Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 15th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th July, 1887.
1 CHARLES EDOUARD O'KEENAN of St. Cloud near Paris France Electrician do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I call this improved primary battery "automatic" on account of its being entirely
self acting.
Up to the present time all the practical hydro-electric batteries, consume a metal
and require a depolarisator. The consumption of the metal causes the saturation of
the liquid with said metal in a very short time. To obviate this difficulty a circulation
of the liquids in and out regulated by hand with taps has been effected. Such are the
dispositions of the Daniell battery (1836), Dr. d'Arsonval (1879), Reynier (1881),
Chutaux, Hospitalier, Pucel (1885) &c. but in all these circulating liquid batteries the
said circulation is not satisfactorily understood; that is to say, the circulation is not
proportional to (or function of) the rapidity of concentration of the liquids—so that
if the battery is at a standstill or works but little, the circulation is too rapid; if the
battery is in full work, the circulation may not be rapid enough-or otherwise, it is
indispensable to regulate by hand the circulation tap for every difference caused by
the expenditure of electricity, which is not at all an easy thing when it is necessary to
vary at any unexpected moment the number of lamps motors or other appliances
in use.
The d'Arsonval battery, is about the only one having its circulation regulated by
the force of the current, which causes it to depend above all upon the variations of the
E.M.F. of the battery, which said variations in their turn depend above all upon the
wearing down of the depolarisator, so that the inward circulation is not regulated by
the metallic saturation or by the direct action of the liquid containing the dissolved
metal.
Owing to the above facts I have started from another point of view, I make use of
the metallic solution produced to cause 1st the outflow or discharge of that part of it,
that is too much saturated i.e. worn out. 2nd the introduction of new liquid (generally
water) that I will call "desaturating liquid" (in opposition to "depolarising" liquid).
a term generally used by electricians.
To enable this explanation to be understood, I will take as an example the "Daniell"
cell which by its qualities, its cheapness, the handiness of its inoffensive salt (sulphate

page_text: of copper) furnishing at the same time the acid and the depolarisator without
free acid by itself and giving as residue a pure metal seems to be the most
economical the most constant and the most practical of any electrical batteries
known.
My improved automatic battery is composed of a box made of suitable material
(wood, cement, glass, ebonite, or other suitable material) divided into compartments.
To avoid the complication of tubes used in existing batteries (1st in each cell
2nd between the different cells) I make use 1st of the difference of density
of the liquid contained and 2nd of what I have called the "distributing canal."
To be better understood, let us suppose a single element of the "Sir Wm. Thomson's"
type with my improvements, composed of a plate of lead covering the bottom of the
cell; a plate or a grid of zinc (covered over with parchment paper) maintained at a
short distance above the lead (from 2 to 5 centimètres) and of liquids; a certain depth
of a solution of sulphate of copper over the lead always kept at its highest degree of
concentration and at a constant level by a process hereinafter described, a certain
depth of water containing a certain proportion of a solution of sulphate of zinc and
formed by the action of the battery immersing the zinc plate; the density of the
concentrated sulphate of copper being 1.2051 (at 10° C.) Ewing & Macgregor; the
density of the sulphate of zinc must always be under that of the sulphate of copper
so as to be always superposed; it will be maintained at a constant density by the
process hereafter described at a density let us say of 1.16.
In order to understand Figure 1 of the drawings annexed I have not shown either
the zinc or lead plates; I have therefore a liquid layer of solution of sulphate of
copper at the density of 1.2051 and above a solution of sulphate of zinc of which the
density will always be very near to 1-16 (for example) and will never be more; and
this by the following process, the density of the sulphate of zinc being
a little
under 116 if the battery sets to work, a certain amount of new sulphate of zinc will
be produced, and the density will reach as near as possible to 1.16. If a density meter
or areometer were to be put in the sulphate of zinc then at the precise moment when
the density reaches 1·16 nothing would be so easy as to effect an automatic
contact by the ascension of the areometer which would close the circuit of the
battery on an electro magnet and thus allowing the introduction of water by its
action.
