Improvements in Electric Batteries.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1898-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1898
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
A communication to me from PHILIP ALBERT EMANUEL, of Aiken, in the County
of Aiken, State of South Carolina, United States of America, Attorney at
Law.
1, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Chartered Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 65 & 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, and accompanying drawings, that is to say: -
My invention relates to improvements in electric batteries, especially of the
type arranged to accumulate the effects of dynamical electricity and strengthening
the same.
The objects of my invention are to produce a wet voltaic pile with a current
of the electrolyte steadily flowing through it; to provide means for causing this
steady flow, and to cause the current of electricity made by said pile to be rein-
forced by electricity produced by a current of wet steam passing through restricted
passages and afterwards expanding.
Other objects of my invention are to provide an apparatus which shall be
compact, easily made, and of small cost, which will accomplish the objects set
forth above and which will produce a steady flow of electricity with the maximum
efficiency and the minimum trouble and cost.
My invention accomplishing the above results, consists broadly in employing
a vessel having a plurality of openings in its top and bottom, connecting the said
openings at one end of the vessel with those at the other end by porous tubes,
which therefore pass longitudinally through the vessel after the fashion of the
flues of a boiler, and locating a voltaic pile within each of the porous tubes. The
porous tubes within the vessel are surrounded by an electrolyte, the source of
supply of which is usually outside of the battery.
Below the above mentioned vessel and piles, is located another vessel similar to
the first, except that instead of the porous tubes carrying the piles, the latter
vessel is provided with a plurality of porous tubes of much smaller bore than
those in the vessel above, but located in the vessel in the same manner and adapted
to be in line with the tubes above.
The tubes in the lower vessel are surrounded by water. Steam is passed into
the tubes of the lower vessel and up through them into expanding chambers
provided with points against which particles of water charged with electricity
mpinge and which therefore collect some of the electricity generated by the
partially condensed steam passing up the tubes. The partially condensed steam
hen is forced on up into a central channel in the piles and passes through them
nd out at the top of the battery. Besides reinforcing the charge of the
lectricity of the piles by giving up its electricity thereto, the steam in passing
hrough the channels of the piles creates a partial vacuum therein, which causes
ID 077

page_text: the electrolyte surrounding the porous tubes to more readily flow toward the
center of the piles, and therefore come in more intimate contact with the elements.
The construction, objects and advantages of my said invention will be more
readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which―
Figure 1 represents a vertical central sectional view of my improved battery or
generator.
Figure 2 represents a horizontal section of the same taken along the line 2-3
of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow.
Figure 3 is a similar view of the said battery taken along the line 3-3 of
Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.
Figure 4 represents also a horizontal section of the battery taken along the
line 44 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow.
Figure 5 represents a horizontal section taken along the line 5-5, and also
looking in the direction of the arrow.
Figure represents a vertical central sectional view of one form of stopper"
employed with the battery.
Figure 7 represents a vertical central sectional view of a modified form of
voltaic pile.
Figure 8 is a similar view of another form of voltaic pile.
Figure 9 represents a vertical central sectional view of a form of hydro-electric
generator; and
Figure 10 is a similar view of another form of hydro-electric generator.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In the construction of this battery, I have employed the principle discovered and
made use of by Volta in the construction of his "pile"; and in addition to
this, my improved battery or electric generator embodies improvements upon
certain hydro-electric generating apparatus which will be hereinafter more fully
explained.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a vessel of glazed earthen
ware, glass, vulcanized fibre, hard rubber, or other non-conductor of electricity,
which may be found convenient for the purpose. At the top and bottom of this
vessel are a plurality of openings A" opposite each other. Passing through the
vessel A and having then ends secured in the openings A°, are a plurality of
porous tubes B, composed preferably of unglazed clay or earthen ware, or very
porous wood, or other suitable porous material.
Within the tubes B are carried the elements C and Z forming the voltaic piles.
