IMPROVE- MENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN RAPIEFF, of Hurst Lodge, Hadley Wood, Barnet, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES to be as follows :-
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction of Galvanic Batteries
and the arrangement of their parts so as to obtain
A. More complete circulation of liquid or liquids used in batteries to effect a
constant washing of electrodes by more or less fresh liquid or liquids and to ensure
an entire consumption of the same, and therefore a more uniform and continuous
action of the batteries, also to obtain a reduction in the electrical resistance of the
same.
B. Prevention of local action upon the electrode or electrodes and to cause a
more uniform wear of the same.
C-Reduction of polarisation of the batteries and increased constancy of the
same by the use of a negative electrode or electrodes of special construction.
D-More economical use of liquids and electrodes by avoiding the contact of the
said liquids between themselves or with the electrode or electrodes, when they are
not in actual use.
E-More simple, expedient and convenient means of charging and discharging
the batteries; the regulation of their strength, or in other words their supply of
electricity; and of closing or opening the circuit, i,e. forming or breaking the
contact between the liquids and electrodes.
(A). This part of my improvements I obtain by the peculiar arrangement and
form or shape of one or both of the electrodes, which are completely immersed in
liquid, but not reaching to the bottom of the vessel, so as to obtain two or more
columns of liquid, one set of them between the electrodes, which are heated by
the chemical action and the current passing through them, and another set of
columns outside the electrodes which are not heated. This difference in
temperature is the cause of circulation.
The electrodes may have openings or apertures in their lower or upper parts.
The heating of the liquid or liquids, to obtain the said circulation, may be caused
by electricity or other means, in any part of the cell, battery, or liquid circuit. As,
for example; when an electric lamp is used (one or several as the case may be)
the liquid of the battery is made to pass close by the lamp, or envelop it—partially

page_text: or completely and thus, the heat radiated by the lamp is caused to effect the
said circulation. This circulation may be also obtained by electrical or electro-
mechanical means, by weight or pressure etc-An arrangement I find to answer
well is to use a reservoir having a piston or movable partition with openings or
valves. The weight of this piston or partition causes the circulation of the liquid
in the battery, and the liquid which leaves the battery may be gathered in a
separate vessel or above the said piston or partition. Or I may cause the weight
of the liquid in one part of the reservoir to effect the circulation, and gather the
more or less exhausted liquid in the other part; oscillation or reversion of the
reservoir will cause a new circulation.
The electrodes may be of any desired number, shape or form; such as bells,
tubes, cylinders, discs, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular or any other,-
made into one or more sided combs, of a gridiron, toothed wheel, venetian blind,
star or cylindrical spoked wheel without a nave or centre, etc. Each projection,
tooth or spoke, may be single, double or multiple, and the projection of one
electrode may enter between the corresponding projection of another. Electrodes
of tubular form,-fluted, grooved or plain-may be made to embrace one another.
Electrodes may also be perforated or not, and grooved or not. When a solid
depolarizing agent is used, it may be put into hollows or openings in the electrodes,
or between and around them or their parts.
When I use porous pots or jars, I place the electrodes as near as possible to the
walls of the same. Either of these arrangements may be used in conjunction with
a solid depolarizing agent, and special reservoirs (which may be part of the cells or
batteries) of exciting liquid or liquids.
(B) This part of my improvements is effected by covering with an insulating
material or varnish, the upper or exposed to the air part.or parts of one or both
electrodes, entirely,-as far as the terminals or lid will allow, at one end; and
below the level of the liquid or liquids at the other. The lid and upper part of the
jar or vessels being covered with a similar material and in a like manner.
The same result is obtained by using an insulating partition or partitions
straight, plain, curved, corrugated, tubular etc. The extensions of these partitions
are limited in the same manner as in the case of direct covering of electrodes by
insulating material or varnish.
These partitions separate the upper part of vessels or jars in two or more
compartments, and they may even encase one or both electrodes separately.
By the use of such arrangements the creeping action of the liquids and salts
used in the batteries is prevented; and the local action between the electrodes,
liquid and air, vapors and gases is avoided.
(C) The reduction of polarization of the electrodes is obtained by means of a
specially constructed electrode or electrodes, made of carbon or suitable metal, or
both. The peculiarity of this electrode is, that it has one or more cores of metal or
solid carbon, upon which is deposited or placed and fixed to it,-(so as to ensure
proper electrical contact of every part of the surface with the core)-by cement,
varnish, heat, electricity or other suitable means,--carbon or metal in porous or
spongy state.
The whole or part of such electrodes may be covered in their turn, electro-
chemically or chemically or by heat, with a layer or layers of crystaline carbon or
one or more metals: such as Iridium, Platinum, Chromium, Silicon, Paladium
Silver etc.
