IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANO-ELECTRIC, MAGNETO-ELECTRIC, AND ELECTRO-MAG- NETIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO LIGHTING, TELEGRAPHIC, AND MOTIVE PURPOSES
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAC
LEWIS PULVERMACHER, of Vienna, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of
January, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the fifteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Isac Lewis Pulvermacher, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Isac Lewis Pulver-
macher, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Isac Lewis
Pulvermacher, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANO-ELECTRIC, MAGNETO-ELECTRIC, AND ELECTRO-MAG-
NETIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO LIGHTING, TELEGRAPHIC, AND
MOTIVE PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I,
the said Isac Lewis Pulvermacher, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her
said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as

page_text: in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Isac Lewis Pulvermacher, hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the present Specification thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:―
Firstly, my Invention has relation to galvanic batteries for lighting, tele-
graphic, and motive purposes, and consists of an improved construction of
capillary battery, that is to say, a battery possessing the faculty of attracting
fluids and gases whereby its action is excited, and exposing an increased
effective surface in a diminished space. These batteries when put in action by
metallic and liquid elements, or only liquid ones, or by the combined use of
gases and fluids, produce a powerful and constant stream of electricity. In
the Specification of my former Patent, dated 15th December, 1849, I described
a means of producing galvanic elements, exposing a large acting surface in a
small space; but having found them in practice to be too complicated, I have
adopted the following arrangement :-
Figure 27 is a plan and Figure 28 a section of a single cell of a battery
constructed according to my plan. a is a tube pressed out of plastic graphite,
the preparation of which was fully described in the Specification of my former
Patent. b, b, are zinc cylinders formed by coiling zino wire around the
exterior of a carbon cylinder a, previously covered with gauze, net, or some
other reticulate fabric, capable of preventing contact of the zinc wire with the
carbon cylinder, and at the same time offering no obstruction to the free
admittance of air and moisture between the positive and negative electro-
motors. The graphite cylinder is filled with small pieces of coke, and the
bottom of the cylinder is made conical, and a passage h is left for the passage
of fluid through the same; C is a reservoir which contains a mixture of nitric
and sulphuric acid, which is allowed to flow through the small holes d, d, to
the graphite cylinder. The bore or aperture of the holes d, shewn in Figure
29, is so small that the fluid passes through by drops only; c' is a second
reservoir which contains dilute sulphuric acid or other exciting fluid. From
this latter the fluid is likewise conducted by holes c, c, to the zinc cylinder in
such manner that it falls in drops over the whole surface of the conical bottom,
.entering between the zinc and carbon and running off again below. The small
distance between these electro-motors or elements and the depolarization of
the air which passes between them, admits of a single fluid only being used
as an exciter, and especially vinegar, which may be used with great advantage.

page_text: When electro-positive fluids are employed instead of electro-positive metals as
a means of excitation, the zinc cylinder is dispensed with and a second hollow.
one of graphite substituted for it, which is put on the smaller one with a piece
of gauze or net interposed to prevent their coming in contact. An additional
exterior casing of waterproof materials or glass or porcelain is also employed.
See Figures 30 and 31.
In the space between the two latter (the exterior graphite cylinder and the
exterior casing) are placed small pieces of coke. An alkaline fluid is allowed
to fall in drops on the coke in this space, and sulphuric acid diluted is supplied
to the gauze between the two graphite cylinders, while the space at the centre
of the inner graphite cylinder is supplied with nitric acid solution; electro-
negative and electro-positive gases may be substituted for the alkaline and
acid solutions. h is a reservoir placed under the battery to receive the
exhausted fluids which pass away from it. It is clear that by combining
several elements a quantity battery of great capability will be produced, the
electricity generated by which may be converted to intensity electricity by the
assistance of the instrument hereafter to be described.
