IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH GALVANIC BATTERIES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JASPER WETTER, Engineer, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, do
hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED
WITH GALVANIC BATTERIES, a communication to me from abroad by E. Vohwinkel,
Chemist, of Vienna, Austria, to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the construction of a simple and powerful
galvanic battery especially adapted for the purpose of electric lighting.
The negative electrode of the element consists of sheet lead (from 2 to 4 milli-
meters thick according to the size of the element) formed into a receptacle or cell
for the depolarizing liquid. This vessel of lead is stiffened at the upper edge by
means of a ring of brass or similar material, from which extends a strip of metal
for the reception of a binding screw. At the bottom this cell may be provided
with one or more cocks or valves of ebonite, glass or earthenware for filling and
emptying the cell. On the inside the leaden cell is lined with platinum, preferably
in a spongy condition.
.
The cell has in its upper edge two or more notches for the reception of thumb
screws projecting from a smaller vessel and serving to suspend the same inside of
the outer cell. This latter vessel serves for the reception of the oxidizing substance
and may be adjusted at various heights by means of the screws.
This inner vessel is ring shaped and provided at the bottom with perforations or
holes arranged in a circle.
In a modified construction the outer wall of the annular receptacle for the
oxidizing substance is formed by the lead cell, while the inner wall and the bottom
of the vessel are formed by a flanged cylinder soldered to the lead cell.
Inside the annular vessel is situated a pot of porous earthenware and inside of
the latter a zinc plate.
The annular receptacle extends only a short distance down into the lead cell
and is filled with lumps of bichromate of potash or crystallized manganate or
permanganate of potash or soda free of chlorine. The lead cell itself is filled with
diluted suphuric acid in the proportion of one part (in volume) of acid at
66° Baumé to 5 parts (in volume) of water. The mixture may be effected in the
vessel itself the vessel being filled to such a height that the liquid forces its way
through the holes of the suspended annular receptacle to the salt.

page_text: In the case that bichromate of potash is used in the annular receptacle, the pot
of porous earthenware is preferably filled with diluted sulphuric acid or with
a solution of sulphate of zinc or the like, into which dips the zinc.
By providing each of the lead cells with two cocks or valves of insulating
material as above described, connecting adjoining cells with each other by india
rubber pipes and the last cell with a tank capable of holding the liquid required
for a whole battery, the elements or cells of this battery may be rapidly and
simultaneously filled or emptied.
For the purpose of insulating the individual elements they are placed upon
wood, stone or other non conducting material, e..
By using a metallic base plate and connecting all the zinc plates with each other
a single element of great surface is formed at once.
For simultaneously raising or lowering all the zinc plates of a battery and
keeping them at the desired height for the purpose of decreasing or increasing the
activity of the battery or generation of current, each of the first and last cells of
a battery is provided with a metallic ring, adapted to be fixed at different heights
by a set screw and carrying a vertical rack provided with hooks or notches
adapted to support a horizontal. rail or bar from which the zinc plates are
.suspended:
Dated this 20th day of April 1884.

page_text: I, JASPER WETTER, Engineer, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED
WITH GALVANIC BATTERIES," a communication to me from abroad by E. Vohwinkel,
Chemist, of Vienna, Austria, 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 the construction of a new and simplified
galvanic element especially adapted for the purpose of electric lighting. In the
annexed drawing Fig 1 shows a sectional view of the new element; Fig 2 is a
perspective view of the outer vessel, which is the negative exciting electrode of the
element. Fig. 2 shows the upper part of a modification of the same. Fig 3 is a
perspective view of the vessel for reception of the oxidizing substance. Fig 4 a
perspective view of the porous vessel composed of clay or similar porous material.
Fig 5 a perspective view of the zinc plate, which may be formed in any desirable
shape, as a cylinder, or bar, or any other form without departing from the essence
of this invention. Figures 6, 7 and 8 show, section and perspective view of a
modified form of the receiver for the oxidizing substance.
The negative exciting electrode of the element consists of a sheet of lead of a
thickness of 2 to 4 millimeter (according to the size of the element) of such form
that it may serve as a receiver or vessel for the reception of the depolarizing
liquid. This vessel of lead is stiffened at the upper edge by means of a ring of
brass or similar material and is provided with a strip of metal for the reception of
the binding screw. At the bottom this outer vessel may be provided with one or
more cocks of ebonite, glass or clay, for the purpose of filling and emptying the
vessel. These cocks are screwed, cemented or otherwise fastened on to short pipes
of lead arranged on the vessel. On the inside the sheet of lead which constitutes
the outer vessel is covered by a layer of platinum in a metallic state or other state
and which is applied after the sheet has been carefully cleaned.
The outer vessel is provided with slits a a for reception of thumb nuts or
screws bb, by means of which the vessel c is suspended inside of the outer vessel.
These set-screws, however, may be replaced by simple trunnions or studs of lead.
Fig 28 shows a modified form of slits, provided with horizontal side channels, an
arrangement whereby the vessel c can be fixed in 4 different positions, to wit at
m, n, o and p.
This vessel c is provided at the bottom with a number of perforations or holes
arranged in a circle, as shown in Fig 3 (in some cases two, three or more circles of
holes may be arranged at the bottom of this vessel).
In the modified form of this vessel, as represented in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the
part c does not form a complete vessel in itself, but the ring c provided with a
flange d is soldered or otherwise fastened to the outer vessel. Inside the vessel c
is arranged the vessel of porous earthenware e, a detached view of which is shown
in Fig 4, and inside of this finally is arranged the zinc plate of represented
separately in Fig 5.
For rendering the element active, the vessel c is filled with lumps of bichromate
of potash, or crystallized. manganate or permanganate of potash or soda free of
chlorine, these lumps being the size of a pea or hazelnut. The element itself is
filled with diluted sulphuric acid, in the proportion of one part (in volume) of acid
of 60° Baumé to 5 parts (in volume) of water. The mixture may be effected in the
vessel itself, and the vessel filled to such a height, that the liquid may force its
.

