Improvements in Portable Electric Batteries.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr, 1907
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1897-Accepted, 24th July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1897-Accepted, 24th July, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Electric Batteries.
I, RICHARD ROBERT MOFFATT, of No. 256 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings and State of New York, United States of America, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to portable electric primary batteries in which the
electrodes may be immersed in or removed from the exciting fluid of the battery
by the act of simply turning, tilting or reversing the battery case, the object of the
Invention being to simplify construction and facilitate charging and renewing
the electrodes, to attain in such devices the several features of strength, lightness
and efficiency, and to render such batteries better adapted for producing light in
hand lamps, miners' lamps, bicycle lamps and the like.
To this end, the Invention consists more particularly in forming the battery
cell or each battery cell in two end meeting parts and in connecting such parts
together by a metallic coupling ring in such a manner as to effectually prevent
their separation or their becoming loose owing to the expansion and subsequent
contraction arising from the heat developed during the operation of the battery.
The cell or each cell is also provided, in one of its parts, with removable electrodes,
preferably consisting of a tubular carbon and a cylindrical zinc, the latter being
so arranged as to be capable of being withdrawn without separating the parts of the
cell, while the carbon can be readily removed by simply unscrewing one of the
parts of the cell from the coupling ring. In the preferred form, I use two or more
such cells, making the same of cylindrical or other suitable shape, and of hard
rubber or other suitable material; and combine therewith a supporting frame or
case for holding the cells in position, the frame being made by metallically joining
the coupling rings with a connecting means or handle on one side, and, if the
battery is used to run a lamp, a reflector in which is mounted an ordinary electric
incandescent lamp, upon the other side, the frame being caused to form part of
the electric circuit.
In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a battery embracing my
Invention, showing part in elevation and part in section. Figure 2 illustrates a
plan or top view of the same partly in section. Figure 3 is a side view through
the centre of the battery, showing the reflector in section, also showing an
adjustable resistance device. Figure 4 is a similar view, showing part of the
circuit connections, and also the means for holding and reversing the battery.
Figure 5 shows a plan or top view of the carbon electrodes, and Figure 6 is a detail
iew of an adjustable resistance device. Similar letters of reference in the
everal Figures indicate like or corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings, A and A¹ indicate the two parts of which the battery
ell is composed and which are preferably made of hard rubber. They are
onnected together and held in position by the metallic screw coupling ring B.
In the upper part A¹ of the cell is a carbon tube, c, held firmly in place by means
f an inner projecting neck or shoulder, a, having a downwardly projecting flange
n its inner rim, as shown in Figure 1. Suitable elastic packing rings, c, c, are
D

page_text: placed between the carbon tube and the top of the cell and also between the neck,
", and a neck or shoulder, a', projecting from the lower cell part A, and, when
compressed by the parts being screwed together, effectually prevent any leakage
of fluid or gas. D is the zinc electrode, from one end of which extends a metal
An elastic
screw, d, upon which is a thumb nut, d, and a contact piece or arm, e.
rubber disc, m, encircles the screw, d, and serves to close the opening, m¹, in the
top of cell part, A', and to firmly hold and secure the zinc in position, by being
expanded laterally with pressure upon the sides of opening, m¹, when compressed
by the nut, between zinc, D, and the piece, e, the laterally extending arm of
A metallic wire or
which serves as a contact point as hereinafter described.
contact pin, c, extends from the carbon, C, and cell part, A', through the piece
r, as shown.
Un the top of each cell part A', are two preferably metallically capped
"oiections or studs, n, and n¹ (see Fig. 2). The projection, n', is perforated and
the contact pin, c', leading from the carbon electrode extends through the same as
The other
aforesaid and projects slightly as shown more distinctly in Fig. 1.
