Year: 1896

page_text: I, ROBERT IGNATIUS MAYER, Specialist Doctor, of Villa Bianca Neapel-Fuori-
grotta, in the Kingdom of Italy, 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 for improvements in portable electrical batteries relates to
apparatus for direct battery Current and has for its object to provide a portable
battery in which the current is regulated by the number of cells connected up in
the battery, the number being recorded on a suitable indicator.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings: Fig. I is a general view of
the battery and switch box or container. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of
the battery and switch. Fig. 3 is a view of, the indicator; and Figs. 4 and 5 are
side and end elevations respectively of an electrode.
A portable safe like case is formed with a compartment a for instruments and
a compartment b for holding the battery and switch board.
The apparatus shown contains only up to six galvanic cells connected in series,
and a switch board b', which is covered over by the indicating arrangement_b.
Fig. 2 shows 'the conndoting up of these cells p from which a conductor
connected to the positive pole, passes to the clamping or plug contact g. of the
electrodes, whilst from each negative pole of the cells a conductor passes to a
further knob on the crank switch. The bar i carries the current over the switch
rotating point h to the other clamping or plug contact g. This switch is fixed on
the inner side of the front of the battery case and is covered by the pointer
arrangement on the outside thereof. The knob c is rotatable and moves the
pointer e at the same time as the bar i. The pointer is made conical at the
underside of the point, and is a strong spring so that on its movement over the
scale it strikes audibly into the V-shaped grooves or depressions f and at the
same time indicates-first on which contact piece the switch bar rests, secondly
at the same time how many cells are switched in. This arrangement is adopted
in order to make access to the switch board impossible to laymen-but on the
contrary to at the same time make the position of the switch noticeable to both
eye and ear, and to prevent short circuiting.
For electrification direct galvanic currents only are used and for this purpose
electrodes, forming the terminals of the wires leading from the battery, are
employed with the otherwise usual connectors and clamping or screw contacts,
but one of the electrodes consists of a zinc flask A, Fig. 3 which may be filled
with warm water and closed hermetically, and covered with cloth moistened with
acidulated water in order to increase the conductivity to the body of the patient.
shows the stopper with a cone U for the plug contact.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A portable electrifying apparatus for direct battery current characterised
by the switch being arranged inside the battery case, whilst the position thereof
is shown by a pointer apparatus moving simultaneously, visible outside, and with
an audible movement, one of the electrodes consisting of a zinc flask capable of
being hermetically closed and filled with warmed fluid.
2. The improvements in or connected
connected with portable electrical apparatus
substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of November 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.