The electrodes also may be made in the shape of honey-comb, or like a brush; in
the hollows of which may be placed a solid depolarizing agent.
(D). This part of my improvements is obtained by special arrangements of
different parts of the cells or batteries; of which the following are types :-
Type. 1. A revolving arrangement which consists of one or several positive
electrodes of any desired form or shape-discs, cylinders, sectors, segments, squares
etc, fixed upon the shaft.
Part of the surface of these electrodes is covered with insulating material.

page_text: The axles are conveniently placed in, or a little above a vessel of any suitable
form and dimensions, so, that the lower parts of the said electrodes may be
immersed in the liquid or liquids contained therein.
The negative electrode or electrodes, single or multiple, of any desired form, may
be fixed inside this vessel and a little below the said axle or shaft; or they may be
placed alternately, with the positive ones, on the same shaft; care being taken to
insulate the electrodes of different polarity, or sign, one from another.
The separate couples or elements, to make a battery, or batteries, may also be
conveniently, (with the same care) placed upon the shaft common for all, and in
this case the fixed electrodes and liquid or liquids of every cell are separated one
from another by insulating partitions, or have even separate vessels.
The rotating electrodes of one cell are electrically connected with fixed electrodes
of the next one, by any suitable means-as, for instance, by metal or other con-
ducting body, immersed and rotating in receptacles filled with mercury or any
other conducting liquid.
The insulated part or parts of the electrodes are, when the battery is not acting,
dipped in the exciting liquid, thus preventing contact between the two; and to
cause the battery to act it is necessary to turn the electrodes until more or less of
the exposed part enters the exciting liquid.
In a modification of this arrangement, the shaft does not pass through the centre
of gravity of the electrodes, but more or less outside of it. The electrodes, one or
both, may be fixed, with certain care, to the said shaft or to a special frame or
board, which is caused to oscillate in suitable bearings and supports; so as to
introduce one or both electrodes into the liquid or liquids, or withdraw them
therefrom.
Suitable stoppers, breaks and counterbalances, weights, springs etc, or other
counteracting devices may be used, to stop and fix the shaft in the desired place, or
to return the same to the previous position. The same arrangement also can be
used in the case of two or more liquids, with the addition of necessary porous
diaphragms or partitions, and. with or without a solid depolarizing agent.
The rotation or immersion and removal of the electrodes from the liquids may be
effected automatically or not; in the first case, this will make what I call relay
cells or battery.
Type. 2. In the second type, the contacts between the liquid or liquids and
electrodes are made or broken by oscillation, inclination, revolving or reversing of
the cells or batteries, or their vessels.
A vessel, or box, or receptacle of any shape or form and dimension, is divided, by
partial or complete insulating partitions, into a desired number of cells.
The electrodes are adjusted to the lid, bottom, or one or several sides of the said
vessel or cells, and one or both of them will have such dimensions, that some space
is therein left unoccupied by them.
These free spaces may be separated or not by partial or complete partition or
partitions; and is placed at one or several sides or on the top or bottom of these
vessels or cells; that is to say, the side or sides, above or below the said voltaic
couples, when they are acting, and they may be contained in part of the vessel of
the battery, or in a separate receptacle connected therewith.
Also, the said space itself may be subdivided by partitions into any desired
number of compartiments.
When the vessel is reversed or inclined to a certain degree, the exciting liquid or
liquids will flow into this free space or spaces (which may be termed reservatories,
repositories, or store-spaces) and there occupy such a level or position, that, the
contact between the said liquid or liquids and electrodes will be broken.
The above mentioned partition or partitions, when they are partial, are made in
such a way, that, when the battery is acting they will divide it into the required
number of cells, the liquids of which will be completely separated, and, only when

page_text: the battery is reversed, or inclined to a certain degree, will allow an inter-
communication between the liquid of the several cells or compartments.
Thus I can withdraw from the contact with one or more electrodes and store the
exciting liquid or liquids in their reservatory until the battery is required to act.
The openings, apertures, holes, tubes or conduits to cause this inter-communication
may be closed when desirable by slides, valves, tapes, or other suitable means.
By these arrangements, the charging or discharging of all the cells may be carried
out simultaneously by one and the same operation.
To reduce the power necessary for the reversing of the battery-as for instance
in relay, or automatic batteries-the vessels which contain the voltaic cell or cells
have the shape of a cylinder, or drum or other similar form, and the electrodes
partitions and diaphragms are made in the form or shape of discs, cylinders etc, and
in such a way as to obtain a more or less perfect balance on the shaft or shafts, and.
easy rotation of the same in the bearings.