The elements will be described as composed of discs of copper and zinc, though
other suitable material may be used if desired. The elements are placed in the
tubes in the following order:
Near the bottom of each tube is a disc of copper C forming the negative
element, and above and in contact with the copper disc, is a disc D of porous
material, which may be composed of the same substance as the tubes B. Then
above and resting on this porous disc D) is a zinc disc Z, and above this zinc disc is
another copper disc plated or soldered to the zinc disc, and then a porous disc,
and next above this porous disc is a zinc disc, and so on through the series, until
the pile terminates at the upper end of the tube with a zinc disc. All of these
discs, the copper, zine and porous, are provided with a central aperture, so that
when the discs are placed in the tubes, the apertures register with each other and
form a passage E through the centre of each pile. The elements may be joined
together in any convenient manner.
Stoppers F and F are inserted in each end of the tubes B and in the openings A°
of the receptacle A. These stoppers are composed preferably of some non-conductor
of electricity, such as glass, glazed earthen ware, hard rubber, vulcanized fibre,
wood, etc., and securely seal the ends of the tubes B and openings Aº outside of the
elements, and at the same time hold the elements of the piles together as shewn.
These stoppers F and F¹ are provided with small longitudinal passages f and f¹
rospectively, which passages register with the passages E through the piles when

page_text: the stoppers are in position. The passages fl of the stoppers are lined with metal
tubes which connect with the copper elements and thus may form the positive
Terminals of the piles.
Conductors 3 pass through the upper stoppers F and connect with the zino
elements, thereby forming the negative terminals or electrodes. The vessel A
is enclosed in a casing H of any suitable material, and between this casing and
the vessel A is a packing of asbestos, cloth, rubber, or other suitable material H¹.
The necks of the stoppers F and F pass through the said casing and packing,
where the joints are made secure against any possibility of leakage. The interior
of the vessel A is connected by means of suitable piping K, with a vessel or
receptacle K which contains the electrolyte or exciting fluid L. This electrolyte
or exciting fluid may be of any of the suitable and well known kinds, but will be
herein described as copper sulphate. The copper sulphate is poured into the
vessel K through the funnel k, when it will flow through the pipe K until it fills
the vessel A, surrounding all of the tubes B. The vessel K¹ may then be filled
up with copper sulphate, and so long as the pressure of the liquid upon the upper
face of the valve is greater than that upon its lower face, the valve will remain
open, as shewn, and the copper sulphate allowed to flow into the vessel A.
By capillary attraction, and assisted somewhat by pressure, the electrolyte or
copper sulphate in the vessel A will pass through the pores of the tubes B and
through the porous discs D, coming in contact with the copper and zinc elements
and causing the well known chemical action to take place. This, as is well known,
produces an electric current between each pair of elements, which is increased
as the elements of the pile are increased, the result being, in principle, the well
known Volta's pile.
The electricity thus generated by the piles is taken off upon the conductors f
forming the positive terminals, and the conductors f³ the negative terminals, and
obviously, these conductors may be connected in series or parallel. As the action
of the cells or piles is continued, copper will be deposited upon the faces of the
copper elements or discs as fast as the zinc elements are dissolved. This will act
to keep the distance between the elements constant, moving the porous discs con-
tinually towards the zinc discs and therefore keeping the internal resistance con-
stant, so far as the distance between the elements effects the resistance. By locating
the vessel K above the piles, the electrolyte will be forced through the porous
tubes B and discs 1) under pressure; will enter the passages E, and will be forced
up through the passages of the stoppers and out through the outlets above
the stoppers, when it may be discharged in any convenient manner. The electro-
lyte or exciting fluid being thus forced through the piles, carries with it all of
the impurities or waste products formed in the cell, and discharges them continually,
keeping an ever fresh supply of the electrolyte or exciting fluid in contact with
the elements. This is a great advantage, as the porous discs or tubes do not
become clogged, as they do in most batteries, and as they would do in this device
were it not for the action above described. This tends to keep up the strength of
the battery, pile or generator, and improve its efficiency generally.
