IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Cook, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
BATTERIES." A communication from abroad by Professor Jean Minotto,
of Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy.
Sealed the 18th November 1862, and dated the 22nd May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Cook at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
May 1862.
I, HENRY COOK, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRIC BATTERIES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to construct galvanic or electric batteries in
such a manner that they may be continued in action for several months
without requiring any particular attention. This object is effected by a
modification of the Daniell's battery, and the Invention consists in using a layer
or body of sand or other suitable pulverized substance in place of the porous
vessels employed in the Daniell's battery. In carrying out the Invention the
outer or receiving vessel is constructed of glass or porcelain, gutta percha, or
other suitable material, and upon the bottom of this is placed a thin disc of
copper, to which is soldered an insulated copper wire, which is bent up an:l
passes over the edge of the receiving or containing vessel. On this copper

page_text: plate is placed a quantity of sulphate of copper in crystals or powder. When
the sulphate of copper has been pressed down a layer of sand is placed
thereon, and on this a disc of zinc, to which is soldered an insulated copper
wire. It will only be necessary to fill up the containing or receiving vessel
with water, and within an hour or two the battery will be in full working
order, and will continue so until all the sulphate of copper is exhausted; this
material must then be renewed, and if found necessary the zinc disc must also
be renewed, as these are the parts which become exhausted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Cook in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, Í, HENRY
Cook, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Hér Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Henry Cook, Her special license that I, the said Henry
Cook, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Henry Cook, my executors, administrators, and assigns, 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 lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES," being a communication from abroad
by Professor Jean Minotto, of Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy, upon the
condition (amongst others), that I, the said Henry Cook; by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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 I, the said Henry Cook, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
This Invention of "Improvements in Electric Batteries," as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, has for its object the construction of a
battery which shall work during several months without it being necessary to
interfere with it or renew any of the chemical agents which are employed to
develope currents of electricity. The Invention relates to a modification of
that description of battery known as the Daniell's battery, and consists in the
employment of sand or any other pulverulent substance unattackable by acids,
in place of the porous vessel ordinarily used. In combination with this sand
or other substance sulphate of copper in the state of powder is employed in
sufficient quantity to last several months.
The Figure in the accompanying Drawing represents a sectional view of a
Daniell's battery constructed in the improved manner. Upon the bottom of
a vessel A (made of glass, earthenware, gutta percha, or other impervious
and insulating material) a thin disc or plate of copper a is laid, and to this
copper plate is attached, by soldering or otherwise, a wire b of the same metal,
covered with varnish or other insulating material. This wire is bent up at
right angles and extends beyond the top of the vessel A. A layer of powdered
sulphate of copper B is then laid on the plate a to a sufficient thickness to
last for a considerable time, and a slight degree of pressure is applied thereto
to. consolidate the mass, upon which a layer of sand C is then placed. A
thick plate of zinc D is laid on the sand C, and an insulated copper wire c is
soldered or otherwise attached thereto. This wire is bent up at right angles
and extends a little beyond the top of the vessel. It is now only necessary to
pour in water on the top at E until it almost reaches the top of the vessel A,
and some few hours afterwards the battery will be in full work, and will con-
tinue to develope electricity so long as any of the sulphate of copper remains.
As it has been shown by experience at the telegraph offices that the average
annual consumption of sulphate of copper in a couple of Daniell's batteries is
about two pounds, it follows that if one pound of the sulphate be put into one
of these improved batteries, it will work for six months without requiring any
fresh chemical ingredients. The layer of the powdered sulphate of copper
should therefore be made as high as possible, leaving at the top only the space
absolutely necessary for the sand C, the zinc D, and water E. The height of
the layer of sand C must necessarily vary according to its quality; as a general
rule, however, it may decrease in thickness in proportion as the sand is finer.
When these batteries are exhausted it will only be necessary to empty them,
wash the sand, add a fresh supply of sulphate of copper, and change the zinc

page_text: if necessary; as this latter is at the-top it may, however, be readily cleaned or
changed without disarranging, the battery. It is unnecessary to observe that
batteries of the improved construction may be connected together in series,
either. of quantity or power, precisely in the same manner as ordinary batteries
now are; the connection being effected by means of flexible wires, it will
therefore be understood that as the sulphate of copper becomes used up the
zinc will descend by its own gravity in the vessel A.
Having now described the nature of this Invention, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, and having explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I desire it to be understood that what I claim as the Invention
secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid is, the mode herein set forth of
constructing and arranging the several parts of electric batteries.
In witness whereof; I, the said Henry Cook, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
FRED. WALKDEN,
66, Chancery Lane.
HENRY COOK. (L.S.)