Another method of constructing such batteries consists in making them of
flat plates instead of cylindrical, as just described. Figure 32 shews two thin
plates of graphite or coak in which are formed the grooves a, a, during the
process of manufacturing. These plates are fastened together at the points
with wax, so that the grooves in their surfaces may coincide and form a
channel. Several of these plates are connected together in such manner as to
have a layer of gauze, net, or other fabric interspersed between each pair, and
the clectrical action is generated by causing nitric acid to flow into the holes of
every alternate plate a', and an alkaline solution into the channels of every
other alternate plate or pair of plates a².
Secondly, my Invention has relation to the construction of hydro-electro
voltaic chain batteries of the kind described in the Specification of a former
Patent granted to me of date the Fifteenth December, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-nine, and consists of the improvements represented in
Figures 1, 1, 3, 11, 12, 13, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 26", 26, and 26°, of the Drawings
annexed. Figure 1 represents an assemblage of links joined together so as to
form. a chain according to the manner described in the Specification of my
former Patent, but possessing this advantage, namely, that there is no electrical
tension lost, and in consequence with the same number of elements a much
stronger degree of electricity is produced. b, b, are the connecting joints of the
chain, which are made of some insulating material possessing considerable
strength, such as hard wood, horn, bone, glass, &c. Each link has two holes,

page_text: c, c, formed through it, large enough to receive the pins d, d. The heads of
these pins are enlarged so as to prevent the displacement or separation of the
elements on one side, whilst on the other side the elements are held together
by the ends of the copper and zinc wires being bent and soldered round the
parts e, e. The positive and negative wires are connected together by means of
the small pieces of metal i in the same manner as in an ordinary voltaic
battery. Sometimes I put into the holes of the spiral elements tubes of thin
plate, which are set in contact with the positive and negative wires (see
Figure 1) which represents a double-jointed chain battery. In order to set
these chains in action they have only to be dipped into vinegar or an acid
solution on the side where the links are unconnected with each other as at z;
and if proper care is taken to keep the horn links b, b, of the chain dry, the
intensity of their effects will continue without diminution, an advantage which
is not possessed by the chain batteries whose links are connected in both sides,
as shewn by Figure 1. Figure 32 shows a modification of such a battery,
where, instead of horn links, a band of leather z boiled in linseed oil, with holes,
is employed for the mechanical connexion of the elements. The pins & pass
through the holes of the leather, and form conducting contact with the spring
v. The rods covered with zinc and copper are likewise provided with two
channels filled out with the thin copper plate tubes d, as shewn by Figure 33.
A second improvement in the construction of my hydro-electric chain batteries, in
order to form hygroscopic batteries, consists in preparing the wood round which
the wires are twisted, and during the performance of the operation of twisting,
with a substance capable of attracting moisture constantly from the atmosphere,
thereby producing a continuous action of the battery, and exciting a strong
display of electricity without the necessity of immersing the battery in fluid.
Figure 2 shews the pieces of wood before being covered with wire. They are
formed with longitudinal flutings, in which the substance used for attracting
the moisture of the atmosphere is applied so as to cover the surface of the
wood and come between the zinc and copper wires coiled around it. The
substance which I prefer to use for this purpose is a mixture of gypsum with
chloride of potash, or with an acid salt possessing like properties of attracting
moisture. Sometimes I dip the pieces of wood round which the wires are to
be wound into nitric or sulphuric acid so much diluted as to prevent its
producing carbonization of the wood.
A third improvement in constructing my hydro-electric chain batteries is
shewn in Figure 3. g, g, are the links, which are formed with three grooves
k, k', k. The centre groove ¹ is wider than those on either side of it, and
into it is introduced a strong copper wire, the ends of which are bent at h, so

page_text: as to project beyond the wood and form a ringj. A thinner copper wire is put
into the other grooves k, k, and the bent end of it extends over the side of the
link forming a ring m at that point. The opposite projecting ends i, i, of the
thin wires are bent away so as not to touch the wire in the middle. This will
prevent the wires coming off, even if a weight of twelve pounds were sus-
pended from them. The junction of the positive and negative wires is effected
by soldering the ends of the positive wire to the ends h and h' of the centre
stout wire, and the ends of the negative wire to the bent ends of the thinner
wires.