E is a metallic
projection, n, is not perforated, but carries a pin or stud, o.
reflector which, together with a back or support piece, f, is metallically connected
to the coupling rings, B, and forms a case or frame adapted to rigidly support and
hold the battery cells. L, is an incandescent lamp mounted in an ordinary manner
within the reflector. The rubber lined socket, g, which serves for attaching the
battery to a bicycle hook or other support is provided with a swivel, i, which
engages with a back piece, f. A securing pin, ¹, passing through the swivel,
together with an elastic washer, w, or a metal spring, f', firmly holds the parts
together and properly checks the operation of reversing the battery so that it will
always be firmly held in any desired position. A check groove in the back piece, f³,
the
engaging with the pin, ¹, through the tension of the elastic washer, w, or
spring piece, f¹, or both, as shown, effectually holds the battery in either of its
positions. Between and partly in front of the two cells, as shown in Figure 2, is
This is
placed the adjustable resistance shown more in detail in Figure 6.
composed of a piece of German silver wire, P, or other suitable substance of
sufficiently high resistance, doubled, and twisted or wound into a spiral as shown,
the ends being attached to the proper projections, n, and n¹, so as to make electrical
connection therewith. In the interior of this wire spiral is inserted a
threaded plug, R, of wood, hard rubber, or other insulating material. This plug
is externally screw-threaded to correspond with the turns of the wire, P, and bears
near its upper end a metallic cross piece, r. It is evident that screwing the plug,
R, fully down into the spiral, P, allows the cross piece, r, to short circuit the
current across the same, while, when the plug, R, is slightly unscrewed the current
is forced to pass through the wire, P, and to overcome the resistance thereof. S is
a conductor or circuit wire leading from the projection, n, of one cell to a screw,
T, or other metallic connection in contact with the lamp, as shown in Figure 2,
and is a similar conductor leading from the coupling ring, B, which is in
electrical connection with the metallic socket into which the lamp is screwed, up
to the projection n', of the opposite cell to that from which the conductor S leads.
The electrical circuit is therefore composed as follows:-Starting, for instance,
from the zinc electrode of the left hand cell (Fig. 2) the current passes through
the fluid in the interior to the carbon electrode, and out of that, through its contact
pin, c', into the resistance wire, P, or across the short circuit, r, as the case may be
into the arm, e, of the right hand cell, from that into the zinc electrode of that
cell, then through the liquid to the carbon electrode, and out of that through the
contact pin, c, to the conductor, s, and to the coupling ring, B, around the right
hand cell, through said ring to the lamp socket, into and through the filament
into the screw, T, through the conductor, S to the arm, e, of the left hand cell
and so back to the zinc electrode of that cell, completing the circuit.
screw-
In the improved battery, the zincs are removed from the cells by simply
unscrewing the nuts d', and withdrawing them, the charge of battery fluid is the
inserted filling the lower part of each cell, whereupon the zincs are replaced and

page_text: firmly secured by the nuts, d', and the battery is ready for use. To light the lamp,
it is only necessary to reverse the position of the battery, by turning it upon its
swivel, when the fluid within the cells is brought into contact with the carbon
and zinc, instantly generating electric energy, when the circuit being closed, the
current passing through the lamp filament produces light. To stop the action,
the battery is turned back to its first mentioned position, whereupon the electrodes
are elevated out of the exciting fluid and 'the current ceases.
It is obviously not necessary that the cells should be cylindrical in form
throughout, as the lower part might advantageously be angular in shape, with a
cylindrical neck for screw couplings.
1003
DAY, DAVIES, &
HUNT.
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.
Agents for the Applicant.
I, RICHARD ROBERT MOFFATT, of No. 256 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings and State of New York, United States of America, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
The invention relates most particularly to portable electric batteries, in which
the electrodes may be immer ed in, or removed from the exciting fluid of the
My present
battery by simply turning, tilting or reversing the battery case.
improvements are particularly applicable to such batteries, adapting them for
special purposes, such as producing light in hand lamps, miners' lamps, bicycle
lamps, etc. the chief aim of the invention being to simplify construction and
facilitate charging and renewing the electrodes, also to combine strength lightness
and efficiency. To this end, in carrying out my improvement, in preferred form,
1 use two or more independent cells, of cylindrical or other shape, made of hard
rubber or other suitable materiai. Each cell is preferably composed of two parts,
which are connected by means of a coupling ring that firmly joins the parts and
effectually prevents their separation or becoming loose, this method of connecting
the parts of the cell together being especially well adapted to prevent the separation
or loosening of such cell-parts due to the differential expansion thereof consequent
on the heat developed during the operation of the battery and to the subsequent
contraction of such parts. Each cell is provided, in one of its parts, with removable
electrodes, preferably consisting of a tubular carbon and a cylindrical zinc, the
latter being arranged to be withdrawn without parting the cell, while the carbon
can be readily removed by simply unscrewing one of the parts of the cell from the
coupling ring.
