Improvements in Thermo-electric and Furnace Batteries.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1899
Complete Specification Left. 20th Nov.. 1889-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Thermo-electric and Furnace Batteries.
I, CHARLES HUELSER of the firm of Huelser & Co. of 142 Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Solicitors of Patents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from abroad by Hugo Mestern of Munich in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements intended to serve as a supplement to the
invention for "Improvements in Thermo-electric and Furnace Batteries" described in
the Specification of former Letters Patent No. 2259, dated February 14th, A.D. 1888,
granted, to the Communicant of the improvements hereafter described.
As set forth in the specification above referred to, the invention of the Communicant
consists in rendering the elements of thermo-electric batteries more durable, that is to
say, more capable of resisting high temperatures, thus obviating the various
prejudicial effects otherwise attendant on their continued exposure to the latter. I
attain this end as explained by the peculiar construction and combination of the
elements and their relation to the furnace and cylinder or tube serving for the com-
bustion of the fuel employed for actuating the battery.
Now, in order to admit of a more extended application of the principle of construc-
tion laid down in the specification referred to, I desire to point out that the
combustion cylinder contained in the furnace, may be either a basket grating as it is
termed in the aforementioned specification or a cylinder having a suitable number of
perforations, or, for the combustion of liquid or gaseous fuel, it may be closed on its
circumference and at the bottom, suitable inlets being provided for supplying the
liquid or gaseous fuel.
The metallic deflection slices or strips which are preferably cast into the blocks or
metal of the elements may be either of a piece of sufficient length to connect each iwo
elements, or they may be made separate and joined by means of any screw or other
suitable connecting device.
The bottom or electro-positive face of the elements may, instead of being flat,
have recesses or cavities for the purpose of increasing its heating surface.
As the best mode of securing the protective mantle, surrounding the insulating layer
of each clement, to the metal block, I elect the following:
That part of the metal block which is surrounded by the asbestos-or other insulating
layer, is made cylindric so as to allow the insulating tube made likewise cylindric
to be closely shifted over the same down to a shoulder or step having a breadth
equal to the thickness of the insulating tube. Said step formis the beginning or
upper edge of another concentric cylinder for receiving the metal tube when shifted
over the insulating tube. This larger cylinder is provided with a suitable screw-thread
from top to bottom and the metal tube, having a corresponding screw-thread stamped or
otherwise made therein, is screwed over the cylinder so as to tightly surround the
same and obviate any penetration of fused metal. To increase the security against
such penetration and ensure an absolutely tight fit of the metal tube to the block,
the screw threads may be coated with asbestos or any other convenient packing
material.
The screw-threaded portion of the block terminates on the top part or electro-
positive face, of the element. This face or plate is made square to provide greater
heating surface and facilitate the building up. of the elements.
The thermo-electric batteries of my invention are applicable for producing heat and
electric light, and also for galvanic, medicinal and various other purposes.
Dited this 92nd day of July 1889
HUELSER & Co.,
.Attorneys.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Thermo-electric and Furnace Batteries.
I, CHARLES HUELSER of 142 Fleet Street London, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements intended to serve as a supplement to the
invention for "Improvements in Thermo-electric and Furnace batteries," described in
the specification of former Letters Patent No. 2259 dated February 14th 1888
granted to the Inventor of the improvements hereafter described.
As set forth in the specification above referred to the invention consists in rendering
the Elements of Thermo-electric batteries more durable, that is to say more capable of
resisting high temperatures, tlmus obviating the various prejudicial effects otherwise
attendant on their continued exposure to great heat.
I attain this end, as explained, by the peculiar construction and combination of the
elements, and by their relation to the furnace and cylinder or tube serving for the
combustion of the fuel employed for actuating the battery.
Now in order to admit of a more extended application of the principle of construc-
tion laid down in the specification referred to, 1 desire to point out that the
combustion cylinder contained in the furnace may be either a basket grating, as
it is termed, in the before mentioned specification, or a perforated cylinder for the
combustion of liquid or gaseous fuel, or the cylinder may be solid on its circumference
and be provided at the bottom with suitable inlets for supplying the liquid or gaseous
fuel.
The metallic deflecting strips which are preferably cast into the blocks or metal of
the elements, may be made either of a piece of sufficient length to connect each
two elements, or they may be made separate and joined by means of any screw, or
other suitable connecting device. These strips may however be laid in a channel in
the centre of the metal block which is then formed in two halves for the purpose as
hereafter explained.
As the best mode of securing the protective mantle surrounding the insulating
layer of each element to the metal block, I elect the following.
That part of the metal block which is surrounded by the asbestos or other insulating
layer is made cylindrical or conical so as to allow the insulating tube, likewise made
cylindrical, to be closely fitted over the same down to a shoulder, having a breadth
equal to the thickness of the insulating tube. The said shoulder forms the beginning
or upper edge of another concentric cylinder for receiving the metal tube when
shifted over the insulating tube. This larger cylinder is provided with a suitable
screw thread from top to bottom and the metal tube, having a corresponding screw
thread formed therein is screwed over the cylinder so as to tightly surround the same
and obviate any penetration of fused metal.
To increase the security against such penetration and ensure an absolutely tight
fit of the metal tube to the block the screw threads may be coated with asbestos or
any other convenient packing material. In consequence of this screwed connection
the asbestos will be pressed tightly down over the cone or cylinder.
