IM- PROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF VOLTAIC ELECTRICITY
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Dickson, of 66, Tollington Road, Holloway,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF VOLTAIC
ELECTRICITY."
Sealed the 5th August 1862, and dated the 10th February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Dickson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th February 1862.
I, JAMES DICKSON, of 66, Tollington Road, Holloway, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF VOLTAIC
ELECTRICITY," to be as follows:-
The discovery upon which this Invention is based is that by raising the
temperature of the electrolytes and substances employed in the evolution of
voltaic electricity the facility of evolving such electricity from the substances
now usually employed for that purpose is increased; and further, that the
increase of the electric fluid obtained by my method is such as to render
certain cheap and easily procurable materials (from which the electric fluid
has not by any means hitherto known been obtained in quantities sufficient to
A

page_text: warrant their employment in manufactures) remuneratively available for the
purpose of such manufactures. The substances which I employ as positive
poles are iron, zinc, tin, lead, copper, carbon, and many of the less conimon
metals, or other suitable metals or metallic compounds. The substances which
I employ as negative poles are carbon, platinum, copper, or other suitable
metals or metallic compounds. The positive electrolytes which I employ are
aqueous solutions of the sulphides of the metals of the alkalies and aqueous
solutions of the sulphides of the metals of the alkaline earths, also aqueous
solutions of the bisulphides or higher sulphides of the said metals of the
alkalies or alkaline earths; also aqueous solutions of the alkalies or alkaline
earths as well as aqueous solutions of the alkaline salts of the said alkalies or
alkaline earths. I also employ aqueous solutions, either of suitable acids or
salts in contact with the positive poles already stated. The negative elec-
trolytes which I employ are oil of vitriol of about the specific gravity 1-8460,
oil of vitriol more or less diluted with water, oil of vitriol more or less diluted
with water, into which I pass sulphurous acid gas; oil of vitriol charged or
saturated with anhydrous sulphuric acid. I also employ sulphurous acid gas
absorbed in water or in aqueous solutions of any suitable acids or salts. I
also employ aqueous solutions of other acids or of the salts of many of the
metals as negative electrolytes.
The various poles which I have spoken of as positive and negative are so of
course relatively only to the electrolytes and opposite poles employed; thus,
for example, when iron is the positive pole, an aqueous solution of common
salt the positive electrolyte, and oil of vitriol the negative electrolyte, carbon
may be used as the negative pole; and again, for example, carbon may be
used as the positive pole when I use as a positive electrolyte an aqueous
solution of potassa, and as a negative electrolyte oil of vitriol charged or
saturated with anhydrous sulphuric acid, and as a negative pole platinum.
☐ I can also, by a suitable selection of electrolytes, employ in one and the
same voltaic arrangement, and at the same time both a positive carbon pole
and a negative carbon pole; also, in many instances, I similarly employ a
positive and negative pole consisting of one and the same metal or metallic
compound.
I propose employing the principle involved in this discovery in improving
voltaic apparatus by appending to such apparatus a means of heating the
vessels containing the said electrolytes and substances employed in the gene-
ration of electricity either by inserting the voltaic apparatus in a vessel con-
taining water or other suitable fluid, which is then heated to any required
temperature, or by attaching to such voltaic apparatus a furnace, gas jet, or.

page_text: water or steam jacket, or other suitable contrivance for the purpose of
raising the temperature of the said electrolytes and substances to any required
degree.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Dickson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, JAMES
DICKSON, of 66, Tollington Road, Holloway, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth. year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Dickson, Her special licence that I, the said James
Dickson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Dickson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VOLTAIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF VOLTAIC ELECTRICITY,"
upon the condition (amongst others), that I, the said James Dickson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, 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 the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Dickson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The discovery upon which this Invention is based is that by raising the
temperature of the electrolytes and substances employed in the evolution of
voltaic electricity, the facility of evolving such electricity from the substances
now usually employed for that purpose is increased, and further, that the

page_text: increase of the electric fluid obtained by my method is such as to render
certain cheap and easily procurable materials (from which the electric fluid
has not by any means hitherto known been obtained in quantities sufficient.to
warrant their employment in manufactures) remuneratively available for the
purpose of such manufactures. The substances which I employ as positive
poles are iron, zinc, lead, and carbon.
In my Provisional Specification I have named, as applicable for this
purpose, tin, copper, and many of the less common metals and other suitable
metals,, but these, I would observe, being costly, are not for that reason
recommended (used.)
The positive poles which I employ in the battery cell, hereafter described,
are wrought or cast-iron, zinc, and lead. The metallic compounds alluded to
in my said Provisional Specification, which I employ as positive poles..in the
said battery, are the liquid or solid amalgams of zinc or of lead, also disulphide
of copper and the alloys, to be hereafter described, under headings ." other
positive poles."
•
1..
"Positive poles." - Of carbon I employ two kinds.as positive poles; first,
heavy indurated carbon derived from coal, such as furnace coke; or, second,
light porous carbon such as that formed from boxwood, lancewood,
mahogany, or similar. woods which have been exposed to a full white heat.
It is the second kind. of. carbon that I employ as a positive pole in con-
centrated. aqueous solutions of potash .or. of soda, or. of their carbonates (in
which said solutions it is dissolved as. though it were a.metal forming in the
said solutions during battery action a very dark. brown solution of carbon
(probably suboxide of carbon C² O.)
The following positive poles, wrought or. cast iron, and heavy indurated
carbon or furnace coke are not dissolved to any great extent when .immersed
in moderately concentrated aqueous solutions of either potash, soda, baryta, or
strontria, when the latter substances are used in the said positive compartment
of the said battery, but the more concentrated the said solutions of potash or
of soda are the more the said carbon is attacked, and this is specially the case
when the said carbon and said solutions are used. together.in the said positive
compartment with the more powerful negative electrotytes, which are firstly,
fourthly, sixthly, seventhly, eighthly, ninthly, twelfthly, and thirteenthly stated
or described hereafter under the heading "negative electrotytes.". In using
salts rendered alkaline by excess of ammonia as positive electrotytes in the
said positive compartment of the said battery cell, I prefer to employ with the
said salts the, said second kind of carbon.
The "other positive. poles ".used that are not materially attacked during

