CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VOLTAIC BATTERIES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine Moreau, of
No. 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 4,
South Street, Finsbury, London, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VOLTAIC BATTERIES."-A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Armand le Comte
de Fontaine Moreau at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 21st July 1855.
I, PETER ARMAND le Comte DE FONTAINE MOREAU, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier,
Paris, in the Empire of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF VOLTAIC BATTERIES" to be as follows, that is to say:―
ARRANGEMENT AND FORM OF THE ELEMENTS.
Each pair is composed of a zinc and carbon element. The zinc element is
formed of two thin sheets in the form of plates, and amalgamated, Figure 1.
The carbon element is composed of a thin plate of carbon, ordinarily of a
rectangular form. This plate is prepared by different processes, such as by
calcination of syrups of sugar or other substances ordinarily used. It is sur-
rounded by a framing composed of a mixture of sulphur, oxile of iron, and
amianthus or other cement inalterable by acids. This framework embraces
only the upper and lower parts of the plate, leaving free the two sides.

page_text: Figure 2 represents the general form of the framed plates; Figure 3, a
section through the line A, R, of Figure 2; Figure 4, also a section through
C, D, of Figure 2. The upper part of the plate is immersed for a time in a
very clear solution of starch, of gluten, of alumina, or even of fatty substances,
the effect of which is to destroy the capillary properties of that portion. The
same part of the plate (but to a less height) is afterwards submitted to an
electrotyping operation, for the purpose of sheathing it with a surface of
copper. At the part a, Figure 5, on this copper surface, and by ordinary pro-
cesses, is soldered a flat strip of copper; this strip, and the electrotype coating
on which it is soldered, are covered with a varnish inalterable by acids.
The entire element, as described, is carefully wrapped in paper prepared in
the same way as gun cotton; this paper is attached to the sulphur frames by
collodion, and can be varnished at will with collodion to diminish its porosity.
It replaces the porous jars used to the present time. At the part b, Figure 5,
each element is furnished with a small glass tube; this tube traverses the
sulphur frame, and communicates with a much larger porcelain tube, which
passes along the whole battery. The larger tube is raised at one of its extre-
mities, which terminates in a funnel shape; its other extremity is furnished with
a stop-cock. The acids are poured into this tube, and are carried by it at the
same moment and to the same level to all the carbon elements. At the part c,
Fig. 5, another small tube traverses in the same way the framing of cach
carbon clement, and is carried to the height d. This tube, which communicates
by its lower part with a large porcelain tube parallel with the first, is opened at
one of its extremities and closed at the other; it serves to carry off the excess
of acid during the operation, & also to receive the gases which are lisengaged.
By means of these two porcelain tubes, cach communicating by a series of
small tubes with the carbon elements, a constant current of the liquid acids
is kept up.
COMPOSITION AND FORM OF THE RESERVOIR.
The reservoir of this machine is in caoutchouc, & is composed of successive
rectangular cells, each containing one pair. The carbon is placed in the
centre, and the two small tubes with which it is furnished cross the bottom of
the cell to join the porcelain tubes, with which they are connected by a caout-
chouc pipe. At the two sides-of-the-carbon element are placed two zinc
plates; two caoutchouc bands prevent these plates from touching the paper
insulator.
Fig. 6 represents a section across the cells, one of them containing a pair in
position; Fig. 7 is also a section of a cell in the direction of its breadth. At
the part f each cell is pierced with a hole, which gives passage to a small tube

