IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES " communicated to him from abroad
by Julius M. Stebbins, of the City and State of New York, United States of
Amovice
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th July 1883.
[A
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES
communication to him from abroad by Julius M. Stebbins, of the City and State
of New York, United States of America.]
This invention has relation to improvements in electric batteries, and its object
is to provide a battery which shall be practically constant for an indefinite length
of time, and at the same time furnish a maximum of motive force during its
existence.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a cell of india rubber or
any suitable vitreous material and a cover, which is made to fit as nearly air-tight
as possible. I also provide an interior cup or cell closed on all sides except at the
top this cup is made of any non-porous material, except certain portions between
the plates. The carbon plates are suspended in the said cup so as to be submerged
in the exciting solution, and are connected to a screw-cup by compound rods
passing through the cover. Zinc plates are suspended from the cover by connecting
rods. These plates are provided with troughs or cups to contain mercury, to keep
up the supply so as to maintain a uniform and constant amalgamation of the
plates.
Hard india rubber cups are suspended from a cross bar by rods so that when
the said cups are lowered the zinc plates are exposed to the action. of the exciting
fluid, and a free communication established between the zinc and the carbon,
through the medium of the porous wall so that the full strength of the battery is
obtained, but when the cups are raised they surround the sides, ends, and-bottoms

page_text: of the zinc plates so as to cut off all communication with the exciting fluid and
stop the action of the battery. The sides of the cups, as they are raised, press
against the outside of the inside cup so as to completely cover the porous part and
thus prevent all commingling of the fluids on the inside and outside of the cup;
at the same time the loose mercury which is placed in the bottom of the rubber
cups is forced up by the zinc displacing it, and it flows over into the troughs from
whence it is distributed by gravity and capillary attraction over the surface of the
zines, and the surplus runs back into the bottom of the rubber cup where it is
retained until the raising operation is repeated.
I provide a screw post which is a hard india-rubber rod, through the centre of
which passes a copper wire, terminating in a platina button. An india-rubber
clamp is secured to the lower end of the screw post rod to force the platina against
one of the carbon plates.
The zinc connection is likewise an india-rubber rod through the centre of which
passes a copper wire terminating in a platina button so that when the rubber rod
is screwed tightly into the element, the platina is forced into intimate contact
therewith. The peculiar feature of these connections is, that when the plates are
thus connected and submerged in the exciting fluid, the contact is safe and reliable,
as the acid cannot get access to the joint, and all corrosion is thus effectually
prevented.
In case the connecting rod is applied to the zinc element, the clamp is provided
with holes through which a pin passes, so that as the zinc plate is consumed, the
clamp may be adjusted closer to the screw, thereby utilizing the zinc so long as
there is enough left to hold together, and maintaining a sure connection all the
time.
It is also very desirable where the elements are of different thicknesses.
India rubber springs are attached to the lower ends of the lifting rods so as to
press the cup against the porous walls and prevent the mixing of the different
fluids.
'
A standard is secured to the cover and is provided with ratchet teeth; a spring
pawl attached to the cross bar serves to engage the ratchet teeth so that the
sheath may be made to cover the whole, or a portion, of the zinc plates, and thus
utilize more or less of the strength of the battery.
In practice I make the inner cup or cell of any porous earthenware, and before
it is finally baked, I coat all that part of it, but what is interposed between the
positive and negative elements, with a glaze, such as potters use for porcelain and
the like and then bake it; or it may be made by inserting a piece of carbon or
other porous material in that portion, leaving the rest of the cup glazed as above.
In the upper part of this cup are reservoirs, in which are placed crystals of the
bi-chromate of potash, so that as the solution is decomposed, the crystals will
dissolve and thus keep up a saturated solution.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Patent Office on the 19th January
1884.
*
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake and Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES A
communication to me from abroad by Julius M. Stebbins, of the City and State of
New York, United States of America
.
This invention relates to voltaic or electric batteries, and its object is to provide
a battery which shall be practically constant for a great length of time, and furnish
a maximum of motive force during its existence. The said invention comprises the
construction of the battery as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1.is an end elevation, partly in section, of the improved battery.
Figure 2 shows a modification of the battery-jar, having a partition partially
porous.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cup and
Figures 4 and 5 show the connections for the zinc and carbon elements.
A indicates the cell which may be of india-rubber or any suitable vitreous
material, and B the cover, which is made to fit as nearly air-tight as possible.
C indicates an interior cup or cell, closed on all sides except at the top and
made except the porous portions c¹ c³, which are between the plates of any non-
porous material.
