IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolf Gutensohn, of 40 Southampton Buildings, in
the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC
BATTERIES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolf Gutensohn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1883.
ADOLF. GUTENSOHN, of 40 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
"
My invention relates to galvanic batteries used for the generation of electricity
in the ordinary way, and it has for its objects novel methods of constructing and
working such galvanic batteries so that they give a large and uniform current of
electricity for a considerable time, and are cheap, simple, and economical in use.
In order to put my invention in operation, I take a negative pole of zinc
preferably in the shape of a bar or plate of any convenient size and shape to suit
the cell of the battery in which it is to be used, but preferably about half an inch
thick. Round this zine I cast a mantle or sheath of metallic lead preferably about
one eighth of an inch thick and covering the zinc with the exception of a small
space at the bottom where the latter is left exposed in order that an exciting
liquid in which the compound pole is immersed may have access to the zinc.
As an exciting liquid for this purpose I prefer to use a solution of nitrate of
Lead which has the property of attacking and dissolving the zinc, but has only
very slight action upon the lead.
Sawdust saturated with the solution may be used instead of the liquid itself, or
sometimes I use nitrate of lead crystals heated to melting point and cast round
the pole I make this solution preferably as strong as convenient, but its strength
may be varied to suit varying circumstances.
By the action of this solution upon the zinc where exposed, nitrate of zinc is
formed and a certain amount of metallic lead mixed with oxide of lead is
precipitated. As a result oxygen and hydrogen gases are set free, and both have
to pass over the surface of the lead.

page_text: The coating or mantle of lead prevents the zine from being too rapidly
dissolved and the action consequently continues with sufficient uniformity for a
long period.
In order still further to retard the escape of the oxygen and hydrogen gases
I prefer to cover the surface of the exciting liquid with a layer of paraffin or
paraffin oil, which further serves to prevent the dessemination of deleterious
fumes.
The positive pole of the battery consists of a bar or plate of carbon immersed
in a porous cell of the well known kind ordinarily used, and containing nitric
acid of sufficient strength. Or instead of liquid nitric acid, the cell may be
filled with powdered charcoal or coke dust damped with nitric acid.
.
The top of the porous cell round the Carbon is also preferably closed with
paraffin, deleterious fumes being in this case also prevented from escaping, and the
duration of the action being prolonged.
I do not confine myself to the use of nitric acid only in the porous cell, as
other excitants may also be used, such as a mixture of nitric acid, coke-dust, and
picric acid.
And instead of a solution of nitrate of lead round the negative pole
of lead coated zinc as above described, other exciting fluids such as sulphuric acid
or a solution of nitrate of zinc or sulphate of zinc, may be used.
Binding screws and conducting wires are connected in the ordinary way to the
poles of the battery constructed as described.
I sometimes use a pole of zinc as described, but instead of coating this zinc pole
with lead I coat it with oxide of zinc mixed into a paste with diluted sulphuric
acid. The paste so formed sets so as to have considerable hardness and forms a
solid covering to the zinc, which generates electro-motive force without the
addition of any other exciting liquid.
The carbon pole may be coated in a similar way, the oxide of zinc being
mixed into a paste with diluted nitric acid instead of with sulphuric acid.
Both the zinc and the carbon poles may be arranged in the same vessel each
being coated and surrounded with the mixture appropriate to it as just described,
and a vessel so filled forms a galvanic cell very convenient, portable, durable, and
effective, and any number of such cells may be coupled together in the usual way
to form a galvanic battery.
The products resulting from the mutual action of the materials generating
electricity in the novel apparatus described, are of considerable value and can be
utilized so as greatly to reduce the cost of working the batteries.
The oxide of zinc made into a paste as described may be calcined and powdered
and re-used to make fresh paste of the kinds described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Adolf Gutensohn in the Patent Office on the 3rd March 1884.
ADOLF GUTENSOHN, of 40 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
"
My present invention relates to galvanic batteries used for the generation of
electricity in the ordinary way. It has for its objects novel methods of con-
structing and working such galvanic bitteries so that they give a large and
uniform current of electricity for a considerable time, and are cheap, simple, and
economical in use.
In order to put my invention in operation, I take a negative pole of zinc
preferably in the shape of a bir or plate, of any convenient size and shape to suit
the cell of the battery in which it is to be used, but preferably about one quarter
to one half an inch thick. Round this zinc I cast or fit a mantle or sheath of
metallic lend, preferably about one-eighth of an inch thick, and covering the zinc
either entirely or in some cases with the exception of a small space at the bottom
where the zinc is left exposed in order that the exciting liquid in which the
compound pole is immersed may have access to it.
As an exciting liquid for this purpose I use a solution of nitrate of lead which
has the property of attacking and dissolving the zinc (if it has access to it) but
has comparatively slight action upon the lead. Instead of the liquid solution of
nitrate of lead being used in the manner described round the lead I sometimes
saturate with it sawdust which is packed round the lead, or I sometimes use
crystals of nitrate of lead melted by heat and then poured or cast round the
lead pole.