page_text: communicating with a tube in caoutchouc of a much larger diameter. This
large tube passes over the whole length of the cells; one of its extremities is
bent, and terminates in a funnel; at its other extremity it is furnished with a
stop-cock. By this tube are poured the saline solutions to be placed in contact
with the zinc, and which thus keeps the same level throughout. At the part e
each cell is in the same way pierced with a hole, which gives passage to a
small tube, communicating with one in caoutchouc of much larger diameter,
passing through the whole range of cells; by this tube the surplus liquid is
run off. By means of these two caoutchouc tubes, communicating respectively
by a series of small holes with each cell, a constant current of saline solutions
is kept up.
When it is wished to stop the action of the battery, it suffices to
open the stop-cocks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine Morcau in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 21st January 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
ARMAND le Comte DE FONTAINE MOREAU, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in
the Empire of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine Moreau, Her special license,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Peter Armand le
Comte de Fontaine Moreau, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine Moreau, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein.
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF VOLTAIC BATTERIES," communicated to me from a foreigner residing abroad,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Peter Armand le Comite
de Fontaine Morcau, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to

page_text: be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine
Moreau, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
This Invention consists, first, of an improved construction of voltaic battery.
Secondly, the preservation of the parts electrotyped from the action of acids.
Thirdly, the employment of paper prepared in the same way as gun cotton
as a substitute for the porous vessel or diaphragm.
Fourthly, the mode of filling the cells with the exciting fluid and of
emptying the same. The same letters on the Drawings refer to the same
parts.
Figure 1 represents a perspective elevation of the carbon element, enclosed
by a frame of wood or other substance unalterable by acids. A is a tube
reaching to the interior, for conveying away the gas evolved, and for intro-
ducing the exciting liquid; B, metallic conductor; C, prepared paper
diaphragm, cemented with collodion or other substance to the frame. In
Figure 2 the paper is removed, shewing the frame of wood or other material,
D, E, F, G, surrounding the plate of carbon K, which is prepared in the
following manner-The upper part is immersed in a bath of stearine, pre-
viously treated by potash and hydrochloric acid. The effect of this operation
is to destroy the capillary action of the plate of charcoal. A thin coating of
copper is deposited on the upper edge G, H, I, J, by the electrotype process,
and to this coating the copper conductor B is soldered. The carbon element
is fixed by cement or otherwise in the upper part of the frame, as represented,
and is consequently preserved from oxidation. Figure 3 is a vertical section
through e, f, g, h, Figure 1. This view shews the thickness of the plate of
prepared charcoal, and the manner of fixing the conductor B to the upper part.
Figure is a horizontal section through a, b, c, d, Figure 1. Figure 5
represents the plate of zinc; Figure 6 is a section of a single cell L of a
trough, composed of poreclain, glass, wood, or other suitable material. This
cell contains the zinc and carbon elements, and shews their arrangement.
Figure 7 represents a vertical section (through A, B, Figure 8,) of a
complete voltaic battery of the improved construction. M is the frame of the
trough, which, as before stated, is composed of wood, porcelain, or other
suitable material. It is divided in the usual manner into insulated cells L,

page_text: which are lined or covered in the interior with vulcanized india-rubber,
cement, or other substance not acted upon by acids. On the top of the frame
is fixed a pipe N, provided with a funnel O, which supplies the carbon chamber
with the exciting liquid, composed of nitrate of soda one part, sulphuric acid
two parts, water four parts. This liquid is poured into the funnel, and enters
the chamber through the small conducting tubes A. The pipe P, placed at the
lower frame, conveys to the cells containing the zinc plate Q a semi-saturated
solution of chloride of sodium, which is poured in the funnel O, and enters the
cell by the sinall tubes R placed at the bottom. Each pipe is provided at its
eud with a non-metallic stop-cock S for drawing off the liquid.
The gases evolved in the carbon chamber are carried away by the upper
tube N, to which are fixed the small tubes A.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I
claim is,
First, the improved construction and arrangements for voltaic batteries, as
herein-before described and referred to in the annexed Drawings.
Secondly, in the method of protecting the electrotyped portion of the carbon
clement from the action of acids.
Thirdly, in the employment of paper prepared in the same manner as gun
cotton as a substitute for a porous diaphragm.
Fourthly, the mode of filling and emptying the cells and chambers of the
exciting liquid, as herein-before described, and referred to in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine
Moreau, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-six.
L' DE FONTAINE MOREAU. (L.S.)