improvements in and relating to Electric Batteries.
Year: 1885

page_text: improvements in and relating to Electric Batteries.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO ELECTRIC BATTERIES
to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to electric batteries and comprises means for preventing
polarization, and a novel connection of a metal conductor to a carbon element.
It is well known that almost all solutions operate in some degree to produce
electricity in a battery cell having zinc and carbon elements, such as are at present
commonly on sale, and it has generally been found that sal-ammoniac is the best
solution for this purpose.
The difficulty experienced with cells of this construction and using sal-ammoniac
as a solution, is the rapid polarization of the battery and its consequent inability
to furnish a current of much power for a sufficient length of time.
The said invention consists partly in the employment in a battery, of per-
manganate of potash and bi-chromate of potash.
It also partly consists in the combination in a battery, of per-manganate of
potash and bi-chromate of potash as depolarizers with a non-acid solution.
It also partly consists in the combintion in a battery having zinc and carbon
elements of bi-chromate of potash, and per-manganate of potash as depolarizers.
It also partly consists in the combination in a battery, having an exciting solution
consisting of the chloride of an alkali dissolved in water, of bi-chromate of potash
and per-manganate of potash.
It also partly consists in the combination with a battery element, of a conductor
to be secured thereto by means of a conductive metal or metallic alloy applied in
a molten state and being of such character that it will expand in cooling so as to
secure the carbon element and conductor together.

page_text: "
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO ELECTRIC BATTERIES
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 electric batteries and comprises means for preventing
polarization and novel means for connecting a. metal conductor to a carbon
element.
It is well known that almost all solutions operate in some degree to produce
electricity in a battery cell having zinc and carbon elements such as are at présent
commonly on sale and it has generally been observed that sal-ammoniac is the best
solution for this purpose.
The difficulty experienced with cells of this construction, and using sal-ammoniac
as a solution is the rapid polarization of the battery and its consequent inability
to furnish a current of much power for a sufficient length of time.
The said invention consists in the combination in a battery of per-maganate of
potash and bichromate of potash.
It also consists partly in the combination in a battery of per-manganate of
potash and bi-chromate of potash as depolarizers 'with a non-acid solution.
It also partly consists in the combination in a battery 'having zinc and carbon
elements, of bi-chromate of potash and per-manganate of potash as depolarizers.
It also partly consists in the combination in a battery with an exciting solution
consisting of the chloride of an alkali dissolved in water, of bi-chromate of potash
and per-manganate of potash.
It also partly consists in the combination with a battery element, of a conductor
to be secured thereto by means of a conductive metal or metallic alloy applied in a
molten state and being of such character that it will expand in cooling so as to
secure the carbon element and conductor together.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a vertical section of a battery
embodying our improvement; Figure 2 is a view of a metallic conductor detached;
Figure 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the upper portion of a carbon battery
element showing our improved means of attaching the metallic conductor in a
modified form; Figure 4 is a transverse section of the same taken at the plane of
the line xx Figure 3; Figure 5 is a top view of the same; Figure 6 is a vertical
section illustrating a modification thereof. Similar letters of reference designate
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Di.
Preferably we use sal-ammoniac as the base of the exciting solution in the
battery. If sal-ammoniac is the base of the exciting solution we use sal-ammoniac,
bi-chromate of potash, and per-manganate of potash preferably in such proportions
that when the desired quantity of water is added, a few crystals of sal-ammoniac,
bichromate of potash and per-manganate of potash will remain undissolved in
excess of those taken into solution. In place of sal-ammoniac we can use any
solution other than an acid solution, and prefer to use the bi-chromate of potash

page_text: and per-manganate of potash combined with a chloride of an alkali in water,
such for instance as common table salt.
The materials which we add to the solution are practically, when dissolved,
liquid depolarizers, and take the place of the solid blocks or non-soluble depolarizing
materials used in some batteries.
A designates a battery cell. It may be made of glass or other suitable material
and may be of any desired shape. As shown it is provided with a top piece B
having downwardly extending edges a adapted to fit over the upper edges a adapted
to fit over the upper edges of the cell A.
C designates a carbon element which may be of the usual or any desired form.
In the example of our improvement illustrated in Figure 1 it is adapted to be
inserted into the battery through a suitable aperture in the top piece B and is
prevented from completely passing through this aperture by means of shoulders or
projections on the upper portion of the carbon which extends over the side edges
of the aperture.
D designates an electric conductor here shown as made to constitute a binding
post. This binding post has upon it a shank d. near the lower extremity of which
it is provided with a projection b, shown as knob like. This conductor is illus-
trated detached in Figure 2. The upper portion of the binding post is adapted
to receive and secure a line wire by means of a set screw in the usual manner.
E designates metal, or a metallic alloy, by means of which the binding post D is
secured to the carbon. This metal or metallic alloy is of such nature that it will
expand upon cooling. Type metal, antimony or bismuth are examples of such
metals or metallic alloys. We prefer, however, to use Type metal.
In securing the binding post to the carbon we proceed as follows. We first
make a suitable cavity in the carbon as at c. The shank & on the binding post is
then inserted in the aperture and the metal or metallic alloy in a molten state
poured in about it. As the same cools it expands and forces itself firmly against
the walls of the aperture which the binding post is rigidly secured in the aperture
by means of the projection b upon the shank of the binding post.
In the modification of our improvement illustrated in Figure 3 we have shown
the shank d of the binding post as provided with a screw-thread instead of the
projection b. The screw threads perform the same functions as said projection
and really forms a series of laterally extending projections.
In Figure 6 we have shown a modified form of constructing the upper part of
the carbon element consisting in a neck or projection in which the cavity c is formed
and to which the binding post is secured.
The upper part of the carbon may be impregnated with paraffin to protect the
metal. We prefer to do this after the metallic conductor has been attached to
the carbon. The impregnation may for example, extend downwardly as far as the
lines y y shown in Figures 3 and 6.
Z designates a zinc element which may be supported from the top piece B in the
same manner as the carbon element C. A binding post G extends from the upper
part of this zinc element. It may be secured to the zinc element in the same way
as the binding post D is secured to the carbon element or it may be soldered to the
zinc element or screwed in the latter. The upper portion of the binding post G is
adapted to receive and secure a line wire by means of a set screw in the usual
manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what the same is to be performed we declare that what wo
claim is
First. In a battery the combination of per-manganate of potash and bi-carbonate
of potash, substantially as herein described.
Second-In a battery the combination of ner-manganate of notash and bi-chromate

page_text: Third. In a battery having zinc and carbon elements, the combination of per-
manganate of potash and bi-chromate of potash used as depolarizers, substantially
as herein described.
Fourth. In a battery the combination with an exciting solution consisting of
the chloride of an alkali dissolved in water, of per-manganate of potash and bi-
chromate of potash, substantially as herein described.
Fifth. The combination with a battery element, of a conductor to be secured
thereto, and a conductive metal or metallic alloy applied in a molten state and
being of such character that it will expand in cooling so as to secure the said
conductor to the battery element, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 14th day of October 1885.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.