Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan.,
1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1900
Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries.
I, THOMAS HEFFERNAN, of 148, Holland Road, Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to primary batteries consisting of two cells, one within
the other; the outer one hereinafter called the "outer vessel" being composed
of glass, earthenware, or other suitable non-conducting composition and the
inner one hereinafter called the "porous pot" being of porous porcelain. Within
this porous pot is the carbon which may be either in the form of sticks or a
block, and which forms the positive element of the battery; the terminal being
joined to the carbon by means of a lead connection coated on the inside with wax
or other suitable material so as to protect the same from the action of the acid
employed.
The negative element of the battery is formed of iron, zinc or other suitable
metal of suitable shape, placed within the outer vessel and around the porous pot.
The outer vessel also contains a quantity of water.
The electric current is induced by a weak solution of nitric acid, sulphuric
acid, or other suitable acids, and water, which is fed into the porous pot through
a pipe communicating with the supply tank.
When a current is taken off gas is evolved within the porous pot. This gas
as it is generated accumulates in the upper portion of the hermetically sealed
porous pot and as the pressure increases forces the solution in the porous pot
through a pipe extending from the bottom portion of the said pot, above the
outer vessel and thence to a suitable receptacle. In some cases and especially in
a series of cells, as the gas is generated it is conveyed by a pipe to a reservoir of
suitable capacity so that if the said gas is given off before the solution is quite
exhausted it will not act upon the solution until the reservoir is quite filled and
to a certain extent under pressure. As soon as the voltage drops by the exhaus-
tion of the electrolyte the porous pot is recharged with solution; this being
effected by means, suitable for the purpose. One form of means consists of a
spring suitably connected with a valve on the solution supply pipe, which causes
the said valve to be immediately opened so as to allow a fresh charge of the
solution to pass into the porous pot. The electrolyte thus renewed causes the
arm of an electro-magnet connected with the valve on the supply pipe to be
attracted; this action overcomes the resistance of the spring and shuts the valve
until the electrolyte has again lost its depolarising effects. Any other form of
means such as a float valve or a syphon connected with the supply tank could
be used with equal effect for this purpose.
In cases where a varying current is used, I make the pressure of gas keep an
even voltage at the varying current by exposing the carbons to the electrolyte
proportionately to the quantity of current required and thus I effect economy in
the acid solution used. This I accomplish by increasing or decreasing the
capacity of the gas reservoir beforementioned by means of water, so that, when

page_text: only a weak current is required a quantity of the water is drawn off thus giving
the reservoir a larger capacity for the gas from the porous pot; the consequence
being that as there is greater space for expansion, the gas pressure is low, and
the level of the solution in the porous pot rises proportionately to the amount of
water drawn off, the action being similar to that of a syphon. When however a
stronger current is required the reservoir is filled with water to a suitable level
sc as to allow only a small capacity for the gas; the pressure of which being
correspondingly increased.
For regulating the quantity of water in the reservoir according to the voltage,
I use a solenoid or other suitable device to actuate the cocks on the inlet and
outlet pipes for the water.
D
1
DAIL
..
1000
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Primary Batteries.
I, THOMAS HEFFERNAN, of Courtlands, Holland Road, Kensington, in the
County of London, Electrical Engineer, 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:
This invention relates to improvements in primary electric generators of the
kind divided into compartments by means of porous partitions or jars, and using
carbon and iron as the elements; the compartments (hereinafter called "pots")
containing the carbon or negative electrodes have sometimes been hermetically
sealed with the exception of an inlet at the top for the depolarizing and exciting
electrolyte or solution and an outlet also at the top for escape of any gases that
may have been generated, and the compartments containing the iron or positive
electrodes have been open at the top for the renewal of such electrodes when
consumed.
Now the object of the present invention is to make an electric generator of
the above indicated type capable of generating as required, varying quantities
of electric energy, without undue consumption of electrodes or electrolyte, and
able also to maintain a constant or practically constant pressure at the terminals
of the generator or battery with varying currents.
For this purpose the generator is so constructed and worked that when current
is taken off and the potential of the generator falls, gas generated in the porous
pots accumulates in the upper portions thereof and in a reservoir connected
therewith, and, as the pressure of said gas increases, it forces electrolyte out of
said pots into a receptacle, and thereupon, in an automatic manner, fresh. electro-
lyte is admitted to the pots, thereby restoring the potential of the generator to
its normal condition or thereabout.
Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 shows a cross section and Fig. 2 a plan of a primary electric generator
according to this invention.
Fig. 3 shows a section on the line A B of Fig. 4, of the generator in a modified
form. Fig. 4 shows a plan of same.
Each pot 1 is hermetically closed, and contains a carbon electrode, also some
depolarising and exciting solution or electrolyte, such as a mixture of nitric
and sulphuric acids and each porous pot 1 is separated by porous diaphragms

