Improvements in the Method of Depolarizing Electric Batteries.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 13th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 1st Feb., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by ERNEST BAZIN, Civil Engineer and Chevalier of the
Legion of Honour, of the City of Paris, in the Republic of France.]
Improvements in the Method of Depolarizing Electric Batteries.
I. ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON of 46, Southampton Buildings Holborn in the
county of Middlesex, and 31, Lincoln Place Leinster Street, Dublin, Patent Agent
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF DEPOLARIZING ELECTRIC BATTERIES," to be as follows
--
This invention relates to improvements on a former Patent No. 10536 1884, in this
Patent both the positive and negative electrodes in the form of disks are made to
rotate on a common axis worked by hand or by a dynaino electric motor.
The improvements on this invention consist in having the zinc or positive electrodes
stationary and causing the negative or carbon disks only to revolve in the exciting
liquid, which in this case is, or may be bichromate of potash or soda.
This arrangement which is necessary for the proper and efficient working of the
battery also facilitates the renewal of the zincs when so required, and also admits of
gradually and progressively immersing them in the liquid in the same progressive
manner as the carbons.
These zincs are in the form of segments of circles, each electrode consisting of two
segments, each one of which is mounted by bolting or otherwise attaching it to the
prongs of a two pronged fork, thus leaving a space or opening between each, giving
free passage of the current to the carbons; the shafts of these forks pass through
openings made in a bar crossing above the head of the frame and mounted in supports
fixed to its bed, so that these elements hang from this bar, which is provided at each
end with handles, by which the whole series of zincs can be lifted, lowered, or com-
pletely removed from the liquid, for arresting the action of the battery, or for renewing
the zines, when so required.
The two sides of the zincs formed by the two segments of a circle are near the two
sides or walls of the porous cell into which they plunge, and which is inside the trough
in which are the zincs.

page_text: The axis on which the carbons are mounted passes between the spaces formed
between these two parts of the zincs without touching them, by this means the zines
and carbons being in close proximity internal resistance is greatly reduced if not
completely overcome.
The troughs in which the porous cells are situated, are mounted on a perforated
plate or table which is raised and lowered by a hand wheel, in conjunction with bevil
wheels and pinions and an endless screw to which latter the table is attached, and is
guided in its vertical up and down motion by means of pillars fixed beneath the table
and sliding in openings in the bed of the frame of the apparatus. Or by a dynamo
electric motor in combination with gearwork.
On one of the ends of this frame a bracket is cast for supporting the motor which
receives the current from one of the elements.
The negative electrodes are composed (each one) of four carbon disks placed in
pairs on each side of the zinc, the disks nearest the carbons are perforated, and the
outside ones are solid or plain, these are held in insulated parts mounted on a shaft by
means of brass sockets, the jaws of which are screwed together india rubber rings
intervening to make a tight joint.
These carbon disks are made to rotate in the exciting liquid by causing the axis on
which they are mounted to revolve either by means of a hand wheel and bevil wheels
gearing with an endless screw fixed beneath a perforated table on which the troughs
and cells containing the liquid are mounted, or by aid of a dynamo electric motor
which receiving the current from one of the elements of the battery by means of con-
ducting wires communicate motion to a series of wheels in communication with the
axis on which the carbons are mounted as already mentioned..
The electric current passing from the carbons to the zincs through the exciting liquid
is led from the zines by aid of terminals connected to the supports of the shafts of
the zincs by conducting wires.which lead it to other terminals fixed on an insulating
bar fixed in front of the axis bearing the carbons these latter terminals communicate
by wires with the supports of electrical brushes which are in contact with the carbons.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Depolarizing Electric Batteries.
I ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON of 46 Sonthampton Buildings Holborn in the
county of Middlesex, and of 31 Lincoln Place, Leinster Street Dublin, Patent Agent
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF DEPOLARIZING ELECTRIC BATTERIES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement A communication to me from abroad by Ernest Bazin Civil Engineer,
and Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, of the City of Paris in the Republic of
France to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements on a former Patent No. 10536 1884: in this
Patent both the positive and negative electrodes in the form of disks are made
to rotate on a common axis, worked by hand or by a dynamo-electric motor. The
improvements in this invention consist in having the zinc or positive electrodes
stationary and causing the negative or carbon disks only to revolve in the exciting
liquid; which in this case is or may be bichromate of potash or soda.
This arrangement which is necessary for the proper and efficient working of the
battery also facilitates the renewal of the zincs when so required; and also admits
of gradually and progressively immersing them in the liquid, in the same progressive
manner as the carbons.