page_text: battery action by the positive electrotytes, into which they are immersed, are
carbon of either the said first or said second kind, platinum, disulphide of
copper (Cu2S¹) brass, also alloys consisting of one part by weight of copper
fused with about one part by weight of either iron, zinc, or lead (but these
exact proportions need not be strictly adhered to.) Any of the last named
positive poles I specially employ in aqueous solutions of the monosulphides
and similar solutions, hereafter stated or described under the heading "positive
electrotytes.
"Negative poles."-The substances which I employ as negative poles are
carbon, platinum, copper, or other suitable metals or metallic compounds.
The negative poles which I use are carbon; this I use in all or in most of
the negative electrotytes, copper, platinum, iron (by iron I mean wrought or
cast iron or steel); first, iron is alloyed with platinum or with the ores of
platinum. For a negative pole to be used in heated oil of vitrol, I prefer to
alloy iron with a large proportion of platinum; for instance, one part of
platinum alloyed with ten parts of iron will act as a negative pole for a short:
time in heated oil of vitriol, but one part of platinum alloyed with either five,
four; three, or two parts, or with one part of iron, will act still better as a
negative pole to be used in heated oil of' vitriol. One part of platinum or of
the native alloys of platinum alloyed with one hundred, two hundred, or more
than two hundred parts of iron arrest the chemical action of boiling oil of
vitriol on the iron with which it is alloyed; secondly, iron or iron alloyed, as
described, is coated with carbon by placing either of them in a vessel containing
coal gas heated by a furnace to a full red.heat. As a negative pole, iron
coated with carbon, as described, is used in oil of vitriol heated but not beyond
about three hundred degrees Fahrenheit; but iron alloyed, as already
described, or coated or platinized with platinum, or with the said native
alloys of platinum, as described under the heading "observations," and then
coated with carbon, I use as a negative pole in-oil- of vitriol heated to tem-
peratures above three hundred degrees Fahrenheit in the battery cell herein-
after described.
The other negative poles, alluded to in my Provisional Specification as other
suitable metals, as, thirdly, disulphide of copper, brass, first blackened, in a
mixture of boiling water, lime, and sulphur, alloys consisting of one part by
weight of copper fused with one part by weight of either iron, zinc, lead, or
antimony; also copper alloyed with a greater proportion than that stated of
the four metals last named, for instance, copper alloyed with four times its
weight of either iron, zinc, lead, or antimony. Any of the said negative poles
except copper, I use principally either in oil of vitriol heated to about two

page_text: hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit, or in heated sulphurous acid evolu-
tions as negative electrotytes.
"Positive Electrotytes."-The. positive electrotytes which I employ in the
positive compartment of the said battery cell are aqueous solutions of any of
the following substances:-Monosulphide of potassum, monosulphide of
sodium, monosulphide-of ammonium, monosulphide of calcium, and the mono-.
sulphides of barium, strontium, and of magnesium; also the bisulphides or
higher sulphides of the said metals of the alkalies, or of the said alkaline
earths mixed with any or all of the said monosulphides already named; also
aqueous solutions of the following substances:--Firstly, the alkolies, alkaline
earths, or their soluble carbonates, mixed and digested; while. hot with
sulphur; secondly, the sulphites or byposulphites of the said alkalies, or of the
said alkaline earths and similar salts; thirdly, the waste lime or gas lime, and
ammoniacal liquors formed, during the manufacture of coal gas. The said
substances, secondly and thirdly stated, I prefer to use with the, said more
powerful negative electrotytes already alluded to; fourthly, soda waste, or the.
refuse of soda works formed in the manufacture of carbonate of soda; fifthly,
sulphate, sulphite, or hyposulphite of soda, or of potash added to sulphide of
calcium, or to the substances, thirdly and fourthly stated; sixthly, chloride of
magnesium, or the sulphate thereof mixed with the sulphide of either calcium
of pataisium, or of sodium.
To any of the already stated substances sea water, common salt, or the.
chlorides of potoisium, or of sodium, or the sulphates, sulphites, or hypo-.
sulphites of either potash or soda may be added, or the said substances may be
mixed with each other, and then used as positive electrotytes.
"Alkaline solutions."-The other positive electrotytes which I employ in
the said positive compartment of the battery cell, are aqueous solutions of
either potash, soda, or of ammonia,, that is to say, ammonia added to any
suitable salt of those named under the heading commercial acids and salts;
also aqueous solutions of baryta, strontia, lime, and magnesia, with which four
last-named substances any suitable salt, as aforesaid, is added; also aqueous
solutions of the carbonates of either potash, soda, or of ammonia, to which
latter any suitable salt aforesaid is added; also aqueous solutions of the
silicates of potash or of soda. Any of the said positive electrotytes may be
mixed with each other to be used as hereafter described. Any of the said
alkaline solutions I employ in the positive compartment of the battery cell,
with only the said more powerful negative electrotytes already alluded to. In
this case I use the said alkaline solutions with carbon, platinum, or iron
positive poles, from any of which said positive poles oxygen gas is then given

