Improvements in Primary batteries
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 29th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887.
DESED
MARK BAILEY Hollies lodge Clarence Road Wood Green London N. Electrician
and JOHN WARNER 21 Osborn Street Whitechapel London E. Ironfounder do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to Improvements in Primary batteries, its especial feature
being the provision of a cell of porous nature, ready charged with the exciting
materials for the development of a current of considerable energy.
We carry our invention into effect as follows. Natural plumbago, of a fairly pure
character is reduced to a fine state of division, and thoroughly incorporated with a
mixture of strong nitric, or oxacid, about half a pound of each acid, being used to one
pound of plumbago. The paste formed is placed in a porous pot of suitable electrical
resistance for the required purpose. Into the paste a rod, or stick, of carbon dips, the
upper end having a binding screw fastened to it. The top of the porous pot is
covered with a lid preferably made of wood, soaked in parrafin, this lid is cemented, or
clamped to the porous cell in such a way as to be easily removed, and replaced. The
positive element employed is zinc, which may conveniently be coiled round the porous
pot, and may be amalgamated with mercury, or not.
We sometimes replace the carbon rod, by a tube made of porous carbon stopped at
its lower end, this tube is filled with strong nitric, or oxacid, and prolongs the action
of the cell, at the same time being placed in the centre of the porous pot containing
the paste described, the full energy of the cell can be maintained without removing the
porous pot, a small quantity of acid being added from time to time. The Zinc and
porous pot, or the zinc and porous pot fitted with the internal tube, are placed in a
suitable stoneware jar, or trough, and plain water added. Upon closing the circuit a
very powerful current will be produced, and be well maintained. It will be observed
that by the use of our invention the mess, and trouble consequent upon the emptying
of spent charges, and preparing fresh ones, is avoided; all that is needed is to replace
the inner cell with one freshly charged, or to add a small quantity of nitric, or oxacid
to the porous carbon tube.

page_text: зашалу BatterTUS.
MARK BAILEY Hollies lodge, Clarence Road Wood Green, London, N. Electrician,
and JOHN WARNER 21 Osborn Street Whitechapel London E. Ironfounder, 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 :-
Our Invention relates to Improvements in Primary Batteries; its especial feature
being the provision of a cell of porous nature, ready charged with the exciting
materials for the development of a current of considerable energy.
The way and manner in which we carry our Invention into effect, will be better
understood by reference to the accompanying drawings; in which :-
Fig. 1, shews a section of a porous pot having round carbon rod.
Fig. 2, shews a section of complete cell having flat carbon plate.
Fig. 3, shews a porous pot, fitted with carbon tube.
Fig. 4, alternative form of complete cell, constructed according to our invention.
Natural plumbago of a fairly pure character, is reduced to a fine powder by grinding,
or other means, and thoroughly incorporated with a mixture of strong nitric acid, or
oxacid; about half a pound of each acid being used to one pound of plumbago. The
paste thus formed is preferably placed in a porous pot A, Fig. 1. 2. 3. the pot selected
being of suitable electrical resistance for the required purpose. For electric lighting
purposes, we select a pot of low resistance, but for telegraphic or general purposes we
select a pot of higher resistance.
Into the paste formed as described which is shewn at B, a rod, or plate of carbon C,
dips; the upper part of the rod, or plate, having a binding screw of any suitable metal
fastened to it as at D.
The top of the porous pot is covered with a lid E, which we prefer to make of wood
soaked in parrafin, this lid is cemented, clamped, or otherwise fastened to the porous
pot A, in such a way as to be easily removed and replaced.
The other element employed is zinc; which may conveniently be coiled round the
porous pot as at F. Fig. 2, and may be amalgamated with mercury, or not.
We do not confine ourselves to the construction now described; but sometimes
place the zinc element in the porous pot, and the carbon element in the plumbago
paste as shewn at Fig. 4, in which F, is the zinc, C, the carbon element which may be
constructed of a cylindrical, flat, or other shape. B is the plumbago paste, which in
this instance is placed between the porous pot A, containing the zinc, and the outer jar.
We sometimes replace the carbon rod shewn in Figs. 1 & 2, by a tube made of
porous carbon as at C, Fig. 3; this porous carbon tube is stopped at its lower end.
We find that if this tube be filled with nitric acid, or oxacid, it greatly prolongs the
action of the cell; and as it is preferably placed at about the centre of the plumbago
paste contained in the pot, or cell, the full energy of the cell is maintained, without
removing the contents; fresh acid being added as may be required from time to time.

page_text: The elements now described are placed in a suitable stoneware, glass, or other jar or
trough, and plain water added.
Upon closing the circuit a very powerful current will be produced, and be well
maintained. It will be observed that by means of our invention, the mess, and trouble,
consequent upon the emptying of spent charges, and preparing fresh ones is avoided.
All that is needed is to replace the spent inner cell charged with plumbago paste with
a fresh one, or add a small quantity of nitric, or oxacid to the porous carbon tube.
When the plumbago paste is packed in the space between the porous pot, and outer
cell, all that is needed is to add a small quantity of fresh acid from time to time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is:
1st. In a primary battery, the employment and use of a porous cell of suitable
electrical resistance filled with a mixture of natural plumbago, and nitric, or oxacid.
A rod, stick, or tube of carbon being inserted therein. Substantially as described,
and for the purposes setforth.
2nd. The combination of a porous cell, or pot filled with a mixture of natural
plumbago and nitric acid, or oxacid, with a rod, stick or tube of carbon embedded
in same. Said tube being filled with nitric acid, or oxacid, from time to time for the
purpose of maintaining the full energy of the cell, without removing same, as setforth.
3rd. In a primary battery the combination and use of the element zinc, with a
porous cell, or pot, filled with a paste formed of natural plumbago, and nitric, or oxacid,
and having a rod, stick, or tube of carbon embedded therein, the zinc and cell, or
porous pot, being placed in an outer cell, consisting of stoneware, or other jar or
trough filled with plain water, as described, and for the purposes set forth.
FRANCIS M. ROGER,
Applicants' Agent.