Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries.
I, JOHN LASKEY DOBELL, of No. 46, Connaught Road, Harlesden, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of electric batteries in which the electrical
energy is obtained by the consumption or combustion of carbon or carbonaceous
matter, and the object of the present invention is to obtain a battery of this class
which will develop greater energy at lower cost than heretofore.
.
In carrying the invention into effect, a cell or trough of any suitable shape and
preferably formed of iron is employed and centrally within this cell is arranged so
as to be clear of the bottom thereof, a porous pot, whilst within the cell or trough
and surrounding the porous pot and extending from the lower part of the wall of the
cell to the upper part of the porous pot is arranged a truncated cone or an inclined
wall formed of wire gauze of iron or other suitable material or of perforated sheet
metal or a horizontal wire gauze or perforated sheet metal partition arranged at a
suitable height might be substituted for the truncated cone.
The cell and porous
pot are provided with suitable removable covers for the purpose of retaining the
heat.
Passing through the wall of the truncated cone or partition are arranged a number
of feed tubes of iron or other suitable material which extend to the upper part of or
above the cell and through which the battery is fed with fuel as hereinafter more
fully described, or the said feed tubes may be otherwise arranged so as to com-
municate with the lower part of the cell.
Within the trough or cell is placed a suitable quantity of lead which is maintained
in a molten condition by means of a gas or other suitable fire arranged beneath the
cell and within the porous pot is placed a suitable quantity of litharge or oxide of
lead which is maintained in a fused condition by the gas or other suitable fire above
referred to.
The fuel which may be granulated or broken coal, coke, charcoal, wood or other
carbonaceous material or materials is from time to time fed through the feed tubes
into the molten lead beneath the truncated cone or inclined wall or partition which
keeps it immersed in the molten lead and in close proximity to the porous pot in the
best position for work.
The fused litharge or oxide of lead gives up its oxygen through the porous pot to
the molten lead within the cell, which in turn gives it up to the carbonaceous
material with which it combines reducing the same to ash (which may be removed
from time to time) and generating electricity, whilst the oxygen escapes in the form
of carbonic acid.
In order to replace the oxygen taken from the litharge in the porous pot, air or
other suitable oxidising agent is forced into the same at the lower part of the porous
pot through a pipe terminating in a perforated ring or the like.
By these means, so long as the battery is fed with fuel, that is to say, with the
carbonaceous material and with a continuous supply of air or other oxidising agent a

page_text: constant current of electricity will be maintained at the expense of such fuel and
the electrical energy of the battery for a given size will be far greater than that of
any battery at present known.
The poles of the battery may be arranged in any suitable position, for example,
when the cell is formed of iron, that may form one of the poles whilst the pipes
supplying air to the porous pot may form the other pole or they may be arranged
in any other convenient and suitable way.
Instead of employing litharge or oxide of lead in the porous pot other suitable
metallic oxides may be substituted therefor, for example, soda or potash may be
employed in the porous pot.
The metallic oxides employed must, in all cases, however, be of such a nature that
they will readily give up oxygen to the lead in the manner hereinbefore described
and as readily take up oxygen from the air or other oxidising agent employed.
By the means hereinbefore described, a powerful primary battery is obtained the
cost of working which is merely nominal practically the only waste that takes place
being the consumption of carbonaceous material the cost of which is insignificant.
Dated this 98th day of January 1897ª
Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries.
I, JOHN LASKEY DOBELL, of No. 46, Connaught Road, Harlesden, in the County
of Middlesex, Electrician, 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 :-
My said invention relates to that class of electric batteries in which the electrical
energy is obtained by the consumption or combustion of carbon or carbonaceous
matter, and the object of the present invention is to obtain a battery of this class
which will develop greater energy at lower cost than heretofore.
In carrying the invention into effect, a cell or containing vessel of any suitable
shape and preferably formed of iron is employed and centrally within this cell or
containing vessel is arranged, so as to be clear of the bottom thereof, a porous pot,
by preference formed of magnesite, whilst within the cell or containing vessel and
surrounding the porous pot and extending from the lower part of the wall of the cell
or containing vessel to the upper part of the porous pot is arranged a truncated cone
or an inclined wall formed of wire gauze of iron or other suitable material or of
perforated sheet metal or a horizontal wire gauze or perforated sheet metal. partition
The
arranged at a suitable height might be substituted for the truncated cone.
cell or containing vessel and porous pot are provided with suitable removeable covers
for the purpose of retaining the heat.
