IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING ELECTRIC CURRENTS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isac Louis Pulvermacher, of Regent Street, in
the County of Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING
ELECTRIC CURRENTS."
Sealed the 5th March 1869, and dated the 5th September 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isac Louis Pulver-
macher at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th September 1868.
I, ISAC LOUIS PULVERMACHER, of Regent Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR PRODUCING AND
APPLYING ELECTRIC CURRENTS," to be as follows: -
The objects of the first part of this Invention are to construct voltaic
batteries in the form of a chain, or otherwise, in such manner that-the
zinc of which the elements are partly composed may be almost instan

page_text: taneously removed when worn, and replaced by fresh zinc without
deranging the elements; that the zinc employed may be of such form
that little or no labor is required in its manufacture; that the keeping
of the battery or chain in constant action may be easily effected, and the
liquid to keep it in action easily renewed; that the battery or chain may
be put in action with or without a trough or cellular vessel, and that
there may be facility for changing the contact without a special com-
mutator in order to modify the effect of tension arising from the small
acting surfaces of the numerous elements into effects of electrical
quantities requiring large surfaces.
I proceed to describe the manner in which I construct the elements
of a chain or battery in order to carry out the objects before mentioned.
I form open cylinders from openworked copper plates or from copper
wires worked into the form of open cylinders; these cylinders are pro-
vided with tubes to allow of their being connected together by insulated
bent pins or wires to form a chain, these pins or wires put the copper
cylinders into metallic contact with solid or hollow zinc cylinders which
are passed through the copper cylinders after the latter have been pro-
vided with threads or other insulating material; the zinc cylinders
are sufficiently long to extend beyond both ends of the copper cylinders.
I connect the elements first mechanically so as to form a chain, the links
of which are insulated from each other. I provide both the zinc and
the copper cylinders with movable rings, each having a projection at
one part of its circumference, by means of which the contacts either in
the sense of tension or of quantity may be established by moving the
rings into a position to bring all the copper cylinders and all the zinc
cylinders into contact, whereby electrical quantity is obtained, or by
moving the rings so that the projection on the ring of each zinc cylinder
touches the projection on the ring of the copper cylinder of the adjoining
element, whereby voltaic contact and intensity are obtained. In order
to keep up the supply of the exciting liquid to the elements thus formed,
and at the same time keep dry the outer surface of the copper, I employ
a caoutchouc tube carrying small T-shaped pipes which are placed on
the tops of the zinc cylinders but do not touch each other; I supply the
liquid to the caoutchouc tube and exert pressure thereon in any con-
venient manner, so that the liquid issues through holes into the T pipes
and runs down continuously between each zinc cylinder and the surround-
ing copper.

page_text: In order to excite my chains I construct a box as follows:-The box
and its cover are made of hardened rubber, the cover carries on its under
side small cylinders of hardened rubber provided with a foot to prevent
the chain falling off when placed thereon; these cylinders turn loosely
on their axes; I stretch the chains round or over them in a zig-zag or
analogous manner. After having caused the cover which carries the
chain to descend into the box I raise the whole and retain the cover on
the box by arms or plates; these arms have vertical slots with an enlarge-
ment at their ends; through these slots screws are passed which take into
the sides of the box; a portion of the screws is flattened so that when
turned in one direction they allow the cover to fall freely, and when
turned a quarter round the broad part of the flat portion of the screw lies
across the vertical slot and holds the cover up, these screws may be acted
on simultaneously by bars and levers or otherwise.
My Invention further consists in manufacturing wet conductors of
large conducting surfaces.for the purpose of applying electricity of great
intensity to any part of the human frame. I proceed as follows:-I
fasten, by sewing or otherwise on one side of stockings, drawers, sus-
pensory bandages, vests, gloves, and other garments worn next the skin,
gold or silver threads, the ends of which I connect to a conducting wire
leading to a pole of a battery; the gold or silver threads are preferably
secured in a zig-zag, spiral, or other manner so as to give an extended
surface. I cover the garments with a waterproof material on the side to
which the threads are attached; these garments are applied by simply
wetting them and putting them on the body.
I likewise form galvanic batteries by sewing or attaching zinc wires
parallel to the metallic threads and establishing voltaic contacts in any
ordinary manner.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Isac Louis Pulvermacher, Her special
licence that I, the said Isac Louis Pulvermacher, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Isac Louis Pulver-
macher, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING ELECTRIC
CURRENTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Isac
Louis Pulvermacher, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Isac Louis Pulvermacher, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
'
The objects of the first part of this Invention are to construct voltaic
batteries in the form of a chain, or otherwise, in such manner that the
zinc of which the elements are partly composed may be almost instan-
taneously removed when worn out, and replaced by fresh zinc without
deranging the elements; that the zinc employed may be of such form
that little or no labour is required in its manufacture; that the keeping
of the battery or chain in constant action may be easily effected, and the
liquid to keep it in action easily renewed; that the battery or chain may
be put in action with or without a trough or cellular vessel, and that
there may be facility for changing the contact without a special com-
mutator in order to modify the effect of tension arising from the small