The carbon plates D D¹ are suspended in the cup C so as to be submerged in
the exciting solution, and are connected to the binding-screws d by the compound
rods E passing through the cover B. The zinc plates F F are suspended from the
cover by the connecting-rods ff, and are provided with troughs or cups 1, 2, and 3,
to contain mercury so as to maintain a uniform and constant amalgamation of the
plates.
G G indicate hard india-rubber cups suspended from the cross-bar g by the
rods gg, so that when the cups G G are lowered, the zinc plates are exposed to
the action of the exciting fluid and a free communication established between the
zinc and the carbon through the medium of the porous wall c¹ c², whereby the full
strength of the battery is obtained. When the cups G G are raised they surround
the sides, ends, and bottoms of the zinc plates, so as to cut off all cominunication
with the exciting-fluid and stop the action of the battery. The sides of the cups
as they are raised press against the outside of the cell C, so as to completely cover
the porous part c¹ c², and thus prevent all commingling of the fluids on the inner
and outer sides of the cell C. At the same time the loose mercury which is placed
in the bottom of the india-rubber cups G G is forced up by the zinc displacing it,
and flows over into the troughs 1, 2 and 3, from whence it is distributed by
gravity and capillary attraction over the surface of the zincs; the surplus runs
back into the bottom of the india-rubber cup, where it is retained until the
raising operation is repeated.
The compound rods E are of hard india-rubber, through the centres of which
pass copper wires, 4, terminating in platina buttons (See Figure. 4.). An india-
rubber clamp 6 is secured to the lower end of each of the rods E to force the
platina 5 against the carbon plate D.
The zinc connection is likewise an india-rubber rod f, through the centre of
which passes the copper wire 7. terminating in a platina button 10, so that when
the said rod is screwed tightly into the element the platina is forced into intimate
contact therewith. The peculiar feature of these connections is that, when the
plates are thus connected and submerged in the exciting-fluid, the contact is safe
and reliable, as the acid cannot get access to the joint, and all corrosion is thus
effectually prevented.

page_text: In case the rod E is applied to the zinc element, the clamp 6 is provided with
holes 8 through which a pin 9 passes, so that as the zinc plate is consumed the
clamp may be adjusted closer to the screw 61, thereby utilizing the zinc as long as
there is enough left to hold together, and maintaining a sure connection all the
time. It is also very desirable where the elements are of different thicknesses.
13 and 14 indicate india-rubber springs attached to the lower ends of the
lifting-rods g¹ and g², so as to press the cups G against the porous walls c¹ and c
and prevent the mixing of the different fluids.
A standard 15 is secured to the cover B, and is provided with ratchet-teeth 16.
A spring pawl 17, attached to the cross-bar g, serves to engage the ratchet-teeth, so
that the cups G may be made to cover the whole or a portion of the zinc plates,
and' tlíus utilize more or less of the strength of the battery
In practice I make the cup C of any porous earthenware, and before it is finally
baked I coat it, with the exception of that part which is interposed between the
positive and negative elements; with a glaze such as potters use for porcelain and
the like. I may insert a piece of carbon or other porous material into the wall of
the cup glazing the other portion thereof as above described.
In the cup C, in its upper part, are reservoirs 11 and 12, in which are placed
crystals of bichromate of potash, so that as the solution is decomposed the crystals
will dissolve, and thus keep a saturated solution:
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim.
First: In voltaic batteries, a cup or cell made with its middle section porous and
having at its top enlarged reservoirs with depressed bottoms for holding a supply
of the salt of the depolarizing solution, substantially as, and for the purpose,
described.
Second: The zinc plates FF supended in the exciting liquid near the porous
portion of the cup or cell C, in combination with the adjustable cups G G,
substantially as; and for the purpose, described.
Third. The adjustable cups G G, supplied with mercury and suspended in the
exciting-liquid, having springs to force them into close contact with the sides of
the cell C, so that when elevated the cups G will cover the porous part and cause
the galvanic action to cease when not required for use, substantially as, and for the
purpose, described.
Fourth: The combination of the zinc plates FF, the carbon plates D D', the
partially-porous cell, C so arranged that the porous part will be in exact line with
plates D D and F, F, and the adjustable cups G G whereby the action of the
exciting-liquid may be used or suspended as may be required.
Fifth. In a voltaic battery, a positive or negative plate having a screw-threaded
recess, in combination with the hard india-rubber rod f, screw-threaded on its
lower portion and provided with the wire 7 and button 10, as set forth.
Sixth In a voltaic battery, a connection for one or both of the clements,
consisting of the hard india-rubber rod E the wire 4, and the button 5, in com-
bination with the clamp 6 having holes 8, the pin 9, and the screw 6', as set
forth:
£
Seventh. A battery-cell composed of non-porous material, having an inserted
section of carbon, as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my, hand
and seal this nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.