IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Alexander Lyttle, of the Grove,
Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES FOR TELEGRAPHIC
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 19th October 1869, and dated the 23rd April 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Alexander
Lyttle at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 23rd April 1869.
I, WILLIAM ALEXANDER LYTTLE, of the Grove, Hammersmith, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES FOR TELEGRAPHIC.
AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
When the cells of a battery are formed of earthenware I do not glaze
the pottery biscuit, or I have it glazed only on the outside, and I render
it both non-conducting and proof against the chemical action of the
battery liquids by heating the biscuit and filling it with or immersing
it in boiling pitch or other bituminous or resinous substance, or in melted
[Price 8d.]

page_text: for use.
paraffine with or without admixture of bituminous, fatty, or resinous
substances. The earthenware is then drained, and when cold is ready
When a battery is to be formed of a series of separate cells I
prefer to employ a series of rather small cells to develope electricity
possessing the requisite intensity, and I combine with these in the same
series one or more cells provided with large sized voltaic elements for
the developement of that quality of electricity known as "quantity."
For instance, a battery box may be made with one or more rows of
small cells running along in the direction of its length, whilst one whole
side or each side may be occupied with a single cell containing pair
of large quantity elements placed at right angles to the direction of the
small or intensity series. In order to preserve the strength of the
battery solutions as nearly uniform as possible when two separate liquids
separated by a porous diaphragm are employed, I sometimes arrange a
series of cells so that all the compartments of one kind, say copper
element compartments, shall open into one common sulphate of copper
reservoir on one side, and the cells of all the other or zinc elements
shall be in like manner so many inlets from one common reservoir of
water on the other side.
Another plan of carrying the same idea into effect is as follows:-
Construct the battery with one porous diaphragm dividing it lougi-
tudinally from end to end, and let one half contain or be in open
communication with one of the required salts or solutions, and the
other half with the other solution. Suppose that a Daniel's battery is
to be made on this principle, to do so place a copper element close
to and facing the porous diaphragm at one end and immersed in the
copper solution; on the opposite side of the diaphragm place a zinc
element parallel to the copper; carry a connecting conductor from the
top of the zinc element across the diaphragın to a second copper element
placed similarly to the first, but situated so far from it that the water
and diaphragm resistance to the current between the first copper and the
first zinc shall be less than the fluid resistance offered to the passage of
the current of electricity. direct from the first to the second copper
element. If this plan is pursued a battery of great power can be con-
structed without separate cells for each voltaic pair, and this principle
of construction is applicable to any existing combination of voltaic
elements. Of course when a single fluid, like that known as Smee's, or
like the carbon, zinc, and sulphuric acid arrangement, is used the porous

page_text: diaphragm is not needed, and the only point to be observed is that the
distances shall be so arranged that the fluid resistance to the blootrie
current shall be least when the current flows in the usual direction,
namely, from each zinc through the liquid to the opposite negative
element, and thence across by metallic conductor to the next zinc,
and so on to the last negative element which forms the positive pole.
Where "quantity" is desired in the current developed as well as
intensity I combine with the foregoing series one or more large sets
of elements, as herein-before described.
When a combination is employed in which a soluble salt of the
electro-negative element is placed in contact with that element I
preserve a constantly closed voltaic circuit in the following manner :-
When it is desired to prevent diffusion of the soluble salt into the zinc
cell and local action therein I connect the opposite poles of the
battery by means of a fine wire terminated with slips of carbon,
plumbago, or with five platinum wire separated by a liquid resistance
so adjusted to the power of the battery that when, the battery circuit is
not closed in telegraphic or other employment a very feeble current.
shall be allowed to pass between the aforesaid points, and the various
elements of the battery will remain polarized with relation to .each
other. The carbon, plumbago, or platinum points are essential to the:
success of the arrangement, so far at least as concerns the fine wire
which is connected with the positive pole of the battery.
The following will be found to be a convenient voltaic combination.
either for the foregoing battery systems or if used in separate cells on
the old plan:-Wrap the zinc element in linen, cloth, or coarse paper;
near to it and parallel place a carbon element, and fill the cell with
broken binoxide of manganese, with or without admixture with saw-
dust or broken charcoal. Moisten the manganese thoroughly with
strong solution of sal ammoniac and partially fill the cell with this
solution; this will complete the voltaic arrangement on the old plan for
a single pair of elements. Of course the same combination of elements
can be arranged in series on any of the foregoing plans. Highly
carburetted or chemically neutralized iron may be made to replace the
carbon element.

