IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEGATIVE PLATES OR ELEMENTS OF GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEGATIVE PLATES OR ELEMENTS OF GALVANIC
BATTERIES." A communication from abroad by John Byrne, of Brooklyn,
New York, United States of America.
led the 15th December 1876, and dated the 18th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th July 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEGATIVE PLATES OR
"
ELEMENTS OF GALVANIC BATTERIES." A communication.
One object of my Invention is to secure in the negative element of galvanic
batteries, by a combination of metals in their formation, a high degree of con-
ductivity, or in other words very little internal resistance with extreme negative
qualities and entire immunity from attack by the battery fluid, the result being the
developement of a larger effective volume of voltaic current than hitherto attained
by any galvanic pair of equal surfaces, and also entire indestructibility of the
element.
Another object is the utilizing in the evolution of the current the entire exposed
surfaces of both the negative and positive elements of the battery, which I accom-
plish by the peculiar construction of the cell as herein-after fully described.
To secure the objects above indicated I combine with a plate of some metal
having high conducting power (or little resistance) another formed of metal
extremely negative, the former being designed to be connected directly with the
battery wire or current, and the latter alone being permitted to have contact with
the battery fluid. For the former copper is preferred for its high conducting power,
and for the latter platinum for its extreme negative quality, but I do not limit
myself to these two metals; any others may be used which possess respectively in
high degrees the above named qualities.
Of the several methods by which these metals may be combined in the construc-
tion of my improved negative battery plate I prefer the following:-A copper plate,
say, of No. 18 gauge, is completely enveloped (except a small portion at one end)
with a thin solid sheet of platinum or platinum foil. It is not sufficient to cut the
[Price 6d.]

page_text: copper with the platinum by electro or other deposit from a solution of the metal.
The platinum must be in the compact solid form of a rolled or beaten plate. It is
indeed possible to produce this compact form of the platinum so that it will answer
a very good purpose by depositing a heavy coating of it upon the copper, and then
passing the coated sheet between rollers under severe pressure, but I prefer the use
of the rolled sheet or foil of the platinum.
A convenient method of combining the platinum foil with the copper plate is to
immerse the copper, after thoroughly cleansing it, in molten solder, then lay the
platinum foil or plate previously tinned on one side upon the copper, and pass over
the surface of the platinum a smooth iron that is hot enough to melt the solder and
tin between the platinum and copper. The platinum must be made to cover the
edges as well as the face of the copper plate so as to render it inaccessible to the
battery fluid. If this negative element be a hollow cylinder or solid round body
the ends must be protected by plugs of rubber, or in any other manner so as to
exclude the copper from contact with the battery fluid.
I have described a convenient mode of coating the platinum and copper, but I do
not limit myself to that mode. Any other convenient and effective method may be
employed, such as sweating the platinum to the copper and lead, or the like.
Another and upon the whole the preferable construction of my improved plate is
the following:-The copper plate is covered on one side by a sheet of lead (say,
21/2 lbs. per square foot) or any other protective substance not affected by strong acids,
the lead being soldered to the copper, and projecting somewhat, say, 1/4 of an inch
around the side edges and one end; this projection is doubled over upon itself, so
as to bring the lead flush with the copper on the uncovered side; then thin
platinum plate or foil is spread upon and soldered to the opposite face of the copper
plate and to the lead edges, making a plate, one face of which is lead, and the other
platinum, inclosing a copper plate or core. The lead in this construction of plate
will protect the copper from the action of strong bichromate fluid or dilute sul-
phuric acid. The lead may be coated with asphaltum varnish. In place of platinum
gold plate or foil may be used, if desired, which may be sweated to the copper, and
then rolled or deposited in a heavy coat, and subsequently rolled.
One special advantage of this combined copper, lead, and platinum plate is that
a cell formed by two of them with.a zinc plate between the platinum face has no
portion of either the positive or negative elements exposed to the action of the
battery fluid, excepting those surfaces directly opposite to each other, thus obviating
any unutilized expenditure of material or force. Such a cell exposing 22 square inches
of surface immersed in bichromate fluid I find gives by actual test an electro-motive
force of 1.99 volts, and an internal resistance of only about 0.06 ohms.