Passing through the wall of the truncated cone or partition are arranged a number
of feed tubes of iron or other suitable material which extend to the upper part of or
above the cell and through which the battery is fed with fuel as hereinafter more
fully described, or, the said feed tubes may be otherwise arranged so as to communicate
with the lower part of the cell.
Within the cell or containing vessel placed a suitable quantity of lead which is
maintained in a molten condition by means of a gas or other suitable fire arranged
outside of the cell or containing vessel and within the porous pot is placed a suitable
quantity of litharge or oxide of lead which is maintained in a fused condition by the
gas or other suitable fire above referred to,

page_text: The fuel which may be granulated or broken coal, coke, charcoal, wood or other
solid carbonaceous material or materials is from time to time fed through the feed
tubes into the molten lead beneath the truncated cone or inclined wall or partition
which keeps it immersed in the molten lead and in close proximity to the porous
pot in the best position for work.
The fused litharge or oxide of lead gives up its oxygen through the porous pot to
the fused lead within the cell or containing vessel, which lead is converted into
oxide of lead or litharge, the carbonaceous material, being in contact with the oxide
so formed, enters into chemical combination with the oxygen contained in the oxide
forming therewith carbonic acid and thereby reducing the litharge to lead, the
carbonic acid formed passes off through a suitable outlet in the cover; any ash that
may be formed floats on the top of the fused lead and can be removed.
In order to replace the oxygen taken from the litharge in the porous pot, air or
other suitable oxidising agent is forced into the same at the lower part of the porous
pot through a pipe terminating in a perforated ring or the like.
By these means, so long as the battery is fed with fuel, that is to say, with the
carbonaceous material and with a continuous supply of air or other oxidising agent,
a constant current of electricity will be maintained at the expense of such fuel.
The terminals of the battery may be arranged in any suitable position, for example,
when the cell or containing vessel is formed of iron, that may form one of the
terminals, whilst the pipes suppling air to the oxide of lead within the porous pot
may form the other terminal or they may be arranged in any other convenient and
suitable way.
Instead of employing litharge or oxide of lead in the porous pot, other suitable
inetallic oxides may be substituted therefor, for example, soda or potash may be
employed in the porous pot.
The metallic oxides employed must in all cases, however, be of such a nature that
they will readily give up oxygen to the lead in the manner herein before described
and as readily take up oxygen from the air or other oxidising agent employed.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawing, fully to
describe the same.
In the accompanying drawing, which represents a vertical section of a battery
constructed according to the present invention, a, represents a furnace or heating
chamber which is provided with grate bar a¹, stoking door a², and a flue a³, to carry
off the products of combustion from the fuel, whilst the walls of the chamber a, are
at *, inwardly flanged for the purpose hereinafter described.
Within the heating chamber or furnace a, is arranged a cell or containing vessel b,
of any suitable shape and preferably formed of iron, and this cell or containing
vessel b, is suspended by means of a flange b', which rests upon a suitable thickness
of insulating material 6*, whilst the top of the pot is enclosed by a cover 6², held in
position by insulated bolts b³.
The cover 62, of the pot b, is centrally apertured, and within this aperture is
suspended by its flanges c', a porous pot c, in such manner that it is clear of the
bottom of the cell or trough b, and the porous pot c, is at its upper part closed by
means of a cover c², held in position by bolts and nuts c³, and surrounding the
porous pot c, and extending from the lower part of the wall of the containing
vessel b, to the upper part of the porous pot c, is arranged a truncated cone
inclined wall d, formed of wire gauze of iron or other suitable material or
of perforated sheet metal.
ог.
Passing through the wall of the perforated cone or partition d, are arranged a
number of feed tubes e, of iron or other suitable material which extend through
apertures provided in the cover 62, of the cell b, where they may be provided with
funnel mouths e¹, through which the battery is fed with fuel as hereinafter more
fully described. In any case, the mouths of the tubes e, are provided with covers.
Or, the feed tubes e, might be otherwise arranged but so as to communicate with
the lower part of the cell or trough b, as will be readily understood.

