Improvements in Electrio Batteries.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st Aug., 1896-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrio Batteries.
We, CHARLES PERCY SHREWSBURY, Engineer, and FRANK LAURENCE
MARSHALL, Gentleman, both of No. 8, Furnival's Inn, in the City of London,
and JOHN LASKEY DOBELL, of No. 46, Connaught Road, Harlesden, in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates primarily to that class of electric batteries in which the
dissolving or positive electrode consists of carbonaceous material, and the negative
electrode of iron or other suitable substance and in which the exciting fluid is a
nitrate or mixture of nitrates or other suitable salt or salts kept in a state of fusion
by the aid of heat and caused to continuously circulate through the battery but it
is also applicable to other classes of batteries as hereinafter described.
According to one arrangement and when the invention is applied to a fused salt
battery of the class first herein named, a rectangular iron trough or tray is
employed from which depend from a point below the level of the fused salt a
number of cylindrical cells or pots which are preferably of iron and formed with
the trough and the cells are thus in electrical connection with the general body
of the trough and therewith constitute the negative electrode whilst each of the
metal cells or pots is formed with a rising central part or hollow pillar in order to
increase the active surface of the positive electrode which pillar is open at its
lower end and closed at its upper end or it might be formed solid.
The dissolving electrodes are formed by cylinders or tubes of carbonaceous
material each of which is suspended from a cover which seats upon an inner cover
or tray of the trough.
These carbonaceous cylinders may be enclosed in annular porous pots at their
upper ends flanged and thereby suspended from the inner cover and the porous
pots which extend to within a short distance of the bottom of the metal cells are
each formed with a central hollow or cavity in its under side to receive the rising
central part of the corresponding metal pot whilst the porous pots are of such
dimensions that a sufficient space is provided for the circulation of the fused salt
between them and the walls and central part or pillar of the metal cells or pots.
Baffle plates carried by the porous pots or by the metal cells and vertically
co-extensive with the central part of the porous pots or of the carbonaceous
electrodes are employed to compel the circulating fluid to travel in the desired
direction and in contact with as large an area of the surface of the acting parts as
possible.
The central hollow part of the porous pots rises above the level of the general
body of the fused salt in the battery and forms together with the outer walls of
the porous pots an annular chamber open at its upper part to receive the cylindrical
carbon electrodes.
In applying the present invention to other classes of batteries than that herein-
before referred to it will be evident that other elements than iron and carbon may
be employed according to the character of the battery and the nature of the
exciting fluid employed, but retaining the peculiar form thereof, that is to say, of
the electrodes or electrodes and porous pots whilst the positive electrode instead
of forming part of the cells or pots together with the rising central pillar may be
1

page_text: formed separate therefrom and enclosed therein and the cells or pots instead of
being cast or formed in a cluster or group as herein before described may each be
formed separate or self-contained and of any suitable inaterial.
By means of the peculiar formation and arrangement of the positive and negative
electrodes the area of the active surface of the parts is much increased and the
efficiency of the battery correspondingly improved.
Although the parts are hereinbefore described as circular in form it will be
evident that they may be of rectangular or other shape without departing from
the peculiar character of the present invention.
Dated this 5th day of November 1895.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
We, CHARLES PERCY SHREWSBURY, Engineer, and FRANK LAURENCE
MARSHALL, Gentleman, both of No. 8, Furnival's Inn, in the City of London,
and JOHN LASKEY DOBELL, of No. 46, Connaught Road, Harlesden, in the
County of Middlesex, 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 :-
Our said invention relates primarily to that class of electric batteries in which
the dissolving or positive electrode consists of carbonaceous material, and the
negative electrode of iron or other suitable substance and in which the exciting
fluid is a nitrate or mixture of nitrates or other suitable salts or salts kept in a
state of fusion by the aid of heat and caused to continuously circulate through
the battery but it is also applicable to other classes of batteries as hereinafter
described.
According to one arrangement and when the invention is applied to a fused salt
battery of the class first herein named, a rectangular iron trough or tray is
employed from which depend from a point below the level of the fused salt a
number of cylindrical cells or pots which are preferably of iron and formed with
the trough and the cells are thus in electrical connection with the general body of
the trough and therewith constitute the negative electrode whilst each of the metal
cells or pots is formed with a rising central part or hollow pillar in order to increase
the active surface of the negative electrode which pillar is open at its lower end
and closed at its upper end or it might be formed solid.
The dissolving electrodes are formed by cylinders or tubes of carbonaceous
material each of which is suspended from a cover which seats upon an inner cover
or tray of the trough.
These carbonaceous cylinders may be enclosed in annular porous pots at their
upper ends flanged and thereby suspended from the inner cover and the porous
pots which extend to within a short distance of the bottom of the metal cells are
each formed with a central hollow or cavity in its under side to receive the rising
central part of the corresponding metal pot whilst the porous pots are of such
dimensions that a sufficient space is provided for the circulation of the fused salt
between them and the walls and central part or pillar of the metal cells or pots.
Baffle plates, carried by the porous pots or by the metal cells and vertically
co-extensive with the central part of the porous pots or of the carbonaceous
electrodes, are employed to compel the circulating fluid to travel in the desired
direction and in contact with as large an area of the surface of the acting parts as
possible.