The screw threaded portion of the block terminates at the shoulder part or base
of the electro-positive element. This base is made square to provide greater heating
surface and facilitate the building up of the elements.
The thermo-electric batteries of my invention are applicable for producing heat and
electric light, and also for galvanic, medicinal and various other purposes.
I will now describe the Invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. is in vertical section with partly shewn front clevation.
Fig. 2. is a cross section through', ', and Fig. 3 is a plan view across,"
show the thermo-electrical fire battery.
Figs. 4 to 11 are representations of the thermo-electrical elements and their parts.
The negative electrode of the elements consists of a metal block (cast iron or the

page_text: like) composed of the square base, a, with a screw shaped part, a³, above which
is a circular end piece, a³, terminating in the cone point, a
In this metal block is placed the conducting strip, n, either cast in as shewn in
Fig. 8, or merely laid in the aperture, a', as shewn in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. In the
latter case the negative electrode is formed in two parts, (b, and, c,). The half, c,
contains the aperture (a) as an open channel extending straight down from the point
to the bottom of, a', and then passing sideways ont to the edge of, c, as in
Fig. 10.
The flat conducting strip, a, is laid in the channel, and then, b, and, c, are brought
closely together so as to appear as one solid block.
To the bottom of this block, b, c, the plate, d, Fig. 6, is screwed by the screws, e, so
that they cannot be separated, as shewn in Fig. 9.
After the negative electrodes are thus formed in one of these ways, and are fitted
with their conducting strips as shewn in Fig. 6. A hollow asbestos block f. Fig. 2 is
cemented on to the part, a³, of each electrode and the conical case, g, which is fitted
with a female screw, g', is screwed over, a², and, a³.
Through the screwing of the case, g, over, a³, the asbestos block, f, has its lower end
pressed firmly on the negative electrode so that between the block, f, and the
paris a, a, and a³ a complete junction is effected. If now a row of such screwed
elements is formed the negative electrodes are turned, as Fig. 6 shews standing near
each other vertically so that the conducting strips, n, have their upper curved part
terminating in the middle of the asbestos block of the neighbouring electrode.
Now the fluid metal of the positive electrode, o, formed of some easily fusiblo
metal (antimony zinc or alloys) is poured into the opening of the asbestos, f, and the
row of elements is ready.
It should be noticed that the elements as drawn are formed preferably of a conical
shape so that the positive electrode cannot fall out of its enclosure; but the Inventor
claims the right to use a cylindrical or other form for the elements. It is also not
necessary that the junction of the two electrodes should be effected in the precise
manner before described, nor is it essential that the positive electrode should be
firmly imbedded or that the negative electrode should be screwed together as shewn,
since any suitable modification of these methods could be employed.
In order to place together a large number of elements for a furnace battery, the
frame, h, is employed which is constructed with square apertures of a size to receive
the square base (a¹) of the negative electrode, caro being taken to place a non-
conducting substance between the elements and the frame, h. In order to fasten
securely the base, a', of the negative electrode in the aperture of the frame, h, it is
advisable to form recesses, i, i, in the side of the base (Fig. 11). If then the
base (a) is coated with some suitable non-conducting cement (such as fire clay and
asbestos) and pressed tightly into the opening, the cement stopping lying in the
recess,, will hold the element securely so that it cannot fall out of the frame (h)
whilst at the same time a sufficient isolation is obtained by the caulking or packing
of the cement, so that the fire gasses with which the negative electrode is being heated
cannot penetrate.
In Figs. 1 and 3 will be seen how the single elements lie in the frame, h, and
are connected to a battery. 2 frames are placed near together as in Fig. 3 so that the
space, k, is formed between them for the reception of the fire gasses which flow from
the fire chamber, 1, placed before the battery.
In the drawing the fire chamber, 7, is so placed that the fire passes right and left
into two flues so that with one, a double battery is heated. The fire gasses heat
the ends of the negative electrodes and pass through the channel, k, and the tube, k³,
to the chimney, 3³, Fig. 2. The positive electrodes are kept as cool as possible and
for this purpose the battery is covered with a metal case, m, in which through a
regulator cold exterior air is admitted, which ascends by means of a channel or
tube and can, if desired, be utilized for any other purpose.
Should the positive electrode through the heating of the furnace battery become
melted at its point of connection with the negative electrode, no escape of the melted

page_text: metal or alloy can occur owing to the formation of the asbestos block, f, the screw, a²,
and the protecting mantle, g, so that the possibility of any break down in the elements
is out of the question.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is;
1. The arrangement of thermo-electrical elements in the manner herein described so
that the negative electrode provided with screw attachment is screwed up to a protecting
mantle in which is placed a hollow asbestos-block for the reception of the positive
electrode.
2. The construction of the negative electrode in two separate halves (b, and c,)
between which the conducting strip is placed.
3. The mode of connecting the two halves (, and e) forming the negative electrode,
by means of a base plate (d) extending beneath and fastened to both parts of the
electrode.
4. The mode of connecting the single elements in a lattice shaped open frame (h)
by means of a hard cement formed with asbestos so that a large number of elements
can be connected to one battery.
5. The mode of heating the elements in the lattice-shaped perforated frame, h, by
the fire chamber, t, which is so constructed that the heat can be conducted through
two passages to two adjoining batteries.
Dated this 20th day of November 1989
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.