Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application (in the United Kingdom), 28th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th May., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
provemen
I, LOUIS JULES HIPPOLYTE ROCHATTE, of 41 Rue de l'Abbé Grégoire, Paris, in
the Republic of France, Gunsmith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved electric battery characterized by:-1st. A
novel arrangement of the elements. 2nd. A particular method of mounting the
elements. 3rd. An exciting liquid prepared in a special manner.
My improved battery by reason of its considerable capacity for work may be
advantageously employed in all cases where a constant current of long duration
is necessary.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have shown the same,
by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical central section, and
Figure 2 a plan of one form of my improved battery.
Figure 3 represents a portion of one of the carbons detached.
Figure 4 shows the mode of mounting the carbons.
Figure 5 shows one of the porous cells.
Figure 6 shows one of the zincs.
Figure 7 is a side elevation, and
Figure 8 a plan illustrating a variation of my method of mounting the carbons.
Figure 9 shows in section an arrangement which I employ for establishing a
passage for the flow of the exciting liquid from one porous cell to another when
two or more cells are used in one battery.
Figure 10 shows in vertical section, and
Figure 11 in plan a frame for supporting a number of my battery-cells when
assembled to form a battery.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
As will be seen in the drawings, my improved battery comprises an annular
porous cell a open at its upper end and closed at its lower end. A second porous
cell a' of tubular or cylindrical form occupies the central part of the battery-cell.
The carbons fixed as hereinafter described are arranged in the porous cells which
alone receive the exciting liquid.
Around the annular porous cell is placed a zinc cylinder b. Another smaller
zinc cylinder b¹ surrounds the central porous cell.
The whole is arranged in a cylindrical receptacle c of stoneware or other suitable
material

page_text: As will be seen, the zines are not immersed in the exciting liquid as heretofore,
but in pure water.
The carbons d used in my improved battery are of cylindrical form and are
provided as shown in Figure 3, with a metallic head e having a screw-threaded
rod which extends through a sustaining ring f, also of metal, so that the said
carbons can be secured in this ring by means of screw-nuts g.
My improved battery comprises, by preference, two rings or annular groups of
carbons, the surrounding ring or group f and the central ring or group f.
Radial pieces or bars f unite the central ring or group of carbons with the
surrounding ring or group thereof.
In Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings I have shown a variation of my mode of
mounting the carbons; the same are secured by means of bolts h around a metal
ring i having suitable depressions.
The exciting liquid which I employ is composed by preference of the following:-
De
but in pure water.
one ZHICs are
exciting
as neretorore,
The carbons d used in my improved battery are of cylindrical form and are
provided as shown in Figure 3, with a metallic head e having a screw-threaded
rod which extends through a sustaining ring f, also of metal, so that the said
carbons can be secured in this ring by means of screw-nuts g.
My improved battery comprises, by preference, two rings or annular groups of
carbons, the surrounding ring or group f and the central ring or group f.
Radial pieces or bars f unite the central ring or group of carbons with the
surrounding ring or group thereof.
In Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings I have shown a variation of my mode of
mounting the carbons; the same are secured by means of bolts h around a metal
ring. having suitable depressions.
The exciting liquid which I employ is composed by preference of the following:-
Bichromate of soda
Sulphuric acid
Water
Total
250 grammes
300
"
450
"
1000
For the preparation of this liquid I conduct the operation cold contrary to what
has heretofore been the practice.
To establish communication between one porous cell and another, when my
battery-cells are coupled, I employ, as shown in Figure 9, two pipes or nozzles
of ebonite or other suitable material which are forced into India-rubber rings k
previously secured in the porous cells and in the outer receptacles. These two
ebonite pipes or nozzles are afterwards joined together by means of an India-
rubber tube 7.
When my improved battery-cells are to be assembled to form a large battery, I
arrange them in the frame shown in Figures 10 and 11, which is adapted to hold two
tiers of cells.
The receptacle m for the sulphuric acid communicates through a cock n with a
receptacle o containing water and bichromate of soda, and the exciting liquid
descends through a vertical tube p to collectors q, to which all the battery-cells are
connected by suitable branch-pipes.
The collectors are provided with two cocks, a cock r to admit water to the outer
receptacles, and another, s, to convey the exciting liquid into the porous cells.
The vertical tube p for conveying the said liquid extends below the last collector
and terminates in a cock. With this arrangement, if the latter cock and the two
cocks of the collectors are opened, all the cells can be emptied at once.
The sulphuric acid is conducted into the receptacle m in any suitable manner,
for example by means of a small vacuum-pump.