The electrodes and partitions are insulated in the above mentioned manner and
the porous diaphragms (when they are used) are glazed or covered with insulating
varnish, or made impenetrable for liquids in the manner hereinafter described.
In this arrangement, when it is properly constructed and supplied with necessary
counter weights or balances and other contrivances, no liquid is raised or the
balance otherwise disturbed during the oscillation or rotation of the battery in its
bearings, and therefore very little force is required to effect the said movements.
3d Type. When the battery or cells have two or more liquids the previously
described arrangements are necessarily modified, these can be divided into two
types:
a- When the charging and discharging must be done separately for each cell.
b-When these actions may be made common for all these cells contained in the
same box or vessel; then the charging and discharging is effected, simply by
putting in or withdrawing the liquid or liquids from the store part or parts of the
Baid vessels.
(a Type) The cell of this type can be of any form or shape and size, with single
or multiple electrodes and have porous pots or diaphragms.
The electrodes are made of such a size as to occupy only a part of the vessel or
vessels wherein the exciting liquid or liquids are acting upon them, and the said
liquid or liquids may act one upon another through the pores of the porous pots or
diaphragms. This is the active position of the cell; but when the latter is reversed
or inclined to a certain degree, the exciting liquids will flow into other parts (store
parts) of the said vessel or vessels and porous pots, or in store compartments
specially assigned for such a purpose and separated from them by suitable
partitions, or even in a separate store vessel or vessels, which may likewise be
divided into compartments to receive one or several liquids. These store-parts,―
that is to say the parts or portions of the porous pots or diaphragms through which
it is intended that no action shall take place, or vessels in their non acting parts,-
also store compartments and store vessels and their partitions are glazed or covered
with suitable insulating varnish or coating impenetrable for liquids.
Of course the store compartiments and vessels have openings apertures, tubes or
conduits for the purpose of communicating with the principal vessels or pots or
their acting parts.
To construct the battery of this type, I use separate cells, or obtain them through
subdivision by partial or complete insulating partitions of one or several suitable
boxes, vessels or receptacles.
b Type. The cells may be charged and discharged separately, but to facilitate
these actions all the store places, parts, compartments or vessels, for the same
liquid, may have communication between them. Then the charging and dis-
charging of all the cells may be performed by a single operation.
With the same view, the store place for the same exciting liquid may be made
common to all the cells contained in the same box or vessel..

page_text: The store places for different liquids may be placed side by side, one above
another etc, in the same box with the battery, or in separate vessel or vessels, in
the same manner and with the same care as described above.
In all these cases the electrodes may have full or ordinary dimensions, but then
parts of their surfaces (together with the margins of necessary size) which will be
immersed in exciting liquids when the cells or battery is "at rest" (in non-acting
position) must be covered by insulating varnish or incased in similar material, so
as to preserve them from the contact with the said liquids.
(E) The charging and discharging of the cells or batteries is accomplished in
the ways described above; and, may be partial or complete.
The regulation of the strength of the current supplied by them is made through
the change of the area of the surface of the electrodes exposed to the action of the
exciting liquid or liquids-that is to say-by the change in internal resistance of
the cell or battery.
This can be effected by rotation, or movements of the electrodes or cells, or
vessels, or more or less deep insertion of the couples in exciting liquids; by
changing of point or points of the application of acting power (weights, springs,
pressure etc) or by augmenting or diminution of the same; also, by the change of
the level of the said liquids, which may be done by the rise or fall of the store vessel
or vessels or reservoirs,-by increasing or decreasing of the pressure of the air or
gases in the cell or battery or store-space,--by the heating or cooling of the said
air or gases.
The same regulation may be accomplished in other ways-for instance, by
introduction of variable resistance in outer circuit, by varying the combination
of the cells in the battery or by the introduction of more or less of them into
action etc.
i
Either of these modes may be effected manually or automatically-In the first
instance by the use of suitable pedals, levers, handles or other mechanical means-
In the second case, through the assistance of an electrical agent.
The rotations or other necessary movements may be effected entirely by electro-
motion, or by any other power, and electricity is used only as regulating agent for
opening or closing circuits or certain part or parts of the mechanism so as to operate
required actions.
The necessary electric power is obtained from a special source, or from the
current given off by the battery itself or part of it. This power can be used
directly, or be stored at first in any suitable manner and then used when
required.
.
Also the immersion of the electrodes into liquids may be effected by pressure,
weights, springs etc, and the removing of the same by electro-motion, the power for
which is supplied by the battery or cell itself.
The form, shape, number and size of electrodes, boxes, vessels, their partitions,
compartments, porous pots, tubes, or diaphragms, means of rotating or moving them
and the material from which they are made; may vary according to necessity and
circumstances.