page_text: off, if aqueous solutions of potash or of soda are used, but no-oxygen gas, or
at least but little of the said gas is given off if carbon of the said second kind
be the positive pole used in the said aqueous solutions of potash or of soda.
In the said solutions of either potash or soda, with a carbon, platinum, or iron
positive pole contained in the said positive compartment, protoxide of lead
may be dissolved, but only when any of the said more negative electrotytes
are at the same time used in the said negative compartment of the battery.
Zinc and lead are also employed as positive poles in the said solutions of either
potash or soda. The aqueous solutions either of suitable acids or salts
alluded to in my Provisional Specification are commercial acids and salts. The
principal aqueous solutions of the acids which I employ in contact with either
iron, zinc, or lead used as positive poles in the said positive compartment of the
battery, are hydrochloric acid, dilute sulphuric acid. This acid I avoid using
with a positive pole of lead. Dilute nitric acid, I employ this (principally)
with a positive pole of lead, nitric acid or solution of chlorine being also used
in the said negative compartment. The salts which I employ in contact with
the positive poles, iron, zinc,' and lead, are aqueous solutions of chloride
of sodium, sea water; the brine liquor of salt pits. The chlorides of either
potaisium, ammonium, magnesium, barium, strontium, calcium, or of
aluminum, the protochlorides of either iron, zinc, or of manganese, any of
which may be mixed with one or other of the said chlorides named. With a
positive pole of lead I prefer, however; to use the chlorides of either
potassium, sodium, or of ammonium, and sulphate of ammonia; also aqueous
solutions of the sulphates of potash, soda, ammonia, and of magnesia; sulphate
of alumina, alum; also sulphates of the protoxides of either iron, zinc, or man--
ganese. The said sulphates are used with positive poles of zinc or of iron;
but the said sulphates, except that of ammonia, are not used with a positive
pole of lead. In using the said solutions of the chlorides or sulphates a
moderate excess of lime, soda, potash, or of the other alkaline earths, already
* named, may be added thereto, but in such quantity only as will not lessen or
arrest the voltaid energy.
The negative electrotytes, as also the aqueous solutions of other acids,
or of the salts of many of the metals alluded to in my Provisional Specification
as used as negative electrotytes, I now proceed further to define..
"Negative Electrotytes "-The negative electrotytes which I employ in the
negative compartment of the said battery cell are, firstly, oil of vitriol, of from
specific gravity 1-846 to specific gravity 1.52. Secondly, oil of vitriol, of from
specific gravity 1.52 to specific gravity 1-24. Thirdly, dilute sulphuric or

page_text: hydrochloric acids. Fourthly, any of the electrotytes firstly, secondly, and thirdly
stated, or aqueous solutions of the salts named under heading "Commercial
acids and salts "are charged or saturated with chlorine. Fifthly, the negative
electrotytes secondly and thirdly stated, charged or saturated with sulphuroies
acid. Water or sea water, or aqueous solutions of any of the following substances
charged or saturated with sulphurous acid, viz., acetic or oxalic acids, chlorides
of either potassium, sodium, ammonium, barium, strontium, magnesium, or of
aluminum; also the sulphates of either potash, soda, ammonia, magnesia,
or of alumina, alum; the nitrates of acetates of the alkalies, or of the alkaline
earth; or water charged or saturated with sulphurous acid, and then frozen
or exposed, to a very low temperature. Sixthly, Nordhaussen or fuming oil of
vitriol, or oil of vitriol of specific gravity 1-846, in which is dissolved aulydrous
sulphuric acid. Seventhly, concentrated or dilute aqueous acid, or saline.
solutions, of sesquichloride of iron; or similar solutions which contain sesqui-
chloride of iron. Eighthly; solutions of sulphite of peroxide of iron in sulphuric
and,in hydrochloric acids. Ninthly, aqueous solution of chloride of copper,
(Cu C) to which is added, such an excess of either aqueous hydrochloric
acid, or of sea water, or of the chlorides of either pottassium, sodium, or of.
ammonium dissolved in water, as will during battery action prevent, the pre-
cipitation of white dichloride of copper on the negative carbon or platinum pole.
employed. Tenthly, dichloride of copper (Cu2 C') dissolved. in fuming or,
dilute hydrochloric acid, or in sea water, or dissolved in aqueous solutions of:
common salt, chloride of potassium, chloride of ammonium, or in other suitable.
chlorides named under heading "Commercial acids and salts"; or sulphurous
acid dissolved in sea water or in aqueous solution of the chlorides of the alkalies,
and of the alkaline earths, to which are then added oxide or dioxide of copper,.
the said solution is then heated and used as negative electrotyte, with or.
without addition of sulphur and subsequent addition of oxide of copper.
(Cu O). Eleventhly, oil of vitriol of specific gravity. 1-846, heated to about
three. hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit; or oil of vitriol diluted as.
secondly, thirdly, and fourthly described, in either of which acids, when heated,
the sulphate or oxide of copper is dissolved. Twelfthly, nitric acid, fuming or
diluted, with water; or nitrous acid vapors dissolved in oil of vitriol of from.
specific gravity 1:846 to specific gravity 1-15; or the said nitrous acid vapors.
dissolved in either dilute sulphuric acid or in dydrochloric acid; or the said
nitrous acid vapours dissolved in sea water or in aqueous solutions of any of
the following substances, viz., the chlorides of either potassium, sodium, or
ammonium, the sulphate of potash, soda, or of ammonia. Thirteenthly, aqueous

