IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALEXANDER SCHANSCHIEFF of Gipsy Hill in the County of Surrey Electrician
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC
BATTERIES" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in galvanic batteries.
My improved galvanic battery is especially applicable for use in electric lighting
and for other purposes whero a constant current of largo quantity is required.
The elements of my battery are carbon in contact with basic sulphate of
mercury and zinc the exciting liquid is a solution of sulphate of mercury. The
zinc I have preferably in the Ŭ form and it contains within it a rectangular slab
of carbon.
I wind around the carbon a fibrous cord and then apply over it a coating of
hasic sulphate of mercury mixed with granulated carbon, I keep the coating
composition in its place by the aid of a covering of woven fabric or parchment
paper. Gutta percha rings or strips prevent contact between the coated carbon
and the zinc.
The battery cells thus prepared are charged with the solution of a sulphate of
mercury. I sometimes employ together with this an oxidizing agent such as
peroxide of barium or permanganate of potash. The object of this addition is to
provent the liberation of gas in the battery cell and to admit of its being
hermetically closed. The fibrous winding upon the carbon element allows the
liquid to penetrate the coating and adds considerably to the quantity of the current
evolved by the battery.
I would remark that I am aware that sulphate of mercury has before been
employed in batteries but never in conjunction with a solution of sulphate of
mercury as the exciting liquid, but always heretofore it has been used together with
an exciting liquid usually free sulphuric acid which sets up a local action whilst the
circuit is open. This has seriously interfered with the efficiency of basic sulphate
of mercury batteries as heretofore constructed.
I also in the battery above described in some cases substitute a solution of
caustic potash for the solution of sulphate of mercury.
Dated this GAL Jaunt mail 1991

page_text: I ALEXANDER SCHANSCHIEFF of Gipsy Hill in the County of Surrey Electrician
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANIC
BATTERIES and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
"
This invention has for its object improvements in galvanic batterics.
My improved galvanic battery is especially applicable for use in electric lighting
and for other purposes where a constant current of large quantity is required.
The elements of my battery are carbon in contact with basic sulphate of
mercury and zinc, the exciting liquid is a solution of sulphate of mercury. The
zinc I have preferably in the U form and it contains within it a rectangular slab
of carbon.
I wind around the carbon a fibrous cord and then apply over it a coating of
basic sulphate of mercury mixed with granulated carbon, I keep the coating
composition in its place by the aid of a covering of woven fabric or parchment
paper. Gutta percha rings or strips prevent contact between the coated carbon
and the zinc.
The battery cells thus prepared are charged with the solution of a sulphate of
mercury. I sometimes employ together with this an oxidizing agent such as
peroxide of barium or permanganate of potash. The object of this addition is to
prevent the liberation of gas in the battery cell and to admit of its being
hermetically closed. The fibrous winding upon the carbon element allows the
liquid to penetrate the coating and adds considerably to the quantity of the current
evolved by the battery.
I would remark that I am aware that sulphate of mercury has before been
employed in batteries but never in conjunction with a solution of sulphate of
mercury as the exciting liquid, but always heretofore it has been used together
with an exciting liquid usually free sulphuric acid which sets up a local action.
This has seriously interfered with the efficiency of basic sulphate of mercury
batteries as heretofore constructed.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
-
DESCRIPTION OF TIIE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a battery cell arranged in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same.
Figure 3 shows separately the negative element of the cell before it has received
its coating.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a double cell and Figure 5 is a horizontal section
of the same.
The negative electrode, preferably a carbon plate, is in the first place wound in
the manner represented by Figure 3 with string worsted or other like material
which by capillary action will enable the liquid in which the element is immersed
to find its way with sufficient freedom to the surface of the plate. This winding
also serves mechanically to support the paste with which I coat the clement. This
paste is composed of basic sulphate of mercury Hg, SO, mixed with coarsely ground
retort carbon. I prepare the basic sulphate of mercury by dissolving the per-
sulphate Hg SO, in its own weight of water, the basic sulphate Hg, SO, is then
precipitated as a yellow powder. I take it in its freshly precipitated state and

page_text: mix it with double its volume of the ground charcoal. When a thorough mixture
has been made a few drops of sulphuric acid SO, are added to increase the
conductivity of the paste. The pastel is then spread over the surface of the
negative electrode and the whole is then enveloped in a porous envelope such as
parchment paper. Or the envelope may be of cotton or linen fabric and rendered
more or less waterproof by dipping it in collodion. The negativo element thus
enveloped is marked C in the annexed drawing and on the sides of the envelope
strips of insulating material such as gutta percha are attached. These are
marked G. G.
'J
The zinc or positive element of the battery cell marked Z in the figures, fits
closely against the insulating strips which aro attached to the envelope of the
negative element and the whole is contained in a cell as the drawing indicates.
The cell is filled with the exciting liquid consisting in a saturated solution of
sulphate of mercury in water with no free sulphuric acid. The negative electrode
may be placed in a cell of porous carthenware and have the paste described above
packed around it; the arrangement previously described is however preferred as
giving less internal resistance.
In the double cell as will be seen two negative plates and three positive plates
are employed and they are coupled together to operate as one pair. By this
arrangement space is economized.
The electro motive force of this battery cell is from 1-45 to 1.75 volts and a
couple with plates 7 inches by 3 inches on short circuit yields a current of over
20 ampères. This current can be maintained for hours.
It will bo understood that these battery cells may be coupled one with another
to form batteries of any desired dimensions.
I sometimes make the containing cell about one third higher than the plates or
elements and close it hermetically at the top. Then to put the battery out of
work it may be inverted when the liquid runs into the part of the cell not occupied
by the plates.
My batteries when hermetically closed can be used with incandescent lamps
under water and in the presence of explosible gases or gunpowder without danger
of explosion.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of one of my closed cells, Figure 7 is a plan and
Figure 8 an horizontal section of the same. a is a vulcanite cylinder, it is
strengthened with a metal ring at a'. b is a cover of vulcanite screwed into the
top of the cylinder a c is the carbon element, is the zinc element, d is a filling
plug in the cover. e and fare stems passing through the cover from the carbon and
zinc and each receiving a pair of nuts g. g. by which also the conducting wires are
attached. h. h. h. are rings of vulcanized india rubber to render the joints tight.
The carbon is coated with basic sulphate of mercury and the cell is charged with
a solution of sulphate of mercury as already described.,
Figure 9 is a sido elevation partly in section of a rectangular closed cell. It has
a flat vulcanite cover with a filling plug in the centre and a sheet of india rubber
is inserted between the top of the cell and the cover to make a tight joint. The
cover is held on by clamps one of which is shown in section at Figure 10 and
Figure 11 is a plan of the cell with its clamps. The connecting strips from the
battery elements pass out over the ends of the cell underneath the india rabber
they aro of thin sheet metal. In each clamp a clamping screw passes through a
flanged nut which is insulated by a ring of vulcanite. Other nuts on the screw
serve to connect the conducting wire. The connecting strip is in cach caso turned
over the top of the cover and introduced beneath the end of the clamping screw as
the drawings show.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
(1). Battery cells in which basic sulphate of mercury is employed in conjunction
with a solution of sulphate of mercury as the exciting liquid.

page_text: (2). Battery cells in which the negative electrode is coated with a paste or
preparation and is wound with string or fibrous material under the said conting
whereby a better contact with the exciting liquid is obtained and the internal
resistance of the cell reduced.
(3). Battery cells substantially as herein described.