page_text: present invention applied thereto.
Figure 2. is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.
Figure 3. is a vertical section representing a similar but slightly modified battery
composed of a single set of parts, and,
Figure 4. is a similar view representing a further modification.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1. and 2., a. represents a rectangular iron trough or tray
from which depend from a point below the level of the fused salt a number of
cylindrical cells or pots b. which are preferably of iron and formed in one with the
trough a. and the cells are thus in electrical connection with the general body of
the trough and therewith constitute the negative electrode whilst each of the metal
cells or pots b. is formed with a rising central part or hollow pillar 6 in order to
increase the active surface of the negative electrode and which pillar 6* is open at
its lower end and closed at its upper end or the pillar might be formed solid if
desired.
The dissolving electrodes are formed by cylinders c. of carbonaceous material
each of which is suspended from a cover f. which seats upon an inner cover or
tray d. of the trough a. and closes its respective cell or pot e. as hereinafter more
fully described.
The carbonaceous cylinders c. are enclosed in annular porous pots e. at their
upper ends flanged and thereby suspended from the inner cover d. as hereinafter
more fully described and the porous pots e. which extend to within a short distance
of the bottom of the cells are each formed with a central hollow or cavity e* on its
under side to receive the rising central part 6 of the metal pot b. whilst the porous
potse. are of such dimensions that a sufficient space is provided for the circulation
of the fused salt between them and the walls b. and the central part or pillar b* of
the metal cells or pots b.
Baffle plates b' carried by the metal cells b. or it might be by the porous pots e.
and vertically co-extensive with the central part of the porous pots or of the
carbonaceous electrodes c. are employed to compel the circulating fluid to
travel in the desired direction and in contact with as large an area of the surface
of the acting parts as possible.
The central hollow part e* of the porous pots e. forms together with the outer
walls of the porous pots e. an annular chamber e open at its upper part to receive
the cylindrical carbon electrodes c.
The body or upper part of the trough or tray a. is surrounded by a flange a¹
upon which is fastened a non-conducting rim
and upon
g.
this rim g. is removeably
fastened the inner cover d. of the trough a.

page_text: The inner cover d. of the trough a. is formed with a number of circular apertures
one corresponding with each of the metal cells or pots b. and through each aperture
is introduced one of the porous pots e. as before explained which by means of a
flange el rests upon and is cemented to the inner cover d. and is thus suspended in
the fused nitrate contained within the metal cells or pots b.
Around each aperture in the inner cover d. is provided a conical rim d¹ and fixed
upon and in electrical contact with the upper end of each carbonaceous cylinder c.
is a cover f. herein before referred to which is shaped to closely fit within the rim d¹
surrounding the aperture.
The inner cover d. is provided with a terminal n. electrically connected there with
which constitutes one pole of the battery and a projection or terminal n¹ from the
trough or tray a. and which is thus electrically connected with the metal body of
the trough a. and pots or cells b. constitutes the other. pole.
It will be obvious that any other suitable device may be employed to form the
electrical connection between the carbonaceous cylinders c. and the terminal n. but
this forms no part of the present invention.
Any suitable known means may be employed for circulating the fused nitrate
within the battery but that herein shown consists of the well known vaporising
chamber . in connection with an injector arranged within the circulation pipe h¹.
In the example given at Figure 3., the device is slightly modified, that is to say,
the negative electrode b. is enclosed within a cell or casing 6' whilst instead of a
number of cells or pots being cast or formed in a cluster or group as hereinbefore
described according to this example each is formed separate or self contained,
whilst the material of which it is composed may be of any suitable kind.
In this example, the terminal n' is by a plate connected with the pot or negative
electrode b. whilst the terminal n. is directly connected with the cover f. which
constitutes the holder for the carbon cylinder c.
In the example given at Figure 4., the porous pot e. is dispensed with and the
carbonaceous cylinder directly surrounds the central rising pillar b*.
It will be evident that, in applying the present invention to other classes of
batteries than fused salt batteries, other elements than iron and carbon may be
employed according to the character of the battery and the nature of the exciting
fluid but retaining the peculiar form thereof, that is to say, of the electrodes or
electrodes and porous pots.
By means of the peculiar formation of the positive and negative electrodes the
area of the active surface of the parts is much increased and the efficiency of the
battery correspondingly improved.
Although the parts are herein before shown and described as circular in form it
will be evident that they may be of rectangular or other shape without departing
from the peculiar character of the present invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In an electric battery, an electrode formed with side walls and a central
rising part adapted to enter the opposite electrode and thus increase the acting
surface of the parts, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In an electric battery, the combination of an electrode formed with side
walls and a central rising part, a porous pot formed with a central hollow to
receive such rising part and an opposite electrode suspended in the porous pot,
substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 21st day of August 1896.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.