Improvements in and relating to Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1895
Improvements in and relating to Galvanic Batteries.
1, THOMAS HENRY RUSHTON, of 442 Victoria Street, Great Grimsby, in the
County of Lincoln, Electro Plate Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in and relating to galvanic batteries and
consists of the following arrangements:-
In a cell or tank of wood or other suitable material I mount a series of carbon
slabs or plates the ends of which may be held in place in grooves formed in the sides
of the cell or tank. These carbon slabs or plates are preferably held in a slanting
position so as to resemble louvre boards or the laths of a Venetian blind for example,
space being left between the bottom edges thereof and the bottom of the cell or tank
to allow a free circulation of the solution from end to end of the battery. The zinc
plates are interposed between the sloping carbon slabs or plates, each such zinc plate
being supported at its upper ends by pins or gudgeons adapted to turn in bearings
formed on the sides of the cell or tank. The supporting pin or gudgeon at one end
of each zinc plate is furnished with an arm or crank which takes into a loop or slot
in a sliding conducting rod or plate mounted on the outer side of the cell or tank,
and by sliding this conducting rod or plate forwards or backwards the whole of the
zincs are turned on their aforesaid pins or gudgeons and thereby raised more or less
out of, or lowered into, the solution. By this arrangement the battery may be
readily brought into or thrown out of action, and any one of the zinc plates may be
easily removed for amalgamation or otherwise without interfering with those which
are left in place. Or the power of the battery may be increased or diminished as
desired by varying the depth to which the zinc plates are submerged in the
solution. The points of contact of the arms or cranks with the sliding conducting
rod or plate are kept constantly bright and clean by reason of the sliding or scraping
action of the one on the other whereby perfect electrical contact at all times is
ensured. In some cases I so arrange the zincs that they may be operated from both
ends simultaneously and may be locked or retained in any required position
according to circumstances.
Although I have referred to carbons and zincs as the battery elements, it will
be understood that my invention is equally applicable to batteries in which other
elements are employed.
Dated this 28th der of A „uil 1804
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Galvanic Batteries.
1, THOMAS HENRY RUSHTON, of 442 Victoria Street, Great Grimsby, in the
County of Lincoln, Electro Plate Manufacturer, 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 improvements in and relating to galvanic batteries and

page_text: consists of arrangements illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in
which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a battery-constructed in accordance with the
invention, part of the side being-broken away to show the parts within, and
Figure 2 is a plan of same.
In a cell or tank A of wood or other suitable material I mount a series of carbon
or other negative elements in the form of slabs or plates B the ends of which may
be held in place in grooves formed in the sides of the cell or tank. These carbon
slabs or plates are preferably held in a slanting or oblique position as shown so as
to resemble louvre boards or the laths of a Venetian blind for example, space being
left between the bottom edges thereof and the bottom of the cell or tank A to allow
a free circulation of the solution from end to end of the battery. The zinc plates
or other positive elements C are interposed between the sloping carbon slabs or
plates, each such zinc plate being supported at its upper end by pivots, pins or
gudgeons D D adapted to turn in notches or bearings D2 formed on the sides of the
cell or tank A. The supporting pivot, pin or gudgeon D at one end of each zinc
plate is furnished with an arm or crank E which takes into a loop or hook F, or
into a slot in a conducting rod or plate G sliding in guides H mounted on the outer
side of the cell or tank A, and by sliding this conducting rod or plate G forwards
or backwards the whole of the zincs C are turned on their aforesaid pins or
gudgeons D D and are thereby raised more or less out of the solution as shown by
dotted lines at C¹ in Figure 1 or lowered thereinto. By this arrangement the
battery may be readily brought into or thrown out of action, and any one of the zinc
plates may be easily removed for amalgamation or otherwise, by simply lifting it out,
without interfering with those which are left in place. Or the power of the battery
may be increased or diminished, as desired, by turning the zinc plates on their
pivots, so as to vary the depth to which they are immersed in the solution.
The object of placing the carbon slabs or plates B in a sloping or oblique position
is to secure a more equal proportion of solution on both sides of the zincs, when the
latter are immersed, than there could be if the slabs or plates B were placed
vertically and the zincs hung, when in their lowest position, parallel, or nearly so,
'to them.
The arms or cranks E are kept constantly in contact with the sliding conducting
rod or plate G by the preponderating weight of the zincs, and the points of contact
are kept constantly bright and clean by reason of the sliding or scraping action of
the one on the other whereby perfect electrical contact at all times is ensured.
When necessary the zincs may be operated from both ends simultaneously by
employing arms or cranks like those shown at E at both ends of the zincs, and a
corresponding sliding rod or plate similar to G at both sides of the battery, both
such rods or plates being preferably so connected together that they can be moved
simultaneously.
The sliding rod G may be operated by any suitable means, for example its end
may be screwed and passed through an eye J fixed on the side of the tank A, and
be provided with a nut K. By turning this nut in one direction the rod G is
drawn..in the direction of the arrow and the zines are turned upwards out of the
solution, and by turning the nut in the opposite direction the zines are allowed
to turn downwards into the solution by their own weight and it is obvious that by
these means they can be stopped and held in any required position between
maximum immersion in the solution and total emersion therefrom.
It will be seen that in the arrangement shown in the drawings, all the zinc
elements are connected together electrically through the arms or cranks E and
the conducting rod G; and that all the carbon elements B are similarly
connected together by conductors L M.
Although I have referred to carbons and zincs as the battery elements, it will be
understood that my invention is equally applicable to batteries in which other
elements are employed..

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
.
First. A galvanic battery having negative elements placed in a slanting or
oblique position, and positive elements adapted to turn on pivots, substantially as
described.
Second. In a galvanic battery pivotting the positive elements so that they can
be raised out of the solution, or immersed more or less therein by turning them on
their pivots, substantially as described.
Third: In a galvanic battery having pivoted positive elements, connecting such
elements with a main conductor by means of arms, cranks or other suitable devices
kept in electric contact with such main conductor by the preponderating weight of
the element itself, substantially as described.
Fourth. A galvanic battery constructed and arranged substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of January 1895
T. H. RUSHTON,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.