page_text: Within the cell or trough b, is placed a suitable quantity of lead 64, which is
maintained in a fused condition by means of a gas or other fire arranged within the
furnace a, and within the porous pot c, is placed a suitable quantity of litharge
or oxide of lead c', which is also maintained in a fused condition by the gas or other
fire in the furnace a.
The fuel for the battery, which may be granulated or broken coal, coke, charcoal;
wood, or other suitable colid carbonaceous material or materials, is from time or
time fed through the feed tubes e, into the molten lead 64, beneath the perforated
truncated cone or wall or partition d, which keeps it immersed in the fused lead and
in close proximity to the porous pot c, and therefore in the best position for work.
The fused litharge or oxide of lead c, gives up its oxygen through the porous pot c,
to the fused lead b, within the cell or containing vessel b, which lead. is converted
into oxide of lead or litharge, the carbonaceous material, being in contact with the
oxide so formed, enters into chemical combination with the oxygen contained in the
oxide forming therewith carbonic acid and thereby reducing the litharge to lead,
the carbonic acid formed passes off through a suitable outlet 65, in the cover 62; any
ash that may be formed floats on the top of the fused lead and can be removed.
In order to replace the oxygen taken from the litharge c4, in the porous pot c, air,
or other oxidising agent is forced into the same at the lower part of the porous
pot c, through a pipe f, at its lower end terminating in a perforated rose or the
like ¹, and this pipe passes through a central aperture provided in the cover c², of
the porous pot c, from which it is insulated by means of suitable insulating
material f*, and at its upper end the pipe f, is by a branch f2, connected with a supply
of air or other oxidising agent.
By the means herein before described, so long as the battery is fed with fuel,
which is forced down, through the pipes e, that is to say, with the carbonaceous
material and with a continuous supply of air or other oxidising agent through the
pipe f, a constant current of electricity will be maintained at the expense of such
carbonaceous fuel.
The terminals of the battery may be arranged in any suitable position, for example,
when the cell or containing vessel b, is formed of iron a lug 6**, upon the cell or
containing vessel b, inay constitute one of the terminals, whilst a terminal f**, on the
upper part of the pipe f, supplying air to the porous pot c, may constitute the other
terminal, or the terminals may be arranged in any other convenient way, as will be
readily understood.
Instead of arranging the perforated partition d, as an inclined wall or cone, a
horizontal wire guaze or perforated sheet metal partition (not shown) arranged at a
suitable height might be substituted for the truncated cone or inclined partition d.
Instead of employing litharge or oxide of lead c', in the porous pot c, other
suitable metallic oxides may be substituted therefor and such for example as soda
or potash.
The metallic oxides employed must in all cases however be of such a nature that
they will readily give up oxygen to the lead 64, in the manner herein before described,
and as readily take up oxygen from the air or other oxidising agent forced into the
porous pot c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. An electric battery, comprising a cell or containing vessel, a quantity of lead
within the cell or containing vessel, fed with solid carbonaceous material, a porous
pot suspended within the cell or containing vessel and descending into the lead, a
quantity of suitable metallic oxide within the porous pot, supplied with air or other
suitable oxidising agent, a gas or other fire for keeping the lead and oxides in a
fused condition; means for feeding the carbonaceous material to the fused lead and
means for injecting air or other oxidizing agent into the fused oxide, substantially
as herein shown and described and for the purpose.stated.

page_text: 2. An electric battery, comprising a cell or containing vessel, a porous pot
suspended within the cell or trough, suitable electrolytes within the cell and porous
pot, the former of which is fed with suitable solid fuel material and a conical or
other suitable perforated partition arranged between the cell and porous pot,
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
3. An electric battery, comprising a cell or trough, a quantity of molten lead
within the cell or trough fed with solid carbonaceous material, a porous pot
suspended within the cell or trough and descending into the lead, a quantity of
fused metallic oxide within the porous pot fed with air or other suitable oxidising
agent, feed pipes for conveying the carbonaceous material to the fused lead, a conical,
inclined or horizontal perforated partition located within the cell for keeping the
carbonaceous material immersed in the fused lead, means for supplying the oxidizing
agent to the fused oxide and suitable heating means for maintaining the lead and
oxide in the necessary fused condition, substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
D L
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