Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1898 -Accepted, 11th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
I, CHARLES EDWARD BURROUGHS, of 625, Broadway, in the City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to galvanic batteries or what are usually termed "dry
cells," and has for its object to make use in such cells of as large a body of excitant
fluid as possible, while maintaining the dry character of the cells; to maintain
the energy and increase the recuperative power of the battery and otherwise to
increase and maintain its efficiency and cheapen its construction; and to this end,
the same is constructed as fully set forth hereinafter and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which-Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a dry battery
cell embodying my improvement; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a detached view showing an electrode.
The hard carbon cylinder or rod A is inclosed as usual for a part of its length
in a composition or mixture of pulverized plumbago and lamp black, or other or
equivalent mixture B, which is suitably held in form and position, as for instance,
by a fabric bag or wrapper C, the element A B, thus formed constituting one
electrode or element of the battery.
The other element or electrode F consists of a metal electro negative to the carbon
as zinc, and although it may be a shell consisting of a plate bent to a cylindrical
the other form, it preferably consists of two or more bent or semi-circular zinc
plates 6, 6, of an external form corresponding to that of the interior of a case I)
be of galvanized iron or other suitable material.
which may
The electrode A, B of the character shown or of any other suitable character
is inclosed in a body of absorbent material E, of cellulose, felt or fibrous material,
so applied as to be substantially uniform in density and with a comparatively
smooth regular and level outer face, that is, an outer face free from lumps or
protuberances, whereby to secure a practically uniform and continuous contact with
the inner face of the zinc shell F.
One means of securing this result consists in applying one edge of a sheet of
absorbent cotton to the exterior of the part B and then rolling the latter to wrap
it in the cotton, or other absorbent, one, two, or more times, thereby securing a
wrapping of practically uniform thickness and density so that when the shell F
is applied to the exterior face of the body of absorbent material and pressed there-
on, there will be a regular and intimate contact between the outer face of the
body E and inner face of the electrode F.
After the application of the absorbent material E to the electrode A, B, the
electrolytic fluid is applied by pouring it upon the cylinder of absorbent material E
held horizontally below the stream of liquid, or preferably by placing the latter
in a pan and rolling the absorbent cylinder therein.
The electrolytic fluid may be any suitable mixture or emulsion, as for instance,
a mixture of water, chloride of zinc, oxide of maganese and sal ammoniac, the
water partially dissolving and also holding particles of the material in suspension.

page_text: When as heretofore, the absorbent material is packed round the electrode A B,
while the latter is held centrally in the cell, or wrapped around and put in dry,
and the electrolytic fluid mixture is then poured onto the top of the absorbent
cylinder, the result is to collect the undissolved particles at the top of the absorbent
cylinder and therefore the galvanic or chemical action is most energetic at the
point where the said particles are collected and the electrode F is eaten away at
a point about level with the top of the absorbent material and the life of the cell
is proportionately limited.
By applying the electrolytic mixture over the outer face of the absorbent
cylinder, the undissolved particles are uniformly distributed over the entire face
and also over the entire inner face of the shell or electrode so that there is a
much larger area of galvanic action, the latter is uniform over the whole face of
the electrode F and not only is the life of the cell prolonged, but the energy of
the battery and its recuperative powers greatly increased.
I have found that the regular uniform and intimate contact over the entire
proximate faces of the absorbent cylinder and shell F is most important. This I
secure, first, by applying the absorbent material uniformly to the electrode A B,
and, second, by securing a uniform pressure of the shell upon the cylinder. This
results by applying the shell or its sections 6, 6, to the outside of the cylinder E
after it is saturated and then pressing the shell or its sections firmly against the
cylinder, reducing its dimensions by compression until the shell F will slip readily
into the case D, when all parts will be held in place by the expansion of the com-
pressed absorbent material and the desired intimate contact of the surfaces secured.
The electrodes A B and shell I have suitable connecting ports or terminals 7. 8.
When the shell is in sections the latter are electrically connected in any suitable
way, for instance, as shown in Fig. 3.
I find that by applying the exciting fluid to the mass of absorbent material before
compressing the latter, I can absorb and retain a greater volume of liquid, thereby
increasing the life and energy of the cell. Above the saturated absorbent
material E, I prefer in most cases to place another body of saturated material G
which adds to the efficiency of the cell. Whether this supplementary body of
material is used or not, it is desirable to avoid the possibility of leakage from the
cell. Therefore I pack around the central electrode between the latter and the
case D, and above a fluid proof partition 9, a body H of dry absorbent material,
covering it with a disk 10 of like character to the disk 9 and then close the cell
by a body 12 of tar, wax, etc. poured onto the disk 10. A vent pipe 13 extending
through the disk 12 permits the escape of any gases generated within the cell.
While the cell is shown as round, it may be rectangular or other shape in cross
section it may be protected externally in any suitable manner. The exterior
surface of the absorbent cylinder may be wound with tape or fabric before saturat-
ing to condense the same and secure a smooth regular face and perfect contact with
the outer electrode which in such case may be the shell D, but I prefer to use the
shell consisting of two or more bent plates.
Having now particularly 'described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A-battery cell provided with inner and outer electrodes and with an inter-
vening body of absorbent material uniformly covering the inner electrode, sub-
stantially as set forth.
2. A battery cell provided with inner and outer electrodes and with an inter-
vening body of absorbent material wrapped and confined under pressure upon the
inner electrode, substantially as set forth.
3. A battery cell provided with inner and outer electrodes and with an inter-
vening body of absorbent material consisting of a sheet of absorbent cotton or other
absorbent wrapped upon the inner electrode, substantially as set forth,

page_text: 4. A battery cell, provided with inner and outer electrodes and with a body of
absorbent material supported by the inner electrode and having regularly upon its
outer face the undissolved portions of an exciting mixture, substantially as set
forth.
5. A battery cell having an inner electrode, a body of absorbent material sup-
ported upon said electrode, and an outer electrode clamped upon the absorbent
material and confined between the latter and an outer casing, substantially as set
forth.
6. A battery cell having an inner electrode, a body of absorbent material sup-
ported upon said electrode, and an outer electrode consisting of bent plates,
clamped upon the absorbent material and confined between the latter and an outer
casing, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination of the inner and outer electrodes, the saturated absorbent
material E, and a body H of dry absorbent material, substantially as described.
8. The combination with the inner and outer electrodes and absorbent material
of a cell, of a second body G of absorbent material saturated with the electrolytic
fluid, and fluid proof disk 9, substantially as set forth.
9. The within described improvement in charging dry cells consisting in apply-
ing the liquid excitant mixture to the outer side or surface of the absorbent
material upon the inner electrode, substantially as set forth.
10. In the manufacture of dry batteries, first applying the exciting fluid to the
outer side or surface of an absorbent material upon the inner electrode, then apply-
ing and confining the outer electrode to said surface, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 14th day of December 189.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.