IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES." A communication
from abroad by Ferdinando Tommasi, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th June 1880.
ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
BATTERIES." [A cominunication from abroad by Ferdinando Tommasi, of Paris,
in the Republic of France.]
This Invention relates to that class of batteries in which two exciting liquids are
employed, the chief object being to provide a continuous supply of acid to the
porous pot, and also to ensure the cutting off of this supply from all the pots of the
battery simultaneously.
In the outer cell an earthenware support is provided for receiving the porous pot,
which is made about double the depth of the glazed cell; this pot is fitted with a
glass stand for receiving a glass vessel for containing the nitric or other acid
intended to be supplied to the porous pot.
At the bottom of this glass vessel is a small opening for the discharge of the acid,
and the vessel is so situate that this opening will be at about the level of the
exciting liquid in the glazed cell.
The glass vessel is fitted at its upper end or neck with a loose glass stopper,
under the flange of which is placed an india rubber washer that will seal the
opening and prevent the admission of air to the vessel. A coiled spring surrounding
the neck of the vessel and bearing on the under-side of the stopper serves to raise
the same from its seat and admit air into the vessel, whereby a discharge of the acid
into the porous cell will be effected, the rate of supply being determined by the
amount of air admitted.
To regulate this admission pressure screws are provided, one for each cell, which
screws bearing directly or indirectly upon the stopper will hold it down so as to
contract the air space or completely close the same.
Supposing a group of cells to compose a battery, these will be conveniently

page_text: enclosed in a case, the cover of which may be hinged, and is furnished with
adjustable pressure screws that overlie the stoppers of the several glass vessels. If
these screws are properly adjusted to close the stoppers when the cover is shut
down, then the supply of acid may be simultaneously cut off from all the porous
pots, and the action of the battery will be suspended.
By adjusting this cover by other regulating screws all the stoppers may be
opened to any desired extent, and thus a regulated discharge of the acid will take
place. The glass vessels will be so shaped as to admit of the insertion of the carbon
blocks or other elements into the porous pots, and the zinc element will by preference
take the form of rods or blades pendant from a metal ring or from an insulating
cover carried by the glazed cell, a metal ring in this case overlying the heads of the
rods or blades to ensure metallic contact. In some cases these rods or blades may
rest in a bath of mercury contained in an annular gutter formed in the earthenware
support to the porous pot,
In order to maintain the supply of acid to the glazed cells, and to remove the
surcharged liquor therefrom, these vessels are pierced with holes near their top for
the admission of fresh acid, and near their bottom for the escape of the surcharged
acid, and they are placed in an acid bath, the holes for admitting and emitting the
acid to and from the outer cell being guarded by glass tubes, which will offer
sufficient resistance to the passage of the electric current.
The varied specific gravity of the acid within the outer cell will ensure a slow
circulation of the acid, the heavier portion escaping by the bottom holes into the
bath, and the fresh acid entering the cells at the upper holes, so as to maintain the
level of the acid in the cells.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd December 1880.
ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
BATTERIES." A communication from abroad by Ferdinando Tommasi, of Paris,
in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to that class of batteries in which two exciting liquids are
employed, the chief object being to provide a continuous supply of acid to the
porous pots, and also to ensure the cutting off of this supply from all the pots of
the battery simultaneously. A novel contrivance is also provided to maintain the
strength of the acid solution supplied to the outer cells of the battery.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn in various views a cell of the
Bunsen type constructed according to this Invention, Fig. 1 being a vertical section
of a single cell battery, and Figures 2 and 3 transverse sections of the porous pot
and its contents; Fig. 4 is an elevation of a phial of peculiar form for containing
the nitric acid supported on a stand or pedestal; Fig. 5 is a plan view of an annular