A fourth improvement consists in constructing hydro-electro claims of plates
of negative and positive metal, which produce an effect similar to that of the
twisted wire chains when excited by moistening with fluid the surface of the
links. Fig. 4 is a representation of a chain of this description; o is a link of
copper plate having slots c formed in it by means of a die stamp. The portions
of metal by the removal of which the slots are formed are not entirely detached
from the plate, but remain-still attached to it by one side, and are turned up at
right angles so as to project as much as possible above the surface of the plate:
The other metal plate o¹, used in composing the chain, is formed in a similar
nanner, and the two plates are hung or hooked together, so that the projections
of the one enter into the slots of the other, but without metallic connection,
which is prevented by putting their discs p of horn or pasteboard at the points
where the pins by which the plates are rivitted together are introduced. The
links are put in connection, as in the ordinary voltaic battery, by fastening the
zinc plates to the copper one, and the chains are set in action by immersing
them in vinegar or salt and water.
A fifth improvement consists of an arrangement whereby I am enabled to
obtain the same effect as is produced by wires coiled around pieces of wood, as
in my chain batteries described in the Specification of my former Patent afore-
said, but at considerably less cost. Figure 21 shews part of a chain battery
constructed in this manner; Figure 23, a sectional view of the same; Figure
24 shews the various parts of which the chain is composed. a, a', are oval
frames of metal; 6 is a thin wooden serrated plate of such a thickness as to
almit of its being introduced into the aperture c in the frame. The grooves in
the wood are intended to receive the metal frames and to secure them to the
5 wood, which is easily done by pressing down the edges of the frame over the
wood after it has been introduced into the aperture. The metal frames should
be adjusted so that, although near each other, they shall nowhere touch. The
middle frame b is formed of copper, and the two exterior ones a and a of zinc
plate, and they are all fastened to the wood; and when a number of such links

page_text: are connected together. by means of the rings r, as shewn by Figure 21, a
voltaic pile will be produced possessing all the flexibility of a chain, and which,
when excited, by immersion in vinegar or other acid solution, will produce all
the effects of a voltaic battery. In order to protect the frames and prevent
their touching each other, I cut pieces of wood from slips of the sectional form
shewn at Figure 25. The copper frames are made wide enough to fit on the
thick part of the piece of wood, and the zinc frames have narrower apertures
which fit the smaller part of the wood, while the raised part of the wood
prevents the copper and zinc frames from coming in contact with each other.
Several such zinc and copper frames may be placed alternately on a large piece
of wood, in which case they would be furnished with long oval rings to enable
them to be connected together so as to produce a powerful flexible battery, as
shewn in Figure 26, & in the modifications Figures 26ª, 26b, & 26°.
A sixth improvement consists of an arrangement of portable chain battery,
which is so contrived that it may be insulated in its case, even when in a moist
state, and that by the act of opening the case the battery is extended over
an insulating frame, so that all parts of it are exposed to the action of the
atmosphere. Figure 11 is a side view, and Figure 12 a plan, of this battery.
a, a, is the case; b, b, two hydro-electric chain batteries connected into a con-
tinuous length; e, e, e¹, e¹, are four horn plates, the ends d, d, of which are
fastened to the bottom of the case. The free ends of the horn plates are formed
with grooves to receive the hooks f, f, on the ends of the chains; g is a sup-
porting piece of horn turning on a hinge h. The upper end of this piece of
hoŕn is furnished with projections which enter into holes in the links i, by
which the lengths of chain are connected, and keep the chain extended; m, m,
are thin plates of some insulating material which serve to insulate the parts
n, n, of the chain when it is folded together and the case shut. The chain,
when folded, comes in four layers, each of which is insulated from the others
by the plates m, m, and g. Another method of fastening the ends of the
chains to the horn plates is shewn in Figure 13. Here the ends of the horn
plates are cut out of a button shape, and the ends of the chains have hooks
a, a, which slip over these buttons.
