Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 23rd Aug., 1887.
We JAMES SERSON, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,
one of the United States of America, Electrician and JAMES ORVILLE WHITTEN of
said Boston, Manufacturer, 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 :-
Our invention relates more especially to that class of galvanic batteries which are
provided with feeders or re-enforcing cups; and it consists in a novel construction
and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth, the object being to
produce a more effective and otherwise desirable device of this character than is now
in ordinary use.
The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all
conversant with such matters from the following explanation.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved battery, the cover being represented as
in position and clamped or secured;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;
Figure 3 is a top plan view, the cover being represented as removed
Figure
4 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 2, 2, in Figure 3 ; and
Figure 5 is an enlarged diagram showing certain details of construction.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the
drawings.
In the drawings, A represents the enclosing jar which is preferably composed of
hard india rubber, but may be made of glass or any other suitable material.
This jar is provided with an annular projection, m, which is preferably formed
integral with its bottom, v, and arranged concentrically with its walls, said projection
being in the shape of a truncated cone, in vertical cross-section, and provided at its
apex with a channel b, extending its entire length.
A cylindrical anode or amalgamated battery-zine B, provided with an upwardly
projecting arm d, and a vertical opening through one of its sides, (shown by the
dotted lines a, in Figure 2) is disposed in the jar A its bottom or lower edge being
inserted in the channel b.
This channel is partially filled with mercury t in which the lower edge or portion of
the zinc, B, is immersed when in position for use, the mercury being carried upward
by capillary action, and serving to constantly amalgamate the zinc, or restore it to its
normal condition as the amalgam on its surface is destroyed by the corrosive action of
the accidulated solution in which it is submerged.
A porous cup C, composed of biscuit porcelain, or other suitable material, is placed

page_text: centrally within the jar A, said cup being considerably less in diameter than the
zine B, and arranged concentrically therewith.
Disposed within said porous cup there are three portable or detachable re-enforcing
cups, E F G, and also a cylindrical carbon, D, provided with transverse slots or
openings r, in its lower portion or edge, and with an upwardly projecting arm f.
The carbon is considerably less in diameter than the porous cup and is
concentrically arranged therewith.
Three sockets y for receiving the cups, E F G are formed on the bottom of the
porous cup C, said sockets being preferably grouped around its centre, as shown in
Figure 3.
The re-enforcing cups are porous, being composed of biscuit porcelain or similar
material, and are of such size that when placed in position in the sockets of the cup C,
a chamber or space of suitable dimensions to receive the solution used in said last
named cup will be left between them and the carbon D.
The cup E, is provided with a series of lateral perforations g, through which the
solutions in the porous cup may freely pass.
A screw-cap H is attached to each of the arms, f, d, in which the conducting-
wires 1, w, are respectively secured in the usual manner.
A cover J, provided with a downwardly projecting annular flange k, at its periphery,
is fitted to the jar A said cover having openings through which the arms f, d, protrude
when the cover is in position on said jar.
A clamping-bar K, provided with a downwardly projecting arm h, at either end,
having an inwardly projecting hook ;, is employed for securing the cover in position
on the jar A.
A lever, L is centrally pivoted to the bar K, said lever being provided with a camp,
which is fitted to work in an elongated slot q, in said bar, and press upon the cover J,
when the lever is depressed.
Projecting laterally from the jar A, near its top there are two lips or flanges u, one
at either side thereof, with which the hooks j, on the arms of the bar K, are
respectively adapted to engage, and in attaching the cover J, to said jar the
lever L, is raised and said hooks adjusted to engage said lips, after which the lever
is depressed, thereby bringing the cam p into forcible contact with the top of the
cover and locking it in position in a manner which will be readily obvious without
a more explicit description.
The mechanical parts of our improved battery having been constructed and
arranged as shown and described, and the channel filled with mercury, the screw-
caps H, clamping-bar K, and cover J, are removed, and the porous cup C, filled with
the following galvanic element or solution M.
For convenience of reference we will designate the solution used in the porous
cup C, as the "inner solution," and that used in the annular cell or chamber, between
said cup and the jar A, as the "outer solution."
FORMULA FOR THE INNER SOLUTION.
Take two gallons of water, one gallon of sulphuric acid, one and one-half gallons of
nitric acid, three pounds and four ounces of chromic acid, and nine pounds of
bi-chromate of potash. Mix these ingredients in any suitable vessel, and when
thoroughly dissolved and incorporated, use a sufficient quantity of the element or
solution thus formed to fill the porous cup containing the carbon D, and cups E F G.
When the porous cup has been filled as described, the annular cell or chamber z..
containing the zinc B, between the porous cup and walls of the jar A, is then filled
with the following galvanic element or solution N.
FORMULA FOR THE OUTER SOLUTION.
Mix these
Take one gallon of the sulphuric acid and six gallons of water.
ingredients in any suitable vessel and use a sufficient quantity of the element or
solution thus formed to fill the cell or chamber, containing the zinc B.

