Improvements in Primary Batteries.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left 14th Aug 1900-Accepted. 15th Dec., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Primary Batteries.
I, STANLEY ROBINSON, of 27, Eardley Crescent, Earl's Court, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, which
has been communicated to me by Stanley Robert Valentine Robinson, of 422,
Ninth Street, Brooklyn, U.S.A., Electrician, to be as follows:-
This invention had reference to improvements in voltaic batteries, said
improvements being hereinafter described.
In carrying this invention into practice I employ a box constructed of some
insulated material such as wood, vulcanite or papier mache, which is treated
when necessary to a dressing of acid proof solution and divided by partitions
into two or more compartments preferably of equal size. A porous cell of
about the same height as the compartment is fixed into each compartment by
an acid proof cement; the bottom of the porous pot and of the box is drilled
to admit of the passage of a carbon rod or plate through the bottom of the box
and the carbon rod or plate is cemented in the pot by pouring in a small
quantity of the same acid proof cement as was used in fixing the pot.
The outer cell of each compartment is then drilled with a small hole to admit
of the passage of a copper hook to form the zinc connection.
On the outside of the bottom of the box I connect the cells in the ordinary
manner or by soldering joints either in series or in multiple as may be desired.
I then build up a false bottom of suitable thickness which I fill up with an acid
proof cement completely covering the connections between the cells and render-
ing them permanent.
To the battery thus connected I add a hollow lid partly filled with a deodoriz-
ing substance such as tin filings, sal soda, sodium, bichromate, or other sub-
stance capable of absorbing the acid or other fumes generated, and this lid I line
with rubber on the other side and perforate with small holes over each cell
admitting the gases formed into the hollow chamber containing the absorbing
material. This lid I fasten to the battery by clamps completely closing the box
and rendering it acid proof.
It is necessary to make the copper hook forming the zinc connection of such
a length as will support the zinc at a suitable distance from the bottom of the
cell, according to the size of the cell, and if a flat zinc is used, I use one or more
supporting studs fixed to the side of the box in such a position as to hold the
zinc near to the porous cell containing the carbon.
Dated this 10th day of November 1899.
By his Agents,
HORN, SON & Co.,
151, Strand (next to Somerset House), London.

page_text: Improvements in Primary Batteries.
STANLEY ROBINSON, late of 27, Eardley Crescent, Earl's Court, in the County
of Middlesex, now of 27, Warwick Road, Earl's Court, London, S.W., No
Occupation, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My improved battery is constructed substantially in practice as follows:
An outer box made of some non-conducting material such as wood, vulcanite,
papier mache or oxydite is treated to a dressing of acid proof material and
divided into 2 or more cells by non-conducting partitions or divisions each
being of equal or nearly equal capacity.
Into each cell I fix a porous pot or cylinder having a capacity of about. rd of
the capacity of the cell, this porous cup or cylinder contains a carbon rod or
cup forming the negative electrode and is of nearly same height as cell.
On the outside of each porous cup or cylinder is a copper hook or other
support for the zinc forming the positive electrode.
I drill in the bottom of the box holes to admit the passage of a carbon or
copper plug or wire for the positive and negative electrodes and I connect these
wires outside the bottom of the box so that the cells are in multiple or series
as may be desired.
The carbon cups, porous pots or cylinders and zinc connections I fix per-
manently in the battery by means of an acid proof cement and I then build up
a false bottom on the battery by pouring thereon a dressing of the acid proof
cement completely insulating the connections between the cells.
The false bottom is necessary to enable me to protect the connections between
the cells from corrosion. I make the connections at the bottom to enable me to
fix and hold in position the carbon element, the zinc connection and the porous
cup and obviate the necessity of removing them from the battery at each charge.
This would be necessary in the ordinary form of battery.
In case a fuming solution should be employed as an electrolyte I make a lid
or cover to the battery as follows:
A tray of pure rubber with edges of about ½ in. height is perforated with
small holes to admit of the passage of the gases that are formed, this tray is
partly filled with an absorbent material such as sal soda, tin filings, sodium
bichromate or other substance capable of absorbing the fumes and this tray is
covered with a flat plate of slate or other insulating material and the whole
firmly clamped to the top of the battery rendering it water and gas tight.
It is necessary to make the copper hook or plate supporting the zinc of such
a size as will support the zinc at a suitable height above the bottom of the cell.
In case flat plates of zinc are used, I employ one or more supporting studs
in the side of the box placed in such a position as to hold the zincs near to the
porous cup or cylinder, this is in order to reduce internal resistance.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my
improved voltaic electric battery. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section partly in plan view; in Fig. 2 the battery is con-
nected in series, in Fig. 3 connected in multiple.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings, A represents a wooden or other box which is
covered at its inside with a suitable lining of gum or other acid resisting material.
The bottom is drilled with holes to permit the zinc and carbon connections to