But without renouncing the right of using the arcometer or any similar system to
effect the said automaticity, I find it advantageous to use what I call the "differential
tube." The bottom of the cistern or trough or rather of what I have called the
distributing canal" (which I will describe later on) has a hole bored through it,
allowing the passage of a tube A B which passes through the liquid layer of sulphate
of copper of 1-21 density and emerges in the sulphate of zinc (under the level of the
zinc plate). This tube A B is bent up to C and communicates with an open mercury
manometer M or any other system of manometer (Bourdon &c.).
Let it be supposed that the tube A B C is full of water. The sulphate of zinc of
the battery being denser than the water contained in tube A B will cause the water of
said tube to ascend and will take its place. What must be noticed is that the
sulphate of zinc descends to B in the tube A B and does not and cannot ascend
up to C.
It can therefore be well understood how the system works-the column of
water A. B. is replaced by a column of sulphate of zinc of the same density as that
of the extremity of the "differential tube" at point A-the equilibrium is of course
altered and at the moment the sulphate of zinc attains the density of 1.16 both in the
battery and in the "differential tube " a point of platinum see Figures 1 and 2
immersed in the mercury (filling the larger branch of the manometer) brings to it
the electrical current; the said mercury (which also fills up the small branch of the
manometer M) causes at a certain time an electrical contact with a platinum wire
inserted in the smaller branch at a height h above the mercury when the tube A. B. is
full of water.

page_text: This height h is calculated by the formula h="". H in which is the denivellation
of the mercury in millimetres.
d the density of the sulphate of zinc that can be obtained, d' the density of the
wator; H the height in millemeters of the differential tube from A to B and D the
density of the mercury if I take for example d=1.16, sulphate of zinc d¹=1 (water);
H=700 D=136 I shall then have h 0.16 × 700
8. 23 or nearly
8m in round numbers.
=
13.6
112
=
13.6
m
The contact closes the circuit of the battery itself or if more advantageous
separately with a Leclanché battery on an electro inagnet E (Figure 2) which attracts
an armature fixed rigidly to a small valve made of glass coming to a point which stops
up the hole pierced in an india rubber or cork stopper F.C. The water contained in a
funnel A is thus put into communication first with the manometer of which it causes
the mercury to ascend a little if the apparatus is well regulated and so communicating
also with the "differential tube" A. B. by the tube B. C. the pure water therefore
arrives by the funnel F in the tube C. B. and then into the "distributing canal" B. A
and from which it expels the sulphate of zinc and finally in the battery; from thence
it reaches (without mixing with the sulphate of zinc) the surfaces of the battery on
account of the pressure of the water and also on account of its lesser density; the
water introduced forms therefore a layer of pure water at the top of the liquids of
the battery and the height of the liquids of the battery will be generally increased.
See Figure 1.
Instead of using an electro magnet, I can use if I wish an entirely mechanical
system, which I will call a valve with compensating spring Figure 2*. The spring R
adjusted by the regulating screw V serves to regulate and to compensate the greater
part of the influence of the difference of levels M¹ N¹ and M N measured by the
height h₁.
When the differential tube A. B. is full of water, the valve is kept shut by the
difference of level h relieved by the effort of spring R, but when the tube A. B is full
of sulphate of zinc at the required density the augmentation of pressure
under the valve assisted by the spring R, causes it to open; the water from the
reservoir reaches the battery as before stated. The same result can be obtained
by the use of a compensating areometer governed by weights which will
alleviate exactly as the spring would, the influence of the difference of level h₁.
At the other end of the battery there is a second tube see Figure 3 called
flow tube" which is in fact a kind of syphon.
"
an out
When the water introduced has caused increase of the general heights of the liquid
the outflow pipe acts, and as Figure 1 shows it has its entrance in the layer of
sulphate of zinc and therefore discharges only sulphate of zinc. The lowering of the
water in the funnel causes the circuit to be cut by means of a little float and contact
(G. Figure 2) the flow of water out of the funnel, ceases but the sulphate of zinc
continues to flow out of the outflow pipe, till the liquids of the battery have arrived at
their original heights.