page_text: acting surfaces of the numerous elements into effects of electrical
quantities requiring large surfaces.
I proceed to describe the manner in which I construct the elements
of a chain or battery in order to carry out the objects before mentioned.
I form open cylinders from openworked copper plates or from copper
wires worked into the form of open cylinders; these cylinders are
provided with tubes to allow of their being connected together by
insulated bent pins or wires to form a chain; these pins or wires put
the copper cylinders into metallic contact with solid or hollow zinc
cylinders which are passed through the copper cylinders after the latter
have been provided with threads or other insulating material; the zinc
cylinders are sufficiently long to extend beyond both ends of the copper
cylinders. In order to keep up the supply of the exciting liquid to
the elements thus formed, and at the same time keep dry the outer
surface of the copper, I employ a caoutchouc tube carrying, small
T-shaped pipes which are placed on the tops of the zinc cylinders but
do not touch each other; I supply the liquid to the caoutchouc tube
and exert pressure thereon in any convenient manner, so that the liquid
issues through holes into the T pipes and runs down continuously
between each zinc cylinder and the surrounding copper. I connect the
elements first mechanically so as to form a chain, the links of which
are insulated from each other. I provide both the zinc and the copper
cylinders with moveable rings, each having a projection at one part of
its circumference, by means of which the contacts either in the sense
of tension or of quantity may be established by moving the rings into
a position to bring all the copper cylinders and all the zinc cylinders
into contact, whereby electrical quantity is obtained, or by moving the
rings so that the projection on the ring of each zinc cylinder touches
the projection on the ring of the copper cylinder of the adjoining
element, whereby voltaic contact and intensity are obtained, as shown
in Figures 4 and 6.
The accompanying Drawings represent the manner in which I carry
my Invention into effect. Openwork copper plates a are formed, as
shown in Figure 1, by stamping or otherwise; a series of small holes
are also formed at the same time at the top and at the bottom of the
plate for thread or other medium 6 to be passed through or laced in
to prevent metallic contact between the zinc element. and copper

page_text: element. The plates a are rolled into the form of cylinders with the
threads inside of them, as shown in Figure 2, the edges of the cylinders
are likewise turned into a tube for the admission of bent pins or wires c,
so that any number of the cylinders may be connected to form a chain
of greater electrical tension. The cylinders thus formed have each a
zinc cylinder or rod d, either solid or hollow fitted into them.
In Figures 3 and 4 I have shown the cylinders as being fitted with
solid zinc cylinders or rods d, d, and in Figures 5 and 6 as being fitted
with hollow zinc cylinders or tubes e, e. The zinc cylinders or tubes
extend outside the copper cylinders, as shown, for allowing short T
pieces of tubes f, f, to be fitted over them; these T tubes are carried
by a caoutchouc tube g as shown in Figure 7, through which the exciting
fluid is forced by pressure; the T tubes fit the zinc cylinder loosely so
that the exciting fluid can find its way from the caoutchouc tube to
them. Sometimes I dispense with the T tubes and form holes in the
caoutchouc tube itself, as shown in Figure 8; these holes are fitted
over the zinc cylinders, and the pressure exerted upon the fluid causes
the holes to open slightly and allow a supply of fluid to pass down
them.
Figure 9 shows one plate of a chain made by copper wire being
twisted or rolled round helically into a flat shape on two metallic end
rods or tubes t, t; one of the tubes is covered with insulating material.
The wires have a thread or other insulating medium wound on them in
distant helices previous to being made into a plate; these plates are
rolled into a cylinder in a similar manner as the plate shown in Figures
2 to 6.
Figure 10 shows three links of a chain composed of a series of
copper cylinders a, a, with a central zinc cylinder d; the wire of which
this cylinder is made is covered over with thread in distant spirals; this
central zinc cylinder d contains an inner solid cylinder or rod d' which
projects beyond the outer cylinders a, a, in order that the caoutchouc
tube may be fitted over their projecting ends. In addition to the inner
solid cylinder or rod there are two copper wires r, r, projecting from
the outer end of the central zinc cylinder d; the projecting portions are
bent over so as to grasp or embrace the staples or connecting pins s, s,
by which the links are connected to form a chain, thus establishing
voltaic contact between the zinc cylinder of one element and the copper

