IMPROVE- MENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Leigh Clarke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1883.
CHARLES LEIGH CLARKE of Manchester in the County of Lancaster "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES”
This invention consists principally in the use of silver oxide as the depolarizing
agent in a galvanic cell: this can be used alone or intimately mixed with carbon
powder.
For the exciting fluid I use a solution of potassic or sodic hydrate, when a
strong current is required, or I employ when desirable, a solution of any of the
alkaline sulphates or chlorides.
For the negative electrode I use carbon platinum, or by preference, silver which
is coated with oxide and made of suitable form according to the purpose for which
the battery is required; for the positive electrode I use zinc, also of a suitable
shape.
To make a battery on this principle, I employ by preference for the negative
electrode a piece of silver foil, on which is compressed by suitable means, a coating
of the silver oxide (as in the case of the silver chloride battery described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to myself and John Leigh bearing date
January 20th 1881 N° 245) either alone or mixed with carbon powder. Plumbago
is very suitable for this purpose.
The oxide (or the mixture of oxide and carbon) can, if desired, be first con-
solidated by pressure and then placed in contact with the silver foil, or carbon
plate.
The coating can be supported and protected by a covering of vegetable parchment,
bibulous paper, muslin or by other suitable means. The electrode is then placed
in a suitable containing cell together with the zinc electrode and exciting fluid―
which may be, when a strong current is required, a solution of sodic or potassic
hydrate, and for ordinary requirements, a solution of any of the alkaline sulphates
or chlorides, or of sulphates or chlorides of the alkaline earths.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Leigh Clarke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th October 1883.
CHARLES LEIGH CLARKE of Manchester in the County of Lancaster "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES "
This invention consists principally in the use of silver oxide as the depolarizing
agent in a galvanic cell; this can be used alone or intimately mixed with carbon
powder.
For the exciting fluid I use a solution of potassic or sodic hydrate when a
strong current is required: or I employ, when desirable a solution of any of the
alkaline sulphates or chlorides or of the sulphates or chlorides of the alkaline
earths. For the negative electrode I use carbon, platinum or by preference silver,
which is coated with oxide and made of suitable form according to the purpose
for which the battery is required; for the positive electrode I use zinc, also of a
suitable shape.
To make the battery on this principle I employ by preference for the negative
electrode a piece of silver foil, on which is compressed, by suitable means a coating
of the silver oxide, (as in the case of the silver chloride battery described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to myself and John Leigh bearing date
January 20th 1881 N° 245) either alone or mixed with carbon powder; plumbago
is very suitable for this purpose.
The oxide (or the mixture of oxide and carbon) can if desired be first consolidated
by pressure and then placed in contact with the silver foil, or carbon plate.
The coating can be supported and protected by a covering of vegetable parchment,
bibulous paper, muslin or by other suitable means.
The electrode is then placed in a suitable containing cell together with the zinc
electrode and exciting fluid, which may be, when a strong current is required, a
solution of sodic or potassic hydrate, and for ordinary requirements a solution of
any of the alkaline sulphates or chlorides or of sulphates or chlorides of the
alkaline earths.
Having now described the nature and object of my said invention together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect I wish it to be understood that I claim as my invention
The use of silver oxide as the depolarizing agent in a galvanic cell, in com-
bination with an exciting fluid composed of sodic or potassic hydrate and water;
or of the alkaline sulphates or chlorides; or of the sulphates or chlorides of the
alkaline earths and water all substantially as and for the purposes herein before
more particularly set forth and described.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Leigh Clarke have hereunto set my
hand and seal this sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
CHA³. L. CLARKE (L.S.)