Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 5th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Dec., 1887
[Communicated from abroad by ALFRED DUN, Apothecary, and FRANZ HASSLACHER,
Clerk, both of Frankfurt on the Main, German Empire.]
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to galvanic batteries that are worked either partly or entirely
by alkaline liquids, such as Potash or Soda lye. With batteries of this kind that are
required to remain operative for a considerable length of time, such as those used for
electric telegraphs or bells, it is of importance that the liquid should be prevented
from evaporating or from absorbing carbonic acid out of the air. This can only be
imperfectly done by enclosing the top of the battery, in particular when this is
shallow or of a trough shape, offering considerable surface in proportion to its depth,
with which form the protection from the atmosphere is more particularly needed.
According to the present invention, the desired protection is attained by adding
to the liquid about from three to five per cent by weight of starch flour, whereby the
liquid is converted into a gelatinous mass. In this condition the liquid does not lose
any of its active properties, nor is the constant nature or the resistance of the battery
altered. The above given proportions of the starch may be varied, and instead of
pure starch, substances containing starch can be used; generally speaking the
quantity added should be such that when the battery is turned upside down, the
gelatinous compound will retain its position therein and no liquid will flow out.
If the solvent electrode be surrounded with the solid alkali (by casting in moulds),
two-cell batteries may be constructed without special diaphragms, whereby the
inner resistance will be considerably decreased and consequently the strength of
current increased.
A mixture of alkaline lyes or of these with other substances can also be treated
in the above described manner. As a further precaution, a coating of solid paraffin
or of gypsum may be formed over the surface of the gelatinous compound, in which
case an opening must however be provided that may or may not be closed by a valve.
Dated this 7th day of February 1887
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent 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 :-
This invention relates to galvanic batteries that are worked either partly or
entirely by alkaline liquids such as potash or soda lye. With batteries of this kind
that are required to remain operative for a considerable length of time, such as those
used for electric telegraphs or bells, it is of importance that the liquid should be
prevented from ovaporating or from absorbing carbonic acid out of the air.
This can only be imperfectly done by enclosing the top of the battery in particular
when this is shallow or of a trough shape, offering considerable surface in proportion
to its depth, with which form the protection from the atmosphere is more particularly
needed.
According to the present invention the desired protection is attained by adding
to the liquid about from three to five per cent by weight of starch flour whereby
the liquil is converted into a gelatinous mass. In this condition the liquid does not
lose any of its active properties, nor is the constant nature or the resistance of the
battery altered.
The above given proportions of the starch may be. varied, and instead of pure
starch, substances containing starch can be used, generally speaking the quantity
added should be such that when the battery is turned upside down, the gelatinous
compound will retain its position therein and no liquid will flow out.
If the solvent electrode be surrounded with the solid alkali (by casting in moulds)
two-cell batteries may be constructed without special diaphragms, whereby the inner
resistance will be considerably decreased and consequently the strength of current
increased.
A mixture of alkaline lyes or of these with other substances can also be treated in
the above described manner.
As a further precaution a coating of solid paraffin or of gypsum may be formed
over the surface of the gelatinous compound in which case an opening must however
be provided that may or may not be closed by a valve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
In single or double cell batteries that are worked either entirely or partially with
alkaline liquids the use of a caustic alkali solution with which is mixed starch or
bodies containing or having the same properties as starch so as to transform the
solution into a gelatinous mass, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 5th day of November 1887
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.