When the battery has worked again a little while, this automatic system lets in a
fresh quantity of water and a fresh lot of sulphate of zinc will be thrown out and so
on as often as required.
However as the level of the water in the funnel decreases at each fresh admission it
is important to add some more each time, this is also performed automatically; to do
this the funnel is in connection (by means of a proper syphon) with a reservoir having
a ball cock of which the tap is fixed on the water supply pipe; by this means when
the water lowers in the funnel a fresh quantity arrives by the siphon communicating
with the reservoir. It is necessary however that the water should be supplied in a
smaller quantity by the syphon than it escapes by the valve, otherwise the level would
not come down below the circuit cutter and the battery would finish by having

page_text: too much water; it is however easy to regulate the quantity of water introduced by
means of a tap fixed on the syphon.
Instead of making use of a ball-cock and a reservoir I can employ a large "flacon
de Maxiotte" containing pure water. By this means a complete desaturation is
obtained the sulphate of zinc is expelled drop by drop or as rapidly as the 5
admission is frequent and it necessarily can be understood that the more the battery
works the more the admission and outflow is frequent.
The apparatus can work once or twice or more in the day or once every two days or
at other intervals according to the quantity of water that is admitted each time or the
work produced by the battery.
A clockwork system can be affixed to register the number of admissions of water;
as every litre of water introduced, expels I litre of sulphate of zinc of the density of
1.16 it is easy to calculate by that means the number of ampère hours furnished by
the battery. If at each admission for example there is an entry of one litre of water
which weighs 1 Kilo and contains 16 Grammes of sulphate of zinc and that
3.0262 gr. corresponds to 1 ampère hour (Reynier Piles and accumulators 1884)
each litre will therefore correspond to 3.02 amp=5.3 ampère hours (per excess) and
so on.
16
The layer of sulphate of copper is kept up concentrated and at a given height by
the following means. A large bottle S.C. with two openings hermetically closed is
filled with crystals of sulphate of copper and with one fourth of its capacity of water;
this water communicates with the tap R, and the tube T, with the liquid of the
battery; the concentrated solution of sulphate of copper descends at the bottom part
of the large bottle and of the tap R and tube T to A in the battery, whilst the water
containing sulphate of zinc density 1.15 to 1·16 ascends the same tubes at their upper
part in the bottle S.C. This phenomenon is exactly similar to the one produced in the
differential tube.
The concentrated layer of solution of sulphate of copper spreads itself over
the bottom of the battery and consequently over the lead plates and finishes by
reaching the level A of the tube T, which it cannot get over.
When the battery is at work, the level of the sulphate of copper gets lower the
tube T finds itself out of said sulphate of copper and the sulphate of zinc being less
dense than the sulphate of copper can ascend, whilst a fresh quantity of sulphate of
copper descends and re-establishes the level M.N-to the exteme end A of tube T. By
plunging more or less the tube T a depth of sulphate of copper variable at will can be
obtained.
The large bottle of sulphate of copper can be put at any distance from the battery
provided it remains in communication with it by a tube always having an incline
more or less uniform.
Distributing Canal. In a battery made of one box or trough with divisions, I
insert perpendicularly say 3 divisions which make 4 elements forming part of the
same box or battery (see Figure 4) the distributing canal A. and B. communicating
with said elements by holes or slits which allow the liquids of the distributing canal
to enter each separate element as all four are necessarily of the same composition
and level.
It is easy to comprehena that the solution of sulphate of copper spreads itself on
the lower part of all the elements and covers the plates of lead; above that the water
charged with sulphate of zinc to a density of about 1.16 and then on the top of all a
layer of water; the layer of sulphate of copper can be 10 to 15 millimetres in depth
and the layer of sulphate of zinc 10 to 15 millimetres from the sulphate of copper up
to the inferior part of the zine plates, to which is to be added a depth of a few
millimetres corresponding to the thickness of the zinc plate, the top layer of water
which covers all the elements may measure 2 to 3 centimeters which prevents the
creeping up of any salts.
