Improvements in Electric Batteries.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug.,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
I, HENRI GEORGES CHARLES SERRIN, of Neuilly-en-Thelle in the Republic of
France, Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a circulating battery arranged so as to obtain a large
surface of contact with the depolarizing liquid and also a large surface of contact
with the exciting liquid.
As these large surfaces can only be obtained by an extreme division of the solid
parts constituting the positive pole or the negative pole of the battery a real
difficulty is experienced in the discharge of the liquids.
'
With the object of facilitating the manipulation of the liquids I arrange in the
interior of each element one or more tubes for enabling the level to be established,
and into these tubes I introduce any suitable siphon serving either for the inlet or
for the outlet of these liquids.
In order to render the nature of my invention better understood I have
represented in the accompanying drawing by way of example two different modes
of arrangement of the devices which I employ.
In the drawing
Figure 1 represents a vertical section taken through the axis of two consecutive
elements of a battery mounted according to the first mode.
Figure 2 shows a section of two consecutive elements mounted according to the
second mode.
Figure 3 shows the plan corresponding to these two vertical sections.
As shown in the drawing, an element arranged according to one or the other
mode is constituted by an exterior vessel a in the interior of which is placed a
porous vessel b. The vessel a receives the positive electrode c constituted by a
piece of carbon and two sheaths d, and d both designed for insulating the
admission branches e and discharge branches of a siphon (g¹² g³) for the inlet
and outlet of the depolarizing liquid.
The annular space comprised between the
exterior vessel a and the porous
vessel b is filled with retort carbon pulverized or reduced to grains.
The porous vessel is constituted in a similar manner; interiorly it contains a
negative electrode i and two sheaths such as both designed to insulate the
admission branches and the discharge branches of a siphon (m² m² m³); the
interior of this vessel, outside the two sheaths jj, is filled with filings or cuttings
of a suitable metal.
A distinguishing feature of the first arrangement as compared with the second is
that in each of the receptacles a and b the sheath, such as d, receiving the
admission branche of the syphon, can be open or closed at its lower part.
In Figure 1 this sheath is open, and the movement of the liquids is as follows.
The depolarizing liquid, supplied by any suitable receptacle, such as Mariotte's
vessel, connected with the battery, is conducted through the pipe y', enters the
vessel a through the lower part of the sheath d', and establishes its level at the
same time in the crushed carbon and in the sheath ; when the siphon g² is fetched
or lighted by any suitable means this liquid passes from the first receptacle to the
second, and so on.
It is exactly the same with the movement of the exciting liquid which, entering
through m' passes intoj to rise simultaneously into the vessel b and the sheath
and to leave subsequently through the branch of the siphon m³, thus flowing from
one element to the other.

page_text: In the second arrangement shown in Figure 2 the sheaths e and k of the two
vessels a and b are closed at their lower part.
The depolarizing liquid arriving in d' through g', and a must completely fill the
sheath d¹, before it can enter the vessel a, and slowly traverse all the crushed
material from top to bottom. By virtue of this slow movement I obtain a perfect
contact between all the porous parts of the crushed carbon and the molecules of
the liquid. The discharge is effected under the same conditions as above set forth
through and the siphon g².
Similarly the exciting liquid which, entering through m' passes through the
sheath and is discharged through the upper part of the sheath in the middle of
the porous vessel and leaves through the siphon g² only after it has come in intimate
contact with all the parts of the negative element.
The admission of the exciting liquid into the porous vessel and that of the
depolarizing liquid into the exterior vessel a are caused by means of two Mariotte
vessels which enable a slow and constant outflow.
The outlet of the liquid after the last element can take place through a tube
closed at the lower end like the sheaths e or in the second arrangement or through
a siphon having two bends of such a height that the level of the liquids in the
battery shall be suitable.
It is understood that the siphon may be of any kind and does not alter the
principle of my invention.
It is expedient to cover the crushed carbon in my battery with wax, cement or
mastic for obviating any derangement or the loss of the carbon in the transport and
also to employ a siphon which the liquid cannot leave entirely. As shown in
Figure 4 of the accompanying drawing I can make the siphons of several parts
some of which are rigid and others flexible for the purpose of facilitating the
handling or they can be made of a single piece.
In case they are flexible the parts and ey are for instance made of glass or
metal which cannot be attacked by the liquid employed and the part ee is made of
india-rubber.
Dated this 9th day of October 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Batteries.
I, HENRI GEORGES CHARLES SERRIN, of Neuilly-en-Thelle, in the Republic of
France, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 an electric battery in which the exciting liquid and the
polarizing liquid circulate continuously.
With the object of facilitating this circulation of the liquids I arrange my
elements in series, and on each side of the battery I place reservoirs one for
receiving, the exhausted liquid from the battery and the other, the liquid which
has been previously regenerated and is ready to return to the various elements.
In the battery thus arranged provide for a continuous circulation of the liquids
as above stated, making use of syphons which the liquids cannot leave entirely as
hereinafter described in detail.
Having thus set forth the principle of my invention I will proceed to describe
the same in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :--
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a battery constructed according to my
said invention, and
Figure 2 represents a corresponding plan.

