Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1897---Accepted, 12th Feb., 1898
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 battery in which litharge, caustic soda,
caustic potash or like oxides are maintained in a state of fusion within a porous
pot and act in conjunction with another medium, such as fused lead and car-
bonaceous material in which the porous pot is immersed, to generate electricity.
In practice, it is found that a porous pot of the ordinary kind is incapable of
resisting the action of the fused oxides, but speedily becomes disintegrated or
decomposed and consequently destroys the efficiency of the battery.
Now, the object of the present invention is to obtain a porous pot which will
effectually resist the action of the fused oxides.
In carrying the invention into effect, a quantity of magnesite, which has been
previously calcined and ground to a finely divided state, is moistened with a
saturated solution of boracic acid in water, or in spirit and water, or with a quantity
of boracic acid dissolved in spirit, and kneaded or mixed into a stiff paste or dough
after which it is shaped to the required form of the porous pot which, after having
been dried by any suitable means, is fired or baked in a muffle or furnace and
caused or allowed gradually to cool after which it is ready for use.
Although the invention is described in connection with porous pots or vessels
it will be understood that is equally applicable to porous plates or slabs employed
for like purposes.
By the means hereinbefore described, and at little or no additional expense, a
porous pot or plate is obtained which will effectually resist the action of
the fused oxides and thus obviate the difficulty above pointed out.
Dated this 18th day of February 1897.
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 ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My said invention relates to that class of battery in which litharge, caustic soda,

page_text: caustic potash or like oxides are maintained in a state of fusion within a porous
pot, and act in conjunction with another medium, such as fused lead and car-
bonaceous material, in which the porous pot is immersed to generate electricity.
In practice, it is found that a porous pot of the ordinary kind is incapable of
resisting the action of the fused oxides, but speedily becomes disintegrated or
decomposed, and consequently destroys the efficiency of the battery.
Now, the object of the present invention is to obtain a porous pot which will
effectually resist the action of the fused oxides.
In carrying the invention into effect, a quantity of magnesite which has been
previously calcined and ground to a finely divided state, is moistened with a
saturated solution of boracic acid in water, or in spirit and, or with a quantity
of boracic acid dissolved in spirit, and the mass is then kneaded or mixed into a
siff paste or dough, after which it is shaped to the required form of the porous pot
which is slowly dried by any suitable means, and is, if desired, fired or baked in a
muffle or furnace and caused or allowed gradually to cool, after which it is ready
for use.
The baking should be effected in an atmosphere free from silica and other
metallic impurities, or the article to be baked may be embedded in powdered
magnesia, or, the desired object may be attained by conducting the baking within
a furnace constructed of magnesia bricks.
If desired, the calcined magnesite may be slaked and dried after having been
"ground.
Although the invention is described in connection with porous pots or vessels,
it will be understood that it is equally applicable to porous plates or slabs or
other articles employed for like purposes.
By the means hereinbefore described, and at little or no additional expense, a
porous pot or other article is obtained, which will effectually resist the action of
the fused oxides and thus obviate the difficulty above pointed out.
nature of
my
said
Having particularly described and ascertained the
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
A porous pot or other article formed of calcined magnesite, reduced to a fine
state of division, moistened with a solution of boracic acid and water, or spirit
and water, or with a quantity of boracic acid dissolved in spirit, then made into a
stiff paste or dough, and shaped to the required form of the article to be produced,
and afterwards dried, and, if desired, baked or fired, in manner substantially as
herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated thin 16th day of December 1897.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.