A supporting frame or case for holding the cells in position, is made by
metallically joining the coupling rings with a connection means or handle on one
side, and if the battery is used to run a lamp, a reflector in which is mounted an
ordinary electric incandescent lamp, upon the other side, the frame or case forming
part of the electric circuit.
In the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification, Fig. 1 is a front
view of a battery embracing my Invention, showing part in elevation and part in
section. Figure 2, illustrates a plan or top view of the same. Figure 3 is a side

page_text: view through the centre of the battery, showing the reflector in section, also showing
an adjustable resistance device. Figure 4 is a similar view, showing part of the
circuit connections, and also the means for holding and reversing the battery.
Figure 5 shows a plan or top view of the carbon electrodes, Figure 6 is a detail
view of an adjustable resistance device, and Figs. 7 in the annexed drawings are
detail views of the means of arresting the battery in its two positions. Similar letters
of reference in the several Figures indicate like or corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings A and A' indicate the two parts of a battery cell,
preferably made of hard rubber. They are connected together and held in position
by a metallic screw coupling ring B. In the upper part A¹ of the cell is a carbon
tube C, held firmly in place by means of the neck projection or shoulder a, forming
an integral part of the cell case, and having a downwardly projecting flange on its
inner rim, as shown in Figure 1. Suitable elastic packing rings c, c, are placed
between the carbon tube and the top of the cell and also between the neck a, and
the neck or shoulder a¹, which being compressed when the parts are screwed
together, prevent leakage of fluid or gas. D, is a zinc electrode, from one end of
which extends a metal screw d, upon which is a thumb nut d¹, and a contact piece
or arm e. An elastic rubber disc m, encircles the screw and serves to close the
opening m¹, in the top of cell A', and to firmly hold and secure the zinc in position,
by being expanded laterally with pressure upon the sides of opening, m¹, when
compressed between the zinc D, and the washer e, by means of the screw nut d¹.
The said washer e, has a laterally extended arm which serves as a contact point
as hereinafter described. A metallic wire or contact pin c¹, extends from the
carbon C, through the washer c, and the cell A', as shown. E, is a metallic reflector
which together with a back or support piece f, is metallically connected to the
coupling rings B, B, and forms a case or frame that rigidly supports and holds
the battery cells. L, is an incandescent lamp mounted in an ordinary manner
within the reflector.
, is a rubber-lined socket which serves for attaching the battery to a bicycle-
hook, and is provided with a swivel i, which passes through a sleeve f³, projecting
from the back-piece f, and is secured in engagement therewith by a pin ¹, which
passes through the swivel, in front of the sleeve f³, and normally engages with
lots f4, formed in the front face of the sleeve. Between the socket g, and the back
piece 2, is interposed an elastic washer w, or a metal spring f¹, or both, or any
like convenient arrangement which will tend to firmly keep the pin i¹, in
engagement with the slots f4, but which, nevertheless, will allow the pin to be
readily disengaged from the slots f, and the battery to be readily turned by hand
about the pin i, as a centre, and reversed in position when required, whereupon
the pin ¹, will again engage with the slots f+, and automatically lock the battery
in the reversed position.
