AN IMPROVED VOLTAIC BATTERY
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pierre Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau, of
39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, and of 4, South
Street, Finsbury, London, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED VOLTAIC
BATTERY." A communication from Professor Francesco Selmi, of Turin,
in the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Sealed the 2nd January 1857, and dated the 1st October 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pierre Armand le Comte
de Fontainemoreau at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 1st October 1856.
I, PIERRE ARMAND le Comte DE FONTAINEMOREAU, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier,
Paris, in the Empire of France, and of 4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention of "AN IMPROVED VOLTAIC
BATTERY," to be as follows, that is to say:-
The Invention consists in constructing an improved electric battery for
producing motive power by the employment of a copper and zinc element, so
arranged that the copper element is in contact with the air and the saline
solution employed, by which arrangement the oxygen necessary for the gene-
ration of electricity is derivable from the atmosphere in lieu of an acid.
This battery belongs to the constant power class, and is composed of one
liquid and two solid elements, with a glass or other vessel to contain them.

page_text: The liquid is a saturated solution of sulphate of potash, for which can be
substituted sulphate of soda, nitre, chromate of potash, sulphate of magnesia,
and other soluble salts, alkaline or terrous. The elements are so arranged
that the copper element is in contact at the same time both with the exciting
solution and the air, and the zinc element is entirely immersed, but so as to
remain a little above the bottom.
The physical principle from which the power and constancy of this battery
is derived are caused by a special activity which the copper element acquires
by being in simaltaneous contact with the air and the liquid, whereby it
absorbs oxygen from the air and becomes continually unpolarised, while the
zinc element in the state of electric oxidation becomes rapidly oxidised.
The precipitation of the oxide of zinc contributes to keep in a state of
constancy the current, which can last a few days, one month, or more,
according to the size of the battery and the extent of the means employed for
obtaining power. The solution of sulphate of potash becomes alkaline, and all
the potash (or soda, when a salt of soda is employed which becomes caustic,)
gathers round the top of the copper element and can be collected, in which
case however a less quantity of precipitate of zinc is obtained.
The copper element is formed with a long and thin strip or plate wound
round (in the form of a plain spiral with many convolutions) from 1 to 2
inches broad, from 2 to 3 inches long, supported at the necessary height by
copper hooks set over the brim of the vessel, or in any other suitable manner.
The copper does not suffer during the action of the battery, and there is no
necessity for changing it.
The oxide of zinc precipitates during the action of the battery, and may
afterwards be utilized.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Pierre Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 26th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER 3
ARMAND le Comte DE FONTAINEMOREAU, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in
the Empire of France, and of 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year of our Lord One 3

page_text: thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Peter
Armand le Comte de Fontainemorcau, Her special license that I, the said
Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine Moreau, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine-
moreau, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED VOLTAIC BATTERY," communicated to me by Professor Francesco
Selmi, of Turin, in the Kingdom of Sardinia, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after tho
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine-
morcau, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention consists, first, in the employment of sulphate of potash to
form the exciting solution or electrolyte.
Secondly, in placing the copper element so as to be in contact simultaneously
with the air, the exciting solution, and the zinc element, the latter remaining
immersed in the solution, by which arrangement a battery of great constancy
and duration is obtained.
The arrangement of the elements consists in placing the copper element in
contact at the same time with the exciting solution, air, and the zinc element,
the latter being entirely immersed in the liquid and at a short distance from
the bottom, whilst the copper element is only slightly immersed in the exciting
solution. The tension of the current indicated by a galvanometer, if the
copper plate is entirely immersed, is ten degrees, but when removed nearly out
of the liquid, thirty-four degrees.
The method of constructing this battery is as follows:-A spiral is formed
of one or more strips of copper about eighteen to twenty-one feet long. This
spiral is placed in a glass vessel of about the capacity of a quart, and kept in
a horizontal position by small brass, clamps at about one-third to one-half of

