Year: 1888

page_text: I HARRY BARRINGER Cox, of New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut,
United States of America, 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 relates to an improvement in galvanic generators.
The object of my invention is to provide improved mechanical means whereby the
electrolyte or solution in the cells is kept in a constant state of agitation, thus
preventing polarization of the plates or electrodes.
A further object is to provide automatic means, whereby the plates or electrodes
can be removed from the electrolyte or solution and the generation of electricity
be stopped.
With these ends in view my invention consists in certain novel features of con-
struction and combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter and particularly
pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal vertical section of my complete device.
Figure 2 is a vertical cross section through one of the cells and stirrers.
Figure 3 is an end elevation with the outer wall removed to shew the shafts and
gearing, and
Figure 4 is a section of a portion of the device shewing the agitators driven by an
electric motor.
In the drawings the reference letter A represents a suitable supporting frame in
which are placed one or more cells B, containing any suitable electrolyte C.
The positive and negative plates or electrodes D are secured at their upper ends to
a vertically movable supporting frame or bar E, which extends horizontally across the
open ends of the cells.
A winding shaft F is horizontally journaled in the upper part of the main frame
and above and parallel with the electrode supporting bar or frame E and is connected
to the same by means of wires, cords or the like, the cords or connections being

page_text: secured at their lower ends to the electrode carrying frame and their upper ends are
secured to and wound around the winding shaft.
Thus it can be readily seen that when the winding shaft F is rotated in one direction
the connection will be wound thereon, the electrode supporting frame will be raised
and the plates lifted out of the solution, and when the shaft is rotated in the opposite
direction the electrodes will be lowered into the solution in the cells and the
electrode supporting frame will rest on the brackets f which lingits its downward
movements.
A reservoir is supported at the upper part of the main supporting frame A, and
is provided with a horizontal conduit g, opening into the lower part of said reservoir
and extending through the upper part of the main frame directly above the open
ends of the cells, and said conduit is provided on its lower side over each cell with
dropping tube or nozzle g¹.
The reservoir G is intended to be filled with some strong acid or alkali (the nature
of which depends upon the electrode being used) which passes through the conduit
and drops slowly and regularly from the depending nozzles or tubes into the cells
which are thus kept at a uniform strength and the weakening of the solution or
electrolyte is counteracted by the supply from said reservoirs and tubes.
At a short distance from one end of the main frame a vertical partition e divides a
small vertical space or chamber M from the main portion of the frame in which are
located the cells.
A shaft His journaled at one end in the partition e and its other end journaled in
the opposite side of the main frame, said shaft being horizontally and centrally located
directly over the cells and above the winding shaft F and secured to said shaft H,
and extending downward from the same into the solution in the cells are the bifurcated
stirring arms or agitators h, the arms of each bifurcated agitator passing downward
from the rocking shaft upon the opposite sides of the winding shaft and diverging in
opposite directions by which the exciting finid is kept in constant commotion thus
destroying the gaseous bubbles forming on the plates.
A windlass slaft carrying a reel or drum iis horizontally journaled in the lower
part of the chamber or space in one end of the main frame, one end of said shaft
passing through the outer wall or end of the main frame and being provided with a
crank whereby the said shaft i can be rotated.
Secured to and wound around the reel is a rope or cord ¹, the free end of
which is passed upwardly through the main frame over the pulleys and ³ and then
downward and to the lower end of which is secured the operating weight *.
A gear wheel is loosely mounted upon the shaft i at one end of the reel within
the space M, and said gear wheel is held to rotate with the shaft i, in one direction by
means of a ratchet wheel secured on said shaft and a pawl pivotted to the gear wheel
to run over the teeth when the shaft is turned to wind up the rope on the same, and
lock the gear wheel so as to rotate with the shaft when said shaft is turned in the
opposite direction.
A shaft g² is journaled in the space M, parallel with and above and to one side of
the windlass shaft i, and shaft g, is provided with a piniou meshing with gear
wheel upon the windlass shaft and near its opposite end with a gear wheel g³
adapted to mesh with a pinion 6' secured near one end of a horizontally movable
shaft b.
The horizontally movable shaft is provided near its opposite end with a gear
wheel 6 and with another gear wheel 63 adapted to mesh with a pinion secured to
the crank shaft f. The crank shaft f is provided with a crank. The inner end
of the rocking shaft H passes through the partition e and is provided on its end
within the space M with a crank which is pivotally connected with the crank on the
crank shaft f, by means of a link f, and crank 15, will be given a reciprocating
motion and hence the shaft H will be given a rocking motion to and fro which will
vibrate the agitators back and forth within the solution in the cells.
A lever is pivoted at one end to a bracket m and is secured to the horizontally
movable shaft, between its ends, and to the lower or free end of said horizontally