The form of the zinc can be varied, either plain flat horizontal plates (cast or not)

page_text: can be used, but it is better to make use of what I call accumulator shaped zinc on
account of their apparent similarity; they are advantageously made of rectangular
zinc plates of moderate thickness (millimeter) set vertically side by side as shown
by Figure 8, and kept together by a metal rod with metallic washers inserted between
each plate. At the points A and B are two screw nuts which allow the whole
contrivance to be well tightened up thus allowing a perfect metallic contact between
all the zinc plates and washers.
In order to keep the zincs at an invariable distance from the leads, the said zines
are put into a wooden frame or bottomless box having its bottom part made of parch-
ment paper C. H. G. F. E and in order that the zinc may not touch the parchment
paper two small rods, covered with isolating matter (such as gutta percha india
rubber &c.) are inserted between two sides of the box W, the zinc plates will thus
stand vertically on said rods and when they get worn by the action of the electrical
current, their own weight makes them descend and keeps them always at the same
distance from the lead provided also that the small boxes or frames C. H. G. F. E.
be maintained at a small. distance (2½ centimeters) from the bottom of the box by
small pieces of paraffined wood.
After the zinc plates have worked a certain time, they will be found to assume the
form of the blade of a knife at their bottom part, which is easily explained; the
density of the current being stronger, where the zinc plates are the nearest to the lead
plates.
It is to be noted that this said box C. H. G. F. E. will also prevent the dirt
produced by the zincs, from falling on the leads and mixing with the electrolytic
copper; Experience shows that without parchment, paper, or some other porous
partition, it is not possible to obtain a good deposit of copper or lead on account of
the said dirt. Besides the use of parchment paper forming a porous partition between
the sulphate of zinc existing right over the sulphate of copper and the sulphate of
zinc in which the zinc is immersed, reduces to almost nothing the wear in open
circuit, which in the "Daniell" battery is very considerable; much less in the
"Callaud" battery and of no amount with my disposition of the elements. I would
remark that the bottom of box H G F must not touch the sulphate of copper.
To make the matter well understood, I will give the following figures; horizontal
elements 40° x 20° x 10° centimetres have given 7.5 Ampères in short circuit with
" zincs" "accumulator shaped."-A battery of 22 elements contained in a box
of 2 40° and 0m 90cm see plan Figure 6 can give maximum 41.25 Watts utilisable
in the exterior circuit (from experience made at M. Barbier's Works in Paris). To
take less horizontal room, the batteries can be superposed, by leaving a certain interval
between them in the shape of a chest of drawers.
The above described elements are specially suitable to the charging of accumulators
and to applications which do not require a great energy. If a very important
application should be required such as the lighting up of a great number of lamps &c.
these elements might be found to be rather cumbersome; it would therefore be found
advisable to use the following form which would take infinitely less space.
The elements in this case would be vertical instead of horizontal; the positive
plates are not then placed at the bottom of the element under the zinc, but laterally
on each side of the zinc. It is then necessary to so regulate the tube that brings the
sulphate of copper to the distributing canal, that the positive plates (lead plates) of
each element should be entirely immersed in the sulphate of copper except where at
certain parts covered with an isolating varnish. The two plates of lead are electrically
in contact with each other as well as with the zinc of the following element as in all
batteries. The zinc plates which necessarily must not be directly immersed in the
sulphate of copper (which would cause an energetic local action) are placed in a
porous vase or preferably in what I will call " a porous bag" open at top and bottom
made of parchment paper the tops of the bags being immersed in pure water provided
the tube of sulphate of copper has been well adjusted below the level of said tops of
the bags and the bottom of the bags immersed in the solution of sulphate of zinc. When

page_text: the battery works sulphate of zinc is produced in the porous bag and descending by
its own weight finishes (when its density gets over that of sulphate of copper 1.21) by
passing through the lower part of the bags into the lower strata of sulphate of zinc
which is consequently increased both in the distributing canal and elements.
"
This descending movement causes an inflow of liquid by the top of the porous bag.
this liquid as before said is pure water which quite covers the upper part of the
battery. The layer of solution of sulphate of zinc (heavier than that of sulphate of
copper) occupying the botton part of the element grows higher by degrees and
finishes by arriving at the level of the "differential tube filled with solution of
sulphate of copper; and being of a superior density causes the sulphate of copper in
the differential tube to come up thus taking its place by the phenomenon previously
described. An augmentation of the weight of the liquid column of the tube is the
result and causes a reaction on the manometer the contact of which has been properly
regulated.