The strength of the nitrate of lead solution used as described may be varied,
but I preferably use it as strong as convenient.
By the action of the nitrate of lead upon the zinc where exposed, nitrate of
zinc is formed and a certain amount of metallic lead mixed with oxide of lead is
precipitated. As a result oxygen and hydrogen gases are set free and both have
to pass over the surface of the lead. If no opening is male in the lead covering,
so that the zinc is not exposed, nitrate of lead only is formed, hydrogen gas being
set free but more slowly-and the exciting liquid requiring more frequent
renewal. The coating or mantle of lead prevents the zinc from being too rapidly
dissolved, (or if no opening be made, from being dissolved at all) and the action
of the cell consequently continues with suflicient uniformity for a long period.
Instead of zinc entirely coated with lead, lead alone may be used where a
current of great intensity but no great duration is required.
In order still further to retard the escape of the oxygen and hydrogen gases
I prefer to cover the surface of the exciting liquid with a film or layer of paraffin,
or paraffin oil, which serves moreover to prevent the dissemination of deleterious
fumes.
The positive pole of the improved battery consists of a bar or plate of carbon
immersed in a porous cell of the well known kind ordinarily used, and containing
nitric acid of sufficient strength.
Or instead of liquid nitric acid the cell may be filled with powdered charcoal or
coke dust damped with nitric acid.
The top of the porous cell round the carbon is also preferably closed with
paraffin, deleterious fumes being in this way also prevented from escaping, and the
duration of the action of the battery being prolonged.
Instead of nitric acid only in the porous cell I sometimes use other excitants,
such as a mixture of nitric acid, coke dust, and picric acid. And instead of a
solution of nitrate of lead round the lead coated zinc which forms the negative pole
above described, other exciting fluids such as sulphuric acid or a solution of
nitrate of zinc or sulphate of zinc may be used.
The method of operation described may also be modified by using the nitric

page_text: acid for the negative lead coated zinc pole, and the nitrate of lead for the carbon
pole. In this case the nitric acid attacks the lead (or zinc if the latter be exposed),
forming nitrate of lead and oxide of lead, or (if the zinc be exposed) nitrate f
zinc and oxides of lead and zinc mixed which are precipitated. In this method of
arrangement and operation a current of electricity is obtained of greater intensity
but of shorter duration.
Binding screws and conducting wires are connected in the ordinary way to the
poles of the battery constructed as described; and any number of cells may be
connected together, according to the strength of the battery required. In order to
renew the exciting liquid when required, I prefer to arrange a moveable reservoir
above the level of the battery of cells and a second moveable reservoir below the
latter, and I arrange gutters or channels and pipes provided with stop-cocks so
that the liquid in the proper quantity can be admitted regularly to each cell whence
it overflows at the proper level and runs into the lower vessel. When, in this
way, the upper reservoir is emptied and the lower one filled, they can be changed
and so on at intervals, the action of the battery continuing with sufficient
uniformity for a long period.
Instead of coating the zinc pole with lead as described above, I sometimes coat
it with oxide of zinc made into a paste with dilute sulphuric acid. The paste so
formed sets so as to have considerable hardness forming a solid covering to the
zine and an electro-motive force is generated without the addition of any other
exciting liquid.
The carbon pole may be coated in a similar way, the oxide of zinc being mixed
into a paste with dilute nitric acid instead of sulphuric acid.
Both the zinc and carbon poles so coated may be arranged in a single vessel, each
being coated and surrounded with the mixture appropriate to it as just described,
and a vessel so filled forms a cell very convenient, portable, durable, and effective,
any number of which cells may be coupled together in the usual way to form a
galvanic battery.
The
The products resulting from the mutual action of the materials generating
electricity in the novel forms of apparatus described, are of considerable value
and can be utilized so as greatly to reduce the cost of working the batteries.
oxide of zinc made into a paste as last described may (after having been used)
be calcined and powdered, and then re-used to make fresh paste of the kinds
described.
I do not confine myself to any form or size of the improved galvanic batteries,
which may be varied to suit varying circumstances, but having described my
invention and the manner in which it is to be performed, I claim :-
-
In the improved galvanic battery, the negative pole formed of lead or of lead
coated with zinc, substantially as herein described. Also, in combination with such
negative pole of lead or zinc coated with lead, the use of nitric acid and nitrate
of lead or other excitants substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Also, in a galvanic battery, the method of preventing the escape of deleterious
fumes, by the use of paraffin oil or paraffin, substantially in the manner herein
described. Also, the method of coating one or both of the poles of the battery
with oxide of zine made into a paste with acid substantially in the manner aud
for the purpose herein described.
In witness whereof, J, the said Adolf Gutensohn have hereunto set my hand and
seal this third day of March in the year of our Lord 1884.