Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Batteries.
I, EDWARD STANLEY BOYNTON, of No. 464, Lafayette Avenue, in the City of
Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and State of New York, one of the United
States of America, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
leseribed and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to galvanic batteries for generating electric currents and
the object is, in the main, to produce a relatively light and economical battery
proportionately to the electro-motive force generated, and one in which substantial
uniformity may be easily maintained in the operation of the battery elements.
Another object of the invention is to provide for the convenient renewal of the
electrolyte and to provide against the breaking of the ciruit by the cutting out,
from any cause, of one of the intermediate elements of the battery.
To this end, the invention consists, broadly, in the employment of a common
electrolyte for all of the elements, and in the separation by means of insulating
material, of an electrode of one element from the corresponding electrode of the
adjacent element. This separation and partial insulation of the elements, while all
are immersed in a common electrolyte, enables me to attain uniformity in the
electrolyte both as to strength and composition, and also as to depth of immersion
of the electrodes, and it likewise prevents the breaking of the circuit fed by the
generator should one of the intermediate elements be cut out from any cause.
It will be obvious that a battery possessing these characteristics may have
various forms, adapted to the various uses for which it is designed. In the
accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form or type embodying the
principle.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery embodying my invention and
illustrating the principle.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, the plane of the section
being taken through one of the rows of elements.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the elements, detached.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of one of the elements.
Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a slightly different form of
construction.
Referring first to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4-A represents a receptacle to contain
the elements and the liquid electrolyte, B. As here shown (Figure 2) the
receptacle A has in it a loose, false bottom, a, supported on ledges, a', and perforated
or apertured for the free passage of the liquid electrolyte. This false bottom
forms a support for the elements and it may have any form or construction
desired. The receptacle A and support a may be made of any material which will
not be acted on by the electrolyte, or such receptacle may be a simple box of the
desired form lined with such material.
The clements may be all alike. As herein shown each comprises a casing, b, of
some insulating material, as glass, hard rubber, or the like, open at the bottom
and closed at the top. In this casing is suspended the carbon electrode, c, and
the zinc electrode, z, each of which is provided with an ordinary binding post, d.
The carbon electrode does not extend down to the lower edge of the open-bottomed
casing b, and when the elements are immersed in the electrolyte the casings rest on
the false bottom or support a, the vertical sides thereof being interposed as
insulating partitions between the corresponding electrodes of adjacent elements.

page_text: In Figure 1 the elements are represented as square in plan and as of the proper
dimensions to fit snugly and compactly in the receptacle A; they may, however, be
of any suitable shape and dimensions, I have also represented (Figure 4) the
casing as square and the carbon e as cylindrical, but they may both have the
same form and fit snugly one within the other. The only advantage in making the
carbon cylindrical and the casing square is that spaces are left at the inner angles
of the casing to receive a manganese salt to prevent polarization. This is desirable
when certain liquid electrolytes are employed.
In Figure 1 I have shown the elements connected in series, and have shown some
of the elements with the zincs and binding posts removed.
The receptacle A may be supplied with fresh liquid at e, and the liquid charged
with zinc salts and impurities may be drawn off at 9. The receptacle may be made
of the proper dimensions to receive any desired number of elements.
The purpose of the support a is mainly to provide access for the liquid to the
electrodes in the casing 6, and this may be provided for in other ways. For
example, if the casing has a notch or notches formed in its lower edge it may rest
directly on the bottom of the receptacle A and the false bottom be omitted. In
Fig. 5 I have shown the casing b provided with notches, bx, at its corners. Any
means which will permit the liquid to pass freely into the casing b under or at its
lower edge will suffice.
Although I employ a common electrolyte for all of the elements or cells of
my battery, I attain the voltage due to all of the elements when they are connected
in series.
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. A galvanic battery having an electrolyte in common for ail of the elements
and two or more ele: ents immersed therein, one electrode of each element being
separated by insulating material from the corresponding electrode of the adjacent
element, whereby full voltage is obtained, substantially as set forth.
2. A galvanic battery comprising a receptacle coutaining an electrolyte, and two
or more clericnts immersed in said electrolyte, each element having an enclosing
ensing of some insulating material open at its lower part to permit free access to
the electrodes of the liquid in the receptacle, substantially a forth.
3. In a galvanie battery, the combiuntion with a receptacle to contain the liquid
electrolyte, of cells fitting into said receptacle, each of said cells comprising an
open-bottomed casing of insulating material, and two electrodes pendant from the
cover of said casing, whereby the liquid electrolyte has access to all of the
electrodes of the cells, substantially as set forth.
4. In galvanic battery, the combination to form a cell, of an open-bottom
casing b, closed at the top, a tubular electrode, c, suspended from the top of said
casing and extending only part way to the bottom of the same, and the electrode z,
within the electrode c, and also suspended from the top of the casing, substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of October 1895.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Agent for the Applicant.