Used in Electric Batteries.
Year: 1886

page_text: Used in Electric Batteries.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Lucien Alfred Wilhelmine Desruelles of Paris in
the Republic of France Civil Engineer to be as follows:-
It is found that after a certain time the energy of bichromate batteries and
other batteries of the same nature diminishes owing to the increase of the internal
resistance although the chemical properties of the liquids employed therein are not
perceptibly modified as shewn by the relative constancy of the electro-motive
force.
When owing to the increased resistance of the liquid a bichromate battery for
example is rendered incapable of supplying a sufficient current the liquid still
possesses a certain amount of latent energy or electro motive force and is employed
according to this Invention for charging other electric batteries such as those used
for telegraphs for example and in which the internal resistance of the battery is of
no practical importance.
The aforesaid residual liquids are usually highly charged with acids or corrosive
substances of various descriptions and are consequently difficult or dangerous to
transport unless treated as hereinafter described.
In order to preserve the acting ingredients in a portable form the liquids are
mixed in suitable proportions with any inattackable or acid proof and porous or
absorbent substance capable of forming a paste therewith. This paste may be
divided into cakes each containing a sufficient quantity of the chemicals to charge
a cell or element of a telegraphic battery for example-These cakes when dried by
any suitable means can be very conveniently handled packed and conveyed to the
077

page_text: places where they are required. In order to use them they are simply placed in
the bottoms of the cells or elements of the battery which are then filled up with
water, the water dissolves the acids and salts contained in the cakes and the
inattackable and porous matter settles at the bottom of the element-As an
inattackable and porous material it is preferred to employ the diatomaceous earth
known as Kieselguhr.
In order to protect the electrodes of an electric battery from corrosion they are
coated according to this Invention with a protective coating composed of any
suitable fat or grease preferably a mineral grease mixed with a preferably large
proportion of mercury.
Doted this 92nd dow of Tahun 1006

page_text: Used in Electric Batteries.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me froin abroad by Lucien Alfred Wilhelmine Desruelles of Paris in
the Republic of France Civil Engineer, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relating to the preparation and treatment of materials used in
electric batteries has for its object utilizing the waste or residual liquids of
powerful batteries (such as bichromate batteries) as electrolytes in telegraphic or
other like batteries as hereinafter explained.
The great power, or energy possessed by bichromate batteries results from their
high electro motive force added to their low internal resistance. This low internal
resistance is chiefly due to the great conductivity of the liquids employed but as
this conductivity diminishes somewhat rapidly during the working of bichromate
batteries it follows that their internal resistance rapidly increases and their
discharge decreases although their potential remains about the same.
It is found that after a certain time the energy of bichromate batteries and
others of the same nature consequently diminishes owing to the increase of the
internal resistance notwithstanding that the chemical properties of the liquids
employed therein are not perceptibly modified as shewn by the relative constancy
of the electro motive force. When owing to the increased resistance of the liquid
the discharge from a bichromate battery for example becomes weakened the
battery is no longer capable of supplying a current of sufficient strength but the
liquid still possesses, although it be a condition which renders it unavailable, a
certain amount of latent energy or electro motive force-According to this
Invention the residual or waste liquids from these batteries which liquids present
considerable electrical resistance but nevertheless possess a certain electro motive
force are employed for charging other electric batteries such as those used for
telegraphs for example and in which the internal resistance of the battery is of no
practical importance.
..
Batteries employed for telegraphic purposes are in most cases required to supply
a current which passes through considerable external resistance so that the internal
resistance of the battery need not be taken into account owing to the small
quantity of electricity which they expend-Under these conditions the electro
motive force is the most important factor.-A high electro motive force can be
supplied by the residual or waste liquids from bichromate batteries and con-
sequently these residual liquids may be used with good effect in batteries employed
in electric telegraphy or for other like purpose.
The residual liquids from the aforesaid powerful batteries are usually highly
charged with acids or corrosive substances of various descriptions and are
consequently difficult or dangerous to manipulate or transport unless treated as
hereinafter described.

page_text: Owing to the great distances frequently separating telegraphic stations from the
place where the materials for the batteries are prepared the facile conveyance of the
said materials becomes a question of considerable importance-In order to preserve
the acting ingredients in a portable form, the liquids are mixed in suitable pro-
portions with any unattackable or acid proof and porous or absorbent substance
capable of forming a paste therewith. This paste is afterwards dried either by
natural evaporation or by vaporizing the water which it contains by the application
of artificial heat such as the heat of a stove for example.
This paste may be divided into cakes each containing a sufficient quantity of
chemicals to charge a cell or element of an ordinary telegraphic battery for
example. These cakes when dried by any suitable means can be very con-
veniently handled packed and conveyed to the places where they are required.
If preferred the materials may be supplied in the form of dust or powder
obtained by reducing the dried paste to this condition by any suitable means. In
order to use the materials in a battery they are simply placed in the bottoms of
tlie cells or elements of the battery which are then filled up with water; the
water dissolves the acids and salts contained in the cakes and the inattackable
and porous matter remains at the bottom of the cell. The inattackable and
porous material that is found to yield the best results is the diatomaceous earth.
known as Kieselguhr. This earth is composed of the remains of diatoms and
consequently consists entirely of almost pure silica. It is necessary to provide
means for enabling the negative electrode of the telegraphic or other battery
to remain in a liquid of this character without being perceptibly corroded
when the circuit is open. Telegraphic batteries which are often required to be in
action for considerable periods at a time should be so arranged that little or no
chemical action takes place when the circuit is open. Almost perfect protection
for the negative electrodes of such telegraphic batteries or elements can be obtained
by covering them with a protective coating composed of any suitable fat or grease
preferably a mineral grease mixed with a preferably large proportion of mercury,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. Obtaining liquids suitable for use in telegraphic and other like batteries
by utilizing the residual or waste liquids from bichromate or other like powerful
batteries substantially as herein before described.
Second. Mixing the residual or waste liquids from bichromate or like batteries
with Kieselguhr or other porous or absorbent and acid proof material as and for
the purpose substantially as herein before described.
Third: A battery wherein the residual or waste liquids from bichromate and
other like batteries are employed and the soluble electrodes are protected from
corrosion by a coating compounded of grease and mercury substantially as
hereinbefore described.
7000