page_text: way through the holes of the vessel c to the salt. The zinc plate is placed in such
a manner, that it does not come in contact with the outer vessel, nor with the
vessel c.
When bichromate of potash is used, it is advisable to employ a clay vessel filled
with diluted sulphuric acid or with a solution of sulphate of zinc or the like into
which the zinc is placed..
It may be remarked, that in the case when manganate or permanganate of
potash or soda is used the intermediate vessel should be provided with 12 to 15
rows of fine perforations arranged at the bottom as well as at the erect walls of
this vessel; .
The time required for making the solution depends upon the number and size of
the holes in the vessel c and the size of the salt crystals employed.
The heavy solution of salt is constantly sinking along the internal surfaces of
the outer vessel, which causes a complete depolarization. The great surface of
the negative exciting agent gives the result of a less intense polarization.
By the peculiar disposition of the electrodes and of the depolarizing substances,
and the selection of these latter in consideration of their chemical composition, a
new and additional source of electricity is created by the chemical decomposition
taking place in the interior of the element. By the employment of bichromate of
potash this is decomposed into bisulphate of potashi and chromic acid, whilst by the
employment of inanganate or permanganate of potash or soda, these are decomposed
into sulphate of potash or soda and sulphate of protoxide of manganese, and ozone,
all of which chemical processes have the favorable result above mentioned viz: the
production or creation of a new and additional source of electricity.
By providing each of the elements with two cocks of insulating material, and by
suitably connecting the cocks by means of india rubber hose couplings, and
connecting the end element with a reservoir capable of holding the liquid required
for a whole battery, the elements of this battery may instantaneously and simul-
taneously be filled or emptied at once, as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, where A
are the single elements and R is the reservoir.
For
By using a metal sheet for the foundation or base, and connecting all the zinc
plates with each other, a single element of great surface is formed at once.
the sake of better appearance, and for the protection of the metal, the elements are
covered with varnish or lac. The soldering of the parts consisting of lead is also
made with lead. Figures 12 and 13 finally show a very useful device for
simultaneously raising or lowering all the zine plates of a battery, for the purpose
of decreasing or increasing the activity of the battery, or generation of current.
Fig 12 is a front view and Fig 13 a side view of this device. CC are bars
arranged on the rings D D, which latter are clamped to the outer elements at any
desirable height. The bars or racks C C are provided with seats E E arranged
equi-distantly at different heights. A transverse bar F carries the zinc plates Z;
which are suspended to the said bar by means of insulated supports I, I.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
t
1. In galvanic elements, the employment of lead as negative exciting electrode
in the shape of a vessel fit to receive the depolarizing liquid, as and for the purpose
described.
2. An apparatus capable of being readily adjusted for automatically regulating
the dissolution of the oxidizing liquid in ratio to the intensity of current required.
3. The arrangement of the different parts of the element, whereby the cost of
manufacture is reduced and elements can be constructed of any convenient size.
4. The method of filling or emptying single elements of a battery, or a group of
elements by simply raising or lowering a vessel or reservoir containing the
requisite liquid, as shown in figures 9, 10 and 11, essentially as and for the purpose
described.
:

page_text: 5. The device for simultaneously raising or lowering all the zinc plates of a
battery, as shown in figures 12 and 13, essentially as and for the purpose
described.
6. The special constructions and arrangements as illustrated in the annexed
drawing.
7. The peculiar disposition of the electrodes and of the depolarizing substances,
and the use of the latter, essentially as and for the purpose described.
11
000
JASPER WETTER.
By Herbert & Co., Agents,
67, Strand.