Improvements in and connected with Electric Batteries.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Electric Batteries.
I, ERNST AUGUST JAIINCKE, of 30, Northampton Park, Canonbury, in the County
of London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
us follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in, and connected with, electric batteries,
and it has for its object to produce a constant battery with a maximum of energy.
In carrying out my invention, I place in a trough or vessel, containing the
exciting liquid or electrolyte, any desired number of elements composed, say of
lead and zinc, (sulphate of copper being used as the electrolyte). I arrange these
elements close together and, in order to avoid metallic connection between the
adjacent plates of each consecutive element, I cover the zincs with vegetable
parchment, or other suitable material, which, at the same time, aids in reducing
the disintegrating action of the electrolyte on the zincs.
Instead, however, of using lead plates, I may use any other suitable plates and
electrolyte.
The first and last plates of the battery forming the anode and the cathode,
respectively, are provided with the usual terminals for the conducting wires, while
the intermediate elements are independent or separate elements, that is to say,
a lead plate is connected to a inc plate (enveloped as before stated) and this
element is placed separately, but close to the previous element, there being thus
no metallic connection between the intermediate elements or between them and
the anode and cathode.
The connections between the two plates of each element are preferably formed
of copper strips bent on themselves, and having their free ends turned over at an
angle and preferably formed into hook-shaped or turned-up ends, and to each of
these, one of the plates of the element is attached, preferably through holes in
said plate. These strips form, at the same time, a conductor, and a means for
suspending the elements in the trough or vessel.
I find it advantageous to use with the elements, a circulating arrangement,
preferably consisting of a hermetically closed reservoir filled with exciting liquid
and adapted to replenish the electrolyte in the trough of the battery while, at
the same time, it acts to draw off therefrom the liquid already in the trough or
vessel.
I obtain an improved circulating action by fitting ledges or channels, or perforated
horizontal pipes to the opposite inner sides of the trough, the free edge of said
ledges or channels, or the perforations of said pipes, being a little below the level
of the electrolyte. The perforated horizontal pipes, connected at one or both
ends by a vertical branch pipe (or by imperforate continuations of same) to the
reservoir, are arranged longitudinally in said ledges or channels to continually
draw off the liquid which, flows over the edges of the channels.
The size and number of the perforations in the horizontal branches of the draw-
off pipes may be graduated so as to cause the liquid to be uniformly drawn off from
between the elements. Or one of the channels or ledges, or the perforated pipes,

page_text: may be used for regulating the inflow of the exciting liquid, while the other is
used for regulating the drawing-off of the liquid, means being provided to cause
a change in the direction of flow of the liquids, when desired.
Several such batteries may be coupled-up together, if desired.
Improvements in and connected with Electric Batteries.
I, ERNST AUGUST JAHINCKE, of 30, Northampton Park, Canonbury, in the County
of London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with electric batteries,
and it has for its object to produce a constant battery with a maximum of energy.
In carrying out my invention I place in a trough or vessel containing the
exciting liquid or electrolyte any desired number of elements composed say of lead
and zinc (sulphate of copper being used as the electrolyte)..
I arrange these
elements close together and in order to avoid metallic connection between the
adjacent plates of each consecutive element I cover the zincs with vegetable parch-
ment or other suitable material which at the same time aids in reducing the
disintegrating action of the electrolyte on the zines and forms the working cells
therefor.
Instead however of using lead plates I may use any other suitable plates and
electrolyte.
The first and last plates of the battery forming the anode and the cathode
respectively are provided with the usual terminals for the conducting wires while
the intermediate elements are independent or separate elements that is to say a
lead plate is connected to a zinc plate (enveloped as before stated) and this element
is placed separately but close to the previous element there being thus no
separating cells or partitioning divisions in the trough and no metallic connection
between the consecutive elements or between them and the anode and cathode,
sufficient space being left free between the plates of each element and of those of the
adjoining elements to allow of a proper supply of the electrolyte and of a free
circulation of the liquid and gases during the working of the battery.
The connections between the two plates of each element are preferably formed
of copper strips or wires bent on themselves and having their free ends turned
over at an angle and preferably formed into hook-shaped or turned-up ends and
to each of these one of the plates of the element is attached preferably through
holes in said plate. These strips form at the same time a conductor and a means
for suspending the elements in the trough or vessel. Any other suitable means
may however be used for connecting and suspending the plates of the elements.
I find it advantageous to use with the elements a circulating arrangement
preferably consisting of a hermetically closed reservoir filled with exciting liquid
and adapted to replenish the electrolyte in the trough of the battery while at the
same time it acts to draw off therefrom the injurious liquid (sulphate of zinc in
the present case) so brought about by the working of the battery. I obtain an