The differential tube can be made to emerge at about 5 to 20 millimetres or more
from the bottom, by that means the sulphate of zinc will not get to the upper orifice
till it has reached a depth of 5 to 20 millimetres in the elements and the distributing
canal. The outflow tube shows this special difference in this case that it is then
situated at the bottom of the distributing canal and therefore at the lowest part of the
sulphate of zinc. Suppose that the admitting apparatus allows a determined quantity
of water to come in 1 litre for example. The syphon waste pipe will act 1 litre of
sulphate of zinc will be expelled. 1 would remark that this sulphate of zinc, can be
expelled at the density of 1.3 for example--therefore each litre will correspond to
300 Grammes of sulphate of zinc produced-1 litre of water introduced in the vertical
elements will dissolve more zinc than in the horizontal ones-therefore the vertical
disposition will use less water for a determined force. If 1 litre of sulphate of zinc is
expelled, the level of the inferior bed or layer of sulphate of zinc will diminish in
depth and will come down below the orifice of the differential tube, but will not get
as low as the orifice of the outflow tube if the apparatus is well regulated, so that there
will be no loss by outflow of sulphate of copper, but only sulphate of zinc.
The progressive descent of the liquids in the porous bag will continue all the time
the battery will be at work and therefore the fresh water coming from the upper parts
of the battery will constantly revivify the liquids; but the fresh water will only get to
the superior part of the battery at intermittent intervals, but without causing any
variation in the composition of the interior liquid as well as in the strength of the
current, which in sulphate of copper electrical batteries only depend on the composition
of the liquids, the depolarisation being perfect.
By means of this treble superposition of liquids, sulphate of zinc, sulphate of copper
and water it is possible to get water to enter the porous bag without being obliged to
use an arrangement of complicated tubes. It is therefore possible and without any
trouble to put several zinc and lead plates in each element and thus have sulphate of
copper batteries of an exceedingly small resistance such as have not yet been produced
and be able to light a great number of lamps or do any other kind of work generally
expected only from accumulators, but with a much greater length of time.
Elements "simple"-viz. with one zinc and two lead plates the elements measuring
40 centimetres in height, 20 centimetres wide and 3 centimetres thick will give
13 ampères in short circuit:-elements "double" viz. 2 zinc and 3 lead plates
40 centimetres high 20 centimetres wide and 6 centimetres thick would give
26 ampères. Elements "double" viz. 2 zinc and 3 lead plates the elements 40 centi-
metres high 50 centimetres wide and 6 centimetres thick would give 65 ampères.
Elements quadruple" of 4 zinc and 5 lead plates the elements measuring 40 centi-
metres high 50 centimetres wide and 12 centimetres thick would give 130 ampères
and so on in proportion.
*
The distributing canal will be connected hydraulically with the elements by holes
or slits opposite which, can be inserted, inside or outside the elements, a sort of a
glass shade or any other suitable material to prevent any small electrical derivation

page_text: that might have to be feared. It is well understood that I mean the well understood
automatic action to be applicable to all hydro-electrical batteries known and that I
claim the invention thereof. I have hereinbefore described how I apply my improve-
ments to the "Daniell" type of battery, but can with but a few modifications apply
it to all batteries, Bichromate, Bunsen, "Chlorydrate of Ammonia" and others. For
example in the newly invented battery of M. R. Upward (Engineer of Woodhouse
and Rawson) the liquid which oozes through the porous vase and deposits in the outer
vase a layer of chloride of zinc, could act upon a float or "differential tube" and when
a certain depth of liquid would have been produced would shut the circuit of an
electro magnet and would cause the water to get into the porous vase and so on.
From the foregoing description it will be evident that the following results can be
obtained viz.
1. Automatic action will be produced by my improved methods in all known
batteries by means of the judicious use and management of the different densities or
weights of the different liquids by means of the differential tube combined with a
manometer or compensating springs weights or aerometers.
