Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
I WILLIAM EDWIN IRISH of Brooklyn Village in the County of Cuyahoga, Ohio
United States of America, Electrician 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in galvanic battery cells and its objects are a
comparatively constant of electricity of high electro motive force, low resistance and
large current, and to avoid the necessity of frequently renewing the battery solutions
and to maintain them at small expense, and further to provide against the emission
of fumes from the battery and to prevent the slapping over of the solution used in
the cell.
With such object in view my invention consists
First. In the employment of an amalgamated phosphor zinc, or a magnesium zinc
or a common zinc electrode further amalgamated with a composition of mercury and
tallow.
Second. In arranging negative plates in both the inner and outer containing
vessels so that the positive electrodes and the walls of the porous vessel intervene
between them thereby reducing the resistance.
Third. In the employment of supplemental electrodes of iron or of other suitable
material for taking up the dissolved zine, said supplemental electrodes being arranged
outside of the positive plate and connected therewith by metallic connections so as
to form a pair of elements in the one solution, whereby when the circuit of the
battery is closed after being open some time the two electrodes are brought nearly
to the same potential in consequence of the supplementary iron electrodes being
covered with the zinc deposited thereon thus reducing the resistance of the cell by
the increased positive surface the counter electrode motive force being inconsiderable.
Fourth. In the use of solutions which are partially regenerated by chemical action
within the cell and which save the rapid wasting of the positive element and prevent
the formation of salt crystals on the electrodes, and
Fifth. In the covering of the battery solutions with a suitable oil or paraffine wax
which will prevent the escape of fumes from the battery and prevent the slapping
over of the solutions.
I will now describe my invention in detail, that the manner in which it is carried
into effect and its operation may be clearly understood.
In the accompanying drawing. Fig. I is a side view in broken section illustrating
one form of battery 1 employ. Fig. 2 is a plan view which illustrates a form of my
invention the outer cell having carbon pencils which are joined by a plate with the
carbons of the inner cell.
Fig. 3 is a modification thereof, the carbons of the two containing vessels of the
cell being united by metal strips c.
Fig. 4 illustrates a form of cell in which the zinc electrode Z is supplied with a
supplementary iron electrode Z joined therewith by the connection 2.
Like letters in the different figures of the drawing refer to like parts.
In Fig. 1A is the outer vessel of the cell; D is the porous pot, Z is the zinc
electrode C is the carbon electrodes, C2 is a plate for supporting the carbons C, and c¹
are screws for holding the carbons in place. B is a connection strip one end of which
is divided as at 6, 61, for connecting the elements of contiguous cells; one end of B
being joined to the zinc electrode Z, the other end b₁ being attached to the carbon
supporting plate in the next cell of the series.
In the form of battery illustrated by Fig. 2 the carbons are suspended within the
porous pot which is indicated by the dotted lines. The zinc electrode Z is suspended

page_text: in the outer vessel A and outside of the zincs Z are carbons C¹. In this form of cell
the carbons C and C are connected by the supporting plate C³ as illustrated.
The two elements of the cell are connected by the strip B₁ as shown which also
joins the succeeding cell of a series.
The form of battery illustrated by Fig. 3 is a modification of that seen in Fig. 2.
In this form carbon plates C and C³ are used instead of the carbon rods C and C¹.
In this figure A is the outer vessel D is the porous pot, Z are the zinc electrodes and C
is the negative element. In the outer vessel and outside of the zinc electrodes Z
are suspended carbon plates C which are joined with the negative electrode C by
means of the binding strip c. The elements of this cell and the succeeding cell
of the series are joined by means of the connecting strip B³ as shown.
The carbon plates C are kept from touching the zinc electrodes Z and the walls of
the outer vessel by means of suitable blocks e e. In the form of battery illustrated
in Fig. 4 the carbon electrode C is suspended in the porous pot and the zinc
electrode Z in the outer vessel A.
Between said zinc electrodes Z and the walls of the outer vessel are suspended
supplementary electrodes Z³ which are made of iron or any other suitable material.
The zinc electrodes Z and their supplementary electrodes Z are joined the outside of
the solution by means of binding strips Bas shown. Said supplementary electrodes Z³
are kept from touching the electrodes Z and the walls of the outer vessel A by
means of the blocks e.
For the positive electrode I preferably employ an amalgamated phosphor zinc
plate or a magnesium zinc plate but a common zinc plate may be used. I cover
said electrode with an amalgam of mercury and tallow or its equivalent.