page_text: movable shaft is secured a rope or cord m² which passes through the side of the main
frame, under pulley n³, thence upwardly and over pulley and thence downward
where it is secured to one end of a coiled spring m, the other end of the coil spring
being secured to the operating weight *.
The horizontally movable shaft b, is yieldingly held in position with gear wheel 6³,
engaging pinion, by means of a coil spring m', interposed between lever n and
the side of the main frame, and it will be readily seen that when the pressure is
exerted upon the cord m² and it is pulled taut, that the free end of lever n will
be pulled outwardly and with its shaft b, against the tension of spring m³ until
gear wheel is out of engagement with pinion f2 and the movement of the
agitators stopped, and gear wheel 2 is thrown into ongagement with a pinion d
secured to the portion of the winding shaft F, which passes through space M. and
the winding shaft will be rotated and the electrodes lifted from the cells.
Having fully set forth the construction of my device I will now describe its
operation.
Suppose the apparatus to be in the position shewn in figure 1, the weight having
been wound up to actuate the agitators and allow electricity to be generated for, say
hours, it will be clearly understood that the pull of the weight will actuate the
train of gears and rock shaft. H, which will vibrate the agitators / within the
solution in the cells and by keeping the exciting fluid in a constant state of agitation
will prevent the bubbles of gas from collecting on the plates and keeping the
solution from having free access to the same. When the time for which the battery
was set to run has nearly expired the operating weight will have reached such a
point that the cord m² will be stretched taut and the train of wheels thrown out of
gear with the agitator of rocking shaft and in goar with the winding shaft and as
the elasticity of the coil spring m will allow the weight to descend a small
distance, the multiplying gear will actuate a sufficient amount to operate the winding
shaft and lift the plates or electrodes from the solution and thus stop the operation
of the battery.
It is evident that any other power can be used to actuate the device than that
shewn, and that any other train or system of gearing might be used as experience
may direct, and as shewn in Sgure 4 of the drawings, which illustrates the agitators
as actuated by an electric motor W, which is preferably driven by and connected
with a suitable number of the cells of the battery, while the remaining cells can be
put to any desired use, thus it will be seen that the weight etc, are dispensed with
and the operation by the motor is stopped and started by pressing button or operating
a switch (not shewn).
It is also evident that numerous slight changes might be resorted to in the form
and arrangement of the parts described without departing from the spirit and scope
of my invention, hence I do not wish to limit myself to the construction herein set
forth hut consider myself entitled to all such slight changes.
Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is :
1st. The herein described means for preventing polarization in galvanic generators,
which consists of one or more agitators extending into the electrolyte, a train of gears
connected with said agitators, and a source of power, whereby said agitators are
actuated through the medium of said gears, substantially as described.
2nd. In a galvanic generator, one or more agitators extending into the solution or
electrolyte, a rocking shaft, a train of gears, and a suitable source of power con-
nected with said gears whereby the agitators are actuated by the power through the
medium of the gears and rocking shaft, substantially as described.
3rd. In a galvanic generator, a suitable frame one or more cells containing a
suitable electrolyte, a rocking shaft journaled in said frame, one or more agitators
secured to the said shaft and extending inwardly to said electrolyte, in combination
with a train of gearing connected with the rocking shaft and a weight to actuate said
gearing, substantially as described.