page_text: My improved battery comprises several elements, any suitable number of which
may be arranged between the two reservoirs R and R' one receiving the exhausted
liquid flowing from the battery and the other R' containing regenerated liquid
coming from R and designed to supply the battery.
11.
Each element has a vessel a of any suitable material. This vessel may have the
form of a parallelopipedon as shown in the drawing, or any other appropriate forin,
it holds a porous vessel which contains the negative electrode c and two sheaths de
designed to receive the tubes of the syphons.
C
The sheaths de may be open at their two extremities or a bottom may be
provided therein which compels the liquid to completely fill the sheath before
eutering the vessel b.
The outer vessel a receives the positive electrode / made of a plate of carbon or
any other suitable material, and two sheaths not represented in the drawing, which
are similar to the sheaths d and e one being designed for introducing and the other
for discharging the depolarizing liquid.
The space between the exterior vessel a and the porous vessel is filled with
retort carbon pulverized or reduced to grains. I cover this crushed carbon with
wax, cement or mastic for preventing the displacement or loss of the carbon during
transport.
In the event of my making use of copper sulphate or verdigris the porous vessel
is formed of a wooden frame round which I fold parchment previously coated with
vaseline at the folded parts. This wooden frame may be made of a single piece,
being twice bent at a right angle that is to say having a U-shaped form, or it may
be made of several pieces connected by copper nails.
The several syphons in the arrangement shown in the drawing (those immersed
in the outer vessel a are not represented in order to avoid complicating the drawings)
are twice bent at a right angle at their extremities so that the liquid may not leave
them altogether.
These syphons may be made of a single piece or formed of two or more rigid
parts of glass, metal, or the like connected through the medium of india-rubber
pipes or pipes of any other flexible material which is not attacked by the liquids
employed in the battery.
My improved battery operates in the following manner:
Opposite the two receptacles R and R' are arranged two movable vessels A
and B which communicate with them. The receptacle R receives the exhausted
liquid coming from the battery through the syphons gg. This receptacle contains
crystal enabling the regeneration of the exciting liquid to be effected which liquid
is saturated with salt as it travels from the lower to the upper part of the receptacle.
The regenerated liquid passes from R to A and when this vessel contains a sufficient
quantity it is poured out into the vessel B placed at a higher level whence it passes
into the receptacle R' and from there to the lower part of the batteries by traversing
the syphons . Being denser than the exhausted liquid it gradually displaces the
latter which rises to the surface and flows through the syphon gy in order that it
may he poured into the receptacle R containing the crystals.
A similar arrangement is used for the depolarizing liquid.
The circulation of the liquids is therefore continuous and the manipulation of
the parts and the attendance required are reduced to a minimum.
The operation of the battery is extremely economical and regular.
When the exhausted liquid which escapes from the upper part of the battery
contains too great a quantity of impuritics so that the proper dissolution of the
crystals no longer takes place it is merely necessary to discharge the said liquid and
replace it by pure water.
When instead of making use of crystals a liquid prepared in advance is employed,
the vessel B may be replaced by a large receptacle or tub provided with a cock, so
as to enable the outflow of the said liquid into the receptacle R' to take place, by
any appropriate means. If, in lieu of having as a depolarizing liquid, a substance
which requires water, use is made of a salt which it is sufficient to place in the

page_text: existing liquid, I dispense with the vessel A and it is only necessary to put the
crystals in the receptacle R. The increase of volume causes a rise of the level
and the exhausted liquid flows into the receptacle R, in proportion as the fresh
liquid enters the lower part of the Lattery. It is evident that instead of arranging
the negative electrode at the centre, and the positive electrode in, the outer vessel,,
the arrangement may be reversed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is :-
An improved battery characterized by the following features.
First. An outer vessel for receiving the positive electrode and a porous inner
vessel for receiving the negative electrode or vice-versa.
Second. The employment of two sheaths in the outer vessel and of two sheaths
in the inner vessels designed to receive the branches of the syphons through which
the several liquids circulate, these sheaths being either open or closed at the lower
points as described and represented.
Third. The employment of crushed carbon in the outer vessel covered with wax,
cement or mastic, with the object of obviating the loss of carbon during transport.
Fourth. The employment of a syphon which the liquid cannot entirely leave, and
which has the shape represented in the drawing, made either of a single piece or of
several pieces, substantially as described.
Fifth. The employment of receptacles such as R and R¹ placed on either side of
the battery and designed to receive the exhausted liquid coming from the battery,
and the regenerated liquids which supply the battery, in combination with
decanting vessels such as A and B. The whole as hereinbefore described with
reference to the drawing and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 9th day of July 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.