Improvements in and relating to Galvanic Batteries.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 16th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Galvanic Batteries.
I, CHARLES LEVETUS, of 182, Heathfield Road, Handsworth, Birmingham,
Experimental Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to new and improved depolarising and exciting agents
either in a liquid or gaseous or solid form, or a combination of all or any of these
liquid, gaseous, or solid agents, for use in two fluid galvanic batteries, in which
a porous cell or cells or divisions is or are used.
In order to carry this invention into effect, I make up a solution composed of
nitric and hydrochloric acids and water in any suitable proportions and to this
solution is added a certain and suitable percentage of nitrous acid or any suitable
nitrite, whether alkaline or otherwise.
The above mentioned solution may be used by itself in the compartment in
which the carbon element of the battery is placed, and it is reinforced from time
to time after it has been partially used up, by passing into the above mentioned
solution a more concentrated solution of, say, nitric and hydrochloric acids,
nitrous acid or nitrite of any suitable base, and therefore stronger in depolarising
agents. This brings it to its original strength again without having to com-
pletely empty or partly empty the battery or batteries. The endosmose of liquid
through the walls of the porous cells is sufficient to enable a sufficient quantity
of concentrated solution of small capacity to be run into the carbon compart-
ment to restore to the solution therein its original strength. Or in order to
restore the above mentioned solution to its original strength and thus keep the
constancy of the battery unimpaired after it has been used for some time to
generate electricity, I may pass into the partly exhausted liquid either con-
tinuously or from time to time, chlorine in its gaseous, solid, or liquified state,
and at the same time the nitric acid (either alone or with other depolarising
agents) is caused to drip or run slowly into the before mentioned solution, or
there may be passed into the solution either with or without chlorine in its
liquid or gaseous state any suitable oxide of nitrogen, such as, say, nitrogen
trioxide, or nitrous anhydride (say, of chemical formula N2O3), nitrogen monoxide
or nitrous oxide (say of chemical formula N₂O), nitrogen tetroxide or nitric
peroxide (say, of chemical formula N O₂ or N, 0), or nitrogen pentoxide or nitric
anhydride (say, of chemical formula N, O₁) either in their gaseous, liquid, or
solid forms, respectively, as desired.
Sometimes a small percentage of an alkaline chlorate may be added to the
hereinbefore mentioned solution.
But when this invention is to be employed for compounds for use as depolarising
agents in portable form in galvanic batteries it may be found advantageous to
use the white crystal compound, or mixture formed in the manufacture of
sulphuric acid, which is known as nitrosyl sulphuric acid, and has, say, a
chemical formula S, 0, (NO2)2, which only requires the addition of a suitable
quantity of water to transform it into sulphuric and nitric acids and nitrogen

page_text: trioxide, to enable it to be at once used as a depolarising agent in galvanic
batteries. Or another suitable depolarising agent may be formed by passing
nitrogen pentoxide (say, of chemical formula N, O3) into nitric acid thus forming
a crystalline solid.
In order to condense, absorb, or dissolve (or either both or all) and thus utilise
for further use the gases or fumes given off in galvanic batteries when certain
acids and salts or gases are used for depolarising agents, such as nitric acid,
nitric and sulphuric acids and water, nitric and hydrochloric acids and water,
chlorine oxides of nitrogen or the like, or in any case in which any gas, gases,
or fumes is or are given off either by the action of the battery itself or by
gaseous depolarisers being passed into any liquid or liquids for use in the battery,
or passed into the battery without being passed into a liquid or liquids, the
excess of gas or gases emanating from one or a number of galvanic cells is passed
into one central chamber or tube which is hermetically closed at one end and
which is provided with a number of tubular or hollow arms communicating with
the whole or any number of cells. The gas or gases are allowed to pass through
these said arms into the central tube or chamber towards the open end of same.
to which is attached a condensing apparatus consisting essentially of a number of
vessels, tubes, cylinders, condensing worms or receptacles, hereinafter termed
condensers, of any suitable size shape. and material, but preferably of stoneware
and made long and narrow. A number of these condensers are connected
together by one or more communicating tubes in any suitable manner, and they
are filled with any suitable liquid or liquids such as, say, the first herein before
mentioned solution, but preferably with water, to a predetermined distance below
the level of the communicating tubes, in such a manner as to prevent a con-
tinuous volume of water or other liquid, passing from one condenser to the
next condenser, being presented to the emanating gas.
These communicating tubes from condenser to condenser are hollowed away
or dron down in coil form in order to prevent a continuous surface of liquid
being formed by the increase of volume caused by absorption of the gas or by
any liquid being forced into the communicating arms of condenser by the pres-
sure of the gas.
These condensers are fitted with suitable taps or screws, plugs or other suitable
means for withdrawing the liquids containing the condensed gases in any suit-
able position or positions.
Sometimes the condensers may be filled with pieces of broken coke, charcoal,
or other suitable absorbent substance and then filled with the condensing solution
or with water. The pieces of broken coke, charcoal, or other suitable sub-
stances greatly increase the absorbent or dissolving quality of the liquid.
Sometimes the condensing tubes are also surrounded with a freezing mixture
whereby the gas or gases are condensed more easily.
In order to destroy or take up the obnoxious gases given off in batteries
by the action of nitric acid or other solutions containing nitric acid, the gases or
fumes generated by the action of the battery are passed through a tube or tubes
of any suitable metal, or through a tube of non-conducting material lined with
metal. Sometimes the metal tube is filled with broken pieces of coke or charcoal
or porous earthenware or any other suitable substance. Or the gases or fumes
may be passed through a chamber containing a plate or plates of any suitable
metal covered also with any suitable metal in a finely divided state, and it is
heated to a red heat either by external means, as for example, say, by a Bunsen
burner, or preferably by inserting the tube or chamber in the external circuit of
the batteries which are generating the gases. Thus bringing the tube or tubes
or chamber or chambers to a red heat and resolving the gases into their clements,
nitrogen and oxygen, which are quite inocuous.
Dated this Eighteenth day of October 1898