page_text: improved circulating action by fitting ledges or channels and (or) perforated
horizontal pipes to the opposite inuer sides of the trough the free edge of said
ledges or channels or any perforations therein and (or) the perforations of said
pipes being a little below the level of the electrolyte. The perforated horizontal
pipes connected at one or both ends by a vertical branch pipe (or by imperforate
continuations of the same) to the reservoir are arranged longitudinally in said
ledges or channels to continually draw off the injurious liquid which flows over
the edges of the channels or through perforations therein.
The size and number of the perforations in the horizontal branches of the draw-
off pipes may be graduated so as to cause the injurious liquid to be uniformly
drawn off from between the elements. Or one of the channels or ledges or the
perforated pipes may be used for regulating the inflow of the exciting liquid
while the other is used for regulating the drawing off of the injurious liquid
means being provided to cause a change in the direction of flow of the liquids when
desired.
Several such batteries may be coupled up together if desired.
And in order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe the
same fully with reference to the annexed drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete battery the vessels employed being
shewn slightly raised one above the other for sake of clearness.
Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof and Fig. 3 a longitudinal section of the battery
trough or vessel and its elements.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the means or device for suspending the elements
and at the same time coupling the two plates of each element.
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of an element shewing a hole or aperture in which
the said suspending device engages.
Fig. 6. shews in perspective an arrangement of pipes for automatically carrying
off the injurious liquid (sulphate of zinc) which constantly rises to the surface
of the electrolyte, and also an arrangement of pipes for replacing such liquid by
a fresh charge of exciting liquid.
Fig. 7 shews a modification of the previous arrangement.
My improved battery consists essentially of two vessels A and B, a third vessel C
being in some cases added and the purpose of which is hereinafter mentioned.
A is the vessel or trough containing the exciting liquid and forming the battery
proper and B is an air tight reservoir containing like exciting liquid these two
vessels being connected by suitable piping.
The trough A contains the elements a, a, each consisting of say a coppered lead
plate or a copper plate and of a zinc plate this latter being enclosed in vegetable
parchment (or other like suitable material) for the purpose of forming the working
cells therefor, of reducing the disintegrating action of the electrolyte on the zincs,
and of avoiding metallic connection between the adjacent plates in the electrolyte.
These elements are as before stated independent of each other that is to say there
is no metallic connection between them; and this is also the case with the first and
last plates forming the anode and the cathode respectively. The anode and the
cathode are as usual furnished with terminals ce for the conducting wires.
Near the edge and extending along inside the trough A I provide a ledge d
to support the elements by means of the device b. At a suitable distance below
this ledge and also extending along the inner sides of the trough A I arrange
channels or gutters ee the upper edges of which lie just below the level of the
electrolyte. These channels may be perforated on their inner sides below the
level of the electrolyte and may likewise serve to support the elements. In each
channel or gutter is located a perforated pipe of the two being preferably con-
nected together at one end (or at both ends) of the trough by an imperforate trans-
verse pipe f¹ (having a cock f³) provided with a vertical branch leading up into
the reservoir B. The perforations in the pipes.f and their size and number may be
varied at different points, or they may be graduated so as to cause the liquid at

page_text: the surface to be uniformly drawn off from between the elements. The pipes f
instead of being horizontal as shewn may be arranged at any suitable angle.
At the other end (or at both ends) of the trough A there is a vertical pipe
(with cock g) which leads from the bottom of the reservoir B into said trough
and it is preferably provided with branch pipes 92 g leading to the sides of the
trough where they terminate in bends g³,
I may sometimes dispense with the horizontal perforated branches f and use a
vertical pipe or pipes f³ so arranged as to dip either into the liquid in the channels
or gutters or into the trough A.
The drawing-off arrangement either in its entirety or partially may also be
employed in batteries where the air tight reservoir is dispensed with and a con-
tinuous flow of electrolyte into the trough together with a continuous overflow
of the injurious liquid is adopted. In such case it is preferable to raise the sides
of the longitudinal channels above the level of the electrolyte so as to cause the
injurious liquid drawn off from between the elements by means of the perforated
pipes or channels el (Fig. 7) to flow into such channels."
h is a cock by means of which the contents of the trough can be run off into
the vessel C when such latter is used its employment being only necessary when
it is desired that during the cessation of the working of the battery the electrolyte
shall not continue to act on the elements. i is a pump by means of which the
liquid in the vessel C can be returned to the trough.
The device b herein before mentioned for suspending the plates and for forming
metallic connection between the elements consists of a copper or other metallic
strip or wire bent first on itself at and then turned down at an angle thereto as
shewn in Fig. 4 the free ends of these turned down portions being formed into
hooks whereby the engagement between the plates of each element is effected
by said hooks taking into holes or apertures a therein.
The working of my improved battery is as follows: By way of example let
it be supposed that the elements consist as before stated of copper and zinc plates
and that the electrolyte is a solution of sulphate of copper. The separate elements
having been placed in the trough together with the anode and the cathode these
latter are then connected up through the respective terminals c, c¹ with the con-
ducting wires j; the battery is now ready to start working. During the working
the sulphate of zinc produced rises to the surface of the electrolyte and runs into
the channels or gutters e. From theso it enters the perforated pipes f and rises
into the reservoir B while at the same time fresh copper solution descends through
the pipe g into the trough A to replenish the battery. In this manner it will be
obvious that I am enabled to get rid of the sulphate of zinc almost as fast as it
forms which is of great importance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same may be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
―:
1. An electric battery having a number of independent elements arranged close
together in a non-partitioned vessel or trough, substantially as described.
2. An electric battery comprising a number of independent elements arranged
close together in a non-partitioned vessel or trough containing the electrolyte, and
the plates of each element being suspended from a device forming the only metallic
connection between them, an anode plate at one end of the trough and a cathode
plate at the other, means for replenishing the electrolyte and means for drawing
off the injurious liquid formed in the electrolyte during the working of the battery,
substantially as described.
3. In an electric battery as above claimed the means for effecting the circulation
of the electrolyte and for drawing off the injurious liquid formed in the trough
during working consisting of the air- tight reservoir, the system of pipes connecting
the same with the battery trough, and the ledges or channels in said trough, sub-
stantially as described and shewn with reference to the drawings.

page_text: 4. The modified arrangement of the means for drawing off the injurious liquid,
as described and shewn with reference, to Fig. 7 of the drawings.
5. The device or means for suspending the elements and forming the metallic
connection between them, substantially as described and as shewn in Fig. 4 of
the drawings.
6. My improved electric battery constructed arranged and operating sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shewn in the annexed
drawings.
Dated this 27th day of January 1898.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent, 78, Fleet Street, London, and
5A, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.