Improvements in Electric Batteries.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr. 189
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM B. H. Dowse, of 87, Milk Street,
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman.]
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 consists of an improved battery wherein by the peculiar arrange
ment of the solutions with reference to the elements of the battery local action is
entirely done away with, and from the fact that there is absolutely no chemical
action except when the circuit is closed it becomes unnecessary to amalgamate the
zinc plate used therein.
The form of battery cell herein shown is what might be termed a quadruple cell,
there being four porous cups containing separate positive elements immersed in a
single outer vessel containing one continuous negative element.
Of the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a form of cell which in connection with the solutions
hereinafter described embodies my invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section on t Fig. 1.
A is the outer jar or vessel made in any desired form. BBBB are a number
of porous cups (in this case four) resting directly within the outer vessel. These
contain the positive or zinc elements preferably made cruciform as shown, so as
to expose considerable surface to the liquid within the cup. These elements Fare
connected together by means of a ring L secured to the tops thereof in any desired
manner, as by screws passing through the ring and held by nuts as shown in the
drawings.
The negative element (preferably copper) is bent around the porous cups in the
manner shown in Fig. 1, the ends not meeting but leaving an opening e between
them. The ring L is provided with the screw K forming the electrode for the
zinc elements while the screw G forms the electrode for the copper plate E.
An important feature of my improved battery consists in the peculiar arrange-
ment of the solutions with respect to the elements thereof, and with respect to cach
other. I employ for a bath for my positive or zinc plates within the porous cups
either chromic acid or any solution of a chromate or bichromate, such as bichromate
of potash, soda or manganese.
The copper or negative plate has for a bath sulphate of copper. I prefer to use
for my zinc bath a mixture of the following elements, viz. :-Sal ammoniac, chromic
acid, bisulphate of mercury and muriatic acid. The two latter, viz.-bisulphate
of mercury and muriatic acid are not essential. When these two are left out and
the first two, viz. :-sal ammoniac and chromic acid, used alone for the zinc solution
the action, while less strong, is more even. By the employment of all four
materials as above for the zinc bath, the action is considerably stronger for a time
but does not continue so long. A solution of copper sulphate is poured directly
nto the outer vessel and within this is immersed the perforated feed cup C held in
uspension by its flaring top between the porous cups, and containing within it
opper crystals C₁. By the action of a battery so arranged with materials
combined in proper proportions a current of great electro motive force is produced
specially useful, among other purposes, for lighting and power, or as a common
ravity cell.
I do not limit the use of my solutions to the exact mechanical constructions here
hown, as a simpler form containing a single porous cun and positive element mav

page_text: if desired, be used. A. compound cell constructed in the manner above described
is, however, especially well adapted to be used for electric lighting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A bath for one clement of a battery containing a chromate, bichromate or
chromic acid, in combination with a bath for the opposite element consisting of
sulphate of copper substantially as described.
2. In a battery the combination with the positive element immersed in a bath
containing sal ammoniac and either a chromate, a bichromate or chromic acid
of the negative element immersed in a bath consisting of sulphate of copper,
substantially as described.
3. The bath for the positive element of a battery consisting of bisulphate of
mercury, muriatic acid, sal ammoniac and cither a chromate, a bichromate or
chromic acid in combination with the bath for the negative element consisting of
sulphate of copper, substantially as described.
4. A compound battery cell consisting of the combination with an outer jar or
vessel of a single negative element and two or more porous cups contained in said
jar, a separate positive element contained in each of said cups and suitable baths
for both positive and negative elements, substantially as described.
5. A compound battery cell consisting of the combination with a single outer jar
containing a single negative element and bath, of two or more separate porous
cups contained in said jar, separate positive elements, cruciform in transverse
section, contained in said porous cups with suitable baths, and a ring connecting
said positive elements constructed and arranged substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of February 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.