page_text: an inch in depth from the edge of the vessel. Underneath is suspended a
horizontal or vertical rolled plate of non-amalgamated zinc. A saturated
solution of sulphate of potass is then poured into the vessel until it covers the
copper spiral about one-tenth of an inch. When communication is established
a very strong current of electricity is developed, which diminishes to a certain
degree, and then remains permanent several days, or more, according to the
means adopted to secure its duration. It is necessary to agitate the liquid
every twenty-four hours with a small glass tube, introduced into the space
between the glass vessel and the copper spiral, or the same object is accom-
plished by blowing through a glass tube placed in the liquid. It should be
remarked that before this operation the liquid is strongly alkaline on the
copper side, but after the agitation it resumes its neutrality, or nearly so, at
the same time the precipitate is increased. The product of the decomposition
by a pair of plates in a glass vessel of the capacity of about a quart, during
twenty-four hours, is about sixty to seventy-five grains troy, which are con-
verted into ninety to one hundred and five grains troy of subsulphate of zinc
combined with the hydrate and carbonate of zinc. The deposit is white,
and without crystalline appearance, except when it is mixed with a siccative
oil.
It is evident that the action of this battery originates in the decomposition
of the sulphate of potass by the action of the zinc and copper elements. The
water is also decomposed. The sulphuric acid and oxygen go to the zinc and
oxidise it. The metal more than sufficiently oxidised to form a neutral
sulphate, gives rise to a sub-sulphate. The hydrogen and alkali collect round
the copper; the alkali remains free, and the hydrogen combining with oxygen
is directly converted into water; it is for this reason the copper does not
polarize. The temperature affects the action of the improved battery, causing
a difference between summer and winter with the same materials in the same
galvanometer, which indicates sixty-eight degrees in the hot, and sixty-two
degrees in the cold season. The zinc in this battery does not require amal-
gamation. With non-amalgamated zinc, and by breaking the circuit, if the
zinc is completely immersed a slow oxidation takes place, and for a certain
time the precipitate of zinc adheres to the zinc and forms a sub-oxide.
The employment of sulphate of potass produces the following effects
between the copper and zinc when in a battery-First, it oxidates the zinc
and causes a white precipitate, which remains mixed with the liquid; secondly,
it causes a stronger current and a larger precipitate when the copper comes in
triple contact; thirdly, it prevents the disengagement of the hydrogen on the
copper in triple contact, but does not prevent it if the copper is deeply

page_text: immersed in the liquid. The solution of nitrate and sulphate of soda, although
they act more feebly, answer the same purpose as the sulphate of potass.
In the triple contact of the elements of the battery, when using a solution
of sulphate of potash, or salts possessing similar properties, a special activity
is produced by the oxygen of the air which is attracted to it; and thus having
become a part of the battery, the oxygen acts on the copper in a similar
manner to that in which nitric acid operates on carbon or on platinum in
Bunsen's and Grove's batteries.
The improved battery is a constant power battery, and is formed without a
diaphragm. Instead of copper, platinum, silver, or other inoxidable material
may be used.
By placing several pairs of plates together, I obtain a current strong
enough to decompose water. Two pairs of elements cause a movement in the
voltamotor with thin platina wires.
This battery has been successfully used for gilding and other electro-
metallurgical operations. The strength and regularity of the galvanic current
cause the metal to be deposited with uniformity. This battery may also be
employed for the electric telegraph, to the extraction of metals from minerals,
and for other industrial purposes not requiring a very strong current, but of
long duration and regularity. The calcined precipitate of zinc ground with
smoke black produces a composition having drying qualities. The zinc may
also be reproduced by heating the oxide with charcoal. The exciting liquid
can be preserved unchanged for several operations, and when it becomes
alkaline it is boiled with sulphate of lime and then filtered. The solution
of sulphate of potass becomes caustic during the action of the battery, and
the potass collects on the copper. The caustic potass which gathers round
the copper may be collected, and used for various operations, such as in the
manufacture of soap, &c. When collected, a less quantity of precipitate of
zinc is obtained on account of a double sub-sulphate of zinc and potass being.
formed which crystallizos at the bottom of the vessel. The alkaline solution
in a battery containing copper and zinc elements should be agitated every
twenty-four hours in order to procure the potass for the above purpose.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that
I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein laid down, so long as the
peculiar character of the Invention be retained; but what I claim is,-
First, the employment of sulphate of potass, or other alkaline salts of a
similar nature, to form the exciting solution, as hercin-before described.
Secondly, the arrangement of a galvanic battery in which the copper

page_text: element is in triple contact at the same time with the air, the exciting
solution, and the zinc element, for producing a constant power battery, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine-
moreau, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day
of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-seven.
L' DE FONTAINEMOREAU. (L.S.)