Year: 1885

page_text: We ALFRED DUN, Apothecary, and FRANZ HASSLACHER, Clerk, both of
Frankfort-on-the-Main in the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature
of this Invention, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a galvanic element of one or two cells, containing,
besides the carbon and zinc electrodes, a liquid of two components, having no action
whatever upon each other, or on the soluble electrode, so long as the current is
interrupted; the action only commencing when the circuit is closed. This liquid
consists of permanganate, or manganate of soda, or any other permanganate, or
manganate, and a solution of caustic potash, or caustic soda.
The electrolytic action is as follows;
When the circuit is closed, the oxygen, generated at the positive electrode, com-
bines with the zinc, and forms oxide of zinc, which is dissolved in the caustic.
alkaline lye, whilst the hydrogen combines with the oxygen of the permanganate
of potash or soda, and forms water, the potash, or soda, resulting from the decom-
position of the latter salt bringing the lye to a higher degree of saturation.
Metallic zinc not being attacked by permanganate of potash or soda, and the
caustic potash, or soda lye, being quite indifferent to the action of the perman-
ganate, no chemical, or electrolytic, action takes place when the circuit is inter-
rupted, so that the element can be kept a very long time without losing its power.
The permanganate produces a very energetic depolarisation, and the internal
resistance is not increased during the working of the element; the dissolved zinc
salt, and the resulting peroxide of manganese are very good conductors of electricity,
and as the alkali resulting from the decomposition of the permanganate, or man-
ganate, during the depolarisation, maintains the solvent power of the lye for zinc
oxide, the working of the element is very constant.
The constancy of the element might be subject to variation, after working a very
long time, as the rate of solution of the salt might not correspond to that of
the depolarising action of the dissolved salt.
In consequence of the great conductibility of the two components of the liquid
the internal resistance is very small. The resulting products of the working
are; Peroxide of Manganese and Sodic, or Potassic Zinc Oxide-Both products
are marketable, and are easily separated, the former remaining in solution, and the
latter being deposited in the form of a slime. After the separation of the zinc, the

page_text: +
permanganate, or manganate, may be regenerated, by heating the peroxide of
manganese to redness, together with the soda, or potash. This element can also be
used as an accumulator since, when it is exhausted, it can be regenerated by means
of a current passed through it in the opposite direction. The dissolved zinc is in
that case precipitated upon the positive electrode whilst the peroxide of manganese
becomes recombined by the absorption of oxygen. When the element consists of
one cell the permanganate of potash or soda is introduced in the form of crystals
or powder mixed with small pieces of carbon or coke and then the caustic lye is
added.
The zinc electrode is separated from the permanganate and the pieces of carbon
by means of a perforated basket of a material not acted on by the alkaline
liquid.
When the element consists of two cells, the caustic lye is placed in the inner
.cell, and the permanganate moistened with the same lye is placed in the outer cell.
Instead of carbon, any metal which is not soluble in caustic alkaline solutions,
can be used, such as platinum, silver, copper, iron.
•
The zinc might be replaced by tin or lead as, when the circuit is closed, their
oxides become dissolved in the lye, but they do not become dissolved when the
current is interrupted.
Instead of the permanganate or manganate of potash or soda, other suitable
permanganates or manganates can be used, such as permanganate or manganate of
lime, but the use of permanganate of potash is the most advantageous.
The power of this element about equal to that of a Bunsen's element, but has
the advantage of being more constant more économical, and without smell.

page_text: An Improved Galvanic Battery.
We ALFRED DUN Apothecary, and FRANZ HASSLACHER, Clerk both of Frankfort
on the Main in the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention for "AN IMPROVED GALVANIC BATTERY" 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 galvanic element of one or two cells, containing,
besides the carbon and zinc electrodes, a liquid of two components having no action
whatever upon each other, or on the soluble electrode, so long as the current is
interrupted; the action only commencing when the circuit is closed. This liquid
consists of permanganate, or manganate of soda, or any other permanganate, or
manganate, and a solution of caustic potash, or caustic soda.
The electrolytic action is as follows:-
When the circuit is closed, the oxygen, generated at the positive electrode, com-
bines with the zinc, and forms oxide of zinc which is dissolved in the caustic
alkaline lye, whilst the hydrogen combines with the oxygen of the permanganate
of potash or soda, and forms water, the potash or soda resulting from the decom-
position of the latter salt bringing the lye to a higher degree of saturation.
Metallic zine not being attacked by permanganate of potash or soda, and the
caustic potash, or soda lye, being quite indifferent to the action of the perman-
ganate, no chemical, or electrolytic action takes place when the circuit is inter-
rupted, so that the element can be kept a very long time without losing its power.
The permanganate produces a very energetic depolarization, and the internal
resistance is not increased during the working of the element; the dissolved zinc
salt, and the resulting peroxide of manganese are very good conductors of electricity,
and as the alkali resulting from the decomposition of the permanganate, or man-
ganate, during the depolarisation, maintains the solvent power of the lye for zino
oxide, the working of the element is very constant.
The constancy of the element might be subject to variation, after working a very
long time, as the rate of solution of the salt might not correspond to that of the
depolarising action of the dissolved salt.
In consequence of the great conductibility of the two components of the liquid,
the internal resistance is very small. The resulting products of the working
are:-Peroxide of Manganese and sodic, or Potassic Zinc Oxide-Both products
are marketable, and are easily separated, the former remaining in solution, and the
latter being deposited in the form of a slime. After the separation of the zinc, the
permanganate, or manganate, may be regenerated by heating the peroxide of
manganate to redness together with the soda or potash. This element can also be
used as an accumulator since, when it is exhausted, it can be regenerated by means
of a current passed through it in the opposite direction. The dissolved zinc is in
that case precipitated upon the positive electrode whilst the peroxide of manganese
becomes reconverted into permanganate by the absorption of oxygen. When the
element consists of one cell the permanganate of potash or soda is introduced in
the form of crystals or powder mixed with small pieces of carbon or coke and then
the caustic lye is added.

page_text: The zinc electrode is separated from the permanganate and the pieces of carbon
by means of a perforated basket of a material not acted on by the alkaline liquid.
When the element consists of two cells, the caustic lye is placed in the inner
cell, and the permanganate moistened with the same lye is placed in the outer cell.
Instead of carbon, any metal which is not soluble in caustic alkaline solutions,
can be used, such as platinum, silver, copper, iron, magnesium.
The zinc might be replaced by tin or lead as, when the circuit is closed, their
oxides become dissolved in the lye, but they do not become dissolved. when the
current is uninterrupted.
Instead of the permanganate or manganate of potash or soda, other suitable
permanganate or manganate can be used, such as permanganate or manganate of
lime, but the use of permanganate of potash is the most advantageous.
The power of this element is about equal to that of a Bunsen's element, but has
the advantage of being more constant, more economical and without smell.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
In galvanic elements, the use of caustic potash or soda lye in combination with a
permanganate or manganate for the electrolytic liquid, together with carbon,
platinum, or any other negative electrode not soluble in the lye and zinc or any
other positive electrode soluble in the lye when the circuit is closed as herein
specified.