page_text: solutions of the nitrates and nitrities of iron or of copper, to which said
solutions a portion of sulphuric, hydrochloric or dilute nitric acids; or a portion
of any of the last named chlorides or sulphates are added.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 1, 2, 3, AND 4.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of Figure 3, taken through the dotted line
A, B, Figure 3; Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1; Figure 2 is a vertical
section of Figure 4 taken through dotted lines A, B, Figure 4; Figure 4
is a plan of Figure 2. W, W, W, W, Figure 1, is a circular cast-iron fur-
nace with moveable cover supporting the porcelain battery cell A, A, A, A,
by its rim as represented in Figures 1 and 3, in which said Figures the same
letters correspond to the same parts; e, e, e, is a porcelain cover to the said
battery cell, in which said cover circular holes are made to admit the porous
cell P, P, P, P, and the carbon pole C, C, into their respective positions as
represented in the said Figures 1 and 3, X represents a hole formed through
the said cover e, e, e, Figure 3, into which said hole the negative electrotytes
to be hereafter alluded to are poured, Q represents a pipe by which the said
negative electrotytes are discharged when exhausted; I, I, represents the
position of a positive pole when placed in the said porous cell; r, r, is a
porcelain cover having a circular hole formed in it, the lines a, a, Figure 1,
represent the level of fluid hereafter alluded to; V, V, represents binding
screws; T, T, represent copper wires; J represents a coal gas jet and flame;
G, G, the gas pipe connected with the said jet and tapped into the said furnace
as represented at n, Figure 1; S the gas cock, as represented in the said
Figures; m, m, m, m, Figure 1, are several holes represented by dotted lines
formed in the said furnace, to permit of a draught of air through the said
furnace 0, 0, 0, Figure. 1, represent the space into which the negative
electrotytes are poured; N, N, represent the space into which the positive
electrotytes are poured; 1, 1, 1, 1, represent the level to which the said electro-
tytes are poures in the said battery cell. Figure 2, represents a double
porous cell of which R, R, R, R, is the outer porous cell, and P, P, P, P,
the inner. porous cell on to the said 'outer p. cell a porcelain cover 1, r, is
placed, in which a circular hole is made to admit the said inner p. cell into
its position represented in Figure 2; t, t, is a porcelain cover having a hole
formed in it to admit any of the positive poles that may be used in the said
inner porous cell; I, I, represent the position of a positive pole in the said
inner porous cell, P, P, P, P. The saine letters in Figures 2 and 4 correspond
to the same parts. Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, represent the battery cell, porous
cells, and apparatus connected therewith of their full size.

page_text: I give the following as examples of the mode in which I use the various
positive and negative electrotytes, poles, and apparatus of the battery cell.
First example.-Into the space lettered N, N, in the positive compartment.
or porous cell P, P, P, P, containing a positive pole of iron lettered I, I,
represented in Figure 1, is poured a mixture of one volume of oil of vitriol
with eight times its volume of water. Into the negative compartment
or space lettered O, O, O, in the porcelain. vessel A, A, A, A, represented.
in Figure 1 is poured pure commercial oil of vitriol of from specific
gravity 1:846 to specific gravity 1.52. The gas from the gas jet J,
is then ignited and allowed to heat the said battery cell, and oil of vitriol
and other contents of the said battery cell to two hundred and twelve
degrees Fahrenheit.. The said battery cell is now fit for. use. Or, instead
of using the said positive pole, and the said dilute suphuric acid contained
in the said porous cell as described, I place in the said porous cell or positive
pole of either iron, zinc or lead, and use any of the said positive poles
immersed in the respective aqueous solutions of the acids, alkalies, or of salts
in or with which said solutions the said positive poles have been already.
described as used under the various headings already given; the said aqueous
solutions being poured into the said porous cell, and the said oil of vitriol
heated as described, the said battery is then fit for use. Instead of using the
porous cell P, P, P, P, Figure 1, I employ in the said battery cell the double
porous cell represented in Figure 2, and then I pour into the space lettered
X, X, Figure, dilute sulphuric acid, and use the said positive poles and
the said aqueous solutions in the inner porous cell P, P, P, P, Figure 2, in
the manner already described in using the porous cell P, P, P, P, Figures 1
and 3. A double or single porous cell may at all times be used as described
in any form of the battery apparatus hereafter described. If it be desired
to generate a still more powerful battery current in this form of battery, it
is only necessary to heat the said oil of vitriol in the said negative compart-
ment to higher heats than two hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit
for instance, to three hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, or to four
hundred degrees Fahrenheit, or to the boiling point of the said oil of vitriol;
this is simply effected by increasing the gas flame at the same time the
fluids in the porous cell employed must be prevented from boiling over.
This is effected, by substituting for the said porous cell P, P, P, P, Figure 1,
without other alteration, the form of porous. cell represented in Figures 20
and 20%, into which any of the said positive poles are placed; a constant supply
from a reservoir of any of the said aqueous solutions at about sixty degrees.
Fahrenheit, is then conducted by means of taps or pipes into the said. porous.