page_text: be made and the sides are prolonged beyond the bottom to enable a false
bottom to be put on.
B is a porous cup, which is supported at the inside of the box A. The box A
is provided with a rubber tray cover A¹ that is secured to the body of the box
by bolts or in any other suitable manner. The upper edge of the porous cup B
is arranged to be flush with the top of the box A so that the rubber tray
cover A seals tightly both the box and cup.
A carbon plate or cup C is arranged in the porous cup B and connected at
its lower end by a copper, platinum or other metallic conductor C¹.
A zinc plate D, of straight or curved shape, according to the shape of the
porous cup, is supported by a bracket E near the bottom of the box A and at
such a distance from the same that the lower end of the zinc plate D, is not less
than one-twelfth of the height of the box from the bottom.
The porous cup B is charged with a suitable exciting solution, preferably
with a saturated solution of nitrate of sodium to which an equal part of sul-
phuric acid has been added.
The space outside of the porous cup is charged with a dilute solution of
sulphuric acid.
The bracket E is connected by wires with the adjoining cell.
The bracket E which supports the lower end of the zinc plate as shown in
Fig. 2 is a short upwardly-extending plate resting on the bottom of the box,
as shown in Fig. 2. The upper or middle portion of the zinc plate D resis
against studs e², which are attached to the hanger or side wall of the box A as
shown in Fig. 2.
Studs are composed of a suitable non-conducting material, such as glass,
wood, rubber and the like.
The connections of the battery with the line-wires may be arranged either
at the upper or lower part of the carbon and zinc plates according as the zinc
supporting bracket is supported by the upper part of the cell or the bottom
of the box A, the side connections passing through the side wall of the box to
suitable binding posts f on the outside of the same, as shown in Fig. 1. Several
cells may be arranged in one box, and connected in series or multiple, or each
cell may be made independently of the other, as desired. In the former case
each cell is separated from the adjacent one by a partition a.
The advantages of my improved voltaic battery are that the local action is
entirely prevented, as the zinc plate is supported at such a distance above the
bottom of the cell that it is above the concentrated acid that is settling at the
bottom of the cell, whereby a more constant and effective battery is obtained.
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. In an electric battery, composed of an exterior box or cell a porous cup
supported on the bottom of said box, a carbon plate cup or rod inside the porous
cup a zinc plate or other electrode outside the cup, and a bracket or support
located a short distance above the bottom of the box which constantly supports
the zinc electrode by its lower end and holds it sustained in the fluid a short
distance from the bottom of the cell.
2. In an electric battery as described above, a false bottom enabling me to
make permanent connections between two or more cells in the battery.
3. In an electric battery as described above the use of an insulating and acid
proof cement enabling me to fix permanently in the battery the porous cups
carbons and zinc supports.
4. In an electric battery as described above a stud or projection from the side
of the cell holding the zinc electrode near to the porous cell and thereby diminish-
ing internal resistance.
5. In an electric battery as described above a hollow lid of rubber partly

page_text: filled with a deodorizing substance calculated to absorb any fumes that may
arise from the battery.
6. In an electric battery as described above a tight fitting upper lid fitting
closely over the rubber lid or tray and completely closing and waterproofing
the battery.
STANLEY ROBINSON.