Thirdly, my Invention consists of a mechanical interrupter which possesses
the quality of shutting the current at very short intervals, so that with the
same instrument rapid and frequent closings of the current can be produced.
This instrument is shewn in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Figures 7 and 9
shew a balance wheel fastened on an endless screw c, Figures 5 and 6. The
latter is set in quick motion by a spring barrel and wheelwork, as is well
understood. 9, Figure 9, is a groove in the balance wheel, in which is placed

page_text: บ
a steel tongue t with a spring f. 7 are two slots in the tongue which enable
the tongue to move on the pins a and un'ler the head of the screw m; one
end of the spring is fastened to the tongue and the other to the balance wheel.
v (Figures 7 and 8) is a metal excentric mounted on the shaft w.
P is a
plate of insulating material fastened to the frame g³; the shaft w of the ex-
centric is so passed through the latter that a horn lever h can be attached to
the boss of the shaft w. d is a hook which can be turned on the shaft of the
excentric, which serves as a holder for one end of a hydro-electric chain. k is
a piece of horn, bone, or other insulating material let into the excentric v at
one side, and fastened by a hardened steel pin v. This pin projects so far
beyond the surface of the excentric that a spring fastened on the boss of the
wheel R can be brought into contact with it, when the wheel revolves, if a
proper position be given to the excentric by means of the lever h. f¹is a
small hardened steel spring which is fastened to a stud z, screwed into the horn
plate P. The free end of this spring has a bend in it which forms a tooth
(see Figure 7). By turning the excentric the latter will be brought nearer
to or moved further from the tongue of the balance wheel. The action of the
apparatus is as follows:-The balance wheel having been set in quick rotation
by the clockwork, the centrifugal force exerted on the steel tongue causes it
to produce a stronger pressure while touching the tooth of the spring f¹, and
the increased friction thus produced regulates the rapidity of the apparatus
with great uniformity. The speed is easily modified by shifting the excentric
to such a position that the tooth of the spring f¹ is pushed by the excentric
towards the tongue, when a slow but equally uniform movement will be pro-
duced; the surface of the periphery of the excentric, the position of the piece
of insulating material k inserted in its periphery, the position of the pin s²,
and the fixed position of the horn lever h on the shaft of the excentric are so
calculated that if the lever his moved to the position shewn in Figure 7
the steel pin assumes such a position that the spring f' of the wheel R can
touch it; but in this position the bent part of the spring f¹ rests on the insu-
lated material let into the periphery of the excentric. A current of electricity
can therefore only pass from the case of the apparatus to the shaft w and hook
d, when the spring touches the pin s¹, that is, once in each revolution of
the wheel R, and the breaking of the circuit will therefore be more or less
frequent according to the velocity with which the wheel R is revolving. If,
however, the horn lever h be moved in the opposite direction towards the
dotted line ', the spring f¹ will rest on the metal part of the excentric, the
steel pin s will be removed from its position of contact with the spring f¹, and
the circuit can only be established between the frame of the instrument and
the shaft w by the tongue t, which touches the tooth e of the spring f'. The

page_text: .
e is a
closings of the circuit will thus, it is evident, be as frequent as the revolutions
of the balance wheel, and if a person be placed in the circuit of a voltaic
battery with the instrument, the same sensations and contractions of the
muscles will be produced as by the medical induction apparatus, while by the
former position of the parts of the instrument only single isochronous con-
tractions would be obtained. For the more convenient winding up of the
spring a crown whcel k, Figures 5, 6, and 10, is fastened to the handle which
gears into the wheel W, Figure 6, which latter again gears into the wheel W'
on the shaft Q of the spring barrel S. The whole of the clock movement of the
instrument just described is contained in a brass case D, Figure 5, which at the
same time serves as a conductor. When the patient is to have the electric
fluid administered by an electric bath, a sponge can be fastened to the part D
of the case D. This case D is enclosed in a second outer casing, to which is
attached a handle which may be used as a second conductor when taken out.