Sometimes the vessel or vessels of the cells or batteries act as counterweight or
balance for the electrodes; and those of one polarity act likewise for another
polarity.
In some cases the porous pot or pots, or diaphragms, may be made in one piece
with the vessel or vessels containing the cell or cells.
This applies also to different compartments or other parts.
Special partitions may be constructed to prevent the splashing of the liquids of
the batteries or cells, also they may have partial or complete lid or lids, which may
be hermetically closed or sealed.
Electrical connections of the cells in the battery may be made-automatically or
not by a special commutator.

page_text: The batteries or cells have necessary openings, tubes, tapes, syphons etc, for
emptying and replenishing them, or for conveying the evolved gases or vapors to
the absorber, exhauster, condenser, transformer etc.
The axles may even be tubular and have tapes, syphons etc for that purpose.
Also, the batteries may have tubes or apertures to show the level of the liquids
and the state of the electrodes.
I JOHN RAPIEFF of Hurst Lodge, Hadley Wood, Barnet in the County of
Middlesex Electrician do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES" and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-—
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of galvanic batteries,
and the arrangement of their parts so as to obtain.
A. More complete circulation of liquid or liquids used in batteries to effect
a constant washing of electrodes by more or less fresh liquid or liquids and to
ensure an entire consumption of the same and therefore a more uniform and
continuous action of the batteries; also to obtain a reduction in the electrical
resistance of the same.
B. Prevention of local action upon the electrode or electrodes and to cause
a more uniform wear of the same.
C. Reduction of polarization of the batteries and increased constancy of the
same by the use of a negative electrode or electrodes of special construction.
D. More economical use of liquids and electrodes by avoiding the contact of the
said liquids between themselves or with the electrode or electrodes, when they are
not in actual use.
E. More simple expedient and convénient means of charging and discharging the
batteries; the regulation of their strength or in other words, their supply of
electricity; and of closing or opening the circuit, i.e. forming or breaking the
contact between the liquids and electrodes.
A. This part of my improvement I obtain by the peculiar arrangement and form
or shape of one or both of the electrodes which are completely immersed in liquid,
but not reaching to the bottom of the vessel, so as to obtain two or more columns
of liquid one set of them between the electrodes of different polarity which are
heated by the chemical action and the current passing through them, and another
set of columns outside the electrodes which are not heated. This difference of
temperature or specific gravity of liquids through the chemical action upon them is
the cause of circulation.
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings show the said arrangements a a a indicating
the electrodes of one polarity and b b b the electrodes of another.

page_text: The electrodes may reach the bottom of the vessel which contains them and go
above the level of the liquids in which they are immersed, but in this case as well
as in the previous one they may have openings or apertures d d d in their lower or
upper parts (See Figure 3).
In the case of production of the circulation of the liquids in the batteries by
means of heat, this heat may be obtained by the chemical or electrical action
which is going on in the cells themselves. This heat may also be produced by
other means in any part of the cell, battery, or liquid circuit :-as for example:-
when an electric lamp is used (one or several as the case may be) the liquid of the
battery is made to pass close by the lamp or envelope it partially or completely
and thus the heat radiated by the lamp is caused to effect the said circulation.
Figure 4 illustrates these arrangements A is the cell or battery ke df its liquid
circuit necessary for circulation, and 7 electric lamps.
to
Figures 5, 6 and 7 show modifications of the same; where the beat necessary
create the circulation is produced by ordinary means, such as ordinary stoves, fire
places, lamps, hot air, water or other heating contrivance. Instead of heat I some-
times use cold which may be obtained by draughts, evaporation, or otherwise-In
this case the cold is used to create the necessary difference of temperature to
produce the said circulation.
In Figure 5. A A A represents galvanic cells. F. F. the heat producers—a b, a b,
the parts of the liquid circuit which are to be heated.
In Figure 6, the heating is produced by one or several tubes N,N, in which hot
gases or liquids are passing; these tubes may even pass through the cells, vertically,
horizontally, or otherwise. In lieu of the tubes N°N, and also of the tubes a b, ab,
I sometimes use a simpler arrangement in which one or more sides of the cells or
battery are heated by any suitable means; in this case the cells have one or several
partitions g g, (Figure 7) which, while dividing the cells have at the same time
apertures or openings in their upper and lower parts, so arranged as to facilitate
the said circulation.
In all cases the cells, their electrodes, as well as other parts, such as tubes ab,
partitions g etc and the aforesaid heating arrangements may be of any shape or
number,
This circulation may be also obtained by electrical or electro-mechanical means,
by weight or pressure etc.