«
2. The above described arrangement and disposition of apparatus is applicable to
the "Daniell" type of battery.
3. The above improvements are applicable to all batteries arranged or not with a
distributing canal" with or without glass shades.
4. The registration of the number of "Watts" spent in a battery by the number
of introductions of liquids as hereinbefore described.
5. The direct or indirect attachment on the public water supply pipe for the
automatic alimentation of the battery; if it is direct, a certain and determined
quantity of water must come in at each flow as exists in certain water closets or may
flow in continuously with the addition of a water pipe-if indirect the description
here above given explains the way of proceeding.
6. The bottle with two tubular openings containing the sulphate of copper of which
the tubular opening at the top is hermetically shut when the battery acts the other
opening having a tap affixed to it.
7. It must be noticed that this tap must always have a slant and not be fixed
horizontally; viz., so fixed that the interior orifice should be higher than the outer
one. At the inner orifice is fixed an india rubber tube which extends up to the top
of the bottle containing the sulphate of copper and having always the necessary slant.
This india rubber tube is pierced the whole way up and on both sides with small holes
allowing 1st the solution of sulphate of copper to descend and 2nd the water slightly
charged or not with sulphate of zinc to ascend. The india rubber tube prevents the
liquids from mixing. When all the sulphate of copper has been used up the bottle is
found to contain scarcely anything else than sulphate of zinc. The use of a "flacon
de Mariotte" in case you cannot or do not care to attach the system on the public
water supply pipe.
8. The porous bags that isolate the zincs from the direct action of the sulphate of
copper allowing water to get into the top end the sulphate of zinc to escape from the
lower end.
N.B. it will be very likely advantageous to use two porous bags one over the other;
one to separate the concentrated solution of sulphate of copper from the sulphate of
zine and the other bag to prevent the zinc from steeping in this first sulphate of zinc
which on account of its proximity with the solution of sulphate of copper may contain
a little of said solution precaution that I have here above preconised for my horizontal
elements where I only used one parchment paper to separate the copper solution
from the zinc solution making use of the difference of gravity of the liquids in lieu of
the 2nd parchment paper.
9. The introduction of a layer of pure water on the entire surface of the battery
which does away entirely with creeping salts and the dirtiness of contacts.
10. The right of applying an identical system by employing other depolarising
salts besides copper salts for example sulphate of mercury &c. by of course replacing
the lead by gas coke carbon or a suitable metal.

page_text: With reference to the drawings I would remark that in Figure 1 all the tubes A B C
are full of liquids as also the top of the manometer in the larger branch.
In Figure 3 R is a tap and T a tube of india rubber or other suitable material. In
Figure 4 one part shows a vertical section and the other part a horizontal section of
the battery. 5 being the distributing canal.
In Figure 7 the leads are supposed to have been taken out so as to allow the zinc
in the porous bag to be seen and Figures 7x and 7×× are modified or different views
of Figure 7.
Dahi 17th day of Santamber 1886
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W...,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, CHARLES EDOUARD O'KEENAN of St. Cloud, near Paris, France, 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 Invention relates to improvements in primary electric batteries and consists in
maintaining an automatic circulation of the exciting liquids or solutions at such
states of concentration as to prevent both polarization and saturation thereby
rendering constant the action of the battery.
This invention may be adopted with all combinations of elements and electrolytes,
rendering galvanic batteries automatic and constant in their action by governing
the concentration of the solutions employed and their removal when saturated from
the battery.
In order that the action of a battery constructed according to this invention may be
readily explained I will adopt as a means of illustration the elements and electro-
lytes used in the Daniell or Callaud type because of the readiness with which the
elements (copper and zinc) and the solution (sulphate of copper) furnishing in itself
as it does by means of this invention both depolarizer and acid, adapt themselves to
the purpose.
