Improvements in Electric Batteries.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Apr., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES ALBERT HUSSEY, of Gedney House, New
York, Electrician, and Edwin HENRY BROWN, of No. 225, Lincoln, Place,
Brooklyn, New York, Lawyer, both in the United States America.]
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The improvement relates to an electric battery employing a solution of a salt of
copper. It consists in the combination in such a hattery with a cell and negative and
positive elements of a porous diaphragm arranged in the upper part of the cell below
the positive element and a piece of metal which is located below the porous diaphragm
and is of such character that it will decompose the salt of copper solution.
Preferably the porous diaphragm will consist of or be comprised in a cup supported
in the upper part of the cell. The metal which we regard most advantageous between
the porous diaphragm and the negative element is iron or steel.
The improvement also consists in the combination of a piece of iron or steel inter-
posed between the positive and negative elements without a porous diaphragm.
By the improvement is secured very important advantages. The salt of copper
solution may be decomposed on reaching the piece of metal which is interposed
between the positive and negative elements, and, being decomposed, will be prevented
from acting injuriously upon the positive element.
By the improvement the positive element will be maintained clean, and hence will
also be in good condition.
Other advantages also ensue.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
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 improvement relates to an electric battery employing a solution of a salt of
copper. It consists in the combination in such a battery with a cell and negative
and positive elements, of a porous diaphragm arranged in the upper part of the
cell below the positive element and a piece of metal which is located below the
porous diaphragm and is of such character that it will decompose the salt of
copper solution.
Preferably the porous diaphragm will consist of or be comprised in a cup sup-
ported in the upper part of the cell. The metal which we regard most advantageous,
between the porous diaphragm and the negative element is iron or steel.
The improvement also consists in the combination of a piece of iron, or steel
interposed between the positive and negative elements without a porous diaphragm.
By this improvement we secure very important advantages. The salt of copper
solution may be decomposed on reaching the piece of metal which is interposed
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between the positive and negative elements, and, being decomposed, will be pre-
vented from acting injuriously upon the positive element.
By this improvement the positive element will be maintained clean, and hence
will also be in good condition.
Other advantages also ensue.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a vertical section of a battery embodying
our improvement, the section being taken as indicated by the dotted line. Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a plan or top view, certain parts being removed. Figure 3 is a
plan or top view of one of the elements of the battery. Figure 4 is a plan or top
view of a frame and clamp comprised in the battery. Similar letters of reference
designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A designates a cell which may be of any suitable material. Glass may be the
material employed if desired. We have shown this cell as of cylindric form, but
the shape is not important. At one side it has a lip, a, formed in it.
B designates the negative element of the battery. It may be of any suitable
material and shape. Ordinarily, we prefer to make it of copper and in the form of
a cup, as shown. It has secured to it one of the wire electrodes, C, of the battery.
This wire may be connected by a coupling piece in any suitable manner with another
wire to form an electric circuit.
I have shown the element, B, as being supported by resting upon the bottom of
the cell A.
D designates the positive element of the battery. It may be of any suitable
material and shape. Ordinarily, I prefer to make it of zinc and in the form of a
spoked wheel, as shown. This positive element is, in the present instance, suspended
from the top of the cell A by means of a frame E and screw E. The frame E is
shown as consisting of a ring, e, and two diverging arms, el e². The screw E¹ enters
a tapped hole in the ring e of the frame E and extends through into the interior of
the ring. A hand piece e affords facility for turning the screw.
.
The frame E and screw E¹ rest upon the top of the cell A. To keep them in
place we have shown the arms of the frame E as notched on the under side noar the
outer end and the screw E' as provided with a collar. The shoulders formed at the
ends in the bottoms of the frame and the collar on the screw bear against the inner
surface of the cell A, as will be seen by reference to Figure 1.
One of the arms of the frame is shown as provided with a hole into which a wire
may be inserted.
A screw e fitted in a tapped hole in the arm serves to clamp the
wire in the hole within the arm.
I have shown the positive element, D, as provided with an axially arranged shank.
This extends up into the ring e of the frame E and is secured there by means of the
screw E, as the latter serves to clamp it within the ring.
Any suitable solution may be employed in this battery. Ordinarily, I prefer to
use a solution of a salt of copper, as for example, a sulphate of copper solution.
G designates a piece which we use in connection with a solution of a salt of copper.
This piece should conform approximately to the interior of the cell A, and, for this
reason, we have in the present instance shown it as in the form of a circular plate.
It is considerably smaller than the interior of the cell and is also provided with per-
forations, wherefore it does not prevent the circulation of fluid in the cell.
I
The piece Gis to be made of a metal which will decompose the solution of salt of
copper. Ordinarily, we shall make it of iron. We can, of course, use steel if pre-
ferred for any reason.
This plate may be cast into the desired shape.
I have shown the piece G as suspended from the top of the cell A by means of
bangers, H, having hooked upper ends engaging with the top edge of the cell A
and inwardly turned lower ends upon which the piece G rests. Thero may be any
number of these hangers.... Any other means of supporting the piece G may be
employed in lieu thereof.
I designates a porous diaphragm, here shown as made in the form of a cup. It
may be of any material ordinarily employed for the purpose, as, for instance, kaolin.
It is preferably made of a shape to conform to the interior of the cell A and in

page_text: the present instance is therefore cylindrical. It is shown as supported by resting
upon blocks J. These blocks may be of any desirable number. They are shown
as resting upon the piece G, and as having the cup, I, resting upon their upper
surfaces. They have downward extensions at the outer ends so as to fit between
the piece G and the interior of the cell A. Owing to this, they will be kept in
position and they will also keep the piece G in its proper place centrally within the
cell A.
The hangers, H, and blocks, J, may be of any suitable material.
wood or hard rubber may be employed.
Preferably
The positive clement, D, is provided with a receptacle for quicksilver. This recep
tacle, as here shown, consists of a groove, d, formed in the upper surface. Quick-
silver placed in the receptacle will render the positive element when made of zinc
self-amalgamating.
The feature of our improvement which consists in providing a positive zinc
element with a receptacle for quicksilver is applicable to any battery where the zinc
element is used.
It will, of course, be understood that any suitable solution may be used in contact
with the positive element.
The interposition between the two elements of a piece of metal which will decom-
pose a solution of a salt of copper is very advantageous. The salt of copper solution
on reaching this piece of metal will be decomposed. Owing to this, the zinc plate
will be protected from any contact of such solution with it. The zinc plate will be
insured against being coated or plated with copper, the battery being thus adapted
for open circuit as well as closed circuit work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:
1. In an electric battery employing a solution of a salt of copper, the combination
with a cell and positive and negative elements, of a porous diaphragm arranged in
the upper part of the cell below the positive element and a piece of metal which is
arranged below the porous diaphragm and will decompose the salt of copper solution,
substantially as specified.
2. In an electric battery employing a solution of a salt of copper, the combination
with a cell and positive and negative elements, of a porous diaphragm arranged in
the upper part of the cell below the positive element and a piece of iron or steel
arranged between the porous diaphragm and the negative element, substantially as
specified.
3. In an electric battery employing a solution of a salt of copper, the combination
with positive and negative elements, of a piece of iron or steel interposed between
the said elements, substantially as specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.