The zinc electrode may be either flat or corrugated though I preferably use the
corrugated plate as it offers a larger surface.
The composition with which I amalgamate the zinc electrode consists of mercury
and tallow mixed in such proportions as to make a thick paste. It is well known
that tallow of itself is a non conductor and that a coating of pure tallow makes a
good insulator, but I have found that tallow, or other ingredients of like nature
combined with mercury, does not seriously lessen the conduction of the mercury
and offers but little resistance to the electric current, while it keeps the mercury
evenly distributed over the zinc electrode, prevents it being thrown off quickly by
the chemical action of the cell and thus saves the rapid wasting of the zinc.
The unnecessary wasting of the zinc is further provided against by the use of the
supplementary electrodes Z2. The dissolved zinc is deposited on the supplementary
iron electrode. When the circuit of the battery is closed after being open some
time, the potential of the iron electrode is brought nearly to the same potential as
the zinc by the deposit of the dissolved zinc thereon.
The increased positive surface thus produced reduces the resistance of the cell the
counter electrode motive force being inconsiderable.
The form of carbon electrodes I use are either rods as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or
flat or corrugated plates as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
I have found that the arrangement of the carbons outside of the zinc in the
outer vessel as shown so that both sides of the zinc electrodes are opposed by
carbons, greatly reduces the resistance of the battery.
I will now describe the solutions I use in my battery first giving the solutions
that may be used in the vessel in which is immersed the positive electrode and then
the solution in which is immersed the negative electrode. In the drawings the
negative electrode is shown in the inner vessel and the positive electrode in the
outer vessel of the cell. These may be changed, the positive electrode being placed
in the inner vessel and the negative electrode being placed in the outer vessel,
the supplementary electrodes and connections being changed accordingly without
departing from the spirit of my invention. I prefer the forms shown.
The positive electrode may be immersed in water or in slightly acidulated water.
However for this electrode I preferably use a solution of sulphuric acid in which
has been dissolved any suitable oil before uniting with the water, and sodium sulphate

page_text: or some other sulphate of an alkaline metal. The ingredients
approximately the following proportions.
are
compounded in
If it is desired to secure lower resistance than can be obtained by the formula mere
given I increase the quantity of sulphuric acid.
The solution in which the negative electrode is immersed is composed of the
following ingredients approximately as given.
In a quantity of water equal to about 5 to 10 per centum of the whole compound
I dissolve as much bichromate of potash as the water will hold in solution, then I add
to the saturated bichromate of potash as much chlorate of potash and nitrate of soda
as the same will dissolve.
It may be stated here that almost any liquid having all it can hold in solution of one
salt such as bichromate of potash will still dissolve and take up other salts almost as
freely as before the addition of the first salt.
After dissolving the chlorate of potash and nitrate of soda in the saturated
bichromate of potash I add flour of sulphur and chromic acid each an amount equal
to about 5 to 10 percentum of the whole solution.
Then to a fully saturated solution of bichromate of potash in nitric acid I dissolve
as much chlorate of potash and nitrate of soda as the acid will hold in solution and to
this acid salt solution is added from 5 to 10 percentum of flour of sulphur. These
two solutions are then carefully mixed. For mixing these ingredients, I use a vessel
having a narrow neck which may be readily stopped, that very little of the liquid will
come in contact with the air.
To this mixture I add a proportion of sulphuric acid in which also there has been
dissolved as much nitrate of soda and bichromate of potash as the acid will hold in
solution, the quantity of sulphuric acid now taken and in which the compound salts
(i.e. nitrate of soda and bichromate of potash) has been dissolved, being governed by
the work required of the battery. For instance I find a one third nitric acid and a
two thirds sulphuric acid mixture a very satisfactory one, but where increased length
of life is the desideratum the proportion of nitric acid may be increased with ad-
vantage. On the other hand where a higher electrode motive force and a larger
current for a limited time at the lowest cost is the desideratum the sulphuric acid
should be increased proportionately and the quantity of nitric acid correspondingly
decreased.
From time to time as needed some of the prepared compound salts are added to
the acid mixture, surrounding the negative element, and some of the sulphuric
solution surrounding the positive element is replaced with fresh solution as it
becomes weakened. The zinc electrode should at all times be kept well amalgamated
with the composition of mercury and tallow or its equivalent.
The compound salts are prepared by grinding dissolving evaporating and then
thoroughly incorporating with the reformed combined salts and the flour of sulphur.