The box or case intended to contain the elements and solutions may be of any
desired form advantageously rectangular and composed of materials which are non
conductors of electricity and unacted upon by the solutions employed. This box or
case is fitted with a longitudinal partition the space between which and one side of
the box or case forms the distributing canal the space between the longitudinal
partition and the other side of the box or case is subdivided into a number of cells
in which are arranged the positive and negative elements suitably separated by
porous partitions. Communication between the distributing canal and the cells is
established by means of holes or apertures made in the longitudinal partition at
such points as will maintain the required levels of the solutions and liquids. Provision
is made for the desired saturation and automatic circulation of the electrolytes and
liquids by means of apertures or pipes communicating with chambers or vessels
containing the salts and the source of supply of the desaturating liquid or water.
The solutions and liquids in the battery are by reason of their different specific
gravities maintained in distinct strata and their several levels are regulated by means
of pipes which may be either separate and distinct pipes, or a combination forming
the differential tube which acts not only as a means of regulating the admission of
desaturating liquid (water) but governs the outflow of the saturated (and consequently
waste) solution.
The inflow of the desaturating liquid (water) or the outflow of the saturated solution
may be utilized in any convenient form of meter to measure the quantity of liquid

page_text: passing and by means of suitable indicating apparatus record the quantity of
electricity supplied by the battery.
In order more fully to explain my said invention I will proceed to describe the
drawings hereunto annexed, in which the same letters of reference indicate the same
parts, where such parts appear in each of the Figures.
Figure 1 is a section on the line a. b. through the distributing canal of a battery
with horizontal elements.
Figure 2 is a plan of same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section showing arrangements and levels of solutions.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the same form of battery but with series of
plates bolted together forming positive elements of large surface.
Figure 5 is a section showing arrangement of distributing canal in a battery fitted
with vertical elements.
Figure 6 is a plan of same.
Figure 7 is a battery case showing various methods of regulating the outflow of
saturated solution and inflow of desaturating liquid (water).
The box or case A is provided with the longitudinal partition B leaving a space on
one side which forms the distributing canal C, the space on the other side is divided
into cells D. D. D. D in which the positive elements F. F. F. and the negative
elements E. E. E. are placed. G. G. G. are the porous partitions or cells which with
vertical elements are open at both top and bottom. Communication between the
distributing canal C and the cells D. D. D is established by the apertures H. H. H.
by which means the solutions in the distributing canal C and in the cells D. D. D. are
maintained at the same level. Crystals for the saturation of the electrolytic solutions
are contained in the chambers or vessels I. I. and the saturated solution enters the
distributing canal C by the pipes and apertures J. J. J. the desaturating liquid
(water) enters the distributing canal C from either a reservoir K or from any source
by the pipes L. L.
1 will now explain the working of the battery employing as before described the
elements and electrolytes of the Daniell or Callaud type. The box or case A is
filled with a solution of sulphate of zinc to the level of the mouth of the pipe M the
chambers or vessels I. I. previously described with crystals of sulphate of copper is
now charged with water to the height of the hole N in Figure 5 and the mouth N of
pipe J Figure 1 and the saturated solution of sulphate of copper passes by the pipe or
apertures or pipes J. J. into the distributing canal C, thence by the apertures H. H. H.
into the spaces in the cells occupied by the negative or copper elements E. E. E
until the level of the sulphate of copper solution reaches N above which it is
impossible to rise when the desaturating liquid (water) is allowed to enter the dis-
tributing canal C by the pipes L and it overflows at the pipes O. 0.
The lower ends of the porous partitions or cells G. G. G. dip into the solution of
sulphate and their upper ends rise above the level of the level of the solution of
sulphate of copper into the stratum of desaturating liquid (water).
The electrodes P. P. being connected and the poles Q. R. coupled generation of
electricity will be set up, metallic copper will be deposited upon. the negative
elements E. E. E and the freed sulphuric acid will pass by its molecules through the
walls of the porous partitions or cells G. G. G. and combine with the zinc or positive
elements F. F. F. forming sulphate of zinc which descends as it forms through the
porous partitions into the lower stratum and in descending draws with it the
desaturating liquid (water) from the upper stratum.
