Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan, 1888
Complete Left, 4th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 6th July, 1888
I, the Reverend ALPHONSE ALEXANDRE FORTIN, curé of Châlette near Montargis
(Loiret) France do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-'
My invention relates to a galvanic battery having an internal circulation of liquid
and consequently producing a constant current which when employed for electric
lighting would produce a light of increased duration. The battery, which may also
be readily arranged for tension or quantity, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing
forming part of this specification wherein figure 1 represents the element as contained
in a flat tray a of circular or oval form and of only just sufficient depth to contain
the electrodes, which are placed horizontally the one above the other at a slight distance
apart to allow of the circulation of the liquid between them. The trough has an over-
flow pipe b near one side which rises to just above the level of the lower face of the
upper electrode, so that the under surface of the latter is only immersed. The liquid
after circulating through the first cell overflows into a second one placed beneath, but only
after having traversed the entire area of the upper trough and risen therein sufficiently
to immerse the upper electrode to a depth of about two millimetres. The lower electrode
in the upper cell is coupled to the upper electrode of opposite sign in the cell next
beneath by studs c of carbon, copper, platinum, or even iron traversing the bottom of
the upper cell. In this form of cell the lower plate would be of amalgamated zinc
which would be entirely covered by the electrolytic liquid, and the studs will therefore
be protected from the action of the liquid and always retain their conductivity whether
made of copper lead or even zinc. The poles may however be reversed and when a
sulphate of copper solution is employed it is preferable, the copper plate resting upon
the studs which would become coppered by the reduction of the sulphate. The upper
electrode would then be of zinc in communication through the studs with the lower
plate of the cell above.
The electrodes are supported at the desired distance apart by narrow distance pieces
of soft india rubber d d or other suitable material, so arranged that the liquid supplied
from a reservoir above is compelled to circulate throughout the whole area of the cell.

page_text: When two fluids are employed, a porous septum or vessel of cardboard, paper or
gold-beaters skin may be introduced between the electrodes.
The liquid falls in drops from one cell to the next, in which it falls clear of the
upper plate. The upper plate being only immersed for about half its thickness, the
depolarization of this plate by the air, when the plate is of carbon, is facilitated.
It will be evident that the elements may be arranged vertically instead of horizontally,
the metallic contact studs then being situated in the vertical walls of the cells at
opposite sides, for conveying the current from one element to another. The liquid
would in this case fall directly from the reservoir into each cell and would pass down
at one side of a central partition, then through an opening beneath the latter, and up
the other side thereof, to the overflow pipe, through which it would pass into a lower
vessel, after having traversed the whole surface of the element.
The contact
According to another arrangement, only one cell, of india-rubber or gutta-percha, is
required. Each carbon is embedded in the sides of the cell and thinly coated with
hard india-rubber, in which contact studs are inserted upon which the zinc electrode
is held by the soft rubber distance pieces of the next cell, and so on.
studs do not pass out of the battery. This is the simple form of the element.
The zinc electrode has hitherto only been attacked on one side, viz., that facing a single
carbon, but in order that it may be attacked on both faces, whether the element be
arranged vertically or horizontally, the contacts are extended either on the inside or
outside, care being taken to insulate the contacts by means of a varnish or ebonite so
as to prevent the second carbon from communicating with the zinc, and the two
carbons are also placed in electrical communication with each other. The contact studs
are carried up internally and enclosed at the sides by an india rubber ring so as to
project to a height of from about six to seven millimetres. The sides of the trough
would be raised to a corresponding height, and the zinc is thus raised to the same
extent above the bottom of the cell. The bottom being thus free, a second carbon is
placed thereon, communicating with the upper carbon whereby a combination is
obtained of two carbons to one zinc forming a complete element in which the liquid
circulates and attacks the zinc on both faces between two carbons.
Figure 2, illustrates a similar but slightly different arrangement to that last described.
