Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 30th Aug., 1887
Complete Accepted, 28th Oct., 1887
HENRY REUBEN FISHER of 35 Waterloo Road London S.E. Manufacturing
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My present Invention relates to the improved self regulating portable battery and
lamp described in the Provisional Specification of my Invention dated the 26th Feby.
1886. No. 2776.
In the Specification of my Invention of prior date above referred to (No. 2776.) I
have described the elements of the battery as being formed of bars or rods of uniform
section and held in position by means of a metal plate with arms and holes or slots
through which the carbons or zincs are passed and clamped by a turn of the screw
supplied for that
purpose.
Now, in accordance with my present Invention I propose to use instead of the "bars
or rods of uniform section" above referred to-semicircular carbons, corrugated or
otherwise, with a rod of zinc in centre of same. The object being to increase the
surface and thereby to diminish the internal resistance.
In my present as in the case of my former Invention No. 2776 hereinbefore referred
to, a metal plate forms connection with the carbon or carbons of one cell and the zinc
of another, thus dispensing with all wires, permanent screws or caps.
The metal plates aforesaid are fixed to a non conducting block thus forming a most
efficient and cheap set of elements. On said block or lid of nonconducting material
or lid, or on the side of the vessel which contains the electrolyte, spring or springs are
arranged or any suitable appliance such as piston and cylinder with vent hole which
will raise the elements or allow the electrolyte to descend slowly from them until both
are separated.

page_text: In order to obtain an automatic cut off or when necessary, regulation of the current
I use electro magnets or solenoids and when the elements are in contact with the
electrolyte the current flows through the wires of the magnets or solenoids, the result
being that the elements are held in the fluid of the battery and the lamp continues to
burn until the current becomes too weak to hold the armature or the core in which
case the magnet being unable to hold on any longer releases the armature and the
springs weights or equivalents before mentioned begin immediately to separate the
elements and electrolyte, the regulation being purely automatic and certain.
The whole of the apparatus above described is enclosed in a box or vessel with glow
lamp and switch and usual accessories attached, forming a combination most con-
venient for domestic or mining purposes.
D
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Self Regulating Electric Portable Battery and Lamp.
I, HENRY REUBEN FISHER, of 35 Waterloo Road, London, S.E. Manufacturing
Electrician, 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 :-
My Invention consists essentially of an automatic device, by means of which the
electrolyte of a primary battery may be brought into contact with the electrodes or
elements, and in the methods of connecting and holding said electrodes or elements;
as also in the automatic regulating device hereinafter referred to in connection with
the electrolyte and the electrodes or elements of a primary electric battery. In order
that my Invention may be the better understood, I have appended the accompanying
three sheets of drawings, similar letters of reference being adopted to denote like parts
in the several views. Figure 1 represents a plan view of a battery of twelve cells
arranged according to my Invention; Figure 2 a sectional elevation of same;
Figure 3 a general view of the complete apparatus; Figure 4 a diagram of the switch
connections of a double battery; Figure 5 two sectional elevations of the special
chain pulley hereinafter to be particularly described; Figure 6 represents the clip for
connecting the elements of the cells, and Figure 7 a detached view of the balanced
lever catch, and electro magnetic attachment to be hereinafter fully described.
The device or contrivance according to my Invention consists of a case A which
may be of any ornamental design, upon the top of which is fitted a cap or cover B,
which is so constructed as to be easily removed. Upon said cap or cover B a suitable
stand C is attached carrying an incandescence lamp D. Switches or other equivalent
devices are also attached to the cap or cover B to regulate the electric current by
diverting one part of the energy of the battery to any desired conductor, while the
remainder is utilised in the lamp; or, when desired, the whole current
may
be allowed
to pass to the lamp. Inside the case A and in no way attached to it, is a frame or
stand F, F, F, Figure 2 to the upper part of which the elements G, G¹, G¹¹, are
fixed to a plate or slab of a suitable insulating material.
In order to obtain a large surface, I prefer to construct said elements of a semi-
cylindrical form, the carbon surrounding the zinc, as shewn at Figures 1 and 6; and
to further increase the electrical area and to diminish the internal resistance, I may
corrugate or laminate said elements in any convenient manner. In connecting said
elements so that the separate cells composing the battery may be coupled in "series"
or "multiple are" according to the purpose to which it is to be applied, I use a novel
clip or band shewn in detail at Figure 6. The clips or straps a, a, are formed of
hard sheet copper or brass, or other conductor of electricity, and are bent so as to
encompass and grasp the elements tightly; and to ensure a perfect non-oxidisable
contact between said clips and the elements. I cause projections or claws d, d, to be
punched out of the shoot metal forming the clips, said projections or claws being

