IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF GALVANIC BATTERIES, AND IN THE UTILIZATION OF PRODUCTS RESULTING THEREFROM
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Ludwig Stille at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th July 1863.
I, LUDWIG STILLE, of 7, Great Castle Street, Regent Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF GALVANIC
BATTERIES, AND IN THE UTILIZATION OF PRODUCTS RESULTING THEREFROM," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
galvanic batteries, and to the utilization of the products resulting therefrom,
whereby considerable economy is effected in the working of galvanic batteries,.
valuable commercial products obtained, and the noxious vapours. usually
resulting from such apparatus are collected and utilized, in place of being lost
by impregnating the surrounding atmosphere.
The electric current is produced according to this Invention by the aid of
zinc and gas coke, carbon, or graphite, or zinc and cast-iron, and zinc or
platina. A cylinder of gas coke, carbon, graphite, cast-iron, or platina is
placed inside a glass or other suitable jar containing concentrated nitric acid,:
and a metallic ring or other convenient connecting arrangement is fitted to its
upper edge, to which ring is attached the conducting. wire, a second wire being
attached to the zinc element; the strength of the nitric acid employed should
not by preference be less than 48 per cent. of real acid; any stronger acid
may be employed. Within the cylinder is placed a porous vessel or diaphragm
(filled with a solution of chloride of potassium or of saltpetre), and similar in

page_text: form to that used in the Bunsen battery; it is composed of carbon or car-
bonaceous matter, or of charcoal and tan moulded into a proper form, and then
heated, so as to effect carbonization; in this porous vessel is placed the zinc
element. The outer jar containing all these elements is closed by an air-tight
cover provided with three apertures, through two of which pass the conducting
wires, whilst through the third is introduced an exit pipe for carrying off the
gas, suitable packing being employed for preventing the escape of gas generated
in the battery at the parts were, the wires and exit pipes pass through the
air-tight cover; cylinders of either gas coke, carbon, or graphite platina, or
cast-iron may be used as the negative element, all of which possess special
properties, and may be used according to circumstances. When using a gas
coke cylinder, it will be advisable to impregnate it with bees' wax, in order to
fill up the pores, thereby preventing the entrance of the fluid containing the
solution of zinc salt, and avoiding to a certain extent the decrease of galvanic
power. When the battery is exhausted, the resulting products are removed
from the jars and vessels. In the diaphragm a precipitate of busic-nitrate of
zine or of busic-chloride of zinc is formed, according to the fluid employed,
whilst in the outer jar there is a fluid containing nitric acid, which acid may
be recovered and economised. as follows:-The entire contents of the jar are
collected and mixed; the acid remaining in solution. dissolves, the precipitated
zinc salts, and from this solution. carbonate of zinc is precipitated by means of
carbonate of potash, the resulting. carbonate of: zinc being separated and
prepared for use. The solution containing nitrate of potash may be evaporated,.
and the saltpetre obtained therefrom by crystallization, as is well understood.
Should. chloride of potassium be employed in lieu of nitrate, of potash, then I
neutralize the solution resulting from the action of the nitric acid, and
chloride of potassium on the zinc with carbonate of soda; the carbonate of zinc-
then precipitated may be separated and prepared for use, and the nitrate of
potash and the chloride of sodium in solution may be separated by evaporation;
and crystallization, as is well understood. The nitric acid is regained: by passing
the gas generated by the. battery whilst at work, in combination and admixture;
with atmospheric air, into or over water, or the product may be obtained in
any other suitable and well known manner.