Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1887

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JOHN BEATTIE, the younger, Westport, County of
Bristol, State of Massachusetts, United States, Electrician.]
Galvanic Batteries.
I WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, 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 :-
Heretofore zincs for galvanic batteries have commonly been amalgamated after
having been formed into shape for use. When this process of amalgamation is employed
only the surface of the zinc unites with the mercury. It follows that as the zinc
dissolves in use the amalgam is destroyed and very soon the zinc is in no better
condition than if the surface had never been amalgamated.
The object of this Invention is the manufacture or construction of a battery zinc in
which the whole body of the zinc is amalgamated, and to this end the process of
amalgamation is carried out or effected while the zine is in a molten or fluid state.
Attempts have already been made to accomplish the same result, but so far as at
present known the process has been such that the mercury would volatilize in great
measure before the state of amalgamation was reached.
This defect is avoided by employing the following method as described by my
correspondent. I take lead in the form of sheet lead and add to it a small quantity of
arsenic and put them into a ladle or crucible containing mercury.
I then apply just
heat enough to cause the lead to be dissolved without evaporating the mercury. That
is to say, it will require but a very slight degree of heat to bring the mercury to the
condition in which it will dissolve the lead, and this degree is below the boiling point
of mercury. When the lead is dissolved I add a small quantity of carbonate of sodium
and then pour this lead amalgam into moulds and allow it to solidify. In general I
prefer to have it moulded into the form of rods, say one-half an inch in diameter by
six inches long. I then melt a quantity of zinc in a crucible and add the lead amalgam

page_text: to the zinc while in a molten state. In carrying out this part of the process I prefer
to place each rod of the lead amalgam in tongs so shaped as to enclose said rod, the
tongs being perforated so as to allow the molten zinc to come in contact with
the amalgam. If, now, the tongs are moved vigorously so as to stir the molten zinc the
amalgam will be attacked by the heated metal and thoroughly taken up. By taking
the precaution of enclosing the amalgam in tongs as above described it is prevented
from settling to the bottom of the crucible where it would be difficult to bring it
thoroughly into contact with the mass of molten zine.
The function of the arsenic is to help the union of lead and zinc. That of the sodium
is to help the union of the zinc and the mercury.
I
While I have described the process of combining zinc with an amalgam of lead,
may substitute tin for the latter metal and in some cases may prefer so to do.
As to the proportions necessary to be employed in forming my zinc amalgam,
they should be varied according to circumstances. For zincs intended to be used
in Leclanche or other sal ammoniac batteries the quantity of mercury should be less
than for zincs designed for Grove, Bunsen, or other similar batteries.
Instead of employing sheet lead and adding arsenic I may use lead in the form
of shot which contains arsenic in proper quantities.
The lead amalgam may be added to the zinc as soon as the latter is heated enough
to take the form of powder, and in fact I have secured good results by combining
the zinc and the amalgam in this way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
1. The process of making amalgamated zines for galvanic batteries which consists
in melting a quantity of zine and adding thereto an amalgam of any metal except
zine, substantially as described.
2. The process of making amalgamated zines for galvanic batteries which consists
in uniting mercury and another metal other than zinc by heat, adding arsenic and
carbonate of sodium, allowing the mass to cool, and afterwards dissolving it in
molten zinc, whereby an amalgam is first formed, and afterwards an amalgam
combined with the zinc, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of March A D 1887
WILLIAM E. HEYS.