cell of ebonite or other suitable material.
The shape of the electrodes or poles and of the cells may, of course, be varied to
suit various requirements.
The proportions of ingredients used in the two liquids may vary according to
requirements; the following preparation has given good results:
parts by weight of ammonium chloride (NH C1) are dissolved in 30 parts
of boiling water, the solution is allowed to cool, and 2 parts of hydrochloric acid
(H CI) are added, to obtain the liquid which acts on the aluminium; while nitric
acid (HNO,) or a solution of 6 parts of potassium bisulphate in 15 parts of water
is employed for the carbon plate.
A single-fluid battery may be composed of 2 carbon plates and an aluminium
plate, which dip into a cell containing (6 parts of) ammonium chloride, (30 parts of)
water and (3 parts of) hydrochloric acid, the aluminium plate being placed between
the two carbon plates, without touching the same, while the carbon plates are
connected with each other externally, so as to form one pole.
Another single-fluid battery, suitable for electric bells or signals, may be formed
by a cell containing a carbon block and an aluminium rod or roll, dipping into a
solution of (4 parts of) ammonium chloride in (30 parts of) water and (2 parts) of
hydrochloric acid.
Dated this 5th day of May 1890.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
We, HENRY THOMAS Eagar, of 31, St. Dunstan Street, Canterbury, in the
County of Kent, Gentleman, and RICHARD PHILIP MILBURN, of 52 Percy Street,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, Chemist and Electrician, 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 to the use of aluminium as one of the electrodes or poles
in the construction of galvanic cells or batteries, and has for its object, to produce
cells, both single-fluid and double-fluid, which are specially suitable for portable
electric lamps, for instance miners' lamps.

page_text: A double-fluid eull may be constructed by means of an aluminium plate which
dips into a solution of ammonium chloride and hydrochlorie neid, with or without
the addition of sulphurie neid; nid a carbon cylinder which dips into a solution of
sodium chloride and nitric acid, or into nitric acid only, or into a solution of
potassium bisulphate.
The two liquids are separated from each other by a porous partition, as usual,
and the whole is contained in a cell of ebonite or other suitable material.
A single-fluid cell may contain a carbon electrode and an aluminium electrode,
which dip into a cell containing ammonium chloride, hydrochloric acid and water,
the aluminium electrode or plate being preferably placed in the centre, while two
carbon plates are placed right and left at a suitable distance from the aluminium
plate and are connected with each other externally, so as to form one pole.
The shape of the electrodes or poles and of the cells may, of course, be varied to
suit various requirements.
The proportions of ingredients used in the two liquids may vary according to
requirements; we prefer to prepare the liquids for the double-fluid battery as
follows:-
6 parts (by weight) of ammonium chloride (NH, CI) are dissolved in 30 parts
of boiling water, the solution is allowed to cool, and 2 parts of hydrochloric neid
are added, to obtain the liquid which arts on the aluminium: while nitric acid
(NO), or a solution of 6 parts of potassium bisulphate in 15 parts of water, is
employed for the carbon plate.
For the single-fluid cell, the following proportions have given good results :
or
(b)
Ammonium chloride
Hydrochloric acid
Water
27
4 parts
2
"
30
The second example is suitable for electric bells or signals, in which case the
carbon electrode or pole has preferably the shape of a block, while the aluminium
is used in the shape of a rod or roll.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. A double-fluid galvanic cell, in which the positive plate is entirely or chiefly
made of aluminium, while the exciting liquid is a solution of ammonium chloride
and hydrochloric acid, with or without the addition of sulphuric acid, substantially
as described.
2. A galvanic cell, in which the positive plate is made of aluminium dipping into
a solution of 6 parts of ammonium chloride in 30 parts of water and 2 parts of
hydrochloric acid, while the negative plate is made of carbon dipping into nitric
acid, or into a solution of 6 parts of potassium bisulphate in 15 parts of water,
substantially as described.
3. A single-fluid galvanic cell, in which the positive plate is entirely or chiefly
made of aluminium while the exciting liquid is a solution of ammonium chloride
and hydrochloric acid in water, substantially as described.
Dated this.
1
H. T. EAGAR.
R. P. MILBURN.
By Fairfax & Wetter,
433, Strand, London, Agents.