IMPROVEMENTS IN BATTERY CELLS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN CHARLES HOWELL (care of Philip M. Justice 55 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex) Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BATTERY CELLS" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of cell which is especially suitable for
galvanic or electric batteries. In many instances it is an advantage to be able to
see the action going on in the cells and especially so in the case of secondary'
batteries where a continual watch has to be kept, so as to prevent any of the
electrodes becoming short circuited. Cells entirely made of glass have hitherto
been used for this purpose but they are not only exceedingly brittle, but are also
expensive and further their excessive weight is frequently found to be a great
disadvantage. In order to avoid these defects I construct my improved cell of
wood and glass combined. Each cell consists of a wooden box, lined in the first
instance with a cement made of a mixture of pitch tar and tallow suitably
tempered, the box is then lined with sheet glass bedded firmly into the cement
whilst hot.
Hot cement is run over the angles formed at the junctions of the sheets of glass
and whilst hot is sprinkled over with powdered glass Suitable openings may bo
left in the woodwork at the sides ends and bottom so as to leave the glass exposed.
and through such openings the-action of the cell may be watched. ·

page_text: I JOHN CHARLES HOWELL (care of Philip M. Justice 55 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex) Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BATTERY CELLS, 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 that class of cell which is especially suitable for
galvanic or electric batteries.
In many instances it is an advantage to be able to see the action going on in the
cells and especially so in the case of secondary batteries where a continual watch
has to be kept, so as to prevent any of the electrodes becoming short circuited.
Cells entirely made of glass have hitherto been used for this purpose, but they are
not only exceedingly brittle, but are also expensive, and further their excessive
weight is frequently found to be a great disadvantage. In order to avoid these
defects I construct my improved cell of wood and glass combined.
Each cell consists of a wooden box lined in the first instance with a cement
made of a mixture of pitch, tar, and tallow suitably tempered, although it will be
evident that other cements or substances adapted to resist the electrolytic or other
action which is engendered, may be employed. The box is then lined with sheet
glass (which should be first warmed) and which is bedded firmly into the cement
whilst hot. Hot cement is run into and over the angles formed at the junctions of
the sheets of glass and whilst hot is sprinkled over with powdered glass, or the
joint may be made tight by the use of other suitable substances.
Suitable openings may be left in the woodwork at the sides ends and bottom so
as to leave the glass exposed, and through such openings the action of the cell may
be watched.
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
The improved Battery Cells consisting of an outer casing or partial casing of
wood lined with glass substantially as described.