In this case, the contacts e e are insulated and extend downwards through a carbon f
cemented to the underside of the bottom of the cell and rests upon the zinc g of the
lower cell, which zine is itself supported at the mid-height of said cell by insulating
blocks h h resting upon the lower carbon i. There is thus one zinc between two carbons
connected together. This arrangement enables the cells to be made not only of
porcelain, ebonite, etc., but also of carbon with carbon contacts moulded, in one
therewith. The bottoms of the cells are also covered with an impervious insulating
coating, or metal plates with slightly turned up edges may be employed for the
purpose of ensuring impermeability, provided that the upper and lower cells are
properly insulated from each other, and that the liquid from the one cannot com-
municate with that of the other except by the overflow. This separation, by means
of an insulated metallic plate, is especially necessary for the vertical element, to
prevent the mixing of the liquids.
The above described arrangement of contact studs extending either inwards or
outwards, is also applicable to elements arranged vertically the zinc being interposed
between the two carbons without interrupting the internal circulation of the liquids,
the contacts maintaining electrical communication between the elements.
As one of the most important conditions is the separation of the liquids, vizt., the
bichromate solution and the acidulated water in which the carbon and zinc are
immersed, the flow is separated by introducing a weak bichromate solution between
two juxtaposed carbons electrically united whilst the acidulated water flows between
the carbon and zinc. The liquids may drop on to pads of cotton wool filling the
respective spaces, and flow off at bottom, but it is preferred to fill the spaces with the
liquids and allow them to overflow. The two carbons may be so close together as to
retain the liquids merely by capillarity.

page_text: The battery is arranged in column for tension or for quantity as follows
The amalgamated zinc plate is placed at the bottom of the first cell, and on it are
placed the glass or rubber supports about 2 or 3 millimetres thick, leaving free passage
for the liquids and upon which is placed the carbon plate which is immersed to a depth
of about or 3 millimetres in the exciting liquid. This first cell is filled with liquid.
Upon the projecting carbon of the first cell rest the bottom studs of the second cell,
the second cell being so placed that the overflow pipe for the liquids is opposed to
that of the cell beneath, and so on for as many elements as are required.
To arrange the battery for quantity, the cells are juxtaposed upon a metal plate
which connects them by their contacts, and so on for each row of elements, or accord-
ing to requirements for the upper row only, care being taken to provide in the plates
the holes for the passage of the-liquid.
The conducting wires are connected to metal plates independent of the battery.
One of these plates is placed beneath the studs of the lower element and takes the
current therefrom, whilst the other is placed upon the electrode of the upper element
and is lightly pressed thereon and takes the current from this electrode.
The battery being thus arranged and each cell filled with liquid, the working of the
battery is at first without overflow of liquid as in an ordinary battery, the duration of
the current being in proportion to the liquid employed. To effect the circulation of
the liquid, it is only necessary to place above the uppermost cell a vessel of sufficient
capacity having a means of regulating the escape of the liquid, each cell overflowing
into the one beneath at the same rate as it receives the liquid. There are two novel
points in this system of battery, viz. :-(1) The communication of the elements with-
out loss of current through the insulating cell by means of metal contacts protected
from the liquids. (2) The circulation of the active liquid throughout the battery
without overflowing externally by means of a small overflow pipe rising to a suitable
height in each cell, the height being limited to what is absolutely necessary and so as
not to put the different elements in communication through the liquids which in this
battery are separated. These two features, viz. :-the internal overflow of the tube
and the contacts, enables joints in the wall of the cell and contact screws to be
dispensed with and permits of the transfer of the liquids from one cell to another
without recourse to a cascade arrangement or an external siphon.
Moreover the insulation of each element is ensured and the elements may be made
of small dimensions. The liquids may be used only during the actual working of the
battery, and the current may be maintained as long as desired at the same degree of
strength.
A. A. FORTIN.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: I, The Reverend ALPHONSE ALEXANDRE FORTIN, Curé of Châlette near Montargis,
(Loiret) France, 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 :-
The improved galvanic battery of my invention is so constructed as to ensure a
perfect constant action, it is easily managed and occupies but little space, regard
being had to the number of elements composing it.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification; wherein figure 1 represents a front elevation, and figure 2 a side
elevation, of a battery composed of eight elements. Figures 3 and 4 shew details of
the elements and their mode of arrangement, drawn to a larger scale.