Fourthly, my Invention consists of a circuit breaker acting by the vibration
of a spring, and set in motion by the simple pressure of the hand, and which
serves at the same time as a conductor. Figures 18 and 19 shew this instru-
ment. a is a flat hollow handle of an insulating material, such as horn,
In the interior of the
bone, &c. is a bent spring fixed at the point c.
bandle is a small leaden weight fixed on the free end of the spring b.
flat piece of bone or horn which is inserted at the top of the handle in the
slit f. g
a spring attached at h to the exterior of the handle. is an oscil-
lating catch fixed to the end of the spring g, and m is a small spring acting
against the under part of the catch in order to prevent its oscillating in the
direction indicated by the arrow, but leaving it free to move in the opposite
direction. n is a pin fixed across the interior of the horn handle a.
case of a size just sufficient to contain the handle a; the ends of the pin n
should pass through the horn handle and be in metallic contact with the case r.
is a spring which is fixed in the interior of the handle in such a position as
to be always in contact with the pin n; the end g of the spring p is bent so as
to be almost in contact with the back of the spring b, and the spring p pre-
serves its contact with the pin n, except when struck by the spring b during its
vibrations. This instrument works in the following manner:-On a pole of a
battery being connected to the hook c on the handle a, the current passes along
the spring b, enters the spring p, and thence passes through the pin n to the
conductor tube or case 1. During the vibration of the spring 6 the end 9 of
the spring p is in contact with it some time, but it is only while the spring p
rouches the pin n that the circuit is closed. The closing of the circuit is only
of momentary duration, for it is no sooner closed in 7 than it is opened at n.
r is a
Fifthly, my Invention consists in the construction of an apparatus for

page_text: changing the quantity electricity of a portable galvanic battery (and especially
when constructed with spirally-twisted wires on my principle) into intensity,
and vice versa. The complete apparatus is made of such a size that when
closed it can be conveniently carried in the pocket. Figure 14 is the battery
as it appears when taken out of the case. Figure 15 is a side view, shewing
the position of the electro-magnetic coil, & Figure 16 a plan partly in
section of the apparatus and case. Figure 17 & 18 shew some of the parts
separately. a, a, are rods round which are wound spirally zinc and copper
wires alternately, but without touching each other. These rods have two
longitudinal channels or grooves. b, b, Figure 16, are small tubes of copper
plate inserted in channels formed in the rods; the ends of these tubes project
beyond the surface of the wood and are bend and soldered to the wires; both
ends of one tube are soldered to both the free ends of the zinc wire, and both
ends of the other tube are in like manner soldered to those of the copper wire.
w is a plate of hard wood boiled in oil or otherwise well insulated; d, d, are
holes in the plate into which are fixed fork-shaped wires w', the downwards
projecting ends of which are fitted into the hollows of the tubes b, b, in such
manner that the adjoining tubes are always in connection by the ends of the
fork-shaped wires, and the electric circuit thereby completed between the zinc
and copper elements of the battery. The two systems of elements are con-
nected either in the manner of quantity or intensity batteries. In the latter
case p, p, would form the poles of the battery and be connected with the two
wire ends of the electro-magnetic coil. This coil is of a flat shape, and com-
posed of two parts of covered copper wire wound on a frame in the manner of
an ordinary galvanometer coil; in the hollow of the coil is a bundle of wires
soldered with tin into a flat solid mass, or, instead of wires, I employ thin
metal plates cut like combs; the teeth of the combs or the end of the bundle of
wires should be accurately adjusted to enable the armature to be attracted with
facility by an arrangement such as usually employed for breaking the current,
by means of which a vibratory motion is communicated to the keeper, and the
breaking of the current of the battery therchy maintained to a sufficient length
of time to produce a strong current to act on the armature of the electro-mag-
net in a well-known manner. In order to set this apparatus to work a sufficient
quantity of vinegar is poured into the case to immerse the spiral elements of
tho battery, and left there some seconds, when it is allowed to escape. The
wooden rods employed in forming the elements will thus attract a sufficient
quantity of the vinegar to enable the apparatus to continue at work for half an
hour. Batteries of this kind may be employed also for other than medical pur-
poses, and where the size of the battery is no object I prepare the pieces of

page_text: wood during the winding on of the wires with the moisture-attracting material
before mentioned. When the apparatus is used for induction purposes I make
the same of a cylindrical instead of a flat shape.