page_text: I, CHARLES LEVETUS, of 182, Heathfield Road, Handsworth, in the County of
Stafford, Experimental Chemist, 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 galvanic batteries its primary object
being the provision of various efficient depolarising and exciting agents for use
preferably in two-fluid cells.
One depolarising or exciting liquid according to this invention comprises a
solution of nitric and hydrochloric acids together with nitrous acid or any
convenient nitrite, alkaline or otherwise. If desired, the nitric acid may be
omitted from the solution which will then consist of a mixture of hydrochloric
and nitrous acids. The presence of the nitrous acid greatly increases the activity
of the solution as a depolarising agent.
Solutions of the following approximate composition have been found to give
good results, but it is to be understood that the proportions may, if desired,
be varied;-
nitric acid
nitrous acid
hydrochloric acid
water
or if the nitric acid be omitted
nitrous acid
hydrochloric acid
water
12 per cent. (by weight)
8
39
"
50
"
"9
"
30
"2
"
دو
20 per cent. by weight)
50 "
30
"
"
دو
"'
52
The above solution may be used in that part of the cell in which, say, the
carbon electrode is placed and as its depolarising power decreases owing to the
action of the cell it may be strengthened by the addition of a more concentrated
solution of the same mixture of acids. The strength of the reinforcing solution
is preferably so regulated that the addition to the original liquid of a quantity
sufficient to compensate for the amount lost by endosmose through the walls of
the porous cell, makes the resulting liquid of the normal strength.
The above mentioned solution may also be reinforced when partially exhausted
by the addition of chlorine, oxygen ozone or peroxide of hydrogen which may be
passed into the liquid as a gas or produced in any convenient way. This addition
of chlorine or other gas may take place if desired simultaneously with the addition
of nitric acid or other depolarising agent. A small quantity of an alkaline
chlorate may be added to the solution. Again, it is found advantageous to pass
into the solution, with or without chlorine, a suitable oxide of nitrogen such as,
say nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen trioxide, nitrogen tetroxide or nitrogen pent-
oxide, such compounds being added in any convenient form.
Another depolarizing agent according to this invention which is specially
useful on account of its portability is the white crystalline compound or mixture,
formed in the manufacturing sulphuric acid, known as nitrosyl sulphuric acid
and having the formula S, O (NO2). This substance only requires the addition
of water to form sulphuric and nitric acids, and nitrogen trioxide; it may then
be used as a depolarising agent.
Again a good depolarising agent may be formed by passing nitrogen pentoxide
into nitric acid a crystalline solid being formed.

page_text: denser, or preferably into a series of condensers, containing a liquid, say water,
which will absorb the gas. The liquid may be removed when a sufficient amount
of the gas has been absorbed, and again utilised in the battery. If it is desired
to destroy or render innocuous the gas given off by the battery, such gas may be
passed through tubes or vessels heated by current from the battery itself, or in
any other convenient way; these tubes or vessels may be filled with broken
pieces of coke, charcoal, porous earthenware or other suitable material.
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 a depolarising or exciting liquid comprising a mixture
of hydrochloric acid and nitrous acid with or without nitric acid.
2. In an electric battery a depolarising or exciting liquid comprising a mixture
of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and any suitable nitrite alkaline or otherwise.
3. In an electric battery reinforcing a solution of the kind described in Claims 1
and 2 by passing chlorine or oxygen ozone or peroxide of hydrogen through it.
4. In an electric battery reinforcing a solution by the addition of an oxide of
nitrogen with or without chlorine or oxygen.
5. In an electric battery the employment as a depolarising agent of nitrosyl
sulphuric acid.
6. In an electric battery a depolarising agent formed by passing nitrogen
pentoxide into nitric acid.
Datod this 15th do
of
1000
CHARLES LEVETUS.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.