An arrangement I find to answer well is to use a reservoir having a piston or
movable partition or bell with openings or valves. The weight of this piston or
partition or bell causes the circulation of the liquid in the battery, and the liquid
which leaves the battery may be gathered in a separate vessel or above the said
piston or partition-Or I may cause the weight of the liquid in one part of the
reservoir to effect the circulation, and gather the more or less exhausted liquid in
the other part; oscillation or reversion will cause a new circulation.
The electrodes may be of any desired number, shape or form; such as bells,
tubes, cylinders, discs, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular or any other,
made into a form of one or more sided combs, of a gridiron, toothed wheel,.
venetian blind, star or a cylindrical spoked wheel without a nave or centre etc.
Each projection, tooth or spoke, may be single, double, or multiple, and the
projection of one electrode may enter between the corresponding projection of
another. Electrodes of tubular form, fluted, grooved or plain may be made to
embrace one another. Electrodes may also be perforated or not and grooved or not.
When a solid depolarizing agent is used it may be put into hollows or openings in
the electrodes or between and around them or their parts.
When I use porous pots or jars, I place the electrodes as near as possible to the
walls of the same. Either of these arrangements may be used in conjunction with
a solid depolarizing agent and special reservoirs (which may be part of the cells or
batteries) of exciting liquid or liquids.
B. This part of my improvements is effected by covering with an insulating
material or varnish the upper or exposed to the air part or parts of one or both

page_text: electrodes, entirely as far as the terminals or lid will allow, at one end; and below
the level of the liquid or liquids at the other. The lid and upper part of the jars
or vessels being covered with a similar material and in a like manner.
non acting parts of electrodes may be covered in similar manner.
Also the
The same result is obtained by using an insulating partition or partitions
straight, plain, curved, corrugated, tubular etc. The extensions of these partitions
are limited in the same manner as in the case of direct covering of electrodes by
insulating material or varnish. These partitions separate the upper part of vessels
or jars in two or more compartments, and they may even encase one or both
electrodes separately. See Figures 8 and 9 where ab are the electrodes and kk
the aforesaid partitions.
By the use of such arrangements the creeping action of the liquids and salts
used in the batteries is prevented; and the local action between the electrodes,
liquid and air vapors and gases is avoided.
*C. The reduction of polarization of the electrodes is obtained by means of a
specially constructed negative electrode or electrodes, made of carbon or suitable
metal, or both; the peculiarity of this electrode is that it has one or more cores a a,
(Figure 10) of metal or solid carbon, upon which is deposited or placed and fixed
to it, (so as to ensure proper electrical contact of every part of the surface with
the core) by cement, varnish, heat, electricity, or other suitable means, carbon or
metal in divided, granulated, porous or spongy state, bb. Sometimes inside of the
solid carbon core a is placed a metallic core or cores m.
The whole or part of such electrodes may be covered in their turn, electro
chemically or chemically or by heat, with a layer or layers of crystalline carbon,
deposited thereon from hydrocarbon or similar compounds, or one or more metals:
such as Iridium platinum, chromium, silicon, paladium, silver etc :-
The electrodes also may be made in any shape or size. To increase the surface
of electrodes I make them sometimes in the shape of honey comb, or like a brush,
in the hollows of which may be placed a solid depolarizing agent see Figure 11.
D. This part of my improvement is obtained by special arrangements of different
parts of the cells or batteries, of which the following are types.
こ
Type (1). A revolving arrangement which consists of one or several positive
electrodes a a, Figure 12 of any desired form or shape, sectors, segments, squares etc,
but preferably discs or cylinders fixed upon the shaft o o..
Part of the surface of these electrodes is covered with insulating varnish or
incased in some insulating material, such parts are indicated on the Drawings by
shading.
The axles are conveniently placed in, or a little above a vessel A of any suitable
form and dimensions, so, that the lower parts of the said electrodes may be
immersed in the liquid or liquids contained therein.
The negative electrode or electrodes, single or multiple, of any desired form, may
be fixed inside this vessel and a little below the said axle or shaft as for instance bb
Figure 12 or they may be placed, alternately, with the positive ones, on the same
.shaft (see Figure 13); care being taken to insulate the electrodes of different
polarity or sign one from another by means of an insulating washer d or other
similar contrivance.
"
The separate couples or elements, to make a battery or batteries, may also be
conveniently (with the same care) placed upon the shaft common for all and in or
above the one or several troughs, subdivided into the required number of cells.
The cells may be separate if desired.
The rotating electrodes of one cell are electrically connected with fixed electrodes
of the next one, by any suitable means-as for instance, by metal or other
conducting body k, in the shape of cylinder disc etc immersed and rotating in
receptacles filled with mercury or any other conducting liquid (See Figures 12
& 13)-The insulated part or parts of the electrodes are, when the battery is not
acting dipped in the exciting liquid, thus preventing contact between the two; and
2.