Each element is contained in a tray a which is only just deep enough to contain
the electrodes placed horizontally therein one above the other at a small interval to
allow of the circulation of the liquid between them; the electrodes being separated
preferably by means of india-rubber distance pieces d. The series of trays or cells
are superposed and each has an overflow pipe b near one side which rises to just above
the level of the lower face of the upper electrode so that the under surface only of
this electrode is immersed, these overflows being at opposite ends of the alternate cells
so that the liquid after circulating through the uppermost cell overflows into the
next beneath and so on throughout the series, but only after having traversed the
entire area of the cell and risen therein sufficiently to immerse the upper electrode to
a depth of from one to two millimetres, varying according to the dimensions of the
electrodes.
It will be evident that the position of the overflow b may be varied and it may be
replaced by a lip or spout at one side of the tray which may or may not form a
channel extending to the edge.
In order to prevent the liquid spreading by capillarity over the under surfaces of
the trays, the outlets 6 are provided with a lip or drip nozzle b¹ (figure 3).
Conducting studs c c of carbon or any suitable metal, pass through the bottom of
each tray for connecting the lower element therein to the upper element of contrary
sign in the tray next below, said studs c being formed with a shoulder abutting
against the bottom of the tray and fixed by means of cement or otherwise.
When a sulphate of copper electrolyte is employed, it is preferable that the copper
plate should rest upon the studs which would become coppered by the reduction of
the sulphate, the upper electrode of zinc communicating through the studs with the
lower plate of the cell above.
The upper electrode is supported at the desired distance from the lower one by the
distance pieces or strips of soft rubber d d of suitable thickness; but when two fluids
are employed, a porous septum or vessel of cardboard, paper, or gold beater's skin, of
suitable dimensions may be introduced between the electrodes.

page_text: q
The series of cells or trays each containing the two electrodes, arranged as before
described, are superposed in the form of a column and clamped together by a bridle
frame m m and wing nuts, the top and bottom cross-bars of the clamp being insulated
by india-rubber at n n, and to the top bar is attached a hook o for lifting the battery
in and out of the box p in which it is suspended by the top cross bar resting upon
blocks fixed to the sides of the box. The electrolytic liquid is contained in a
reservoir provided with a cock, whence it is allowed to run slowly on to the lower
electrode in the uppermost cell wherein it circulates towards the sides, as shewn in
figure 3, the liquid overflowing into the tray next beneath wherein it circulates in a
similar manner but in the reverse direction and so on throughout the series. It
always falls in a fine stream or drop by drop clear of the upper electrode and
therefore without communicating the electrolytic action, the continuity of the liquid
being broken between each cell and the next below. The liquid before overflowing,
must first rise to the level of the overflow pipe b, the very slight extent to which the
upper electrode is immersed facilitating depolarization by its upper surface.
In the case of a zinc-carbon element, the amalgamated zinc plate is placed at the
bottom of the cell and the carbon plate above with glass or rubber supports or distance
pieces between them leaving a free passage for the liquid in which the carbon plate is
partially immersed as before stated. The zinc rests on the studs in the bottom of the
cell which in turn rest on the carbon plate of the cell below. The conducting wires
are connected to terminal plates made of carbon and coated with paraffine at the
end carrying the terminals s in order to prevent oxidation of the latter. One of these
plates is placed against the studs of the lowermost element whilst the other plate is
clamped upon the carbon electrode of the uppermost clement, these terminal plates
being held in these positions by the clamping frame. The liquid after circulating
through the series of cells in succession is received in a trough t, to be afterwards
regenerated and returned to the reservoir g. Thus no waste of the active elements of
the liquid is incurred.
The general arrangement of the battery in the box is subject to modification
according to circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
as improvements in galvanic batteries of the kind herein described is :-
1st. The interposition between the elements of conducting studs preferably of
carbon acting in the manner described and each formed with a shoulder upon which
the bottom of the tray is supported, as shewn and described.
2nd. Providing the overflow pipes through which the liquid flows from one tray to
the next with a lip or drip nozzle to prevent the liquid spreading over the under
surface of the tray, said overflow pipe being placed either on the inside or outside of
the tray or provided with a spout, as specified.
3rd. The employment as terminal conductors of carbon plates coated with paraffin
at the ends where the terminals are fixed, as and for the purpose specified.
4th. The means of supporting the column by extensions of the top bar of the clamp
by which the elements are combined together, the parts of said clamp in contact
with the outside elements being insulated with india rubber, as shewn and described.
Dated this 4th day of June 1888.
A. A. FORTIN.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.