The invention also relates to different dispositions of parts such as taking and⚫
conducting the currents, coupling the elements for either tension or quantity:
arranging the carbons so as to present the greatest surfaces-fixing the raising and
lowering mechanism on one of the longitudinal sides of the apparatus, which admits of
placing one or more of a kind in succession, that are to be united in their rotary.
movements, by means of muffles mounted on the shafts -any suitable motor may be
used for rotating these shafts, more especially an electric motor, in conjunction with
gear work-special arrangements of the elements actuating the motor :--arrangement
and construction of the metal plate or self supporting the liquid bacs or troughs, its
perfect rigidity being a guarantee for the proper working of the up and down move-
ments and finally an hydraulic arrangement for communicating this up and down
motion to the plate.
All these novel arrangements conduce to the formation of a semi-rotary battery with
or without porous cells, which is thoroughly practical, and specially applicable to
electric lighting of apartments, and for small indoor motors.
The novel apparatus resulting from these improvements is clearly illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation, partly in section for the sake of showing some of the
essential parts.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a plan showing the method of coupling the elements.
Figs. 4 and 5 show in front and side views one of the zincs, which as previously
mentioned are stationary.

page_text: These zincs are in the form of segments of circles or square plates and are open, or
slit in the centre, and consist each of two segments or parts, each of which is mounted
by bolting or otherwise attaching it to the prongs of a two pronged fork, thus leaving
a space or opening between each, giving free passage of the current to the carbons;
the shafts of these forks pass through openings made in a bar crossing above the head
of the frame, and mounted in supports fixed to its bed, so that these elements hang from
this bar, which is provided at each end with handles by which the whole series of zincs
can be lifted, lowered, or completely removed from the liquid, for arresting the action
of the battery, or for renewing the zines when required.
The two sides of the zines formed by the two segments of a circle or the square
plates are near the two sides of the porous cell into which they plunge.
The axis on which the carbons are mounted passes between the spaces formed
between these two parts of-the zincs ;. by this method the zines and carbons being in
close proximity, internal resistance is overcome.
.
On a frame a, the two cast iron sides b. b rise, and are bolted, for supporting the
axes or trunnions of the shaft o,.of the carbons at their summits they receive a cross
bar d, of mahogany or other wood, to which the zines are suspended as described.
This cross bar & terminates in the handles d' d', which admits of its removal, or of
placing it in position..
A perforated plate, or shelf e, which supports the bacs or troughs g, of all the clements,
is raised and lowered between the sides b, b, of the frame a, by aid of a fly or hand
wheel, governing by bevil wheels, and the endless screws f³ ³, the vertical
screws . ', fixed to, and supporting the shelf or table e.
At one of the sides of the frame is another shelf m', supported by brackets bearing
the dynamo-electric motor, a number of similar motors may be placed side by side on
this shelf if deemed requisite and these motors can be connected by any convenient
method: Electricity is or may be communicated from one or more of the elements of
the battery, for imparting continuous motion to the shaft o of the carbons, by aid of
gear work 1. 2. 3. 4. vide Fig. 2. By preference the electric motor receives the current
from the elements m² m³ m² Fig. 1. of identically the same nature as those of the
battery, supported as described, on a shelf'e', at the opposite end of the battery.
This table or shelf may be raised or lowered by the wheel e2, which governs the
screw 3, on which the table is mounted, this screw works in a nut on a bracket a³,
fixed against the frame.
The carbons of the elements m² m² m² Fig. 1. turn with the shaft o, and the zines
are suspended from the bar d, in the same manner as the carbons and zincs of the
battery, the result is that the position of the table e being arranged so that the motor m.
shall exercise the requisite power for raising and lowering the table e with the elements
of the battery, these movements are effected without any hindrance to the action of
the motor. This is a great advantage unattainable by supplying the motor from one
or more of the elements of the battery.
The shaft o receives on the insulated parts of the brass jaws k. k₁ of the sockets
screwed one against the other for securing two carbon disks c. c¹.
Each of the elements is formed of a stationary zinc in two parts.soc Fig. 5.
and of four carbons arranged two on each side of the zinc electrodes, and coupled as
will be hereafter mentioned.
The outside carbons c are plain disks, but the inner ones c¹´are perforated with holes
or openings sufficiently large not to diminish or check the passage of the electric
current. India rubber rings i, locked between the jaws of the sockets k, k¹, and the
carbons; form tight joints.
The zines which are stationary consist of two parts . of the form seen Figs. 2
4. 5. they are bolted or otherwise attached to prongs n. n', of a fork, the shaft P). of
which passes through an opening q, in the insulated cross bar d, where it is solidly
fixed by bolting or any other appropriate method.
