Improvements in Thermo-electric Batteries.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th May, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Thermo-electric Batteries.
I, GEORGE EDWARD GOURAUD, of Little Menlo, Beulah Hill, in the County
of Surrey, late Colonel in the United States Army, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication to me from Edward N. Dickerson, of the City,
County and State of New York, one of the United States of America,) to be as
follows:-
In the operation of thermo-electric batteries, it is of great importance that each
element should be highly heated at one point of connection, so that its heat may
approach the melting point. The metals ordinarily employed are liable to fusion at
comparatively low temperatures.
According to the present invention, the end of the element to be heated is
protected; the ordinary insulation between the protecting cover and the element
being at the same time dispensed with.
The body of the element is preferably composed of an alloy of antimony and
zinc combined in the proportion of three to two; the electrodes or connections
being preferably made of nickel or nickeline. The end of the element is protected
by a metal casing, ordinarily made of iron, and which extends over a part only of
the surface of the element. The heat is applied to the protected end.
In the
completed battery, the electrodes are generally arranged side by side, parallel with
one another, and have the cold end of one clement connected with the hot end of
the next element.
A thermo-electric battery of the kind herein described is exceptionally well
adapted for driving a phonograph; such a battery yielding a current which is
practically constant, and thus enabling the employment of a governor for regulating
the working of the instrument by ensuring uniformity in the speed of rotation to
be dispensed with.
Dated this 6th day of August 1890.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Thermo-electric Batteries.
I, GEORGE EDWARD GOURAUD, of Little Menlo, Beulah Hill, in the County
of Surrey, late Colonel in the United States Army, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication to me from Edward N. Dickerson, of the City,
County and State of New York, one of the United States of America,) 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 improvements in thermo-electric batteries.
In the operation of these batteries, it is of great importance that each clement
should be so highly heated at one electrode that its heat may approach the melting
point.
The metals ordinarily employed for making the elements are liable to fusion at
comparatively low temperatures.
According to the present invention, the end of the element to be heated is
protected; the ordinary insulation between the protecting cover and the element
being at the same time dispensed with.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through an element constructed on my
improved principle; Fig. 2 being a plan of a thermo-electric battery comprising
three such elements..
The body a of the element A is preferably composed of an alloy of antimony
and zinc combined in the proportion of three to two. The electrodes B B and
connections bare preferably made of nickel of what is known as "nickeline." The
end of each element is protected by a metal casing a', ordinarily made of iron
and extending over a part only of the surface of the end of the element. The
heat is applied to the protected end. In a completed battery, the elements are
generally placed side by side and parallel with one another; the electrodes and
connections being so arranged that the cold end of one element is joined to the hot
end of the next element.
A thermo-electric battery of the kind herein described is exceptionally well
adapted for driving a phonograph such a battery yielding a current which is
practically constant; thus obviating the employment of a governor for regulating
the working of the instrument by ensuring uniformity in the speed of rotation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :—
1. In a thermo-electric battery, an element A having one end of its body a
protected by a casing al arranged substantially as herein described.
2. In a thermo-electric battery, an element A. having a body a composed of an
easily-fusible alloy, such as a combination of antimony and zinc, and a protective
casing a made from a practically infusible metal, such as iron, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
3. The improved thermo-electric battery, comprising elements A. having bodies a
protected by casings a', electrodes B B and connections & for joining the cold end
of one element. with the hot end of the next element, substantially as herein
described.
Dated this. 6th day of May 1891
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.