page_text: cell, Figures 20 and 20%, in such quantity as to prevent the ebullition in the
said porous cell, the superfluity of the said aqueous solutions is carried.
off by the pipe x, Figures 20 and 20%, into stoneware, leaden, or other
suitable vessels. Instead of using oil of vitriol as a negative electrotyte in:
the said battery cell represented in Figures 1 and 3 in the manner already
described, I substitute for the said oil of vitriol in the said negative compart-
ment of the said battery cell any of the other negative electrotytes_stated.
or described under, heading "negative electrotytes;" into the porous cell.
P, P, P, P, Figure 1. is then placed either iron, zinc, or lead as positive
poles, and into the said porous cell is then, poured any of the said aqueous
solutions of acids, alkalies, or of salts, in or with which the said positive poles
have been already described as used under the various headings already given.
The said battery cell and its contents are then heated to a temperature of
two hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit.. A temperature of about two.
hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit being a readily available temperature
is that which is suitable to many of the said negative electrotytes, and the
same remark applies to most of the aqueous solutions of the said acids, salts,.
or positive electrotytes that are used in the said positive compartment of
the battery cell, but to the said negative, electrotytes, fourthly, fifthly, sixthly,.
twelfthly, and thirteenthly stated, a less temperature than two. hundred and
twelve degrees Fahrenheit may be applied, for instance, the negative electro-
tytes fifthly stated, may be heated to about one hundred and eighty degrees.
Fahrenheit, and used as described, so also the negative electrotyte sixthly
stated may be beated to a temperature of about ninety degrees Fahrenheit,.
and then used as described, but when it is advisable to maintain the tem-
perature of any of the said negative electrotytes as low as the temperatures
lastly alluded to, I cause the said aqueous solutions of acids, salts, or of
positive electrotytes to be heated to about two hundred and twelve degrees.
Fahrenheit, in a suitable vessel, and then by means of a tap and pipe con-.
nected thereto, the said heated solutions are conducted into the porous cell.
represented in Figures 20 and 20%, which said porous cell is first however.
placed in the battery cell represented in Figures 1 and 3 instead of the said.
porous cell represented in the last-named Figures, the said heated aqueous
solutions are then allowed to percolate through the said porous cell so as to-
maintain their temperature at about two hundred degrees Fahrenheit as they.
issue from the pipe X, represented in Figures 20 and 20ª, while any of the.
said negative electrotytes (whose temperature in the said battery cell is at
the same time to be kept lower than that of the said heated aqueous solutions)
are at a temperature of about sixty degrees Fahrenheit caused by means of

page_text: suitable taps and pipes to enter at X, Figure 3, and to percolate through the
negative compartment of the said battery cell in such quantity that as the
said negative electrotytes issue from the said battery cell by the pipe Q,'
Figures 1 and 3, they become heated only to the temperature at which it
is found convenient to use them as negative electrotytes as aforesaid. Or
to effect the same result the said battery cell may, without other alteration
in the conditions already described, be immersed up to the level x, x, Figure 1,
in cold water contained in a suitable vessel, through which by means of taps
and pipes connected therewith a continuous flow of cold water is caused to
percolate in such quantity as to maintain the said negative electrotytes
at the required temperature, when any of the said negative electrotytes
before alluded to contain substances capable of assuming the gaseous state
by heating them in the said battery cell as already described. I keep up
a supply of any of the said substances to the said negative electrotytes in
'the said battery cell either by passing the said substances as gas through
the said negative electrotytes by means of of suitable tubes immersed therein,
as for instance, by placing a leaden tube conveying sulphurous acid gas into
'the opening of the cover e, e, e, Figure 1, and immersing the said tube into
the sulphurous negative electrotyte employed in the battery cell A, A, A, A,
Figure 1, or by causing the said gases to become absorbed in their respective
solvents contained in suitable vessels, and then conducting the said solvents
thus charged or saturated by means of pipes into the said negative compart-
ment of the battery cell, from which, when sufficiently exhausted by battery
action, they escape by cocks or by similar means to be again charged or
saturated as lastly described.
Second example.-Instead of using oil of vitriol as a negative electrotyte at
212° Fahrenheit, in the manner already described in the first example given,
any of the more powerful negative electrotytes are substituted for the said oil
of vitriol in the negative compartment of the battery cell, A, A, A, A, Figs. 1
and 3, viz., the negative electrotytes 4thly, 6thly, 7thly, 8thly, 9thly, 12thly,
and 13thly, stated or described, but the negative electrotyte 1stly stated I use
as one of the said more negative electrotytes only when it is of specific
gravity 1-846, and when heated to its boiling point. Any of the said more
negative electrotytes are poured into the said negative compartment of the
said battery cell and into the said porous cell; P, P, P, P; Figs. 1 and 3, are
placed as positive poles; either platinum, wrought or cast iron, or carbon of
either the said first or second kind, any of the positive electrotytes named or
described under heading "alkaline solutions" are then poured into the said
porous cell. The said battery_cell and its contents are then heated to a

page_text: temperature of 212° Fahrenheit. In this 2nd example when using aqueous
solutions of lime and magnesia in the said porous cell, these substances are to
be added to potash or soda, or to the carbonates of the said alkalies. A.
double-porous cell cannot be dispensed with in using many of the electrotytes as
described in this example; or instead of using the said "alkaline solutions "
in the said porous cell, as already described in the said. example, any of the
positive electrotytes named or described under heading "positive electrotytes"
are poured into the said porous cell, and either a carbon pole of the said first
or second kind, or a platinum or any other of the positive poles named or
described under heading "other positive poles" are immersed into the said
positive electrotytes contained in the said porous cell, the said battery cell and
the negative electrotytes already described as contained in the said negative
compartment thereof are heated as already described.
3rd example. Instead of using oil of vitriol in the battery cell A, A, A, A,
Fig. 1, in the manner already described in the 1st example given, oil of vitriol
of specific gravity 1.846 is poured into the negative and into the positive com-
partments of the said battery cell, an unamalgamated zinc positive pole is then
placed into the said oil of vitriol contained in the said positive compartment or
porous cell P, P, P, P, Figs. 1 and 3. The said battery cell and its contents
as represented in Fig. 1, are now heated by the gas flame to 360° Fahrenheit,
or to higher temperatures. If the copper wires T, T, connected with the said
zinc and carbon poles, as represented in Fig. 1, be not brought into contract
with each other during the said heating, the hot oil of vitriol attacks the said
zinc pole, gas being evolved from its surface; but if the said wires be placed
in contact with each other, the influence of the electric current generated
immediately transfers the said gas to the surface of the said negative pole, and
all apparent action on the said zinc pole ceases so long as the said wires are
in contact with each other. The said porous cell may be dispensed with in
this form of battery, and the said positive and negative poles should be placed
as closely as possible to but without touching each other. Instead of the said
carbon negative pole a platinum or any of the negative poles firstly and
secondly described under heading "negative poles" may be employed.
platinum, or into a similar solution of platinum ores containing the more rare
metals known to exist in the said ores; for instance, a plate of iron one foot
square may be dipped into a glass vessel containing a cubic foot of water, in

