Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries.
We, CHARLES PERCY SHREWSBURY, of No. 35, Queen Victoria Street, in the
City of London, Engineer, and JOHN LASKEY DOBELL, of Traine, Modbury, in
the County of Devon, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to that class of electric battery in which one electrode is
formed by plates or slabs of carbon or coke, or other carbonaceous matter, and in
which the other electrode is formed of surfaces of iron or other metal or of a
suitable metallic oxide, the exciting liquid being nitrate of potash, nitrate of soda,
or any other suitable nitrate maintained in a fused state by the aid of heat; air,
nitric acid vapour, oxygen, ozone, nitrogen pentoxide, or other suitable oxidising
vapours or gases either alone or in combination being introduced into the fused
nitrate in order to recuperate the same.
In batteries of this class, a difficulty has been met with in consequence of the
polarization or quasi polarization of the electrodes by the formation thereon of
bubbles caused by the liberated gases and one of the objects of the present
invention is to obviate this defect.
For the purpose of this invention we take an iron or other suitable trough of
convenient width and depth provided with a chamber at each end thereof and a
passage connecting such chambers, and we maintain the electrolyte in the necessary
fluid condition by the application of heat.
Between the two end chambers is arranged a central chamber in which the carbon
electrodes are placed, and rising from the bottom of this central chamber at one
end thereof is a wall or division, and descending into the central chamber near to
each end thereof and within a short distance of the bottom are two walls or
divisions.
Within the central chamber are arranged a series of frames or cages of non-
conducting material which descend to within a short distance of the bottom of the
central chamber and in these frames or cages are placed the carbon plates forming
the dissolving electrodes.
The non-dissolving electrodes which rise from the bottom of the central chamber
to within a short distance of the level of the exciting liquid are composed of a
framework of any suitable material covered partially or entirely with iron gauze
of very fine mesh and into the non-dissolving electrode thus formed is introduced
under pressure, air, oxygen, ozone, or nitric acid fumes, either alone or in combi-
nation, or fumes or vapour of any other suitable oxidizing agent or agents, and the
effect of this is to remove or prevent the formation of any bubbles upon the surface
of the electrode, and to recuperate the liquid nitrate.
A constant circulation of the fused nitrate is maintained by way of the connecting
passage, the fused nitrate being forced by an air jet or jets through such con-
necting passage and up and over the end wall of the central chamber and thence
through such central chamber and out at the opposite end thereof.
The battery may be fitted with any suitable cover and the carbonic acid gas
formed may be allowed to pass away or may be collected and recovered in any
suitable manner.
In some cases, in lieu of, or in addition to the wire gauze covering for the non-
dissolving electrodes slabs, plates or sheets of any suitable metallic oxides such as
those of the following metals may be employed as a covering for the frames:-
Barium, strontium, potassium, sodium and calcium, these oxides may be used either.
singly or in combination with each other or with suitable nitrates, and, in most

page_text: cases we prefer to use the higher oxides or a quantity of any one or more of such
oxides may be mixed with or placed in the electrolyte.
Or, in lieu of covering the gauze frame of the non-dissolving electrode with
sheets or slabs of such oxides, we may pack the interior thereof therewith in
granular or other suitable form.
Dated this th day of August 1892.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electric Batteries.
We, CHARLES PERCY SHREWSBURY, of 8 Furnivals Inn, Holborn, but formerly
of 35, Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Engineer, and JOHN LASKEY
DOBELL, of Traine, Modbury, in the County of Devon Electrical Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 that class of electric battery in which one electrode is
formed by plates or slabs of carbon or coke, or other carbonaceous matter, and in
which the other electrode is formed of surfaces of iron or other metal or of a
suitable metallic oxide, the exciting liquid being nitrate of potash, nitrate of soda
or any other suitable nitrate maintained in a fused state by the aid of heat, air,
uitric acid vapour, oxygen, ozone, or other suitable oxidising vapours or gases
either alone or in combination being introduced into the fused nitrate in order to
recuperate the same.
In batteries of this class, a difficulty has been met with in consequence of the
polarization or quasi-polarization of the electrodes by the formation thereon of
bubbles caused by the liberated gases and one of the objects of the present invention
is to obviate this defect.
For the purpose of this invention, we take an iron or other suitable trough of
convenient width and depth provided with a chamber at each end thereof and a
passage connecting such chambers, and we maintain the electrolyte in the necessary
fluid condition by the application of heat.
Between the two end chambers is arranged a central chamber in which the carbon
electrodes are placed, and rising from the bottom of this central chamber at each
end thereof is a wall or division, and descending into the central chamber near to
each end thereof and within a short distance of the bottom are two walls or
divisions.
Within the central chamber are arranged a series of frames or cages of non-
conducting material or of other material properly insulated which descend to within
a short distance of the bottom of the central chamber and in these frames or cages
are placed the carbon plates forming the dissolving electrodes.
The non-dissolving electrodes which rise from the bottom of the central chamber
to within a short distance of the level of the exciting liquid are composed of a
framework of any suitable material covered partially or entirely with iron gauze of
very fine mesh and into the non-dissolving electrode thus formed is introduced
under pressure, air, oxygen, ozone, or nitric acid fumes, either alone or in combi-
nation or fumes or vapour of any other suitable oxidising agent or agents, and the
effect of this is to remove or prevent the formation of any bubbles upon the surface
of the electrode, and to recuperate the liquid nitrate.
A constant circulation of the fused nitrate is maintained by way of the connecting
passage the fused nitrate being forced by a jet or jets of air or other gas or vapour
through such connecting passage and up and over the end wall of the central chamber
and thence through such central chamber and out at the opposite end thereof.
The battery may be fitted with any suitable cover and the carbonic acid gas

