IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
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DESIRE THOMAS PIOT of N° 34 Bolsover Street 'London, W. and ARMAND
LEVY of 252 Goswell Road, London. We do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES to be as follows:
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Its object is to increase the duration and also to, maintain a regular current in
a Voltaic battery by keeping the depolarising liquid constantly at nearly its former
strength by the action of, a chemical which absorb, water, easily such as Lime.
Sulphuric acid. Chloride of Calcium or other. The battery is similar to a Bunzen
battery, and the disposition consist principally in closing completely, or almost
completely the jar containing the nitric acid and the carbons which are of a
cylindrical form solid or divided, and in that jar is inclosed a porous pot con
taining the chemicals to absorb the water formed in the jar during the action of
the Battery The zinc is preferably placed in a solution of Chloride of sodium and
Water.

page_text: WE DESIRE THOMAS PIOT of 34 Bolsover Street, London, W. and ARMAND
LEVY of 252 Goswell Road, London, do hereby declare the nature of our invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN VOLTAIC BATTERIES and in what manner. the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
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The invention relates to that class of voltaic batteries known as two-liquid
batteries, such as Bunsen's, Grove's, the Bichromate, and others, the object of the
invention being to increase the duration of, and maintain a uniform current in
such batteries.
In batteries of this class, one of the liquids employed is intended to de-polarise,
that is to say, to take up the hydrogen evolved by the electrical action, which
would otherwise accumulate on the negative plate, and interfere with the working
of the battery; and the invention consists in maintaining the strength of the
depolarising liquid by the employment, as regenerator, of some chemical substance
which is rich in oxygen and has a strong affinity for water, such for example as
sulphuric acid.
In carrying out our invention, the regenerating chemical substance may be either
contained in a small porous vessel placed in the depolarising liquid, or a porous
cell may be divided into two compartments by a carbon partition, which will form
the positive electrode, the chemical regenerating substance being placed in one
compartment, while the depolarising liquid is contained in the other.
In constructing a battery of the Bunsen type according to our invention, we
take a jar or vessel of any suitable size and shape, and place therein the zinc and
a porous cell. Inside this cell is a cylinder of carbon, and inside the carbon cylinder
we place the small porous vessel to contain the chemical regenerating substance.
The exciting liquid we prefer to use, is a solution of chloride of sodium, which is
contained in the outer vessel. The de-polarising liquid, by preference nitric acid,
is contained in the porous cell, while the regenerating liquid, say strong sulphuric
acid, is placed in the small porous vessel.
When the porous cell is divided by a carbon partition as before explained, the
partition should be formed with a series of holes in which porous plugs are inserted,
and at a suitable height, a small hole will be left open for the purpose to be
explained, for which purpose the small porous vessel above referred to, may also
have a small hole a short distance below the mouth.
The chemical action of the battery will be as follows:-When the circuit is
closed, the zinc will be dissolved, and hydrogen will be evolved. This hydrogen
will then combine with the oxygen contained in the nitric acid, and form water.
The sulphuric acid having a great affinity for water, absorbs the water by endosmose,
increases thereby its bulk, and rises in the small porous vessel. As soon as it
reaches the level of the small hole before mentioned, it overflows into the nitric
acid, and renders up a portion of its oxygen, thereby regenerating the depolarizing
nitric acid, and enabling the battery to work much longer and more constantly
than heretofore.
..
In constructing our battery, we prefer to entirely or partially close up the porous
cell containing the nitric acid, to prevent the action of the air on the acid, which
has a somewhat deleterious effect on the working of the battery.
Although we prefer to use, as regenerator, a substance which has not only a
strong affinity for water, but is also rich in oxygen, we may remark that the same

page_text: result, to some extent, may be obtained by the use of other materials which have
a strong affinity for water, such as Chloride of Calcium.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
The means herein described for regenerating the depolarising liquid, such means
consisting essentially in the employment of some material which has a strong
affinity for water, and preferably also rich in oxygen, such material being contained
in a separate vessel or compartment as above set forth.