page_text: which 10 or 20 grains of bichloride of platinum are dissolved, or in which are
dissolved 10 or 20 grains. of the said ores of platinum rendered soluble by
chemical agents; the said plate then platinized is after the lapse of about a
minute taken out, well washed with water, gently dried at about 220° Fahren
heit, and then carefully coated with carbon as described, the said solution of
platinum or of its ores may be repeatedly used for the same purpose. A plate
or vessel of iron prepared in this way may be used as a negative pole only in
oil of vitriol, especially when the latter is heated and used as a negative
electrotyte at a temperature, by preference, of about 400° Fahrenheit or
450° Fahrenheit. If into a vessel of iron coated by means of the said solution
of platinum, or of the ores of platinum dried as described, be poured oil of
vitriol, the latter may be made to boil therein without attacking the said iron
vessel. The principle involved in this effect is that when iron as a positive
pole is metalically connected with a metal, such as platinum, which is
unattacked by the said boiling oil of vitriol, in which both of the said metals
are immersed, it (the said iron positive pole) immediately ceases to be attacked
by the said boiling oil of vitriol. I employ this passive property of iron due
to electrical influence in using large iron vessels, protected by the said contact
with platinum, or with the said metals contained in the said ores of platinum
already stated, firstly, as vessels to hold or contain the said heated oil of
vitriol; 2ndly, as vessels in which to concentrate and distil the oil of vitriol
which has become diluted and has been used as negative electrotyte as already
specified; thirdly, to manufacture oil of vitriol for use as negative electrotytes,
as aforesaid, more economically and with less danger and risk than when the
said oil of vitriol is concentrated by the ordinary method in either glass or
platinum vessels; fourthly, as wires, rods, plates, or vessels used as negative
poles with heated or boiling oil of vitriol as negative electrotyte. In this case,
however, I prefer to alloy a large proportion of the said platinum or ores of
platinum with the iron. The said contact of the iron with platinum or with
the said metals contained in its said ores may be effected either by alloying
iron with platinum or with the said ores of platinum or their alloys, or by
coating iron with the said platinum or with alloys of platinum or its said ores,
or by using the said platinum or its said ores or alloys of platinum as wires,
rods, or plates metallically connected with the said iron by means of binding
screws, or by welding or by similar means. The following is an instance of
the latter method:-Into a semicircular iron boiler is immersed a network of
fine platinum wire, also of a semicircular form corresponding to that of the
said boiler; one of the main wires of the said platinum network is then welded
or metallically connected either within or without the said boiler with the

page_text: use.
metallic iron thereof. To the said boiler may be fitted an iron cover and pipe,
both of which have been polished, or brightened, and then immersed in a
solution of platinum or of the said ores of platinum, and dried as before stated.;
oil of vitriol. may now be contentrated, boiled, or distilled by means of the
said boiler. Again to coat iron with platinum by means of any of the said
alloys already alluded to, a portion of platinum or of the said ores of platinum,
are added to fused zinc or similar metal, so as to dissolve therein the said iron
as rods or. vessels are now dipped into chloride of zinc and then immersed
into the said fused zinc and platinum, when it becomes coated therewith.
The said rods or vessels are now heated with oil of vitriol, which dissolves the
zinc and leaves the platinum in contact with the said iron which is now fit for
Plates of cast iron, or steel alloyed with platinum, or with its said ores,
may be rendered malleable by the process of cementation, and then rolled or
hammered into thin sheets, and rivetted together, so as to form large vessels
to be used for the purposes of heating, boiling, or distilling oil of vitriol.
Again, I protect iron vessels during the boiling or concentration of sulphuric.
acid of specific gravity 1.35, to higher specific gravities, by connecting the said
iron vessels with one pole of a voltaic battery, so as to act as an anode to the
said battery, while I immerse into the said sulphuric acid a carbon, platinum,
or other suitable pole, connected with the other pole of the said voltaic battery,
so as to act as a cathode thereto. Or, what amounts to the same thing, while
boiling or concentrating the said sulphuric acid of specific gravity 1.35, in.an
iron vessel, I metallically connect the said iron vessel as a positive pole with
a platinum or other suitable negative pole immersed in oil of vitriol or other
suitable negative electrotyte contained in a porous cell, which is then also
immersed in the said sulphuric acid of specific gravity 1-35. I also employ.
vessels of pure commercial zinc, in which I boil or concentrate or merely heat.
sulphuric acid of about specific gravity 1-35, taking the precaution to first
saturate the said acid with sulphate of zinc, or with an excess of the said.
sulphate. To the said vessel of zinc may be fitted a cover and pipe of iron
platinized, as already described with solutions of platinum or of its said ores,
by continued boiling, the sulphuric acid may at length be distilled over into.
suitable receivers. I have described the various means of heating, boiling,
or distilling oil of vitriol with the object of facilitating, and thereby lessening
the cost of the ordinary method of manufacturing the said acid, which will.
therefore be the means of lessening the cost in the production of voltaic.
electricity where the said oil of vitriol is employed for that purpose. The
battery cells may be formed of lead, antimony, iron, or brass, or of any.
of the alloys described under heading "negative poles (if they be only.

