Improvements in and connected with Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Galvanic Batteries.
I, SIEGFRIED MARCUS, of 4 Mondscheingasse, Vienna, in the Empire of
Austria, Engineer and Mechanician, 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 :-
It is a well known fact that galvanic batteries or elements with only one liquid
and without a diaphragm do not produce a constant electric current.
One of the elements of this kind most generally used in chemical or physical
laboratories is the sulphuric-acid-element with bichromate of potash or chromic
acid, which when employed for a short time only, that is, to say for a few minutes,
will generate a comparatively strong electric current, but, with longer use, falls
away rapidly.
Since Bunsen's or the other nitric-acid-elements are not employed by preference
on account of the inconvenient generation of poisonous vapors, and also on account
of the expense thereof, and as it is necessary to have constant elements available
for long periods, I have sought to provide an element which should not only keep
up the initially powerful action of the chromic element, but even increase its action
to a considerable extent, without it being necessary to involve the aid of more
powerful chemicals.
I have attained this important result by the construction of a helical propeller
like or screw electrode some forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
I have found out by exhaustive experiments that the depolarizing materials which
are dissolved in the liquid and are slowly deposited on the bottom of the vessel,
are caused by mechanical stirring to again enter into complete solution; and will,
if this operation is continued, not only not increase the internal resistance of the
element, but even diminish the same considerably.
I have effected this stirring up by making one of the electrodes of helical form,
and causing it to rotate or oscillate.
Figure 1 illustrates a vertical section of an element of this kind, Figure 1* is a
plan of same, and Figure 1B is an elevation of the parts without the enclosing cell.
a indicates the helical carbon-electrode which is capable of rotary motion with
the metallic spindle b conductively connected with it.
The hollow cylindrical piece of zinc c constitutes the negative electrode of the
element.
These two electrodes are held together by a framing (composed of the non-
conducting plates & d' and the bolts or pillars e e) in such a manner that the
helical carbon electrode can rotate freely (Figure 1³), whilst the zinc cylinder is
stationary.
A vessel / of any kind, for the reception of the liquid in which the suitable
lepolarizing substances are dissolved, encloses the apparatus just described.
Whilst the electrodes are in a state of rest, this element generates like every
other with a liquid, a non-constant electrical current, for the reason that the
pecifically heavier depolarizing salts dissolved in the liquid soon sink to the bottom
nd thus increase the internal resistance of the element.
But as soon as the helical electrode is caused to rotate or to oscillate, the internal
esistance of the element is at once diminished to the third or even to the fourth
art, and the electric current thus generated, remains constant for a relatively long.
period.

page_text: The current is conducted by the spring or brush which is fixed to the terminal
and rubs against the rotating or oscillating inner electrode, and also by the wire
which is electrically connected to the outer electrode c (Figures 1 and 2).
9
A modification of the apparatus just described is shown in Figures 2 and 24.
On the carbon cylinder a which is electrically connected with the spindle 6 by
means of the bridge piece k, are provided a number of helically arranged pieces or
ribs a' of any material not liable to be attacked by the contents of the cell, such for
example as caoutchouc celluloid and so forth, which, when the electrode is rotated
or oscillated, effect the stirring up of the liquid in a similar manner as in Figure 1.
The cylinder a is also perforated with holes for the circulation of the liquid.
Figure 3 illustrates a small battery consisting of two elements, in which the
_carbon electrodes are actuated by a clockwork u of suitable construction.
The driving pulley operated by the clockwork, transmits by means of an endless
cords which passes round the electrode pulleys m m³ (Figures 3 and 3^) to the
latter either rotary movement as shown therein or an oscillatory movement as
shown in Figure 3B, in which case crank pin on the pulley actuates the
electrodes by means of a connecting rod p acting upon levers fixed on the spindles
of the inner electrodes.
The rotation or oscillation of the electrodes may also be effected by means of a
suitable small electric motor supplied with electricity from the said battery, this
causing no appreciable reduction of the total output of the battery, by reason of
the relatively small consumption of current by the motor, and the copious production
of current by the battery.
In order to provide the operator with a convenient way of supplying the
depolarizing substances to the element, the said substances are finely pulverized
and mixed with a flexible adhesive agent such as mucilage, glue or gelatine,
dextrine &c., to which a small quantity of glycerine has been added; the whole
being kneaded into a soft paste and applied on to bands or cords o. Bands or cords
of this kind are placed between the threads of the helix and fixed in a suitable
manner, preferably by means of india rubber rings.
Figure 4 illustrates a helical electrode of this kind provided with depolarizing
material prepared in this manner.
When this electrode is rotated or oscillated, the depolarizing salts deposited
in the threads of the helix are caused to dissolve slowly and uniformly, and
consequently also the electric current generated is constant and of much longer
duration.
It is to be understood that the increased generation of electrical energy due to
the rotation or oscillation of one electrode, will entail a correspondingly more rapid
consumption of depolarizing salts.
But in cases where a powerful generation of current is not required, for instance
for operating signal bells &c. &c., as also particularly in all those cases, where
small quantities of electricity are only required at intervals, the propeller-electrode
charged according to this invention may be stationary so that the consumption of
depolarizing substances is correspondingly diminished while the battery or element
retains its power for a long period.
For purposes of this kind, the helix with the depolarizing materials is preferably
bound up in or surrounded by a textile fabric v, linen or canvas for instance and
held together by threads or rubber rings.
In this latter case, the depolarizing materials may be placed into the recesses of
the helix in a granulated or pulverized state and without adhesive agents.
In the arrangements of batteries or elements herein before described, the inner
electrode was assumed to be of carbon, whilst the zinc electrode surrounded the
same. But the zinc electrode may equally well be arranged in the centre and
capable of rotation or oscillation, whilst a hollow stationary carbon cylinder
surrounds the former.

page_text: 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. In a galvanic battery an electrode of helical, propeller like, or screw shape or
provided with ribs substantially as described.
2. Rotating or oscillating the electrodes referred to in the foregoing claim for
purpose of stirring up the depolarizing substances contained in the liquid for
exciting the element, substantially as described.
the
3. The combination with a galvanic battery provided with the electrodes referred
to in the first claim, of clockwork or an electric motor for rotating same, substantially
as described.
4. The method of making depolarizing materials in the form of bands or cords
which consists in pulverizing salts suitable for the purpose (such as bi-chromate of
potash or soda &c.), mixing the. same with a flexible adhesive agent (such as
mucilage, glue, gelatine, dextrine &c.) to which glycerine has been added, working
the whole into a soft paste, and applying the latter on to bands or cords, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
5. The depolarizing bands or cords formed substantially as described.
6. In a galvanic battery a helical carbon electrode, in the recesses of which
depolarizing materials are placed, said electrode being enclosed or wrapped up in a
material not liable to be attacked by the liquid, and placed within a suitably
shaped zine electrode substantially as described.
Dated the 10th day of August 1893.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
London, Chartered Patent Agent.