IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Charles Vincent Holmes, of Sussex Place, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, and Stephen Henry Emmens, of Soho Square,
in the County of Middlesex, Actuary for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
GALVANIC BATTERIES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Charles Vincent
Holmes and Stephen Henry Emmens at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 21st August 1883.
GEORGE CHARLES VINCENT HOLMES, of Sussex Place, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, and STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, of Soho Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Actuary, "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES."
Our invention relates to improved methods of constructing, charging, dis-
charging, and working galvanic batteries.
We carry out our invention in the following manner. We take a preferably
rectangular outer cell of waterproofed wood, stoneware, or other suitable material,
and one or more inner cells of porous material, which we suspend or fix in the
outer cell, by means of caps hermetically attached, placing a plate of zinc or other
metal on each side of each. cap, and holding the same in position by key pieces,
which at the same time cover in the outer cell. This enables us to diminish the
stratum of fluid between the zinc and the porous cell, and thus to lessen the
internal resistance of the battery, and at the same time to hold the zinc plate firmly
in place. Through the cap of the porous cell we carry a charging tube and a vent-
hole, both of which can be closed at pleasure, and we sometimes fit to the charging
tube a measuring vessel, to enable us to run in any desired quantity of dehydro-
genising fluid from time to time, as also a branch tube to lead off the fumes.
We also carry through the cap the short leg of a syphon, and we provide the longer
leg of such syphon with a tap or measuring trap, so that we may effect and control
Price Bd1

page_text: the discharge of fluid from the porous cell to any extent that may be desired. In
the porous cell wo suspend one or more electrodes of carbon or other suitablo
material, and we carry the terminals of such electrodes through the cap, and, thus
prevent the necessity of making and breaking contact when charging and dis-
charging the cell, as well as effectually to control all fumes evolved by the action of
the battery.
The branch tube in the caps of our porous cells we connect when desired with a
discharge pipe or with a gas-bag, gasometer, or apparatus for the conversion of
such fumes into chemical products.
The dehydrogenising mixture employed in our battery we obtain by the
treatment of any metallic nitrate or nitrite by a dilute solution of sulphuric acid.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Charles Vincent Holmes and Stephen Henry Emmens in
the Patent Office on the 21st February 1884.
GEORGE CHARLES VINCENT HOLMES, of Sussex Place, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, and STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, of Soho Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Actuary, "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
"
Our Invention relates to the construction, and to improved methods for the
charging, discharging, and working of galvanic batteries.
We carry out our invention in the following manner, and in order that our
invention may be the better understood, we proceed to describe it in reference to the
drawings hereto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
Like letters refer to similar parts in the different figures. Fig 1 is a longitudinal
section of our improved galvanic cell-Fig 2. is a transverse section of.the same.
The outer cell A, is preferably rectangular in shape, and is composed of water
proofed wood, stoneware, or other suitable material; and we conveniently divide
off the main cell A by transverse non-porus partitions B, of any of the above
named materials.-Within the sub divided compartments we suspend an inner
cell C, of porus material, attached to a cap or cover D, the walls of the cell being
sunk in a groove which we hermetically seal with paraffine wax, or other cement,
which is unattacked by the fumes or acids-The said cap also supports one or more
electrodes of Carbon E.-These Carbon electrodes are conveniently carried through
the cap and connected externally by a binding screw F and copper strap, but in
such case, the joint between the said electrodes and cap must be hermetically closed
by cement or other means. A plate of zinc G is placed on either side of the said
Cap D, conveniently protruding upwards beyond it, to afford convenience for the
attachment of the usual binding screws and connections. The zinc plates G G are
firmly fixed in place by keys H H, pressed or driven in between the two zinc plates
of adjacent cells, as shown, or partitions, the keys at the same time serving to
complete the cover of the outer cells not closed by the Caps D. This arrangement
enables us to so adjust the zinc plates in close proximity to the porous cell, without
contact therewith, that we can greatly diminish the stratum of fluid between the
zinc and porous cell, and thus lessen the internal resistance of the battery; whilst
at the same time the zinc plates are firmly held in place, and yet readily removed
when necessary, the inner cell at all times remaining hermetically closed. To
enable us to carry out our novel method of charging and discharging the porus
cell, without breaking electrical contact with the positive electrodes therein, or in
any way interfering with the continuous operation of the battery, whilst at the
same time the fumes evolved from the porous cell are continually controlled
and prevented from escaping into the atmosphere, we provide the following
apparatus:-
Through the hermetically closed Cap D, of the porus cell C, we carry a charging
tube K; and we sometimes fit to this charging tube a measuring vessel or funnel L,
to enable us to run in any desired quantity of dehydrogenising fluid from time to
time, as also a branch tube N to lead off the fumes-We may apply this charging
funnel L and the fume tube N as a fixture on the cell, as shewn in Fig. 1. In this
case a cock or tap M is introduced between the charging vessel and the fume tube.
A vent hole P is also provided in the cap D and closed with a plug, which can
be opened or closed at pleasure, to regulate or check the flow of the charging or
discharging fluid.
We also carry through the hermetically closed cap D the shorter leg of a syphon Q,
continued to the bottom of the cell, the longer leg being carried down outside

page_text: the cell, to effect the discharge of the contents of the porus cell by syphonage,
when desired. To control this, we fit a tap R, or alternatively a measuring trap,
in the outer portion of the syphon pipe, whereby we can effect discharge at any
time, and to any desired quantity.
The branch pipe N from the cap of the porus cell, is connected, where desired,
to a chamber, gas bag, gasometer, or other apparatus, for the collection of the fumes
from the said porus cell, and their conversion into commercial products.
To produce an effective generation of electricity in our improved battery, we use
zine as aforesaid, immersed in a solution of sulphuric acid.in the outer cell, for the
negative elements, and surround the positive carbon poles, in the porous cell, by
n dehydrogenising mixture, produced by dissolving 1 part by weight of nitrate of
soda or nitrate of potash in.6 parts by weight of a solution containing approximately
equal weights of water and sulphuric acid, though these proportions may be slightly
varied with the same effect. Or we may alternatively employ any equivalent
metallic nitrate or nitrite to form the solution.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and the manner of its performance, be it known that what we consider novel and
claim is:-
1 In galvanic batteries the construction of the porus cell hermetically closed as
to the joints, and provided with charging and discharging apparatus, substantially
as described.
2nd In galvanic batteries the combination of a porous cell hermetically closed as
to the points with vent pipe, connected or not to a chamber, for the regulated
discharge, collection, or chemical. treatment of the fumes arising therefrom,
substantially as described.
3rd In galvanic batteries the combination with other known elements forming a
galvanic couple, of a dehydrogenising solution in the porus cell surrounding the
carbon plate, obtained by the treatment of the nitrate of soda or potash or any
equivalent, with a diluto solution of sulphuric acid in the proportion and manner
specified
In witness whereof I, the said George Charles Vincent Holines, on behalf of
myself and the said Stephen Henry Emmens, have hereunto set my hand and
scal this twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four.
GEORGE. C. V. HOLMES. (L.S.)