page_text: support of iron, from which the zinc element of the battery is suspended in a manner
to be hereafter explained; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of this ring and its cover,
shewing the zinc rods or blades in situ; Figures 7 and 8 are respectively plan and
sectional views of a group of sixteen cells arranged in a box or case; Figures 9
and 10 are respectively vertical and horizontal sections of a modification of the
apparatus.
In these Figures a is the porous pot, which rests upon a support of earthenware
or glass b contained in a glazed outer cell c.
The porous pot is made about double the depth of the outer cell, and is fitted
with a glass stand for receiving a stoppered glass vessel or phial d for containing
the nitric or other acid intended to be supplied to the porous pot.
This vessel is made by preference semi-cylindrical, as will be seen by reference
to Figures 2 and 3, and it is formed with a conical bottom in order to fit a conical
recess made in the stand c. The stand e is of similar shape, but is somewhat smaller
in cross section than the vessel d. in order to provide space for the reception of a
sufficient quantity of acid to ensure the proper action af the battery.
.
At the bottom of the glass vessel d is a small opening for the discharge of the
acid, and the vessel is so situate that this opening will be at about the level of the
exciting liquid in the outer glazed cell c.
This arrangement provides against the reserve of acid contained in the vessel d
mixing with the partially exhausted acid in the porous pot, and allows of the acid
in the porous pot being maintained at any desired level.
The glass vessel is fitted at its upper end or neck with a loose glass stopper g,
under the flange of which is placed an india rubber washer h that will seal the
opening and prevent the admission of air to the vessel d. A coiled spring i sur-
rounding the neck of the vessel and bearing on the underside of the stopper serves
to raise the same from its seat and admit air into the vessel d, whereby a
discharge of the acid into the porous cell will be effected, the rate of supply being
determined by the amount of air admitted. m is the carbon contained in the
porous pot.
To regulate the admission of air to the vessel & the cells of the battery are
arranged in a box or case, as shewn at Figures 7 and 8, which is provided with a
cover j; this cover when closed will overlio the stoppers of all the glass vessels of
the battery, and immediately over each stopper a hole is formed in which a loose
piece is fitted; this loose piece is held in position and can be adjusted relatively
to the stoppers by means of the bridge and screws 1, l, L.
The cover of the box is hinged, and provided with a regulating screw and winch
handle, as shown at Figures 7 and 8, by which means, through the pressure of the
pieces on the stoppers g, the quantity of acid supplied to the carbons may be
regulated to the greatest nicety or shut off at pleasure. In the latter case the action
of the batter will be suspended.
By reference to Figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that the vessel d and carbon m
are so shaped relatively to each other as to fill the space at the upper end of the
porous pot. The lower end of the carbon is however reduced in dimensions, so as to
leave just enough space for a sufficient quantity of acid to produce the necessary
chemical action in the cell.
In order to increase as much as possible the acting surface of the zinc element of
the battery it will by preference take the form of a series of rods or blades p, p,
which are suspended from a slotted metal ring n, or it may be from an insulating
cover carried by the glazed cell. A second metal ring n¹ (see Fig. 6), preferably of
zinc and formed with radial grooves on its under surface, overlies the heads of the
zine rods or blades, their heads entering the radial grooves of the ring for the
purpose of ensuring perfect metallic contact between all the blades. In some cases
these rods or blades are caused to rest in a bath of mercury contained in an annular
gutter formed in the earthenware or glass support for the porous pot.
This modification is shewn in Figures 9 and 10, in which Figures the support b
is shewn as formed with an annular gutter for the reception of the mercury. Tho

page_text: amalgamation of the zine rods will thus be maintained, and the rods will gradually
sink down as they are consumed. The suspending and connecting rings n and n¹
will in this case be unnecessary, as the mercury will ensure perfect metallic contact
between the zine rods, and a rod 8 protected by a coating of gutta percha or other
insulating material dips into the mercury in the trough, and serves to connect the
wire t to the zinc.
In order to maintain the supply of acid to the outer cells of the battery, and to
remove the surcharged liquor therefrom, these vossels are pierced with holes near
their top for the admission of fresh acid, and near their bottom for the escape of
the surcharged acid, and they are placed in an acid bath, the holes for admitting
and emitting the acid to and from the outer cell being guarded by serpentine
glass tubes u, v, which will offer sufficient resistance to the passage of the electric
current.
The varying specific gravity of the acid within the outer cell will ensure a slow
circulation of the acid, the heavier portion escaping by the bottom holes into the
bath, and the fresh acid entering the cells at the upper holes, so as to maintain the
level of the acid in the cells. The supply of dilute acid to the bath may be regulated
by any convenient arrangement of cocks and overflow pipes.
"
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in Electric
Batteries as communicated to me from abroad, and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in
part recited Letters Patent I claim,―
First. The arrangement within the porous port of the vessel d for maintaining a
supply of acid to the pot, and in combination therewith tho means above described
or its equivalent for regulating and stopping off the supply.
Second. The arrangement of the vessel d, stand'e, and carbon m within the porous
pot, in the manner and for the purpose above described.
Third. The arrangement of the negative or zinc element of the battery, as
described with reference to the Drawing.
Fourth. The arrangement, above described, for maintaining a circulation of the
dilute acid in the outer cells of the battery.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty third day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
TY
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