J
J

page_text: to cause the battery to act it is necessary to turn the electrodes until more or less
of the exposed part enters the exciting liquid.
The output of electricity in this case is regulated by the immersion of more or
less of the uncoated portion of the surface of the electrodes.
In a modification of this arrangement, the shaft does not pass through the centre
of gravity of the electrodes, but more or less outside of it. (See Figure 14). The
electrodes, one or both, may be fixed, with certain care, to the said shaft or to
a special frame or board c d which is caused to oscillate in suitable bearings and
supports so as to introduce one or both electrodes into the liquid or liquids, or
withdraw them therefrom.
Suitable counter balances, weights springs etc or other counter acting devices
may be used to facilitate the movements, and suitable stops brakes etc to stop and
fix the shaft in the desired place, or to return the same to the previous position.
The same arrangement also can be used in the case of two or more liquids, with the
addition of necessary porous diaphragms or partitions, and with or without a solid
depolarizing agent.
The rotation or immersion and removal of the electrodes from the liquids may be
effected automatically or not; in the first case, this will make what I call relay
cells or battery.
(2) Type. In the second type, the contacts between the liquid or liquids and
electrodes are made or broken by oscillation inclination revolving or reversing of
the cells or batteries or their vessels.
A vessel or box A (Figure 15) or receptacle of any shape or form and dimension,
is divided, by partial or complete insulating partitions, into a desired number of
cells. The electrodes a a, b b, are adjusted to the lid, bottom, or one or several sides
of the said vessel or cells, and one or both of them will have such dimensions, that
some space is therein left unoccupied by them.
These free spaces may be separated or not by partial or complete partition or
partitions; as shown by dotted lines g (Figure 15) and h h (solid line) Figures 16
and 17; and is placed at one or several sides or on the top or bottom of these
vessels or cells; that is to say, at the side or sides above or below the said voltaic
couples when they are acting; and they may be contained in part of the vessel of
the battery, or in a separate receptacle connected therewith.
Also, the said space itself may be sub divided by partitions into any desired or
say corresponding number of compartments.
When the vessel is reversed or inclined to a certain degree, the exciting liquid or
liquids will flow, into this free space or spaces (which may be termed reservatories,
repositories or store spaces) and there occupy such a level or position, that,
the contact between the said liquid or liquids and electrodes, will be broken.
Figures 16 and 17 show the simplest and most effective arrangements. The degree
of inclination of the cells or battery for the purpose of storing liquids or putting
battery in action is 90 degrees in both ways.
The above mentioned partition or partitions may be complete or partial, or have
holes or openings placed in such a way, that when the battery is acting they will
divide it into the required number of cells the liquids of which will be completely
separated, and, only when the battery is reversed, or inclined to a certain degree or
in position "at rest" will allow an inter communication between the liquid of the
several cells or compartments; which is necessary for simultaneous charging and
discharging.
Thus I can withdraw from the contact with one or more electrodes and store the
exciting liquid or liquids in their reservatory for any length of time, until
the battery is required again to act. The openings, apertures, holes, tubes, or
conduits ppp to cause this inter-communication, may be closed, when desirable by
slides, valves, tapes, or other suitable means.
By these arrangements the charging or discharging of all the cells may be carried
out simultaneously by one and the same operation..

page_text: To reduce the power necessary for the reversing of the battery, as for instance
in relay or automatic batteries the vessels which contain the voltaic cell or cells
have the shape of a cylinder, or dram A A-(Figure 18) or other similar form, and
the electrodes a b, partitions and diaphragms are made in the form or shape of
discs, cylinders, sectors, segments etc and in such a way as to obtain a more or less
perfect balance on the shaft or shafts and easy rotation of the same in the bearings.
The electrodes and partitions are insulated in the above mentioned manner and
the porous diaphragm (when they are used) are glazed or covered with insulating
varnish, or made impenetrable for liquids in the manner hereinafter described.
In this arrangement, when it is properly constructed and supplied with necessary
counterweights w or balances and other contrivances, no liquid is raised, or the
balance otherwise disturbed during the oscillation or rotation of the battery or cell
in their bearings and therefore very little power is required to effect the said
movements.
3rd Type: When the battery or cells have two or more liquids the previously,
described arrangements are necessarily modified-these can be divided into two
types.
a. When the charging and discharging must be done separately for each cell.
b. When these actions may be made common for all these cells contained in the
battery or in the same box or vessel; then the charging and discharging is effected,
simply by putting in or withdrawing the liquid or liquids from the store part or
parts of the said vessels.
Type a. The cell of this type can be of any form or shape and size, with single
or multiple electrodes and have porous pots or diaphragms.
