Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1888
Complete Left, 1st May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 1st June, 1888
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH STARKEY BARBER-STARKEY of Aldenham Park, Bridgnorth,
Shropshire, Barrister do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to portable galvanic batteries and these Improvements con-
sist in the construction arrangement and combination of parts or details constituting
the cells of such batteries in such a manner that the plates or electrodes may be out
of contact with the fluid or electrolyte when the battery is not in operation.
The external or containing part of the cell is preferably cylindrical and is provided
at or about the middle of its interior with a diaphragm or piston to the underside of
which the plates or electrodes are secured.
The cell may be made reversible or non-reversible; in the former case the diaphragm
or piston is moved only when it is required to clean the cell or renew the electrodes.
On reversing the battery the electrolyte flows through the diaphragm or piston or
through side passages, into that part of the cell not occupied by the electrodes.
When it is desired to avoid the reversal of the cell, a rod or rods or a cord or cords is
or are attached to the diaphragm or piston, by means of which it may be drawn
upwards in the cylinder until the electrodes are out of contact with the electrolyte.
I prefer to provide for opening and closing the cell by constructing it in halves,
upon the open ends of which are respectively formed an internal and an external
screw thread, by means of which the two halves may be connected or they may be
connected by a bayonet joint or by other similar and suitable device.
The cell is reversed, when required, by means of two trunnions formed upon or
secured to the cell and hearing in a handle or support.
Cells constructed according to these Improvements may be used either for primary
or for secondary galvanic batteries and are more particularly intended for use with
small incandescent lamps.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: 1, WILLIAM JOSEPH STARKEY BARBER-STARKEY, of Aldenham Park Bridgnorth
in the County of Salop Barrister, 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 portable galvanic batteries and these Improvements consist
in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts or details constituting the
cells of such batteries in such a manner that the plates or electrodes may be out of
contact with the fluid or electrolyte when the battery is not in operation.
The external or containing part of the cell is cylindrical and is provided at or about
the middle of its bore with a diaphragm or piston to the underside of which the plates
are secured.
The cell may be made reversible or non-reversible; in the former case the diaphragm
or piston is moved only when it is required to clean the cell, or renew the electrodes.
On reversing the battery, the electrolyte flows through the diaphragm or piston or
through side passages, into that part of the cell not occupied by the electrodes. When
it is desired to avoid the reversal of the cell a rod or rods or a cord or cords is or are
attached to the diaphragm or piston, by means of which it may be drawn upwards in
the cylinder until the electrodes are out of contact with the electrolyte.
I prefer to provide for opening and closing the cell by constructing it in halves,
upon the ends of which are formed an internal and an external screw-thread
respectively, by means of which the two halves may be connected, or they may be
connected by a bayonet joint or by other similar and suitable device. This method of
constructing the cell or containing vessel in halves is advantageous in practice
and tends to prevent leakage at the joint, which is a common defect in other
portable cells.
The cell is reversed when required by means of two trunnions formed upon or
secured to the cell and bearing in a handle or support.
Cells constructed according to these Improvements may be used either for primary
or for secondary galvanic batteries and are more particularly intended for use with
small incandescent lamps.
The appended Drawings illustrate in what manner my Improvements may be carried
into effect.
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively vertical sections of cells constructed according to this
Invention. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through Fig. 1.
A is the cell or containing vessel; B is the handle by means of which the cell may

page_text: be carried but which may obviously be constructed and attached to the cell in various
different manners.
C is the diaphragm or piston to which the electrodes D) are
attached. When the construction shown in Fig. 1 is adopted, the cell may be con-
structed with or without the watertight cover but if the cover is used, a hole is
formed through it for the passage of the rod F which is attached to the piston C and
by means of which the piston may be raised or lowered when it is required to immerse
the electrodes or to lift them out of the fluid. A groove may be formed in the piston
rod F, just above the cover when the rod is in its highest position, and a thin plate
may be pivotted upon the cover so as to engage with the groove in the rod and hold it
in its elevated position, or other means and devices may be employed to hold up the
piston as is well understood. The dotted lines in Fig. 1 indicate the position of the
piston and piston rod when the electrodes are immersed, the full lines show their position
when the electrodes are raised out of the solution.
In Fig. 2 a stationary piston or diaphragm is shown at about the centre of the cell;
the electrodes D being attached to its under side.
In the piston or diaphragm, passages or perforations G are formed through which
the electrolyte may pass when the cell is inverted. Instead of the passages G, corre-
sponding ports or passages may be formed in the walls of the cell through which the
liquid may flow from one side of the diaphragm to the other when the cell is inverted.
In this form the cell is made in two halves which are secured together by screwing,
by a bayonet joint, or by equivalent means. As shown in the drawings, the two
halves are secured by means of an external thread formed upon the lower portion,
which engages with an internal screw thread formed upon the upper portion. The
reversal of the position of the cell is accomplished in a convenient manner by
forming trunnions H H upon the external walls of the cells; these trunnions
engage with loops formed at the ends of the handles I or, when the handle is not
used, the trunnions may engage with or fit into holes or bearings in a suitable
support.
When the cell occupies the position shown in the drawings, the electrodes
are immersed in the solution, but upon reversing the position of the cell, the lower
chamber L containing the electrodes becomes the upper chamber, and the electrolyte
runs through the channels G, or through equivalent ports or passages into the
chamber K, and therefore out of contact with the electrodes. A groove or notch
may be formed upon the top and the bottom respectively of the cell in such a position
as to engage with a detent or corresponding device, formed upon or attached to the
handle, in order to secure the cell in either the direct or reverse position as may be
desired.
Fig. 3 represents a cross section of Fig. 1 and shows a convenient arrangement of
the elements of the battery in four groups. In each of the groups a zinc or positive
electrode is placed between two carbon or negative electrodes.
The piston or diaphragm is constructed of Insulite, Vulcanite, or of other suitable
insulating material; the cells or containing vessels may also be constructed of the like
material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) The construction, combination, and arrangement of parts or details constituting
a single fluid portable battery cell substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(2) In a single fluid portable battery cell; a diaphragm or piston to which the
electrodes are attached and by means of which they may be immersed in or raised out
of the solution, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated by Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
(3) In a single fluid portable battery cell; a fixed diaphragm or piston to the under
side of which the electrodes are attached and through or past which channels ports

page_text: or passages are formed; substantially as and for the purpose herein before described
and as illustrated by Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
(4) In a single fluid portable battery cell; the combination and arrangement of an
outer cell or containing vessel, divisible at or about its middle, a diaphragm or
stationary piston dividing the cell into two chambers, channels ports or passages
through or past the diaphragm or piston, and electrodes secured to one side of the
diaphragm or piston; substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by Fig. 2
of the accompanying drawings.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.