The form, details, accessories, materials and dimensions of my improved battery-
cell can evidently be varied without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Dated this 28th day of October 1896.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
the various parts of electric batteries, the object being to increase the power and
constancy of such batteries.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a view of a battery of two elements or cells one of which is partly in
section in order to shew its internal arrangement:
Figure 2 is a half horizontal section of one of the elements:
Figure 3 is a side view of figure 1:
Figure 4 is a detail horizontal section illustrating the connection of the carbons.:
Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the method of uniting the tubes
for connecting the elements:
Figure 6 is a half plan view of the outer vessel of one of the elements.
A description of one of the elements will explain the principle of my electric
battery.
The element or cell represented in figures 1, 2 and 3, comprises two negative
electrodes Z and a positive electrode C, the latter consisting of cylindrical rods of
carbon united at their upper part in a manner which will be hereinafter described.
These carbons are immersed in a porous vessel or cell consisting of two concentric
eylinders P, P cemented at their lower part to U-shaped lead rings I which are
soldered to the bottom F of the outer vessel V of the element so as to form only
one and the same receptacle.
This vessel instead of being made of glass, pottery or ceramic material as usual,
is made of lead and rests upon a wooden base FI supported upon feet K of non-
conducting or other similar material.
The lower parts of the carbons and xines are provided with insulating material
so that they do not rest directly on the lead bottom of the outer vessel.
In the annular space between the porous cylinders P, is placed the exciting
liquid in which the carbons are immersed, and which is introduced therein through
a hole S (figure 6) provided in the bottom F to which is soldered a lead tube 1,
provided with flanges J and serving to connect the elements together, to empty
them, or to feed them by means of tubes R having funnel shaped mouths or ends.
The exciting liquid which I employ is composed as follows:-
Bichromate of soda
Sulphuric acid
Water
250 grammes
300 grammes
450 grammes
Contrary to the usual practice I prepare this liquid in a cold state.
The space between the porous vessel or cell P, P, and the outer vessel V, and
the central space 6', contain pure water in which the zincs Z are immersed. In the
bottom of the vessel V are holes T, figure 6, corresponding to these spaces and
serving to receive the ends of two branches of the lead tube 2 which is connected
to the lead tube similarly to the manner in which the tube t is connected to the
tube .
Taps or cocks L, G allow, when the liquids contained in the elements are
exhausted, of emptying the latter without uncoupling them; they are then refilled
by pouring pure water and exciting liquid into the tubes R.
In figure 6 I have shewn the arrangement which I prefer for uniting the tubes
connecting the elements.
The flanges J with which the tubes , are provided are separated by an insu-
lating washer d, and the bolts e which connect them pass through bushes f of
ebonite or other suitable non-conducting material in such a manner as to insulate
the metal bodies of the elements.
In figure 4 the manner of connecting the carbons is illustrated.
Split pins or hooks
are passed through the tops of the carbons C and through
a corrugated connecting strip or crown a, and pins or keys are introduced into
eyes in the split pins
thereby firmly securing the whole together. These

page_text: various parts are made of pure nickel upon which the exciting liquid has very
little chemical action. The mounting of a battery of elements or cells is effected
in the ordinary manner, whether in tension or in series. The production of the
amperes being proportionate to the surfaces of the carbons and zincs, if it is desired
to increase it, the number of the positive and negative electrodes must be increased
but as the latter always surround the carbons, their number will always be one in
excess of that of the positive electrodes.
The exciting action takes place by endosmose through the porous vessels and
only whilst the element is in use; when the exciting liquid is exhausted, the
density of the two liquids becomes equal. To obtain a maximum of useful effect
and facilitate the generation of the current, the zincs should be placed as near as
possible to the porous vessels containing the carbons.
The arrangement of the carbons and zines may vary according to requirements
and to their application; the elements or cells may be of square, triangular or other
suitable shape and their height can also be varied.
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:
1. An electric battery comprising an outer vessel containing water in which is
placed an annular porous vessel or cell containing the exciting liquid and con-
sisting of two concentric cylinders fixed to the bottom of the outer vessel, rods of
carbon united at their upper part and forming the positive electrode which is
immersed in the said exciting liquid, and zinc cylinders forming negative electrodes
placed in the water outside the annular vessel and in the centre of the same,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
2. In the battery claimed in claim 1 the outer vessel of lead in which are placed
the liquids, the carbons and the zincs, substantially as herein before described.
3. In the battery claimed in claim 1, the arrangement of lead tubes serving for
emptying and feeding the elements or cells, the said tubes being connected by
means of insulated flanges, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to the accompanying drawing.
4. In the battery claimed in claim 1 the porous vessels consisting of ceramic
cylinders provided with U-shaped lead rings in which they are cemented, the said
lead rings being soldered to the metal bottom of the outer vessel, substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
5. In the battery claimed in claim 1, joining the carbons together by means of
split pins or hooks serving to connect them, the whole being constructed of pure
nickel, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 4 of the
accompanying drawing.
1
31007
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.