page_text: sei edo ed otting
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions: of the Letters Patent,
.not filed bythes said: William Alexander Lyttle in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 19th October 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ALEXANDER LYTTLE, of the Grove, Hammersmith, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hunded and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Alexander Lyttle, Her
special licence that I, the said William Alexander Lyttle, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Alexander Lyttle, 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 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND OTHER
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Alexander Lyttle, 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 William Alexander Lyttle, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
When the cells of a battery are formed of earthenware I do not glaze,
the pottery biscuit, or have it glazed only on the outside, and I render
it both non-conducting and proof against the chemical action of the
battery liquids by heating the biscuit and filling it with or immersing it
in boiling pitch or other bituminous or resinous substance, or in melted

page_text: for use.
paraffine with or without admixture of bituminous, fatty, or resinous
substances. The earthenware is then drained, and when cold is ready
When a battery is to be formed of a series of separate cells I
prefer to employ a series of rather small cells to develope electricity
possessing the requisite intensity, and I combine with these in the same
series one or more cells provided with large sized voltaic elements for the
development of that quality of electricity known as "quantity." For
instance, a battery box may be made with one or more rows of small
cells running along in the direction of its length, whilst one whole side
or each side may be occupied with a single cell containing a pair of large
quantity elements placed at right angles to the direction of the small or
intensity series. In order to preserve the strength of the battery solu-
tions as nearly uniform as possible when two separate liquids separated
by a porous diaphragm are employed I sometimes arrange a series of
cells so that all the compartments of one kind, say copper element com-
partments, shall open into one common sulphate of copper reservoir on
one side, and the cells of all the other or zinc elements shall be in
like manner so many inlets from one common reservoir of water on the
other side.
LI
Another plan of carrying the same idea into effect is as follows:-
Construct the battery with one porous diaphragm, dividing it longi-
tudinally from end to end, and let one half contain or be in open com-
munication with one of the required salts or solutions, and the other
half with the other solution. Suppose that a Daniel's battery is to be
made on this principle; to do so place a copper element close to and
facing the porous diaphragm at one end and immersed in the copper
solution; on the opposite side of the diaphragm place a zinc element
parallel to the copper; carry a connecting conductor from the top of the
zinc element across the diaphragm to a second copper element placed
similarly to the first, but situated so far from it that, the water and
diaphragmn resistances to the current between the first copper and the
the passage
first zinc shall be less than the fluid resistance offered to t
of the current of electricity direct from the first to the second copper
element. It this plan is pursued a battery of great power, can be con-
structed without separate cells for each voltaic pair, and this principle
of construction is applicable to any existing combination of voltaic
elements. Of course when a single fluid battery, like that known as
Smee's, or like the carbon, zinc, and sulphuric acid arrangement, is used

page_text: the porous diaphragm is not needed, and the only point to be observed is
that the distances shall be so arranged that the fluid resistance to the
electric current shall be least when the current flows in the usual
direction, namely, from each zinc through the liquid to the opposite
negative element, and thence across by metallic conductor to the next
zinc, and so on to the last negative element, which forms the positive
pole. Where "quantity" is desired in the current developed as well as
"intensity "I combine with the foregoing series one or more large sets
of elements, as herein-before described.
When a combination is employed in which a soluble salt of the
electro-negative element is placed in contact with that element I pre-
serve a constantly closed voltaic circuit in the following manner :-
When it is desired to prevent diffusion of the soluble salt into the zinc
cell and local action therein I connect the opposite poles of the battery
by means of a fine wire terminated with slips of carbon, plumbago, or
with fiue platinum wire, separated by a liquid resistance so adjusted to
the power of the battery that when the battery circuit is not closed in
telegraphic or other employment a very feeble current shall be allowed
to pass between the aforesaid points, and the various elements of the
battery will remain polarized with relation to each other. The carbon,
plumbago, or platinum points are essential to the success of the arrange.
ment, so far at least as concerns the fine wire which is connected with
the positive pole of the battery.
The following will be found to be a convenient voltaic combination
either for the foregoing battery systems, or if used in separate cells on
the old plan. Wrap the zinc element in linen cloth or coarse paper;
near to it and parallel place a carbon element, and fill the cell with
broken charcoal, preferably animal charcoal, or with broken binoxide of
manganese with or without admixture with sawdust or broken charcoal.
Moisten the manganese thoroughly with strong solution of sal ammoniac,
and partially fill the cell with this solution; this will complete the
voltaic arrangement on the old plan for a single pair of elements. Of
course the same "combination of elements can be arranged in series on
any of the foregoing plans. Highly carburetted or chemically neutralized
iron may be made to replace the carbon element. Cast iron heated
to redness and sprinkled with prussiate of potash (powdered) may
be used.
54

page_text: In order to maintain the strength of the sal ammoniac solution in this
charcoal or manganese battery I prefer to make each cell double by a
partition, one half of the cell containing the solid elements, as above
described, and the other half containing nothing but crystals of sal-
ammoniac and water. The partition between the two compartments
may be of wood, but should always be slotted or perforated so as to allow
of the easy diffusion of the solution from the one compartment of the cell
into the other. This arrangement is intended to be applied when
separate and distinct cells are used.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, I wish it to be
understood that what I claim is,―
Firstly. The substitution of bituminous, resinous, or fatty matter for a
vitreous glaze in making voltaic battery cells of earthenware.
Secondly. The formation of a battery of zinc, sal ammoniac, charcoal
and graphite, or iron, as described, with or without the intervention of
the usual porous or membraneous diaphragm.
Thirdly. The preservation of a constant current in certain batteries, as
described, by keeping the poles always connected by wires communicating
through a fluid conductor.
Fourthly. The substitution of a liquid for a solid "resistance," as
described, in determining the flow of electricity from element to element
through a voltaic battery.
Lastly. The double or reservoir cell arrangement for the form of
battery in which charcoal or manganese and sal ammoniac are used, as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Alexander Lyttle, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-nine.
W. A. LYTTLE. (L.S.)