The flow of the liquid through the porous discs and tubes being very slow, as
can well be imagined, the actual amount of exciting liquid consumed by such a
process is not great. Now if steam be passed up through the channels or
passages E, it will not only heat the copper sulphate and thus increase its action.
but it will, by causing a partial vacuum in the said passages, cause the copper
sulphate or liquid surrounding the tubes B to more readily flow into the channels
If, now, this steam is charged with positive electricity by suitable means herein-
after described, and then discharged in this electrified state into the channels or
passages E. the negative electricity of the zinc will be absorbed by the positive
electricity of the steam, and the difference of potential existing at the zinc and
copper ends of the piles will be increased, and, therefore the electromotive force
will be increased.

page_text: In order to obtain this supply of electrified steam, I have invented apparatus
therefor, dependent upon the same principle as Armstrong's hydro-electric
machine. This electrifying apparatus is placed below the piles, and consists of a
vessel A¹ composed of the same material as vessel A, and provided with a plurality
of openings A2 at each end. The openings A² are closed by the stoppers F2 and F3,
the latter being composed of the same material as the stoppers F and F and also
provided with central longitudinal passages f4 and f³.
Extending through the vessel A and secured at each end in the stoppers F2
and F, are a plurality of porous tubes B¹, so arranged that their passages register
with the passages of the stoppers F2 and F3. The interior of the vessel 'A' is
filled with water M which surrounds all of the tubes B'. The vessel A¹ is enclosed
in a suitable casing H2 and packing H³ similar to that of the vessel A. N re-
presents an outer casing of metal or other suitable material enclosing both
vessels A and A'. This casing N is provided at each end with a series of flanged
sockets n, into which the ends of the stoppers F and F3 fit tightly. The end's of
this casing are also provided with inlets n' and outlets n², which register respectively
with the passages through the stoppers F3 and F. The inlets are connected to the
radiating pipes 0, which latter are connected to a chamber P through the valve Q.
The pipes O all meet in a union 01, and are supported at their outer ends in the
frame R, which latter also carries the chamber P, and is secured to the lower end
of the casing as shewn. The chamber P is connected by suitable piping and
valve S to a boiler T containing water U.
Heat may be applied to this boiler in any convenient way. This heat is shewn
in the drawing as derived from gas jets V, but I do not wish to confine myself
to any such source; as coal, wood, or other furnace may be substituted therefor.
Between the stoppers F1 and 12 are located metallic expanding chambers W,
each of which is provided with flanged sockets w, adapted to receive the ends
of the stoppers F¹ and F2. These chambers W have apertures w¹ which register
with the passages through the stoppers, and around the outside of these apertures,
the chambers make contact with the metal tubes f2 and f4. A plurality of points w³
extend downwards from the inside of the tops of said chambers, the object of which
will presently appear.
Assuming that steam is generated in the boiler T, and that the valves Q and S
are open, the steam will pass through the pipes O into the passages f5 of the
stoppers, and then through the porous tubes B¹. The valve Q may operate so as
to admit steam continually or intermittently as may be desired. When the steam
thus passes into the tubes B1 it will cause vesicles of water from the supply M to
pass into the tubes and mingle with the steam and pass with the steam up
through the tubes. This steam laden with vesicles of water, and passing up
through the tubes B, the passage through the tubes being very small, the steam
will become charged with electricity, and when the said steam passes into the
expanding chambers W, it will expand and partially condense. This latter action
will further electrify the steam, some of the electricity being accumulated on the
points w², while the rest passes with the steam up through the passages of the
stoppers F and into the piles, where it acts upon the latter as before described.
Thus it will be seen how the effect of the piles is strengthened by the employ-
ment of the electrifying device in connection therewith. As to the theory of the
electrified steam, physicists differ. Some think that the electricity is due to the
expansion of the steam. Others have held that the rapid condensation of the
steam produces the electricity; while Faraday held that the electricity arose
purely from the friction of vesicles of water in the steam, with the substance
through which they pass. Therefore, it will be seen that my device embodies all
of these theories and affords the most practical way of joining all of the ideas
The tubes while acting as conductors from the piles to the expanding chambers
also act to strengthen the stoppers, as do also the tubes ft.
