IMPROVE- MENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Thame at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd February 1883.
HENRY THAME of 3 Winders Road High Street Battersea Electrician. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES"
This invention relates to improvements in galvanic batteries to those in which
like the Bunsen there is a porous diaphragm two elements and two liquids but
more particularly to the Bunsen with carbon and Zinc plates, and the object is
first to provide partially if not wholly against the effects of polarization by which
the current or flow of electricity is arrested 2ndly to enable the battery to remain
longer at work with one charge of liquid and 3rdly to prevent partially if not wholly
the escape of fumes of acid vapour from the apparatus.
I take an ordinary Bunsen element which I charge in the outer cell with the
sulphuric acid solution.
The porous cell within this I construct with an upper rim or groove around the
edge so that a cap or bell can stand within this groove and partially or wholly
prevent escape of acid vapour, the groove being packed with sand and water or
water only or other suitable packing. In the crown of the bell is a hole with
packing of asbestos or other material through which passes the conductor from the
carbon element. The liquid that I charge the carbon cell with does not consist
wholly of the usual nitric acid but of the following proportions of that acid which
may be considerably varied, namely nitric acid 3 parts by volume and to which I
add and in which consists the 1st and 2nd parts of my invention, a proportion viz,
to the above quantity of nitric acid 1 part by volume of the liquid known as chloro
chromic acid, or chloro chromic anhydride, or oxychloride of chromium.
With the battery thus charged scarcely any polarization is observed and the
duration of the battery is prolonged to a great extent. The fumes that escape are
no longer wholly nitrous acid gas but consists in great part of the less burtful
chlorine and even these are prevented escaping by the cover described in the
3rd part of my invention. There is also this remarkable property of the battery
that the fumes of chlorine given off are only objectionable when the battery is
first charged and put to work and subsequently appear to be wholly or nearly so
absorbed within the cell

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Thame in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd August
1883.
HENRY THAME of 3. Winders Road, High Street, Battersea, Electrician
IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
<<
This invention relates to Improvements in Galvanic Batteries such as those in
which like those of the " Bunsen type there is a porous diaphragm two elements
and two liquids but more particularly to the Bunsen with carbon and zinc
plates and the object is first to provide partially, if not wholly against the effects of
polarization by which the current or flow of electricity is arrested Secondly to
enable the battery to remain longer at work with one charge of liquid and
Thirdly to prevent partially if not wholly the escape of fumes of acid vapor from
the apparatus.
For instance in carrying out the invention I take an ordinary "Bunsen" element
which I charge in the "outer" zinc or battery cell with the sulphuric acid solution.
The cells I construct with rims or grooves or channels around their upper edges
so that caps or bells can stand within each or either of these grooves and so as to
partially or wholly prevent escape of acid vapor, these grooves are packed with
sand and water or water only or other suitable packing or sealing.
In the crown of the bell or bells are provided holes with packing of asbestos or
other material through which to pass the conductors from the carbon and zinc
elements.
By these means ready access to the cells may be obtained by the covers thereto
being removable at the moment without the delay attendant on the removal of a
rigid luting of cement or such like material at present employed for preventing the
escape of fumes at the junctions of such parts.
The liquid that I charge the carbon cell with does not consist as usually is the
case wholly of nitric acid but is composed of a proportion of that acid mixed with a
proportion of the liquid known as chloro-chromic acid (Cr O 2 Cl 2) say for example
nitric acid three parts by volume added to say one part by volume of the liquid known
alternatively as Chloro-chromic acid Oxydichloride of Chromium or Oxychloride of
Chromium (Cr.,O 2 CI 2)
The proportions of the Nitric acid to the Chloro-chromic acid may be considerably
varied and in certain cases it will be found useful to substitute for the nitric acid
sulphuric acid in which case the proportion of sulphuric acid to the proportion of
chloro chromic acid will be say three parts of sulphuric acid to one part of the
chloro chromic acid but these proportions also may be varied but to this use of
sulphuric acid I make no special claim.
With the battery thus charged scarcely any polarization is observed and the
arrest of the flow of electricity is avoided whilst the duration of working power of
the battery is greatly prolonged. The fumes that escape are no longer wholly
nitrous acid gas but consist in great part of the less hurtful chlorine and even
these fumes are prevented escaping by the covers to the cells of the battery above
described.
There is also this remarkable property of the battery that the fumes of chlorine
given off are only objectionable when the battery is first charged and put to work
and subsequently appear to be wholly, or nearly so, absorbed within the Cell.'
I would have it understood that what I claim is,
1st. The employment as the liquid for charging the carbon cells of Galvanic
Batteries of Chloro chromic acid (known otherwise as Oxydichloride of Chromium
7

page_text: Chloro chromic anhydride or as Oxychloride of Chromium) (Cr 02 Cl 2) sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described herein.
2ndly. The employment of bells or covers for Galvanic Battery cells or vessels
fitting or resting within rims grooves or channels formed at the upper parts of those
cells and provided with a packing or sealing of sand and water or water or other
sealing means adapted to prevent the escape of the fumes generated in those cells
and yet admit of the ready or speedy removal of such bells or covers for access to
the cells or otherwise as described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Thame have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Twenty seventh day of July in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.