IMPROVEMENTS IN BATTERIES FOR OBTAINING ELECTRIC CURRENTS AND THE PRODUCTS THEREFROM
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and Edward Henry
Cradock Monckton, all of 4, Trafalgar Square (Patent Office), in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BATTERIES
FOR OBTAINING ELECTRIC CURRENTS AND THE PRODUCTS THEREFROM."
Sealed the 14th March 1862, and dated the 14th September 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Timothy Morris, Robert
Weare, anc Edward Henry Cradock Monckton at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 14th September
1861.
We, TIMOTHY MORRIS, ROBERT WEARE, and EDWARD HENRY CRADOCK
MONCETON, all of 4, Trafalgar Square (Patent Office), in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE..
MENTS IN BATTERIES FOR OBTAINING ELECTRIC CURRENTS AND THE PRODUCTS
THERKFROM," to be as follows:-
The Invention consists of an arrangement of battery cells by which the
plates or cells are not immersed as is ordinarily the case in a trough, & whereby
the intensity of electricity is obtained more readily and the electric current is
less liable to escape, and also in the mode of producing the chemicals ör
excitants for the batteries, and of an improved mode of making the cells

page_text: and the divisions thereof, and of a general arrangement of earth or mineral
batteries, and the useful results obtained therefrom.
Wo make our cells of two or more divisions, one of which is raised in order
to act as a reservoir for the others. The tops of the cells are closed with an
inverted funnel to prevent the contents from being spilled. We employ
wood as a porous diaphragm, and make it more porous, and free it from
resinous substances by means of caustic potash or soda. We also employ
bark in the construction of the porous cells, such as stringy bark and birch
bark.
Wo construct our earth or mineral batteries by digging a suitable reservoir
lined with glazed brick or tile, or other suitable non-conducting material, into
which we introduce various' minerals and chemicals which act upon one
another, and while producing an electric action applicable to any ordinary
purpose, form in themselves chemicals which are applicable to the formation
of other batteries, and also to the formation of marketable products so as to
render the battery inexpensive and even productive. Other reservoirs may,
however, be used.
In reference to the mineral battery our arrangements are as follows:-For
example, we take an oxide or ore of copper, and combine with it chloride of
sodium, and fill one reservoir, having carbon electrodes in one cell, and in the
other cell, which is divided by a porous diaphragm, we put diluted sulphuric
acid and another carbon electrode or two platinum electrodes, or other materials
not acted on by the solution, the result being the formation of sulphate of
soda and chloride of copper, both saleable articles, & with the additional
advantage that the double decomposition prevents any unpleasant effluvium
from the escape of gas or vapour. In a similar manner other ores, materials,
and chemicals may be employed to produce an electric current and similar
products.
Another example is as follows:-We take iron filings or irou ore instead
of chloride of sodium, nitrate of soda, or nitrate of potash, in one cell, and in
the other sulphuric acid with similar electrodes, the result will be another
double decomposition, and the products will be sulphate of soda or potash
and nitrate of iron.
Other ores and metals, such as tin, zinc, lead, silver, and gold may be used
with similar results. It is needless to multiply examples, as other ores,
minerals, or chemicals may be similarly used according to their various
affinities, affording useful products, and at the same time producing the electric
current.
'The chemical products obtained by the aforesaid processes may be used as