The electrodes are made of such a size as to occupy only a part of the vessel or
vessels wherein the exciting liquid or liquids are acting upon them, and the said
liquid or liquids may act one upon another through the pores of the porous pots or
diaphragms. This is the active position of the cell; but when the latter is reversed
or inclined to a certain degree, the exciting liquids will flow into other parts (store
parts) of the said vessel or vessels and porous pots, or in store compartments
specially assigned for such a purpose and separated from them by suitable
partitions, or even in a separate store vessel or vessels, which may likewise be
divided into compartments to receive one or several liquids. These store parts,
that is to say, the parts or portions of the porous pots or diaphragms through
which it is intended that no action shall take place, the non acting parts of vessels
or electrodes or also store compartments or store vessels and their partitions are
glazed or covered with suitable insulating varnish or coating impenetrable for
liquids.
Of course the store compartments and vessels have openings, apertures, tubes or
conduits for the purpose of communicating with the principal vessels or pots or
their acting parts.
To construct the battery of this type I use separate cells or obtain them through
subdivision by partial or complete insulating partitions of one of several suitable
boxes, vessels or receptacles. Figure 19, illustrates the aforesaid arrangements-
a b, electrodes, d d porous pots-partitions etc-k. k. parts of the same covered
with insulating varnish hh, store spaces, and g g, partitions impenetrable for
liquids.
b Type: The cells may be charged and discharged separately, but to facilitate
these actions all the store places, parts, compartments or vessels for the same liquid
may have communication between them by means of openings or apertures PP,
Figures 20, 21, 22 and 23.
Then the charging and discharging of all the cells may be performed by a single
operation.
With the same view the store place for the same exciting liquid may be made
common to all the cells contained in the same battery box or vessel. The store
places h and h¹ for different liquids may be placed side by side (See Figures 22

page_text: and 23) one above another etc (See Figures 20 and 21) in the same box with the
battery or in a separate vessel or vessels, (see Figure 24) in. the same manner and
with the same care as described above.
In all these cases the electrodes may have full or ordinary dimensions but then
parts of their surfaces (together with the margins of necessary size) which will be
immersed in exciting liquids when the cells or battery is "at rest" (in non acting
positions) must be covered by insulating varnish or incased in similar material, so
as to preserve them from the contact with the said liquids-Figures 20 21, 22
and 23 illustrate the above described arrangements-a a, bb, representing electrodes
-dd porous pots or partitions kk varnished parts of same, impenetrable for
liquids g. g. partitions impenetrable for liquids-pp openings or apertures
and p' p¹ tubes for the purpose of intercommunication of liquids for charging and
discharging or putting battery into positions "at rest" and "at work "-hh, store
spaces for one liquid and h¹ h¹ the same for another liquid.
E. The charging and discharging of the cells or batteries is accomplished in the
ways described above; and, may be partial or complete.
In some cases I use the store parts not only for storing liquids when the cells
are "at rest" but also for the purpose of partial regeneration of exciting liquid
or liquids, which is accomplished by chemical action, or by simply dissolving
suitable substances placed in these store compartments; upon these substances the
exciting liquids will act when the cells are in position of "at rest." These
regenerating or strengthening substances are placed in the store compartments or
their subdivisions and divided from the liquid by means of a perforated or porous
partition or partitions; or may be placed directly in the said compartments in bags,
baskets or other suitable receptacles, constructed so as to allow the action of the
exciting liquid upon them.
Sometimes I make the store places capable of containing more liquid than
necessary for filling once the active parts of the cells; this I do for the purpose of
prolonging the action of the cells without recharging, as the liquids partially
exhausted by working the cells will mix up with the fresher liquids contained or
reserved in the store spaces when the cells are put in position "at rest "-To
insure that only the proper amount of the liquid may go into the working
compartment I use partial partitions, or bridges x x (Figure 25) so placed in the
storing parts that when the cells are inclined to the proper degree for the purpose
of putting them in action, only the necessary amount of the liquids are allowed to
flow into their working compartments.
The regulation of the strength of the current supplied by the batteries may be
made through the change of the area of the surface of the electrodes exposed to the
action of the exciting liquid or liquids that is to say; by the change in internal
resistance of the cell or battery.
This can be effected by rotation, or movements of the electrodes or cells or
vessels or more or less deep insertion of the couples in exciting liquids (see
Figures 12, 13, 17 and 18).
"
The current may be regulated also by the change of the level of the said liquids,
which may be done by the rise or fall of the store vessel or vessels or reservoirs.
A, Figures 17 and 24 where 1. is position "at rest non acting-2. Quarter
action-3. Half action-4. Three quarter action and 5 full action-by increasing or
decreasing of the pressure of the air or gases in the cell or battery or store space,
by the heating or cooling of the said air or gases.
