IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1886

page_text: I, WALDO LINCOLN GATES, of Bayonne in the County of Hudson and State of
New Jersey, one of the United States of America, gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE GALVANIC BATTERIES,
and in what manner the same is to be performed; to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My improved battery is intended more especially for use with the "Automatic
Instructor" set forth in the patent to me dated June 2nd 1885, Nº 6654. But
I believe it may be used with advantage in many other situations. My invention
will serve for a portable battery for use by physicians and surgeons in various
exigencies where electricity is required. It will serve well in sending or receiving
telegraphic or telephonic messages on railway trains in motion. It is open, yet
without danger of slopping or overflowing. In what I esteem the preferable
proportions it may be inverted without spilling, because although the aperture is
open the escape of fluid is prevented by the pressure of the air.
The main body of the case or vessel in which my battery is mounted is a hori-
zontal hollow cylinder with one flat end formed in one therewith. Another
corresponding flat end is fitted to extend a little way into the interior of the main
part, and to form an absolutely tight fitting plug therefor, The elements are
bedded in pitch, and held by screws which are kept out of contact with the exciting
fluid by a covering of pitch. A screw holds one element against one end and a
corresponding screw holds the other element at the other end. The conducting
wires are attached to the screws.
When the removable end or plug is in place, the only orifice connecting the
interior of the casing with the outer atmosphere is about the mid-length and
connects with an open-ended funnel. The opposite side or lower side of the
cylindrical case is provided with legs.
'
The entire construction may be rested on or sunk into a recess in the board or
body of my instructor.. It is firmly supported on legs formed in one with the
cylindrical body.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what
I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.
Figure 1. is a side elevation,
Fig. 2. is a central vertical longitudinal section.
Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section.
Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations representing certain parts detached.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where
they occur.
,

page_text: .>
C
other end open. A¹ is a funnel extending out at right angles to the axis of the
cylinder A. The interior of A connects with the external atmosphere through
a small orifice a at the junction of A' with A
B is a plane end or plug adapted to match-tightly within the open end of A, and
to form a practically tight joint all around.
D is the carbon and E the zinc. Each is made in the form represented, the
part D being a hollow cylinder, deeply notched as shown, and the part E being
a solid cylinder of smaller diameter fitting within D but out of contact therewith.
The carbon D is held in place by a thumb-screw D¹ inserted through a hole in
the closed end of the cylinder. The nut D' aids in making a strong and reliable
job. Pitch m is applied between the carbon D and the interior of the closed end
of the cylinder. Pitch similarly marked, is also applied around and over the nut.
The zinc E is held by a thumb-screw E¹ inserted through the removable end or
plug B. Paraffine n is applied between the end of E and the adjacent surface of B.
G is the positive conducting wire. It is connected by being wound around
the screw D¹. G¹ is the negative wire. It is connected by being wound around
the screw E¹.
The pitch m and the paraffine n seal the joints around, and prevent leakage
around the screws D¹ and E¹.
The legs A* are formed in one with the cylindrical body A.
To charge my battery I introduce the chemicals in the form of a dry powder,
using one third (3) bi-sulphate of mercury and two thirds (3) sal-ammoniac, simply
pulverized and mixed. When required for use, add sufficient water through the
*funnel A¹
I attach importance to the fact that the body A is cylindrical, and that the
plug B is of corresponding form. This form makes it easy to make and maintain
a tight joint between A and B. I attach importance to the legs because they
serve to reliably support the cylindrical battery in the required position. I attach
importance to the fact that the orifice a is on the top side and about the mid-
length: The battery may be shaken without much disposition of the fluid
contents to escape through this orifice. I attach importance to the funnel A'.
It is a convenience in filling with water, and a safe-guard against overflow.
I have in my experiments made the orifice a so small that the entire apparatus'
may be inverted without spilling, the fluid contents being retained by the pressure
of the atmosphere, unless the device is shaken,
: Care should be taken in securing the carbon to have the deep notches lie in the
position represented, one at the upper side immediately under the orifice a, and
the other at the lower side.
I attach importance to these notches as allowing upward escape of hydrogen gas,
and serving, in a measure, to reduce polarization. The notches also provide a clear
space in line with the aperture a through which the powder may descend to the
bottom instead of lodging on the carbon and obstructing the necessarily limited
space which exists between the latter and the interior of the body A. These
notches also, to a less degree, facilitate the emptying of the device: They should
'be so narrow as to subtract: but little from the effective action of this element of
the battery.
The removable end B carrying one of the elements and making a tight joint
with the part A enables me to open and close the battery at any time with little
trouble, and to exchange an element as such shall become necessary without damage
to the body or cell A, or to any other part of the apparatus.
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
1st The battery described, having the body A with its orifice a in the mid-
elength, in combination with the closing end or plug B fitting tightly within it,
"

page_text: and with provisions as D¹, E¹, for attaching the connecting wires G, G¹³ as herein
specified.
2nd The carbon D having two deep notches d d arranged as shown relatively
to the case A, having an aperture a, and to the plug B, zino E and suitable con-
necting wires and means for attaching the same as herein specified.
3rd The funnel A¹, in combination with the casing A, having an aperture a,
at the point of junction with A' and with the tight fitting end or plug B, and
with provisions as D¹, E¹, for attaching the connecting wires G as herein
specified.
4th The cylindrical body A provided with a filling orifice a in combination with
legs A, and with the removable end or plug B, and with provisions as D¹, E¹, for
attaching the connecting wires G, G¹, as herein specified.
WALDO LINCOLN GATES.
W. Lloyd Wise,
Agent for the Applicant.