page_text: or plates 2 from an open compartment 3 containing an iron electrode 4, and
water.
From near the bottom of each porous pot 1 there leads a pipe 5 which passes
through a hole in the cover 6 and down to a receptacle 7; the arrangement being
such that when current is taken off and the acid becomes weak gas evolved
within the porous pot 1, accumulates in the upper portion thereof. As the
pressure of the gas increases the solution or electrolyte in the porous pot is
forced through the pipe 5 into the receptacle 7 provided with a discharge pipe 7".
When a number of cells are employed, as the gas is generated it is led by a
pipe 8 to a reservoir 9 of suitable capacity so that the gas will not act upon the
solution in the porous pots 1 until the reservoir 9 is quite full and to a certain
extent under pressure. As soon as the voltage of the generator falls owing to
the discharge and exhaustion of the electrolyte the porous pots 1 are recharged
with electrolyte, from a reservoir 10 placed at a higher level than the generator.
The discharge of the electrolyte from the reservoir 10 is controlled by a
valve 11 in the solution supply pipe 12 which valve is arranged to be opened by
suitable means, such as a solenoid, when the potential of the generator falls and
allows a fresh charge of electrolyte to pass into the porous pots 1. The potential
of the generator being thus restored, and while it remains normal, or nearly so,
the arm 13 on the plug of the valve 11 on the supply pipe 12 is attracted by
an electro magnet 14 connected with the terminals of the generator; this
attraction overcomes the attraction of the solenoid and closes and keeps closed
the valve 11 until the electrolyte again becomes weak and loses its depolarizing
effects.
وو
19 is a pipe that is divided into a number of compartments, one for each cell,
and extends across the generator and serves to distribute the solution to the
various carbon compartments or 'pots' as it is supplied from the reservoir 10.
According to the arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4 when a varying current
is used, the pressure of the gas is caused to keep an even potential difference with
a varying current. In this arrangement the carbons are immersed in the
electrolyte proportionately to the current required. The capacity of the gas
reservoir 9 is increased or decreased by means of water or other suitable liquid
so that, when a large current is required from the generator the reservoir 9 is
nearly emptied of liquid whereby a larger capacity for the gas generated in the
porous pot is obtained, the consequence being that, owing to the greater space
for expansion, the gas pressure is low, and the level of the solution in the porous
pots rises proportionately to the amount of water drawn off. When, however, a
smaller current is required, liquid is admitted to the gas reservoir until it is
filled to a suitable level, so that owing to the smaller space for expansion the
pressure of the gas is higher; the solution in the porous pots being proportionately
lower.
For regulating the quantity of liquid admitted to, or drawn off from the
reservoir for regulating the current there are provided cocks 15 and 16 the plugs
of which have arms projecting therefrom which are attracted respectively by
electro-magnets 17 and 18, energised through a relay controlled by the voltage
An arrange-
of the generator either from the generator or from another source.
ment of such a relay apparatus by which the electromagnetic devices can be put
in and out of circuit at the required times is shewn diagrammatically in Fig. 3
and comprises two fixed insulated contacts 20 and 21 respectively connected to
one end of the windings of the two electromagnets 17 and 18, the other ends of
which are connected to one pole of the generator. Between the two fixed insulated
contacts 20, 21 is located the free end of a lever 22, which is pivoted at some
distance from the contacts, the lever being so arranged that when in its normal
position the free end is equidistant between the two contacts, so as not to bear
5 against either of them. The lever 22 is connected electrically to the opposite
pole of the battery to that to which the windings of the two electromagnets 17, 18
are connected and is controlled by a solenoid wound with fine wire connected

page_text: across the poles of the generator i.e. as a shunt, and having an iron core 23
attached to the lever 22. The arrangement is such that normally both the inlet
and outlet cocks 16 and 15 are closed, but should the potential of the generator
fali below a predetermined point, owing, say, to a sudden increase of current in
the output from the generator, the lever 21 will move in a direction to close
the circuit of the electromagnet 17 controlling the cock 15, and allowing liquid
to flow from the reservoir 9 until the potential is restored to the predetermined
point, by the entry of a fresh charge of electrolyte from the tank 10 owing to
the valve 11 being allowed to open by the electromagnet 14; when the lever 22
will be raised by the core 23 and the cocks 15 & 11 closed. If the potential
rises above the predetermined point, owing, say, to less current being taken from
the generator, or to the generator switch being open, the lever 22 will move
and so close the circuit of the electromagnet 18 controlling the cock 16, opening
such cock and allowing liquid to enter the reservoir 9.
The receptacle 7 may communicate by a pipe 21* with another receptacle 22*
having a discharge pipe 23*.
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:
1. A primary electric generator of the kind in which a closed porous vessel or
pot, containing a carbon electrode is located in an open vessel containing an
iron electrode constructed and arranged as herein before described so that when
current is taken off and the potential of the generator falls, gas generated in
the porous pots collects in the upper portion thereof, and in a reservoir in connec-
tion therewith, and, as the pressure of the gas increases, forces electrolyte out of
said pots into a receptacle, whereupon fresh electrolyte is admitted to the pots
in an automatic manner and the potential of the generator is restored to its
normal condition.
2. A primary electric generator of the kind referred to in which means are
provided whereby the capacity of the gas reservoir is increased or decreased by
means of water or other liquid and the regulation of the level of the electrolyte
in the porous pots, and the immersion of the carbon electrodes therein ensured
so as to keep an even potential difference at a varying current at the terminals
of the generator, substantially as described and shown.
3. A primary electric generator of the type herein referred to constructed,
arranged and operating as herein before described with reference to and shown
in Figs. 1 and 2, or in Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
تيمم
1000
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
ще Арриан
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.