The same regulation may also be accomplished by putting more or less exciting
liquid from store spaces into active parts of cells, or in other ways, for instance by
introduction of variable resistance in outer circuit by varying the combination of
the cells in the battery or by the introduction of more or less of them into
action etc.
Either of these modes may be effected manually or automatically. In the first
instance by the use of suitable pedals, levers; handles or other mechanical means.
In the second case, through the assistance of an electrical agent.

page_text: The rotations or other necessary movements may be effected entirely by electro-
motion, or by any other power, and electricity is used only as regulating agent for
opening or closing circuits or certain part or parts of the mechanism so as to
operate required actions.
The necessary electric power is obtained from a special source or from the
current given off by the battery itself or part of it. This power can be used
directly or to be stored at first in any suitable manner and then used when
required.
The immersion of the electrodes into liquids may also be effected by pressure,
weights, springs etc and the removing of the same by electro-motion, the power
for which is supplied by the battery or cell itself.
The form, shape, number and size of electrodes boxes, vessels, their partitions,
compartments, porous pots, tubes, or diaphragms, means of rotating or moving
them and the material from which they are made;-may vary according to
necessity and circumstance.
Sometimes I cause the vessel or vessels of the cells or batteries to act as a
counterweight or balance for the electrodes; or those of one polarity act likewise
for another polarity-In some cases the porous pot or pots or diaphragms may be
made in one piece with the vessel or vessels containing the cell or cells.
This applies also to different compartments or other parts.
Special partitions may be constructed to prevent the splashing of the liquids of
the batteries or cells, also they may have partial or complete lid or lids, which
may be hermetically closed or sealed.
Electrical connections of the cells in the battery may be made automatically or
not by a special commutator.
The batteries or cells have necessary openings tubes, tapes, syphons for emptying
and replenishing them or for conveying the evolved gases or vapours to the
absorber, exhaustor, condenser, transformer etc.
The axles may even be tubular and have tapes syphons &c for that purpose.
Also the batteries may have tubes or apertures to show the level of the liquids
and the state of the electrodes.
In all cases where the cells or battery require to be revolved or inclined or
tilted, in order to facilitate the movements I often add to them suitable bearings
pivots and standards or other arrangement for rocking or inclining them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I Claim is
1°. The construction and arrangements of the Electrodes and other parts of
Galvanic Cells, for obtaining the circulation of the liquid or liquids used in them
and the utilisation for the same purpose of changes in the specific gravities or
temperatures or both of the said liquids as also the heat cold, or other physical
powers, substantially as described and illustrated on the drawing Figures 1 to 7
inclusive.
2°. The special arrangements of Electrodes, insulating covers, partitions etc, and
other parts of the said cells, so as to prevent the local and creeping actions,
substantially as set forth and illustrated Figs 8 & 9.
3°. The use and construction of special Electrodes with the view of reducing the
polarization in galvanic cells or batteries, substantially as set forth and partially
shown Figs 10 and 11.
4° The peculiar construction and arrangement of the galvanic batteries or cells
whereby I obtain the prevention of waste or consumption of liquids and electrodes
when the battery is not acting by withdrawal of the liquids from contact with the
electrodes, herein before termed "the storing" substantially as set forth and
illustrated Fig 12 to 25 inclusive.
5°. The special construction of galvanic cells and their active and store parts, so
as to facilitate the charging and discharging of them, and to make it simultaneous

page_text: for any desired number of cells substantially as set forth and illustrated Figs 15
to 24 inclusive.
6°. The disposition of fresh chemicals or reserve liquids in the store parts or
compartments of the galvanic cells so as to increase and prolong the action of the
said cells by renovation and strengthening of already worked liquids through the
action of these liquids upon the aforesaid chemicals, substantially as set forth and
partly illustrated Figure 25.
7°. The arrangement of Electrodes and other parts of galvanic cells or batteries,
to facilitate the putting them in action and the withdrawal from it, so as to obtain
what I term relay cells or batteries, substantially as set forth and illustrated
Figs 12, 13 & 18.
8°. The regulation of the strength of the current of galvanic cells and the
putting them in action, and the withdrawal from it, by more or less introduction
or withdrawal of exciting liquids from the cells by means of the rotation of the
Electrodes or cells, or their reversal or inclination to required degree, or by
displacement of store vessels or compartments, or by pressure of gas, liquid or
weight upon the exciting liquids in the said store compartments, substantially as
described and illustrated Figs 12 to 24 inclusive.
9°. The particular arrangement of galvanic cells and their parts substantially as
shown by Figs 16, 17, 23 and 25, for the purposes specified.
Dated this twenty ninth day of October 1884.
For the Applicant,
W. E. GEDGE,
Agent.