page_text: excitants in the above-described or other similar batteries, as follows:-in
the outer battery we place chloride of copper with a carbon electrode, aud in
the centre or raised cell or division, chloride of copper, the next cell is filled
with chloride of calcium and a zinc plate. This forms oue voltaic pair, which
may be multiplied to suit the operation intended, the result being the forma-
tion of chloride of zinc in one cell and metallic copper in the other, both
valuable products.
We can also make our chloride of copper and chloride of calcium by the
following arrangement:-We take copper scales, which we dissolve in hydro-
chloric acid; we then distil off into lime, which prevents fumes and the loss
of acid, and forms the chloride of calcium, thus obtaining the two products
by one process.
It is necessary to be understood that as each battery consists of different
ingredients, the products from them must necessarily differ, and therefore
form ingredients capable of entering into fresh chemical combinations in
other similar batteries.
The carbon electrodes of whatever shape or size, or wherever placed or used
in the mineral batteries, may be multiplied in the same battery, so long as
they are placed in connection with each other above.
Carbou, plates or vessels of any shape and of large size may be prepared
by pressure or by uniting carbon with clay and burning it, to be used for
large electrodes; porous cells may also be made in this manner to serve the
purpose of cells and electrodes simultaneously.
The use of carbon electrodes, although a main feature in this Invention,
is not alone applicable thereto, inasmuch as other materials may be sub-
stituted, such as platinum, iron, and other metals, separately or in suitable
combination where the nature of the solution admits of so working with
advantage, even at a loss of the metals composing the electrodes, and in those
combinations where great electric power is required and where the materials
may thus be lost, they are easily recoverable by the other battery combina-
tions. The porous cells may also be lined inside or covered with an electrode
of platinum wire gauze, whereby all the electricity must be taken up. Gauze
made of other metals may be similarly applied.
Cloth or other woollen or fibrous materials covered or in combination with
pottery or suitable porous clay will form cells of great utility in this
Invention
We combine batteries of these various descriptions in such manner that the
electricity obtained from one may be used to render the action of a second
battery more powerful, and so on with regard to a third or further series,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and Edward Henry
Cradock Monckton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th March
1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, TIMOTHY
MORRIS, ROBERT WEARE, and EDWARD HENRY CRADOCK MONCKTON, all of
4, Trafalgar Square (Patent Office), in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and Edward Henry Cradock
Moncktou, Her special licence that we, the said Timothy Morris, Robert
Weare, and Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Timothy Morris, Robert Weare,
and Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, our executors, administrators, and
assigus, 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 law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend. within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BATTERIES FOR OBTAINING ELECTRIC CURRENTS AND THE
PRODUCTS THEREFROM," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and Edward Henry Cradock Monckton,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 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 we, the said Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and
Edward Henry Cradock Moncktou, do hereby declare the nature of our said

page_text: Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our Invention consists of an arrangement of battery cells, by which the
plates or cells are not immersed, as is ordinarily the case, in a trough, and
whereby the intensity of electricity is obtained more readily and the electric
current is less liable to escape; and also in the mode of producing the
chemicals or excitants for the batteries, and of an improved mode of making
the cells and the divisions thereof, and of a general arrangement of earth or
mineral batteries, and the useful results obtained therefrom.
We make our cells of two or more divisions, one of which is raised in order
to act as a reservoir for the others. The tops of the cells are closed to prevent
the contents from being spilled. We insert a tube or tubes therein to admit
the solution to pass in. We employ wood as a porous diaphragm,and make it
more porous, and free it from resinous substances by means of caustic potash
or soda. We also employ bark in the construction of the porous cells, such as
stringy bark or birch bark.
We construct our earth or mineral batteries by digging a suitable reservoir
or reservoirs, and lining the same with glazed brick or tile, or other suitable
non-conducting material, into which we introduce various minerals and
chemicals which act upon one another,and while producingan electric action,
form chemicals which are applicable to the formation of other batterics, and
are also useful for other purposes, as for forms and moulds, so as to render the
battery inexpensive and even productive. Other reservoirs may, however,
be used.
In reference to the mineral battery our arrangements are as follows:-For
example, we take an oxide or ore of copper, and mix it with it chloride of
sodium, and fill one reservoir, having carbon electrodes in one cell, and in the
other cell, which is divided by a porous diaphragm, we put dilute sulphuric
acid and another carbon clectrode, or two platinum electrodes or other
materials not acted on by the solution, the result being the formation of
sulphate of soda and chloride of copper, both saleable articles, and with the
additional advantage that if the ingredients are rightly proportioned, the
double decomposition prevents any unpleasant effluvium from the escape of
gas or vapour. In a similar manner other ores, minerals, and chemicals may
be employed to produce an electric current and similar products.
Another example is as follows:-We take iron filings or iron ore instead of
chloride of sodium, nitrate of soda, or nitrate of potash in one cell, and in the
other sulphuric acid with similar electrodes; the result will be another double