page_text: employed as vessels to hold oil of vitriol at about 212. Fahrenheit), in which
case they may be used as negative poles, if already specified as such, such
battery cells should be heated in the forms of apparatus represented in
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 14, but the said metallic battery cells may be heated
in vessels of cast iron, similar in shape, for instance, to that represented in
5, 6, and 7, the pipes R, R, R, R, being then plugged so as to prevent the
escape of oil, tallow, or similar non-conducting fluid contained in the said
vessels, which may be called heaters; care must be taken, however, to insulate
the said battery cells from the covers of the said heaters; which latter may be
placed over a furnace furnishing the required heat to the said battery cells.
Of course the electricity produced in various forms of battery alluded to in this
Specification are applicable to the production of light when applied to electric
lamps, also to the production of motive power by means of electro-magnetic
engines, as also to telegraphy and to electro-chemical purposes. I'may here'
add that there are, besides the metals already described as positive poles,
several which act as such with moderate energy in oil of vitriol heated to
about 350° or 400° Fahrenheit, they being opposed to a negative metal, such
as platinum, in the said acid; but thèse I do not recommend on account of
their cost or. rarity, copper, antimony, bismuth, nickel, are some of the said
positive poles. The same remark applies to tin and copper as positive poles,
when used in the manner described with reference to the positive poles, iron,
zinc, and lead, employed as described in the 1st example given, but from the
costliness of the said tin and copper they are not recommended. In some
instances I employ a porous cell of deal, or of pine, or of other suitable wood,
either as a single porous cell or as the inner cell of a double or triple porous
cell. Where sulphate or sulphite of soda or potash are formed by the battery
action in any of the examples given, their substances are converted by known
processes into their respective monosulphides, or they are converted into potash
or soda, or into the carbonates of potash or soda to be used either in the battery
cells or for any required purpose. I make use of any process publicly known
or published in standard scientific works in producing from suitable com-
mercial or chemical substances, or from suitable substances which are the
products of the battery action already described, any of the materials which.
I employ in the production of voltaic electricity, for instance, I pass carbonic.
acid, air, or sulphurous acid into or in contact with the bisulphides or higher
sulphides of the metal of the alkalies, or of the alkaline earths formed by the
battery action; in this way I recover a large proportion of the sulphur
originally combined with the said substances. It is to be understood that
the poles named or described as negative poles are to be used principally

page_text: in the negative electrotytes in which they have been already described as used,.
therefore the negative poles are not to be indiscriminately, employed in all of
the "negative electrotytes," those only are to be employed in the said negative
electrotytes which do not chemically attack or destroy them; for instance,
copper is to be used in solutions of sulphate of copper, but not in solutions of
chlorine nor in those of chloride of copper (Cu C¹), nor in solutions of
sesquchoride of iron as negative electrotytes. Oil of. vitriol is also employed
as negative electrotyte in battery cells to which heat is applied, and whose
covers are fitted to them so as to prevent the escape-of the boiling acid in its
gaseous state from them when heated. in the said battery cells to higher
temperatures than that of the highest known boiling point of oil of vitriol at
ordinary atmospheric pressure, zinc and platinum being at. the same time
used as positive and negative poles in the said battery cells; in this way.a.
powerful voltaic current may be generated.

page_text: of steam admitted into the said heater, are then fit for use. Fig. 8 is a view
of a heater, its cover being removed; Fig. 9 is a section of Fig. 8, taken
through the dotted line A, B, Fig. 8. D, D, D; D; a wooden or iron heater;
in which, as represented in the said Figures, are seven long iron or leaden
steam pipes, whose ends R, R, protrude beyond the ends of the said heater;
a, a, a, a, a, a, are connecting tubes, soldered or connected to the said pipes,
through the whole length of which in the directions shewn by the arrows in
the said Figure, a current of steam passes, and thereby heats the air and the
charged battery cells, which are inserted into holes made in the cover,
shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 9; in this and in similar heaters, the battery
cells used may be formed of glass well glazed, stoneware, or of iron or other
suitable substances, which if metallic, may be used with a wooden or non-
conducteous cover. Fig. 10 is a section of Fig. 11, taken through the dotted
line A, B, Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a view of a heater or steam jacket shewing
its cover X, X, X, X, having formed in it, as represented in the said Figure,
18 circular holes into which the battery cells are inserted; b, b, b, b, the outer
vessel; a, a, a, a, the inner vessel; R, R, steam pipes, which conduct steam
into the space between the said outer and inner vessels, as shewn by
the direction of the arrows; in this form of apparatus glass or similar
battery cells or metallic battery cells, may also be employed, the latter of
them with the precautions already stated. Instead of using steam in any of
the apparatus given water or suitable aqueous fluids, such as concentrated
alkaline solutions, solutions of potash or of soda, or aqueous solutions of
chlorides of calcium and similar fluids or oil, any of which may be made to
flow when heated through the metallic pipes and vessels used for applying
heat as described. Fig. 12 is a section of Fig. 13, taken through dotted
line A, B, Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is an end view of a battery cell similar to that
represented in Fig. 12. A, A, A, A, is a vessel composed of an alloy of iron
and platinum, into which oil of vitriol, of special gravity 1-846, is poured, into
the said acid a positive pole of unamalgamated zinc, I, I, I, I, Fig. 12, is
immersed. Figs. 12 and 13 are full-sized Drawings; the battery cell, last
alluded to, is then heated to a temperature of about 400° Fahrenheit, over. a
fire as shewn in Fig. 14; it is then fit for use. T, T, are copper wires; V, V;
binding screws; S, S, the cover, (Fig. 1); 9, 9, in Figs. 12 and 13, represent
glazed stoneware or glass rests for said zinc pole. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9;
10, 11, 14 and 15, are drawn to a scale of 2 inches to a foot; Fig. 15 is a
plan of a battery cell, A, A, A, A, a section of which through the dotted
line, A, B, (Fig. 15,) is given in Fig. 14, in which Figure a section of a
furnace boiler, and of other parts, is also given; B, B; B; B, represents the
the