It is too well known to require explanation, that the half of the voltaic pils
which terminates with the zinc elements is charged with negative electricity, whil

page_text: that end which terminates with the copper element is charged with positive
electricity. My invention adds to this charge of positive electricity, the high
potential electricity of the steam which is accumulated in the chambers upon the
points w² and passes on into the pile as explained. The chambers W may form
the positive terminals of the generator and may be connected together in any
convenient way.
All of the joints around the casing and stoppers are made tight
and secure by packing or otherwise, in order to prevent any escape of steam or
liquid. The device shown in Fig. 1, may be varied in many respects, without
departing from the spirit of my invention. Thus the stoppers F1 instead of being
provided with the tubes f as conductors, may be made without these tubes as
shewn in Fig. 6, and have a conductor f6 passing through the body of the stoppers
as shewn. In this instance, the conductors fe may be connected to the expanding
chambers in any convenient way, or not connected to them at all, as may be
desired.
Also instead of enclosing all of the piles in one vessel as A, each pile may
have a separate vessel, and in addition, the order or mode of arranging the elements
of the piles may be varied.
These modifications are shewn in Figures 7 and 8, where A³ represents the vessel
in which is carried the electrolyte L and pile; H the metallic casing, and H³ the
packing. The stoppers are, in this case, provided with conductors f6 and may
be made of the same kind of material as the other stoppers are made of. The
vessel in this case, may be composed of the same material as the vessel A.
In Figure 7, the elements C and Z, and porous discs D, are arranged in the
same order as in Figure 1, but in the device shewn in Figure 8, this order is
changed and the more closely resembles the original voltaic pile. In this latter
case, the bottom element is a copper disc as before then a porous disc upon it,
and upon this a zinc disc, then a porous disc and so on through the pile, terminat-
ing at the top with a zinc disc.
In both of the devices, Figures 7 and 8, the piles are provided at each end with
packing b. The steam electrifying portion of the device also may be changed,
so that each porous tube will be carried within a separate chamber or vessel, as
shewn in Figures 9 and 10, where A and A5 represent the vessels carrying the
porous tubes 132 and 133, and electrolyte M.
In the device shewn in Figure 9; the shape of the porous tube and mode of
securing the same in the vessel by the stoppers F5, are the same as described in
connection with the tubes B of Figure 1, but in Figure 10, this tube is somewhat
changed, as is the mode of securing the same in the vessel..
The tube B3 is enlarged at each end as at b, and recessed as b', which forms a
circular flange 2 at each end of the tube. Into the socket or recess of the
tube, fits the projection f of the stoppers F6, and between the ends of the
flange and the stoppers is inserted the packing 63. The flanges 62 of the tube
also fit into the ends of the vessel A5 forming a steam and water tight joint.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
In electric batteries consisting of the combination of a wet voltaic pile with
a current of the electrolyte steadily flowing through it, means for causing this
steady flow, and means for causing the current of electricity made by the said
pile to be reinforced by electricity produced by a current of steam passing through
restricted passages and afterwards expanding :-
1. The method of producing an electric current, which consists in superimposing
upon a current generated by a wet pile, the electricity generated by steam passing
through restricted passages.
2. The method of generating an electric current, which consists in passing steam
through porous tubes surrounded by water; allowing the steam to pass from said
tubes into expanding chambers where it expands and partially condenses, and

page_text: then collecting the electricity generated by the passage of the steam through said
tubes and its subsequent expansion and condensation.
3. The method of generating an electric current, which consists in placing a
voltaic pile in a porous tube surrounded by an electrolyte; providing the pile
with a central channel, and passing steam through said channel.
4. The method of generating an electric current, which consists in placing
voltaic piles in a plurality of porous tubes surrounded by an electrolyte; providing
the piles with a central passage, and passing steam charged with electricity through
the channel of said piles, whereby the piles absorb the electricity of the steam.
5. The method of generating electric currents, which consists in passing steam
through a plurality of porous tubes surrounded by a liquid, allowing this steam
to escape from said tubes, when it expands and partially condenses; collecting a
part of the electricity of said steam after it has passed from said tubes, and then
passing said expanded steam through a series of wet voltaic piles which absorb
the electricity of said steam and superimposing the electricity collected from the
stean before it enters the piles upon the current generated by the piles.