page_text: preferably tipped with platinum which does not form salts of low conductivity when
in contact with ordinary electrolytes. This arrangement is shewn more fully at H
Figure 6, where a portion of the band is represented as detached, and the projections
or claws d, d, shewn raised up on the interior surface of the clip a. Brackets e, e, are
provided upon the clips for the purpose of securing the elements to the upper part of
the frame F Figure 2. The metal guides I, I', Figure 2, are fixed vertically to the
upper and lower part of the frame F, and enclose within, and between them, a slider J
carrying a tray K, K, supporting the jars 9, g¹, g" containing the liquid electrolyte.
A chain M of suitable formation is attached to the upper part of said slider, and then
passing over and engaging with the pins of the chain pulley L, enables the slider J,
carrying the tray of jars g, g', g" to be raised towards the suspended elements G, G¹, G₁
and to remain stationary at various degrees of immersion of said elements in the
electrolyte, by means of the pawl I upon the balance lever h engaging with the teeth
of the ratchet rack f by reason of electro-magnetic attraction of the small iron
armature j attached to the upper part of the lever h, toward the electro-magnet k,
which comes into action automatically as soon as the liquid electrolyte touches the
elements, and generates a current, part of which is kept flowing through the helices
of the magnet. A weak spring i acts upon the lever in an opposite direction to the
magnet k, in a manner hereinafter to be described. The general arrangement of this
balanced lever is shewn in the detached view Figure 7. The chain pulley L shown in
detail in the sectional elevation Figure 5 is provided upon its outer periphery with
pins or teeth which engage with the links of the chain M; said pulley is chambered
centrally and fitted with a movable lid m. The spindle n rigid, being secured within
the brackets o, o¹, by means of set screws or other equivalent device.
A spiral
spring is attached at one end to the rigid spindle n and at the other, to the inner
periphery of the pulley, in such a manner that when the latter is revolved upon the
rigid spindle n, by the ascent of the tray K, K, Figure 2, by means of the chain M,
the spring is unwound; when the chain is released, the tray descends and winds up
said spring, which exerting a proportionate tension upon the pulley, checks the
momentum of the tray in its downward travel, and thus prevents shock and possible
spilling of the liquid electrolyte.
The method by which the automatic regulation of the battery according to my
Invention is carried out, is as follows, that is to say:-When it is desired to use the
electric current, the free end of the chain M is pulled, and the tray K, K, carrying
the jars or cells g, g', g¹¹, raised, the balance lever h being under the action of the
spring i only; since no current can pass through the helices of the electro-magnet k,
the pawl does not engage with the teeth of the ratchet rack f: When however
the cells containing the electrolyte are sufficiently raised, so as to partly immerse the
elements, a current is immediately generated, a small part of which, flows around tho
helices of the electro-magnet k, which attracts the armature j, causes the lever to move
against the tension of the weak spring i, and so brings the pawl 1 into gear with the
teeth of the ratchet rack f.
By the means above described any desired degree of immersion may now be given,
the pawl preventing the descent of the slider J, and tray K K of cells. The lamp I
or any other apparatus for the conversion of electrical energy may now be switched
into circuit, the electro magnet k holding the pawl in place. After the apparatus has
been in uninterrupted action for a length of time, the depolarising function of the
liquid electrolyte becomes impaired, and the current strength is proportionately
decreased. When however the decrease of power has reached a pre-determined point,
the electro-magnetic attraction of the magnet k is no longer able to resist the tension
of the spring i, which causes the lever to move the pawl out of gear with the
ratchet rack f. The slider J and tray K, K, with the cells containing the electrolyte,
now descend, though slowly, because the chain M causes the pulley L to revolve in
the opposite direction, and so, wind up the spring p, Figure 5. The elements G, G¹, G",
are thus automatically removed from contact with the liquid electrolyte, which may
recover its function of depolarisation during a period of quiescence. I may in some

page_text: cases prefer to reverse this arrangement, by causing the elements to descend into the
cells containing the electrolyte, and ascend automatically by the same combination of
parts and mechanism herein before described.
I prefer to duplicate this arrangement within one box as shewn at Figure 1, which
represents a plan view of a battery of twelve cells in two sets, or series of six cells in
each. By means of the diagram Figure 4, it will be seen that I can allow one part
of the battery to be cut out of action during the period of the recuperation of the
electrolyte, while the other part of the battery is in action, or both may be in action
at once, furnishing a current to one lamp, motor, or other convertor of electrical
energy, being coupled in "series" or multiple arc," or sending two separate
currents through two lamps, motors or the like. In the diagram Figure 4, dotted
lines indicate moveable connections, such as switch bars, pegs, or the like, as I may
employ any suitable switch, or combination of switches to effect the desired change of
connections.
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 :-
Firstly: The arrangement generally of an automatic device by which the electro-
lyte of a primary battery may be brought into contact with the electrodes or elements
and method of connecting and holding same substantially as herein set forth.
Secondly:-The combination of an electro-magnet and spring with a pawl and rack,
as an automatic regulator in connection with the electrolyte and the elements in a
primary electric battery substantially as herein set forth.
Thirdly-In the construction of an automatic regulating primary battery, the use
of a chambered pulley L Figures 2 and 5, containing a spring and acting as a counter
balance to the descending or ascending cells or elements in the manner herein
described in connection with a balanced lever, pawl, and rack, substantially as herein
set forth.
Fourthly-In the construction of an electric battery the special form of clip for
electrically connecting and holding the elements substantially as herein set forth.
Bated CHIS OWL OHV OF A110 1191 LXXV
Daveu HIS OLD OHV OY A1011ST LXX
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.