IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ballantyne Hannay, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Chemist for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GALVANIC BATTERIES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ballantyne Hannay
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th March 1883.
JAMES BALLANTYNE HANNAY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Chemist, "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
"
This Invention has for its object the construction of galvanic batteries of large
size in a simple and economical manner and comprises the use of an exciting liquid
capable of yielding a moderate current for a considerable period without great
variation of strength.
For the cells or vessels of the improved batteries wooden barrels are used each
of about the size to contain from 30 to 40 gallons of liquid. Each barrel has its
inner surface coated with paraffin, and there is placed on the bottom of it a board
fitted with a series of vertical pegs forming a rack for holding the copper and zinc
plates which are arranged alternately between the pegs. In each barrel there is
by preference one more copper plate than the number of zinc plates, and the zinc
plates and copper plates are by preference respectively joined to the same two
conductors so as to give quantity rather than intensity, an arrangement which may
however be modified for different purposes. The exciting liquid is a solution of
bisulphate of soda, and roughly crushed pumice stone is filled in to prevent
excessive motion of the liquid when the battery is being moved from place
to place.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said James Ballantyne Hannay in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th September 1883.
JAMES BALLANTYNE HANNAY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark North
5 Britain Chemist "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
"
My said Invention has for its object the construction of galvanic batteries of
large size in a simple and economical manner, and comprises the use of an exciting
Price 4d1

page_text: liquid capable of yielding a moderate current for a considerable period without
great variation of strength.
For the cells or vessels of my improved batteries wooden barrels are used, each
of about the size to contain from 30 to 40 gallons of liquid. The figures on the
accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings represent a barrel of the kind referred
to, fitted as a galvanic battery cell, figure, 1, being a plan showing the barrel with
the head or upper end removed, whilst figure, 2, is a vertical section. The inner
surface of the barrel is coated with paraffin, or a barrel that has been used for
containing paraffin oil or petroleum may be very conveniently employed. On the
bottom of the barrel there is placed a board, 3, having fixed in it a series of vertical
pegs, 4, forming a rack for holding the copper and zinc plates, 5, 6, which are
arranged alternately between the pegs. In each barrel there is by preference one
more copper plate, 5, than the number of zinc plates, 6, and the copper plates and
zine plates of each barrel are, by preference, respectively joined to two
conductors, 7, 8, so as to give quantity rather than intensity, an arrangement
which may however be modified for different purposes. The board, 3, and pegs, 4,
forming the rack are by preference coated or saturated with paraffin; and the
plates, 5, 6, are connected to the conductors, 7, 8, by wires, 9, 10, carefully soldered
to the plates and to the conductors. The conductors, 7, 8, are passed through
holes formed for the purpose in the head or end,. 11, of the barrel, these holes
being made tight when the barrel is to be moved from place to place.
The exciting liquid which I employ is a solution of bisulphate of soda, and
roughly crushed pumice stone is filled into the spaces between and surrounding
the plates to prevent excessive motion of the liquid. The zinc plates are by
preference amalgamated in the ordinary way:
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
The forming of galvanic batteries substantially in the improved manner
hereinbefore described.
In Witness whereof I, the said James Ballantyne Hannay have hereunto-set
my hand and seal this thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
JB HANNAY (LS)
Witness
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow
JB HANNAV (LS)