page_text: formed may be allowed to pass away or may be collected and recovered in any
suitable manner.
In some cases, in lieu of, or in addition to, the wire gauze covering for the non-
dissolving electrodes, slabs, plates, or sheets of any suitable metallic oxides such as
those of the following metals may be employed as a covering for the frames :-
Barium, strontium, potassium, sodium and calcium, these oxides may be used either
singly or in combination with each other, or with suitable nitrates, and in most
cases, we prefer to use the higher oxides, or a quantity of any one or more of such
oxides may be mixed with or placed in the electrolyte.
Or, in lieu of covering the gauze-frame of the non-dissolving electrode with sheets
or slabs of such oxides, we may pack the interior thereof therewith in granular or
other suitable form.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. is a vertical longitudinal section of an electric battery constructed in
accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2. is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.
Figure 3. is a plan of part thereof.
Figure 4. is a face view of a portion of one of the non-dissolving electrodes, part
of the gauze covering being broken away, and,
Figure 5. is a vertical transverse section thereof taken on the line 2-2 of
Figure 4.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference Figures 3, 4 and 5 are drawn to an enlarged scale with respect to
Figures 1 and 2.
a
a represents a trough which is formed of iron or other suitable material and a¹a³
represent chambers at each end thereof such chambers being connected by
passage and this trough is filled to a given level with the electrolyte which is
maintained in the necessary fluid condition by the application of heat as is well
understood.
Between the two end chambers a¹ a³ is arranged a central chamber bin which the
carbon electrodes c are suspended in suitable holders c¹ carried by a removeable
cover which encloses the entire apparatus suitable exits c³ ct being provided for
the carbonic acid and the nitrous acid fumes.
Rising from the bottom of the central chamber b at each end thereof is a wall or
division and descending into the central chamber near the ends thereof and to
within a short distance of the bottom are two walls or divisions b..
Within the central chamber are arranged a series of frames, cages or guides
of non-conducting or other suitable material properly insulated which descend
to within a short distance of the bottom of the central chamber b and these frames
or cages c" are placed the carbon plates c forining the dissolving electrodes.
The non-dissolving electrodes which rise from the bottom of the central chamber
to within a short distance of the level of the exciting liquid are composed of a
framework d of any suitable material covered either partially or entirely with iron
gauze d' of very fine mesh and into the non-dissolving electrode thus formed is
introduced under pressure by a pipe d'air oxygen ozone or nitric acid fumes either
alone or in combination, or fumes or vapour of any other suitable oxidizing agent
or agents and the effect of this is to remove or prevent the formation of any bubbles
upon the surface of the non-dissolving electrode d and to recuperate the fused
nitrate.
A constant circulation of the fused nitrate is maintained by way of the connecting
passage a' the fused nitrate being forced or caused to circulate by a jet of air or
other gas or vapour passing through a vena contracta e similar to that described in
the Specification of Letters Patent No. 8759 dated the 9th day of May 1892 thence

page_text: through such connecting passage a² and up and over the farthest end wall 6 of the
central chamber and thence through such central chamber and over the opposite
-end wall thence through the chamber a³ and so on.
In some cases in lieu of or in addition to the wire gauze covering d' for the
non-dissolving electrodes & slabs plates or sheets of any suitable metallic oxides
such as those of the following metals may be employed as a covering for the frame
such slabs being spaced or arranged so as to leave interstices or spaces between
them namely barium strontium potassium sodium and calcium.
These oxides may be used either singly or in combination with each other or
with suitable nitrates and in most cases we prefer to use the higher oxides or a
quantity of any one or more of such oxides may be mixed with or placed in the
electrolyte.
Or in lieu of covering the gauze frame d of the non-dissolving electrode with
sheets or slabs of such oxides we sometimes pack the interior thereof therewith in
granular or other suitable form.
Inasmuch as the action of this class of battery is now well known we do not think
it necessary to enter into a detailed description thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In combination with an electric battery in which the exciting liquid is a fused
nitrate and the dissolving electrode carbon a hollow non-dissolving electrode formed
of a frame partially or entirely covered with wire gauze and means for introducing
under pressure into such electrode air oxygen ozone nitric acid fumes or other
suitable oxidizing agent substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In an electric battery in which the exciting liquid is a fused nitrate and the
dissolving electrode carbon the employment of a hollow perforated or openwork
electrode and a current of air oxygen ozone or nitric acid fumes or other suitable
oxidizing agent under pressure introduced into such hollow electrode substantially
as herein described.
3. In combination with an electric battery in which the exciting liquid is a
fused nitrate and the dissolving electrode carbon a hollow non-dissolving electrode
formed of a frame covered with perforated or spaced slabs plates or sheets of a
suitable metallic oxide in combination or not with wire gauze and means for
introducing under pressure into such electrode air oxygen ozone nitric acid fumes
or other suitable oxidizing agent substantially as herein described.
4. In combination with an electric battery in which the exciting liquid is a
fused nitrate and the dissolving electrode carbon a hollow perforated or openwork
non-dissolving electrode packed with suitable metallic oxides and means for intro-
ducing under pressure into such electrode air, oxygen, ozone, nitric acid fumes or
other suitable oxidizing agent substantially as herein described.
Dated this 5th day of June 1893.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.