page_text: brickwork of the said furnace F, the fuel, and fire bars; Q, Q, an oblong
plate, on which the rim of the said battery cell rests; i, i, (Fig. 14) is the
cover of the said battery cell, in which five holes are formed to admit
the small pipes o, which through the pipe and tap h convey oil of vitriol
of specific gravity 1.846 into the said battery cell, from which the said
oil of vitriol when exhausted, escapes by the pipe t, t, into the inner
cooling iron vessel D, D, D, contained in the outer iron vessel C, C, C ;
v, v, represents the level of the water supplied by the tap j, to the space
existing between the said vessels. The iron pipe s allows the superfluous
water to escape, and the iron pipe y allows the oil of vitriol that has
been cooled in the iron vessel D, D, D, and has precipitated what sulphate
of zinc it held in solution to escape into leaden vessels q, q, the level to which
the said oil of vitriol rises; w, w, represents an iron cover to the said iron vessel
D, D, D. Z, Z, blocks supporting the cooling vessels; x, x, represents a mass
of sulphate of zinc which has been precipitated from the said oil of vitriol
after that acid has been used in the said battery cell and subsequently cooled
in D, D, D. X, X, (Fig. 14) represents a short cast-iron pipe, having flanges
at each end of it; the said pipe X, X, the said outer vessel C, C, C, and the
said inner vessel D, D, D, are all three clamped together by means of the
bolts, nuts, and screws, as represented in the said Figure stout sheet lead being
at the same time interposed between the surfaces of junction at which the
letters 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, are placed; b is a stout plate of cast iron, clamped by
the bolts, nuts, and screws shewn in the Figure to the said pipe, sheet lead
being interposed at the surface of junction lettered c, c; the use of the said
pipe and its appurtenances is to remove from the vessel D, D, D, the precipi-
tated sulphate of zinc; this is done by unscrewing the nuts and allowing them
and the plate of cast iron b to slip back to the heads of the said bolts shewn
in the Figure. Openings are formed in the cover i, i, of the battery cell,
through which said openings portions of the positive zinc and negative poles or
plates represented in Figure 14 protrude; the said positive and negative poles are
respectively indicated by the mark X and the letter r formed on them in the
said Figure. d, d, d, d, are glass or porcelain guides placed on the upper and
under the lowest parts of the said negative poles; the said guides have groves
or spaces, as shewn in the said Figures, in which each corner and edge of the
zinc plates either rests or is guided, as shewn in Figs. 14 and 15. The battery
cell A, A, A, A, is formed of iron, coated or platinized in its inner surface and
otherwise prepared as a negative pole for use in oil of vitriol, heated above
300° Fahrenheit, as already specified. The protruding ends of each of the
positive poles are respectively clamped together, as represented in Figure 15

page_text: to form one large positive pole. The iron of the negative pole consists of
plates all cast in one piece, as represented in the said Figures, and then
platinized and coated as already specified to be used as one large negative pole,
the iron battery vessel being métallically connected with the said negative
plates, as shewn in Figure 15. Through the tap h oil of vitriol is allowed to
flow continuously in regulated quantity from suitable reservoirs into the said
battery cell; a fire, as represented at F, is then made in the said furnace, so
as to heat the said oil of vitriol to about four hundred degrees Fahrenheit, at
the same time cold water is made to flow constantly through the tap j into the
vessel C, C, C. The apparatus is now fit for use. The oil of vitriol as it escapes
from the pipe y is received in suitable vessels, in which it is concentrated, and
then returned to the said reservoir. I propose using this battery cell as a large
single cell for generating magnetic motive power. Figure 20° is a plan of a
porous cell P, P, P, P, an end view of which is given in Figure 20; a repre-
sents a small pipe formed in a piece with the porous material. It is evident
that the porous cell here shewn may be of an oblong shape. I obtain oxygen
gas as the product of battery action when aqueous solutions of potash or of
soda are used with nitric acid or other the said more negative electrotytes
when heated as described, by employing cast-iron vessels into which the said
aqueous solutions of potash or of soda are poured. The said vessels are con-
structed in the principle of a Woulfe's apparatus; each of them may have two
openings formed in them, viz., a large central aperture and a smaller one;
into the former a porous cell is inserted and fitted to or against the side of the
said aperture so as to be air-tight; by the smaller aperture the oxygen gas
evolved is conducted into suitable gas holders and there collected, and then
used as desired; of course the negative electrotyte used is poured into the said
porous cell. Again, I use the same kind of apparatus in various forms, having
two or more apertures for the purpose of saturating with sulphurous acid
gas or other gases, already described, as used in aqueous solutions as nega
tive electrotytes at the same time with the said positive poles, and acids, salts,
or alkaline electrotytes, that porous cells having placed within them are
immersed into the said negative electrotytes, all of which said poles, electro-
tytes, and appurtenances may be enclosed in the said apparatus by suitable
covers, so as to prevent the escape therefrom of the gaseous substances alluded
to, and then used for the purpose of producing electricity.

page_text: First, the application of heat, as herein-before set forth, to the materials
employed in the production of voltaic electricity.
And, secondly, the arrangement of parts in the apparatus, of which Draw-
ings are hereunto annexed, constructed in such a manner as to admit of the
application of heat to the materials employed, as aforesaid.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Dickson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
JAMES DICKSON. (L.S.)