page_text: cylinder of the neighboring element. When the central wire or core
is employed it is not necessary to cover or employ thread upon the copper
wires of the outer plate, as the thread-covered rod or core will be suffi-
cient. The spirals have spaces between each twist to admit of atmo-
spheric air passing up between the cylinders of the chain, the contact
of which with the copper produces a depolarization whereby a maximum
of electrical action is obtained.
In order to excite my chains I construct a box h, as represented in
Figures 11 and 12. The box h and its cover j are made of hardened
rubber or other suitable material. The cover carries on its under side
small cylinders h, k, of hardened rubber provided with a foot / to
prevent the chain falling off when placed thereon; these cylinders k, k,
turn loosely on their axes; I stretch the chains round or over them in
a zig-zag or analogous manner, as shown in dotted lines. After having
caused the cover which carries the chain to descend into the box 'I raise
the whole and retain the cover on the box by arms or plates m, m; these
arms have slots formed in them at their ends; into these slots screws are
passed which hold plates n, n, that embrace one end and sides of the
box; a portion of the screws may be flattened so that when turned or
drawn in one direction they allow the cover to fall freely, and when
turned a quarter round the broad part of the flat portion of the screw
lies across the vertical slot and holds the cover up; these screws may be
acted on simultaneously by bars or plates n¹ or otherwise.
My Invention further consists in manufacturing wet conductors of
large conducting surfaces for the purpose of applying electricity of great
intensity to any part of the human frame. I proceed as follows:-I
fasten, by sewing or otherwise, on one side of stockings, drawers, sus-
pensory bandages, vests, gloves, and other garments worn next the skin,
gold or silver threads, the ends of which I connect to a conducting wire
leading to a pole of a battery; the gold or silver threads are preferably
secured in a zig-zag, spiral, or other manner so as to give an extended
surface. I cover these electro-conducting garments with a waterproof
material on the side to which the threads are attached; these garments
are applied by simply wetting them and putting them on the body.
Figure 13 shows a pair of short drawers with wires p sewn into the
lining thereof in a zig-zag manner; q is the cord of flexible conducting
wires by which the garment is put in communication with the pole of

page_text: a battery. The lower openings of the garment are made so that they fit
closely to the skin and prevent the escape of water, which can however
be drawn off by means of the tap u, which is fitted in a short elastic
tube. I likewise form galvanic batteries by sewing or attaching zinc
wires parallel to the metallic threads of a negative metal and establishing
voltaic contacts in any ordinary manner.
a battery. The lower openings of the garment are made so that they fit
closely to the skin and prevent the escape of water, which can however
be drawn off by means of the tap u, which is fitted in a short elastic
tube. I likewise form galvanic batteries by sewing or attaching zinc
wires parallel to the metallic threads of a negative metal and establishing
voltaic contacts in any ordinary manner.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, I déclaré
that I claim,-
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of cylinders in
copper and zinc whereby a flexible battery in the form of a chain is 1
made for the purpose as herein-before described and represented in the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and employment of openwork cylinders
partly covered with thread by which the two cylinders forming a link
are insulated in the manner described and represented in the Drawings 1
annexed.
Thirdly. The construction of a plate composed of thread-covered
wires wound spirally on two metal tubes in manner and for the purpose
described.
Fourthly. The employment of caoutchouc tubes for charging and 2
distributing exciting liquid to each link simultaneously in the manner
described and shown in the Drawings.
Fifthly. The construction and employment of solid and hollow. zinc
cylinders and in the manner of putting them in contact with the copper
cylinder of the neighbouring element or link in the manner described 2
and shown in the Drawings.
Sixthly. The means of converting electro-quantity in tension, and
vice versa, by bringing all or part of the various copper cylinders and
the zinc cylinders in close metallic contact in the manner described and
shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventhly. The construction and employment of a box and of a cover
which is fitted with pins and cylinders for mounting a chain, as described,
for the purpose of dipping the chain in the exciting liquid placed in the
box and from which they can be conveniently withdrawn in the manner
described and shown in the Drawings.
3

page_text: And, eighthly. The construction of electro-conducting flexible
garments for the purpose as described and represented in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isac Louis Pulvermacher, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
I. L. PULVERMACHER. (L.S.)