A New or Improved Chemical Generator of Electricity.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1899--Accepted, 16th Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Chemical Generator of Electricity.
I, EDWARD LACEY ANDERSON, of 1823, Cora Place, St. Louis, in the State of
Missouri, United States of America, Electro Chemist, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the chemical generation of electricity, the object being
to produce a means for generating electrical power at low cost and with materials
of such character that the weight and dimensions of the generator for a given out-
put will be less than has been possible heretofore.
In my improved generator the principal material consumed is carbon: there is
no substantial deterioration of the electrolyte and the removal of the element
opposed to carbon is required only at long intervals, if at all, and then at com-
paratively low cost.
The basis of the electrolyte is hydrofluoric acid to which, however, may be
added boracic acid or some equivalent material for the purpose of neutralizing the
effect of the hydrofluoric acid on a glass-containing vessel, when such a vessel is
used. Since glass containing vessels aro most commonly used we may say that
the solution or electrolyte consists of boro-hydrofluoric acid. The two elements
or electrodes used are of materials which are not solvent in such an electrolyte. It
is essential that one of these electrodes shall be carbon, but as to the other it may
be of carbon, or of metallic lead, or of peroxide of lead, or of any other material
which is not attacked by hydrofluoric acid. Since this is a carbon consuming cell
it is necessary to supply oxygen to the cell for uniting with the carbon to produce
a current. For this purpose I can uso as an element against the carbon a
material capable of furnishing oxygen, such as peroxide of lead, but in case
metallic lead or carbon is used as the other element against carbon, some other
means of supplying oxygen must be used, such as an addition of chromic acid
or its equivalent to the electrolyte. The essential features of my invention, there-
for are an electrolyte whose base is hydrofluoric acid, an element or electrode of
carbon, a second element or electrode, and means of some character for supplying
oxygen to the cell. So long as these constituents are embodied in a cell it is
comprehended by my invention.
Where peroxide of lead is used as an element against the carbon element, the
carbon is found to be electro-positive to the peroxide of lead, and in the opera-
tion of the cell carbonic acid gas (CO) is given off, showing clearly that the
carbon is consumed. At long intervals the peroxide olement must be reoxidised
or a new element substituted for it. The re-oxidation can be effected by dipping
the element into nitric acid. In this cell also, when it is used for closed circuit
work, it is preferred to saturate the solution with the proto-oxide of some material
capable of converting carbonic oxide, which forms at the carbon pole, into carbon
di-oxide, which latter material as soon as it is formed passes out of the solution and
into the atmosphere.
When a carbon element is used against a carbon element it is necessary to place

page_text: them in two compartments of the cell separated by a porous diaphragm, such as
an ordinary porous cup. In such case both elements will be immersed in the
same kind of solution (hydrofluoric acid) but in one of the compartments chromic
acid or its equivalent should be added. In such a cell the carbon element
immersed in the simple hydrofluoric acid, is the positive element.
In preparing the solution hydrofluoric acid is obtained in its most concentrated
commercial state and mixed with water in about the proportion of one part acid to
three parts water. If boracic acid is used for the purpose herein before mentioned
enough of this material is added to saturate the hydrofluoric acid, about one part
of boracic to two parts of the hydrofluoric solution being a suitable proportion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a chemical generator of electricity, the combination of a pair of electrodes
or elements, one of which is carbon, a solution of hydrofluorio aoid, and means for
supplying oxygen to the cell, substantially as described.
2. In a chemical generator of electricity, the combination of a pair of electrodes
one of which is carbon, a solution of hydrofluoric acid and a chemical, such as
chromic acid, capable of supplying oxygen to the cell, substantially as described.
3. In a chemical generator of electricity, the combination of a pair of electrodes,
one of which is lead, and a solution of hydrofluoric acid, substantially as described.
4. In a chemical generator of electricity, a solution of hydrofluoric acid, an
electrode of carbon, and another electrode capable of furnishing oxygen to the cell.
5. A chemical generator of electricity comprehending a solution of hydrofluoric
acid, and two electrodes, one of which is carbon and the other peroxide of lead.
6. A chemical generator of electricity comprehending a pair of electrodes, one
of which is carbon and the other of material capable of furnishing oxygen to the
cell, a solution of hydrofluoric acid and a suitable depolarizing agent.
7. In a chemical generator of electricity, two carbon electrodes immersed in
solutions of hydrofluoric acid separated by a porous diaphragm and a material
in one of said solutions capable of furnishing oxygen, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of November AD 1899