6. The apparatus for generating electricity as described and shewn in Fig. 1.
7. The two forms of voltaic piles, as described and shewn in Figs. 7 and 8.
8. The two forms of hydro-electric generators, as described and shewn in Figs.
and 10.
9. The combination of a voltaic pile, a hydro-electric generator, and means for
causing a current of wet steam and an electrolyte to flow through said pile.
lv. An electric battery cell or voltaic pile, which consists of a plurality of positive
and negative elements placed alternately one above the other, of a casing of porous
material enclosing said elements, a vessel containing said porous casing, and an
electrolyte carried within said vessel.
11. The combination with a vessel, of a plurality of porous tubes passing through
the said vessel, a voltaic pile carried within each of said tubes, and an electrolyte
carried by said vessel and surrounding said tubes.
12. An electric battery cell or voltaic pile, which consists of a plurality of
positive and negative elements placed alternately one above the other, porous
diaphragms separating said elements, a casing of porous material enclosing the
said elements and said porous diaphragms, a vessel containing said porous casing,
and an electrolyte carried within said vessel and surrounding said porous casing.
13. In an electric battery cell or voltaic pile, the combination with a plurality of
positive and negative elements consisting of metal discs, the said positive and
negative elements being arranged alternately one above the other, porous dia-
phragms placed between elements of opposite polarity, a porous tube enclosing said
elements and diaphragms, a vessel containing said tube, and an electrolyte carried
within said vessel and adapted to surround said tube.
14. In an electric battery cell or voltaic pile, the combination with a plurality of
positive and negative elements placed alternately one above the other so as to
form a voltaic pile with a passage passing longitudinally through said pile, a
porous casing enclosing said elements, a vessel containing the said porous casing,
an electrolyte carried within the said vessel and surrounding said porous casing,
and means for charging steam with electricity and passing the same through the
said passage of the pile.
15. The combination with a vessel, of a plurality of porous tubes passing through
the said vessel, a voltaic vile carried within each tube, said piles having a passage
passing longitudinally through them, an electrolyte carried by said vessel and
surrounding said tubes, and means for forcing the said electrolyte through said
tubes and between the elements of said piles and into said passages.
16. The combination with a vessel, of a plurality of porous tubes passing through
the said vessel, a voltaic pile carried within each of said tubes, an electrolyte
carried by said vessel and surrounding said tubes, a second vessel, a plurality of
porous tubes passing through said vessel and connected with the porous tubes
carrying said piles, a liquid carried by said second vessel and surrounding said

page_text: porous tubes therein, and means for passing steam through the porous tubes of the
second vessel and thence against and through the elements of said voltaic piles.
17. The combination with a vessel, of a plurality of porous tubes passing through
the said vessel, a voltaic pile carried within each of said tubes, an electrolyte carried
by said vessel and surrounding said tubes, a second vessel, a plurality of porous
tubes passing through said vessel, a liquid carried by said second vessel and
surrounding said porous tubes carried therein, a casing surrounding both of said
vessels, a source of steam supply, and means for passing steam through said
porous tubes and thence through said voltaic piles.
18. In a device for electrifying steam, the combination with a vessel having
openings at each end, stoppers having longitudinal passages through them and
inserted in the openings of said vessel, porous tubes passing through, said vessel
and secured at each end to the said stoppers, a liquid carried within said vessel
and surrounding said porous tubes, a source of steam supply, and means for passing
said steam through some of the said stoppers thence through the said porous tubes
and out through the other of said stoppers.
19. In an electric battery, the combination with a vessel A containing an electro-
lyte, of tubes B, voltaic piles carried within said tubes, stoppers F and F closing
the ends of said tubes, and means for passing steam through said stoppers and
piles.
20. In an electric generator, the combination with the vessel A' containing a
liquid and having a plurality of openings at each end, stoppers F2 and F3 inserted
in said openings, tubes 13 passing through said vessel and secured to said stoppers,
and means for passing steam through said stoppers and tubes.
altu
THIS 1st day of June 1898.
EDWARDS AND Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.