As the sulphate of zinc solution becomes saturated it passes through the differential
tube S. and acting upon the surface of the mercury in the tube of the manometer T
and by its superior weight causes the mercury to rise in the other tube making
electrical contact between the platinum points of the circuit U worked by either the
main or a subsidiary battery and causing the electro magnet V to act upon the
armature opening the valve W thereby admitting the quantity of desaturating liquid
(water) necessary to establish and maintain the proper circulation of solutions in the
battery. The quantity of water in the tank K is determined by the position of the

page_text: noata which breaks contact in the circuit U when the liquid in the tank K falls
below its proper level.
The regulation of the supply of desaturating liquid (water) to the battery may be
also governed by an apparatus as shown at Figure 7 in which the areometer Z rises
or falls with the variation or density of the sulphate of zinc solution and by means of
its spindle closes or opens the circuit U thus acting upon the electro magnet V or
other means of working the valve and admitting the required quantity of water.
The saturated sulphate of zinc solution passes drop by drop through the mercury
in the manometer T and overflows at the spout X Figures 3 and 7. When desired
the manometer T and overflow tubes X may be separate tubes or pipes as shown at
Figure 1 where the manometer T is connected to and forms part of the supply pipe L
the outflow of saturated sulphate of zinc being carried by the pipe X.
In Figure 7 are exhibited various modifications of the overflow tube in which
weighted and spring lever valves and tubes are made to take the place of the
mercury in the manometer as shown in Figures 1 and 5.
The method of admitting the desaturating liquid shows the pipe L to be in direct
communication with a constant source of supply (Figure 5) as from the water mains
of a Town and the methods shown at Figures 1 and 7 are those where the supplies
are obtained from tanks K.
When it is desirable the sulphate of copper may be made the lower stratum as in
Figure 4 and the sulphate of zinc by regulating its density may be made the middle
stratum in which case the positions of the negative and positive elements must be
reversed.
This invention allows of the elements of a battery being placed in the cells in
either a horizontal or a vertical position. In addition to the advantago of keeping
a supply of desaturating liquid (water) as the upper stratum thereby maintaining the
solution acting upon the positive elements in the proper state of saturation for giving
the best results, the fact of a stratum of water being above the solutions will obviate
creeping of the salts and consequently prevent corrosion of the contacts and electrodes.
At the point Y in the differential tube S is fitted a small measuring apparatus
advantageously a wheel provided with buckets or cups into which the saturated
solution as it flows down the tube enters the measuring wheel is connected
with a train of wheels so arranged as to record by means of the volume or weight of
the solution flowing through the measuring apparatus the number of Watts or
Ampere hours or other units of electrical measurements produced or if preferred
the same or similar apparatus may instead of being fitted to the differential tube be
attached to the tube L through which the desaturating fluid water passes and the
volume or weight passing here may be used by means of a train of wheels to register
the amount of electricity supplied.
Having now described my said invention and the manner of carrying it into effect
I desire to say that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein before set
out as they may be varied without departing from the principles of my said invention
but that which I claim and desire to have secured to me by the grant of Letters
Patent is.
1. The improved arrangement and application in connection with primary electric
batteries of the distributing canal for the purpose of maintaining the levels of the
solutions and liquids substantially as herein before described and represented in the
drawings hereunto annexed.
2. The application to primary electric batteries of the differential tube arranged to
act substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein before described and
illustrated by the drawings annexed.
3. The improved arrangement and combination of the distributing canal with
vessels or chambers containing the salts for saturating the electrolytic solutions and
the means for maintaining the required levels substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by the annexed drawings.

page_text: 4. The combined arrangement of the distributing canal and differential tube
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated in the
drawings hereunto annexed.
5. The combined arrangement of the distributing canal differential tube, mano-
meter inflow and outflow tubes substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described and as represented in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
6. The improved arrangement and construction of the porous cells or divisions
having communication at their upper and lower ends with the desaturating liquid
and the saturated solution substantially in the manner and for the purpose as herein
before described.
7. The improved method of recording the units of electrical measurement as the
work of primary electric batteries substantially as herein before described.
8. The improved method of maintaining the various levels of the solutions and
liquids in primary electric batteries substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
9. The improved general arrangements of primary electric batteries substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the drawings here-
unto annexed.