page_text: docomposition,and the products will be sulphate of soda or potash,and nitrate
of iron.
Other ores and metals, such as tin, zinc, lead, silver, and gold, may be used
with similar results. It is needless to multiply examples, as other ores,
minerals, or chemicals may be similarly used according to their various
affinities, affording useful products, and at the same time producing the electric
current. -
The chemical products obtained by the aforesaid processes may be used as
excitants in the above-described or other similar batteries.as follows: In the
outer or raised division of the first cell wo place chloride of copper, and in the
inner division chloride of copper with a carbon electrode, and in the next cell
chloride of calcium and a zine plate. This forms oue voltaic pair, which may
be multiplied to suit the operation intended, the result being the formation of
chloride of zinc in one cell and metallic copper in the other, both valuable
products.
We can also make onr chloride of copper and chloride of calcium by the
following arrangement:-We take copper scales, which we dissolve in hydro-
chloric acid; we then distil off into lime, which prevents fumes and the loss of
acid, und forms the chloride of calcium, thus cbtaining the two products by
one process.
It is necessary to be observed that as each battery consists of different
ingredients, the products from them must necessarily differ, and therefore form
ingredients capable of entering into fresh chemical combinations in other
similar batteries.
The carbon electrodes of whatever shape or size, or wherover placed or
used in the mineral batteries, may be multiplied in the saine battery, so long
as they are placed in connection with each other..
Carbon plates or vessels of any shape and of large size may be prepared by
pressure or by uniting carbon with clay and burning it, to be used for large
electrodes. Porous cells may also be made in this manner to serve the
purpose of cells and electrodes simultaneously.
The use of carbon electrodes, although a main feature in this Invention, is
not alone applicable thereto, inasmuch as other materials may be substituted,
such as platinum, iron, and other metals separately or in suitable combinations,
where the nature of the solution admits of so working with advantage, evenat
a loss of the metals composing the electrodes, and in these combinations,
where great electric power is required, and where the materials may thus be
lost, they are easily recoverable by the other battery combinations. The porous

page_text: cells may
also be lined inside or covered with an electrode of platinum wire
gauze. Gauze made of other metals may be similarly applied.
Cloth or other woollen or fibrous materials covered or in combination with
pottery or suitable porous clay baked, may also be formed into cells.
We combine batteries of these various descriptions in such manner that the
electricity obtained from one may be used to render the action of a second
battery more powerful, and so also with regard to a third or further series,
either for the purpose of depositing products or of generating electricity.
Where considered advisable, the copper or other wires usually covered with
silk or cotton, used in connection with batteries, may be covered with glass or
any of its compounds in any suitable manner.
Having now described the nature and objects of our said Invention of
"Improvements in Batteries for Obtaining Electric Currents and the Products
therefrom," and the manner in which the same is to be performed, we would
remark in conclusion that we do not confine or restrict ourselves to the precise
details herein described, as the same may be varied or modified without in any
way departing from the principle of our Invention; but what we claim as our
Invention, and desire to be secured to us by the herein in part recited Letters
Patent, is, the improved mode or modes of obtaining from batteries electric
currents and the products therefrom, in the manner herein fully described and
set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and
Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, have hereunto set our hands
and seals, this Twelfth day of March, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-two.
TIMOTHY MORRIS..
ROBERT WEARE.
(L.B.)
(L.S.)
EDWARD HENRY C. MONCKTON. (L.S.)