IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES APPLICABLE TO TELEGRAPHIC AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas James Howell, of Devonshire Place, Upper
Kennington Lane, London, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES APPLICABLE TO TELEGRAPHIC AND
OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 29th August 1879, and dated the 14th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas James Howell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March 1879.
THOMAS JAMES HOWELL, of Devonshire Place, Upper Kennington Lane, London,
in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES APPLICABLE
TO TELEGRAPHIC AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to the application of a double cell in the centre of a
galvanic battery with ammonia and free mercury in the inner cell, working in
harmony with sulphuric or nitric acids in the outer cell, and a compound of
manganese and charcoal in the outer jar.
I propose to use an ordinary porous cell as my inner cell, the outer cell being of
glazed porcelain, stoneware, glass, carbon, or carbons with or without bottoms, or
other suitable materials.
These cells may be square, circular, oblong, or of any desired form, the outer cell
having one or any number of slots or openings, either vertical or otherwise
arranged, as may be found preferable.
In the inner porous cell I propose to place, together with the zinc, mercury,
ammonia, and water, in the slotted cell, sulphuric or nitric acid, or I may place the
zinc, sulphuric, or nitric acid, water, and mercury, in the porous cell, and outside,
between the porous cell and the slotted cell, ammonia and water; I may use these
chemicals in either of these two forms as I may deem fit for producing high
quantity and tension as may be required.
"
Between the slotted cell and the outer jar I introduce broken charcoal or carbon
mixed with peroxide of manganese and white manganese.
I may use any equivalents of the chemical substances above enumerated.
Amongst the advantages of my improved battery are, that it gives higher tension
with lower resistance than other carbon and manganese batteries, that it keeps up
its power for a more lengthened period, and that it can be easily cleaned and
refreshed without disturbing the carbonic and manganese mixture.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas James Howell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th September 1879;
THOMAS JAMES HOWELL, of Devonshire Place, Upper Kennington Lane, London,
in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES APPLICABLE TO
TELEGRAPHIC AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to a galvanic battery formed in the following manner :-
I employ a jar A of porcelain, stoneware, glass, or other suitable material which
I call the outer jar, inside of which is placed a cell or tube B, either with or
without a bottom; this cell or tube, which I term the "separator," is made with a
number of narrow slots or openings in it in the direction of its length, the slots
being of sufficient width to allow free passage of any fluid, but not so wide as to
allow much of the mixture (hereinafter referred to) in the compartment A¹, formed
by the outer jar to pass through. The "separator" which rests upon the bottom
of the outer jar and extends to the same height, may be made of porcelain, stone-
ware, glass, carbon, wood, or other suitable material. Should the "separator" be
made of carbon, it will not be necessary to employ a carbon rod or plate (as herein-
after described), as in that case, it would play the part of the negative or carbon
electrode and "separator" combined (see Fig. 3).
Inside the " separator" is placed an ordinary porous cell C, thus forming
altogether three compartments.
The outer jar, the "separator," and the porous cell, may be made circular, square,
oblong, or of any shape found in practice to be most convenient, and all of the
same shape, or each of a different shape.
On the Drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section through the centre of a round
cell embodying my Invention, and Figure 2 a similar view of a square cell also
embodying my Invention.
.
Instead of having the "separator" in the form of a tube or cell, it may consist of
a fixed or moveable slotted partition or plate extending across the outer jar (see
Fig. 2). In this case, the outer jar and the porous cell would preferably be square
or oblong.
In the outer compartment, or the compartment formed by the outer jar and
"separator" is placed an ordinary plate, block, or rod of carbon or graphite N (see
Figures 1 and 2), having a suitable binding-screw for connecting purposes, firmly
attached to the top.
When the " separator" is made of carbon, no block of carbon is required, as is
shown at Fig. 3, which is a vertical section through the centre of a square cell also
embodying my Invention. In the outer compartment A', surrounding the carbon
or graphite plate and the "separator," I then place a mixture made up of ordinary
peroxide of manganese and broken charcoal or graphite, also a quantity of sulphate
of manganese (known commercially as white manganese).
For safety in transit I may seal over the before mentioned mixture, as at D, with
some suitable compound, such as marine glue, pitch, or any suitable material, in
which I make perforations to admit of the escape of gases, which perforations will
also admit of a supply of saturated manganese being poured into the outer com-.
partment when the battery is found to be weakening.
In the middle compartment B¹, formed by the slotted "separator" and the porous
cell above mentioned, I place a solution of sulphuric or nitric acid and water, which
penetrates the slots in the "separator," and impregnates the mixture of manganese
and carbon.
For the positive electrode in the porous cell or inner compartment I place a rod or
plate of zinc P, with a suitable wire, strap, or binding-screw attached at the top for
connecting purposes.

page_text: This rod or plate of zinc is amalgamated with mercury (quicksilver), and a small
quantity of the mercury (quicksilver) is placed in the porous cell to keep up the
amalgamation.
In compartment C¹ of the said porous cell C containing the zinc rod or plate I
place a solution of hydro-sulphate of aminonia and water; or instead of placing
the sulphuric or nitric acid solution in the middle compartment I may place it
inside the porous cell, and the solution of hydro-sulphate of ammonia in the middle
compartment, but I prefer to place the solution as first described.
I am aware that peroxide of manganese is used in galvanic batteries, but not as
in my Invention with the addition of sulphate of manganese or white manganese,
which has the effect of keeping the connection between the carbon or graphite plate
more perfect with the manganese and carbon mixture above mentioned.
The advantages of the whole arrangement of the improved galvanic battery as
above described are the following:-It has greater electro motive force, and retains
the same for a more lengthened period (when worked under the same conditions)
than any other form of peroxide of manganese and ammonia battery; it also
admits of the removal of the porous cell for cleaning purposes without disturbing
the mixture in the outer compartiment, or compartment formed by the "separator
and the outer jar, so that salts may be removed, and the zinc amalgamated readily,
and the resistance of the battery kept at its normal low value, substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be carried into practical effect, I would have it
understood that what
I claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. In a galvanical battery the employment in combination with a porous
cell of the slotted cell, tube, plate, or diaphragm herein before described, and termed
the "separator."
Secondly. The employment in a galvanic battery of sulphate of manganese
(known commercially as white manganese) in combination with peroxide of man-
ganese and broken carbon or graphite, as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas James Howell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
THOMAS JAMES HOWELL. (L.S.)