On the top of each cell A are two preferably metallically capped projections or
studs n, and n¹, (see Figure 2). The projection n', is perforated and the contact
pin c, leading from the carbon electrode extends through the same and projects
slightly as shown more distinctly in Figure 1. The other projection n, is not
perforated, but bears a pin or stud o. Between and partly in front of the two cells,
as shown in Figure 2, is placed the adjustable resistance shown more in detail in
Figure 6. This is composed of a piece of German silver wire P, or other suitable
substance of sufficiently high resistance, doubled and twisted or wound into a spiral
as shown, the ends being attached to the proper projections n, and n³, so as to make
electrical connection therewith. In the interior of this wire spiral is inserted a
screw-threaded plug R, of wood, hard rubber or other insulating material. This
plug is externally screw-threaded to correspond with the turns of the wire P, and
bears near its upper end a metallic cross piece r. It is evident that screwing the
plug R fully down into the spiral P, allows the cross piece r, to short circuit the
current across the same, while, when the plug R, is slightly unscrewed, the current
is caused to pass through the wire P, and to overcome the resistance thereof. S, is
a conductor or circuit wire leading from the projection n, of one cell to a screw T,

page_text: or other metallic connection in contact with the lamp, as shown in Figure 2, and s,
is a similar conductor leading from the coupling ring B, which is in electric
connection with the metallic socket into which the lamp is screwed, up to the
projection n', of the opposite cell to that from which the conductor S leads. The
electrical circuit is therefore composed as follows:-Starting, for instance, from
the zinc electrode of the left hand cell (Figure 2) the current passes through the
fluid in the interior to the carbon electrode, and out of that, through its contact
pin, c', into the resistance wire, P, or across the short circuit, r, as the case may be,
into the arm, e, of the right hand cell, from that into the zinc electrode of that cell,
then through the liquid to the carbon electrode, and out of that through the contact
pin, cl, to the conductor s, and to the coupling ring, B, around the right hand cell,
through said ring to the lamp socket, into and through the filament, into the screw,
T, through the conductor, S, to the arm, e, of the left hand cell, and so back to the
zinc electrode of that cell, completing the circuit.
In the operation of my invention, the zines are removed from the cells by simply
unscrewing the nut and withdrawing them, the charge of battery fluid is then
inserted, filling the lower part of each cell. The zines are replaced and firmly
secured by means of screw nut, d, and the battery is ready for use. To light the
lamp, it is only necessary to reverse the position of the battery, by turning it upon
its swivel, when the fluid within the cells is brought into contact with the carbon
and zinc, instantly generating electric energy, when the circuit being closed, the
current passing through the lamp filament produces light. To stop the action,
the battery is turned back to its first mentioned position, whereupon the fluid passes
away from the electrodes and the current ceases.
It is obviously not necessary that the cells should be cylindrical in form
throughout, as the lower part might advantageously be angular in shape, with a
cylindrical neck for screw couplings.
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 1
claim is:-
-
1. A primary battery comprising a metal frame having a plurality of openings
and a plurality of independent battery vessels, each consisting of two cups having
rims secured in the openings of said frame, substantially as set forth.
2. A primary battery comprising a metal frame having a plurality of threaded
openings and a plurality of independent battery vessels, each consisting of two
cups having threaded rims secured in the openings of said frame, substantially as
set forth.
3. The combination of a primary battery comprising a metal frame having
one or more openings and corresponding battery vessels, each consisting of two cups
having rims secured in the openings of said frame, an electrical translating device,
and electrical connections of which the frame is a part between said device and the
battery, substantially as set forth.
4. A primary battery comprising a metal frame with a plurality of openings
therein, and a plurality of battery vessels in said openings, each vessel consisting of
two cups with rims secured in the openings, one of which cups contains battery
electrodes, substantially as set forth.
5. A primary battery comprising a metal frame having a plurality of openings
and a plurality of independent battery vessels, each consisting of two cups having
rims secured in the openings of said frame, an incandescent lamp and reflector
secured to the frame on one side, a swivel device on the other side for reversing
the battery, and suitable electric conductors connecting the battery elements with
the incandescent lamp, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination in a battery cell, of two parts connected together by a
coupling ring, zinc and carbon electrodes located in one of said parts, which is
provided with a neck or shoulder for holding the carbon electrode in position, and
which has a flange or rim on its inner side, the other of said parts also having a

page_text: neck or shoulder, and an elastic washer inserted between the said necks or
shoulders, substantially as specified.
7. In a portable primary battery, the combination of a cell comprising separable
parts, A, A¹, a metallic screw coupling ring, B, connecting the parts, a neck or
shoulder formed upon one of the parts, a tubular carbon, C, located in said part
and supported by said neck or shoulder, a neck or shoulder in the other part, and
elastic rubber washers, c, c, at each end of the carbon, forming a tight joint between
the parts of the battery, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 27th day of May. 1897.
DAY, DAVIES, & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.
Agents for the Applicant.