Four cells same as above exposing 22 inches of surface in each in dilute sulphuric
acid have been practically tested for electro-plating, and it is found that these 4 cells
will do as much work as 6 small cells in good condition exposing 84 square inches
of surface in each cell.
The electric light has also been extensively experimented with, and repeated
observations warrant the statement that 30 of these cells in series, the exciting
fluid being one volume of sulphuric acid to 4 or 5 of water, and one-third the
ordinary proportion of bichromate of potassa, say, 5 or 6 oz. to cach gallon, will
give a larger luminous disc than 50 ordinary Bunsen or Grove cells, and an equally
intense light. From the fact also that in liquid of the above strength hydrogen is
actively liberated no agitation is needed to insure steady and continuous action.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
January 1877.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEGATIVE PLATES OR
ELEMENTS OF GALVANIC BATTERIES." A communication from abroad by John
Byrne, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
One object of my Invention is to secure in the negative element of galvanic
batteries, by a combination of metals in their formation, a high degree of conduc-
tivity, or in other words very little internal resistance with extreme negative
qualities, and entire immunity from attack by the battery fluid, the result being
the development of a larger effective volume of voltaic current than hitherto attained
by any galvanic pair of equal surfaces, and also entire indestructibility of the
element.
Another object is the utilizing in the evolution of the current the entire exposed
surfaces of both the negative and positive elements of the battery, which object I
accomplish by the peculiar construction of the cell herein-after fully described.
To secure the objects above indicated I combine with a plate of some metal
having high conducting power (or little resistance) another formed of metal extremely
negative, the former being designed to be connected directly with the battery wire
or current, and the latter alone being permitted to have contact with the battery
fluid. For the former copper is preferred by reason of its high conducting power,
and for the latter platinum by reason of its extreme negative quality, but I do not
limit myself to these two metals. Any others may be used which possess respectively
in high degrees the above named qualities.
Of the several methods by which these metals may be combined in the construc-
tion of my improved negative battery plate I prefer the following, that is to say :-A
copper plate of about No. 18 gauge is completely enveloped (except a small portion
at one end) with a thin solid sheet of platinum or platinum foil. It is not sufficient
to coat the copper with the platinum by electro or other deposits from a solution of
the metal; the platinum must be in the compact solid form of a rolled or beaten
plate. It is indeed possible to produce this compact form of the platinum so that it
will answer a very good purpose by depositing a heavy coating of it upon the
copper, and then passing the coated sheet between rollers under severe pressure,
but I prefer the use of the rolled sheet or foil of the platinum.
A convenient method of combining the platinum foil with the copper plate is to
immerse the copper after thoroughly cleansing it in molten solder; then lay the
platinum foil or plate previously tinned on one side upon the copper, and pass over
the surface of the platinum a smooth iron that is hot enough to melt the solder and
tin between the platinum and copper. The platinum must be made to cover the
edges as well as the face of the copper plate to render it inaccessible to the battery
fluid. If this negative element be a hollow cylinder or solid sound body the ends
may be protected by plugs of india-rubber or in any other manner to exclude the
copper from contact with the battery fluid.
I have described a convenient mode of coating the platinum and copper, but any
other convenient and effective method may be employed, such as sweating the
platinum to the copper and lead or the like.
Another and preferable construction of my improved plate is the following:-The
copper plate is covered on one side by a sheet of lead (say, 21/2 lbs. per square foot)
or any other protective substance not affected by strong acids, the lead being
soldered to the copper, and projecting somewhat, say, of an inch around the side
edges and one end; this projection is doubled over upon itself to bring the lead
flush with the copper on the uncovered side; then thin platinum plate or foil is
spread upon and soldered to the opposite face of the copper plate and to the lead
edges, making a plate one face of which is lead, and the other platinum, enclosing a

page_text: copper plate or core. The lead in this construction of plate will protect the copper
from the action of strong bichromate fluid or dilute sulphuric acid. The lead may
be coated with asphaltum varnish. In place of platinum I may use gold plate or
foil, which may be sweated to the copper, and then rolled or deposited in a heavy
coat, and subsequently rolled.