I believe the action of the cell to be as follows.
The zinc is oxidized the oxide is transformed to a sulphate by the sulphuric acid
and to a nitrate by the nitric acid. The free hydrogen released collects at the
negative electrode and with a portion of the oxygen of the salts and acids forms
water. The reduced nitric acid, or nitric oxide takes oxygen from the salts which
have been decomposed in the solution by the sulphuric acid and is again converted
into nitric acid or regenerated. The nitrate of soda in solution is transformed to a
sulphate by the action of the sulphuric acid and nitric acid is set free for use in the

page_text: cell. The chlorine of the chlorate of potash decomposes the water setting free oxygen
which with the free oxygen of the decomposed salts, oxidizes the sulphurious and
nitrous acids and flour of sulphur, reconverting them respectively into nitric acid
and sulphuric and sulphurous acids. The action of the sulphuric and sulphurous
acids is to convert the nitrates into sulphates, releasing nitric acid which gives up a
considerable portion of its oxygen for use in the cell. The chlorate of potash is
decomposed by the sulphuric acid and oxide of chlorine is formed.
This acid mixture with a much greater proportion of water may be used for single
fluid batteries, the combined acids and salts being mixed with at least an equal
quantity of water.
In both single and double fluid batteries, some of the undissolved compound salts
and sulphates is put into the cell, where it becomes gradually dissolved as the con-
centration of the solution is lowered the solution thus being maintained at a
comparatively fixed concentration and a uniform and constant current current
obtained.
The advantage of regenerating the acids and maintaining them for a con-
siderable time of about the same specific gravity is apparent to persons, skilled
in the art.
I cover the solution of the carbon cell with paraffine wax and the solution of the
zinc cell with either paraffine wax or oil to prevent the escape of fumes, and also to
avoid the slopping over of the solutions.
It is only necessary further to add, that my arrangement of the electrodes as
described herein and also the paraffin wax and oil covering for the fluids may be used
with other solutions than those herein given.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. In a voltaic battery cell the positive electrode amalgamated with a composition
of mercury and tallow or its equivalent substantially as set forth.
2. In a voltaic battery a carbon electrode immersed in the fluid containing the
positive element and connected with the negative element, the same being sở
arranged that the positive electrode is sustained between two carbons substantially
as set forth.
3. In a voltaic battery a supplementary electrode of iron or other suitable metal,
outside of the positive electrode and immersed in the same solution, said supple-
mentary electrode and positive electrode being joined in any suitable manner
externally to the battery fluid substantially as set forth.
4. In a voltaic battery a solution of sulphuric acid and mecca or other suitable oil
substantially as set forth.
5. In a voltaic battery, a solution of sulphuric acid, mecca or other suitable
oil and sodium of sulphate, or other sulphate of an alkaline metal substantially as
set forth.
6. In a voltaic battery a solution of sulphate of an alkaline metal and mecca or
other suitable oil substantially as set forth.
7. In a voltaic battery, a solution of bichromate of potash, chlorate of potash,
nitrate of soda, flour of sulphur, nitric acid, sulphuric acid and chromic acid
substantially as specified.
8. In a voltaic battery the combination of water with a saturated solution of
bichromate of potash chlorate of potash, nitrate of soda, and flour of sulphur and
nitric acid, sulphuric acid and chromic acid substantially as set forth.
9. In a voltaic battery a solution, which by chemical action within the cell will
partially regenerate the active acids used in the battery substantially as described.
10. In a voltaic battery the combination of water sulphuric acid and mecca or other
suitable oil with a solution of bichromate of potash, chlorate of potash, nitrate of soda,
flour of sulphur, nitric acid and chromic acid substantially as set forth.
11. In a voltaic battery, the combination of water, sulphuric acid, mecca or other

page_text: suitable oil and a sulphate of an alkaline metal with a solution of a bichromate of
potash, chlorate of potash, nitrate of soda, flour of sulphur, nitric acid, sulphuric acid
and chromic acid substantially as set forth.
12. In a voltaic battery the positive electrode made of phosphor zinc as stated.
13. In a voltaic battery the positive electrode made of magnesium zinc as
stated.
14. In a voltaic battery the positive electrode made of phosphor zinc and
amalgamated with a composition of mercury and tallow or its equivalent substantially
as set forth.
15. In a voltaic battery the positive electrode nade of magnesium zinc and
amalgamated with a composition of mercury and tallow or its equivalent substantially
as set forth.
1000
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.