Dry or Semi Dry Galvanic Element.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
Dry or Semi Dry Galvanic Element.
THOMAS BLACKHURST 31 London Terrace Darwen Lancashire Pattern Designer
for Cotton Goods do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a dry element in which for exciting paste, clay
gelatine and starch, and in some cases, clay without gelatine or starch absorb a
solution of ammonia chloride and sea salt, in water, (where starch and gelatine
are used the ingredients must be warmed). This mixture before it sets hard, is
put into a glass or earthenware jar and by suitable treatment made to .slowly
ferment or decompose, thereby liberating saline solution, which acts on a suitably
shaped zinc plate which is forced into the exciting paste. A depolarizing agent
(which is also forced into the exciting paste) is packed around one or more carbon
cylinders or plates having projections on their surfaces, thereby increasing surface
of carbons, and so arranged as to cut the depolarizing substance at all points,
which insures better connection. The depolarizing core or cores are separated
from exciting paste by a diaphram of parchment or cloth of sufficiently fine
texture to prevent solid particles of exciting paste from passing to the depolarizing
substance. The top of jar or glass is to be sealed up with a wax, pitch and gutta
percha mixture leaving outside suitable terminals previously attached to zinc &
carbons. A ventilating tube is fixed into the covering of glass or jar and the
element is ready for immediate use.
Dated this 20th day of Wohnuary 1904
THOMAS BLACKHURST 31 London Terrace Darwen Pattern Designer for
Cotton Goods 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 a dry element in which for exciting paste, clay
gelatine and starch and in some cases (to be again referred to) clay without the
gelatine and starch are caused to absorb a solution of ammonia chloride and sea
salt in water and by suitable treatment caused to slowly ferment or decompose,
thereby giving up the saline solution in such a manner, that there may at no time
be any perceptable liquid, but that the moist state necessary for the efficient
action of the element may be maintained. The action of the gelatine and starch in
the exciting paste is based on the following observation. Gelatine and starch
reduced from their dry to their gelatinous state, in a solution of aminonia
chloride and sea salt, and partly exposed to the action of the atmosphere
in a glass or earthenware jar, soon begin to decompose, giving up their saline
solution and assuming a liquid state. To avoid this rapid decomposition and bring
it about in a slow or gradual manner certain absorbent substances, are mixed with
the gelatine and starch, which by protecting them from the action of the

page_text: atmosphere and by separating their particles, and at once absorbing any liberated
solution, render the mixture capable of existing in the moist state for an indefinite
time, when made up in the form of a galvanic element.
The exciting paste may be made as follows:-
:-
Make a saturated solution of one fourth part sea salt, and three fourths
ammonia chloride in water, in one gill of this solution, put one and a
half ounces of common starch and by a moderate heat reduce to its gelatinous
state, mix with this starch, one pound of china or other suitable clay, in
another gill of the solution, dissolve four ounces of joiners glue or the
common grade of confectioners gelatine-by gently heating, while still hot, add
two ounces of dry disintegrated wood pulp, which will absorb the whole of the
glue gelatine, then take the starch and clay mixing, and add it to the glue and
pulp, mixing them thoroughly, the result will be a paste of the consistency of
putty, ready for immediate use, and capable of acting on the zinc plate of the
element in a well known manner, the ingredients may be to some extent varied,
without serious injury. The element is to be put together after the manner of
the ordinary manganese element, this is to say, the exciting paste is put in a glass
or earth enware jar in place of the ordinary liquid, and a plate of zinc, one inch
shorter and bent to the shape of the jar, is embedded in the exciting paste, a
suitable terminal previously attached being left outside. A depolarizing core of
manganese di oxide, and crushed carbon is packed around one or more carbon rods
or plates, of the kind known as manufactured carbons, but instead of having the
ordinary smooth or plain surfaces, our improved carbons, have rounded, conical
or other suitably shaped projections, all over that portion of the carbon around
which the depolarizing substance is to be packed, about one inch projecting outside
the element being preferably left plain, where the terminal is to be attached,
by this means a much larger carbon surface is exposed to the depolarizing
substance, which must be packed, arcund and forced between the projections, and
held in position by means of a porous folding such as cloth, or parchment, of
sufficiently fine texture, to prevent particles of exciting paste from passing to the
depolarizing core, the folding of cloth or parchment acting as a diaphram between
the core and the exciting paste, the core being embedded centrally in the paste,
care being taken to keep it quite clear of the zine plate before mentioned, the top
of the jar is then made up, first by a stratum of tallow, and then a stratum of dry
disintegrated wood pulp, and finally by bitumen, in which as small ventilating
tube communicating with the wood pulp is placed the terminal attached to the
zinc and carbon being left outside, thus completing the element in its dry state.
Our invention further consists of a method by which the above described element
is to be used as a semi dry element, that is to say, partly as a liquid and partly as a
dry element in this case the containing vessel is a substance that may be readily
perforated, and may be either a wood or ebonite box (the inner surfaces of which
are coated with paraffin wax) or specially prepared highly compressed card
board, treated with resenous and paraffin wax substances. In the case of the
cardboard the paraffin wax substance is added to the pulp before passing to the
moulds, whilst the wood boxes are soaked in a hot bath of the paraffin wax
substance, the ebonite having its inner surfaces coated as above described, to
make them withstand the exciting paste, and saline solution. The ingredients
of the element are to be put into the wood, ebonite or cardboard box, exactly
as in the glass jar, but when it is required to be used as a liquid element, a
hole, preferably near the bottom, is to be made in the containing vessel, which
may then be placed in another vessel containing saline solution, a portion of
which will be absorbed by the exciting paste, through the hole, the element
then acting in every respect as a liquid element. If the element be required for
testing, laboratory, or lecture table purposes it may be taken from the liquid, the
hole corded, and used at will either as a liquid or as a dry element, if the
element be made for use soley in the semi dry state, gelatine and starch need
not be used, as the necessary moisture is obtained from an external source, the

page_text: clay brought to a plastic state by means of the saline solution being all that
is necessary for exciting paste in this case.
Having now described our inventions, we would have it to be known that
what we particularly claim is :—
1st. The use of gelatine and starch in which an electric excitant, such as
ammonia chloride, and sea salt solution, is suspended, the starch and gelatine
in their turn, being mixed with, or suspended in substances, such as wood pulp
and clay, for the purpose, and in the manner, substantially as described.
2nd. The carbon rods or plates, having projections on their surfaces substantially
as described.
3rd. The use of the wood, ebonite or cardboard box prepared as described in
which the ingredients are directly placed for the purpose of a dry or semi dry
galvanic element.
4th. The hole and cork arrangement or its equivalent in connection with a dry
element which enables us to use it at will as what we term a semi dry element,
that is, partly as a liquid and partly as a dry element.
Dated this 16th day of November 1894.
THOMAS BLACKHURST.