One special advantage of this combined copper, lead, and platinum plate is that a
cell formed by two of such plates, with a zinc plate between the platinum face, has
no portion of either the positive or negative elements exposed to the action of the
battery fluid, excepting those surfaces directly opposite to each other, thus obviating
any unutilized expenditure of material or force. Such a cell, exposing 22 square
inches of surface immersed in bichromate fluid, I find gives by actual test an electro-
motive force of 1.99 volts, and an internal resistance of only about 000 ohms.
Four cells as above, exposing 22 inches of surface in each in dilute sulphuric acid,
have been practically tested for electro-plating, and it is found that these four cells
will do as much work as six small cells in good condition, exposing 84 square inches
of surface in each cell.
The electric light has also been extensively experimented with, and repeated
observations warrant the statement that with 30 of these cells in series, the exciting
fluid being one volume of sulphuric acid to 4 or 5 of water, and one-third the
ordinary proportion of bichromate of potassa, say, 5 or 6 ozs. to each gallon, a larger
luminous disc will be given than with 50 ordinary Buncen or Grove cells, and an
equally intense light. From the fact also that in liquid of the above strength
hydrogen is actively liberated no agitation is needed to ensure steady and continuous
Figure 1 is a face view of a plate of copper backed by a plate of lead, as above
described; Figure 3 is a face view of the same, with a thin platinum plate or foil
laid over the copper; Figure 5 shews the same with the edges of the lead folded
over upon the edges of the platinum.
Figures 2, 4, and 6 are transverse sections of Figures 1, 3, and 5, representing
several forms in which the edges of the plates may be folded to protect the copper;
Figure 7 is a transverse section of a modification of the same.
Figure 8 is a side face view; and Figure 9 is an edge view of my organized
improved cells; Figure 10 is a cross section of the same on the line x, x, Figure 8.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line y, y, Figure 8; and
Figure 12 is a side face view of the zinc element of the cell.
Similar letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A is the copper plate, and B a lead plate, the end projecting beyond the lead, as
seen at A¹, for attachment to the battery wire. In Figure 7 the same parts are
represented with the edges of the lead plate turned over upon themselves, so as to
be flush with the uncovered face of the copper A. C is the platinum plate or foil,
covering the face of the copper opposite to that covered by the lead.
The several
cross sections of these plates show various ways in which the edges of the lead and
foil may be folded over the edges of the plate to protect it.
In the Figures representing the organized cell D, D³, are two combined metal
negative plates, the outer faces being lead, preferably coated with asphaltum varnish,
and the inner faces being platinum; E is the zinc plate suspended between the
plates D, D'; F is a head clamp, into the lips b of which the upper ends A' of the
copper cores of the plates D, D₁, are secured.
The zinc plate E is secured to the head F by the screw e and nut d, which serve
also as a binding screw, being insulated from the said head by the rubber plate and
washer fand f₁; g is a binding screw secured in the head F, and is thus in metallic
connection with the copper plate A. The circuit is established by a wire connecting
the two binding screws.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me

page_text: by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I claim,-
First. The negative element of a galvanic battery, consisting of a core or plate of
metal of high electrical conducting power enveloped by a compact adherent coating
of metal of relatively high electro-negative qualities, as above described, and for
the purposes specified.
Second. The negative element of a galvanic battery composed of a central core of
copper or equivalent metal of high conductivity, covered on one face with lead or
equivalent protective substance, and on the other face with a compact adherent
coating of platinum or equivalent electro-negative metal, as above set forth and for
the purpose specified.
Third. A galvanic battery cell composed of two negative plates formed of copper
or other metal of high conducting power, backed with lead or other analogous sub-
stance of comparative electro-chemical passivity, and faced by platinum or other
metal having analogous negative and indestructible qualities with a zinc plate
placed between the opposite platinum faces, as above described, and for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)