Improvements in or relating to Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 21st May, 1889-Accepted, 29th June. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Galvanic Batteries.
A communication from abroad by Dr. CARL GASSNER, the younger, of Mainz, in
the Empire of Germany.
1. GEORGE CECIL DYMOND M. Inst. M.E. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester both in the
County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :--
This invention relates to certain improvements in galvanic batteries, of which the
following is a brief description:
In a vessel or cell of zinc there is placed a completely isolated carbon plate or
electrode and the intervening space is filled up with an exciting compound of the
following composition
-
One to two parts of sal-ammoniac and one to two parts of chloride of zinc are
dissolved in two to four parts of water. With this solution about four parts of
powdered plaster is mixed, so that a thin milky liquid mass is formed, which, growing
hard in a short time, forms the exciting compound.
This mass possesses a very strong exciting power so that even an ordinary carbon
electrode or plate without any preparation will with such a mass produce a powerful
element. The effect of such an element will be still further increased by employing
coal-brownstone or lignite electrodes or plates, or carbon electrodes or plates, impreg
nated with suitable depolarizing materials. The mass of plaster mixed only with
sal-ammoniac or with chloride of zinc will never give such good results. The strong
exciting power of the mass is only obtained by combining the chloride of zinc and
sal-ammoniac with the mass of plaster. The explanation of this process may be the
following:
:-
The liquid mass of plaster without the above salts would set and become changed
into a hard non-porous mass which would not conduct the electricity. A solution
of chloride of zinc however is a very good conductor, and therefore the mass of
plaster impregnated with such a solution will also become a good conductor of
electricity. The hygroscopic capacity of the chloride of zinc prevents the drying of
the mass.
The addition of sal-ammoniac gives the above mentioned great exciting power to
the mass owing to the readiness with which the sal-ammoniac becomes decomposed.
The sal-ammoniac also effects a loosening of the particles of the mass and consequently
facilitates the yielding up of the gas in the elements.
Thus the chloride of zinc and the sal-ammoniac act together and give to the mass.
of plaster an exciting power of a very high degree.
Owing to the great fluidity of the mass at the beginning of the process, there
results a very intimate contact with the plates or electrodes which will also be
maintained after the mass has hardened.
The proportions of the different materials employed may be varied to a certain
extent.
Dated this 21st day of December 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements 'in or relating to Galvanic Batteries.
A communication from abroad by Dr. CARL GASSNER, the younger, of Mainz, in the
Empire of Germany.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND M. Inst. M.E. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool and 6 Bank Street Manchester both in the County
of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
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 5
statement:
A completely isolated coal (carbon) electrode is placed in a vessel of zinc and
the space is filled up with an exciting compound of the following composition.
One part of sal-ammoniac and one part of chloride of zinc are dissolved in two
parts of water.
With this solution four parts of plaster powder are mixed, so that a thin pulp-
like mass is formed which becoming hard in a short time forms the exciting
compound.
This mass possesses a very strong exciting capacity so that even ordinary coal
(carbon) electrodes, without any preparation, may form with such a mass strong
elements. The effect of these elements will still be increased by employing coal-
brownstone electrodes or coal (carbon) electrodes impregnated with materials for
depolarisation.
A pulp of plaster mixed only with sal-ammoniac or with chloride of zinc alone
will never produce such effect. The strong exciting capacity of the mass results only
from the combination of chloride of zinc and sal-ammoniac in the pulp of plaster.
The explanation of this process may be the following:
A pulp of plaster without such. salts will become stiff and change into a hard
non-porous mass which does not conduct the electricity. A solution of chloride of
zinc, however, is a very good conductor, and therefore the mass of plaster impreg
nated with such a solution will also become a good conductor of electricity. The
hygroscopic capacity of the chloride of zine prevents the mass from drying.
The addition of sal-ammoniac gives a great exciting capacity to the mass which
results from the case with which the sal-ammoniae becomes decomposed. The sal-
ammoniac also effects a loosening of the mass and consequently augments the
exchange of the gas in the elements.
Thus the chloride of zinc and the sal-ammoniac are acting together and give to
the mass of plaster an exciting capacity of a very high degree.
From the great liquidity of the mass at the beginning of the process there results
a very intimate contact with the electrodes which will also continue after the mass
becomes hard.
The quantities of the different materials may be slightly varied without departing
from the nature of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
A galvanic dry-element, the exciting compound of which contains plaster, water
chloride of zinc and sal-ammoniac.
Dated this 20th day of May 1889.
WM. P. THOMISON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.