The parts, ; of the zincs are placed transversely across or astride the shaft that
is to say the shaft passes between them without touching them, so as not to interfere

page_text: with its rotation. They are close to the sides or walls of the porous cells into which
the zincs plunge; these cells are placed in the troughs of the elements.
The electric current passing from the carbons to the zines through the exciting
liquid and the porous cells, is conducted from the zines by the terminals .. .. mounted
on the supports q, of the upper cross bar d, the conducting wires are connected to
other terminals y. y. mounted on a bar . covered with insulating substance
permanently placed in front of the axis, where the zines and carbons are mounted vide
Fig. 2.
$
The terminals y. y. communicate with the supports of the brushes t, which are in
contact with the carbons.
The circuit is therefore established in a simple and practical manner without rendering
the renewal of the electrodes difficult or expensive.
Action The carbons c. c', being fixed as described on the shaft o. (common to all)
and the zines suspended from the cross bar , the plate or table e, is raised with the
troughs g, it supports, so as to plunge the zines and carbons in the bichromate of soda
or potash liquid. The current is at once established, the motor m, is set in motion
(if it is connected with the elements m² m² m²) this causes, the requisite rotation of
the carbons of the elements of the battery and also the carbons of the elements of the
motor, for the prevention of polarization.
The zincs are stationary, but it should be remarked that their immersion is effected
at the same time as that of the carbons, and both the one and the other are equally
progressive and proportionate.
It has been observed that the zines and carbons of the battery, and those of the
motor are raised and lowered separately so as not to interfere with the working of the
motor, but if desired all the zines can be removed by means of the handles d' d', of
the bar d, by lifting it from its supports. In Fig. 6a battery for a motor is shown
whose elements y. g. supply the current to the dynamo m, which latter turns the shaft o,
of the carbons and forms the motor shaft. The power of the motor is increased by
coupling one or more batteries of a similar kind, by means of the muffles w with
which the ends of the shaft o are furnished.
Motors of this description are or may be worked by batteries similar to those
Figs. 1. 2. 3. for producing light or driving small machinery or tools.
Fig. 7 represents a method of raising and lowering the table e, bearing the troughs g.g,
by hydraulic means from a position above or below that occupied by the battery, or at
a distance therefrom.
From a water supply of some sort where a sufficient pressure exists two pipes T, T¹,
are connected and communicate with a cylinder A. in which a piston E works, which
governs the movements of the table.
On these pipes are the discharge pipes D, D, all four are provided with taps
R. R' R' R. As shown in the drawing the table e is raised and the taps R. R³
are open, whilst those R' R' are closed.
To cause the descent of the table 'e, the taps R. R³ are closed and those R¹ R² are
opened.
Electricity may also be used to produce the up and down movements of this table at
a distanco if so required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim as my invention.
1st. The arrangement and construction of the zincs, which suspended and fixed in a
stationary manner to an upper cross bar, are placed astride the shaft which revolves
with the carbons (which are easily renewed) the two sides of which are slit or apart,
and close to the carbons (with or without porous cells) allow the current to circulate
without much resistance, which arrangement facilitates coupling, and the effective
working of the battery and also admits of the gradual and progressive immersion of
the zincs in the same ratio as that of the carbons.
2. The arrangement and construction of the carbons in form of disks animated with

page_text: a rotary motion necessary for the removal of the hydrogen globules, the cause of
polarization of the batteries which disks although being small in diameter present a
large surface, on account of those nearest the zincs being perforated and thus allowing
the internal currents to circulate.
3. The method of fixing to the face of the apparatus longitudinally, the mechanism
for raising and lowering the battery, such mechanism consisting of one or more screws
worked by a wheel or any suitable means.
4. The construction of the rigid perforated plate or table which supports the eleinents
of the battery.
5. The method of taking the currents from the carbons by means of the screwed
jaws, and by the brushes resting thereon, which brushes are fixed on plates resting on
a bar in front, bearing a central terminal where the wires connected with the zincs are
placed when coupled for tension.
6. The method of communicating rotary motion to the carbons, by aid of an electric
motor fixed to the apparatus such as is represented by Figs. 1. 2. 3. 5, and trans-
mitting such motion by means of pinions and gear work, and taking the current from
one or more elements of the battery (Figs. 5. 6) or from one or more separate
elements (Figs. 1. 2. 3).
7. The method of raising and lowering the perforated plate bearing the troughs
either by hydraulic pressure at a distance or by electricity Fig. 7.