Lastly, my Invention consists of a new arrangement of apparatus for the
purpose of varying the intensity of the electric current, according to the nature
of the battery producing it, which is especially proper to be connected with
the induction apparatus before described and shewn by Figure 14. g, Figures
14, 15, 7, 18, 18, & 19) is a square piece of wood, in which are formed
three longitudinal channels h', h³, h; in the middle channel 2 are formed, at
an equal distance apart, the apertures i, i, which are of sufficient size to allow
to the wires v passing through them a certain amount of lateral movement.
k', k, Figures 14 & 15, are toothed rods of strong gilt copper plate, in which
are formed slots 1, 1; the teeth of the rods k', k, are bent so as to project
over the middle channel h (Figure 14); in the latter are inlaid pieces of
metal m, the ends of which touch the peripheries of two adjoining holes i, i,
and put the wires passing through them in metallic contact. The elasticity
of the wires causes them to press upon the ends of the metal plates m, and
puts the wires in pairs in conducting contact. The opposite end of these
wires is bent into a hook which serves as a means of attaching the poles of the
parts or elements of the battery; the rods of metal k, k³, which slide in the
channels h¹, h³, obtain their niovement from a small key A, on the end of
which are two teeth, one fitting into one hole of rod k', whilst the other fits
into the hole of the other rod . When the key A is turned to the left the
teeth of both rods remain at some distance from the projecting wires, and the
conducting connection of the elements takes place in the manner of a pile, in
order to produce the current intensity, but when turned to the right the teeth
not only touch the wires and put them in conducting contact, but push them
away from the metal pieces m, and insulate them from each other. In the
lattor case all the positive poles of the battery come in contact with the teeth
of one rod k', and all the negative ends with the teeth of the other rod k³, and
the connection for producing currents of quantity is thereby produced. If the
instrument is desired to be of a circular form, I employ, instead of the toothed
bars, rings with bent teeth working in circular channels, as shewn in Figures
21, 22, & 23, and adopt an arrangement of contact pieces, wires, and
other parts adapted to the change in form of the instrument, whereby the same
effect is produced as by the instrument just described.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, I declare that
the improvements which I claim are as follows:-
First, I claim the capillary batteries herein-before described, compose.l of

page_text: several electro-motor surfaces, placed at small distances from each other,
excited by the oxygen of the atmosphere or other electro-positive or electro-
negative gases, together with electro-positive or electro-negative fluids.
Second. I claim the hygroscopical batteries herein-before described, which
maintain and keep up a constant and uniform electrical excitement from
their capacity for absorbing oxygen and atmospheric moisture, as herein-before
described.
Third. I claim the several arrangements of portable capillary chain batteries
herein-before described.
Fourth. claim the quantity changer herein-before described, which allows
of the quantity electricity of any number of elements being changed into
intensity, and vice versa. by a single movement, as herein-before described.
Fifth. I claim the clockwork apparatus for breaking and making the cur-
rent, as herein-before described.
Sixth. I claim the apparatus shewn at Figures 18, 19, and 20, for breaking
and making electrical currents.
Seventh. I claim the application of the batteries hercin-before described to
lighting, telegraphic, and motive purposes.
And lastly, I claim the instruments shewn in Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
18, 19, 21, 22, & 23, for varying the intensity of current according to the
nature of the battery, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isac Lewis Pulvermacher, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of July, Que thousand
eight hundred and fifty-two