page_text: 4th. In a galvanic generator, the combination of one or more cells containing
suitable electrolyte, electrodes removably located in the electrolyte a winding shaft
connected with the electrodes, a train of gearing, a source of power to actuate the
gearing, and a laterally movable gear wheel, whereby the gearing is automatically
connected and disconnected with the winding shaft, substantially as described.
5th. In a galvanic generator, the combination of one or more bifurcated agitators
extending into the electrolyte, a shaft carrying the bifurcated agitators, a train of
gearing connected with the shaft, and a source of power to actuate said gearing and
agitators substantially as described.
6th. In a galvanic generator, the combination of the electrolyte, plates or electrodes
extending into the same, a winding shaft, agitators extending into said electrolyte, a
train of gearing normally connected with said agitators, a source of power and a
laterally moving gear wheel whereby the power is automatically connected with
the raising shaft, to lift the electrodes from the electrolyte substantially as described.
7th. In a galvanic generator, the electrolyte, plates or electrodes, a raising device,
agitators extending into said electrolyte, in combination with a train of gearing
normally connected with the agitators, a source of power to operate said gearing, and
a laterally moving gear wheel whereby said gearing is automatically disconnected
with the agitators and connected to raise the electrodes from the electrolyte,
substantially as described.
8th. In a galvanic generator, the combination of the electrolyte, the electrodes a
ruising or winding shaft, agitators extending into the electrolyte, a weight, a train of
gearing actuated by the weight, said gearing normally actuating the agitators and a
movable shaft connected with the weight whereby when said weight reaches a cortain
point the gearing is disconnected with the agitators and be thrown into gear with the
winding shaft, for the purpose described.
9th. In a galvanic generator, the combination of the electrolyte, the electrodes
secured to a suitable frame, a winding or raising shaft, one or more agitators
secured to the same and extending into the electrolyte, a train of gearing normally
actuating the agitators, a weight to actuate the gearing, a longitudinally movable
shaft connected with the weight, whereby the agitators are thrown out of gear
with the driving power and the electrodes are raised from the electrolyte when it
is desired that the generation be dis-continued substantially as described.
10th. The combination with a rocking shaft, and a winding shaft, of a drum, a
rope cord or wire wound thereon and provided with a driving weight at its upper end,
a longitudinally movable shaft, and gearing connecting the shaft and the drum gearing
connecting the movable shaft and rocking shaft, a spring to hold the movable shaft in
gear with the rocking shaft, a lever secured to the movable shaft and connected with
the driving weight whereby the movable shaft is thrown out of gear with the rocking
shaft and in gear with the winding shaft substantially as described.
11th. In a galvanic generator, the combination of the electrolyte, a rocking shaft,
one or more agitators secured to the rocking shaft and extending into the electrolyte,
a crank upon one end of the rocking shaft, a crank shaft connected with the crank
upon the end of the rocking shaft, a train of gearing to drive said crank shaft, and a
weight to drive the train of gearing, substantially as described.
12th. In combination with the winding shaft and rocking shaft, of crank to drive
the rocking shaft, a longitudinally movable shaft normally driving the crank shaft and
provided with gearing to drive the winding shaft, gearing and a weight to drive the
movable shaft, a lever to throw the movable shaft out of gear with the crank shaft
and in gear with the winding shaft, and a cord and spring, whereby said lever is
connected with the weight substantially as described.
13th. In a galvanic generator, the combination with the electrolyte, of one or more
agitators extending into the same, and a suitable source of power connected with the
agitators, whereby the same are given a to and fro motion within the electrolyte, for
the purpose described.
14th. In a galvanic generator, the combination with the electrolyte, and electrodes
removably located in the same, of gearing, a suitable source of power to actuate said

page_text: gearing, and a laterally movable goar wheel whereby said gearing is automatically
connected to raise the electrodes from the electrolyte, substantially as described.
15th. In a galvanic generator, the combination with the electrolyte, the electrodes
removably located in the same, and agitators extending into the electrolyte, of gearing
normally actuating the agitators, a source of power to drive the gearing, and a
laterally moving gear wheel, whereby said gearing is disconnected with the agitators
and connected with the electrodes to raise the same from the electrolyte, substantially
as described.
16th. The improved galvanic generator, substantially as described and shewn.