page_text: After the cell or chamber 2, has been filled with the last-named solution, as
described, the perforated re-enforcing cup, E, is filled with bi-chromate of potash, the
cup F, with nitric acid, and the cup G, with sulphuric acid.
The cover J, is then replaced and secured by the clamping-bar K, and lever L, and
the screw-caps H, carrying the wires lw, attached to the arms df, the battery being
now in operative condition.
When the battery is to be moved while in use, or if employed where there is more
or less motion, as in lighting railway cars etc.; the cover J, is provided with india-
rubber packing-rings on its under side adapted to fit tightly around the arms df,
and also press upon the upper edges of the jars, zinc and carbon, thereby preventing
the solutions in the battery from being spilled, or accidentally mixed with each other.
The object of the acids and bi-chromate of potash which are respectively placed in
the cups E FG, is to re-enforce or feed the inner solution in the porous cup C, and
thereby maintain its strength.
We have found in practice that the use of an inner solution comprising water,
nitric acid, sulphuric acid, bi-chromate of potash, and chromic acid, in combination
with an outer solution comprising water and sulphuric acid, in about the proportions
and compounded substantially as described, effectually prevents polarization, and the
precipitation or deposit of sulphate of zine and the sesquioxide of chromium, or
"chromic alum " on the carbon or zinc of the battery.
We have also found that the use of free mercury t, in the channel will keep the
zine B, thoroughly amalgamated, and thus prevent its premature destruction by the
corrosive action of the acidulated solution in which it is submerged.
The cups E F G, being portable may be easily replaced when broken, or removed
to be cleansed or filled without interfering with the action of the battery.
We do not confine myself to the proportions stated in formulating the galvanic
elements or solutions MN, as these may be varied considerably without materially
changing their nature or the results attained by their use; or to arranging the
cups E F G, in any special manner within the porous cup C, as their arrangement is
immaterial, excepting as a matter of convenience. Neither do we confine ourselves to
making said re-enforcing cups cylindrical, as they may be made of any suitable form
or size; nor to making the jar, A, projection, m, cup C, zinc B, and carbon D of the
precise forms or styles shown and described, as these parts may be varied considerably
in that respect without departing from the spirit of our invention; nor to the use of
three re-enforcing cups, as one or more may be used as required; nor to the use of
the sockets, y, for holding the re-enforcing cups, as any suitable means may be
employed for that purpose; nor to the use of the mechanical parts of the battery with
solutions compounded precisely as described, as said parts are adapted for use with
any suitable liquid galvanic elements or solutions; nor to the use of the solutions with
the mechanical parts described, as said solutions are well adapted for use in batteries
differently constructed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :
First. In a galvanic battery of the character described, the porous cup, C, in
combination with one or more portable or detachable re-enforcing cups disposed within
the same, substantially as shown and described.
Second. In a galvanic battery of the character described, the porous cup, C, provided
with means for holding a portable or detachable re-enforcing cup in position within
the same, substantially as set forth.
Third. In a galvanic battery of the character described, the porous cup C, having
the sockets y, in combination with the feeding or re-enforcing cups, E FG, the cup E,
being provided with perforations, g, substantially as described.
Fourth. In a galvanic battery of the character described, the jar A, having the
interiorly disposed annular projection, m, provided with the channel b, for containing
free mercury with which to keep the zinc B, amalgamated substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In a galvanic battery of the character described, the combination of the jar A

page_text: provided with the channeled projection, m; the porous cup C, provided with the
sockets ; the zine B, provided with the arm d; the carbon D, provided with the
arm, the portable or detachable cups, E F G, means for connecting the wires l w,
to the zinc and carbon; a cover for the jar A; and means for securing the cover on
said jar, substantially as described.
.
Sixth. In a galvanic battery of the character described, the jar A, provided with the
channeled projection, m; the zinc.B, having its lower portion or edge inserted in the
channel of said projection; the porous cup, C, centrally disposed in the jar, A; one
or more portable or detachable re-enforcing cups disposed within said porous cup;
and the carbon D, disposed between the re-enforcing cup or cups, and the walls of
said porous cup; in combination with an acidulated solution in the porous cup, an
acidulated solution in the chamber between the porous cup and walls of the jar A; the
mercury t, in the channel b; and a re-enforcing material or materials in the re-
enforcing cup or cups, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. In a galvanic battery of the character described, the enclosing jar, A,
provided with the lips u, and projection, m having the channel, b; the zine B, provided
with the arm d, and having its lower portion or edge inserted in said channel; the
porous cup C, centrally disposed in said jar and provided with sockets, y; the
re-enforcing cups E F G, disposed in said porous cup and secured by said sockets;
the carbon, D, provided with the arm f, and disposed between said re-enforcing cups
and the walls of the porous cup; the clamping bar K, provided with the cam lever, L,
arms h, and hooks and the screw-caps, H, all constructed combined and arranged
substantially as shown and described.
:
Eighth. In a galvanic battery of the character described, the galvanic element or
solution, M, comprising water, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, chromic acid, and bi-chromate
of potash in about the proportions and compounded substantially as described, in
combination with the galvanic element or solution, N, comprising water and sulphuric
acid in about the proportions and compounded substantially as specified.
Ninth. In a galvanic battery of the character described, the galvanie element or
solution, M, comprising water, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, chromic acid, and bi-chromate
of potash in about the proportions and compounded substantially as described, and the
galvanic element or solution, N, comprising water and sulphuric acid in about the
proportions and compounded substantially as specified, in combination with free nitric
acid, free sulphuric acid, and free bi-chromate of potash for re-enforcing the element
or solution, M, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. In a galvanic battery of the character described, the jar, A, provided with
the projection, m, having che channel, ; the zinc, B, disposed in said jar and having
its lower portion or edge inserted in said channel; the porous cup C, provided with
the sockets y; the re-enforcing cups E F G, disposed in said porous cup; and the
carbon D, disposed between the walls of said porous cup, and said re-enforcing cups,
in combination with a galvanic element or solution comprising water, sulphuric acid,
nitric acid, chromic-acid and bi-chromate of potash and disposed in said porous cup;
and a galvanic element or solution comprising water and sulphuric acid and disposed
in the chamber,, between said porous cup and the walls of the jar, A, substantially as
described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicants.